27 Iconic Songs from Kids’ Movies That Are *So* Fun to Sing and Dance To

It’s no coincidence that Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You” for Toy Story 5  broke multiple streaming records when it debuted last month, or that “Golden” from Netflix’s wildly popular 2025 movie KPop Demon Hunters was the first K-pop song to win both a Grammy and Academy Award, or that Troll’s catchy track “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” was Justin Timberlake’s first number-one single in nearly a decade when it was released in 2016. The music from kids’ movies has a way of transporting you to another time and place, becoming firmly rooted in memories, hearts, and playlists. While these iconic tunes may come from movies made for children, they are undoubtedly fun to listen to at any age.

Whether you’re planning a summer road trip with your kids, need a playlist for a pool party, or maybe you’re just feeling nostalgic for your own childhood, have a listen to 27 of our favorite songs from kids’ movies to jam out to. 

A definitive summer anthem, “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” is the most beloved song from this Disney movie franchise. Performed by the Kamehameha Schools Children’s Chorus and Mark Kealiʻi Hoʻomalu, the song is from the captivating scene when Lilo, Stitch, Nani, and David go surfing. This song immediately transports you to a Hawaiian beach on a sunny day, no matter the season.

Perhaps one of the most recognizable songs from any kids’ movie is this classic by acclaimed singer and songwriter Randy Newman. Although it was released alongside the first Toy Story film in 1995, it has remained the unofficial theme song of the franchise to this day with the 2026 release of Toy Story 5. The song highlights the power and timelessness of friendship unlike any other.

This catchy pop tune took the world by storm when it was released as a single in July 2025, shortly after KPop Demon Hunters premiered on Netflix on June 20, 2025. Here’s some proof of its star power: It was the first K-pop song to win both a Grammy and an Academy Award. The song is about believing in yourself and your full potential, a key theme in the movie. Performed by real pop stars Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami as the fictional K-pop girl group HUNTR/X, “Golden” is great for those moments when you, your kids, or anyone you know needs to feel uplifted.

The Lion King features several popular songs, but this one is a true ode to youth and the idea of growing up. Young Simba can’t wait to be king, not realizing the responsibilities and effort that come with the title. Written by Elton John and Tim Rice and performed by Jason Weaver as the singing voice of young Simba (and featuring Rowan Atkinson as the spoken voice of Zazu), this song is for the eager, impatient kid inside everyone. 

One of the most tender songs in the 1999 movie Tarzan was actually a lullaby that English drummer and singer-songwriter Phil Collins originally wrote for his daughter, actress Lily Collins (of Emily in Paris fame, of course). The song became part of the Tarzan soundtrack, echoing the film’s sentiment about the unbreakable bonds between people (or gorillas) and their loved ones. 

Despite her love of and dedication to her island and community, Moana longs to somehow be part of the ocean. Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and performed by Auliʻi Cravalho as Moana, this power ballad is great for a car sing-along with the whole family. You can also hear a new version of the popular track in the just-released live-action Moana. 

While Smash Mouth’s “All Star” was not made specifically for the DreamWorks hit Shrek (it was actually released in 1999, two years before Shrek’s 2001 premiere), it has definitely earned its status as an anthem of the film and one of the best songs from a kids’ movie at large. In fact, the filmmakers originally used the song as a placeholder for the opening credits to swap out later on, but it worked so well with the movie’s theme of rooting for the underdog that they kept it in. 

If you add this sentimental tune to your playlist, be prepared to tear up. In the film Coco, it is the most popular song from the fictional beloved singer Ernesto de la Cruz (played by Benjamin Bratt). It turns out, however, that Ernesto stole the song from his music partner Héctor (played by Gael García Bernal), who had originally written it as a lullaby to his daughter, Coco. The pop version by Miguel featuring Natalia Lafourcade is an equally beautiful ode to the love for family and music.

The theme song of My Neighbor Totoro is just as whimsical as the characters in the acclaimed Studio Ghibli film. The lilting, joyful song perfectly encapsulates a sense of childlike wonder by using bright pop elements mixed with a slightly folk feel, making it an excellent choice for entertaining infants and toddlers, or for frolicking through a meadow!

“Let It Go” is a freeing power ballad about self-acceptance — the core message of the 2013 film Frozen. Whether you’re tired of listening to this on a loop or love it as much as your kids love it, you can’t deny Elsa’s (played by Idina Menzel) passionate performance nor the song’s status as one of the most popular songs from a kids’ movie.

Camp Rock was one of Disney Channel’s most popular movies of the late 2000s, and “This Is Me” is one of the catchiest reasons why. Performed by Demi Lovato and Joe Jonas in their roles as Mitchie Torres and Shane Gray, respectively, this pop duet is about staying true to yourself and following your dreams. The song is so beloved that both Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers continued performing it, even as recently as Lovato’s 2026 world tour.

The electro-pop song is performed by indie pop duo Tegan and Sara and features rap verses by comedy trio the Lonely Island — a perfect marriage for a fun and dancey track that kids love. With its optimistic lyrics and high-energy beat, it’s great for getting kids ready for school or to get them excited for anything, like watching the awesome LEGO Movie.

A true musical classic and a classic tongue twister. Both the song and the 34-letter word were popularized by the 1964 Disney musical film Mary Poppins. In 1965, however, songwriters Barney Young and Gloria Parker unsuccessfully sued Disney, alleging that it was an infringement of their 1949 song “Supercalafajaistickespeealadojus.” Nevertheless, the upbeat Mary Poppins version performed by Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke has stood the test of time.

In the style of a French chanson, “Le Festin” (meaning “The Feast”) has a jazzy and romantic melody that captures the magic of Parisian streets and the decadence of a good meal. Written by Michael Giacchino and performed by Camille, the song plays during a montage in which Remy’s life is on the up and up. It’s one of those songs that feels intrinsically tied to a kids’ movie, but is just as great to listen to as you romanticize making dinner.

The song, much like the theme of the film, contrasts Mulan’s gender with the expectations of hypermasculinity. It has a motivating rock musical style, and plays over the montage of Captain Li Shang (played by BD Wong with a singing voice by Donny Osmond) struggling to train soldiers for war. Ultimately, Mulan proves her strength and proves why this song feels so empowering — regardless of gender or age.

Written by Randy Newman and performed by Anika Noni Rose in her role as Tiana, this song takes place when Tiana and her mother are dusting and organizing the site of Tiana’s future restaurant. The energetic and jazz-inspired tune is all about confidence, dedication, and the hard work it takes to achieve your dreams.

With music and lyrics by composer Stephen Schwartz, “When You Believe” focuses on the importance of faith, hope, and perseverance. The film version of the song starts off slow and soulful with an upbeat children’s chorus in the middle, and finally swells into an emotional power ballad. There is also a memorable pop version by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. 

Performed in both English and Spanish by actor Alexa PenaVega as her character Carmen Cortez, this pop song mirrors the mystery of the Spy Kids journey on an even more mysterious island. In the film, Carmen has to unexpectedly perform this song on stage while working undercover and ends up showcasing her talent and saving the day.

Originally released in 1993 by Reel 2 Real featuring The Mad Stuntman, this infectious dance hit was reworked for the animated 2005 comedy Madagascar and has been associated with the franchise ever since. In the first movie, King Julian (played by Sacha Baron Cohen) and his group of lemurs sing and dance to “I Like to Move It,” while the second movie in the franchise uses a version by will.i.am.

Yet another Pixar hit by Randy Newman, the Monsters, Inc. theme song is a jazz, funk, and soul-inspired instrumental piece that feels just as quirky and exciting as the (mostly) loveable monsters of the movie. When you or your kids feel like shimmying just a little, this short-and-sweet track is the perfect song to put on. 

Zootopia is one of those kids movies that’s adorable at first glance, but tackles some deep subjects upon closer inspection, like combatting stereotypes. The song, in addition to being a total jam, was written by Australian singer-songwriter Sia, but recorded by Shakira, who also voices a pop star in the film named Gazelle. 

This pep rally-style number, performed by the cast of High School Musical (including Drew Seeley as the singing voice of Zac Efron’s character Troy Bolton), brings out the high schooler in anyone. The song is the finale of the first film, paying homage to the friendships made while looking forward to the days ahead.

Performed by Gene Wilder in his iconic role as Willy Wonka in the eponymous 1971 film, “Pure Imagination” takes you into the magical world of Wonka. Although the song did not chart when the film was first released, its streams soared after Wilder’s death in 2016. This belated surge led to several popular covers, including one from Coldplay and a duet by Barbra Streisand and Seth MacFarlane.

The disco-pop jam by Justin Timberlake was an inescapable radio hit when it was first released in 2016 as the lead single to Trolls. The song was (and is!) so catchy that it became Timberlake’s first number-one single in nine years. When you and your kids feel like dancing like no one’s watching, this is the one to put on — and turn up the volume.

It’s no surprise that this bop by Pharrell Williams was number one on the 2014 Billboard Hot 100 list — it’s just so danceable. It plays during a joyful montage in Despicable Me 2, when a typically grumpy Gru has an amazing morning after realizing his crush on Anti-Villain League agent Lucy. Listening to this song is almost guaranteed to put a pep in your step.

Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, this song from the 2021 Disney release Encanto feels straight out of a Broadway musical. In it, various members of the Madrigal family explain why they don’t talk about Bruno, protagonist Mirabel’s estranged uncle, because of the bad luck he was thought to bring. The rhythm blends salsa and hip-hop, among other musical styles, making it just as much fun to dance to as it is to sing along to. 

Taylor Swift grew up watching Toy Story herself, so it’s only natural that she would record a song (co-written and co-produced by Jack Antonoff) for the fifth installment of the beloved kids’ franchise. Released in June 2026, this nostalgic, guitar-backed tune is the newest track on this list, proving that some of the best songs from kids’ movies might even be yet to come.