19 Best Kids’ Movies of 2022

Release Date: January 14, 2022

Pushed back from last Halloween, the newest Hotel Transylvania film really flips things around: Dr. Van Helsig invents a machine that turns the monsters into people, and turns Johnny into a monster! They have to figure out a way to switch back before they get stuck that way. It’ll stream on Amazon Prime Video.

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Release Date: January 21, 2022

This family adventure movie has everything: secret princesses, mermaids and … King Louis XIV? The King wants the mermaid’s life force to achieve immortality, but a young woman, who has familial ties to the king, wants to save the creature. This will be in theaters in January.

Release Date: March 11, 2022

The first Disney movie of the year comes courtesy of Pixar. It follows a 13-year-old, Mei Lee, who has a rare affliction: Whenever she gets too excited or emotional, she turns into a giant red panda. (So. Awkward.) And while it’s from Disney, it doesn’t look like it’ll be on Disney+ right away — you have to visit the theater.

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Release Date: April 8, 2022

Fans of the 2020 Sonic the Hedgehog already know who might appear in the second film: Tails! The teaser trailer only offers the briefest glimpse, but it’s exciting to see what Sonic and Tails might get up to.

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Release Date: April 15 , 2022

The third Fantastic Beasts movie sees some changes — Mads Mikkelson replaces Johnny Depp as the villain Gellert Grindelwald — but Newt Scamandar is still the same Newt. In this film, Dumbledore sends him and his friends on a mission that leads them into the path of Grindelwald’s army.

Release Date: April 22 , 2022

This Dreamworks movie follows some classic storybook bad guys Mr. Wolf, Ms. Tarantula, Mr. Shark, Mr. Snake and Mr. Piranha. Only they’re tired of being bad, so they try to live life on the up-and-up for a change. The voice cast includes Sam Rockwell, Awkwafina Anthony Ramos, Marc Maron and Craig Robinson, so there’s lots of comedic talent in there.

Release Date: May 20, 2022

Uh-oh — the Justice League is in trouble! It’s up to Krypto, Superman’s dog, to convince other super-charged pets to help. He reaches out to Ace the hound, PB the potbellied pig, Merton the turtle and Chip the squirrel to form their own heroic squad. Dwayne Johnson stars as the voice of Krypto.

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Release Date: May 27, 2022

The Belchers are headed for the big screen! And while not much is known about the plot of this movie, there’s one big draw: It’s a musical! During the San Diego Comic-Con, creator Loren Bouchard described it as “a musical, comedy, mystery, adventure and a kind of coming-of-age story,” and assured fans it would be in movie theaters.

Release Date: June 17, 2022

No, not that Buzz Lightyear — except kind of. This movie follows the adventures of the real Space Ranger character who inspired the Buzz Lightyear toy in Toy Story. “In the Toy Story universe, it would be like a movie that maybe Andy would have seen, that would have made him want a Buzz Lightyear figure,” director Angus MacLane explains to Deadline. It comes out in theaters Father’s Day weekend, for all the Toy Story dads out there.

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Release Date: July 1 , 2022

Poor Minions fans: This movie was scheduled to be released in July, 2020 and has been pushed back two years so far. And while things are never a guarantee, it looks like this will finally be heading into theaters in summer 2022, followed by a run on Peacock just a few months later. When it does come out, it’ll follow Gru in the ’70s, when he’s starting on his rise to villainy, and how he crosses paths with the Minions.

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Release Date: August 12 , 2022

Owen Wilson and Michael Peña star in this film, about a superhero who has a hidden lair beneath a kid’s house. When it gets attacked, the kid and his friends must go on the defense themselves. It’s based on an original script by The Mandalorian‘s Christopher Yost — it’s not from a comic, or a YA novel or TV show, so the plot should be a surprise.

Release Date: September 16, 2022

White Bird, on the other hand, is based on a blockbuster novel by R.J. Palacio, author of the runaway hit Wonder. White Bird takes place in the same universe as Wonder, following the grandmother of Auggie’s classroom bully, Julian, through her experiences as a Jewish girl in occupied France during World War II. Helen Mirren stars as Grandmère.

Release Date: September 23 , 2022

It’s been more than a decade since we checked in on Puss in Boots, but he’s still up for adventure. In this, the well-shod feline has torn through most of his nine lives, so he goes on a mission to find a wish that can replenish them.

Release Date: Fall 2022

Okay, fess up: Who lit the black flame candle? The Sanderson Sisters are returning — as are stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy — for a sequel to their 1993 classic. It’ll go straight to Disney+.

Release Date: November 11, 2022

Feeling some discord in your house? Your kids might relate to Elian, who is caught in the middle of her kingdom’s opposing powers of light and dark. In this animated musical, which is in talks to go straight to Apple TV+, Elian must use her magical powers to unite the kingdom again.

Release Date: November 18, 2022

Everyone remembers the charming kids’ book by Bernard Waber. Now, Lyle is on his way to theaaters — and it’ll be a musical. Constance Wu, Javier Bardem and Winslow Fegley are set to star.

Release Date: December 21, 2022

This animated Super Mario adaptation comes with a big cast: Chris Pratt is Mario, Charlie Day is Luigi, Anya Taylor-Joy is Princess Peach, and they’ll be acting alongside comedians Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen and Fred Armisen, among others. It also comes from directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic of Teen Titans Go!, so expect plenty of huge laughs.