Family Movie Magic - The Best New Kids Films Hitting Theaters in 2025
From sequels to live-action remakes, here are the must-see family movies that will make your next theater trip a hit for both kids and parents.
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Few things mark childhood quite like outgrowing old hobbies and discovering new favorites. But if there’s one tradition that never seems to fade, it’s the magic of going to the movies, complete with a big tub of popcorn and some favorite candy in hand.
Sure, streaming at home is convenient, but nothing beats the thrill of watching a feel-good film on the big screen, especially during those much-needed school breaks. If you’re nodding along, you’ll be happy to know that 2025 is shaping up to be a fantastic year for family-friendly films.
From highly anticipated sequels to live-action adaptations of beloved classics, this year’s lineup is packed with movies that promise to delight kids and keep parents entertained, too.
Ready to plan your next family movie outing? Here are 16 of the best new kids' movies hitting theaters in 2025!
Henry Danger: The Movie
Release Date: Now Playing | Rating: TV-PG
Fast forward years later as Henry Hart, known as Kid Danger from the popular Nickelodeon show, is sucked into a reality-altering device. He becomes trapped in a series of stories that could affect his life forever. Henry encounters powerful villains; the question is, can he fight through all the different worlds he encounters?
Dogman
Release Date: Now Playing | Rating: PG
Based on the popular Dog Man book series, director Peter Hastings brings this favored hero to life through this animated movie. A “life-saving” surgery saves a police officer and his dog companion when they get wounded in the line of duty by making the two into one—dog and man. Dog Man has to stop an evil cat named Petey from making a clone of himself. Can Dog Man save the day?
Captain America: Brave New World
Release Date: Now Playing | Rating: PG-13
It’s been over five years since the last Marvel movie hit theaters. Starring Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson) as the new Captain America, Sam takes on his new role to find who is behind an international incident. Who can the new captain trust?
Paddington in Peru
Release Date: Now Playing | Rating: PG
With a rating of over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes already, Paddington in Peru “proves, once again, that a little bear with a heart can change the world.” Take your family out to watch the journey that ensues when Paddington visits his Aunt Lucy at the Home for Retired Bears.
Snow White
Release Date: March 21, 2025 | Rating: PG
From the 1937 Disney classic, Greta Gerwig and Erin Cressida Wilson bring their screenplay of the Snow White live-action to theaters this spring. Director Marc Webb shares the fairytale of Snow White (Rachel Zegler) and her seven dwarfs and how they must stand up to the Evil Queen.
A Minecraft Movie
Release Date: April 4, 2025 | Rating: PG
The Minecraft game has been popular among kids and adults since 2009. In this fun movie, actor Jack Black (Steve) helps a group of kids and adults return home by guiding them on an adventure in “a wonderland where anything you can imagine is possible.” This star cast includes actors Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa, Danielle Brooks, Kate McKinnon, and more.
Lilo & Stitch
Release Date: May 23, 2025 | Rating: TBD
When a genetically-engineered alien arrives on earth on an island in Hawaii, a little girl named Lilo takes him in and names him “Stitch.” Together, they show that “Ohana” really means family, but can they stay together? Fans of the 2002 animated film need to see the live-action coming in May!
Karate Kid: Legends
Release Date: May 30, 2025 | Rating: PG
The beloved Jackie Chan returns to the box office this summer. Mr. Han recruits the help of Daniel LaRusso (the OG Karate Kid) to guide a young teen named Li Fong to stand up for himself in his new home of New York City.
How to Train Your Dragon
Release Date: June 13, 2025 | Rating: PG
On an island where dragons are the enemy, a young teenager named Hiccup goes against the grain and befriends a dragon named Toothless. His decision is the catalyst to a new way of life and shows how the land of people and dragons can join together to save each other’s kind. Don’t forget to add this to your list of must-see kids movies coming to theaters this year!
Jurassic World Rebirth
Release Date: July 2, 2025 | Rating: PG-13
Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey) and Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson) are tasked with finding DNA that will aid in a medical breakthrough that could “save countless lives.” The thing is, what they need to extract comes from the largest dinosaurs on the planet. Join the adventure to find out if they can survive the dinosaurs that were too dangerous for Jurassic Park.
Superman
Release Date: July 11, 2025 | Rating: PG-13
From the director of the Guardians of The Galaxy movie trilogy, this new rendition of Superman shares the story of Clark Kent (played by David Corenswet) and how his two worlds of human and alien heritage intertwine. The cast includes actors Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as the classic villain Lex Luthor.
Smurfs
Release Date: July 18, 2025 | Rating: TBD
Voiced by Rihanna, Smurfette is back on a new adventure. This time, she’s forced on a quest to save Papa Smurf who is pulled into the real world by evil wizards. This fun cast includes actors John Goodman, Octavia Spencer, Sandra Oh, Kurt Russell, and more.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Release Date: July 25, 2025 | Rating: TBD
The Fantastic Four: Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm take on the mission to save planet earth from the evil space god, Galactus. Find out if the bond between the four members is strong enough to defeat what comes their way to save the planet.
The Bad Guys 2
Release Date: August 1, 2025 | Rating: PG
Is it true that once a bad guy, always a bad guy? It’s hard to prove you’re good when an all-girls crew of criminals makes you do “one last job” on the bad side.
Freakier Friday
Release Date: August 8, 2025 | Rating: TBD
Our favorite mother-daughter duo, Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, are returning for a Freaky Friday sequel, Freakier Friday, hitting theaters this August. More than 20 years ago, we watched as Tess and Anna found a new appreciation for each other by switching bodies. Present day, Anna is all grown up with a daughter of her own and, this time, she’s going to be a stepmother. Watch to see if “that lightning might strike twice.” This will surely be a parent favorite among new kids’ movies coming to theaters this year.
Wicked: For Good
Release Date: November 21, 2025 | Rating: PG
The highly-anticipated second part of the Wicked movie comes out this November, and we’re all counting down the days until we can sing along with our favorite witches. While the first Wicked film left us with a cliffhanger, the second act will be an adventure of how Elphaba and Glinda continue to be perceived as good vs. bad. Join the emotional journey of love and turmoil. Rumor has it, there will be new songs we’ve never heard before!
Zootopia 2
Release Date: November 26, 2025 | Rating: PG
Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde come together to solve their newest case in Zootopia where a “mysterious” reptile wreaking havoc on the city forces them to go undercover. Hopefully, the detectives can crack this case just as well as they did in the first movie—and might develop more than a friendship along the way.
No matter the season, a trip to the movies is always a fun way to spend time together as a family and with this lineup of exciting new releases, there’s plenty to look forward to this year. Whether you’re excited for a highly anticipated sequel, a nostalgic live-action remake, or a fresh new adventure, there’s something for everyone on the big screen this year.
Which of these movies are you most excited to see with your kids? Are there any family favorites you’re hoping to rewatch at home? Drop a comment below, I’d love to hear your picks! 🎬🍿
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I'm excited about so many of these! We are already planning an outing to see Stitch because it falls near my birthday. We have a Hawaiian BBQ restaurant in town and I think it will be the perfect day date with kids to go before or after!
I'm excited for a lot of these. I love taking my kids to the theater. I fully intend to turn my kids into cinephiles. 😂
Family movie night at home is fun too. Here is my list of the first movies to ever show your kids: https://open.substack.com/pub/familycinema/p/family-films-where-to-start