Peacock is NBCUniversal's streaming service, which means it's got the entire DreamWorks Animation library, Illumination Entertainment films, and a bunch of Universal Pictures family movies. It's the streaming home for franchises like Despicable Me, Kung Fu Panda, and How to Train Your Dragon.

The catch? The interface is clunky compared to Disney+ or Netflix. There's no true kids' profile with locked-down content (just a "Kids" section you can browse), and the parental controls are basic at best. You're not getting the hand-holding experience of Disney+ here—it's more like "here's a bunch of movies, good luck."

That said, if your family already has Peacock for Premier League soccer or The Office reruns, the kids' content is a solid bonus. And if you're specifically looking for DreamWorks or Illumination content, this is where it lives.

Ages 6+

All three Kung Fu Panda movies are legitimately great—funny for kids, surprisingly deep for adults. The first film's message about believing in yourself isn't groundbreaking, but it's executed with genuine heart. The action sequences are gorgeous, and Jack Black's Po is endlessly rewatchable. The sequels maintain quality, which is rare for animated franchises.

Parent note: Some martial arts violence (cartoony but intense), brief scary moments with the villains. Nothing that's given kids I know nightmares, but sensitive 5-year-olds might find Tai Lung intimidating.

Ages 7+

This is the crown jewel of Peacock's kids' library. The first film is a masterclass in animated storytelling—the relationship between Hiccup and Toothless is genuinely moving, and the flying sequences are breathtaking even on a TV screen. The trilogy gets progressively more mature, with the third film dealing with themes of letting go and growing up that hit different when you're a parent watching with your kid.

Parent note: The first film has a fairly intense battle scene at the end. The second film deals with parental death (Hiccup's mom returns but his dad dies—spoiler alert for a 2014 movie). The third film has some genuine peril and loss. This trilogy respects kids' ability to handle complex emotions, but be prepared for conversations afterward.

Ages 6+

The first two Shrek films hold up remarkably well. The humor works on multiple levels (your 7-year-old laughs at the physical comedy, you laugh at the fairy tale subversion). Shrek the Third is skippable—it's not terrible, just forgettable. Shrek Forever After is better than it has any right to be.

Parent note: Lots of mild crude humor (burping, fart jokes, etc.). Some innuendo that goes over kids' heads. The Lord Farquaad short-joke running gag is... a choice. But overall, these are safe bets for family movie night.

Ages 8+

This 2022 film is shockingly good—like, "why didn't this get more awards attention?" good. It's visually stunning with a Spider-Verse-inspired animation style, and it tackles anxiety, mortality, and found family with surprising depth. The villain (Death, literally) is genuinely menacing in a way that makes the stakes feel real.

Parent note: This is notably more intense than typical DreamWorks fare. Death as a character is scary—he's meant to be. Some kids under 8 might find him too much. But for kids ready for it, this is one of the best animated films of recent years.

Ages 5+

Your mileage will vary wildly here depending on your tolerance for Minion chaos. The Despicable Me films have genuine heart—Gru's journey from villain to dad is sweet, and the adoption storyline in the first film is handled well. The standalone Minions movies are basically feature-length cartoons with minimal plot and maximum slapstick.

Parent note: Very safe content-wise. Mild cartoon violence, lots of silly humor. The Minions' gibberish language means younger kids won't be parroting inappropriate dialogue. These are solid "I need 90 minutes of peace" movies.

Ages 6+

These are fun, energetic musicals with likable characters and impressive voice casts. The first film is about a koala trying to save his theater with a singing competition; the second involves staging a show to impress a reclusive rock star. Both are crowd-pleasers with positive messages about perseverance and believing in yourself.

Parent note: Some mild peril, one character deals with an abusive partner (handled carefully but present). The music is great—be prepared for your kids to want the soundtrack on repeat in the car.

Ages 5+

The premise (what do pets do when owners leave?) is more interesting than the execution, but kids love these. The first film is better than the sequel. Lots of physical comedy, cute animals, and a few genuinely funny moments for adults.

Parent note: Some scary moments (the villain rabbit and his gang are intense for younger viewers), but overall pretty tame. The second film has a subplot about an abused circus tiger that might prompt questions.

Ages 7+

This 2022 DreamWorks film flew under many radars but it's excellent. A crew of criminal animals (Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Shark, Mr. Piranha, and Ms. Tarantula) attempt to go good. The animation style is slick and stylized, the heist sequences are fun, and the voice cast (Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina) is perfect.

Parent note: Mild action violence, some potty humor. The themes about redemption and second chances are handled well. Great for kids who loved Spider-Verse's visual style.

Ages 7+

This 2019 DreamWorks film about a girl helping a yeti get home is genuinely lovely. The animation is gorgeous (the scenes of the Chinese landscape are breathtaking), and the story about grief and family is handled with care. It's quieter and more contemplative than typical animated fare.

Parent note: Deals with parental death (the protagonist's father has died). Some scary moments with the villain. But overall, this is a beautiful film that deserves more attention.

Ages 6+

If you have a horse-obsessed kid, this 2021 film is a solid choice. It's a reimagining of the Spirit franchise with a new protagonist (Lucky Prescott) who moves to a frontier town and befriends a wild mustang. The animation is lovely, the message about freedom and family is positive, and it's refreshingly focused on female friendship.

Parent note: Some peril involving horses and train sequences. A character's mother has died (shown in flashback). But it's handled gently and the overall tone is uplifting.

Peacock doesn't have:

What this means: Peacock works best as a supplement to another streaming service, not as your primary source of kids' content. If you're trying to minimize subscriptions, Disney+ or Netflix will give you more variety. But if you already have Peacock or your kids are specifically into DreamWorks/Illumination franchises, there's plenty here.

Ages 3-5:

Ages 6-8:

Ages 9-12:

Peacock's parental controls are basic compared to competitors:

What you CAN do:

What you CAN'T do:

The reality: If you have young kids (under 8), you'll want to supervise their browsing or manually select movies for them. The Kids section does a decent job of filtering out inappropriate content, but it's not foolproof. Older kids (10+) can probably navigate safely, but you won't have the granular controls you might want.

Pro tip: Use the "My Stuff" feature to create a curated list of approved movies for your kids. It's not a perfect system, but it's better than letting them browse freely.

The good:

The not-so-good:

The surprising:

Peacock isn't going to replace Disney+ as your primary kids' streaming service, but it's a strong secondary option if you're already subscribing for other content or if your kids are particularly into DreamWorks franchises. The How to Train Your Dragon trilogy alone is worth the price of admission, and recent releases like Puss in Boots: The Last Wish show that DreamWorks is still capable of producing top-tier animated films.

The weak parental controls mean you'll need to be more hands-on with younger kids, but for families with children 7+, there's a solid library here. Just be prepared for some clunky navigation and the occasional "why is this in the Kids section?" moment.

Worth it if: You already have Peacock, your kids love DreamWorks/Illumination characters, or you're looking for alternatives to Disney+.

Skip it if: You're looking for a primary kids' streaming service with robust parental controls, or your kids are younger than 5 and need a more curated experience.

Want to compare streaming options? Check out our guides on Disney+ for kids, Netflix kids' content, or Max's family offerings.