When It's Nearly Meltdown Time, These Toddler Movies Save the Day

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I know, I know: Ideally toddlers shouldn't be watching movies. But we all have to acknowledge that sometimes showers need to be taken, the dishes need to get done, the pre-dinner crankies have set in, and putting on a movie can occasionally be the best option for getting to the end of the day.

So, what are the best kids of movies for those 1-year-olds and 2-year-olds? First, the content has to be appropriate, which is sometimes hard to find in a world where frenetic action seems to rule the day. Then, it has to be able to meet their attention spans—their short, short, short attention spans. And availability is key, too, because when there's just a minute or two before te family enters meltdown city, nobody wants to be futzing around trying to find the movie.

With all that in mind, these are the best toddler movies to watch in 2026. The ratings are gentle, mostly G or unrated. The run times are short, and the streaming is available. Throw one on when it's needed most, and the day is saved.

Ponyo is a Little Mermaid-style story about a being that starts off as a sea creature and then has adventures on land. Only instead of a mermaid, she's more of a goldfish, and there's a child friendship at the center instead of a love story. Directed by legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki, this movie is full of fantastic creativity. MPAA Rating: G

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Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie (2025)

If they're fans of Gabby's Dollhouse on Netflix, they'll love to see the feature-length adventure. It has a message about Gabby passing on her love of her dollhouse to a younger sister, so there's a thread about playing together and sharing in there that they may absorb. The rest of the film involves Gabby trying to get her dollhouse back from an eccentric woman who swipes it—and the villain is played by Kristen Wiig in a role adults will appreciate. MPAA Rating: G

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The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)

While lots of other Disney movies have scary witches, dragons, or monsters, this bear of very little brain only gets into the mildest of scrapes. And yet the gentle antics of everyone's favorite Pooh bear are still entertaining for young ones. Follow it up with 2011's Winnie the Pooh for more honey-filled adventures. MPAA Rating: G

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Get them prepared for PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie, out this August, by returning to the original. This one delves into the origins of Chase and his relationship with Ryder, and also adds a new pup into the mix. There's also 2023's PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, with a super hero theme, but that one is PG. MPAA Rating: G

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The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)

It's The Muppets, so there's sure to be plenty of jokes aimed at adults that go over toddlers' heads (if you're lucky). But they'll be so enamored with the antics of Kermit and the gang they won't care. While all Muppet movies are great, this one, about bringing a Muppet musical to Broadway, has classic put-on-a-show energy. But other classics, including The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper, are on Disney+. MPAA Rating: G

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A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (2019)

The animals in Shaun the Sheep don't really talk, so it's almost like watching a silent movie (though they do make noises), making it easy for even the littlest cinephiles to understand what's going on. In this one, the flock has to help a lost alien find its family again. If they love the ovine antics, there's also Shaun the Sheep: The Movie (rated PG) and Shaun the Sheep TV series, a new movie is due out later this year. MPAA Rating: G

If it absolutely has to be princesses—and, with toddlers, sometimes it has to be princesses—then Cinderella is a best bet, because her foes, while mean, are the least terrifying of the princess villains. (Sorry, Lady Tremaine.) MPAA Rating: G

All the Peanuts movies are great because they don't condescend to kids, and they're often about how being a kid can be a real struggle at times. While that message might be lost on toddlers until later, they'll still enjoy Snoopy and Woodstock and get a kick out of the Peanuts children dancing. If you want to start with the classic feature films instead of the 2015 theatrical flick, A Boy Named Charlie Brown is first, followed by Snoopy Come Home. And the specials work, too, and they're even a little shorter, which is helpful for those small attention spans. The specials and older movies can only be found on Apple TV+. MPAA Rating: G

Another family-friendly film from Studio Ghibli's Miyazaki, this movie follows two sisters as they move into a new house where they meet strange and wonderful creatures (a couple of which may seem menacing at first, but they go away with little conflict). There are allusions to the fact that their mother is in the hospital, but nothing too sad happens. Instead, kids can delight as Totoro does things like listening to rain fall on an umbrella for the first time or riding a cat-shaped bus. MPAA Rating: G

As far as Pixars go, most of the danger here comes in the form of a food critic—though there are a few people who try to catch Remy the rat in the kitchen—so it shouldn't be too frightening for little ones. (Toy Story is also rated G, but it has all of Sid's scary creations in it—they still give me the heebie-jeebies.) And they'll enjoy the story of a rat who goes off to pursue his dream—or at least they'll get a kick out of the visual of a rat scurrying around the kitchen and cooking. MPAA Rating: G

Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird (1985)

Adults may remember this one: When Big Bird is sent away to live with a family of dodos, he runs away and tries to head back to Sesame Street. He runs into mischief along the way home, and at the same time his friends try to look for him. Kids will be delighted to see characters like Kermit, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, Bert, Ernie, Elmo, Grover, and others pop up along the way. MPAA Rating: G

To an adult, the Tinker Bell franchise will never hold a candle to the Disney classics. But to a toddler who's into fairies, mermaids, and all things mystical, these movies have just the right balance of magic and friendship, with just a teeny splash of danger. If they like it, there's a whole series of movies that follow, including Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, Tinker Bell and The Great Fairy Rescue, and others. MPAA Rating: G

This stop-motion animated movie is about a group of chickens who want to fly the coop and find freedom. That may seem like a complicated goal, but a bunch of claymation chickens running around is sure to get a giggle out of any toddler. A sequel, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, came out 23 years after the original (though that one is rated PG). MPAA Rating: G

You'll be hard-pressed to find a movie about a witch that's as delightful and not-scary as this one. This Studio Ghibli production is about a witch who uses her gift of flight to deliver packages. Jiji, her adorable cat, is also a perennial kid-fave—you might be inspired to get the plush. MPAA Rating: G

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This adorable primate gets into a lot of mischief, but it's always with a good heart. And adults will be relieved that the Man in the Yellow Hat is voiced by Will Ferrell, so there's something in it for them. MPAA Rating: G

Little kids who are obsessed with vehicles will love seeing the race cars zoom around the track—and they might like it even more when the movie slows down and settles into a story about small-town life along Route 66. If the scenes extolling the benefits of the simple life are lost on the kids, the antics of some of the town locals—like the lovable Mater, the tow truck—will keep them interested. MPAA Rating: G

The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland (1999)

In this movie, Elmo's lovey accidentally gets thrown away, and when he goes to retrieve it, he gets transported to Grouchland. But really, you had them at "Elmo." MPAA Rating: G

Nature documentaries aren't for all toddlers, but if you have an Animal Kid, nothing is better. This doc, from disneynature, follows a herd across the Kalahari Desert. There's some peril, but nothing is tragic (though there is a death due to old age). And does that voice-over sound familiar? Meghan Markle does the narration. MPAA Rating: G

Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! (2008)

Pretty much anything that comes out of the unique mind of Dr. Seuss will gel with the brain of a toddler, but this one also has a good message about protecting the little guy—something little kids might also relate to on a gut level. MPAA Rating: G

To be honest, the 139-minute running time is probably too much for an antsy toddler to sit through, but it's so episodic you can skip to your favorite songs and still get a movie's worth of entertainment out of it. MPAA Rating: G

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