The Best New Kids Movies Streaming in September

What are the best new kids movies to stream in September?

Summer may be over, but movie theaters are continuing to host with hotly anticipated titles as we enter the school year. Your kids may want to go see “Forgotten Island,” “Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom,” or “Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass” as a fun weekend treat. But what about home releases? There are still a ton of new films and specials you can enjoy right from your couch, right after school.

Last month was all about Disney+, but this month’s biggest releases are all on Netflix. Younger kids will enjoy “Thomas & Friends: Really Helpful Engines,” while older ones might like “LEGO ONE PIECE.” And anyone interested in the pink and frilly will want to catch “Barbie in the Nutcracker,” Netflix’s remake of the very first full-length Barbie film from 2001.

Of course, Disney+ still has a pretty big title you might have heard of: “Toy Story 5” is finally coming to streaming later this month.

Got all that? Don’t worry, I’ll explain more about each one. Let’s dive into the details!

New kids movies coming to streaming

If last month’s theme was 2000s revivals, the clear theme this month is “toys.” Whether Barbie dolls, slinky dogs, Lego sets, or toy trains, this month’s streaming releases celebrate all sorts of toys and the way that kids play with them. (And if these are all airing conveniently in time for kids to write their wishlists for the holiday season? That’s just a coincidence, I’m sure!)

“Barbie in the Nutcracker” (2026) | Netflix | September 8

It’s been 25 years since Barbie first starred in her own full-length movie. That movie was “Barbie in the Nutcracker” (2001), and Mattel is honoring its legacy with a modern remake (and a brand new doll line to go with it). The new movie will be shorter than the original, clocking in at 45 minutes rather than 80, but it’ll have twice the Barbies.

Confused? Ever since 2021’s “Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams,” Barbie has been accompanied by her new friend, another girl who coincidentally has the same name as her. You can distinguish them by their hometowns: One is “Malibu Barbie” and one is “Brooklyn Barbie.” Both Barbies will star in the new “Nutcracker” special, with Malibu playing Clara and Brooklyn playing the Sugarplum Princess.

If you’re interested in watching every Barbie movie, I’ve got a guide for that. But the quickest, easiest, and cheapest way to watch classic Barbie movies is the official Barbie YouTube channel. It’s been uploading classic Barbie movies all year, including “12 Dancing Princesses,” “Magic of Pegasus,” and “Princess Charm School.”

And if you’re looking for the original “Barbie in the Nutcracker” from 2001? You’re in luck — check further down this page.

“Barbie in the Nutcracker” (2026) will come to Netflix on September 8.

“Toy Story 5” (2026) | Disney+ | September 25

Toy Story movies have always been about the magic of playing with good, old-fashioned, real-world toys, but anyone living in 2026 knows that’s not the full reality for kids anymore. Tech has completely taken over all walks of life, including play. And iPad babies are abundant.

So that’s what the new movie covers: what happens to toys when their kid gets a tablet, chock full of apps and dangerous amounts of screentime. Jessie, in particular, knows what it feels like to be abandoned by a kid, so she takes center stage in this new movie. Also, Woody is bald now.

“Toy Story 5” first released in theaters back in June, and is finally making its streaming debut on Disney+ beginning September 25.

“LEGO ONE PIECE” (2026) | Netflix | September 29

If anyone in your family is into Lego, you know it’s impossible to traverse a Lego section at the store without bumping into at least a few live-action “One Piece” sets. (Yes, those are Lego sets based on the live-action “One Piece” show, which is inspired by the manga, which also inspired an anime. Try to keep up.)

But the live-action “One Piece” is crossing over with the world of Lego for realsies in this new animated special on Netflix. In it, “Captain” Usopp retells all of the adventures that the Straw Hat pirates have had in the first two seasons of the show so far. Is he always telling the truth? It’s impossible to say.

Just a fair warning: like all toy-inspired TV shows, your kids may be begging you for a new Lego set after watching this one. I kind of want a new Lego set just after watching the trailer.

The “LEGO ONE PIECE” animated special is coming to Netflix on September 29.

“Thomas & Friends: Railway Stories | Really Helpful Engines” (2026) | Netflix | September 30

This next special is great for little kids who love playing with train sets. Thomas the Tank Engine is a friendly, bright blue train, here to entertain a new generation of children.

In “Really Helpful Engines,” Thomas and his friends go on lots of adventures around Sodor and learn about the importance of teamwork. This new musical special appears to be the first installment in the “Thomas & Friends: Railway Stories” series, a reboot of the original ’80s show. The new series is fully 3D animated and features many classic Thomas the Tank Engine characters, so it should feel familiar to any Thomas fans.

“Thomas & Friends Railway Stories: Really Helpful Engines” is coming to YouTube on September 17, and Netflix on September 30.

Older favorites coming to streaming in September 2026

They may not be strictly “new,” but your kids may not be familiar with them. Time moves fast! Here’s where you can find these classics, which are hopping streaming services this month:

“Bee Movie” (2007) | Peacock | September 1

What if a bee fell in love with a human woman? That’s the question Jerry Seinfeld dared to ask in 2007 when he co-wrote the screenplay for the award-losing film “Bee Movie.”

It’s the kind of film that emboldens a studio to ask other groundbreaking questions, like “what if a baby was also a boss.” If you like other DreamWorks films, you’ll love “Bee Movie.”

“Barbie in the Nutcracker” (2001) | Netflix | September 14

With the new “Barbie in the Nutcracker” special coming to Netflix on September 8, you might start to get nostalgic for the original. Luckily, Netflix has anticipated this, and is bringing Barbie’s first full-length movie to its service just a few days later. Usually, Netflix only hosts its own original Barbie titles, so it’s cool to see it hosting one from the VHS/DVD era.

“Barbie in the Nutcracker” is, as you might expect, an adaptation of “The Nutcracker” ballet, complete with all of the music and dance numbers that make the story so magical. It even features a fantastic voice acting performance by the late Tim Curry, who plays the petulant Mouse King.

“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” (2022) | Netflix | September 10

It can be a bit of a challenge to keep up with every classic kids’ movie sequel and spinoff, but “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” isn’t like other spinoffs. Far from a soulless direct-to-DVD or streaming sequel, this movie had a successful theatrical run and received a ton of critical praise.

If you’re unfamiliar with the greater Shrek mythos, Puss in Boots is a character introduced in the second “Shrek” movie. “The Last Wish” is his second solo film, and has a unique animation style and tone separate from the other “Shrek” entries.

“Paranorman” (2012) | Hulu | September 1

Halloween may still be a ways away, but grocery store candy aisles and craft store pumpkin sections are already going hog wild. That may be putting your family in the Halloween spirit already, so what better way to embrace it by watching spooky movies?

“Paranorman” is a great option for spooky season. It shares a stop-motion visual identity with Laika’s other films, like “Coraline” and the upcoming “Wildwood,” that works really well for a story about ghosts, witches, and the undead.

More old favorites coming to streaming in September 2026

September 1: Netflix

• “Antz” (1998)
• “Flushed Away” (2006)
• “Shark Tale” (2004)
• “The Prince of Egypt” (1998)

September 1: Peacock

• “Casper”(1995)
• “The Goonies” (1985)
• “The Spongebob Squarepants Movie” (2004)
• “The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water” (2015)

September 1: Hulu

• “Coraline” (2009)
• “Ice Age: The Meltdown” (2006)
• “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” (2009)
• “Soul” (2020)

September 13: Netflix

• “Dog Man” (2025)

September 15: Peacock

• “The Book of Life” (2014)
• “Trolls Band Together” (2023)

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