Dinosaurs may have gone extinct, but the love and fascination kids have for them continues to thrive. It makes sense, dinosaurs are big, cool, and fun to impersonate. But they can also be kind of scary. The same child who finds Barney the friendly purple dinosaur lovable might be scarred for life after watching a T. rex terrify a jeep full of people in Jurassic Park. That’s what makes finding truly kid-friendly dinosaur movies a bit of a challenge.
The best kid-friendly dinosaur movies are those that give children a glimpse into the world that once was, introduce them to all the different kinds of dinosaurs, and spark a genuine love for these Jurassic creatures, without any scares. This guide is packed with prehistoric picks that do just that! Here are 10 scare-free dinosaur movies that take kids on a roar-some adventure through time, adventure, and imagination.
Doraemon: Nobita’s New Dinosaur (2020)
One of the most foolproof ways to introduce your kids to the world of dinosaurs is through cartoons they already know and love. Doraemon: Nobita’s New Dinosaur follows Nobita as he finds fossilised dinosaur eggs and uses Doraemon’s gadgets to help them hatch. Realising the twin dinosaurs aren’t cut out for the modern-day world, Nobita and the gang travel back to the Cretaceous period to return them to where they came from. The film introduces children to various species of dinosaurs, touches upon the concept of different time periods, and explores core themes of compassion, teamwork, and respect for the natural world.
Dinosaur Train: Adventure Island (2021)
If you’re looking for educational dinosaur movies, the Dinosaur Train series is the perfect place to start. Created by the Jim Henson Company, this series follows an adopted T-Rex and his Pteranodon family as they board a train and travel to different parts of the world to meet and learn about all kinds of dinosaur species. The original TV series includes 11-minute episodes where the family meets a new species of dinosaur in each episode. Dinosaur Train: Adventure Island is a fun and creative extension of the series where the Pteranodon family travels to a dinosaur-themed park. Their adventure takes a turn when an unexpected earthquake hits the island, separating them and putting their knowledge and teamwork to the test.
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)
If you’re looking for a well-rounded, funny adventure film the whole family can enjoy together, you can’t go wrong with Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. The third film in the series follows Manny, Diego, and Ellie as they venture to a mysterious underground world inhabited by dinosaurs and danger to rescue their friend Sid, who’s been taken by a T. rex after accidentally adopting her eggs. While low on factual and educational value, considering dinosaurs didn’t co-exist with animals of the Ice Age, the film scores high on fun and entertainment.
The Good Dinosaur (2015)
Set in an alternate universe where dinosaurs never went extinct, The Good Dinosaur is an endearing Pixar film that tracks the unlikely friendship between Arlo, an Apatosaurus, and Spot, a young Neanderthal boy. After being washed away by a rainstorm, Arlo tries to make his way back home to his family. Bruised, battered, and lost, he comes across Spot, a young and mischievous Neanderthal who offers him help and friendship, sending these two unlikely companions on a journey to find home.
Crayon Shin-Chan: Our Dinosaur Diary (2024)
Cute, quirky, and full of laughs, Crayon Shin-Chan: Our Dinosaur Diary follows Shin-chan and his family as they visit a theme park that brings extinct dinosaurs back to life. As always, trouble follows Shin-chan wherever he goes. At the park, their family dog, Shiro, befriends a small dinosaur which disrupts the balance of the park and kickstarts a mischievous adventure, just as you’d expect from Shin-chan.
The Land Before Time (1988)
Don’t let the simple, prehistoric animation style stop you from watching The Land Before Time. This 1980s film is a classic for any dinosaur-obsessed child. It follows a young, orphaned dinosaur named Littlefoot as he journeys through famine and upheaval in search of the Great Valley, a place of safety, far from all the destruction and devastation. Along the way, he meets four other young dinosaurs who join him on his adventure. While a little emotionally heavy, the film thoughtfully explores themes like prejudice between different species and the hardships animals face during migration.
Dinosaur (2000)
Disney’s attempt at CGI live-action film brings the grandeur and wonder of a world with dinosaurs to children without the scares of Jurassic Park. Dinosaur follows Aladar, a kind and curious Iguanodon raised by a family of lemurs after being orphaned. When a meteor shower strikes their island, Aladar and his family are forced to travel to the mainland, where they encounter other dinosaurs. Along the way, Aladar finds himself clashing with the survival of the fittest, harsh mentality of the herd, which he persistently challenges with the compassion and cooperation he’s learnt from his adoptive lemur family.
Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend (1985)
Produced by Walt Disney Pictures, Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend is a fantasy adventure film that follows paleontologist Dr. Susan Matthews Loomis and her husband, George Loomis, on an expedition to find an urban legend monster that greatly resembles a dinosaur. During the expedition, they come across brontosauruses and are amused to see the animals show very little fear toward them. The couple take a keen interest in a dinosaur offspring, naming it Baby, and continue to observe its patterns. Unfortunately, their discovery leads to other humans finding out about the dinosaurs, putting the species in danger once again. Dr. Susan and her husband then embark on a dangerous mission to help the dinosaurs escape from the clutches of evil humans.
Dino Dana: The Movie (2020)
The perfect movie for curious young minds, Dino Dana: The Movie follows Dana, a young paleontologist, as she discovers a time-traveling dinosaur egg and uses it to travel back to the Jurassic era where she meets different dinosaurs and learns about their ways, as she tries her hardest to save them from extinction. The movie is an extension of the hit sci-fi TV series Dino Dana, which itself is a spin-off to Dino Dan: Trek’s Adventures.
Walking with Dinosaurs (2013)
Produced by BBC Earth, Walking with Dinosaurs, is loosely based on a 1999 TV series of the same name. The movie follows a young dinosaur, named Patchi, who’s forced to overcome his shyness to hopefully one day become the leader of his pack. Set in the late Cretaceous era, the production features CGI dinosaurs in live-action settings.
Where To Watch The Best Kid-Friendly Dinosaur Movies Online
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