New Family Movies in October 2026: What to See and What to Skip

October 2026 is a thin month for new, kid-friendly releases. The best family options opened in September, the biggest new October titles are PG-13 or R, and a few that look kid-adjacent (a toy-car movie, a stop-motion fantasy from the Coraline studio) carry ratings that surprise parents. Here is what is playing or about to open, with MPA ratings, who each film is really for, and the ones to keep off the family movie night list. Dates and ratings were checked in early October 2026.

October 2026 at a glance

• Oct 9: Matchbox: The Movie (Apple TV) — PG-13
• Oct 9: Other Mommy (theaters) — R
• Oct 16: Street Fighter (theaters) — PG-13
• Oct 17-21: Spirited Away 25th anniversary (Studio Ghibli Fest, theaters) — PG
• Oct 23: Wildwood (theaters) — PG-13
• Oct 23: Clayface (theaters) — R

Opened in September and worth catching if you missed them (check local showtimes): Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom (PG), Forgotten Island (PG), Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass (PG) and Practical Magic 2 (PG-13).

Best bets for younger kids

Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom (PG, opened September 18). This is the month's best fit for ages 5 and up. The nearly dialogue-free Aardman comedy is set around Halloween at Mossy Bottom Farm. The MPA rated it PG for mild scary action, and Common Sense Media describes the scares as mild and played for laughs, with the monster hunt and a village mob armed with inflatable tools as the spookiest stretch. Our Shaun the Sheep parents' guide has the details.

Forgotten Island (PG, opened September 25). DreamWorks Animation's film follows two best friends in 1990s Philippines who are pulled into a magical world from their grandmother's stories, where their memories fade the longer they stay. It is rated PG for animated sequences of scary action, language, rude humor, thematic elements, some violence and brief tobacco imagery. One parent guide singles out a frightening creature from Filipino folklore and fast chase scenes as the likeliest to unsettle kids under 8, and recommends it for most children 8 and older. It has also earned strong reviews from critics and an A from audiences polled by CinemaScore.

Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass (PG, opened September 4). This is a computer-animated fantasy with a fire-throwing villain, much more lore and action than classic slapstick. We would put it at 7 and up; see the parents' guide.

Spirited Away, 25th anniversary (PG, October 17-21). GKIDS and Fathom are bringing Studio Ghibli's 2002 film back to theaters for a limited run, with both English-dubbed and subtitled showings. The MPA rated it PG for some scary supernatural scenes, and Common Sense Media recommends it for ages 9 and up, noting that creatures such as No-Face and the witch Yubaba border on the grotesque. Not every theater participates, so check local listings.

Tweens and up

Wildwood (PG-13, October 23). LAIKA's sixth feature is a long, dark stop-motion fantasy in which a girl follows crows into an enchanted forest to rescue her baby brother, based on Colin Meloy's novel. It is the studio's first PG-13 film (Coraline and ParaNorman were PG). The MPA cites strong fantasy violence and bloody images, thematic material, suicide related material, brief partial nudity and language. Published runtimes run about 130 to 140 minutes. We would treat it as a 12-and-up film and read our Wildwood parents' guide first.

Matchbox: The Movie (PG-13, Apple TV, October 9). Inspired by the Mattel toy cars, it stars John Cena as a covert CIA operative whose homecoming pulls his childhood friends into an overseas manhunt, directed by Sam Hargrave. It is rated PG-13 for sequences of violence/action and language, with fights, gunplay, car chases and explosions throughout. The toy tie-in will make younger kids ask; the rating says to wait. A good fit for 11 and up.

Street Fighter (PG-13, October 16). The new live-action film from Paramount, Legendary and Capcom is rated PG-13 for violence/action, bloody images, strong language, sexual references, partial nudity and brief smoking. That is a longer list than a typical teen action movie. Kids who play the games will ask, but this is a teens-and-up call; see the Street Fighter parents' guide.

Practical Magic 2 (PG-13, opened September 11). A witchy sequel with curse deaths, drinking and innuendo, and Common Sense Media recommends 13 and up. Details in our parents' guide.

Not for kids: the R-rated releases

An R rating means children under 17 are not allowed to attend unaccompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Two October films carry it, and both can look kid-adjacent in the marketing.

Other Mommy (R, October 9). Universal and Blumhouse's horror film centers on an eight-year-old girl and a creature that appears from her closet. The MPA rated it R for some bloody violence and language. See the Other Mommy guide.

Clayface (R, October 23). DC Studios' monster movie is rated R for strong bloody violence, gore, language, some nudity and brief drug use. A comic-book name does not make it a family movie. See the Clayface guide.

A quick age guide for October

• Under 6: none of the films above is aimed at this age. Shaun the Sheep is the closest fit, with a parent beside them (Common Sense Media says 5 and up).
• 6-8: Shaun the Sheep, plus Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass if your child handles cartoon fantasy peril. Forgotten Island suits the older end of this band.
• 9-11: Forgotten Island, Spirited Away (Common Sense Media: 9 and up) and Tom and Jerry.
• 12-13: Wildwood after you read the guide, Matchbox, and Practical Magic 2 for 13.
• 14 and up: Street Fighter and Practical Magic 2. R-rated films still require a parent or guardian for anyone under 17.

Ratings show up weeks early

You rarely have to guess. The MPA published Other Mommy's R rating in a July 29 bulletin, more than two months before it opened, and reports of Wildwood's PG-13 appeared at the end of August. Clayface's R rating followed in mid-September. If a film you are curious about has no rating yet, check back closer to opening day before you commit.

How to decide in two minutes

1. Read the reason line, not just the letters. The MPA's descriptors, such as 'suicide related material' on Wildwood, tell you more than PG-13 does. Our ratings explainer covers how to read them.
2. Match the film to your child's stage. What frightens a 6-year-old (creatures, transformations) differs from what bothers a 10-year-old (realistic danger). See is this movie too scary for my child.
3. Look up the Common Sense Media age for anything with a PG-13 or a long list of reasons.

For classic Halloween picks to watch at home, see our Halloween movies by age guide. Looking ahead, November 2026 brings The Cat in the Hat and Disney's Hexed.

FAQ

Are there any new G or PG movies in theaters in October 2026?
Few. Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom and Forgotten Island, both PG, opened in September and are the best new family options of the fall so far, and Spirited Away returns for a limited PG anniversary run on October 17-21.

Is Wildwood okay for kids?
Wildwood is rated PG-13 for strong fantasy violence and bloody images, thematic material, suicide related material, brief partial nudity and language. We would treat it as a 12-and-up film and suggest parents read the details before taking younger children.

Is Matchbox: The Movie for young kids?
Probably not. It is rated PG-13 for sequences of violence/action and language, and it is an action thriller built around gunfights and car chases rather than a toy-box adventure. It streams on Apple TV starting October 9.

Can my 14-year-old see Clayface?
Clayface is rated R, so anyone under 17 needs a parent or adult guardian to attend. The MPA cites strong bloody violence, gore, language, some nudity and brief drug use.

How can I check a movie's rating before I buy tickets?
Search the title in the MPA's ratings database at filmratings.com and read the reason line, then compare it with the Common Sense Media age recommendation.