Movies That Inspire Curiosity

Curiosity is more than just what killed the cat. It's also an essential life skill and character strength that inspires the exciting adventures that take place in these films. The fantastic movies on this list show kids that wonder and knowledge are there for the taking, by focusing on characters who value learning information for its own sake and actively seek out new challenges. Questioning everything is intrinsic to these stories, which range from kid-friendly picks like Curious George and Alice in Wonderland to tween favorites like The Goonies and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. (See even more movies and TV shows that inspire curiosity.)

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Curious George: Royal Monkey Poster Image
MOVIE

Curious George: Royal Monkey

age 3+

Beloved monkey trades places with royalty in gentle tale.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2019)
Alice in Wonderland Poster Image
MOVIE

Alice in Wonderland

age 4+

Surreal animated Disney classic with mild peril.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1951)
Curious George (2006) Poster Image
MOVIE

Curious George (2006)

age 4+

A simple, sweet, sometimes silly monkey tale.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2006)
Bambi Poster Image
MOVIE

Bambi

age 5+

Disney's original circle-of-life story.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1942)
Shaun the Sheep Movie Poster Image
MOVIE

Shaun the Sheep Movie

age 5+

Tons of barn-animal fun in sweet stop-motion adventure.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2015)
Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast Poster Image
MOVIE

Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast

age 5+

Exciting fairy adventure has loss, some scariness.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2015)
Beauty and the Beast Poster Image
MOVIE

Beauty and the Beast

age 6+

Disney fave has great music, strong messages, some scares.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1991)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Poster Image
MOVIE

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

age 6+

A fantastical car story custom-made for kids.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1968)
Smallfoot Poster Image
MOVIE

Smallfoot

age 6+

Fun, feel-good animated musical offers positive messages.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2018)
Anne of Green Gables Poster Image
MOVIE

Anne of Green Gables

age 7+

Faithful, sensitive take on classic novel is great for kids.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1986)
James and the Giant Peach Poster Image
MOVIE

James and the Giant Peach

age 7+

Fabulous adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic book.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1996)
Beauty and the Beast Poster Image
MOVIE

Beauty and the Beast

age 8+

Fantastic but scarier remake of the "tale as old as time."

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2017)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) Poster Image
MOVIE

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

age 8+

Bright, spirited, and edgy version of Willy Wonka.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2005)
Science Fair Poster Image
MOVIE

Science Fair

age 8+

Compelling, entertaining docu about teen science geniuses.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2018)
The Secret Garden Poster Image
MOVIE

The Secret Garden

age 8+

'90s adaptation of classic book has some heavy themes.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1993)
Chasing Coral Poster Image
MOVIE

Chasing Coral

age 9+

Awe-inspiring, poignant docu tracks decline of coral reefs.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2017)
The Goonies Poster Image
MOVIE

The Goonies

age 10+

Classic '80s adventure has lots of swearing, some scares.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1985)
Mercury 13 Poster Image
MOVIE

Mercury 13

age 10+

Inspiring docu about '60s female pilots who faced sexism.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2018)
Arrival Poster Image
MOVIE

Arrival

age 11+

Great, deeply thoughtful, compassionate sci-fi tale.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2016)
Penguin Highway Poster Image
MOVIE

Penguin Highway

age 11+

Magic, mystery, some mature content in lovely anime.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2019)