Get ready to get your lovey-dovey on! According to National Geographic Kids, Valentine’s Day is celebrated to honor St. Valentine “a Roman priest who helped couples secretly get married.” Over the years, that celebration has evolved into honoring the special people in our lives — our loved ones. Today, Valentine’s Day may be all about hearts and sweets, but there’s also something special about curling up on the sofa with a sweet-themed film. It might be difficult to choose Valentine’s Day movies for kids since you’ll need to strike a balance between storylines that are not too mature for the little ones, are not too mushy for those in that awkward stage where they get embarrassed by smooching, and are not excessively dull for the parents.

There is a Valentine’s Day movie out there for everyone, from charming cartoons for the younger ones to movies with a tinge of drama for the teens. Here is our pick of 14 — yeah, we did that on purpose — kid-friendly movies for Valentine’s Day that focus on love in various ways, but aren’t overly amorous.

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14 The Princess Bride (1987)

     Act III Communications

The Princess Bride is a classic film that tells the story of a beautiful young woman, Buttercup (Robin Wright), and her one true love, Westley (Cary Elwes). He must find her after a long separation and save her while battling the evils of the mythical kingdom of Florin to be reunited with one another. Westley and Buttercup’s love story spans the ages set against a fairytale backdrop. Some parts may be a little much for younger viewers, but with parental guidance, The Princess Bride is a great film. Rated PG, 98 minutes

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

13 Free Rein: Valentine’s Day (2019)

     Netflix

Free Rein: Valentine’s Day is a Netflix special that has a lot of stunning, dashing horses. The main heroine of the Free Rein series, Zoe Phillips (Jaylen Barron), and her companions are the focus of the short film as they set out to discover a priceless stone. And, of course, there are subtle teen romance hints scattered throughout. Rated TV-G, 50 minutes

12 Enchanted (2007)

     Walt Disney Pictures

Enchanted is a great Valentine’s Day movie for kids and teenagers since it is another tale of true love, and the soundtrack is also excellent. While playing with her woodland friends in the fantasy world of Andalasia, Giselle (Amy Adams) falls in love with the charming Prince Edward (James Marsden). However, when the princess-to-be arrives at the castle to wed him, his wicked stepmother banishes her to a place where there are no happily-ever-afters. Giselle, who is then stuck in New York City, falls in love with Robert, a lovely but imperfect attorney (Patrick Dempsey). A sequel, Disenchanted, was released in 2022, direct to Disney+, per Deadline. Rated PG, 107 minutes

11 The Princess and the Frog (2009)

     Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The Princess and the Frog is an animated musical that is set in New Orleans and follows Tiana, a talented cook and ambitious restaurateur (voiced by Anika Noni Rose). Tiana unintentionally becomes a frog when she kisses Prince Naveen (voiced by Bruno Campos), who has been transformed into an amphibian by an evil power. To break their spells, the couple must work together. The Princess and the Frog, a contemporary version of the timeless tale The Frog Prince, is a tale about pursuing your aspirations and the definition of love. Rated G, 97 Minutes

10 You’re So Cupid (2010)

     Gravitas Ventures

In You’re So Cupid, fraternal twin sisters Lilly and Emma, who are as diverse as possible, are portrayed by Danielle C. Ryan and Caitlin E.J. Meyer. Emma and Lilly have been best friends since the day they were born, and despite the fact that they have never experienced true love, they have an unquenchable urge to act as matchmakers. The girls eventually discover that their father is actually Cupid (Brian Krause), the god of love and the Valentine’s Day matchmaker. Emma and Lilly finally find love as they begin their senior year of high school, but things become difficult when they realize they are in love with the same boy. As they compete for his attention, Lilly and Emma develop a sour rivalry that calls into question what genuine love is all about. Rated G, 93 minutes

9 Lady and the Tramp (1955)

     Walt Disney Animation Studios

In Lady and the Tramp, the narrative is told from the dogs’ point of view. A spoiled pooch meets a fascinating stray mongrel when her wealthy, comfy home life starts to feel uncomfortable. This proves to be a poor decision because no dog is excluded from the law (animal control). In this timeless story, complete with a now-iconic, intimate spaghetti-eating sequence, Tramp finally wins Lady’s heart. In the animated feature, Larry Roberts voices The Tramp, while Barbara Luddy voices Lady. In 2019, Disney released a live-action remake of the movie. Rated G, 76 minutes

8 Tangled (2010)

Tangled is a Disney film that appeals to kids, teens, and parents alike. Since an old hag kidnapped Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) as a baby, she has been imprisoned in a tower. The wicked Mother Gothel (Donna Murphy), utilizes the mystical ability of Rapunzel’s long, blonde hair to keep herself fresh and young-looking forever. At the age of 18, Rapunzel develops a curiosity for the outside world, and when a young man seeks safety in her tower, she begs him for assistance in escaping. The vivacious Rapunzel and smoldering Flynn (​​Zachary Levi) must collaborate to demonstrate that becoming your true self is the best thing a person can do. Set up the floating lanterns — love is in the air. Rated PG, 100 minutes

7 WALL-E (2008)

     Walt Disney Studios

In the not-too-distant future shown in WALL-E, humanity has left Earth because it has become littered with waste from the sale of goods by the ruthless multinational conglomerate Buy N Large. A little waste-collecting robot named WALL-E, voiced by Ben Burtt, has been left behind to tidy up the chaos. Apart from a vivacious pet cockroach, WALL-E is the only individual on Earth and is mesmerized by artifacts from Earth’s past and show tunes. A sleek (and hazardous) reconnaissance robot named EVE, voiced by Elissa Knight, is dispatched to Earth one day to look for evidence that life is once more sustainably possible. Not all is as it appears when WALL-E falls in love with EVE, and the two set off on a space trip that will ultimately determine the fate of humanity, proving that family is everything. Rated G, 98 minutes

6 Shrek (2001)

     DreamWorks Pictures

In the appropriately titled Shrek, an ogre by the name of Shrek (Mike Myers) must embark on a mission to save Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) in order to reclaim his homeland after a cruel Lord (John Lithgow) banishes all mythical animals to the swamp where he resides. Shrek will embark on a trip that alters his life with the help of a wisecracking yet lovable donkey (Eddie Murphy), who delivers endless amusement. By the conclusion, you’ll understand there is a deep lesson about loving yourself exactly as you are, despite the fact that most of the movie is a wacky comedy adventure. In addition to a musical, the film Shrek inspired three sequels: Shrek 2, Shrek 3, and Shrek Forever After. Rated PG, 90 minutes

5 Gnomeo and Juliet (2011)

Gnomeo & Juliet adapts one of the most famous plays by William Shakespeare into a delightfully cute children’s film with a touching message: love is worth fighting for. Miss Capulet and Mr. Montague, neighbors who are played by Julie Walters and Richard Wilson, argue about who has the finer garden. When the humans aren’t looking, the garden gnomes who adorn each neighbor’s flower beds carry on the competition by coming to life like the toys in Toy Story. The gnomes from the Blue Gardens and the Red Gardens do not get along. Then, when Juliet (Emily Blunt), a Red gnome, and Gnomeo (James McAvoy), a Blue gnome, fall in love, they face several challenges. The legendary Patrick Stewart voices Bill Shakespeare who makes a fantastic attempt to critique the movie’s narrative straight to the viewers. Rated G, 84 minutes

4 If You Give a Mouse a Valentine’s Day Cookie (2020)

3 13: The Musical (2022)

13: The Musical is the ideal love tale for tweens. It is based on the 2007 theater musical of the same name. The film leads us on a voyage of self-discovery as it follows the exploits of Evan (Eli Golden), a young boy who, as a result of his parent’s divorce, relocates from New York City to a comparatively tiny town in Indiana. In order to make new friends and navigate the challenging social dynamics of his new school as his 13th birthday approaches, Evan must make his Bar Mitzvah the most trendy party ever. The film pays particular attention to problems that young adults encounter, such as the worry about receiving their very first kiss. Rated PG, 91 minutes

2 Winnie the Pooh: A Valentine for You (1999)

     Walt Disney Television Animation

In Winnie the Pooh: A Valentine for You, the companions of the 100-Acre Wood are envious of Christopher Robin because he is spending his free time creating a Valentine’s Day card for a girl. This short Winnie the Pooh movie, which is based on A. A. Milne’s beloved writings, is a heartwarming story of the importance of loving your friends. Owl aids in their deduction that Christopher Robin suffers from love-sickness and that the only creature who can heal him is something called a “smitten.” A search across the forest by Pooh, Pigglet, Rabbit, Tigger, Gopher, and Eeyore turns up one, but nothing is as it appears, and the “smitten” is ultimately freed. Pooh and his pals discover towards the end of the narrative that a person’s heart is large and can accommodate both old and new friends. Rated TV-G, 22 minutes

1 Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (1975)

     CBS and Apple TV

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown is based on Charles M. Schulz’s comic strip Peanuts. In Charlie Brown’s (Duncan Watson) class, it’s Valentine’s Day, and he’s hoping for a mailbox stuffed with cards. The other members of the group are dealing with their own problems: Lucy (Melanie Kohn) is attempting to earn a token from Schroeder (Greg Felton); Snoopy (Bill Melendez) and Woodstock are enjoying sticking valentines up each other’s noses; and Linus (Stephen Shea) is trying to acquire the grandest card he can for his favorite teacher. Heartbreak is mingled with candy hearts and handwritten letters in classic Peanuts flair. While adults may be able to pick up on the covert jabs at how Valentine’s Day has evolved into a callous profiteering of the greeting card and candy companies, kids will be charmed by the entertaining animated shenanigans of Charlie and his buddies, making for an amusing viewing in any case. Not Rated, 25 minutes