Sure, the beach, pool and backyard barbecues are staples once school lets out, but let’s be honest: Fun summer movies for families are hard to beat — and they’re the perfect way to come down after a day of fun in the sun.
Whether you’re all 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 toddlers and preschoolers
Lots of action, low on scariness and big on laughs, these summer movies for kids are ideal for children on the younger side.
1. “Toy Story 4“
Did somebody say “road trip”? Join Woody, Buzz and the gang on the adventure of a lifetime.
Director: Josh Cooley
Release date: June 21, 2019
Runtime: 1 hour, 40 minutes
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.
Director: Ron Clements, John Musker
Release date: November 23, 2016
Runtime: 1 hour, 53 minutes
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.
Director: Andrew Stanton
Release date: May 30, 2003
Runtime: 1 hour, 40 minutes
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.
Director: Andrew Stanton
Release date: June 17, 2016
Runtime: 1 hour, 43 minutes
Rating: PG
Watch: “Finding Dory” on Disney Plus
5. “The Little Mermaid“
Ariel the mermaid is desperate to explore beyond the sea.
Director: Ron Clements and John Musker
Release date: November 17, 1989
Runtime: 83 minutes
Rating: G
Watch: “The Little Mermaid” on Disney Plus
Summer movies for grade schoolers and tweens
Got an older kiddo who’s a little “too cool” for little kid movies? These summer movies for kids in grade and middle school are slightly more mature and will keep the whole family engaged (looking at you, mom and dad!).
6. “Yes Day”
Parents agree to say “yes” to their kids for a whole day.
Director: Miguel Arteta
Release date: March 12, 2021
Runtime: 1 hour, 29 minutes
Rating: PG
Watch: “Yes Day” on Netflix
7. “Finding ‘Ohana“
Two siblings from Brooklyn connect with their Hawaiian heritage.
Director: Jude Weng
Release date: January 29, 2021
Runtime: 2 hours, 3 minutes
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.
Director: John Schultz
Release date: June 10, 2011
Runtime: 1 hour, 31 minutes
Rating: PG
Watch: “Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer” on Amazon Prime Video
9. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days“
A teen (Demi Lovato) feels out of place while attending the music camp of her dreams.
Director: David Bowers
Release date: August 3, 2012
Runtime: 1 hour, 34 minutes
Rating: PG
Watch: “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days” on Disney Plus
10. “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam“
A rival camp threatens to take down the famous music camp.
Director: Paul Hoen
Release date: June 20, 2008
Runtime: 1 hour, 44 minutes
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.
Director: Jeffrey Hornaday
Release date: July 19, 2013
Runtime: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Rating: G
Watch: “Teen Beach Movie” on Amazon Prime Video
12. “The Parent Trap”
Two long-lost twins discover each other at sleepaway camp.
Director: Nancy Meyers
Release date: July 20, 1998
Runtime: 2 hours, 7 minutes
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.
Director: Melanie Mayron
Release date: August 18, 1995
Runtime: 1 hour, 34 minutes
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.
Director: David Mickey Evans
Release date: April 1, 1993
Runtime: 1 hour, 41 minutes
Rating: PG
Watch: “The Sandlot” on Disney Plus
15. “Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday“
Pee-Wee Herman goes on his first-ever holiday.
Director: John Lee
Release date: March 17, 2016
Runtime: 1 hour, 29 minutes
Rating: PG
Watch: “Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday” on Netflix
16. “Despicable Me 3“
Super villains remember how good it feels to be bad.
Director: Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda
Release date: June 30, 2017
Runtime: 1 hour, 30 minutes
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.
Director: Enrico Casarosa
Release date: June 18, 2021
Runtime: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Rating: PG
Watch: “Luca” on Disney Plus
18. “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation“
The spooktacular gang go on a summer holiday.
Director: Genndy Tartakovsky
Release date: July 13, 2018
Runtime: 1 hour, 37 minutes
Rating: PG
Watch: “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation” on Amazon Prime Video
19. “Monte Carlo”
Best friends quit their waitressing jobs to vacation in Paris for the summer.
Director: Thomas Bezucha
Release date: July 1, 2011
Runtime: 1 hour, 49 minutes
Rating: PG
Watch: “Monte Carlo” on Amazon Prime Video
Summer movies for teens
These summer movies for teens are best left to the older set, as they’re all rated PG-13. Funny, sarcastic and a little bit romantic, teens will be hard-pressed to resist these flicks.
20. “The Way Way Back“
A lonely teen spends the summer at a beach house with his mom and her boyfriend.
Director: Nat Faxon and Jim Rash
Release date: July 26, 2013
Runtime: 1 hour, 42 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Watch: “The Way Way Back” on Amazon Prime Video
21. “Moonrise Kingdom“
A young boy flees scouting camp to find his pen pal and love interest.
Director: Wes Anderson
Release date: June 29, 2012
Runtime: 1 hour, 34 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Watch: “Moonrise Kingdom” on Amazon Prime
22. “Camp“
Young kids discover who they really are at a camp for the performing arts.
Director: Todd Graff
Release date: July 25, 2003
Runtime: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Watch: “Camp” on Apple TV
23. “Paper Towns“
A popular girl ropes a quiet kid in for the ride of his life.
Director: Jake Schreier
Release date: July 24, 2015
Runtime: 1 hour, 49 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Watch: “Paper Towns” on Amazon Prime Video
