It’s common to associate dinosaurs and cinema with the iconic Jurassic Park franchise franchise, which perfectly blends prehistoric beasts, sci-fi, and horror. However, the franchise likely isn’t the best introduction to dinosaurs for younger audiences.
Fortunately, there are plenty of films with dinosaurs that offer family-friendly adventures and educational content about dinosaurs and prehistoric times. Viewers can use our guide to find out where to watch the 10 best dinosaur movies for children on platforms like Disney+, Prime Video, and more.
The Good Dinosaur (2015)
The Good Dinosaur is a Pixar computer-animated production that explores a world where dinosaurs never became extinct. When Arlo (Raymond Ochoa) is separated from his family, he finds an unexpected ally in a young neanderthal boy, Spot (Jack Bright), and the pair set out on an adventure to find home. Like most Pixar films, The Good Dinosaur’s animation is top-notch, creating lovable characters and dazzling landscapes. It has some educational elements, as it examines the Apatosaurus dinosaurs and their lifestyles, while using them to explore heartwarming themes of friendship, found families, and the coming-of-age experience.
A Journey to the Beginning of Time (1955)
A Journey to the Beginning of Time tells the story of four boys transported to a prehistoric world after traveling through a mysterious cave. While traveling in a rowboat through a prehistoric landscape, the boys encounter dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. The film blends live-action, stop-motion animation, and special effects to bring the dinosaurs to life in a technique that was quite groundbreaking for 1955. It’s also a kid-friendly adventure that plays out like a documentary, examining various periods and explaining the species that inhabited Earth at that time. Bolstered with a sense of wonder and adventure, A Journey to the Beginning of Time is a classic, educational dinosaur movie for kids..
The Land Before Time (1988)
The Land Before Time is the first film in the franchise of the same name and follows the Apatosaurus Littlefoot (Gabriel Damon), as he travels through dangerous lands to reach the Grand Valley and reunite with dinosaurs of his kind. It’s the perfect introduction movie to dinosaurs for younger viewers. While it has moments of danger, it also features a lighthearted adventure, silly antics between the young dinosaurs, and the heartwarming story of a dinosaur learning to be brave. The Land Before Time also introduces viewers to many dinosaurs, exploring their diets, lifestyles, and temperaments, blending education with lovable talking dinosaurs.
Dinosaur (2000)
Dinosaur tells the story of Aladar (D. B. Sweeney), an orphaned Iguanodon dinosaur raised by a family of lemurs. His idealistic lifestyle with the lemurs changes when a meteorite strikes, turning the world he once knew into a dangerous wasteland. The computer-generated dinosaurs are hyperrealistic, with the visuals likely to appeal to adults and children alike. Despite the realism, Dinosaurs is still geared toward children with its talking dinosaurs and a story similar to The Land Before Time. However, it’s refreshing to have a film tackle dinosaurs aside from the Apatosaurus or T. rex while not shying away from the reality of dinosaurs’ struggle for survival.
The Land Before Time XI: Invasion of the Tinysauruses (2005)
The Land Before Time XI: Invasion of the Tinysauruses is a more modern take on the Land Before Time franchise. The 2005 animated film centers on Littlefoot (Aaron Spann) and his gang as little Mussaurus dinosaurs descend on the Valley. While the Valley residents grow increasingly hostile to the little dinosaurs, Littlefoot slowly develops friendships with them. Invasion of the Tinysauruses is a fun film for families to watch, especially since it features some catchy tunes, including “Creepy Crawlies.” In addition to the dinosaurs fun, the film has important messages about accepting others and the value of honesty.
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is an excellent choice for younger viewers seeking some pure dinosaur fun and entertainment. In the film, Sid the Sloth (John Leguizamo), who, feeling abandoned by his friends, tries to find fulfillment in adopting three baby T. rexes. When the baby’s mother shows up, Sid discovers an entire underworld populated by dinosaurs. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs offers the same family-friendly humor and animations as its predecessors while bringing dinosaurs into the mix. With Sid’s humorous parenting journey and the introductions of many dinosaurs, the film is a treat for even the youngest dinosaur fans.
Fantasia (194)
While not wholly centered on dinosaurs, Fantasia is a musical anthology film that includes one must-see segment for dinosaur fans. The fourth and longest segment in the film is “The Rite of Spring,” which pairs Igor Stravinsky’s classic song of the same name with a story of early life on Earth. It sees the birth of Earth from the Big Bang and tracks the beginning of dinosaurs to their extinction. The animation is majestic and somber, beautifully capturing the dinosaurs in all their glory, brutality, and demise. It’s a bit more experimental and darker than most dinosaur movies, making it appealing to adults and children, elementary-aged and older.
Walking with Dinosaurs (2013)
Walking with Dinosaurs is a family film inspired by the 1999 docuseries of the same name. In the movie, Alexornis Alex (John Leguizamo) tells a young Ricky (Charlie Rowe) and Jade (Angourie Rice) all about his best friend Patchi (Justin Long), a Pachyrhinosaurus who lived during the Late Cretaceous period. Walking with Dinosaurs is an immersive and visually dazzling experience that introduces young viewers to a wide variety of dinosaurs in gorgeous detail, including the Gorgosaurus and Edmontosaurus. Its fun voiceover and storytelling make it an excellent option for families looking for a documentary-esque film for children not quite ready for an official documentary.
We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story (1993)
We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story follows three dinosaurs—Rex (John Goodman), Woog (René Le Vant), and Elsa (Felicity Kendal)—who travel to present-day New York to allow children to experience dinosaurs in real life for the first time. During their journey, the dinosaurs work to foil an evil plan from Professor Screweyes (Kenneth Mars). We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story is an animated, family-friendly alternative to Jurassic Park, in which the dinosaurs are the heroes and play nicely with present-day children. The story is quite silly, and the animation isn’t as sophisticated as other movies on the list, but it’s a lighthearted, touching movie bound to fascinate children.
Dinosaur Island (2014)
Dinosaur Island is an adventure film about Lucas (Darius Williams), a 13-year-old boy who gets stranded on an island during a trip to see his grandma. His journey grows more complicated when a magical crystal brings dinosaurs to the island. Dinosaur Island boasts dazzling, realistic special effects, standing out as one of the first films to feature a feathered T. Rex. The feathered depiction gives the dinosaurs a refreshingly realistic feel, while the story offers a mesmerizing adventure for young children. Although the acting and plot aren’t very sophisticated, Dinosaur Island offers wholesome family and dinosaur fun.
Where To Watch The Best Dinosaur Movies Online
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