2024 is shaping up to be an exciting year for family movies, with plenty of new releases to look forward to! Even grown-ups can enjoy these new animated and kid-friendly movies. We put together a list of family movies coming soon.
Want to keep the excitement going after the credits roll? With our “Watch This, Do That” series, you can find plenty of family activities inspired by new movies and classics. Perfect for a family movie night or if you’re planning to stream a movie at home!
Check out these family movies coming out in 2024!
This article was recently updated on April 16, 2024 by Chicago Parent’s Audience Development Manager, Katina Beniaris. The update included updating release dates and adding new family movies. Questions? Please reach out to katina@chicagoparent.com.
April 2024
Woody the Woodpecker Goes to Camp
Premieres April 30, 2024
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Rated: PG
Woody the Woodpecker is off to summer camp! After getting kicked out of the forest, Woody finds a place to live in Camp Woo Hoo and now it’s up to him to save the camp from an inspector.
May 2024
If
Premieres May 17, 2024
- Where to watch: Theaters
- Not yet rated
The film is about imaginary friends, also known as “IFs,” that have been abandoned by their human friends because they grew up. A young girl has the ability to see IFs and offers to help them.
Thelma the Unicorn
Premieres May 17, 2024
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Rated: PG
Based on the best-selling books, Thelma, a small-time pony with big dreams, transforms into a unicorn and becomes a music star. Thelma quickly becomes a global sensation, but she soon learns that fame comes at a high cost.
The Garfield Movie
Premieres May 24, 2024
- Where to watch: Theaters
- Rated: PG
This film is based on the long-running comic strip about the orange cat named Garfield (voiced by Chris Pratt) that loves lasagna.
June 2024
Inside Out 2
Premieres June 14, 2024
- Where to watch: Theaters
- Rated: PG
After running a successful operation, Joy, Anger, Fear, Disgust and Sadness are joined by a new emotion, Anxiety, and they don’t know what to do.
Ultraman: Rising
Premieres June 14, 2024
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Rated: PG
Baseball star Ken Sato heads back to Japan to take on the role of superhero Ultraman, defending Earth. Things take an unexpected turn when he ends up in the care of his greatest enemy’s child.
July 2024
Despicable Me 4
Premieres July 3, 2024
- Where to watch: Theaters
- Rated: PG
This upcoming animated comedy is produced by Illumination and distributed by Universal Pictures. It will be the sixth installment in the Despicable Me franchise.
August 2024
Harold and the Purple Crayon
Premieres Aug. 2, 2024
- Where to watch: Theaters
- Rated: PG
Based on the children’s classic book by Crockett Johnson, the film follows Harold as he creates his own magical world using only a purple crayon.
September 2024
Beetlejuice 2
Premieres Sept. 6, 2024
- Where to watch: Theaters
- Not yet rated
Directed by Tim Burton, it is the sequel to the original 1988 film. Michael Keaton, Catherine O’Hara and Winona Ryder return to play their characters and Jenna Ortega has been added as Astrid, Lydia’s daughter in the film.
Transformers One
Premieres Sept. 13, 2024
- Where to watch: Theaters
- Rated: PG-13
This film will show the origin story of both the Autobots and the Decepticons on Cybertron. It will also focus on the relationship between Megatron and Optimus Prime.
The Wild Robot
Premieres Sept. 20, 2024
- Where to watch: Theaters
- Rated: PG-13
DreamWorks Animation brings to life Peter Brown’s bestseller “The Wild Robot,” an epic tale of Roz, a robot stranded on a deserted island who learns to survive and bonds with the local wildlife.
October 2024
White Bird
Premieres Oct. 4, 2024
- Where to watch: Theaters
- Not yet rated
Based on R.J. Palacio’s book, “White Bird” shares Julian learning about his grandmother’s tale of survival and love in Nazi-occupied France, inspiring him to transform his life through the power of kindness.
November 2024
Wicked Part 1
Premieres Nov. 27, 2024
- Where to watch: Theaters
- Not yet rated
The legendary Broadway musical, Wicked, tells the tale of the Wicked Witch of the West named Elphaba (played by Cynthia Erivo) in her earlier years. Glinda will be played by Ariana Grande.
Moana 2
Premieres Nov. 27, 2024
- Where to watch: Theaters
- Not yet rated
Disney princess Moana returns in an exciting sequel where she sets sea for another adventure. While you wait, rewatch the first movie and check out these Moana-themed activities!
December 2024
Mufasa: The Lion King
Premieres Dec. 20, 2024
- Where to watch: Theaters
- Not yet rated
This computer-generated “live action” movie is the prequel to Simba’s story. The film is from Mufasa, Simba’s father’s perspective.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Premieres Dec. 20, 2024
- Where to watch: Theaters
- Not yet rated
The third installment in the Sonic the Hedgehog series which will most likely feature the new villain, Shadow the Hedgehog, since it was teased at the end of the second installment.
Family movies that already came out in 2024
- Mean Girls (January 2024): Watch the classic film from 20 years ago, but with a twist. This new interpretation from the 2004 film is an American musical teen comedy.
- Orion and the Dark (February 2024): This Netflix animated film is about a young boy named Orion that is afraid of almost everything.
- Madame Web (February 2024): Similar to Spider-Man, Madame Web (starring Dakota Johnson) develops superpowers that allow her to see the future and stop things from happening.
- Kung Fu Panda 4 (March 2024): Po (voiced by Jack Black) is supposed to be “finding peace,” but ends up having to go up against a new, shape-shifting sorceress known as, “The Chameleon” (Viola Davis) in the next movie in the series.
- Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (March 2024): The film is set in New York City and features some of the original cast and the cast from Ghostbusters: Afterlife. They must figure out how everything in the city is freezing in July and stop it.
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