Summer isn’t just made for holiday vacations, summer camps, beach days, or simply spending lots of time in the sun. The summer months are also a time to watch the best classic or recently released movies for kids, leaving everyone ready for more summer adventures. There’s no better way to kick off the season than watching the best summer movies for kids on Netflix!
If you’re confused about what to watch at your Netflix party, you are in for one of the best hacks of the summer. Spend more time watching Netflix and less time searching for what to watch. From epic superhero adventures to delightful animated comedies, we’ve got the best Netflix movies night lineup for kids and the whole family to watch and enjoy this summer!
Year: 2023
Runtime: 1h 50m
Director: Guillaume Canet
The only daughter of the Chinese emperor Han Xuandi escapes from a strict prince and seeks help from the Gauls and the two brave warriors Asterix and Obelix. The Middle Kingdom kinda reboots the film series, with Guillaume Canet directing and playing Asterix and Gilles Lellouche as Obelix (a role previously held by Gerard Depardieu in multiple live-action films).
It’s also one of the rare Asterix movies not to directly adapt a story from the comics; it takes our heroes to China and back, a wacky adventure full of tangents and drawn-out gags and a couple of notable extended cameos by famous celebs. This French live-action adventure comedy film tops the list of the best movies for kids to watch this summer on Netflix!
Year: 2022
Runtime: 1 h 38 m
Director: Richard Linklater
The great writer/director of Waking Life returned to his unique animated style with this charming, nostalgic coming-of-age story set in the days just before the Apollo 11 landing. A clearly personal piece for Linklater, this film tells the fictional story of a fourth grader who ends up actually being the first person to land on the moon. Charming and sweet, it will appeal to every family member, from grandparents to kids.
Year: 2023
Runtime: 1h 41m
Director: Jeremy Zag
Based on the immensely popular Miraculous series, this animated feature film promises to bring thrilling adventures to the big screen. Join Ladybug and Cat Noir as they face their toughest challenge yet, defending Paris against an insidious villain. Prepare for non-stop action, stunning animation, and a heartwarming story that will captivate audiences of all ages.
Year: 2022
Runtime: 1h 40m
Director: Pierre Perifel
The 2022 film based on the graphic novels by Aaron Blabey was surprisingly clever and fun, making a fortune around the world while the pandemic was loosening the grip on when families felt safe going back to the theater. Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina, and Craig Robinson lead an all-star voice cast in the tale of a group of animal criminals who pretend to go straight only to discover that their leader may not actually be pretending.
Year: 2017
Runtime: 1h 37m
Director: Tom McGrath
This goofy story of a talking, suit-wearing baby voiced by Alec Baldwin isn’t a modern animated masterpiece, but it is a thoroughly entertaining comedy for the whole family. It’s really a story of maintaining creativity and a good one for kids who may be struggling with a new sibling. This is one of the best summer movies for kids to watch on Netflix.
Year: 2000
Runtime: 1h 24m
Director: Peter Lord, Nick Park
We don’t deserve Aardman. The geniuses behind Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, and others made their biggest cinematic splash with this 2000 hit. A clever riff on prison break movies like Escape from Alcatraz (but with chickens!), this is the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time, a title it’s held for over 20 years.
Year: 2015
Runtime: 1h 34m
Director: Tim Johnson
Jim Parsons of The Big Bang Theory fame voices Oh, an awkward alien from the planet Boov who unites with teenager named Tip (Rihanna) who is searching for her mother after an alien invasion. It’s a sweet little comedy that was spun-off into a Netflix original animated series called Home: Adventures with Tip and Oh that was popular enough to run for four seasons.
Year: 2021
Runtime: 1h 54m
Directors: Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe
Originally planned for a theatrical release by Sony (with the much-worse title Connected), the studio sold this off to Netflix during the pandemic…and probably regretted that decision. One of the most critically and commercially beloved animated films of 2021, this is an incredibly smart and sweet family vacation movie, a comedy that’s as much about a tender relationship between a father and daughter as it is the fact that they end up having to save the world together.
Year: 2020
Runtime: 2h 3m
Director: Harry Bradbeer
Let’s make more of these. A truly charming adventure for the whole family, this Netflix original stars Millie Bobby Brown as the title character, the sister of the most famous crime-solver of all time, Sherlock Holmes. Based on the book series of the same name, there are certainly more mysteries that Enola can solve. Why don’t you watch this one so the numbers are high enough to make one?
Year: 2016
Runtime: 1h 48m
Director: J.A. Bayona
One of the best summer movies for kids to watch on Netflix, Patrick Ness adapted his novel of the same name in this moving study of grief so strong that it basically transforms into a literal monster. Lewis MacDougall plays Conor, a child whose mother (Felicity Jones) is dying. As he tries to flee the grief in his home, he runs into a giant tree monster (voiced by Liam Neeson), who offers to tell Conor three stories. Of course, the stories are designed to teach the young man to deal with the grief over his mother in a film that may scare some of the littlest ones in the family.
Year: 2023
Runtime: 1h 38m
Director: Nick Bruno/Troy Quane
When a knight in a futuristic medieval world is framed for a crime he didn’t commit, the only one who can help him prove his innocence is Nimona — a mischievous teen who happens to be a shapeshifting creature he’s sworn to destroy. Nimona is a joyful, hilarious, and sometimes even painful romp that tackles what it means to be an outsider and explores how queer community can literally save lives.
Year: 2022
Runtime: 1h 56m
Director: Guillermo del Toro
The Oscar-winning director took his visionary skills to stop-motion animation with this instant classic, a retelling of the beloved fairy tale about the wooden boy who longed to be real. With spectacular voice work, this version reimagines Pinocchio during the period before World War II, allowing him to explore his themes of innocence and violence again. It’s a deeply personal, beautiful film.
Year: 2022
Runtime: 1h 55m
Director: Chris Williams
One of 2022’s most surprising hits for Netflix has been this film from one of the creators of Bolt and Big Hero 6. It’s a blend of a lot of things that have been done before with echoes of How to Train Your Dragon, Moana, and Pirates of the Caribbean (with a little Kaiju, too) but this is a detailed adventure film that really plays to everyone in the family.
Year: 2023
Runtime: 1h 55m
Director: Anthony Stacchi
Inspired by an epic Chinese tale, translated into an action-packed comedy, a monkey and his magical fighting stick team up on an epic quest during which they must go head-to-head against gods, demons, dragons, and the greatest enemy of all, Monkey’s own ego. Along the way, a young village girl challenges his self-centered attitude and shows him that even the smallest pebble can greatly affect the world. This is one of the best summer movies for kids to watch on Netflix!
Year: 2011
Runtime: 1h 32m
Director: Chris Miller
When Shrek 2 became one of the biggest animated films ever made, plans were put in motion to spin off Antonio Banderas’s heroic kitty into his own franchise, which arguably reached its peak with last year’s excellent Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. This first film isn’t that good but it’s still fun, and might be of interest to kids who saw last year’s movie and wonder where it all began.
Year: 2021
Runtime: 1h 50m
Director: Garth Jennings
Everyone seems to love the jukebox animated musicals with the Sing banner. Five years after the first movie, the sequel shattered box office expectations, even during a pandemic, making over $400 million worldwide. One of the highest-grossing films of 2021 reunited all of the characters from Sing to put on a show in Redshore City — and added Bono!
Year: 2022
Runtime: 1h 46m
Director: Henry Selick
The director of A Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline finally returned this year with this clever and twisted tale co-written by Oscar winner Jordan Peele. The comedian also co-stars as one of the title characters, the literal demons for a girl who blames herself for the death of her parents. Selick is a master of stop-motion animation, and this project allows him to stretch his visual prowess in new, gross ways. It’s a new Halloween classic (that can be watched anytime, of course!)
Year: 2020
Runtime: 1h 32m
Director: Kris Pearn
Remember when Tim Burton made weird, slightly disturbing kids movies? This truly inventive 2020 comedy feels inspired by those flicks as four kids decide that they’re going to replace their apathetic parents with ones that actually care. Based on the book of the same name by Lois Lowry, this flick includes voice work by Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Terry Crews, and Ricky Gervais, and it’s probably the best family movie on Netflix that you probably haven’t seen.
Year: 2023
Runtime: 1h 32m
Director: Sammi Cohen
A coming of age, a heart-warming comedy about Stacy Friedman, a girl who is determined to have the best Bat Mitzvah ever. Stacy, her best friend, Lydia, and their families have been planning this for their entire lives. But sky-high expectations, popular boy Andy Goldfarb, and general middle school growing pains pose a threat to friendship, family, and—most importantly—the perfect party.
Year: 2016
Runtime: 1h 37m
Director: Clay Kaytis/Fergal Reilly
Flightless birds lead a mostly happy existence, except for Red (Jason Sudeikis), who just can’t get past the daily annoyances of life. His temperament leads him to anger management class, where he meets fellow misfits Chuck (Josh Gad) and Bomb. Red becomes even more agitated when his feathered brethren welcome green pigs to their island paradise. As the swine begin to get under his skin, Red joins forces with Chuck and Bomb to investigate the real reason behind their mysterious arrival.
Netflix has tons of stuff the whole family can watch. While there are so many viewing options, you don’t need to waste your time sifting through them. Queue up these kid-pleasers on Netflix because there’s something for everyone on this list of the best summer movies for kids to watch from the comfort of your home. Sit back, relax, and enjoy!
4Kids.com offers a wide variety of opportunities for kids to enjoy and have fun all year round! Check out our list of resources for kids. Still looking for more summer camp activities for kids? No problem!
Check out our comprehensive listing of summer camps for kids near you. If you’re even more curious and seeking to learn more about kids’ topics, tips, and guides, check out more blog posts in the Parenting Category.
10 Summer Camp Essentials for Kids — The Ultimate Packing List
What to look for in a Summer Camp Program
Best Tips for Family Traveling with Kids
Best Funny Jokes for Kids
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