30 Valentine's Day Movies for Kids Who Deserve to Feel All the Love
Stream one of these cartoons, kid-friendly romances or YA rom-coms for a sweet February 14.
If you're looking for ways to make Valentine's Day special for kids, you can always set up Valentine's Day games with hearts and flowers and all the pink and red trimmings that go with them. You can serve them heart-shaped pizza (and follow with heart-shaped cake), or make them a homemade, DIY Valentine's Day card. But if you really want to up the snuggle factor, there's nothing better than gathering the whole family on the couch, cozying up under a blanket and watching a Valentine's Day movie.
Yet V-Day films for kids can be hard to come by since you have to balance stories that are not too mushy for the ones who get embarrassed by smooching, not too adult for the little ones — and not too boring for the parents. These are the best Valentine's Day movies for kids to watch with the family in 2023. Some are appropriate for even toddlers, with shorter running times and child-friendly themes. Others are more about familial love or the love between friends than romantic love, making them good picks for the little kids. Then there are older, more YA romances and teen rom-coms for the tweens and young teens who are ready for them. There are newer choices — including some of our favorite kids' movies from last year — along with old classics that have stood the test of time. So, be sure to grab a box of heart-shaped candies or and get ready to say, "As you wish!"
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (1975)
It's Valentine's Day in Charlie Brown's class: Charlie hopes for a full mailbox of cards, while Linus wants to give a present to his teacher. But, in true Peanuts fashion, there's heartbreak mixed in with all the candy hearts and DIY notes.
13: The Musical (2022)
For tweens, this musical follows the misadventures of Evan, a kid who moves from New York City to Indiana right before his bar mitzvah. It hews close to teenage concerns, like fitting in, making friends and — most importantly — finding that first kiss. The music comes from Broadway legend Jason Robert Brown, known for shows like The Last Five Years and Parade.
Winnie the Pooh: A Valentine for You (1999)
This 22-minute short finds the gang at the 100 Acre Wood jealous that Christopher Robin is using his time to make a Valentine's Day card for a girl. Owl helps them deduce that Chrstopher Robin is lovesick, and only a "lovebug" called a "smitten" can cure him — so they head on a hunt through the forest to find one.
Addams Family Values (1993)
For families who binge-watched Wednesday on Netflix, follow it up with another round of Addams family exploits. In this film, the sequel to the 1991 film adaptation, there's a lot of wooing going on: Not only are Gomez and Morticia still over the moon for each other (and also their new baby, Pubert), Uncle Fester becomes enamored of Pubert's nanny, Debbie. The only problem is that Debbie is a serial killer who marries and murders rich men. It's a good choice for kids who can't abide all the mushy stuff that goes with Valentine's Day.
Trolls (2016)
Candy-colored and cheerful, the Trolls are all about spreading love and happiness. Their joyful world is turned upside down when gloomy, mean Bergens threaten to pull the plug on all the fun. With catchy music by Justin Timberlake, the animated film will keep everyone singing and dancing. It's a good one to re-visit in advance of a third Trolls movie, which is due out at the end of this year.
Z-O-M-B-I-E-S (2018)
In a sci-fi twist on forbidden romance, this musical takes place in a town that suffered an accident at a power plant, turning half the population into zombies. The zombies and humans were walled off from each other until the government invented Z-bands, which keeps the zombies from craving human brains and allows the humans and zombies to mingle once more. Amidst this rocky reintegration, a zombie football player and a human cheerleader fall in love, and have to keep their romance a secret from their family and friends. Z-O-M-B-I-E-S is now a three-movie franchise, and its most recent installment, 2022's Z-O-M-B-I-E-S 3, introduces aliens into the mix.
Gnomeo and Juliet (2011)
Loosely based on William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, this 3D computer-animated movie puts a family-friendly spin on the timeless tale of forbidden love. Kids who enjoy it can move onto the sequel, Sherlock Gnomes, though it's less of a love story.
Belle (2022)
For older ones, this anime is sort of a sci-fi, futuristic retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It follows Suzu, a shy girl who lives in a small town. When she enters a metaverse known as the U, though, she's a famous singer with thousands of fans. But also lurking in the U is a beast known as "The Dragon," who forms a connection with Belle. Can they get past their differences — and possibly meet up in the real world?
Lady and the Tramp (2019)
When a pampered pup’s posh, comfortable home life becomes strained, she befriends a charming stray mutt who wins her heart in this classic tale, complete with an iconic, romantic spaghetti-eating scene. You can go for the remake, which stars Tessa Thompson, Justin Theroux and Janelle Monáe, or watch the 1955 animated classic.
Little Women (2019)
Older ones might be enamored with the March family — and their neighbor Laurie, who falls in love with multiple March sisters. This adaptation was directed by Greta Gerwig, who made the upcoming Barbie movie, though you can always opt for the 1994 version with Christian Bale as Laurie instead of Timothée Chalamet.
The Peanuts Movie (2015)
For something longer than Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown, this full-length, computer-animated comedy finds Charlie enamored with the Little Red-Haired Girl who moves into his neighborhood. He and his beloved beagle, Snoopy, encounter misadventures in his quest to get to know her better.
UglyDolls (2019)
A host of fun-loving misfit dolls are challenged with the ideals of perfectionism and individuality as they seek acceptance in a world that rewards homogeneity. The 2019 animated musical sends a message of self-love that the entire family will enjoy.
The Princess Bride (1987)
This classic fairy tale puts a refreshing twist on the age-old damsel-in-distress story. Based on William Goldman’s fantasy novel of the same title, it’s teeming with comedy, adventure and, of course, romance. Starring Robin Wright and Cary Elwes, this 1987 release is lauded as a pop culture masterpiece.
Over the Moon (2020)
After the loss of her mother, a strong-willed tween is determined to prove the existence of a mythical moon goddess. Fiercely resourceful, the girl along with her pet rabbit take a journey to the moon to show her family and convince her re-marrying father that everlasting love is real.
Cinderella (2021)
Pitch Perfect's Kay Cannon directs a new Cinderella adaptation, which mixes in various pop songs as part of the musical soundtrack. The plot is a twist on the typical prince-gets-girl story, too.
Luca (2021)
There's romantic love, and then there's the love that kids feel when they experience the freedom of riding a Vespa. Guess which is stronger? In Luca, three kids on the Italian Riviera develop a friendship over trying to build, win or ride a scooter — all while keeping a big secret — but they end up with much more.
The Princess and the Frog (2009)
Set in New Orleans, this animated musical follows Tiana (Anika Noni Rose), a phenomenal cook and aspiring restaurateur, who is mistakenly turned into a frog by Prince Naveen. And Prince Naveen has also been turned into an amphibian by an evil force! Together the pair must work together to break their spells.
The Little Rascals (1994)
This 1994 feature follows a group of mischievous kids who set out to lead a no girls allowed organization. When Spanky and Buckwheat catch wind that their buddy Alfalfa is canoodling with a girl named Darla, they desperately try to thwart their budding romance in this sweet-but-funny adventure.
Charlotte's Web (1973)
One of the world’s most beloved children’s books is brought to life in this 1973 animated adaptation. When a spider named Charlotte learns of her friend Wilbur the Pig’s planned fate, she does her best to keep him safe while teaching him and other barnyard animals lessons on love and friendship.
The Little Prince (2015)
Based on Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s timeless tale, this reimagined animation expands on the classic. Universal themes of love, adventure and friendship remain at the core of this 2015 adaptation.
Karla Pope is a longtime writer, editor and blogger with nearly two decades of editorial experience. She’s written for a variety of outlets including Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, People, Parade, BET.com. WebMD and more. Her coverage includes entertainment, beauty, lifestyle, parenting and fashion content. If she's not exploring New York City with her two young children, you can find her curled up on the couch watching a documentary and eating gummy bears.
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; she previously wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found dominating the audio round at her local bar trivia night or tweeting about movies.
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