Sure, the beach, pool and backyard barbecues are staples once school lets out, but let’s be honest: A summer vacation movie is hard to beat. Whether you’re hunkering down on the couch because it’s raining out or you’ve got a sweet outdoor theater setup, make sure these summer movies for kids are in your rotation. There’s something here for everyone.
Summer movies for kids toddlers and preschoolers
1. ‘Toy Story 4’
Did somebody say “road trip”? Join Woody, Buzz and the gang on the adventure of a lifetime.
Rating: G
Watch: “Toy Story 4” on Amazon Prime Video
2. ‘Moana’
A young girl goes on a daring sea adventure to save her community.
Rating: PG
Watch: “Moana” on Amazon Prime
3. ‘Finding Nemo’
A clownfish is unexpectedly taken from his home in the sea and brought to a dentist’s office.
Rating: G
Watch: “Finding Nemo” on Disney Plus
4. ‘Finding Dory’
A forgetful blue tang fish suddenly remembers she has a family who’s looking for her.
Rating: PG
Watch: “Finding Dory” on Disney Plus
5. ‘The Little Mermaid’
Ariel the mermaid is desperate to explore beyond the sea.
Rating: G
Watch: “The Little Mermaid” on Disney Plus
Summer movies for grade schoolers and tweens
6. ‘Yes Day’
Parents agree to say “yes” to their kids for a whole day.
Rating: PG
Watch: “Yes Day” on Netflix
7. ‘Finding ‘Ohana’
Two siblings from Brooklyn connect with their Hawaiian heritage.
Rating: PG
Watch: “Finding ‘Ohana” on Netflix
8. ‘Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer’
Judy Moody’s goal this summer is to get as many “thrill points” as she possibly can.
Rating: PG
Watch: “Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer” on Amazon Prime Video
9. ‘Camp Rock’
A teen (Demi Lovato) feels out of place while attending the music camp of her dreams.
Rating: G
Watch: “Camp Rock” on Disney Plus
10. ‘Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam’
A rival camp threatens to take down the famous music camp.
Rating: G
Watch: “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam” on Disney Plus
11. ‘Teen Beach Movie’
Two teens are transported into a retro surf movie.
Rating: G
Watch: “Teen Beach Movie” on Amazon Prime Video
12. ‘The Parent Trap’
Two long-lost twins discover each other at sleepaway camp.
Rating: PG
Watch: “The Parent Trap” on Disney Plus
13. ‘The Baby-Sitters Club’
A group of babysitters start a summer camp for their clients.
Rating: PG
Watch: “The Baby-Sitters Club” on Amazon Prime Video
14. ‘The Sandlot’
A new-to-town kid makes friends by joining a ragtag baseball team.
Rating: PG
Watch: “The Sandlot” on Amazon Prime Video
15. ‘Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday’
Pee-Wee Herman goes on his first-ever holiday.
Rating: PG
Watch: “Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday” on Netflix
16. ‘Despicable Me 3’
Super villains remember how good it feels to be bad.
Rating: PG
Watch: “Despicable Me 3” on Amazon Prime Video
17. ‘Luca’
A coming-of-age summer story that can only be done by Disney.
Rating: PG
Watch: “Luca” on Disney Plus
18. ‘Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation’
The spooktacular gang go on a summer holiday.
Rating: PG
Watch: “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation” on Amazon Prime Video
Summer movies for teens
19. ‘The Way Way Back’
A lonely teen spends the summer at a beach house with his mom and her boyfriend.
Rating: PG-13
Watch: “The Way Way Back” on Amazon Prime Video
20. ‘Moonrise Kingdom’
A young boy flees scouting camp to find his pen pal and love interest.
Rating: PG-13
Watch: “Moonrise Kingdom” on Hulu
21. ‘Camp’
Young kids discover who they really are at a camp for the performing arts.
Rating: PG-13
Watch: “Camp” on Amazon Prime Video
22. ‘Paper Towns’
A popular girl ropes a quiet kid in for the ride of his life.
Rating: PG-13
Watch: “Paper Towns” on Amazon Prime Video
