20 Animated Gems & Family-Friendly Favorites Streaming Now

by

The Art of the Reel

Filmmakers skilled in crafting family-friendly animated films masterfully blend vibrant visuals, heartfelt stories, and humor that captivate both children and adults alike. We have gathered some quotes below from filmmakers who have successfully achieved this objective ;

🌟 Ralph Bakshi (Fritz the Cat, The Lord of the Rings)

“What’s most important in animation is the emotions and the ideas being portrayed. I’m a great believer of energy and emotion.”

🎨 John Lasseter (Pixar, Toy Story)

“The medium of animation has infinite possibilities to engage and entertain.”

“Animation can explain anything.”

“If you’re sitting in your minivan, playing your computer animated films for your children… No amount of great animation will save a bad story.”

đź›  Henry Selick (Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas)

“Stop-motion is the only medium where we literally can make a toy come to life, an actual object.”

“What stop‑motion does best is… the electricity of someone touching… to get life out of an inanimate object.”

“Every kid has a toy… they imagine it being alive… Stop‑motion has a primal nature.”

🎥 Chris Buck (Disney):

“When you’re making a family film, you’re trying to capture that magic where kids are entertained, parents are moved, and everyone leaves feeling something. It’s about shared experiences.”

🎬 Brad Bird (Pixar/Disney):

“Animation is not a genre, it’s a medium. You can tell any kind of story—funny, sad, scary, romantic—and it’s perfect for family films because it speaks to everyone’s imagination.”

These quotes collectively portray animation as a dynamic, imaginative, and emotionally resonant medium that combines artistry, technology, and storytelling to create impactful narratives, unbound by the constraints of live-action filmmaking. Every film on this list, boasting 80%+ audience approval, has achieved the goal of entertaining the adults, while also engaging the imagination of the children. My criteria focus on 21st-century releases, rather than older releases. I categorize highly rated films released before 2000 as Classics.

The Reel Collection

Below is the list of 20 selected family-friendly contemporary films for your streaming enjoyment;

🍿 Amazon Prime Video

The Wild Robot

  • Release Date: September 27, 2024
  • Synopsis: Roz, a robot stranded on a wild island, adapts by befriending animals and raising an orphaned gosling, discovering a new purpose in her unexpected role as a caretaker.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 97% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

  • Release Date: April 5, 2023
  • Synopsis: Mario and Luigi, Brooklyn plumbers, are transported to the Mushroom Kingdom, where Mario teams up with Princess Peach to rescue Luigi from the villainous Bowser.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 95% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Stream  

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

  • Release Date: June 2, 2023
  • Synopsis: Miles Morales ventures across the multiverse, joining a team of Spider-People to face a new threat, redefining heroism as they clash over how to handle it.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 94% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

  • Release Date: December 21, 2022
  • Synopsis: Puss in Boots, down to his final life, embarks on a quest to find the mythical Last Wish to restore his nine lives, facing danger and rediscovering his courage.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 94% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Stream

Coco

  • Release Date: November 22, 2017
  • Synopsis: Miguel, banned from music by his family, journeys to the Land of the Dead to uncover his great-great-grandfather’s legacy and pursue his musical dreams.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 94% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

Encanto

  • Release Date: November 24, 2021
  • Synopsis: Mirabel, the only non-magical member of her enchanted family, discovers she may be the key to saving their magical home when it begins to falter.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 93% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

Zootopia

  • Release Date: March 4, 2016
  • Synopsis: Judy Hopps, a rookie bunny cop, teams up with sly fox Nick Wilde to solve a mysterious case in the animal city of Zootopia, uncovering a threatening plot.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 92% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

How to Train Your Dragon

  • Release Date: March 26, 2010
  • Synopsis: Hiccup, a young Viking, befriends a dragon named Toothless, challenging his village’s traditions and proving dragons are more than just enemies.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 91% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

Up

  • Release Date: May 29, 2009
  • Synopsis: Carl Fredricksen, a retired balloon salesman, lifts his house with balloons to adventure in South America, accidentally taking a young scout along.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 90% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

Moana

  • Release Date: November 23, 2016
  • Synopsis: Moana, a Polynesian teenager, sails across the ocean to restore the heart of Te Fiti, guided by her ancestors and joined by demigod Maui.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 89% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

The Mitchells vs. The Machines

  • Release Date: April 30, 2021
  • Synopsis: A quirky family’s road trip becomes a battle against a robot apocalypse, forcing them to work together as humanity’s unlikely last hope.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 89% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

Inside Out

  • Release Date: June 19, 2015
  • Synopsis: Riley’s emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust—navigate her mind as she struggles with a family move, learning to balance joy and sadness.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 89% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

Frozen

  • Release Date: November 27, 2013
  • Synopsis: Anna sets off to find her sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped their kingdom in eternal winter, joined by a mountaineer and a magical snowman.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 89% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

Soul

  • Release Date: December 25, 2020
  • Synopsis: Joe Gardner, a jazz musician, lands a dream gig but ends up in the afterlife, teaming with an unborn soul to return to his body and find life’s meaning.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 88% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Buy 

Raya and the Last Dragon

  • Release Date: March 5, 2021
  • Synopsis: Raya, a lone warrior, seeks the last dragon, Sisu, to unite the fractured land of Kumandra and defeat a dark force threatening her world.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 88% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Buy 

The Lego Movie

  • Release Date: February 7, 2014
  • Synopsis: Emmet, an ordinary LEGO figure, is mistaken for the ‘Special’ and leads a diverse group to stop a tyrant from freezing the LEGO universe in eternal order.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 87% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

Toy Story 4

  • Release Date: June 21, 2019
  • Synopsis: Woody, Buzz, and the gang embark on a road trip with Forky, a new toy with an identity crisis, leading Woody to a reunion that redefines his purpose.
  • MPAA Rating: G
  • Popcorn Meter: 87% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

Finding Nemo

  • Release Date: May 30, 2003
  • Synopsis: Marlin, a cautious clownfish, embarks on an ocean-spanning adventure to rescue his son Nemo, captured by divers, with help from forgetful fish Dory.
  • MPAA Rating: G
  • Popcorn Meter: 86% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

🍏 Apple TV+

The Wild Robot

  • Release Date: September 27, 2024
  • Synopsis: Roz, a robot stranded on a wild island, adapts by befriending animals and raising an orphaned gosling, discovering a new purpose in her unexpected role as a caretaker.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 97% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

  • Release Date: April 5, 2023
  • Synopsis: Mario and Luigi, Brooklyn plumbers, are transported to the Mushroom Kingdom, where Mario teams up with Princess Peach to rescue Luigi from the villainous Bowser.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 95% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy  

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

  • Release Date: June 2, 2023
  • Synopsis: Miles Morales ventures across the multiverse, joining a team of Spider-People to face a new threat, redefining heroism as they clash over how to handle it.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 94% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

  • Release Date: December 21, 2022
  • Synopsis: Puss in Boots, down to his final life, embarks on a quest to find the mythical Last Wish to restore his nine lives, facing danger and rediscovering his courage.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 94% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy

Coco

  • Release Date: November 22, 2017
  • Synopsis: Miguel, banned from music by his family, journeys to the Land of the Dead to uncover his great-great-grandfather’s legacy and pursue his musical dreams.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 94% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

Encanto

  • Release Date: November 24, 2021
  • Synopsis: Mirabel, the only non-magical member of her enchanted family, discovers she may be the key to saving their magical home when it begins to falter.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 93% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

Zootopia

  • Release Date: March 4, 2016
  • Synopsis: Judy Hopps, a rookie bunny cop, teams up with sly fox Nick Wilde to solve a mysterious case in the animal city of Zootopia, uncovering a threatening plot.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 92% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

How to Train Your Dragon

  • Release Date: March 26, 2010
  • Synopsis: Hiccup, a young Viking, befriends a dragon named Toothless, challenging his village’s traditions and proving dragons are more than just enemies.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 91% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

Up

  • Release Date: May 29, 2009
  • Synopsis: Carl Fredricksen, a retired balloon salesman, lifts his house with balloons to adventure in South America, accidentally taking a young scout along.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 90% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

Moana

  • Release Date: November 23, 2016
  • Synopsis: Moana, a Polynesian teenager, sails across the ocean to restore the heart of Te Fiti, guided by her ancestors and joined by demigod Maui.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 89% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

The Mitchells vs. The Machines

  • Release Date: April 30, 2021
  • Synopsis: A quirky family’s road trip becomes a battle against a robot apocalypse, forcing them to work together as humanity’s unlikely last hope.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 89% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

Inside Out

  • Release Date: June 19, 2015
  • Synopsis: Riley’s emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust—navigate her mind as she struggles with a family move, learning to balance joy and sadness.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 89% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

Frozen

  • Release Date: November 27, 2013
  • Synopsis: Anna sets off to find her sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped their kingdom in eternal winter, joined by a mountaineer and a magical snowman.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 89% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

Soul

  • Release Date: December 25, 2020
  • Synopsis: Joe Gardner, a jazz musician, lands a dream gig but ends up in the afterlife, teaming with an unborn soul to return to his body and find life’s meaning.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 88% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy  

Raya and the Last Dragon

  • Release Date: March 5, 2021
  • Synopsis: Raya, a lone warrior, seeks the last dragon, Sisu, to unite the fractured land of Kumandra and defeat a dark force threatening her world.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 88% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Buy 

The Lego Movie

  • Release Date: February 7, 2014
  • Synopsis: Emmet, an ordinary LEGO figure, is mistaken for the ‘Special’ and leads a diverse group to stop a tyrant from freezing the LEGO universe in eternal order.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 87% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

Toy Story 4

  • Release Date: June 21, 2019
  • Synopsis: Woody, Buzz, and the gang embark on a road trip with Forky, a new toy with an identity crisis, leading Woody to a reunion that redefines his purpose.
  • MPAA Rating: G
  • Popcorn Meter: 87% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

Finding Nemo

  • Release Date: May 30, 2003
  • Synopsis: Marlin, a cautious clownfish, embarks on an ocean-spanning adventure to rescue his son Nemo, captured by divers, with help from forgetful fish Dory.
  • MPAA Rating: G
  • Popcorn Meter: 86% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy 

 

🌟 Disney+  

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

  • Release Date: June 2, 2023
  • Synopsis: Miles Morales ventures across the multiverse, joining a team of Spider-People to face a new threat, redefining heroism as they clash over how to handle it.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 94% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Stream

Coco

  • Release Date: November 22, 2017
  • Synopsis: Miguel, banned from music by his family, journeys to the Land of the Dead to uncover his great-great-grandfather’s legacy and pursue his musical dreams.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 94% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Stream  

Encanto

  • Release Date: November 24, 2021
  • Synopsis: Mirabel, the only non-magical member of her enchanted family, discovers she may be the key to saving their magical home when it begins to falter.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 93% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Stream  

Zootopia

  • Release Date: March 4, 2016
  • Synopsis: Judy Hopps, a rookie bunny cop, teams up with sly fox Nick Wilde to solve a mysterious case in the animal city of Zootopia, uncovering a threatening plot.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 92% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Stream  

Up

  • Release Date: May 29, 2009
  • Synopsis: Carl Fredricksen, a retired balloon salesman, lifts his house with balloons to adventure in South America, accidentally taking a young scout along.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 90% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Stream  

Moana

  • Release Date: November 23, 2016
  • Synopsis: Moana, a Polynesian teenager, sails across the ocean to restore the heart of Te Fiti, guided by her ancestors and joined by demigod Maui.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 89% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Stream

Inside Out

  • Release Date: June 19, 2015
  • Synopsis: Riley’s emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust—navigate her mind as she struggles with a family move, learning to balance joy and sadness.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 89% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Stream  

Frozen

  • Release Date: November 27, 2013
  • Synopsis: Anna sets off to find her sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped their kingdom in eternal winter, joined by a mountaineer and a magical snowman.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 89% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Stream  

Soul

  • Release Date: December 25, 2020
  • Synopsis: Joe Gardner, a jazz musician, lands a dream gig but ends up in the afterlife, teaming with an unborn soul to return to his body and find life’s meaning.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 88% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Stream  

Raya and the Last Dragon

  • Release Date: March 5, 2021
  • Synopsis: Raya, a lone warrior, seeks the last dragon, Sisu, to unite the fractured land of Kumandra and defeat a dark force threatening her world.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 88% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Stream  

Toy Story 4

  • Release Date: June 21, 2019
  • Synopsis: Woody, Buzz, and the gang embark on a road trip with Forky, a new toy with an identity crisis, leading Woody to a reunion that redefines his purpose.
  • MPAA Rating: G
  • Popcorn Meter: 87% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Stream  

Finding Nemo

  • Release Date: May 30, 2003
  • Synopsis: Marlin, a cautious clownfish, embarks on an ocean-spanning adventure to rescue his son Nemo, captured by divers, with help from forgetful fish Dory.
  • MPAA Rating: G
  • Popcorn Meter: 86% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Stream 

 

🏠 Fandango At Home – Paid (Buy/Rent)

The Wild Robot

  • Release Date: September 27, 2024
  • Synopsis: Roz, a robot stranded on a wild island, adapts by befriending animals and raising an orphaned gosling, discovering a new purpose in her unexpected role as a caretaker.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 97% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

  • Release Date: April 5, 2023
  • Synopsis: Mario and Luigi, Brooklyn plumbers, are transported to the Mushroom Kingdom, where Mario teams up with Princess Peach to rescue Luigi from the villainous Bowser.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 95% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

  • Release Date: June 2, 2023
  • Synopsis: Miles Morales ventures across the multiverse, joining a team of Spider-People to face a new threat, redefining heroism as they clash over how to handle it.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 94% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

  • Release Date: December 21, 2022
  • Synopsis: Puss in Boots, down to his final life, embarks on a quest to find the mythical Last Wish to restore his nine lives, facing danger and rediscovering his courage.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 94% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy

Coco

  • Release Date: November 22, 2017
  • Synopsis: Miguel, banned from music by his family, journeys to the Land of the Dead to uncover his great-great-grandfather’s legacy and pursue his musical dreams.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 94% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy

Encanto

  • Release Date: November 24, 2021
  • Synopsis: Mirabel, the only non-magical member of her enchanted family, discovers she may be the key to saving their magical home when it begins to falter.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 93% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy

Zootopia

  • Release Date: March 4, 2016
  • Synopsis: Judy Hopps, a rookie bunny cop, teams up with sly fox Nick Wilde to solve a mysterious case in the animal city of Zootopia, uncovering a threatening plot.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 92% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy

How to Train Your Dragon

  • Release Date: March 26, 2010
  • Synopsis: Hiccup, a young Viking, befriends a dragon named Toothless, challenging his village’s traditions and proving dragons are more than just enemies.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 91% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy

Up

  • Release Date: May 29, 2009
  • Synopsis: Carl Fredricksen, a retired balloon salesman, lifts his house with balloons to adventure in South America, accidentally taking a young scout along.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 90% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy

Moana

  • Release Date: November 23, 2016
  • Synopsis: Moana, a Polynesian teenager, sails across the ocean to restore the heart of Te Fiti, guided by her ancestors and joined by demigod Maui.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 89% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy

The Mitchells vs. The Machines

  • Release Date: April 30, 2021
  • Synopsis: A quirky family’s road trip becomes a battle against a robot apocalypse, forcing them to work together as humanity’s unlikely last hope.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 89% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy

Inside Out

  • Release Date: June 19, 2015
  • Synopsis: Riley’s emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust—navigate her mind as she struggles with a family move, learning to balance joy and sadness.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 89% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy

Frozen

  • Release Date: November 27, 2013
  • Synopsis: Anna sets off to find her sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped their kingdom in eternal winter, joined by a mountaineer and a magical snowman.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 89% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy

Soul

  • Release Date: December 25, 2020
  • Synopsis: Joe Gardner, a jazz musician, lands a dream gig but ends up in the afterlife, teaming with an unborn soul to return to his body and find life’s meaning.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 88% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Buy

Raya and the Last Dragon

  • Release Date: March 5, 2021
  • Synopsis: Raya, a lone warrior, seeks the last dragon, Sisu, to unite the fractured land of Kumandra and defeat a dark force threatening her world.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 88% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy

The Lego Movie

  • Release Date: February 7, 2014
  • Synopsis: Emmet, an ordinary LEGO figure, is mistaken for the ‘Special’ and leads a diverse group to stop a tyrant from freezing the LEGO universe in eternal order.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 87% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy

Toy Story 4

  • Release Date: June 21, 2019
  • Synopsis: Woody, Buzz, and the gang embark on a road trip with Forky, a new toy with an identity crisis, leading Woody to a reunion that redefines his purpose.
  • MPAA Rating: G
  • Popcorn Meter: 87% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy

Finding Nemo

  • Release Date: May 30, 2003
  • Synopsis: Marlin, a cautious clownfish, embarks on an ocean-spanning adventure to rescue his son Nemo, captured by divers, with help from forgetful fish Dory.
  • MPAA Rating: G
  • Popcorn Meter: 86% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Stream

 

🧟 HBO Max

How to Train Your Dragon

  • Release Date: March 26, 2010
  • Synopsis: Hiccup, a young Viking, befriends a dragon named Toothless, challenging his village’s traditions and proving dragons are more than just enemies.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 91% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Stream

 

đź“ş Hulu

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

  • Release Date: June 2, 2023
  • Synopsis: Miles Morales ventures across the multiverse, joining a team of Spider-People to face a new threat, redefining heroism as they clash over how to handle it.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 94% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Stream

 

🎥 Netflix

Klaus

  • Release Date: November 8, 2019
  • Synopsis: Jesper, a lazy postman, befriends reclusive toymaker Klaus in a frozen town, sparking a tradition of kindness and gift-giving that transforms the community.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 93% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Stream

The Mitchells vs. The Machines

  • Release Date: April 30, 2021
  • Synopsis: A quirky family’s road trip becomes a battle against a robot apocalypse, forcing them to work together as humanity’s unlikely last hope.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 89% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Stream

The Lego Movie

  • Release Date: February 7, 2014
  • Synopsis: Emmet, an ordinary LEGO figure, is mistaken for the ‘Special’ and leads a diverse group to stop a tyrant from freezing the LEGO universe in eternal order.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 87% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Stream

The Wild Robot

  • Release Date: September 27, 2024
  • Synopsis: Roz, a robot stranded on a wild island, adapts by befriending animals and raising an orphaned gosling, discovering a new purpose in her unexpected role as a caretaker.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 97% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Stream

The Sea Beast

  • Release Date: July 8, 2022
  • Synopsis: A young girl stows away on a legendary monster hunter’s ship, and together they venture into uncharted waters, forging a bond that changes history.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 85% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Stream

–

Hidden Gems & Personal Picks


Animation has truly flourished over the past decade, dazzling audiences with stunning visuals and heartfelt storytelling. Films like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and How to Train Your Dragon are just a few standouts—but with so many great options, not every worthy title could make it into a list of 20. Personally, I’ve also enjoyed the antics of Gru and his Minions, as well as Buster Moon’s mission to save his struggling theatre. You’ll find those films—and where they’re currently streaming—listed below.

🍿 Amazon Prime Video

  • Despicable Me

    • Release Date: July 9, 2010
    • Synopsis: Supervillain Gru adopts three orphans—Margo, Edith, and Agnes—to steal a shrink ray from rival Vector for a moon heist, but their warmth transforms him into a loving father figure.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 86% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

    Despicable Me 2

    • Release Date: July 3, 2013
    • Synopsis: Gru, now retired from villainy, joins the Anti-Villain League to stop supervillain El Macho, balancing his mission with fatherhood to Margo, Edith, and Agnes.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 85% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

    Despicable Me 3

    • Release Date: June 30, 2017
    • Synopsis: Gru meets his twin brother Dru and faces villain Balthazar Bratt, juggling family dynamics and Minion chaos while thwarting a retro-themed evil plot.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 81% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

    Despicable Me 4

    • Release Date: July 3, 2024
    • Synopsis: Gru, Lucy, Margo, Edith, and Agnes welcome Gru Jr., who torments his dad. When rival Maxime Le Mal forces the family to flee, Gru and the Minions unleash chaos to protect their new life.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 87% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

    Minions

    • Release Date: July 10, 2015
    • Synopsis: Minions Stuart, Kevin, and Bob seek a new evil master in 1968, teaming up with supervillain Scarlett Overkill in a chaotic quest for villainous glory.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 83% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy.

  • Minions: The Rise of Gru

    • Release Date: July 1, 2022
    • Synopsis: Young Gru aims to join the Vicious 6 supervillain team with his Minions, leading to a 1970s-inspired showdown filled with retro flair and chaos.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 80% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

     

  • Sing

    • Release Date: December 21, 2016
    • Synopsis: Koala Buster Moon hosts a singing competition to save his theater, uniting a mouse, an elephant, a pig, a gorilla, and a hedgehog whose lives transform through music.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 86% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

     

  • Sing 2

    • Release Date: December 22, 2021
    • Synopsis: Buster Moon and his performers aim for a grand show in Redshore City, persuading reclusive rock star Clay Calloway to join them, strengthening themes of loyalty and music.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 86% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

🍏 Apple TV+

  • Despicable Me

    • Release Date: July 9, 2010
    • Synopsis: Supervillain Gru adopts three orphans—Margo, Edith, and Agnes—to steal a shrink ray from rival Vector for a moon heist, but their warmth transforms him into a loving father figure.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 86% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

    Despicable Me 2

    • Release Date: July 3, 2013
    • Synopsis: Gru, now retired from villainy, joins the Anti-Villain League to stop supervillain El Macho, balancing his mission with fatherhood to Margo, Edith, and Agnes.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 85% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

    Despicable Me 3

    • Release Date: June 30, 2017
    • Synopsis: Gru meets his twin brother Dru and faces villain Balthazar Bratt, juggling family dynamics and Minion chaos while thwarting a retro-themed evil plot.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 81% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

    Despicable Me 4

    • Release Date: July 3, 2024
    • Synopsis: Gru, Lucy, Margo, Edith, and Agnes welcome Gru Jr., who torments his dad. When rival Maxime Le Mal forces the family to flee, Gru and the Minions unleash chaos to protect their new life.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 87% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

    Minions

    • Release Date: July 10, 2015
    • Synopsis: Minions Stuart, Kevin, and Bob seek a new evil master in 1968, teaming up with supervillain Scarlett Overkill in a chaotic quest for villainous glory.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 83% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy.

  • Minions: The Rise of Gru

    • Release Date: July 1, 2022
    • Synopsis: Young Gru aims to join the Vicious 6 supervillain team with his Minions, leading to a 1970s-inspired showdown filled with retro flair and chaos.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 80% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

  • Sing

    • Release Date: December 21, 2016
    • Synopsis: Koala Buster Moon hosts a singing competition to save his theater, uniting a mouse, an elephant, a pig, a gorilla, and a hedgehog whose lives transform through music.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 86% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

  • Sing 2

    • Release Date: December 22, 2021
    • Synopsis: Buster Moon and his performers aim for a grand show in Redshore City, persuading reclusive rock star Clay Calloway to join them, strengthening themes of loyalty and music.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 86% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

🏠 Fandango At Home – Paid (Buy/Rent)

  • Despicable Me

    • Release Date: July 9, 2010
    • Synopsis: Supervillain Gru adopts three orphans—Margo, Edith, and Agnes—to steal a shrink ray from rival Vector for a moon heist, but their warmth transforms him into a loving father figure.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 86% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

    Despicable Me 2

    • Release Date: July 3, 2013
    • Synopsis: Gru, now retired from villainy, joins the Anti-Villain League to stop supervillain El Macho, balancing his mission with fatherhood to Margo, Edith, and Agnes.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 85% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

    Despicable Me 3

    • Release Date: June 30, 2017
    • Synopsis: Gru meets his twin brother Dru and faces villain Balthazar Bratt, juggling family dynamics and Minion chaos while thwarting a retro-themed evil plot.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 81% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

    Despicable Me 4

    • Release Date: July 3, 2024
    • Synopsis: Gru, Lucy, Margo, Edith, and Agnes welcome Gru Jr., who torments his dad. When rival Maxime Le Mal forces the family to flee, Gru and the Minions unleash chaos to protect their new life.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 87% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

    Minions

    • Release Date: July 10, 2015
    • Synopsis: Minions Stuart, Kevin, and Bob seek a new evil master in 1968, teaming up with supervillain Scarlett Overkill in a chaotic quest for villainous glory.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 83% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy.

  • Minions: The Rise of Gru

    • Release Date: July 1, 2022
    • Synopsis: Young Gru aims to join the Vicious 6 supervillain team with his Minions, leading to a 1970s-inspired showdown filled with retro flair and chaos.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 80% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

  • Sing

    • Release Date: December 21, 2016
    • Synopsis: Koala Buster Moon hosts a singing competition to save his theater, uniting a mouse, an elephant, a pig, a gorilla, and a hedgehog whose lives transform through music.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 86% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

  • Sing 2

    • Release Date: December 22, 2021
    • Synopsis: Buster Moon and his performers aim for a grand show in Redshore City, persuading reclusive rock star Clay Calloway to join them, strengthening themes of loyalty and music.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 86% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

đź“ş Hulu

  • Despicable Me

    • Release Date: July 9, 2010
    • Synopsis: Supervillain Gru adopts three orphans—Margo, Edith, and Agnes—to steal a shrink ray from rival Vector for a moon heist, but their warmth transforms him into a loving father figure.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 86% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

    Despicable Me 2

    • Release Date: July 3, 2013
    • Synopsis: Gru, now retired from villainy, joins the Anti-Villain League to stop supervillain El Macho, balancing his mission with fatherhood to Margo, Edith, and Agnes.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 85% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

    Despicable Me 3

    • Release Date: June 30, 2017
    • Synopsis: Gru meets his twin brother Dru and faces villain Balthazar Bratt, juggling family dynamics and Minion chaos while thwarting a retro-themed evil plot.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 81% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

    Minions

    • Release Date: July 10, 2015
    • Synopsis: Minions Stuart, Kevin, and Bob seek a new evil master in 1968, teaming up with supervillain Scarlett Overkill in a chaotic quest for villainous glory.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 83% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy.

  • Minions: The Rise of Gru

    • Release Date: July 1, 2022
    • Synopsis: Young Gru aims to join the Vicious 6 supervillain team with his Minions, leading to a 1970s-inspired showdown filled with retro flair and chaos.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 80% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

  • Sing 2

    • Release Date: December 22, 2021
    • Synopsis: Buster Moon and his performers aim for a grand show in Redshore City, persuading reclusive rock star Clay Calloway to join them, strengthening themes of loyalty and music.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 86% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

🎥 Netflix

Despicable Me

  • Release Date: July 9, 2010
  • Synopsis: Supervillain Gru adopts three orphans—Margo, Edith, and Agnes—to steal a shrink ray from rival Vector for a moon heist, but their warmth transforms him into a loving father figure.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 86% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy

Despicable Me 2

  • Release Date: July 3, 2013
  • Synopsis: Gru, now retired from villainy, joins the Anti-Villain League to stop supervillain El Macho, balancing his mission with fatherhood to Margo, Edith, and Agnes.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 85% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy

Despicable Me 3

  • Release Date: June 30, 2017
  • Synopsis: Gru meets his twin brother Dru and faces villain Balthazar Bratt, juggling family dynamics and Minion chaos while thwarting a retro-themed evil plot.
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • Popcorn Meter: 81% (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Availability: Rent, Buy

  • Minions

    • Release Date: July 10, 2015
    • Synopsis: Minions Stuart, Kevin, and Bob seek a new evil master in 1968, teaming up with supervillain Scarlett Overkill in a chaotic quest for villainous glory.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 83% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy.

  • Minions: The Rise of Gru

    • Release Date: July 1, 2022
    • Synopsis: Young Gru aims to join the Vicious 6 supervillain team with his Minions, leading to a 1970s-inspired showdown filled with retro flair and chaos.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 80% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

  • Sing

    • Release Date: December 21, 2016
    • Synopsis: Koala Buster Moon hosts a singing competition to save his theater, uniting a mouse, an elephant, a pig, a gorilla, and a hedgehog whose lives transform through music.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 86% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

 

🖥️ Peacock

  • Despicable Me

    • Release Date: July 9, 2010
    • Synopsis: Supervillain Gru adopts three orphans—Margo, Edith, and Agnes—to steal a shrink ray from rival Vector for a moon heist, but their warmth transforms him into a loving father figure.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 86% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

    Despicable Me 2

    • Release Date: July 3, 2013
    • Synopsis: Gru, now retired from villainy, joins the Anti-Villain League to stop supervillain El Macho, balancing his mission with fatherhood to Margo, Edith, and Agnes.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 85% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

    Despicable Me 3

    • Release Date: June 30, 2017
    • Synopsis: Gru meets his twin brother Dru and faces villain Balthazar Bratt, juggling family dynamics and Minion chaos while thwarting a retro-themed evil plot.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 81% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

    Minions

    • Release Date: July 10, 2015
    • Synopsis: Minions Stuart, Kevin, and Bob seek a new evil master in 1968, teaming up with supervillain Scarlett Overkill in a chaotic quest for villainous glory.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 83% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy.

  • Minions: The Rise of Gru

    • Release Date: July 1, 2022
    • Synopsis: Young Gru aims to join the Vicious 6 supervillain team with his Minions, leading to a 1970s-inspired showdown filled with retro flair and chaos.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 80% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

  • Sing 2

    • Release Date: December 22, 2021
    • Synopsis: Buster Moon and his performers aim for a grand show in Redshore City, persuading reclusive rock star Clay Calloway to join them, strengthening themes of loyalty and music.
    • MPAA Rating: PG
    • Popcorn Meter: 86% (Rotten Tomatoes)
    • Availability: Rent, Buy

 

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