44 Highly-Anticipated Kids' Movies to Watch in 2023
These new and upcoming family films are going to be some of the best of all time.
Kids today are lucky. Looking ahead to 2023's movie-release calendar, the schedule is packed with fun, family-friendly films of all stripes, and some of them look like they have a shot at taking one of the spots for the best kids' movies of all time. Here, we have the best kids' movies of 2023, listed in the order in which they're going to be released — though release dates do tend to shuffle around, so it's best to check your local listings before you head out to the theater.
So, what's on tap for this year? Of course, superhero movies abound, and a new Spider-Man movie is sure to excite little web-slingers. Adventure tales are always big, with new fantasy, Paw Patrol and Ghostbusters movies on the lineup. There are a couple of movies for toddlers looking to have their first theatrical experiences and animated movies for bigger kids, as well as some scary movies for kids when Halloween time rolls around. And might there even be a Troll wedding? There's sure to be something to satisfy everyone in the fam.
Bookmark this and check to see what's coming up every time you have a free weekend, a rained-out afternoon or anytime you're looking to put together a special family movie night.
And, between releases, you can always catch up with the best kids' movies of 2022, the best kids' movies of 2021, or the best kids' movies of 2020.
Dog Gone (2023)
Release Date: January 13, 2023
When a beloved family dog goes missing on the Appalachian Trail, a family goes on a desperate search to find him before his medication runs out. This Netflix film stars Rob Lowe and is based on the book Dog Gone: A Lost Pet's Extraordinary Journey and the Family Who Brought Him Home by Pauls Toutonghi.
The Amazing Maurice
Release Date: February 3, 2023
Based on the book by Terry Pratchett, this droll story follows a cat who's in on a long con with a flute player and a team of intelligent rats, tricking villagers into paying for a Pied Piper-like service. Maurice's plans go awry, though, when the team heads to a town where rats are being blamed for the mysterious disappearance for all the food in the village. Hugh Laurie, David Thewlis, David Tennant and Emilia Clarke provide voices in a story that's a little dark and twisted, but not terrifying.
True Spirit
Release Date: February 4, 2023
This based-on-a-true-story Netflix tale follows Jessica Watson, a girl who dreams of being the youngest person to sail around the world. She plans an ambitious 210-day journey, but, with dangers around every wave, will she make it to the end?
Mummies
Release Date: February 24, 2023
In this film, there's been a secret world of mummies living below ground without anyone ever knowing. When an important artifact goes missing, some mummies have to go topside — and try to blend in — to retrieve it.
The Magician's Elephant
Release Date: March 17, 2023
This animated Netflix movie, based on a novel by Because of Winn Dixie's Kate DiCamillo, follows a boy named Peter who is searching for his lost sister. A fortune-teller says Peter must seek a magician and his elephant, which starts Peter off on an incredible adventure.
We Lost Our Human
Release Date: March 21, 2023
A dog and cat awake to find that all the human in the world are gone — and they have to travel through the universe to fix the glitch. This is another Netflix interactive special, which puts kids in control of the action by letting them make choices that affect the plot.
Prom Pact
Release Date: March 31, 2023
This Disney Channel original follows Mandy, a high school senior who is single-mindedly focused on getting into Harvard. Things change when she volunteers to tutor the class jock in the hopes of getting a letter of recommendation from his Harvard-alumnus dad — and winds up seeing high school through a brand-new pair of eyes. It stars Disney staple Peyton Elizabeth Lee, star of Andi Mack and Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. (Note: This is rated TV-14 for language.)
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Release Date: April 5, 2023
Kids love how this animated movie delves into the world of Super Mario Bros. and all the characters they know from the Nintendo games. Parents might get a kick out of the voice cast, which includes Keegan-Michael Key, Jack Black, Charlie Day, Seth Rogen, Fred Armisen, Anya Taylor-Joy and, of course, Chris Pratt as Mario. Plus, there's plenty of Easter eggs for every generation of Nintendo player.
Chupa
Release Date: April 7, 2023
Demián Bichir, Evan Whitten, Christian Slater and Ashley Ciarra star in this Netflix movie, about a young boy named Alex who visits his family in Mexico and discovers an unlikely friend in his grandpa's garage: a chupacabra! The movie is directed by Jonás Cuarón, son of Gravity and Roma director Alfonso Cuarón.
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
Release Date: April 28, 2023
If you're of a certain age, it was a rite of passage to read Judy Blume's Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Now, it's been turned into a film, starring Abby Ryder Fortson and Rachel McAdams and directed by Edge of Seventeen's Kelly Fremon. (Note: This is PG-13 and may not be suitable for younger kids.)
Peter Pan and Wendy
Release Date: April 28, 2023
David Lowery, director of poetic movies like The Green Knight and A Ghost Story, turns his sights on Neverland in this Peter Pan adaptation. Lowery is no stranger to doing live-action Disney remakes, having already tackled Pete's Dragon. Jude Law takes on the role of Captain Hook in this straight-to-Disney+ feature.
Crater
Release Date: May 12, 2023
In this Disney+ sci-fi, coming-of-age tale, a group of kids who live in a mining colony on the moon. One is about to be relocated to a distant planet, but he and his friends decide to steal a rover for one last adventure together. It's perfect for the space-obsessed kid in your life. [Note: This has been removed from Disney+ and is no longer available to stream.]
Astérix & Obélix: The Middle Kingdom
Release Date: May 19, 2023
Comic fans may already know about Gallic heroes Astérix and Obélix. If not, this goofy French film, which gives the heroes the blockbuster treatment, will be an introduction, and kids may want to go back and read the beloved comic series afterward.
The Little Mermaid
Release Date: May 26, 2023
Halle Bailey of Chloe x Halle steps into the fins of Ariel in this remake of the animated Disney classic. It's directed by Rob Marshall, who's made other Disney live-action musicals, including Into the Woods and Mary Poppins Returns.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Release Date: June 2, 2023
Sure, multi-verses are all the rage now, but these animated Spider-Man movies were doing them before they were cool. For the sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy have to team up again with a whole new team to stop a powerful new villain, all while dealing with the many, many other Spider-Folk out there.
Elemental
Release Date: June 16, 2023
Pixar tells a tale about a world where the beings are one of four elements: fire, water, earth or air. The story focuses on two inhabitants of this world, one fire and one water, and how they learn they have more in common than they initially believed.
World's Best
Release Date: June 23, 2023
This Disney+ original follows a 12-year-old math wiz named Prem. When he finds out his late father was actually a rapper, he goes off in search of rap superstardom. It comes from Utkarsh Ambudkar, who parents may remember from Pitch Perfect; Ambudkar also wrote the original songs.
Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken
Release Date: June 30, 2023
Ruby Gillman tries to fit in at her land-lubbing high school, which is hard because she's secretly a kraken. Things change when a new student arrives that's enemy No. 1 for the krakens: a mermaid. Chelsea the mermaid is pretty and popular, but when she threatens the ocean, Ruby has to step out of the shadows and defend her home. Lana Condor of To All the Boys I've Loved Before provides the voice of Ruby.
Nimona
Release Date: June 30, 2023
This one is described as being "set in a techno-medieval world," so expect a mash-up of genres. It follows a shape-shifting teen named Nimona who is tasked with helping a knight wrongly accused of a crime.
Barbie
Release Date: July 21, 2023
In Barbie Land, every day is the best day ever. But when Barbie (and Ken) travel to the Real World, Barbie realizes that real life is not how she imagined it would be at all. Befitting her iconic status, the Barbie movie gets the prestige treatment: The movie was directed by Little Women's Greta Gerwig, and co-written by Marriage Story's Noah Baumbach. (Note: This film is rated PG-13 and is full of innuendo.)
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; she previously wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found dominating the audio round at her local bar trivia night or tweeting about movies.
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