The 18 best PG movies on Netflix for kids and adults

The Bad Guys (2022)

Based on the graphic novel series of the same name, The Bad Guys is essentially a melding of Zootopia and Ocean’s Eleven. The dazzling heist comedy tells the story of a group of animal criminals that are finally caught and given the chance to reform themselves. While most of the gang is only pretending to go the straight and narrow, their leader, Mr. Wolf (voiced by Sam Rockwell), finds himself genuinely inspired to become better. The DreamWorks film features a stunning blend of 2-D and 3-D animation (reminiscent of 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), which lends it a kinetic comic-book feel. —Kevin Jacobsen

Where to watch The Bad Guys: Netflix

Director: Pierre Perifel

Cast: Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023)

In this claymation sequel to Aardman Animations’ 2000 hit Chicken Run, the valiant fowls Rocky (Zachary Levi) and Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) are living peacefully after escaping from Mrs. Tweedy’s farm. But soon a new threat arises: A modernized poultry processing plant is built nearby, which uses electric collars to subdue the chickens and make them into tasty nuggets. When Rocky and Ginger’s daughter, Molly (Bella Ramsey), is unwittingly trapped in the factory, it’s up to the feathered fighters to mount a rescue. Typical for an Aardman production, the film is full of clever visual gags that punctuate a heartfelt adventure story. —Danny Horn

Where to watch Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget: Netflix

Director: Sam Fell

Cast: Thandiwe Newton, Zachary Levi, Bella Ramsey, Miranda Richardson

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)

“It’s a story you may think you know,” says the cricket (Ewan McGregor), “but you don’t.” Indeed, Guillermo del Toro‘s stop-motion animated version of Pinocchio is something we’ve never seen before — a dark but joyous story about the virtue of disobedience set in Italy during Mussolini’s fascist regime. Fashioned by a woodcarver (David Bradley) grieving over the loss of his child, the little wooden puppet (Gregory Mann) is a rambunctious, willful lad who refuses to be caged or silenced. His adventures take him to the circus, the Army, the depths of the sea, and the afterlife in this impressive Oscar-winning masterpiece. —D.H.

Where to watch Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio: Netflix

Directors: Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson

Cast: Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Gregory Mann, Christoph Waltz

Klaus (2019)

Where exactly did Santa Claus come from? There’s the real-life story of Saint Nick’s origins, but this well-regarded animated film offers a delightful alternative. Set in 19th-century Norway, Klaus follows Jesper Johansen (voiced by Jason Schwartzman), who struggles to meet the expectations of his father, the Postmaster General. Jesper partners with a woodworker in devising a toy delivery system, and a whole new tradition is born. Praised for its gorgeous hand-drawn animation and inventive storytelling, Klaus is, to date, the only Christmas-themed film to earn an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. —K.J.

Where to watch Klaus: Netflix

Director: Sergio Pablos

Cast: Jason Schwartzman, J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones, Norm Macdonald, Joan Cusack

KPop Demon Hunters (2025)

A title like KPop Demon Hunters may sound a little goofy at first blush, but there’s a reason this animated musical has become a global chart-topping sensation. The film centers on Huntr/x, a K-pop girl group that moonlights as demon hunters tasked with preventing these powerful enemies from overtaking the world. They face their biggest match in the form of a rival boy band who are secretly demons, while one of the members of Huntr/x holds a secret about her own lineage. With colorful animation and a soundtrack full of bangers, KPop Demon Hunters also skillfully delves into resonant themes of identity and self-acceptance. —K.J.

Where to watch KPop Demon Hunters: Netflix

Directors: Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans

Cast: Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Yunjin Kim

Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

This breathtaking stop-motion animated film from the geniuses at Laika is an engrossing tale of adventure and family legacy. Kubo (Art Parkinson) is a magical lute-wielding boy living in feudal Japan. He’s missing one eye, and his mother desperately tries to protect him from their predatory relatives who hope to steal his other eye for nefarious purposes. Kubo’s mom encourages him to find his father’s protective armor, sending him on a dangerous quest through land and sea with some trusted sidekicks along for the ride. EW’s critic calls the Oscar-nominated film “a visually stunning, richly imagined oasis in a sea of candy-colored safety.” —K.J.

Where to watch Kubo and the Two Strings: Netflix

EW grade: A–

Director: Travis Knight

Cast: Art Parkinson, Charlize Theron, Ralph Fiennes, Rooney Mara, George Takei

Little Women (1994)

While Greta Gerwig’s 2019 adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic may be more front of mind nowadays, let’s not forget this cozy Gillian Armstrong version featuring some of the brightest young stars of the ’90s. Winona Ryder earned an Oscar nomination for her high-spirited performance as Jo March, who grows up in 19th-century New England with her sisters, Meg (Trini Alvarado), Beth (Claire Danes), and Amy (Kirsten Dunst, later Samantha Mathis). As the sisters come of age, they realize what (and who) they want out of life.

This version of Little Women keeps the warmth of Alcott’s original story told in a faithfully straightforward manner, with EW’s critic calling it, “a graceful, unsentimental, well-made movie.” —K.J.

Where to watch Little Women: Netflix

EW grade: A

Director: Gillian Armstrong

Cast: Winona Ryder, Susan Sarandon, Trini Alvarado, Kirsten Dunst, Claire Danes

The Monkey King (2023)

Loosely based on a classic 16th-century novel, The Monkey King offers a modern spin on Chinese mythology. A self-proclaimed hero and candidate for immortality, a bold young chimp (Jimmy O. Yang) declares himself King of the Monkeys and decides to fight 100 demons to become a god. He’s silly and arrogant, but also a fierce fighter, stealing a magic staff from the Dragon King (Bowen Yang) that the monster would very much like to have back. A pleasing mix of comedy, adventure, and mysticism, The Monkey King highlights a folk tradition often overlooked in kids’ movies. —D.H.

Where to watch The Monkey King: Netflix

Director: Anthony Stacchi

Cast: Jimmy O. Yang, Bowen Yang, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport, Jo Koy

Nimona (2023)

A futuristic fairy tale for everyone who feels out of place, Nimona stars Chloë Grace Moretz as a willful shapeshifter who insists on becoming the sidekick to a knight (Riz Ahmed) unfairly accused of murdering the queen. Able to turn into anything as long as it’s pink, Nimona glories in the freedom of defining her own identity, but risks being labeled a monster. As EW’s critic observes, “The story admiringly delves into how such monsters are in fact created by a society that refuses to accept their differences.” —D.H.

Where to watch Nimona: Netflix

EW grade: B+

Directors: Nick Bruno, Troy Quane

Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Eugene Lee Yang, Frances Conroy

Paddington in Peru (2024)

Our favorite marmalade-loving bear returned to his home in this delightful third entry in the Paddington film franchise. After hearing word that his aunt Lucy has gone missing, Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw) brings his adoptive London family to Darkest Peru to investigate the jungles. While getting to see Paddington and company in a new environment is a fun change of pace, the highlight of Paddington in Peru is the scene-stealing performances from Antonio Banderas and Olivia Colman, as a riverboat captain and a Reverend Mother, respectively, who may have an ulterior motive or two for helping the family. —K.J.

Where to watch Paddington in Peru: Netflix

Director: Dougal Wilson

Cast: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent

Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical (2022)

Precocious student Matilda Wormwood (Alisha Weir) leads a spirited uprising against the status quo in this lively adaptation of the book and stage musical Matilda. The girl’s disdainful parents, unimpressed with her intelligence and independent spirit, decide to send her to Crunchem Hall, where the ruthless headmistress (Emma Thompson) specializes in bringing troublemaking tykes into line. Weir’s fierce performance anchors the magical elements of the plot as she fearlessly stands her ground. The film features catchy tunes with impressively athletic choreography, and the revolutionary anthem “Revolting Children” is especially rousing. —D.H.

Where to watch Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical: Netflix

Director: Matthew Warchus

Cast: Alisha Weir, Emma Thompson, Lashana Lynch, Stephen Graham

The Sea Beast (2022)

In a world where enormous sea creatures threaten anyone who ventures out onto the ocean, it’s up to brave heroes like the legendary Jacob Holland (Karl Urban) to hunt them down. But an orphan girl named Maisie (Zaris-Angel Hator) stows away on what could be Jacob’s final voyage and discovers that the beasts may not be as fearsome as they appear. Jacob and his protégée must face off against the monsters — both marine and human — in this tale of bravery and heart, which snagged a Best Animated Feature nomination at the 2023 Oscars. —D.H.

Where to watch The Sea Beast: Netflix

Director: Chris Williams

Cast: Karl Urban, Zaris-Angel Hator, Jared Harris

Spy Kids: Armageddon (2023)

The fifth film in the Spy Kids franchise, Armageddon reboots the series after a more than 10-year absence from the screen. When two married spies (Zachary Levi and Gina Rodriguez) go missing, young Tony (Connor Esterson) and Patty (Everly Carganilla) discover their parents’ safe house and learn how to become secret agents themselves. The villain is a game developer who’s taken control of all technology, so naturally, the kids’ familiarity with video games is a major asset in the world-saving department. There aren’t a lot of surprises if you’ve seen the previous installments, but newcomers will enjoy it. —D.H.

Where to watch Spy Kids: Armageddon: Netflix

Director: Robert Rodriguez

Cast: Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi, Connor Esterson, Everly Carganilla

Vivo (2021)

In addition to composing its songs, Lin-Manuel Miranda stars in Vivo, the story of a singing kinkajou who embarks on a dangerous but inspiring quest from Havana to Miami. When his street performer partner dies, Vivo is charged with delivering a romantic song to the man’s lost love, a successful singer (Gloria Estefan) who’s about to retire. Vivo is accompanied by Gabi (Ynairaly Simo), an irritating 10-year-old girl with a gift for music. EW’s critic writes that the movie “sort of delivers as an energetic caper, moving from one colorful locale to another,” and Miranda’s melodies make the journey worthwhile. —D.H.

Where to watch Vivo: Netflix

EW grade: B

Director: Kirk DeMicco

Cast: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ynairaly Simo, Zoe Saldaña, Juan de Marcos, Gloria Estefan

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024)

Break out the cheese: Wallace and Gromit are back, and they haven’t missed a beat. Vengeance Most Fowl finds the cheeky inventor and his dog trying to track down penguin mastermind Feathers McGraw, who hopes to get his flippers on the priceless Blue Diamond. Not helping matters is Feathers reprogramming Wallace’s latest invention, a robotic garden gnome, to help him in his dastardly heist. Making great use of its trademark claymation for clever action sequences, Vengeance Most Fowl retains the level of quality we expect from this series. —K.J.

Where to watch Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl: Netflix

Directors: Nick Park, Merlin Crossingham

Cast: Ben Whitehead, Peter Kay, Lauren Patel, Reece Shearsmith

The Wild Robot (2024)

A service robot and an orphaned gosling become family in this heartfelt animated sci-fi dramedy. Their relationship blossoms shortly after the robot, nicknamed Roz (Lupita Nyong’o), washes up on an island populated only by wild animals. Adapting to her unfamiliar surroundings, she becomes a mother figure to young Brightbill (Kit Connor) and uses her particular set of skills to protect their environment. Nominated for three Oscars — Best Original Score, Best Sound, and Best Animated Feature — The Wild Robot was a hit with critics and audiences, and a sequel is now in development (per Deadline). —K.J.

Where to watch The Wild Robot: Netflix

Director: Chris Sanders

Cast: Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu

The Willoughbys (2020)

Stuck with a mother and father who neglect and abuse them, the four young Willoughbys come up with a fiendish plot, sending their parents off on a vacation to dangerous places and hoping that they get killed. It’s a grim premise, but the appealing characters and vibrant animation make The Willoughbys more uplifting than you’d expect, as the kids determine what kind of family they really want. The voice cast includes comedy powerhouses Will Forte as eldest son Tim, Maya Rudolph as the children’s quirky nanny, and Ricky Gervais as the cat who narrates the film. —D.H.

Where to watch The Willoughbys: Netflix

Director: Kris Pearn

Cast: Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Ricky Gervais, Alessia Cara

Yes Day (2021)

Stressed parents Allison (Jennifer Garner) and Carlos (Edgar Ramirez) learn about the liberating power of “yes” in this winning family comedy. Allison’s tired of her three kids calling her the “fun killer,” so she and Carlos agree to observe Yes Day, a 24-hour period where they must agree to any crazy requests their children make. The kids, led by a pre-Wednesday Jenna Ortega, get their parents to dress in funny clothes, go through a carwash with the windows down, and take a trip to an amusement park, which turns unexpectedly chaotic. —D.H.

Where to watch Yes Day: Netflix

Director: Miguel Arteta

Cast: Jennifer Garner, Edgar Ramirez, Jenna Ortega, Julian Lerner