The Dora the Explorer franchise is still expanding over 25 years after the original series premiered. Dora captured the hearts of viewers in 2000 with her educational children’s show, where she went on exciting adventures and taught viewers Spanish.
Recently, the franchise enjoyed its second live-action movie with Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado and is still going strong with Dora, the computer-animated reboot of the original series. Viewers interested in catching up on the franchise can use our guide to find every Dora the Explorer TV show and movie in release date order on platforms like Paramount+ and more.
Dora the Explorer (2000-2019)
There are few better educational shows for preschoolers than Dora the Explorer. It’s one of only a few shows that seek to teach children a different language. While it may not make one fluent in Spanish, it definitely lays a strong foundation for children to develop an interest in language learning and exploring and understanding other cultures, while also including lessons in counting, problem-solving, and teamwork.
Dora is also an excellent role model with her adventurous, curious, and spunky personality. The show is reminiscent of Pocoyo, given its highly interactive nature and targeting of very young viewers, while also boasting a similar emphasis on culture and language as Ni Hao, Kai-Lan. Viewers can’t go wrong with Dora the Explorer when selecting an educational show for their preschoolers.
Go, Diego, Go! (2005-2013)
Go, Diego, Go! is a must-see educational show for viewers with youngsters who love animals. Similar to its predecessor, Go, Diego, Go! Includes some Spanish lessons from Dora’s cousin, Diego. However, its prime focus is educating children about animals. Each episode focuses on a different species, teaching children how to identify them and about their habitats and behaviors.
It’s beneficial for parents hoping to instill love for and a gentle attitude toward animals in their children. If you have children who have shown any interest in animals and enjoy other animal-centered shows like Octonauts and Wild Kratts, you need to give Go, Diego, Go a try.
Dora and Friends: Into the City! (2014-2017)
Dora and Friends: Into the City! ages up Dora the Explorer a bit for elementary-aged children. Older children will likely relate more to the series because it focuses on Dora's experience attending school in the city. The show also modernizes itself for contemporary fans as Dora utilizes more modern tools for her adventure, like a smartphone map app.
Since it's for older audiences, the show gets a little more complex in its Spanish lessons than Dora the Explorer, teaching complete phrases and sentences rather than single words. Dora and Friends: Into the City! is the perfect transition from Dora the Explorer to elementary-aged shows, boasting the same lovable characters and spirit but with a bit of complexity. It has the maturity and diversity of shows like Elena of Avalor, but with a little more nostalgia.
Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019)
Dora and the Lost City of Gold is a live-action movie inspired by Dora the Explorer. Unlike most Dora the Explorer shows, the film appeals to a broader audience. It’s family-friendly enough for children and current fans of Dora, while also appealing to its former fans, who are now teens and adults, by debuting a high school-aged Dora (Isabela Merced).
Dora and the Lost City of Gold is a worthy Dora the Explorer adaptation, filled with nostalgia and adventure, but it also stands on its own. Viewers will want to see Dora and the Lost City of Gold if they’re Dora the Explorer fans or just looking for a family-friendly adventure reminiscent of The Goonies or Jumanji.
Dora (2024-Present)
Dora is a reboot of the original Dora the Explorer series. The series noticeably modernizes itself with stunning 3D computer animation, shorter runtimes, and even more cultural awareness. While Dora’s updated look is exciting, it is still familiar and nostalgic enough to be comforting to Dora the Explorer fans.
The series goes back to the original show’s roots by targeting preschool-aged children with its Spanish and problem-solving episodes. Older audiences may also appreciate the faster pace, shorter episodes, and heightened comedy and excitement. It’s the perfect show for parents searching for an educational and diverse, kid-friendly series with enough episodes to help keep screen time down.
Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado (2025)
Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado is a reboot rather than a sequel to Dora and the Lost City of Gold. While it’s a reboot, it retains the first live-action film’s family-friendly blend of action and adventure. It has a swashbuckling tone, educational value in its exploration of Inca culture, and, of course, heavy nostalgia for Dora the Explorer fans.
If you’re looking for a film that evokes the same sense of adventure as Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom or The Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, but that you know is perfectly safe for kids of all ages, you can’t go wrong with Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado.
