Not Too Scary Movies for Kids

On my birthday on Monday, Ryan, the boys and I piled into our bed for a birthday family movie night. On the docket was Little Giants, a childhood favorite of Ryan’s that he felt confident our kids would enjoy as it wasn’t too scary and fit right in their current obsession with all things football. I had never seen it before and thoroughly enjoyed the movie but not nearly as much as our kids who absolutely cracked up at this one!

When I shared our boys’ newfound love for Little Giants on Instagram yesterday, I shared that part of the reason they loved it was that it wasn’t scary at all. Our kids are not exactly the bravest when it comes to movies and shows (even ominous music is enough to spook them sometimes) and I had so, so many DMs from you guys who have children who are the same way. This prompted me to ask for your recommendations for movies your kids have loved that didn’t freak our your little ones who might be a little more sensitive to scary things. I received so many great suggestions! I wanted to compile them into a blog post today to make it easy to reference next time you’re looking for a not-too-scary movie to watch with little ones.

The list below comes from YOUR recommendations but I have put an asterisk (*) by the movies I added myself or the movies I agree with from your recs that our boys have watched and loved so you may easily see the ones I stand by. I hope this list is helpful the next time you’re ready to pop some popcorn and curl up on the couch with your kids!

Not Too Scary Movies for Kids

Throwback Not Too Scary Movie Favorites

This category includes movies from the 1990s/early 2000s and older that have stood the test of time!

• Homeward Bound* (this one did get some tears but the laughs at the antics of Chance and Sassy majorly eclipsed the tears — plus it’s not too long!)
• Cool Runnings* (another once that absolutely cracked our kids up)
• Space Jam*
• Babe* (I personally ADORE this movie)
• Air Bud*
• The Parent Trap* (the Lindsay Lohan version)
• Elf* 
• Peter Pan*
• Little Rascals
• First Kid
• Cheaper By the Dozen (both 1 and 2)
• My Dog Skip
• The Sandlot
• Freaky Friday 
• Red Dog 
• Mary Poppins
• Honey I Shrunk the Kids
• Rookie of the Year
• Harriet the Spy
• Milo and Otis
• The Brady Bunch
• Swiss Family Robinson
• Curious George 
• The Rescuers Down Under 
• A Bugs Life 
• Monsters, Inc. 
• Ratatouille
• Fly Away Home
• Mary Kate & Ashley Movies

More Recent Not too Scary Movie Recommendations

This category includes more recent movie favorites that aren’t too scary.

• Madagascar* (If you haven’t seen this one you HAVE TO watch it!!! It’s hilarious for both kids and adults. A rare gem!)
• Cars* 
• How to Train Your Dragon* (The beginning can be a little spooky but it calms down pretty fast.)
• Despicable Me* (those Minions are so dang funny!)
• The Incredibles*
• Zootopia* (Note: The first time we tried this one, it was a little too spooky in parts, but they like it now!)
• Migration* 
• Encanto* 
• Sing*
• Hunt for the Wilderpeople 
• The Mitchells vs The Machines
• Flow
• Coco
• The Lego Movie

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Any not-too-scary movies for kids you’d add to this list?