If you missed the hype when it dropped on Disney+, here’s the gist: Joe Gardner is a middle school band teacher who finally gets his big break to play piano with a jazz legend. Then, he immediately falls down a manhole and dies.

Well, mostly dies.

His soul ends up in the "Great Beyond," but he escapes to the "Great Before"—a whimsical, pastel-colored pre-existence where new souls get their personalities before heading to Earth. There, he meets 22, a cynical soul who has refused to be born for thousands of years because she thinks life on Earth is a total scam.

The movie isn't just a "follow your dreams" story. In fact, it’s kind of the opposite. It’s a "what happens when your dreams don't fix you?" story. It’s deep, it’s beautiful, and it features some of the best jazz music you’ll ever hear in a "kids" movie.

Let’s be real: your five-year-old is not going to sit there pondering the metaphysical implications of the "You Seminar."

However, Pixar knows how to keep the "iPad kids" engaged. There is a solid middle chunk of the movie involving a body-swap (Joe ends up in a therapy cat, 22 ends up in Joe’s body) that is pure physical comedy. My kids lost it when the cat tried to eat pizza.

For older kids—the ones starting to feel the pressure of grades, sports, and "what do you want to be when you grow up?"—this movie actually hits home. It validates the idea that you don't have to be a prodigy or a world-famous YouTuber to have a life worth living.

Check out our guide on how to talk to kids about achievement pressure

I get this question at school pickup a lot. Parents worry that Soul is going to trigger a "wait, am I going to die?" existential crisis at 8:00 PM on a Tuesday.

Here’s the No-BS take: The movie treats death as a transition, not a tragedy. The "Great Beyond" is just a white light at the end of a moving walkway. It’s not scary or hellish. If your child has recently lost a loved one or a pet, this movie might bring up some questions, but it handles the topic with way more grace than, say, the beginning of Up (which still destroys me) or The Lion King.

The real "depth" is in the philosophy. The movie argues that our "spark" isn't our career or our talent—it’s just the desire to live. That is a hard concept for a 7-year-old to grasp, but it’s a great conversation starter for a 12-year-old who thinks their life is over because they didn't make the "A" team in soccer.

They’ll like the bright colors and the "Counselor Jerry" characters who look like neon line drawings, but the plot is too dialogue-heavy. They’d be better off with Bluey or Cars.

This age group will enjoy the adventure. They might ask questions about where Joe went when he "fell," which you can answer as simply as you like. Focus on the friendship between Joe and 22.

This is the target audience. Middle schoolers are currently being bombarded with the idea that they need to find their "passion" and turn it into a brand. Soul is the perfect antidote to that. It’s a great time to talk about "Lost Souls"—the characters in the movie who become so obsessed with something (even something good, like a hobby) that they lose touch with reality.

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This was Pixar’s first film with a Black lead, and they did the work. They brought in consultants to make sure the barber shop scene, the family dynamics, and the jazz culture felt authentic and respectful. It’s a gorgeous celebration of Black culture in New York City.

Pay attention to the ending. The movie explicitly says that a "spark" is not a "purpose." This is a huge shift from the typical Disney "follow your star" trope. It’s about enjoying the way the sun hits the trees or the taste of a good slice of pizza. In a world of Roblox "hustle" culture and MrBeast style obsession with being the best, this is a vital message.

If your kid is into music, this movie is a 10/10. The finger movements on the piano are actually MIDI-accurate to the music being played. It’s a great gateway into introducing kids to jazz.

If you watch it as a family, try these questions afterward (maybe while eating pizza, Joe-style):

Soul isn't "brain rot." It’s the opposite. It’s a high-protein movie that requires a bit of digestion. Is it as "fun" as Despicable Me? No. But it’s the kind of movie that stays with you and actually gives you a framework to talk to your kids about mental health and the value of just being.

If you’re looking for something lighter for a Friday night, maybe go with The Super Mario Bros. Movie. But if you want a movie that might actually change how your teenager views their own stress, put on Soul.

Learn more about navigating complex themes in Pixar movies

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