For many families, watching kids’ movies during the summer is a favorite pastime – especially if you want to escape the heat! In this list, we’ll show you some of the latest releases on HBO (new movies and classics, too) you can enjoy with your kiddos.
Top 2023 Summer Movies for Kids
Here are our favorite picks for the 2023 season. So, grab some snacks, cozy up with your loved ones, and get ready to be transported to a work of imagination!
Legion of Superheroes
Legion of Superheroes follows Supergirl Kara Zor-El as she adjusts to life on Earth after the loss of planet Krypton and attends the Legion Academy – a school in the 31st century! There, she meets new teammates and, together, they face the mysterious Dark Circle and familiar baddy Brainiac 5. The movie is directed by Jeff Wamester and was added to HBO Max on May 8, 2023.
The Smurfs
The Smurfs movie was released in 2011, but it was added to HBO Max last April. Directed by Raja Gosnell, this fun kids’ movie is sweet, goody, and adventurous. If you have watched the original series, you’ll notice the movie keeps enough of the original theme. However, it also adds an unexpected twist: The Smurfs tumble into Central Park and the Big Apple!
Hook
Hook is another reimagination of a classic story. We’re talking, of course, about Peter Pan, played masterfully by our beloved Robin Williams. In this movie, first released in 1991, Peter has grown and forgotten who he is. That is, until Captain Hook kidnaps his kids and tackles them to Neverland, where Peter must return alongside Tinkerbell (an adorable Julia Roberts). A lovely movie for kids of ages 1-99.
Kiki’s Delivery Service
You might have heard of Spirited Away or My Neighbor Totoro as examples of great Japanese animated movies. But are you familiar with Kiki’s Delivery Service? This film, created, too, by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, is a heartwarming choice for the summer. Kiki is a young witch who must leave her village and find a job delivering toys. The movie isn’t just visually beautiful; it’s also incredibly sweet and fun to watch.
Coraline
Coraline is a stop-motion movie directed by Henry Selick, who was also responsible for The Nightmare Before Christmas. The film, based on an adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s fairytale, follows 11-year-old Coraline as she meets other versions of herself in new and magical dimensions. Coraline is a beautiful movie and a tremendous technical achievement, but keep in mind younger kids might find it scary.
Scoob!
Scoob! is a movie based on the beloved cartoon Scooby Doo. It’s fun, it’s silly, but now it’s also 3D! This adventure, which follows the Mystery Machine gang as they try to prevent the ghost dog Cerberus from being unleashed into the world, is an excellent fit for the entire family.
