15 Best Kids' Movies That Are More for Adults (2024)

Films are always marketed toward a certain audience. For example, animated films are usually marketed for children and adults end up seeing them anyway because their kids might like them. However, there are some children's films that stand the test of time because they work very well for adults too. So, although they are animated, it doesn't necessarily mean the film is only for kids, as they're actually the best movies for kids and adults.

From themes about family to various sexual innuendos, there's a chance that there are jokes and lines that kids won't get. Fortunately, with the adult themes, these films make it easy to watch with the whole family. There's no shortage of movies made for young viewers that also appeal to more mature audiences, as more and more studios and creative visionaries are pushing the line to create daring and in-depth experiences for children.

15 'Scooby-Doo' (2002)

Directed by Raja Gosnell

With 2002's Scooby-Doo, the gang packed up the Mystery Machine and made their way from cartoon to live-action. This time, Shaggy, Velma, Fred, Daphne, and Scooby were in a world created by James Gunn, that had them figure out how to make their comeback after disbanding. While the cast and characters of Scooby-Doo are iconic for being child-friendly characters, this film takes a more satirical and parody-centric approach to the characters that make the film a perfect fit for adults.

Gunn's signature writing style in Scooby-Doo is filled with adult jokes that are not caught until later on. Giving a fun and raunchy theme to the Scooby-Doo franchise has let the film and its sequel be as timeless, though, perhaps not as beloved, as the original cartoon.

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14 'Hocus Pocus' (1993)

Directed by Kenny Ortega

Salem, Massachusetts is home to the history of witch trials and the Sanderson Sisters. Hocus Pocus depicts the return of those magical sisters. When a virgin lights the Black Flame candle, Winifred, Mary, and Sarah return to eat children and maintain their youth. It soon becomes up to a trio of children to put a stop to the witches' reign of terror before they completely take over the world and become unstoppable in their youth.

After being a disappointing box office flop, Hocus Pocus found its calling as a cult classic, becoming one of the most defining and beloved comedy movies of the 90s that is rewatched by many audiences every Halloween. Part of why it was able to attain such a powerful legacy as a modern-day Halloween classic is its more adult-oriented style of humor and charm. Now the film is old enough for adults to reminisce over their childhood, and now they can introduce their kids to its 2022 sequel, Hocus Pocus 2.

Hocus Pocus

PG

Comedy

Family

Fantasy

Horror

Where to Watch

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Release Date

July 16, 1993

Director

Kenny Ortega

Cast

Bette Midler , Sarah Jessica Parker , Kathy Najimy , Omri Katz , Thora Birch , Vinessa Shaw

Runtime

96

13 'Mrs. Doubtfire' (1993)

Directed by Chris Columbus

When Daniel (Robin Williams) loses custody of his children, he pretends to be a housekeeper and nanny as "Mrs. Doubtfire." The kids eventually learn that Daniel is pretending to be an older woman, and they help him in his journey to obtaining a new job and joint custody. Fortunately, Mrs. Doubtfire gives him not only a job but his kids back. While certain aspects of the film haven't aged as gracefully over 30 years, it cannot be denied that the film is still an iconic family romp that is filled to the brim with winks and nods to adults in the audience.

Robin Williams is a comic legendary for his work not only for children but for adults as well, so it would only make sense Mrs. Doubtfire finds a balance and has humor for both children and adults. Even besides the humor, however, Daniel's struggle for custody is the part that most kids won't understand but will warm an adult's heart, helping it continuously be considered a comedy classic after all of these years.

Mrs. Doubtfire

PG-13

Comedy

Drama

Family

Where to Watch

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Release Date

November 24, 1993

Director

Chris Columbus

Cast

Robin Williams , Sally Field , Pierce Brosnan , Harvey Fierstein , Polly Holliday , Lisa Jakub

Runtime

125 minutes

12 'Rango' (2011)

Directed by Gore Verbinski

Rango was an animated film that took someone's pet chameleon on the Western adventure of his life. Disguising himself as "Rango," this chameleon (Johnny Depp) becomes the new sheriff of a town called Dirt. When he discovers that there is a drought that needs to be fixed, he scrounges together a posse to travel off into the desert and uncover the mystery and culprit behind the town's dwindling water supply. While Rango is certainly still a family movie at its core, the mixture of beautiful animation and darker plot points make it a kids movie that adults enjoy just as much as kids.

Rango not only is a film that viewers didn't realize was a Western, but it also genuinely mimics those of old, meaning not only the action that comes with it, but references and callbacks that adults will truly appreciate. There are a couple of innuendos that are blink-and-miss, but overall the most adult theme is the greed that shows in the mayor, acting as a terrifying parallel for corruption and deceit among those in positions of power.

Rango

PG

Animation

Adventure

Comedy

Family

Western

Where to Watch

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See Also

Exclusive Interview - Mick Garris on These Evil Things We Do, Hocus Pocus, Masters of Horror and moreWhy should kids not watch Hocus Pocus 2?

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Release Date

March 2, 2011

Director

Gore Verbinski

Cast

Johnny Depp , Isla Fisher , Abigail Breslin , Ned Beatty , Alfred Molina , Bill Nighy

Runtime

107

11 'The Lego Movie' (2014)

Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller

When Lord Business threatens to use the "kragle" to destroy the world, there's a prophecy that The Special will find the Piece of Resistance and stop the end of the Lego World. When Emmet Brickowski (Chris Pratt) discovers the Piece of Resistance, it's believed that he will be the one to save the world. To those who haven't seen the film, it's difficult to imagine The Lego Movie as anything more than a color-coated cash grab for children, yet the love and passion that the film has for creativity and conformism easily make it a brilliant watch for adults.

Despite Lego being a physical toy, projects like The Lego Movie took the toy to new heights and proved that a masterpiece of filmmaking could come from any concept or property. The film finds the perfect balance between appealing to children and appealing to adults with its deeper themes, colorful and exciting action, and beautiful style of animation that has now become iconic. This film takes the Lego characters to the real world to help a son reconcile with his father, making it perfect for parents and kids alike to watch.

The Lego Movie

PG

Adventure

Comedy

Animation

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Release Date

February 7, 2014

Director

Phil Lord , Christopher Miller

Cast

Chris Pratt , Will Ferrell , Elizabeth Banks , Will Arnett , Nick Offerman , Alison Brie , Charlie Day , Liam Neeson , Morgan Freeman

Runtime

100 minutes

10 'Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio' (2022)

Directed by Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson

From the masterful director of The Shape of Water and Pan's Labyrinth, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio revamps the classic children's tale with del Toro's signature gothic stylings and darker themes. The film places the classic characters and story on the backdrop of 1920s Italy during the rise of fascism under Mussolini, seeing Pinocchio's struggles as a wooden boy in this dark world. Aside from its setting and more creative renditions of characters and the concepts of life and death, the film's story closely parallels other versions of Pinocchio.

Despite its darker and clearly adult-leaning themes and messages, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio keeps itself contained as a family film and experience at its core, making it a highly engaging experience for kids and adults alike. This beautiful balance of childlike wonder, imagination, and creativity with Guillermo's talent for beautifully gothic worlds immediately made the film a smash hit among critics and audiences. It still stands out as one of the best animated films in recent memory, even earning an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

PG

Animation

Drama

Fantasy

Where to Watch

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Not available

Not available

Release Date

December 9, 2022

Director

Guillermo del Toro , Mark Gustafson

Cast

Ewan McGregor , David Bradley , Gregory Mann , Burn Gorman , Ron Perlman

Runtime

117 minutes

9 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?' (1988)

Directed by Robert Zemeckis

Melding the "toon" world and the real world together, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? takes audiences on a wild whodunnit. It's not Roger Rabbit, although all signs point to him, the detective on the case is set to solve the mystery. In the search to find the clues and culprit behind the murder, it doesn't take long before an array of dangerous mobsters owned by the real culprit attempt to stop detective Eddie Valiant's (Bob Hoskins) work dead in its tracks.

Besides the violent nature of a crime fiction story, this film has several adult themes. With blackmail, murder, and cheating all wrapped into almost two hours, there's no way Who Framed Roger Rabbit? is solely a children's film. At the same time however, this beautiful balance of a dark and gritty crime adventure focused around a multitude of iconic and memorable cartoon characters from across the medium's history is exactly what has made the film such an iconic experience for over 35 years.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit

PG

Animation

Comedy

Crime

Family

Fantasy

Where to Watch

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Release Date

June 21, 1988

Director

Robert Zemeckis

Cast

Bob Hoskins , Christopher Lloyd , Joanna Cassidy , Charles Fleischer , Stubby Kaye , Alan Tilvern

Runtime

103

8 'Shrek' (2001)

Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson

The Shrek series is iconic for its story overall. Based on Shrek! By William Steig, Shrek tells the story of an ogre who falls in love with a princess who is cursed. The movies and specials in the Shrek series expand Steig's world into a DreamWorks universe with a plethora of wacky characters. While the series would eventually become more and more oriented for children with each subsequent release, it's hard to deny with the original context in which it was released, that Shrek is aimed at adult audiences as much as it is for children.

Shrek is full of pop culture references and sexual innuendos that audiences don't catch until they're older. A large portion of why the film is as raunchy and reference-heavy as it is is that it's a direct parody of fairy tale stories and the culture surrounding animated Disney films during the 90s. At nearly every corner, the film is poking fun at conventions of fairy tale stories as well as taking jabs at Disney themselves, while at the same time keeping these adult in-jokes subtle enough to still make it work wonders for children.

Shrek

PG

Animation

Adventure

Comedy

Where to Watch

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Release Date

May 18, 2001

Director

Andrew Adamson , Vicky Jenson

Cast

Mike Myers , Eddie Murphy , Cameron Diaz , John Lithgow , Vincent Cassel , Peter Dennis

Runtime

90 minutes

7 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' (2009)

Directed by Wes Anderson

Fantastic Mr. Fox, adapted from a Roald Dahl story, focuses on a family of foxes who try to make their way aboveground when Mr. Fox's (George Clooney) antics get him in trouble with the local farmers. While Wes Anderson is more commonly known as his work directing charming comedies for adults, his first foray into animation with Fantastic Mr. Fox was a massive hit among audiences and critics worldwide. While it distinctly has more childlike wonder and charm compared to his adult-oriented works, his signature style of writing for adults still finds itself shining through in the film.

While seen as a kid's movie, the themes in this film make it more adult. Mr. Fox breaks a promise to his wife and has to figure out how to lead her and the children out of the mess he created – because adults can learn from their mistakes too. The animation is also a beautiful display of stop-motion that still holds up to this day, and adults will not have difficulties at all finding joyous wonder and love painstakingly crafted into each frame of the film.

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

PG

Animation

Adventure

Comedy

Family

Where to Watch

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Release Date

October 23, 2009

Director

Wes Anderson

Cast

George Clooney , Meryl Streep , Jason Schwartzman , Bill Murray , Wallace Wolodarsky , Eric Chase Anderson

Runtime

87

6 'The Princess Bride' (1987)

Directed by Rob Reiner

The Princess Bride follows the duo of Buttercup (Robin Wright) and Westley (Cary Elwes), who are deeply in love until Westley leaves to make enough money to marry her. After being separated for a long time, they are finally reunited when he must save Buttercup from an arranged marriage, in the process having to face off against murderous princes, massive rodents, and conniving foes. Or at least that's what someone's grandfather tells in the story of his grandson.

As a fantasy comedy, The Princess Bride has plenty of modern-day humor, which means the adult themes come through loud and clear. While kids might laugh at the physical comedy, adults know that the humor of The Princess Bride lives in the dialogue as the film shines as one of the most prominent and beloved examples of a kids' movie with adult humor. This renowned classic is now considered among the best fantasy movies of all time.

The Princess Bride

PG

Adventure

Comedy

Family

Fantasy

Romance

Where to Watch

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Release Date

October 9, 1987

Director

Rob Reiner

Cast

Cary Elwes , Mandy Patinkin , Chris Sarandon , Christopher Guest , Wallace Shawn , andre the giant

Runtime

98 minutes

5 'The Incredibles' (2004)

Directed by Brad Bird

The Incredibles follows a family of superheroes as they attempt to balance both the struggles of superherodom and parenting, as well as navigating a world that doesn't want superheroes anymore. Despite superheroes being banned, Bob finds a loophole and a way to make a comeback as Mr. Incredible, once again being able to make a difference and relive his glory days. What he doesn't expect is to take his whole family with him into the spotlight, putting all of them in danger in the process.

The Incredibles is the perfect example of just why Pixar's earlier works have been able to stand the test of time and stay beloved for so many years. The film perfectly balances colorful high-stakes action that appeals to audiences of all ages with various deep and adult themes and concepts of legacy, dealing with a midlife crisis, and infidelity. The Incredibles managed to garner so much of an audience that adults were flocking to theaters to see the sequel to this kid's movie 14 years later. Fortunately, the sequel did just as well as the first film.

The Incredibles

PG

Animation

Action

Adventure

Family

Where to Watch

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Release Date

October 27, 2004

Director

Brad Bird

Cast

Craig T. Nelson , Holly Hunter , Samuel L. Jackson , Jason Lee , Dominique Louis , Teddy Newton

Runtime

121

4 'Coraline' (2009)

Directed by Henry Selick

One of the most defining examples of a darker story made for children, Coraline's beautiful stop-motion world combined with its almost-horror movie execution and premise have made it an instant fan favorite for 15 years. The film follows the story of Coraline, who after a falling out with her parents, comes across a mysterious hidden door in her room that transports her to a magical world where her parents care for her, but everyone has buttons for eyes. While things seem great at first, it quickly takes a turn for the dark and dangerous when her "Other Mother" persists in Coraline staying with them.

Henry Selick's masterful stop-motion direction shines through perfectly in Coraline, bringing to life a world and deeply thematic depth that works wonders for adults as much as it does for children. The film has amassed an iconic reputation for just how dark and seemingly terrifying it gets, with Coraline being an outstanding showcase of animated horror without even being a horror movie itself. Its dedication to telling a fantastical story with rich and powerful themes above all else has continued to help it be considered a fan favorite among children and adults for so many years.

Coraline

PG

Animation

Family

Fantasy

Drama

Where to Watch

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Release Date

February 6, 2009

Director

Henry Selick

Cast

Dakota Fanning , Teri Hatcher , Jennifer Saunders , Dawn French , Keith David , John Hodgman

Runtime

100 minutes

3 'The Iron Giant' (1999)

Directed by Brad Bird

When talking about the saddest animated movies ever made, it's impossible not to mention The Iron Giant. Produced by Warner Bros., this classic animated sci-fi film is set during the Cold War and tells the story of a huge alien robot (voiced by Vin Diesel), who crashes on Earth from outer space. When 9-year-old Hogarth (Eli Marienthal) discovers him, they soon become close friends. Soon, they must defend themselves against the government, which becomes insistent on destroying the robot.

Fans who remember the film know precisely why it's a kids' movie that will resonate with adults, as it continues to resonate and charm audiences of all ages 25 years after its release. Not only does its animation style hold up incredibly well, but its timeless story that has remarkable emotional depth is one that's worth experiencing again at least once in viewers' adult lives. The film will only continue to enchant and delight audiences in the years to come thanks to its outstanding and undeniable quality for adults as well as kids.

The Iron Giant

PG

Animation

Action

Adventure

Where to Watch

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Release Date

August 6, 1999

Director

Brad Bird

Cast

Jennifer Aniston , Harry Connick Jr. , Vin Diesel , James Gammon , Cloris Leachman , Christopher McDonald

Runtime

86 minutes

2 'Up' (2009)

Directed by Pete Docter

One of Pixar's finest achievements and most critically acclaimed outings, Up made waves across the world not just for how great it was for children, but just how much of an impact it left on parents and adults. The film follows the story of Carl Fredericksen, an elderly man who has spent his entire life dreaming of traveling the globe so that he can experience life to its fullest. With not much time left, he enacts on his dreams by using a massive bundle of balloons to pick up his house and travel it to Paradise Falls himself, unintentionally bringing along a loyal boy scout in the process.

It doesn't take long for audiences to understand just how much of an impact Up leaves on adults, as the opening sequence and first 15 minutes of the film are deeply powerful, beautifully told, and an absolute tearjerker. While the rest of the film certainly features a classic mixture of sly comedic moments for adults and childish antics that is accustomed to most Pixar films, it's the legendary opening that has helped Up attain such infamy. Adults loved the film so much that the Pixar feature didn't just win Best Animated Feature, but it was even nominated for Best Picture as one of the best films of the year.

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1 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' (2018)

Directed by Rodney Rothman, Peter Ramsey, and Bob Persichetti

Telling the classic story of the radioactive spider biting an unsuspecting teenage boy, Into the Spider-Verse puts its own spin on Spider-Man's adventure by thrusting him into the multiverse. It follows Miles Morales' (Shameik Moore) struggles with juggling his new powers with school and other responsibilities, which becomes harder when he meets Peter Parker (Jake Johnson), and other elements from alternate realities come crashing down.

While younger audiences can enjoy the well-written tale of Spider-Man's origin story, adults will be able to fully appreciate the visually stunning animation style that revived interest in the oversaturated superhero genre. The entire film is a love letter to the comic books that inspired the superhero genre in the first place, and adults who grew up reading the source material will be captivated by Miles' mind-bending journey. It's truly ironic that even compared to the many live-action Spider-Man movies released over the years, the animated Into the Spider-Verse has the most going for it in terms of resonating with adult audiences.

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NEXT:The Best Movies That Prove Animation Isn't Just For Kids