7 New Family Movies Streaming in September

For fans of autumn, September is the door to a world of wonders: crisp air, vibrant foliage, and cozy sweater weather. Perhaps those splendid moments of the season aren’t happening yet in your neck of the country, but you get the picture. 

Autumn is one of America’s favorite seasons. It’s also a season where you can enjoy a warm beverage as you gather together on family movie night. Fortunately, the major streaming platforms have plenty to offer families in September.

Here are seven new family movies streaming this month:

1. Divine Influencer (Great American Pure Flix) 

An entitled social media influencer loses everything but then discovers her true purpose while working at a homeless shelter. Lara Silva, best known for her role in the hit Bible-based series The Chosen, stars in the lead role of Olivia, while Jason Burkey (Sun Moon) portrays her good friend, Ryan. Shari Rigby (Overcomer) directed it. It launched this month on Great American Pure Flix, the service formerly known simply as “Pure Flix.”

2. A Harvest Homecoming (Great American Family and Great American Pure Flix)

A teacher begrudgingly accepts a teaching position in his hometown only to reconsider his future plans when he falls in love with a woman who just happens to be the new manager of his parent’s apple orchard. A Harvest Homecoming stars Trevor Donovan and Jessica Lowndes and is part of the network’s Great American Autumn event, which runs through Oct. 14. It launches on Great American Family on Sept. 30 and streams on Great American Pure Flix beginning Oct. 6.

3. Elemental (Disney Plus) 

A feisty young fireball named Ember falls in love with a happy-go-lucky named Wade. That’s a problem because Ember is made of fire -- literally -- and Wade is composed of water. Can opposites co-exist? Elemental is the latest movie from Pixar and tells the creative and hilarious story of anthropomorphic elements who live in Element City. Elemental isn’t 100 percent family-friendly -- read details here -- but nevertheless is fun for fans of Disney/Pixar. Rated PG for some peril, thematic elements, and brief language.

4. The Little Mermaid (Disney Plus) 

A young mermaid named Ariel makes a deal with a sea witch in order to become human so she can meet the man of her dreams. This 2023 live-action remake is based on the 1989 animated classic The Little Mermaid and the Hans Christian Andersen 1837 story of the same name. It stars Halle Bailey in the lead role and Jonah Hauer-King as Eric, her romantic interest. It’s a family-friendly film with several lessons for children. (Read more details here.) Rated PG for action/peril and some scary images. Clearplay offers a filter.

5. Identity Crisis (Home Video) 

An introverted college student clones herself to create the “perfect” identity, only to gain courage and purpose as she watches her body double in action. Identity Crisis is a faith-based comedy from the same studio (The Boylan Sisters Entertainment) that was behind another film in that genre, Switched (which happens to be one of my kids’ favorite movies). Shari Rigby (Overcomer) directed it, while twins Scout and Sophia Tayui-Lepore star in the lead roles.

6. Predators (Netflix) 

Five of the world’s most ferocious animal predators are profiled in Netflix’s newest nature documentary. This five-part series spotlights cheetahs, lions, pumas, polar bears, and wild dogs as they hunt for survival, often using teamwork to catch their prey. If you’re one who likes to cheer for the little guy -- the underdog -- then this series is not for you. Yes, the underdog occasionally gets away, but often it does not. Rated TV-PG for fear and gore.

7. Romantic Rewrite (Great American Pure Flix) 

A skilled romance novel editor is tasked with helping a mystery writer infuse romance into his best-selling series, only to find they have a little chemistry of their own. The plot takes a turn when he volunteers to be her fake date for her friend’s wedding. Romantic Rewrite stars Kristina Cole and Russell Quinn in the lead roles. It previously launched on Great American Family and landed on Great American Pure Flix this month.

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.