Before 2020 brought the world to a halt, family movies were a staple of entertainment, with new releases lighting up theaters nearly every month.
Then, the pandemic hit, and production slowed to a crawl. The 2023 Hollywood strikes further delayed many projects, leaving a noticeable gap in the lineup.
This year, though, promises to be different. In fact, the 2025 lineup of family movies looks a lot like it did in the years prior to the pandemic.
Here are 13 highly anticipated mainstream films that are expected to be suitable for kids of all ages.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Image Source
1. Dog Man (Jan. 31)
1. Dog Man (Jan. 31)
A superhero who is part dog and part human battles the city's worst villains, including the devious Petey the Cat, whose goal is "to destroy all do-gooders." Based on Dav Pilkey's popular children's book series, this DreamWorks Animation film showcases Dog Man working alongside the police to combat crime. The voice cast features Pete Davidson, Isla Fisher, Stephen Root, and Ricky Gervais. Rated PG for mild action and some crude humor.
Watch the full trailer here!
Photo Credit: ©YouTube/Universal Pictures
2. Paddington in Peru (Feb. 14)
2. Paddington in Peru (Feb. 14)
Paddington sets off on an exciting journey to Peru to see his dear Aunt Lucy, now living at the Home for Retired Bears. Joined by the Brown family, his plans take an unexpected twist when Aunt Lucy disappears, prompting a search that leads them through the Amazon rainforest and the highlands of Peru. This third installment in the beloved Paddington series continues the franchise's tradition of heartwarming, family-friendly storytelling. I rated PG for mild action, rude humor, and thematic elements.
Watch the full trailer here!
Photo Credit: ©YouTube/StudiocanalUK
3. The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (Feb. 28)
3. The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (Feb. 28)
Porky Pig and Daffy Duck team up to save the world after they uncover a secret alien plot at the local bubble gum factory. This film is being billed as the "first fully-animated feature-length film in Looney Tunes history" and features hand-drawn images -- a rarity in a genre that typically only includes computer animation. Of course, the Looney Tunes characters have graced the big screen in two Space Jam films, but this project promises to be a nostalgic nod to the charm of yesteryear. We hope. Rated PG for cartoon violence/action and rude/suggestive humor.
Watch the full trailer here!
Photo Credit: ©YouTube/WB Kids
4. Disney's Snow White (Mar. 21)
4. Disney's Snow White (Mar. 21)
A princess takes refuge in a forest after her wicked stepmother, the Queen, plots to harm her out of jealousy over her beauty. This live-action musical follows Snow White as she befriends a group of seven dwarves but then faces the Queen once more when she is tempted by the poisoned apple. Disney is calling this movie a remake/reimagining of the 1937 animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which helped boost Disney's popularity nationwide. Rachel Zegler stars in the lead role. Not yet rated.
Watch the full trailer here!
Photo Credit: ©YouTube/Disney
5. A Minecraft Movie (Apr. 4)
5. A Minecraft Movie (Apr. 4)
Four misfits find their ordinary lives upended when a mysterious portal transports them into the Overworld, the vibrant and imaginative realm of Minecraft. In this bizarre cubic land where creativity is key to survival, the group teams up with an expert crafter, Steve (Jack Black), and embark on an epic quest to find their way back home. It is the first-ever film based on Minecraft, the best-selling video game of all time. Not yet rated.
Watch the full trailer here!
Photo Credit: ©YouTube/Warner Bro Pictures
6. Lilo & Stitch (May 23)
6. Lilo & Stitch (May 23)
A young Hawaiian girl named Lilo adopts an alien dog, Stitch, and teaches him the true meaning of love and family ("ohana"). Despite his mischievous and destructive tendencies, Stitch grows to care deeply for Lilo and her sister, Nani, as they navigate challenges together. It's a live-action remake of the 2002 animated movie of the same name and stars Maia Kealoha as Lilo, with Chris Sanders returning as the voice of Stitch. Not yet rated.
Watch the full trailer here!
Photo Credit: ©YouTube/Disney
7. How to Train Your Dragon (Jun. 13)
7. How to Train Your Dragon (Jun. 13)
A young Viking named Hiccup sparks controversy when he befriends a wounded Night Fury dragon he names Toothless. Their bond challenges everything his tribe believes about dragons, including its long-standing tradition of hunting and fighting them as enemies. This DreamWorks movie is a live-action remake of the 2010 hit film of the same name and is the first live-action project in studio history. Not yet rated.
Watch the full trailer here!
Photo Credit: ©YouTube/Universal Pictures
8. Elio (Jun. 13)
8. Elio (Jun. 13)
A boy enamored with space aliens gets more than he bargained for when he's unexpectedly transported to the Communiverse, a vibrant intergalactic hub teeming with intelligent life from across the cosmos. Mistaken for Earth's leader, Elio must forge unlikely alliances, tackle a galaxy-sized crisis, and navigate the adventure of a lifetime. This Pixar movie is from the same studio behind the Inside Out franchise. Not yet rated.
Watch the full trailer here!
Photo Credit: ©YouTube/Pixar
9. The Smurfs Movie (Jul. 18)
9. The Smurfs Movie (Jul. 18)
Smurfette, Papa Smurf, and the entire gang of blue friends return in this upbeat musical adventure. Little is known about the plot, although it will feature a cast led by Rihanna (Smurfette), Nick Offerman, Natasha Lyonne, James Corden, Octavia Spencer, Hannah Waddingham, Kurt Russell, and John Goodman. It will be the fourth theatrical Smurfs movie, following The Smurfs (2011), The Smurfs 2 (2013), and Smurfs: The Lost Village (2017). Not yet rated.
Photo Credit: ©YouTube/Sony Pictures Entertainment
10. The Bad Guys 2 (Aug. 1)
10. The Bad Guys 2 (Aug. 1)
Everyone's favorite group of former bad guys now turned heroes, is blackmailed into a crime spree when they encounter an unexpected challenge: The Bad Girls. It's the sequel to DreamWorks hit 2022 movie Bad Guys, which followed the story of five animals -- Wolf, Snake, Tarantula, Shark, and Piranha -- who are doing their best to leave their stealing and mischievous ways behind them. It's based on a popular book series. Not yet rated.
Watch the full trailer here!
Photo Credit: ©YouTube/Universal Pictures
11. Wicked: For Good (Nov. 21)
11. Wicked: For Good (Nov. 21)
It's the follow-up to the 2024 Disney movie Wicked, which followed the story of two classmates at Shiz University in the Land of Oz who become close friends but then go their separate ways. This film franchise is an adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name and tells the backstory of the two witches in the classic story The Wizard of Oz -- the Wicked Witch of the West (Elphaba) and the Good Witch (Galinda). Not yet rated.
Photo Credit: ©Universal Pictures/Wicked
12. Zootopia 2 (Nov. 26)
12. Zootopia 2 (Nov. 26)
Detectives Judy Hopps (the rabbit) and Nick Wilde (the fox) team up for another case as they follow the twisting trail of a mysterious reptile whose arrival turns the mammal metropolis upside down. To solve the case, the duo must go undercover in unexpected new parts of town, testing their growing partnership like never before. It's the sequel to Disney's 2016 hit film Zootopia, which presented Judy as a determined rookie. In this film, she's apparently a veteran. Not yet rated.
Photo Credit: ©Disney
13. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants (Dec. 19)
13. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants (Dec. 19)
SpongeBob travels to the deepest depths of the ocean to face off against the Flying Dutchman. It's the fourth feature film in the SpongeBob franchise, following The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run (2020), The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015) and The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004). Not yet rated.
Other movies of interest: Captain America: Brave New World (Feb. 14), Thunderbolts (May 2), Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (May 23), Karate Kid: Legends (May 30), Jurassic World Rebirth (Jun. 2), Superman (Jun. 11), The Fantastic Four (Jul. 25), Downton Abbey 3 (Sept. 12), Tron: Ares (Oct. 10), Avatar: Fire and Ash (Dec. 19).
Photo Credit: ©YouTube/Paramount Pictures
Originally published January 09, 2025.
