Looking for a gentle movie for a sensitive kid? Yes, I realize that my brand promotes using screens less. But, you may have heard me say before, “all screens are not created equal.”
I feel, and research indicates, that there is a big difference in our brains between time watching a movie, versus scrolling a quick-form video platform like TikTok or Instagram. Thus, although I don’t want my kids consuming a ton of screen time, I am more than happy to take them to see a film in the theater, or have a fun family movie night at home. (Plus – I have a master’s degree in screenwriting and am a huge film buff! Ironic for someone who says “screen less,” I know.)
The catch is, one of my children is highly sensitive to scary or sad moments in film. (He has level 1 autism.) I find that “rated G” is never a guarantee that it will be appropriate for my kids. At the age of 5, my son was scared out of his mind by a scene in “Ratatouille” where a woman attacks rats while wearing a gas mask. By age 8, he was beside himself at the end of “Elemental” (which I won’t spoil for you.) At age 10, he was overwhelmed by how mean the characters were to Elfeba in “Wicked.” Thus, the typical kid movie is a no-go in our house much of the time. So what is a film-loving mom to do?
How to Find Movies For Sensitive Kids
At first, I thought that older movies meant safer, calmer movies. Old films are certainly a slower pace, but I find that there are sometimes troubling depictions of women, little to no racial diversity, and sometimes inappropriate racial slurs. I also find that kid characters in older movies are a lot ruder to each other and seem to fight more than in modern films.
Through trial and error, we have found a list of films (some old and more new) that are enjoyable without causing meltdowns. Every child is different, so you may want to read parent reviews first on CommonSenseMedia.org and decide for yourself. I always look up movies and read about what is deemed “scary” or “sad” by their reviewer. So far, the films on the list below have worked well for us!
Gentle Movies for Younger Sensitive Kids
You’ll have to decide what “younger” and “older” means for your family. But all of these movies worked well for my son when he was six and below. I have added links to each movie for you to watch on Amazon Prime. (I am an affiliate of Amazon and will receive a small commission at no cost to you.)
Mary Poppins (1964, Rated G)
This was the first movie my son ever watched, and it’s fantastic! The reviews say it has “no peril,” and they’re right. Just a bunch of songs, whimsy, and English accents.
PAW Patrol: The Movie (2021, Rated G)
This is a more recent film that is good, clean fun. There is limited peril, and some good messages of believing in yourself and teamwork.
Cars (2006, Rated G)
This Pixar film seems to be especially popular with little boys. The action is fun, Tow-Mater is a funny sidekick, and the stakes are relatively low.
The Great Muppet Caper (1981, Rated G)
This is a classic of my childhood! The Muppets are hilarious in this film, and I found myself laughing at almost all the jokes. The songs are great, and the peril is played for laughs. But don’t be fooled – not all Muppet movies are so chill. “Muppets Take Manhattan” has a distressing part (for some kids) when Kermit gets hit by a car, and “A Muppet Christmas Carol” had my son spooked and crying within the first ten minutes. Stick with “The Great Muppet Caper” until your sensitive child gets older.
Planes (2013, Rated PG)
Another fun and funny Pixar film that keeps little ones engaged and isn’t too scary.
The Sound of Music (1965, Rated G)
This is my favorite movie of all time! Some modern adults will find the pace of this film a bit slow, but I find it enchanting. The songs are so wonderful, and I get swept up in the love story every time. You will be confronted with the concepts of Nazis, so decide beforehand if you want to explain who the “bad guys” are. The scene near the end where they are hiding can be anxiety provoking, so you could choose to either fast forward or explain that “everything is going to be ok.” But overall it’s a classic and the amazing setting and cinematography are a big plus.
Ramona and Beezus (2010, Rated G)
We watched this after having read all of the “Ramona” books by Beverly Cleary, which made it even more fun to pick out scenes that we recognized from the books. This is a cute, benign film, with some fun hijinx.
Bambi (1942, Rated G – with a huge caveat)
I know what you’re thinking! And you’re right. The part of Bambi where his mom dies is one of the most heart-wrenching scenes on film, and I have NO idea why Walt Disney thought it was appropriate for a children’s movie. However, IF YOU FAST FORWARD through the part where Bambi’s mom is shot, and you also fast forward through the fire, it is an absolutely adorable film. My kids loved Thumper, and all of the cute animals.
Any of the “Thomas The Tank Engine” Movies
Most of these are “direct to DVD” and are super chill. I will admit that the trains can be a bit rude to each other, but there’s nothing scary or thrilling that happens. Whatever you do, don’t watch the Thomas movie starring Alec Baldwin, or you will want to scratch your eyes out at how confusing and awful it is. You’ll want your 2 hours back.
Movies For Older Sensitive Kids
When I say older, I am meaning 7-10. At least that’s when we showed the following movies to our more sensitive son. These movies have a bit more peril than the aforementioned list, but that’s why they’re better for a mind that is a bit more developed. “Paddington” for example, was WAY to scary for my son at the age of 5, but the recent “Paddington 3” was absolutely fine for him at age 10.
DC League of Super-Pets (2022, Rated PG)
I laughed my head off at this movie! I honestly wasn’t expecting much, and wasn’t excited to go, but was completely surprised by how clever and funny it was. Lots of action and plenty of jokes.
Minions (2015, Rated PG)
This is hands down my favorite kids’ movie from the past 20 years. It is hilarious!!! However, I would not show it to a super young child because the action at the end could be stressful. My son saw it around age 8 and thought it was fantastic. No tears.
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (2022, Rated PG)
My kids could not stop singing the songs from this musical for weeks! It’s a sweet movie about friendship and loyalty. There are a couple moments of peril, but nothing that bothered my 9 year-old.
Wonka (2023, Rated PG)
This was definitely my favorite kids movie since Minions. The story was heartwarming, the visuals were stunning, and the music was beautiful. There is a moment of peril at the end, but it all works out ok. Highly recommend.
Harold and the Purple Crayon (2024, Rated PG)
A sweet, goofy film, loosely based on the children’s book from 1955. I suggest it for “older” sensitive kids because there’s some fantasy action in the climax, but nothing too upsetting. Mostly a lot of fun hijinx with a purple crayon and a big imagination.
The Sandlot (1993, Rated PG)
The story follows a bunch of young boys playing pick-up baseball in the summer of 1962. It’s not exactly diverse in it’s portrayal of childhood – mostly white, middle-class boys, however it has wholesome themes of teamwork, friendship, and the power of PLAY! My boys found it quite funny.
The Bad Guys (2022, Rated PG)
Based on the Bad Guys series of graphic novels, this was a fun ride with some great celebrity voices. The peril is not serious, and there are plenty of silly moments and potty humor.
Sing (2016, PG)
The audition portion of this film is definitely the most entertaining. But the movie as a whole has great music, and a good theme of friendship and responsibility.
Holiday Movies For Sensitive Kids (Younger)
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (1964, Not Rated)
This is the one from your childhood that they used to show on TV every year. The claymation and songs are adorable. You may need to warn your child that everything turns out ok and that the abominable snowman isn’t really a threat.
The Elf On The Shelf: An Elf’s Story (Netflix, Not Rated)
This was shown to my son in his kindergarten class at school (don’t get me started) and subsequently forced my hand to invite an elf into our household. That aside, the movie is incredibly sweet and innocent, with nothing scary happening at all.
The Snowy Day (2016, Not Rated)
This animated film is based on the beloved children’s book by Ezra Jack Keats. It’s a wholesome adventure as Peter attempts to brave the snow to get to his grandmother’s house for Christmas. I loved how Peter met many friendly, diverse neighbors on the journey- which is sprinkled with BoysIIMen holiday songs.
Holiday Movies for Sensitive Kids (Older)
Home Alone (1990, Rated PG)
I’m assuming that every adult on Earth has seen this classic, but if not, do yourself a favor. This John Hughes classic still holds up. It’s not for really little kiddos because they may be frightened by the concept of burglars breaking-in, and there are a couple of mild cuss words like “jerk,” “hell,” “damn,” and “shit.” But it’s such a funny and heartwarming film. My sons saw it around age 7, and they were laughing so hard that I started recording the sound for posterity.
Elf (2003, Rated PG)
Will Ferrell is at his best playing a human raised among elves, who goes into NYC searching for his real father. As Common Sense Media states, “the few action sequences (galloping rangers chasing Santa in Central Park, a brief confrontation with a scary raccoon, and some scuffles in a department store) aren’t really threatening, and no one is injured. Though the movie is 100% on board with the magic of Christmas, some characters are less-than believers in Santa, and kids talk about the possibility of parents being the ones behind the presents. But the movie’s messages about honesty, acceptance, and affection for all humanity are clear and positive.”
*** NOTE: There is a scene where the Bob Newhart character mentions that some people doubt Santa’s existence and think that parents are the ones providing the gifts. If you’d like to skip this scene, know that it is in the “sleigh room” scene. You can skip or mute for approximately 30 seconds starting at the 7:40 minute mark. Start skipping when Papa Elf says “as silly as it sounds…” You can resume at the 8:10 mark.
Family Movie Night Means the WHOLE Family
I hope that you enjoy introducing your children to the wonderful world of film! Far different from social media, video games, or mindless scrolling- film can be an amazing art form that connects people and offers insight into our society. But just remember what Emily Cherkin says:
“Family movie night is one screen, one family. It is not parents sitting on the couch with their phones while the movie is playing.”
Enjoy the show!
Hear Emily’s entire interview here:
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