The Best New Family & Kids❜ Movies Coming Out in 2025-2026

If there's one thing parents eagerly await at the end of the year, it's the list of new family movies coming out. 2025 is packed with exciting releases, ensuring plenty of options for family-friendly entertainment.

Taking the kids to the cinema is our saving grace when it comes to rainy weekends, school holidays, or just a day when you need the kids to focus their attention on something other than you.

So, what are the most anticipated family movies coming out in 2025? Top new movies to add to your 2025 must-watch list include, Moana 2, Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie, Dogman The Movie, Zootopia 2, and Snow White among others. These films promise a mix of nostalgia, adventure, and heartwarming stories that are perfect for family viewing.

The Best New Family Movies Coming Out in 2025-2026

1. Moana 2

In cinemas now

What can we say except, you're welcome! After much gossip and speculation, a Moana sequel is underway with an Australian release date of 28 November 2024 confirmed by Disney.

Moana is setting sail again in Moana 2 after receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors. Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced - we can't wait to join her!

2. Mufasa: The Lion King

In cinemas now

Walt Disney Studios are bringing back one of their most beloved Disney characters of all time: Simba!

Get ready to go back to Pride Rock in Mufasa: The Lion King. The live-action photorealistic computer-animated prequel is similar to the 2019 remake and follows Simba as he steps into his father's footsteps as king of the Pride Lands. The origins of Simba's late father Mufasa are explored in Mufasa: The Lion King as Simba grapples with being a father himself.

3. Sonic the Hedgehog 3

In cinemas now

If you've got little Sonic fans in the house, then add Sonic the Hedgehog 3 to your list of new family movies coming out in 2025.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is bringing back Ben Schwartz as Sonic, Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Tails, and Idris Elba as Knuckles in this sequel that's set to be even better than its predecessor. A new villain, Shadow the Hedgehog was teased in Sonic 2 so get ready for an all-out battle in another adaptation of the beloved video game series.

4. Paddington in Peru

In cinemas now

Everyone's favourite ultra-polite bear is back in another instalment from the Paddington Bear series, Paddington in Peru.

Paddington in Peru follows Paddington and his adopted family on a crazy adventure through the wilds of the Amazon rainforest in Peru. 

5. Magic Beach 

In cinemas now

We love it when our favourite children's books come to life on the big screen and that's exactly what's coming with Magic Beach.

The big screen adaptation of Alison Lester's beloved children's book is coming to screens in January 2025, where we'll get to relive the darling tale of nine kids who visit the famous Magic Beach and explore caves, build giant sandcastles, poke around rock pools, and converse with sea creatures as their animated imaginations take hold.

6. Dragonkeeper

In cinemas now

Another new family movie to bookmark for the summer school holidays, Dragonkeeper lands in cinemas in January 2025 and is sure to delight all Carole Wilkinson fans!

Based on the best-selling and award-winning book series of the same name by Australian author Carole Wilkinson, Dragonkeeper follows slave Ping as she embarks on a journey to save the soon-to-be-extinct dragons of ancient China.

7. Captain America: New World Order

Release date: 13 February 2025

Captain America is jumping back onto our screens in 2025 with Captain America: New World Order. 

The sci-fi action movie stars Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, Liv Tyler, and Emily VanCamp and is the fourth instalment in the Captain America franchise. Sam Wilson, aka Captain America, is back and this time around he finds himself at the centre of an international incident and must work to stop the masterminds behind it following the election of Thaddeus Ross as the president of the United States.

8. Snow White

Release date: 20 March 2025

Live-action remakes of classic family movies seems to be the trend for 2025, with Snow White coming back to the big screen with a stellar cast and incredibly imagery.

Rachel Zegler stars as Snow White and Gal Gadot is the Evil Queen in the musical fantasy that's staying true to the original 1937 tale of Snow White. The Seven Dwarfs, Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Sneezy will also be along for the ride as Snow White tries to take down the evil queen and teach her that vanity will never win over kindness. 

9. Dog Man: The Movie

Release date: 3 April 2025

That's right! Dog Man is finally being made into a movie!

Dog Man: The Movie will make its way onto our screens with - you guessed it! - everyone favourite half dog and half man, who is sworn to protect and serve as he doggedly pursues the feline supervillain Petey the Cat. More details are yet to be released but until then, we'll keep a close eye on the release date!

10. Minecraft: The Movie

Release date: 3 April 2025

The malevolent Ender Dragon sets out on a path of destruction, prompting a young girl and her group of unlikely adventurers to set out to save the Overworld in the 2025 instalment of Minecraft: The Movie. 

Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, and Kate McKinnon are set to voice the characters in Minecraft: The Movie so it's safe to say this is one movie we don't want to miss!

11. Lilo & Stitch

Release date: 22 May 2025

We absolutely love live-action remakes of our favourite movies, and Lilo & Stitch is definitely one of them!

Your favourite alien goofball is back in 2025 but this time, he's a CGI version! The 2025 remake of Lilo & Stitch stays true to the 2002 original story of a lonely human girl named Lilo who makes friends with a dog-like alien and names him Stitch. 

12. How To Train Your Dragon

Release date: 12 June 2025

Yet another live-action remake to add to your list of new family movies to watch in 2025, How To Train Your Dragon hits cinemas in June. 

The live-action remake is one of the most highly anticipated new family movies in 2025 and takes us back to the mythical Viking village of Berk where a teenage viking named Hiccup decides to train insteafd of kill the first dragon he catches, as is customary in his tribe. What ensues is a crazy adventure Hiccup never saw coming. 

13. Elio

Release date: 19 June 2025

Disney and Pixar's brand-new animated adventure, Elio will take families on an intergalactic journey like never before. 

For centuries, humans have sent messages into the universe, hoping for a response. But what if the universe actually answered? That's exactly what happens to Elio, an imaginative underdog who suddenly finds himself beamed up into the Communiverse—a cosmic organisation filled with representatives from galaxies far, far away. But there's one little problem... the aliens mistakenly think he's Earth's official ambassador! Completely unprepared but determined, Elio must find his place among a crowd of quirky extraterrestrials, tackle epic challenges, and ultimately figure out who he's truly meant to be. 

14. The Smurfs Movie

Release date: 10 July 2025

The Smurfs are back in action in the 2025 musical animation of The Smurfs Movie.

Rihanna, James Corden, and other stars will voice all of our favourite Smurfs as they go on an interdimensional adventure to discover the power within and answer the universal question: What is a Smurf?

15. The Bad Guys 2

Release date: 18 September 2025

The Bad Guys are back in The Bad Guys 2, another sequel heading to cinemas in 2025.

The Bad Guys are struggling to prove that their new 'Good Guys' status is legit, especially when they're pulled out of retirement for 'just one last job'. 

16. Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie

Release date: 18 September 2025

Based on the popular Netflix TV series of the same name, Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie is a must-watch on your new movies list!

Laila Lockhart Kraner reprises her role as Gabby as she goes on a wild ride to reclaim her prized dollhouse from an eccentric cat lady named Vera!

17. Wicked: Part Two

Release date: 20 November 2025

If you can't get enough of Wicked in 2024 don't fret because the second instalment is coming to cinemas in 2025!

Following on from Part One, Wicked: Part Two delves even further into the tumultuous relationship between Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda, the Good Witch of the North.

18. Zootopia 2

Release date: 26 November 2025

The sequel to the wildly popular Zootopia (released in 2016) is hitting cinemas in 2025 and we can't wait!

The full synopsis of Zootopia 2 is yet to be revealed but what we do know so far is that Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman will be back to voice our favourite duo Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. Other favourite characters such as Mr. Big, Clawhauser, and Flash the Sloth will return alongside a new creepy and highly venomous viper named Gary. 

19. The Magic Faraway Tree

Release date: TBC

Us parents might actually be more excited about this new release than the kids! For those who grew up reading the iconic Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton, you'll be thrilled to hear that a live-action remake is coming to cinemas in 2025 (exact date TBC) with a stellar cast reprising all your favourite characters!

Nicola Coughlan and Andrew Garfield are among the cast as they lead us on the tale of three siblings — Beth, Joe and Franny — who discover a magical forest in the English countryside. At the centre of this magical forest is the Faraway Tree that's home to bold and peculiar characters, as well as a portal to a number of eccentric lands, including the Land of Take What You Want and the Land of Goodies. 

And in 2026...

The Cat in the Hat

Relase date: 19 March 2026

Don your striped hats and embrace the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss once more as The Cat in the Hat is making a triumphant return!

Universal Studios are bringing The Cat in the Hat back to the big screen with a brand-new animated adaptation set to be released in March 2026. This fresh take on the classic 1957 tale promises to captivate both new audiences and longtime fans. Leading the voice cast is the versatile Bill Hader as the mischievous Cat. Joining him are Quinta Brunson, Bowen Yang, Xochitl Gomez, and Paula Pell rounding out a stellar ensemble.

Minions 3

Release date: June 2026

We can't believe there is yet another Minions movie in the works, but there you have it—Minions 3 is hitting cinemas in 2026! 

Universal and Illumination have confirmed that everyone's favourite tiny, mischievous henchmen will return to the big screen in June 2026. And as for the plot, few details have been released so we're still unsure of what's in store for us in 2026. 

The last time we saw Gru and his devoted Minions, they were just getting started on their journey to world domination in Minions: The Rise of Gru. The mid-credits scene teased a major connection to the original Despicable Me, with Dr. Nefario introducing Gru to a high-tech airship that looked suspiciously familiar. Could this mean Minions 3 will bridge the gap between the prequels and the 2010 blockbuster that started it all? There's also the question of Wild Knuckles, Gru's former mentor and legendary villain, who faked his own death in The Rise of Gru. Could he make a return for another action-packed mission? Or will Gru and the Minions take on an entirely new foe as they continue their rise in the villain world?

Shrek 5

Release date: 26 December 2026

 

After 26 long years, the swamp's most famous ogre is finally making his return to the big screen. Shrek 5 is officially happening, set to hit theatres in 2026, just in time for the 25th anniversary of the original Shrek movie. 

Fans will be thrilled to know that Cameron Diaz, Mike Myers, and Eddie Murphy are all returning to voice their iconic characters, but beyond that, DreamWorks is keeping the plot under wraps. One thing's for sure: for Shrek and Fiona to be pulled away from their peaceful swamp life, something big must be going down.

One possible storyline could focus on their kids, who would now be teenagers—and if raising ogre toddlers was tough, imagine the chaos of dealing with angsty, rebellious ogre teens. There's also the question of what's been happening in Far Far Away since we last left off? Has Prince Charming finally taken a hint? Did Donkey and Dragon's kids turn into full-fledged troublemakers? And what about all the fairytale misfits—are they still living their best storybook lives, or has something gone terribly wrong?

Toy Story 5

Relase date: TBA

Yes, you read that right—a fifth Toy Story movie is coming out!

There is so much to be excited about in the latest Toy Story movie. While a full trailer hasn't been released yet, we do know that Tom Hanks and Tim Allen will be back as Woody and Buzz, alongside other favourite toys such as Forky, Hamm, Slinky Dog, Bullseye, and Jesse. This time around the toys are up against a new threat: technology. Toy Story 5 will focus heavily on the impact technology, eg. iPads, mobile phones, Xbox, and computer games, is having on kids and their ability, or lack thereof, to play with traditional toys. 

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