Hedgehogs, Ponies, and Vampires: The 10 Best Free Kids Movies to Stream Right Now

It can be hard to find good movies for your kids to watch on TV. So much of what’s new or out there can be annoying, inappropriate, or poorly made. And even if you find good content that your kids might like, keeping up with the cost of so many streaming services can seem astronomical, especially when so many of us are increasingly concerned with making ends meet.

Fortunately, there are plenty of great movies online for free—provided you know where to look. With free streaming platforms like Tubi, HappyKids, Pluto.TV, and Hoopla offering new and old classics aplenty, your family can enjoy a stellar Friday night cuddled up together on the couch, munching popcorn and watching something together, all while saving a buck or two.

Here are 10 of the best free kids movies to stream right now.

“My Little Pony: Equestria Girls” (2013)

Released in 2013 to capitalize on the success of TV shows like “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic”, “Equestria Girls” follows Twilight Sparkle as she pursues a stolen crown into a bizarro alternate universe in which she’s no longer a cute, purple pony but is instead a cute, purple humanoid girl. While she navigates what it’s like to walk on two legs instead of four, Twilight becomes acquainted with the multiverse varieties of her whole pony gang, who all join her in her royal quest. The film was also followed by three sequels—”Rainbow Rocks”, “Friendship Games”, and “Legend of Everfree”—meaning that if your littles love the world of Equestria, there’s lots more to enjoy in subsequent viewings. Streaming free on: HappyKids and Plex

“Hotel Transylvania” (2012)

A madcap adventure that finds Adam Sandler cast as Dracula, worried dad and Romanian tourism aficionado, “Hotel Transylvania” is absolutely charming. Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky and boasting a cast that includes Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, Fran Drescher, Steve Buscemi, Molly Shannon, David Spade, and CeeLo Green, “Hotel Transylvania” is the kind of family-friendly movie that even grown-ups will really love. The film’s traditional animation style means it looks great even now and while the film’s cast of Universal monsters makes it an apt choice for Halloween viewing, it’s funny enough that you can really get into it at any time of year. Streaming free on: The Roku Channel

“Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” (2010)

If your kid is deep into Greek mythology or any of the works of Rick Riordan—whether his books or the latest Disney+ adaptation thereof—this one’s for you. Directed by Chris Columbus and released in 2010, “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” stars Logan Lerman as the titular demigod. Unaware of his mythical status until a run-in with a satyr and a centaur while on a trip to the Met in New York, Percy is subsequently whisked away to Camp Half-Blood, where he meets and befriends some of the gods’ other children. After a raging minotaur attacks the camp, Percy is tasked with returning Zeus’s lightning bolt to Mount Olympus before midnight on the Summer Solstice, lest war be rained down on the kids from above. While this version of Riordan’s tale isn’t quite as thrilling or detailed as the aforementioned Disney+ series, there’s still lots to love in this epic tale. Streaming free on: The Roku Channel

“Labyrinth” (1986)

Though “Labyrinth” is perhaps best known for casting David Bowie as a Goblin King wearing a rather spectacular wig, there’s really so much more to the Jim Henson movie. An elaborate musical fantasy starring a young Jennifer Connelly as Sarah, a teen whose infant half-brother is kidnapped after her self-centered wish goes awry, “Labyrinth” is full of elaborate set pieces, costumes, and characters, including—naturally—plenty of puppets courtesy of Henson’s Creature Shop. While the film didn’t fare exceptionally well at the box office upon its release, over the past 40 years it’s found a legion of rabid fans, earning its status as a cult classic. Streaming free on: The Roku Channel and Tubi

“Sonic The Hedgehog” (2020)

Free for anyone with a library card, Hoopla gives subscribers access to books, music and movies, all for free. There’s lots to discover on the service, including a number of fairly recent movies like 2020’s “Sonic The Hedgehog”. The part-animated, part-live action tale of the spiny Sega icon stars Parks and Recreation‘s Ben Schwartz as the voice of the blue speedster, with James Marsden and Jim Carrey coming on board as the film’s human players. (Well, sort of: Carrey plays Dr. Robotnik, an evil genius hellbent on world domination who’s technically human but acts like a cartoon.) Multiple sequels have come out since and kids and parents alike will find joy in Sonic’s quick quips and lightning zips. Streaming free on: Hoopla

“The Music Man” (1962)

An incredible Broadway adaptation from the golden era of cinematic musicals, “The Music Man” tells the story of a two-bit swindler named Harold Hill who tries to convince a small Iowa town to invest in the creation of a boys’ brass band. Do any of the locals play instruments? Of course not, but Hill won’t let that stop him! While the film’s central schemer normally departs town on the quick once he’s cashed everyone’s checks, “The Music Man” throws a wrench into Hill’s plans by introducing a local librarian named Marian, who the con-man quickly falls in love with. The whole thing’s just great, proving sometimes classics become renowned for good reason. But be warned: After you watch this movie, you will be singing “76 Trombones” around the house for weeks to come. Streaming free on: Tubi

“Sesame Street and the Great Elephant Adventure” (2026)

A delightfully adorable team-up from two longtime PBS staples—Sesame Street and Nature, “The Great Elephant Adventure” finds Elmo, Abby, and Nina on a safari in Africa, where they’ve come to visit a baby elephant they adopted online. With stops both on the savannah and at the famed Sheldrick Elephant Trust, where the gang hangs with rambunctious junior pachyderms and learns from their wise keepers, “The Great Elephant Adventure” is both educational and entertaining. Littles will love it because it features their favorite Muppet characters, but grown-ups will fall for it too, if only because of all that cute elephant content. Streaming free on: PBS Kids

“Missing Link” (2019)

A charming stop-motion movie from Portland’s Laika Studios (makers of films like “Coraline” and “Paranorman”), “Missing Link” somehow failed to find success at the box office when it was released in 2019. Though it’s got a stellar cast, with players like Hugh Jackman, Zach Galifianakis, and Zoe Saldanha joining Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry, and Timothy Olyphant in the recording booth, audiences just never warmed to it for some reason. It’s certainly not because it’s a bad movie. In fact, the Sasquatch tale is downright resplendent, with critics giving it a stellar 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and Golden Globe voters awarding it the statue for Best Animated Film. Streaming free on: Pluto.TV

“Agent Cody Banks” (2003)

Frankie Muniz toplines “Agent Cody Banks” as the titular secret agent, a 15-year-old CIA operative who juggles high school and international espionage. When he’s asked to befriend a cute classmate played by Hilary Duff, lest her father’s evil boss use nanobots to take over the world, Banks is forced to reckon with the hijinks that arise when his two worlds combine. Today’s kids will love the movie’s action and comedy, while grown-ups will love the nostalgic feeling of watching something they may have seen in the theaters back when they were kids too. Streaming free on: Hoopla

“The Addams Family” (1991)

A perfect black comedy that’s great for older elementary school kids and beyond, “The Addams Family” took the 1990s by storm when it was first released and for good reason. It’s an absolute delight, with Angelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, and Christina Ricci owning the screen as Chas Addams’ beloved weirdoes. There are crazy creatures and ghoulish gags aplenty, with Dan Hedaya and Elizabeth Wilson cast as a pair of con artists trying to break into the macabre family’s gold-laden vault. Perfect for Halloween time or any other season, “The Addams Family” is an excellent choice for nights when you might be looking for a lighthearted frightfest. Streaming free on: Pluto

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