Handpicked by Our Editors

Matilda
Age 8+
5

Matilda

Why We Recommend It

Clever Matilda handles bullying kids and berating adults with fantastical solutions that bend slightly dark and surreal.

Read our full review
Are your kids looking for children's movies that are a bit more "grown up?"

Movie ratings don't always help you find good family movies. We assume that a G or PG movie rating means a movie is appropriate. But kids this age are changing rapidly socially and emotionally and can be very impressionable and vulnerable.

It's important to choose movies that aren't scary and that have good role models, because your kids will imitate what they see.

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Movies New in Theaters for Kids (ages 5-8)

showing: comedy

We have no movies new in theaters for [Movies][5-8][comedy]. Would you like to see if there are movies new in theaters for 2-4 year olds or 9-11 year olds?

New on DVD for Kids (ages 5-8)

showing: comedy
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Snow 2: Brain Freeze (2009, Rated G)
Parents Need to Know...

that this sequel to Snow is as family-friendly as the original movie -- and slightly less bland to boot. A former big game hunter plays the meanie. Santa is depicted not only as real but all too human, and his zany antics and pratfalls ... read more

Age 5+
Snow 2: Brain Freeze
3
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Imagine That (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this Eddie Murphy father-daughter comedy is aimed squarely at families, so expect your kids to be interested. The good news is that it's mostly tame and family-friendly, except for a few exclamations like "crap" and ... read more

Age 6+
Imagine That
3
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Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009, Rated G)
Parents Need to Know...

that Miley Cyrus' legions of tween fans will be dying to see this big-screen comedy based on Disney's hit TV show. Like the small-screen version, the movie is upbeat and perfectly G rated ... if yet another marketing tool in Hannah's ... read more

Age 8+
Hannah Montana: The Movie
3
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Garfield's Pet Force (2009, Rated G)
Parents Need to Know...

that Garfield is thrown into the role of action hero when an alien invader turns his world upside down. The alien and Garfield both shoot a gigantic laser gun that turns normal people into zombies. Younger viewers might be frightened by ... read more

Age 6+
Garfield's Pet Force
1
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Dadnapped (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this adventure comedy centers on the abduction of a man and his teenage daughter, but the movie's over-the-top humor -- and the ineptitude of the goofy kidnappers -- keeps the tone light enough that it won't frighten kids. No ... read more

Age 6+
Dadnapped
3
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Hatching Pete (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this entertaining, squeaky clean Disney TV movie has plenty of positive messages. Pete's journey from uncertainty to self-confidence is an excellent example for tweens struggling with their own identity woes, and the movie offers ... read more

Age 7+
Hatching Pete
4
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The Looney, Looney, Looney Bugs Bunny Movie (2009, Rated G)
Parents Need to Know...

that while there are many joys in revisiting these classic, laugh-out-loud cartoons, they should also be aware that there's lots of cartoon violence and name calling. Younger children might want to mimic some of the characters, which ... read more

Age 7+
The Looney, Looney, Looney Bugs Bunny Movie
4
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Gym Teacher: The Movie (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this made-for-TV movie touches on themes like teamwork, perseverance, and self-perception and examines what it means to be a winner. There's some poor sportsmanship and bullying (tweens tease a classmate, putting him down and ... read more

Age 6+
Gym Teacher: The Movie
4
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The Cheetah Girls: One World (2008, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this TV movie designed for tweens -- the third for the super-popular Cheetah Girls -- includes some very light romance and flirting, with one kiss. One girl starts a relationship via cell phone. There are positive messages about ... read more

Age 8+
The Cheetah Girls: One World
3
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Meet Dave (2008, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that although this Eddie Murphy comedy is mostly inoffensive, the alien characters display some off-putting stereotypes about gay men, women, and African Americans. The jokes aren't crass -- they're just cliched and stupid (for example, ... read more

Age 8+
Meet Dave
1
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The Prince and Me 3: A Royal Honeymoon (2008, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

this straight-to-DVD fluffy fairy tale has some very long kisses in very public places that feel more prescriptive than romantic. Girls who are prone to believe in fairy tale endings might be swayed by the gallant young king, but Queen ... read more

Age 8+
The Prince and Me 3: A Royal Honeymoon
2
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Snowglobe (2008, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that there's little to worry about in this holiday-themed made-for-TV romantic comedy. Strong language is nearly nonexistent (only one use each of "hell" and "damn"), drinking is sparse and mostly unobtrusive, and ... read more

Age 8+
Snowglobe
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Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007, Rated G)
Parents Need to Know...

that kids are sure to giggle at Mr. Bean's ridiculous mugging and all of this comic farce's falls, accidents, and treacherous near-misses. Although the movie doesn't have much dialogue (you don't really need it to keep up with Bean's ... read more

Age 6+
Mr. Bean's Holiday
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Santa Baby (2007, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this made-for-TV movie is full of snowy scenery, chipper elves, twists on Christmas tradition and lore (the religious aspect of the holiday isn't addressed), and holiday spirit. It chronicles a father and adult daughter's emotional ... read more

Age 6+
Santa Baby
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Deck the Halls (2007, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that kids may actually be the only ones interested in seeing this predictable, mean-spirited, slapstick-heavy Christmas movie. It's filled with sexual innuendo, bad behavior, and grown-ups acting like kids (worse than kids, actually). ... read more

Age 8+
Deck the Halls
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Evan Almighty (2007, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this sequel to Bruce Almighty is a broader, milder comedy than the original, and it aims to appeal to the whole family (and given the frequent TV ads, chances are even young kids have heard of it). The good news is that even though ... read more

Age 8+
Evan Almighty
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Shredderman Rules (2007, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this made-for-TV movie has tweens using the Web to air their grievances with a bully who plays mean-spirited pranks. On the flip side, the movie features strong adult role models and positive messages about friendship, character, and ... read more

Age 8+
Shredderman Rules
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The Last Day of Summer (2007, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this made-for-TV tween movie addresses many of the fears/issues typical of the age group: relating to the opposite sex, learning to deal with bullies, and worrying that a move to a new school will affect existing friendships. The ... read more

Age 8+
The Last Day of Summer
3
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Are We Done Yet? (2007, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this sequel to Are We There Yet? follows a blended family in which there's significant tension between the stepfather and kids. Like most family comedies, there are dozens of sight gags and pratfalls. Three blind plumbers and two ... read more

Age 8+
Are We Done Yet?
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Angels in the Outfield (1951) (2007, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that there is a main character notorious for his brawling and profanity; the filmmakers under the old studio censorship code got around that by having his "filthy" tirades scrambled by the sound effects department into a mushy ... read more

Age 7+
Angels in the Outfield (1951)
4
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Read It and Weep (2007, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this made-for-TV movie portrays stereotypical high-school students, grouping them into neat little cliques including "populars" and "jocks." The only ones who escape shallowness are Jamie and her best friends. Jamie's character is ... read more

Age 8+
Read It and Weep
4
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