Kids movies run the gamut, from animated films that are suitable for children of all ages to comedies and fantasies that might even be rated PG (but mom and dad say they’re OK). While there are tons of great new movies for kids, some of the old classics have staying power. Parents will love not only watching these beloved films with their kids, but also reliving their own childhoods as they remember the first time they sat in front of the tube, mesmerized by the stories.
If you’re looking for something to watch with the kids, or a great movie to put on for a kid’s party or kids movie night, check out this curated list of the best kids movies on Hulu right now. It’s a diverse mix of titles so you’re sure to find something your kids will love.
We’ve also rounded up the best kids movies on Netflix, the best kids movies on Amazon Prime Video, and the best kids movies on Disney+ if you don’t find what you’re looking for on Hulu.
Recently added to Hulu
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Ghostbusters1984 -
Hotel Transylvania2012
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Big1988
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Fantastic Mr. Fox2009
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid2010
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Hook1991
107m
Genre
Comedy, Fantasy
Stars
Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver
Directed by
Ivan Reitman
An oldie but a goodie, Ghostbusters has remained a favorite for generations thanks to its hilarious cast and fun premise that mixes ghosts and goblins with a team of average Joe heroes who save NYC by fighting them with their fancy machinery. While the movie has since spawned various other versions, the original 1984 film, written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, is still the best.
The two also star in the film, which has been preserved by the National Film Registry, alongside Bill Murray as three eccentric parapsychologists who are convinced that ghosts exist and that they have figured out a watch to catch them. With one of the most recognizable movie theme songs of all time, Ghostbusters is rated PG for scares and some rough language, but it’s a rite of passage for any child to watch.
91m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Stars
Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez
Directed by
Genndy Tartakovsky
Featuring the voice acting talents of Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Steve Buscemi, David Spade, Fran Drescher, and Molly Shannon, Hotel Transylvania takes kids on a magical journey into the world of monsters who live in this eerie hotel. Here, they can escape persecution from those pesky humans and simply sit back and relax. But when Jonathan (Samberg) comes upon the hotel and falls in love with Dracula’s teenage daughter, Mavis (Gomez), the human and monster worlds collide. This is the first of four movies in the franchise, and kids will be clamoring to watch the next three after delighting in this one.
104m
Genre
Fantasy, Drama, Comedy, Romance, Family
Stars
Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins, Robert Loggia
Directed by
Penny Marshall
This film has a young Tom Hanks at his finest, and even though the concept of age swapping has been done again and again in movies, Big remains one of the most successful to pull it off. In Penny Marshall’s 1988 fantasy comedy-drama, Hanks plays Josh, a boy who yearns to be older so he can do whatever he wants. Poof! After a visit to a fortune teller machine called Zoltar, magic strikes, and John finds himself in the body of a full-grown man. Hilarity ensues thanks to a performance by Hanks that soldiified him as a leading man. Big is fun, endearing, and a great watch for the whole family.
87m
Genre
Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family
Stars
George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman
Directed by
Wes Anderson
George Clooney isn’t just a fabulous actor in movies for adults: he also shows off his comedic voice acting chops in Fantastic Mr. Fox, in which he portrays the title character, a thief who is being hunted by farmers from whom he stole. Based on the 1970 Roald Dahl novel of the same name, it features a voice cast reads like a who’s who of the Hollywood elite. With an Academy Award nomination to its credit, Fantastic Mr. Fox is delightfully sweet.
107m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Adventure, Family
Stars
Alec Baldwin, James Marsden, Amy Sedaris
Directed by
Tom McGrath
Alec Baldwin returns to voice the title character in Boss Baby: Family Business, sequel to The Boss Baby. Ted and his older brother, Tim, are now adults with their own families who have lost touch with one another. But they reunite when they discover that Tim’s baby daughter, Tina, is actually a top-secret agent for Baby Corp. She’s the new Boss Baby and it’s up to Tim and Ted to figure out what’s going on at Baby Corp. what her mission is, and why they have called Ted back to help.
92m
Genre
Comedy, Family
Stars
Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron, Steve Zahn
Directed by
Thor Freudenthal
Kids who read the Jeff Kinney book series will want to check out the movie Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the first of four films in the franchise. Greg is 11 years old in this movie and he’s worried about what middle school will be like. The comedy follows Greg and his best friend, Rowley, on their misadventures as they deal with everyday challenges of middle-schoolers. Greg’s mission, despite all odds stacked against him, is to become the most popular kid in school. Like the books, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is both entertaining and relatable to kids of the same age as the titular character.
142m
Genre
Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Family
Stars
Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams, Julia Roberts
Directed by
Steven Spielberg
Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, and Julia Roberts star in this Steven Spielberg adventure movie based on the characters from the story of Peter Pan. Now an adult, Peter has completely forgotten about his childhood until he comes face-to-face again with his old enemy, Captain Hook. After Hook kidnaps Peter’s kids, he must travel back to Neverland to save them. It’s a fun story based on a well-known tale, but Hook also has heart as Peter learns to become a better version of himself once he begins to remember his childhood adventures. It’s no wonder that despite lackluster box office response, Hook has since gained a cult following.
87m
Genre
Family, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Comedy
Stars
Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta
Directed by
Tim Hill
Solve the mystery of everybody’s favorite Muppet… something! One morning, Gonzo’s breakfast cereal reveals to him that he’s part of a family of aliens. Eager to solve the mystery of his origins, Gonzo tries to make contact with his apparent family, prompting a secret government agency to kidnap him and hold him for study. That sends the Muppets into action! To save Gonzo, Kermit and the gang will have to venture to outer space to find Gonzo’s family once and for all.
103m
Genre
Animation, Family, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Stars
Hank Azaria, Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays
Directed by
Raja Gosnell
Parents may not love this modern reboot of the classic show, but it has plenty of things to enjoy for kids. When the evil wizard Gargamel (Hank Azaria) drives Papa Smurf, Smurfette, and Clumsy Smurf (Jonathan Winters, Katy Perry, and Anton Yelchin) out of their magical world, they accidentally fall through a portal into the middle of Central Park in modern-day New York City. Now, the Smurfs must find a way back to their world before Gargamel finds them.
96m
Genre
Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family
Stars
Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Leslie Mann
Directed by
Carlos Saldanha
Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) is a rare blue macaw who believes that he’s the last of his kind. But when he learns that there’s another lady macaw out there, he ventures out from his small town in Minnesota and heads to Rio de Janeiro to meet her, believing they’re meant to be together. Unfortunately, the fiercely independent Jewel (Anne Hathaway) has been born and bred by the wild and the domesticated Rio is far from an impressive paramour. But when they’re unexpectedly forced to stick together, they find they each have more to learn from one another than they thought.
95m
Genre
Animation, Family, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy
Stars
Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds
Directed by
Joel Crawford
With everything that happened in 2020, you may have missed DreamWorks Animation’s sequel to The Croods. In The Croods: A New Age, the relative harmony between the Crood family and their companion, Guy (Ryan Reynolds), is threatened when they stumble upon the Betterman family, Phil (Peter Dinklage) and Hope (Leslie Mann). The Bettermans are more advanced than the Croods, and that also puts some strain on the romance between Guy and Eep Crood (Emma Stone). But when the men of both families are kidnapped, it falls to the women to bridge the gap between them and save the day.
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