It's easy to find free kids' movies when you know where to look — and boy, do we. If you've got a phone, tablet, computer, TV, or other device, chances are you can keep your kids entertained for hours with free movies they'll love. You don't have to be internet savvy to find free, downloadable movies for your kids — you just need someone like us to point you in the right direction.
Popcornflix
At first glance, Popcornflix might seem like a rather basic website. But what it lacks in design, it makes up for in content. It's easier to navigate than many other free movie websites and has a bigger selection of films for children, including Alice in Wonderland, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Dog Gone.
- You can watch Popcornflix movies on Apple devices, including Apple TV, Roku, Google Play, XBOX, and Amazon.
- Just scroll down to the "Family" channel to find movies for kids of all ages.
- There are well over 50 family-friendly movies, including animated movies for little kids like A Turtle's Tale 2.
- Movie series available include the hilarious Ernest movies or the action-packed live-action Ninja Turtles movies.
YouTube
YouTube has hundreds of videos, films, and cartoons you can watch for free with ads (unless you have YouTube Premium) on any device. If you don't have a specific movie in mind, you'll have to finesse the system a bit. Look for accounts or playlists with keywords like "free kids movies" to get a few ideas of what's available.
To find a video's specs, check out the description below it for all the details, like the movie rating and how long it is.
Want stricter parental controls on YouTube? Head to YouTube Kids, create an account for you, make profiles for your children, and set the parameters you want.
Tubi
Tubi is a free streaming service powered by ads that's catapulted to popularity in the past few years. You need to sign up for a free account to access certain features, but if you just want to watch movies, you don't need to make an account.
As you look for kid-friendly movies on Tubi, keep these tips in mind:
- The "Family Movie" section of Tubi features dozens of newer films for kids of all ages.
- Popular kids' movie titles available include the animated Shrek Forever After and Norm of the North.
- Kids can also watch popular live-action movies like Monster Trucks.
- You and your kids can relieve your childhood with iconic 1970s kids cartoons like Scooby-Doo and The Flinstones.
Like any streaming platform, Tubi's catalog isn't permanent. Don't wait too long to watch something because it won't be on their roster forever.
Vudu
Vudu is another movie streaming platform that's free thanks to ads. The Vudu Free Family & Kids section includes nearly 100 movie options for kids of all ages. Famous family movie titles include newer movies like Journey to the Center of the Earth and classics like Black Beauty. There are tons of holiday movies and animated movies available, too.
Related: 38 Best 4th of July Movies for Families That Will Light Up the Screen
Entertainment Magazine
If you want easy-to-access public-domain kids' movies, check out the collection collated by Entertainment Magazine.
- You can download cartoon episodes like Bugs Bunny or get classic kids' movies like the original versions of The Wizard of Oz and Gulliver's Travels.
- There aren't many kids' movies to watch here, but you could also introduce your kids to films with Laurel & Hardy, the Three Stooges, or Charlie Chaplin.
Kids about 7+ will enjoy the content Entertainment Magazine has to offer more than younger kids.
Internet Archive
The Internet Archive, a non-profit organization that offers an online library of historical content in digital format, is a bright spot in the increasingly commercialized media landscape. You can find and watch titles like Santa and the Three Bears or The Magic Cloak right on the website. Yup, you heard that right — you won't be redirected to other multimedia players.
Never navigated the Internet Archive before? We've got you covered.
- Click on the filmstrip icon with the word "video" at the top of the screen, then click "movies."
- From there, you can refine your search by year, genre, and language.
- Most of the available movies are in black and white, and all are pretty old, so they're best for older kids ages 8 and up.
National Film Board
The National Film Board of Canada has over 2,000 items available for free by using their iPad, iPhone, or Android app. You can store the films for up to 48 hours for offline viewing. This is a great option for downloading movies your kids want to see on a plane trip or a car ride.
To take advantage of the National Film Board's free offerings, simply search by "Channel" to find categories like "Based on Children's Books" or "Kids' Movies."
Many of the "films" for children have short runtimes of less than 30 minutes. This is a great repository if you have young kids with short attention spans. Most available titles for kids are not famous or popular movies, so you may want to vet them first.
Freevee
Once called IMDb TV, Freevee is an Amazon-supported free streaming service that houses some of the most famous film titles from the past few decades. Think movies like Elf and Paddington.
Movies you can find on Freevee include live-action films for kids of all ages and cartoon movies. You can download the Freevee app through the App Store or Google Play, stream it through Roku, Android TV, Apple TV, or Google TV, Amazon Fire Stick, and more.
Related: 23 Low-Stimulation Movies for Toddlers That Are Calm & Captivating
Crackle
Sony owns Crackle, so the offerings are extensive and more up-to-date than some other sites. It's free to use and join, but you do have to create an account using an email address.
Keep in mind that there is no "kids" or "family" genre. However, you can find children's movies in other categories, like "comedy" or "action."
Titles include mostly live-action movies such as Baby Geniuses, The Next Karate Kid, or MouseHunt, which are great for all ages. If your kids revolt over commercials, warn them in advance that they may encounter some as they watch.
Pluto TV
You can watch movies on live TV or on-demand for free with Pluto TV. This free streaming service is available on a variety of devices. Their kids section features nearly 100 movies for kids of all ages.
You can find older animated Nickelodeon movies like The Wild Thornberries Movie along with newer live-action titles such as Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events.
6 Kid-Friendly Streaming Platforms With Free Trials
If you want the biggest possible selection of kids' movies without the high prices, you'll probably want to download and stream from bigger services. Not every streaming service has commercials, though you usually have to commit to a higher subscription tier to go ad-free.
Unfortunately, streaming service free-trials have dried up in the past few years. Yet, there are still some that offer this luxury.
Hulu
Hulu has a large selection of movies in every imaginable genre, but they charge fees. You can sign up for a free, one-month trial to test it out, but you'll need to provide your credit card information.
There are commercials in the basic versions of Hulu, but it only costs $7.99 per month after your free trial if you want to keep it.
Set a reminder in your phone or calendar for a week from the day you sign up for the free trial. Those free trials are only worth it if you remember to cancel them before you get charged.
Paramount Plus
Paramount Plus is a newer streaming platform that's steadily on the rise. They offer a free 1-week trial, though you do have to sign up for an account and put in your credit card info. Their cheapest package costs $5.99 a month and comes with commercials.
MGM+
MGM+ — formerly Epix — is a newcomer to the streaming block, but it boasts MGM Studios' catalog. From Old Hollywood classics to the latest blockbusters, MGM+ is a surprisingly robust streaming platform with loads of kids and family content.
They offer a one-week free trial to first-time subscribers. After that week is out, the basic package costs $6.99 per month.
The Criterion Channel
You're never too young to get started on the classics. Get your kids hooked on the silly antics of troupes like The Three Stooges and darling films from your childhood through The Criterion Channel. This streaming platform has a 7-day free trial. Get access to some of film history's greatest works with their expansive catalog.
Recently, Criterion released Criterion24/7, a channel that plays films nonstop. Drop in to see what's on and if it's kid-appropriate. It's an awesome way to see a movie you might never have selected for your kids before.
MUBI
If you have children who are really captivated by cinema, they'd enjoy getting to view the diverse, international collection of films on the streaming platform MUBI. Though it's touted as a film-lovers platform, they do have family-appropriate content.
They offer a 7-day free trial. Sign up for either the monthly package at $14.99 a month or the annual package (a flat fee $119.88) to access to their free trial.
Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is a major anime streaming platform with a 7-day free trial and the cheapest tier at $7.99 per month. As with any platform not specifically dedicated to kids, you'll want to review any content you're not familiar with to see if it's appropriate for your kids to watch.
Free Movies Keep Your Kids Out of Your Hair
Whether it's a long weekend or full-blown summer, sometimes you just need to keep your kids out of your hair. Get that shopping list made without breaking the bank with these streaming services and platforms that offer free and downloadable movies for kids.
