Best International Films for Kids

Don't let the subtitles scare you -- there's lots of fun to be had watching movies in other languages. Expand your kids' movie horizons with some of our favorite international films, from anime classics like Kiki's Delivery Service to masterpieces of European cinema such as Life Is Beautiful. Exposing your kids to other cultures is also a great way to challenge prejudices and cultural stereotypes. You might even be able to inspire your kids to learn another language after viewing these films!

Kiki's Delivery Service Poster Image
MOVIE

Kiki's Delivery Service

age 5+

A mystical, positive take on girl's coming of age.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1990)
Knight Rusty Poster Image
MOVIE

Knight Rusty

age 5+

German animated knight quest is fun for kids of all ages.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2014)
My Neighbor Totoro Poster Image
MOVIE

My Neighbor Totoro

age 5+

Beautifully animated fantasy about friendship fit for all.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1988)
The Red Balloon Poster Image
MOVIE

The Red Balloon

age 7+

Imaginative story told entirely through vivid visuals.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1957)
Howl's Moving Castle Poster Image
MOVIE

Howl's Moving Castle

age 8+

Charming Miyazaki fairy tale with surreal villains.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2005)
Spirited Away Poster Image
MOVIE

Spirited Away

age 9+

Magnificent movie with scary creatures and a strong heroine.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2002)
Wadjda Poster Image
MOVIE

Wadjda

age 9+

Beautiful, nuanced tale of an independent Saudi girl.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2013)
Belle and Sebastian Poster Image
MOVIE

Belle and Sebastian

age 10+

Beautiful film about WWII has intense themes, drinking.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2015)
Ta Ra Rum Pum Poster Image
MOVIE

Ta Ra Rum Pum

age 10+

Fanciful Bollywood dramedy fine for tweens and up.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2007)
My Life as a Dog Poster Image
MOVIE

My Life as a Dog

age 11+

Sensitive subtitled coming-of-age movie for older kids.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1987)
The Wind Rises Movie Poster: Two characters kiss under an umbrella
MOVIE

The Wind Rises

age 10+

Lovely, contemplative tale of famed aeronautical engineer.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2014)
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Poster Image
MOVIE

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

age 12+

Magical, award-winning martial arts fairy tale.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2000)
Dancing in Jaffa Poster Image
MOVIE

Dancing in Jaffa

age 12+

Uplifting docu promotes religious tolerance via dance.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2014)
Dangal Poster Image
MOVIE

Dangal

age 12+

Tough father trains unwilling daughters to be champions.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2017)
A Bag of Marbles Poster Image
MOVIE

A Bag of Marbles

age 13+

Powerful story of boys' WWII survival has peril, violence.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2018)
Close Movie Poster: Actor Eden Dambrine embraces Gustav De Waele
MOVIE

Close

age 13+

Wrenching Belgian drama has suicide, homophobia, swearing.

In Theaters (Release Year: 2023)
Fukushima 50 Poster Image
MOVIE

Fukushima 50

age 13+

Japanese disaster movie is true, inspiring, and very tense.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2020)
Life Is Beautiful Poster Image
MOVIE

Life Is Beautiful

age 13+

Wrenching Holocaust fable with bittersweet humor.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1998)
A Man Called Ove movie poster: A painting of a man with his back turned and a cat standing behind him
MOVIE

A Man Called Ove

age 13+

Swedish comedy-drama has suicide themes, some language.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2016)
The Man in the Hat Poster Image
MOVIE

The Man in the Hat

age 13+

French comedy has some sexual and suicide references.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2021)