10 best kids films on Hulu

If you’re looking to entertain your family or simply satisfy your inner child, Hulu’s got the films for you.

We’ve combed through Hulu’s extensive library of kids’ films and chosen the best of the best. From animated classics to live-action adventures, these films are sure to satisfy people of all ages. Plus, you don’t need any of Hulu’s add-on subscriptions to watch these, so they’re completely hassle-free.

Here, in no particular order, are the 10 best kids’ films now streaming on Hulu.

1. Shrek (and Shrek 2)

Say it with me: “Ogres are like onions.”
Credit: Dreamworks animation

A meme-worthy masterpiece still celebrated 20 years after its release, Shrek is one of the most iconic kids films of all time. It perfectly balances its fairy tale characters and gross-out gags with a sweet story about loving yourself and never judging a book by its cover. Everyone’s favorite grouchy green ogre Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers) reluctantly goes on a quest to rescue Princess Fiona (voiced by Cameron Diaz). Along the way, he encounters trusty sidekick Donkey (voiced by Eddie Murphy), fights a dragon, and monologues about onions. The shenanigans reach new heights in Shrek 2, also on Hulu. It’s worth the watch for the “Holding Out for a Hero” sequence alone. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Fellow

How to watch: Shrek is now streaming on Hulu.

2. Space Jam

There can be no debate over the best sports movie of the ’90s — nay, of history. Space Jam stars Michael Jordan as himself, a retired basketball player and underwhelming baseball player who gets caught in an all-star game for the ages. The cartoon Monstars, a group of aliens from Moron Mountain, have stolen the basketball talent of prolific NBA players, and it’s up to Jordan and the Looney Tunes to beat them in a game and set things right. With signature Looney Tune one-liners, high-stakes athletic competition with a lot of heart, and a surprising amount of Bill Murray, Space Jam still scores big. — Proma Khosla, Entertainment Reporter *

How to watch: Space Jam is now streaming on Hulu.

3. Ice Age

In the vein of Shrek, Ice Age tells the story of a reluctant hero undertaking a journey to do good. The Shrek figure here is Manny (voiced by Ray Romano), a wooly mammoth who, along with talkative sloth Sid (voiced by John Leguizamo), is trying to reunite a human baby with his tribe. They’re joined by saber-toothed tiger Diego (voiced by Denis Leary), who is harboring a darker ulterior motive. While the early 2000s animation hasn’t aged super gracefully, the emotional core of the movie still holds up. This is a sweet road trip comedy — without actual roads; it is the Ice Age, after all — with tons of humor and a heartwarming found family. Plus, kids are sure to get a kick out of Scrat (voiced by Chris Wedge) and his never-ending struggle to reach his precious acorn. — B.E.

How to watch: Ice Age is now streaming on Hulu.

4. Missing Link

From Coraline to Kubo and the Two Strings, animation studio Laika has consistently produced some of the best and most visually stunning films of the past years. Missing Link is no exception. It tells the tale of Sir Lionel Frost (voiced by Hugh Jackman), a glory-seeking adventurer who discovers Sasquatch, aka Mr. Link (voiced by Zach Galifianakis). Mr. Link is the last of his kind in the United States, but he desperately wants to join the Yetis rumored to be living in the Himalayas. He and Sir Lionel set out on an epic globetrotting adventure, joining up with the formidable Adelina (voiced by Zoe Saldana), running from hired assassins, and perhaps even stumbling upon a hidden civilization. Missing Link is full of quirky characters and action, and its exceptional stop-motion animation will take your breath away. — B.E.

How to watch: Missing Link is now streaming on Hulu.

5. Free Willy

Few children’s movie tropes are as tried and true as an unlikely friendship between humans and animals, and few children’s films nail that trope as hard as Free Willy. A classic coming-of-age story, Free Willy follows Jesse (Jason James Richter), a troubled orphan who winds up working at an amusement park as punishment for vandalism. There, he befriends the park’s new orca, Willy. When he realizes that the park’s owner plans to harm Willy, Jesse works to help his friend escape. The bond between Willy and Jesse is about as heartwarming as you can get, and Willy’s triumphant jump over the rocks is a pure distillation of family-friendly joy. Free Willy may be over 20 years old, but it’s still one for the ages. — B.E.

How to watch: Free Willy is now streaming on Hulu.

6. A Boy Named Charlie Brown

Good grief.
Credit: FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via getty images

A Boy Named Charlie Brown was the first full-length film based on Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts comic strip, and it manages to effectively capture Peanuts‘ charm and complexity. Though the movie revolves around Charlie Brown (voiced by Peter Robbins) trying to win a spelling bee and prove he isn’t a failure, it feels more like a slice-of-life film thanks to the inclusion of several vignettes from the children’s daily lives. Beautifully animated and featuring an excellent score, A Boy Named Charlie Brown captures the whimsies and frustrations of childhood, all while delivering an important message about failure and continuing to push ahead when things go wrong. — B.E.

How to watch: A Boy Named Charlie Brown is now streaming on Hulu.

7. Dora and the Lost City of Gold

Grab your backpack and map and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime in Dora and the Lost City of Gold. In this live-action version of the popular cartoon, Dora (Isabela Merced), now 16 years old, has trouble adjusting to high school life. However, when her parents disappear in search of a lost city, Dora returns to the jungle to save the day. With plenty of hilarious action and meta references to the original show, Dora and the Lost City of Gold is an exceptionally fun time. Merced delights as Dora, and she’s joined by familiar faces like her cousin Diego (Jeff Wahlberg), Boots the monkey (voiced by Danny Trejo), and the nefarious fox Swiper (voiced by Benicio del Toro). — B.E.

How to watch: Dora and the Lost City of Gold is now streaming on Hulu.

8. Charlotte’s Web (1973)

That’s some pig! This adaptation of E.B. White’s classic children’s book follows the friendship between Wilbur (voiced by Henry Gibson), a pig, and Charlotte (voiced by Debbie Reynolds), a spider. When Wilbur is chosen to be slaughtered, Charlotte uses her weaving skills to add messages praising Wilbur to her web. Charlotte’s Web beautifully adapts White’s work, and it steers remarkably close to the book, heartbreaking ending and all. The addition of catchy musical numbers definitely doesn’t hurt, either. — B.E.

How to watch: Charlotte’s Web (1973) is now streaming on Hulu.

9. The Adventures of Tintin

Directed by Steven Spielberg, The Adventures of Tintin brings Belgian cartoonist Hergé’s comics to life with vibrant motion-capture. Journalist Tintin (Jamie Bell) teams up with Captain Archibald Haddock (Andy Serkis) to find the Unicorn, a sunken ship with a lost treasure and a connection to the Haddock family. Their journey takes them across the globe on an an adventure reminiscent of Spielberg’s Indiana Jones series. The Adventures of Tintin is full of spectacular set pieces and engaging fight scenes that will hold the attention of children and adults alike. — B.E.

How to watch: The Adventures of Tintin is now streaming on Hulu.

10. Shaun the Sheep Movie

Mischievous sheep Shaun (voiced by Justin Fletcher) tries to take a day off from boring farm life, but instead sets in motion a chain of events that results in his farmer (voiced by John Sparkles) losing his memory and getting stranded in the city. Now it’s up to Shaun and his flock to rescue him and bring him safely back to the farm. Shaun the Sheep Movie is an absurdly delightful time, and Aardman Studios’ stop-motion animation makes this movie a visual treat. If you like Aardman’s other work, like Wallace & Gromit, you will love this ovine odyssey. — B.E.

How to watch: Shaun the Sheep Movie is now streaming on Hulu.

Asterisks (*) indicate this entry previously appeared in another Mashable streaming list.