Best Family Movies of Summer 2026, Ranked for Parents

Summer 2026 was a crowded season at the movies, and plenty of it was not made for children. This ranking looks at the summer's family-relevant releases from a parent's point of view: how many ages each one works for, how intense it gets, and whether there is something in it for the adults. It is a family-fit ranking, not a critics' ranking. Ratings and ages come from the MPA and Common Sense Media; where we add a view of our own, we say so.

Most of these have now reached home release or streaming, which makes this a good moment to plan the fall movie nights you missed. Common Sense Media lists DVD or streaming dates of August 18 for Toy Story 5, August 11 for Minions & Monsters, September 8 for the live-action Moana, September 29 for Coyote vs. Acme and PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie, and October 6 for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Availability varies by service, so check your apps.

1. Toy Story 5 (PG, June 19)

Rated PG for some thematic elements and rude humor, 102 minutes, with Common Sense Media recommending ages 5 and up. It is the broadest fit of the summer. The story pits Bonnie's toys against Lilypad, a frog-shaped tablet, and builds a screen-time message into the plot. Common Sense rates the scariness 'a little': peril during rescues, a large hog that nearly eats or licks some toys, and toys who face being lost or discarded. The sharper hurt is emotional, since Bonnie is hit by ridicule and exclusion on the Lilypad social platform, and Jessie's fear of abandonment returns. Good for a family discussion about devices; see our Toy Story 5 guide and the pediatric numbers in how much screen time is too much.

2. PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie (PG, August 14)

Rated PG for mild action/peril, 88 minutes, ages 6 and up per Common Sense Media. The best choice for the youngest fans, with one caution: a dinosaur stampede, characters swept through river rapids, a volcano spewing lava and fireballs, a burning boat and a character searching a jungle at night can feel bigger than the TV show. Preview with preschoolers. PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie guide.

3. Minions & Monsters (PG, July 1)

Rated PG for violence/action, language and rude/macabre humor, 90 minutes, ages 7 and up per Common Sense Media. Giant monsters wreak destruction and may seem creepy to some viewers, and a king is beheaded by an ax with no blood shown. It works best for kids who like slapstick chaos. Common Sense Media notes that villainy is admired, which makes it a conversation starter about teamwork versus mischief. Minions & Monsters guide.

4. The Magic Faraway Tree (PG, August 21)

Rated PG for some rude humor, mild action and brief language, 110 minutes, ages 8 and up per Common Sense Media. The peril is mild and mostly set in fantasy lands: characters risk being trapped, are caged by a scary character, and make a dangerous plane landing in bad weather. A gentler pick for kids who have outgrown preschool films but are not ready for superhero violence. The Magic Faraway Tree guide.

5. Coyote vs. Acme (PG, August 28)

Rated PG for cartoon violence and some language, 103 minutes, ages 7 and up per Common Sense Media, which rates the violence 'some' and notes little or no lasting damage. Expect knife threats, missiles, grenades, explosions, characters hit by trucks and cruel lab testing, all in a Looney Tunes spirit. If your child dislikes cartoon violence, this one gets repetitive. Coyote vs. Acme guide.

6. Moana, live-action (PG, July 10)

Rated PG for some scary images, rude humor and brief thematic elements, 115 minutes, ages 8 and up per Common Sense Media. The live-action look makes the frights land harder than in the animated version: a huge fiery lava monster and a giant glow-in-the-dark crab, plus a grandmother who dies and returns as a guiding spirit. Critics were notably harsher than audiences, so read reviews before deciding if the original is the better rewatch for younger kids. Moana guide.

7. Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender (PG, Paramount+, July 25)

A feature-length continuation of the animated series that premiered on Paramount+ after a short limited theatrical run. The MPA rated it PG for sequences of violence/action, and Common Sense Media recommends ages 9 and up. Bending battles are frequent but stylized, and the story references past war and loss. Best for kids who already know the series. Aang guide.

8. Spider-Man: Brand New Day (PG-13, July 31)

A hit with audiences, and the easiest film on this list to misjudge. It is rated PG-13 for sequences of action/violence and some language, 145 minutes, and Common Sense Media recommends 11 and up and rates the violence 'a lot': near-constant fighting, bloody wounds, guns, blades, explosions, a character held prisoner and torture, with the Punisher among the characters. Peter punishes himself for past mistakes, so the themes lean toward isolation and trauma. Our rule of thumb is 11 and up with a preview, and 13 for sensitive kids. Spider-Man: Brand New Day guide.

Not for family movie night

Supergirl (PG-13, June 26) is rated for sequences of strong violence, action, language and smoking, and Common Sense Media recommends 12 and up, rating the violence 'a lot' and noting disturbing death scenes and themes of violence against women. The Odyssey (R, July 17) is Christopher Nolan's mythological epic, rated R for violence and some language, and Common Sense recommends 15 and up; see the Odyssey guide. Young Washington (PG-13, July 3) is rated for strong war violence and some bloody images, with Common Sense Media recommending 13 and up; see the Young Washington guide. Insidious: Out of the Further (PG-13, August 21) is a supernatural horror film; see the Insidious guide.

Picking by age

• Ages 3-5: PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie, previewed first, or Toy Story 5 with a parent beside them.
• Ages 5-7: Toy Story 5, and Minions & Monsters for kids who like silly action.
• Ages 7-9: The Magic Faraway Tree, Coyote vs. Acme, Minions & Monsters, and the live-action Moana for kids who handle fantasy peril.
• Ages 9-11: Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender and Moana; Spider-Man: Brand New Day only after a preview.
• Ages 11 and up: Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The R-rated and war-violence titles below can wait much longer.

What the ratings tell you, and what they do not

Notice how much range a single letter hides. PAW Patrol and Moana are both PG, but they sit two years apart on Common Sense Media's age scale. Spider-Man and Young Washington are both PG-13, but Spider-Man is for 11 and up and Young Washington is for 13 and up. Our ratings explainer shows how to read the reason line, and is this movie too scary for my child helps with the rest. For streaming picks, see best family movies on Netflix right now, and for fall releases, October's family movies.

FAQ

What was the best family movie of summer 2026?
For the widest range of ages, Toy Story 5 (PG, ages 5 and up per Common Sense Media). PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie is the better pick for preschoolers, and Minions & Monsters or Coyote vs. Acme suit ages 7 and up.

Is Spider-Man: Brand New Day okay for kids under 10?
It is rated PG-13 for sequences of action/violence and some language. Common Sense Media recommends 11 and up and rates the violence 'a lot', so most families will want to wait or preview it.

Is the live-action Moana scarier than the cartoon?
Common Sense Media warns that the lava monster and giant crab may affect younger or sensitive kids more in live action. It recommends ages 8 and up.

Which summer 2026 movies are R-rated?
The Odyssey (July 17) is rated R for violence and some language. Common Sense Media recommends 15 and up.

Can my 5-year-old watch Toy Story 5?
Common Sense Media recommends 5 and up for this PG film. Expect mild peril and some emotional moments about exclusion and abandonment.