Last year was a stellar year for kids’ and family movies. Animated powerhouses like KPop Demon Hunters shattered streaming records, and sequels to favorite films like Zootopia 2 reigned supreme at the box office. With so many great movies being released in 2025, audiences wonder what is in store for family-friendly cinema this year. Luckily, the future of 2026 looks bright, and while 2025 could be called the year of the sequel, this year will see several original storylines alongside follow-up films and remakes.
From Netflix originals like Steps to Disney’s live-action Moana, 2026 is set to be a standout year for family films. DreamWorks is also working on a project called Forgotten Island, with the studio and Universal keeping many of the details a secret for now. Of the many kids’ films arriving in 2026, these 10 are generating the most buzz. So get your must-watch list ready—here are the new and upcoming 2026 family movies that we’re truly excited about.
10
‘Wildwood’
Release Date: October 23
From LAIKA Studios, the same animation innovators behind Coraline, ParaNorman, and Kubo and the Two Strings, comes Wildwood. The movie is based on the novel of the same name by Colin Meloy and has been 15 years in the making since it entered development back in 2011. Wildwood follows young Prue McKeel (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) as she journeys into an enchanted forest to rescue her baby brother, who has been kidnapped.
Wildwood is being hailed as LAIKA’s most ambitious project yet. The studio is combining puppetry, computer animation, and stop-motion techniques to create incredibly complex visuals. The star-studded cast includes Mahershala Ali, Carey Mulligan, Awkwafina, Jemaine Clement, Jake Johnson, and Angela Bassett. This dark fantasy looks to be full of suspense, magic, and mystery, with the studio describing the movie thus: “Wildwood is a tale of love, loss, sacrifice, and secrets, and of the magic you can find on your doorstep, if you’re willing to look for it.”
9
‘Moana’
Release Date: July 10
A few months shy of a perfect decade later, Disney will release a live-action remake of Moana on July 10, 2026. An adaptation of the 2016 animated movie, it will feature rising star Catherine Laga’aia as the titular heroine, and Dwayne Johnson will reprise his role as Maui. Johnson now joins Gerard Butler as one of the few actors who have played a role in both its animated and live-action forms.
While the original Moana movie is an established favorite and has been making waves on streaming lately, some wonder if viewers aren’t getting too much of a good thing. The sequel, Moana 2, was recently released in 2024, and the remake comes far sooner than other live-action renditions like Aladdin (27 years) or The Lion King (25 years). While Disney’s live-action reboots have come under fire for content edits and creative inconsistencies, timing might be the biggest faux pas of Moana. It remains to be seen whether this will prove a critical error for the film or if it will be as successful as its predecessors.
8
‘Steps’
Release Date: TBA
For those who like fantasy movies with a twist, Netflix is conjuring up something special with Steps. A fractured fairy tale that focuses on one of Cinderella’s stepsisters, Lilith (Ali Wong), it aims to prove that “even so-called villains deserve a shot at happily ever after.” The main action of Steps will focus on a mishap where Lilith accidentally turns her other sister, Margot (Stephanie Hsu), into a frog and leaves the kingdom in the hands of a less-than-desirable stand-in. Lilith must team up with Cinderella to set things right, and Steps sounds like an enchanting tale with lots of humor and heart.
Directors John Ripa and Alyce Tzue already have experience with animated films. Ripa directed Raya and the Last Dragon, and Tzue has worked in the animation department for several films, including Soar and Valt the Wonder Deer. Tzue spoke to Tudum about the project, saying, “This story is, at its core, about two very different sisters — one who fits perfectly into this fairy tale kingdom and one who doesn’t — realizing they’re more alike than different.”
With a modern message and attractive animation, Steps is poised to be a crowd-pleasing film. Another stamp of approval is that Amy Poehler (Inside Out, Parks and Recreation) is one of the producers. Steps’ release date is yet to be confirmed, so stay tuned to Collider for more developments as they come.
7
‘Hoppers’
Release Date: March 6
Just in time for spring, Hoppers is set to debut on March 6. The film has been described by Pixar CCO Pete Docter as being “[…] Avatar meets Mission: Impossible meets Planet Earth.” The story follows a young animal enthusiast named Mabel (Piper Curda) as she is able to transport her consciousness into a robotic beaver and go undercover to learn more about the animal world. The all-star cast includes Meryl Streep, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Sam Richardson, Dave Franco, Demetri Martin, Kathy Najimy, and Bobby Moynihan.
Hoppers will be an interesting exploration into the relationship humans have with wildlife. As Mabel learns firsthand about the local fauna, environmentalism and espionage mix together in this highly anticipated film. Hoppers is sure to be full of excitement and emotional impact. Jon Hamm voices the antagonist Mayor Jerry, and he will undoubtedly bring some of his corporate swagger from working on series like Mad Men when taking on the role of the somewhat sketchy politician.
6
‘Goat’
Release Date: February 13
From the animation studio that brought the world Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and KPop Demon Hunters comes GOAT. This sports-themed comedy follows an anthropomorphic goat as his big dreams of being a roarball star come true. GOAT will reunite Stranger Things stars Caleb McLaughlin and David Harbour and is being produced by basketball legend Stephen Curry. Curry also plays the role of Lenny Williamson, a giraffe, in the film, and fans will enjoy his highly entertaining character performance.
The animation for GOAT is on par with the rich textures and vibrant fluidity audiences have appreciated in other films crafted by Sony Pictures Animation. An ensemble cast includes the talents of Gabrielle Union, Nick Kroll, Nicola Coughlan, and Patton Oswalt, among others. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, GOAT promises to be a fun time at the theater for families this year.
5
‘Narnia’
Release Date: November 26
A movie that has already generated a lot of buzz and a lot of controversy is Narnia, which will be directed by Greta Gerwig. Most speculate that the plot will be based on C.S. Lewis’ book The Magician’s Nephew, which takes place before the events of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. A few cast members have already been named, such as Daniel Craig, Carey Mulligan, and Emma Mackey as Jadis, The White Witch.
The biggest controversy surrounding the film currently is that Meryl Streep has been in talks to be the voice of Aslan. This gender swap to make Aslan a female is a significant difference from the books and has deeper implications based on the series’ theological background. While it has yet to be confirmed or denied, many debate whether such a change would impact the film positively or negatively. When studios hire an unconventional director like Gerwig to direct a well-known and beloved body of work, it always comes with a risk. There is the possibility that the two are a mismatch, and the ambition of the director will outweigh the tradition that is necessary to stay true to the source material held sacred by devoted fans. Only time will tell what Gerwig has in mind for Narnia and if Netflix made the right choice in who they entrusted such a significant story to.
4
‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’
Release Date: April 1
The Super Mario Bros. Movie, released in 2023, was a massive success. After winning the hearts of gaming fans around the world and earning over $770 million at the box office, a sequel was sure to follow. Finally, it is time, and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is launching into theaters on April 1.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will bring back main characters from the first film, like Mario (Chris Pratt), Luigi (Charlie Day), Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), and Bowser (Jack Black). It will also add some new characters to the roster, including Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie) and Yoshi, whose voice actor still remains a mystery. Though certain plot points have been revealed, others are still forthcoming, and one exciting hint is that Luigi may play a more important role in the second film. Afficionados speculate as to which game characters may make surprise cameos, and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is shaping up to be as entertaining and engaging as the first film.
3
‘The Sheep Detectives’
Release Date: May 8
The Sheep Detectives is about a shepherd who takes exceptional care of his sheep and goes the extra mile by reading books to his flock every night. But he doesn’t just read any type of book; he reads murder mysteries. When the shepherd is found dead, his herd takes it upon themselves to solve their master’s murder and identify the killer.
Hugh Jackman stars as shepherd George Hardy, and the cast is stocked with cinema icons like Regina Hall, Bryan Cranston, Emma Thompson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Patrick Stewart, Rhys Darby, and Chris O’Dowd. With the immense popularity of murder mysteries in both film and TV, like Only Murders in the Building and Knives Out, The Sheep Detectives will be 2026’s family-friendly foray into the genre. With a highly intriguing premise and such a talented cast, The Sheep Detectives has the makings of a fabulous family film and will undoubtedly have one or two plot twists along the way.
2
‘Jumanji 3’
Release Date: December 11
An adventure trilogy based on a ‘90s classic, Jumanji 3 will be the final installment in the modern reboot of the iconic IP. While no plot details have been released yet, most of the cast is expected to return. This includes Dwayne Johnson as Smolder Bravestone, Karen Gillan as Ruby Roundhouse, Jack Black as Professor Shelly Oberon, and Kevin Hart as Franklin ‘Mouse’ Finbar. If the teaser at the end of Jumanji: The Next Level is to be believed, this final film will be an homage to the movie that started it all, with elements and animals from the game coming into the real world.
Johnson took to social media recently, and a subtle and sweet honoring of Robin Williams was evident by a dice being worn around his neck. Williams, who starred in the first film, played Alan Parrish, a young boy now grown into a man who played the fateful game when it was in tabletop form. With the plot and one of the stars hearkening back to the original so closely, there are high hopes that Jumanji 3 will finish the new trilogy strong and do fans of the franchise proud.
1
‘Toy Story 5’
Release Date: June 19
Pixar’s billion-dollar dynasty is the crucible for computer-generated films. In 1995, the ambitious studio made history by releasing the first full-length computer-animated movie, and that movie was the original Toy Story. A little over three decades later, the graphics and technology used to make animated films have come a long way, but the cherished characters from the first movie are still going strong.
When you tamper with an iconic saga, there is always room for skepticism, just ask George Lucas. Toy Story fans wonder what a fifth installment could bring to the table since the first three films felt like a completed narrative. Director Andrew Stanton assures fans that “Nobody’s being robbed of their trilogy,” and that the continuation of the series will focus on the toys having new adventures without retconning established ones.
Toy Story 5 will address an extremely important and relevant topic when it comes to children and recreation — technology. In the movie, Bonnie receives a LilyPad tablet, and it becomes a clash of screen time versus playtime. Many cast members from the previous films are returning, including Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, Tom Hanks as Woody, Tony Hale as Forky, and Joan Cusack as Jessie. Greta Lee joins the cast of Toy Story 5 as the voice of LilyPad. Toy Story 5 is one of the most anticipated movies of the year, and although the first three films and the Andy saga are perfect as they are, we can’t wait to see what shenanigans the toys will be up to this time.
Toy Story 5
- Release Date
-
June 19, 2026
- Director
-
Andrew Stanton
- Writers
-
Andrew Stanton
- Producers
-
Pete Docter
Source link
-
-
-
-
-
