Sort by Popularity - Most Popular Movies and TV Shows tagged with keyword "child-protagonist"
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101. Explorers (1985)
PG | 109 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
A boy obsessed with '50s sci-fi movies about aliens has a recurring dream about a blueprint of some kind, which he draws for his inventor friend. With the help of a third kid, they follow it and build themselves a spaceship. Now what?
Director: Joe Dante | Stars: Ethan Hawke, River Phoenix, Bobby Fite, Bradley Gregg
Votes: 23,747 | Gross: $9.87M
102. James and the Giant Peach (1996)
PG | 79 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
An orphan who lives with his two cruel aunts befriends anthropomorphic bugs who live inside a giant peach, and they embark on a journey to New York City.
Director: Henry Selick | Stars: Paul Terry, Joanna Lumley, Pete Postlethwaite, Simon Callow
Votes: 74,045 | Gross: $28.93M
103. Star vs. the Forces of Evil (2012–2019)
TV-Y7 | 22 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Star Butterfly arrives on Earth to live with the Diazes, a Mexican-American family. She continues to battle villains throughout the universe and high school, mainly to protect her extremely powerful wand, an object that still confuses her.
Stars: Eden Sher, Adam McArthur, Grey Griffin, Daron Nefcy
Votes: 18,617
104. Like Stars on Earth (2007)
PG | 162 min | Drama, Family
An eight-year-old boy is thought to be a lazy trouble-maker, until the new art teacher has the patience and compassion to discover the real problem behind his struggles in school.
Directors: Aamir Khan, Amole Gupte | Stars: Darsheel Safary, Aamir Khan, Tisca Chopra, Vipin Sharma
Votes: 206,877 | Gross: $1.22M
105. Firestarter (2022)
R | 94 min | Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
A young girl tries to understand how she mysteriously gained the power to set things on fire with her mind.
Director: Keith Thomas | Stars: Zac Efron, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Sydney Lemmon, Michael Greyeyes
Votes: 22,158
106. Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century (1999 TV Movie)
TV-G | 97 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
An inquisitive teenager pries into suspected dodgy dealings on her space station home - and ends up being sent down to Earth.
Director: Kenneth Johnson | Stars: Kirsten Storms, Raven-Symoné, Bob Bancroft, Stuart Pankin
Votes: 8,385
107. Arthur and the Invisibles (2006)
PG | 94 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Ten-year-old Arthur, in a bid to save his grandfather's house from being demolished, goes looking for some much-fabled hidden treasure in the land of the Minimoys, tiny people living in harmony with nature.
Director: Luc Besson | Stars: Freddie Highmore, Mia Farrow, Madonna, Ron Crawford
Votes: 40,917 | Gross: $15.13M
108. Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle (2018)
PG-13 | 104 min | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
A human child raised by wolves must face off against a menacing tiger named Shere Khan, as well as his own origins.
Director: Andy Serkis | Stars: Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Naomie Harris
Votes: 65,676
109. Home Alone 3 (1997)
PG | 102 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
Alex Pruitt, an 8-year-old boy living in Chicago, must fend off international spies who seek a top-secret computer chip in his toy car.
Director: Raja Gosnell | Stars: Alex D. Linz, Olek Krupa, Rya Kihlstedt, Lenny von Dohlen
Votes: 127,306 | Gross: $30.88M
110. Summer of 84 (2018)
Not Rated | 105 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
After suspecting that their police officer neighbor is a serial killer, a group of teenage friends spend their summer spying on him and gathering evidence, but as they get closer to discovering the truth, things get dangerous.
Directors: François Simard, Anouk Whissell, Yoann-Karl Whissell | Stars: Graham Verchere, Judah Lewis, Caleb Emery, Cory Gruter-Andrew
Votes: 46,020 | Gross: $0.09M
111. The Polar Express (2004)
G | 100 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
On Christmas Eve, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.
Director: Robert Zemeckis | Stars: Tom Hanks, Chris Coppola, Michael Jeter, Leslie Zemeckis
Votes: 241,481 | Gross: $183.37M
112. Blank Check (1994)
PG | 93 min | Comedy, Crime, Family
After a bike accident, a young boy inadvertently gains possession of a check for $1 million and proceeds to spend it, unaware that the gangsters it belongs to are in pursuit.
Director: Rupert Wainwright | Stars: Brian Bonsall, Karen Duffy, James Rebhorn, Jayne Atkinson
Votes: 22,139 | Gross: $30.58M
113. Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017)
PG | 89 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Two overly imaginative pranksters named George and Harold hypnotize their principal into thinking he's a ridiculously enthusiastic, incredibly dimwitted superhero named Captain Underpants.
Director: David Soren | Stars: Kevin Hart, Thomas Middleditch, Ed Helms, Nick Kroll
Votes: 32,403 | Gross: $73.92M
114. Dragon Ball Z (1989–1996)
TV-PG | 24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The adventures of Earth's martial arts defender, Son Goku, continue with a new family and the revelation of his alien origins. Now Goku and his allies must defend the planet from an onslaught of new extraterrestrial enemies.
Stars: Jôji Yanami, Kyle Hebert, Masako Nozawa, Sean Schemmel
Votes: 87,930
115. Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)
PG | 95 min | Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller
In a small American town, a diabolical circus and its demonic proprietor prey on the townsfolk.
Director: Jack Clayton | Stars: Mary Grace Canfield, Richard Davalos, Jake Dengel, Jack Dodson
Votes: 10,626 | Gross: $8.40M
116. Spy Kids: Armageddon (2023)
PG | 97 min | Action, Comedy, Family
The children of the world's greatest secret agents unwittingly help a powerful game developer unleash a computer virus that gives him control of all technology, leading them to become spies themselves to save their parents and the world.
Director: Robert Rodriguez | Stars: Connor Esterson, Everly Carganilla, Zachary Levi, Gina Rodriguez
Votes: 3,307
117. Eli (I) (2019)
R | 98 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
A boy receiving treatment for his auto-immune disorder discovers that the house he's living in isn't as safe as he thought.
Director: Ciarán Foy | Stars: Charlie Shotwell, Kelly Reilly, Max Martini, Lili Taylor
Votes: 40,874
118. Arthur (1996–2022)
TV-Y | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Based on the books by Marc Brown, these are the adventures of Arthur, an 8-year-old aardvark, and his family and friends as they grow up and learn how to be good neighbors to one another.
Stars: Daniel Brochu, J.T. Turner, Jodie Resther, Bruce Dinsmore
Votes: 15,922
119. Punky Brewster (1984–1988)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family
Young Punky Brewster is abandoned with her dog, Brandon, in a supermarket. When she befriends Henry Warnimont, her new family life begins.
Stars: Soleil Moon Frye, George Gaynes, Cherie Johnson, Sandy
Votes: 6,110
120. Richie Rich (1994)
PG | 95 min | Comedy, Family
A rich young boy finds his family the target of an inside job, and must use his cunning to save them.
Director: Donald Petrie | Stars: Macaulay Culkin, Edward Herrmann, John Larroquette, Christine Ebersole
Votes: 73,625 | Gross: $38.09M
121. Hilda (2018–2023)
TV-Y7 | 24 min | Animation, Adventure, Drama
A fearless blue-haired girl named Hilda leaves the forest to go to town and find new friends, great adventures, magic and mysterious creatures who might be dangerous.
Stars: Bella Ramsey, Ameerah Falzon, Oliver Nelson, Daisy Haggard
Votes: 13,855
122. A Christmas Story (1983)
PG | 93 min | Comedy, Family
In the 1940s, a young boy named Ralphie Parker attempts to convince his parents, teacher, and Santa Claus that a Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun really is the perfect Christmas gift.
Director: Bob Clark | Stars: Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin, Scott Schwartz
Votes: 168,659 | Gross: $20.61M
123. The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2013)
PG | 137 min | Animation, Drama, Family
Kaguya is a beautiful young woman coveted by five nobles. To try to avoid marrying a stranger she doesn't love, she sends her suitors on seemingly impossible tasks. But she will have to face her fate and punishment for her choices.
Director: Isao Takahata | Stars: Chloë Grace Moretz, James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, James Marsden
Votes: 54,091 | Gross: $1.51M
124. Clifford the Big Red Dog (2021)
PG | 96 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
A young girl's love for a tiny puppy named Clifford makes the dog grow to an enormous size.
Director: Walt Becker | Stars: Darby Camp, Jack Whitehall, Izaac Wang, John Cleese
Votes: 17,111 | Gross: $48.95M
125. John and the Hole (2021)
R | 103 min | Drama, Horror, Thriller
A coming-of-age psychological thriller that plays out the unsettling reality of a kid who holds his family captive in a hole in the ground.
Director: Pascual Sisto | Stars: Charlie Shotwell, Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Ehle, Taissa Farmiga
Votes: 4,733
126. Home Before Dark (2020– )
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Young investigative journalist Hilde Lisko moves with her family to the small town her father left behind, only to unearth shocking secrets in her pursuit of the truth.
Stars: Jim Sturgess, Brooklynn Prince, Abby Miller, Kylie Rogers
Votes: 12,199
127. The Sword in the Stone (1963)
G | 79 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A poor boy named Arthur learns the power of love, kindness, knowledge and bravery with the help of a wizard called Merlin in the path to become one of the most beloved kings in English history.
Directors: Wolfgang Reitherman, Clyde Geronimi, David Hand | Stars: Rickie Sorensen, Sebastian Cabot, Karl Swenson, Junius Matthews
Votes: 106,569 | Gross: $22.18M
128. Taken (2002)
TV-PG | 68 min | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Three families experience alien abductions over a period of five decades.
Stars: Dakota Fanning, Matt Frewer, Emily Bergl, Heather Donahue
Votes: 21,020
129. Leap! (2016)
PG | 89 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
An orphan girl dreams of becoming a ballerina and flees her rural Brittany for Paris, where she passes for someone else and accedes to the position of pupil at the Grand Opera House.
Directors: Eric Summer, Éric Warin | Stars: Elle Fanning, Dane DeHaan, Carly Rae Jepsen, Maddie Ziegler
Votes: 24,400 | Gross: $24.70M
130. The Indian in the Cupboard (1995)
PG | 96 min | Drama, Family, Fantasy
Omri, a young boy growing up in Brooklyn, receives an odd variety of presents for his birthday: a wooden cupboard from his older brother, a set of antique keys from his mother, and a plastic Indian from his best friend, Patrick.
Director: Frank Oz | Stars: Hal Scardino, Litefoot, Lindsay Crouse, Richard Jenkins
Votes: 31,068 | Gross: $35.62M
131. The Painted Bird (2019)
Unrated | 169 min | Drama, Horror, Thriller
A young Jewish boy somewhere in Eastern Europe seeks refuge during World War II where he encounters many different characters.
Director: Václav Marhoul | Stars: Petr Kotlár, Nina Sunevic, Alla Sokolova, Stanislav Bilyi
Votes: 7,636
132. The Gate (1987)
PG-13 | 85 min | Fantasy, Horror
Kids left home alone accidentally unleash a horde of malevolent demons from a mysterious hole in their suburban backyard.
Director: Tibor Takács | Stars: Stephen Dorff, Christa Denton, Louis Tripp, Kelly Rowan
Votes: 19,633 | Gross: $13.54M
133. The Girl with All the Gifts (2016)
R | 111 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A scientist and a teacher living in a dystopian future embark on a journey of survival with a special young girl named Melanie.
Director: Colm McCarthy | Stars: Sennia Nanua, Fisayo Akinade, Dominique Tipper, Paddy Considine
Votes: 64,466
134. The 400 Blows (1959)
Not Rated | 99 min | Crime, Drama
A young boy, left without attention, delves into a life of petty crime.
Director: François Truffaut | Stars: Jean-Pierre Léaud, Albert Rémy, Claire Maurier, Guy Decomble
Votes: 128,157
135. Dexter's Laboratory (1996–2003)
TV-G | 23 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
The misadventures of a boy genius and his annoying sister.
Stars: Kath Soucie, Jeff Bennett, Christine Cavanaugh, Tom Kenny
Votes: 53,826
136. Recess (1997–2001)
TV-Y | 23 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Comic tales of a group of good friends, four boys and two girls, during breaks in primary school, as they grow up, relate to each other, and have brushes with authority.
Stars: Andrew Lawrence, Ashley Johnson, Jason Davis, Rickey D'Shon Collins
Votes: 28,167
137. Boy (I) (2010)
Not Rated | 87 min | Comedy, Drama
Boy, an 11-year-old child and devout Michael Jackson fan who lives on the east coast of New Zealand in 1984, gets a chance to know his absentee criminal father, who has returned to find a bag of money he buried years ago.
Director: Taika Waititi | Stars: James Rolleston, Te Aho Eketone-Whitu, Taika Waititi, Moerangi Tihore
Votes: 29,562 | Gross: $0.26M
138. Hey Arnold! (1996–2004)
TV-Y7 | 15 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
The everyday life of Arnold, a fourth-grader in a nameless city that resembles Brooklyn, New York, who lives in a multi-racial boarding house with his grandparents and a motley assortment of friends and neighbors.
Stars: Francesca Marie Smith, Jamil Walker Smith, Dan Castellaneta, Justin Shenkarow
Votes: 36,614
139. The Suite Life on Deck (2008–2011)
TV-G | 30 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Spinoff of the hit Disney Channel series "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody," in which twin brothers Zack and Cody Martin and hotel heiress London Tipton enroll in a semester-at-sea program aboard a ship called the S.S. Tipton.
Stars: Dylan Sprouse, Cole Sprouse, Brenda Song, Debby Ryan
Votes: 21,565
140. Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001)
G | 82 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
An eight-year-old boy genius and his friends must rescue their parents after the adults are abducted by aliens.
Director: John A. Davis | Stars: Debi Derryberry, Rob Paulsen, Megan Cavanagh, Mark DeCarlo
Votes: 38,056 | Gross: $80.94M
141. LOL (2012)
PG-13 | 97 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
As a new year at school begins, Lola's heart is broken by her boyfriend, though soon she's surprised by her best friend, promising musician Kyle, who reveals his feelings for her.
Director: Lisa Azuelos | Stars: Miley Cyrus, Douglas Booth, Ashley Greene, Demi Moore
Votes: 58,162 | Gross: $0.05M
142. Clarence (2013–2018)
TV-PG | 23 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Life is an adventure for Clarence and his two friends, Jeff & Sumo.
Stars: Spencer Rothbell, Katie Crown, Tom Kenny, Sean Giambrone
Votes: 11,606
143. The Kid (II) (2019)
R | 100 min | Biography, Drama, Western
The story of a young boy who witnesses Billy the Kid's encounter with Sheriff Pat Garrett.
Director: Vincent D'Onofrio | Stars: Jake Schur, Leila George, Chris Pratt, Dane DeHaan
Votes: 9,486 | Gross: $1.51M
144. Infinity Train (I) (2019–2021)
TV-PG | 11 min | Animation, Short, Action
Various people get trapped on a mysterious train with an endless number of cars, each one being its own universe, and they must resolve their psychological trauma and emotional issues in order to get home in this animated anthology series.
Stars: Ashley Johnson, Owen Dennis, Jeremy Crutchley, Kirby
Votes: 9,668
145. Cloak & Dagger (1984)
PG | 101 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
A young boy and his imaginary friend end up on the run while in possession of a top-secret spy gadget.
Director: Richard Franklin | Stars: Henry Thomas, Dabney Coleman, Michael Murphy, Christina Nigra
Votes: 8,383 | Gross: $9.72M
146. Come Play (2020)
PG-13 | 96 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
A monster named Larry manifests itself through smart phones and mobile devices. Feature film version of the 2017 short film.
Director: Jacob Chase | Stars: Azhy Robertson, Gillian Jacobs, John Gallagher Jr., Winslow Fegley
Votes: 18,199
147. Rock-A-Doodle (1991)
G | 77 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
In order to defeat the wicked Grand Duke of Owls, a young boy, transformed into a cat, teams up with a group of barnyard animals to find the rooster who can raise the sun.
Directors: Don Bluth, Gary Goldman, Dan Kuenster | Stars: Glen Campbell, Christopher Plummer, Sorrell Booke, Eddie Deezen
Votes: 10,548 | Gross: $11.66M
148. The Ant Bully (2006)
PG | 88 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
After Lucas Nickle floods an ant colony with his water gun, he's magically shrunken down to insect size and sentenced to hard labor in the ruins.
Director: John A. Davis | Stars: Paul Giamatti, Nicolas Cage, Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep
Votes: 41,875 | Gross: $28.14M
149. Petite Maman (2021)
PG | 73 min | Drama, Fantasy
Nelly has just lost her grandmother and is helping her parents clean out her mother's childhood home. She explores the house and the surrounding woods. One day she meets a girl her age building a tree-house.
Director: Céline Sciamma | Stars: Joséphine Sanz, Gabrielle Sanz, Nina Meurisse, Stéphane Varupenne
Votes: 17,741
150. Whale Rider (2002)
PG-13 | 101 min | Drama, Family
A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize.
Director: Niki Caro | Stars: Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis
Votes: 44,048 | Gross: $20.78M