The Best 90s Movies for Kids
One of my favorite things about family movie night is introducing the boys to the 90s movies for kids I grew up watching. We’ve watched our way through sports movies, animal adventures, musicals, and plenty of silly comedies. Here are the ones we’ve enjoyed together!
Why You Should Watch 90s Movies for Kids as a Family
Watching 90s movies for kids makes family movie night more fun because I get to share a little piece of my childhood with the boys. I love seeing which jokes still make them laugh, which characters they connect with, and which movies they immediately want to watch again. Some of the special effects look pretty funny now, which gives us even more to talk about. And since these movies are new to the boys, I get to enjoy their first reactions while revisiting my old favorites.
Movie Ratings and Suggested Ages
I’ve included a short description, rating, and suggested age for each of these 90s movies for kids to help you choose what to watch. Every kid is different, so the ages are just a guide. If your child is sensitive to scary or emotional scenes, I’d recommend previewing the movie first.
Where to Watch These 90s Movies for Kids
Ready for your next family movie night? I’ve gathered the movies from this list in one place on Amazon so you can easily look them up and see which ones are available to rent or buy. Availability may vary, so check the options for the movie you choose.
Sports movies and team favorites
- Space Jam (1996) — PG | Ages 6+
Michael Jordan teams up with the Looney Tunes for a basketball game that’s as ridiculous as it sounds. - Air Bud (1997) — PG | Ages 6+
A boy discovers that his new golden retriever has a surprising talent for basketball. - The Mighty Ducks (1992) — PG | Ages 7+
An unlikely hockey team learns to work together and believe in themselves. - The Sandlot (1993) — PG | Ages 9+
A summer of baseball, friendship, and one very intimidating dog. This one has some language and dated jokes. - Angels in the Outfield (1994) — PG | Ages 7+
A boy hopes that a little heavenly help can turn his favorite baseball team around. - Rookie of the Year (1993) — PG | Ages 7+
After an injury gives him an unbelievable pitching arm, a kid gets his shot at the major leagues.
Animal adventures
- 101 Dalmatians (1996) — G | Ages 7+
The live-action version brings the puppies and Cruella de Vil to life. Cruella may be a little scary for younger kids. - Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993) — G | Ages 6+
Two dogs and a cat travel through the wilderness to find their family. Keep tissues nearby! - Babe (1995) — G | Ages 6+
A little pig discovers he might be able to do a sheepdog’s job in his own way. - Free Willy (1993) — PG | Ages 7+
A boy forms a bond with an orca and tries to help him get back to the ocean. - Beethoven (1992) — PG | Ages 7+
One enormous St. Bernard turns a family’s orderly home upside down.
Magic, imagination, and adventure
- Matilda (1996) — PG | Ages 9+
A brilliant girl discovers her own strength while dealing with some truly awful adults. Miss Trunchbull can be intense! - Hook (1991) — PG | Ages 8+
A grown-up Peter Pan returns to Neverland to rescue his children and remember who he used to be. - The Secret Garden (1993) — G | Ages 8+
A lonely girl discovers a hidden garden and begins to bring it back to life. - A Little Princess (1995) — G | Ages 8+
A girl holds on to her imagination and kindness through a difficult change in her life. - The Iron Giant (1999) — PG | Ages 8+
A boy befriends a giant robot in a story about friendship and choosing who you want to be. - Muppet Treasure Island (1996) — G | Ages 6+
The Muppets make a pirate adventure funny, musical, and wonderfully chaotic. - 3 Ninjas (1992) — PG | Ages 7+
Three brothers put their ninja training to work in a silly action adventure.
Comedies and family stories
- The Parent Trap (1998) — PG | Ages 7+
Twins who have never met discover each other at summer camp and hatch a plan to reunite their parents. - The Little Rascals (1994) — PG | Ages 7+
A neighborhood gang gets into plenty of mischief while trying to win a go-kart race. - Home Alone (1990) — PG | Ages 8+
Kevin gets the house to himself and has to outsmart two very determined burglars. - Smart House (1999) — TV-G | Ages 7+
A family moves into a futuristic house that becomes a little too involved in their lives. - A Goofy Movie (1995) — G | Ages 6+
Goofy and Max take a road trip that turns into a funny, sweet story about growing up. - Casper (1995) — PG | Ages 8+
A friendly ghost finds a new friend when a girl and her dad move into a haunted house. - Hocus Pocus – PG
- Richie Rich (1994) — PG | Ages 7+
The world’s richest kid has everything except the kind of friendship he really wants. - Baby’s Day Out (1994) — PG | Ages 7+
A baby wanders through the city while three kidnappers struggle to keep up with him.
Download the Free 90s Movie Checklist
Want to plan a movie night? I made a free printable checklist of our favorite ’90s movies for kids. Print it out, check off the ones you’ve watched, and let your kids pick what’s next!
How We Organize Our DVDs
If you own some of these movies on DVD, keeping them together makes family movie night easier. You can put them in a small basket or on a shelf the kids can reach, then let everyone take turns choosing a movie. If you’re short on space, a DVD binder can hold the discs while the cases go into storage. I’d keep the cover art with each disc so the kids can browse the movies themselves.
I also love having physical copies of our favorites. Movies can move between streaming services or become unavailable to rent, but a DVD on our shelf is there when we want to watch it. There’s something fun about letting the boys look through the covers and pick one out, too!
More Ways to Spend Family Time Together
Watching the 90s movies I grew up with has given us a fun way to spend time together, and video games can do that too. We love sitting down for a movie night, but we also enjoy playing games together, talking about what we’re doing, and cheering each other on. If you’re curious about how we make gaming a positive family activity, you can read my parent’s guide to healthy gaming.