Movies like The Secret World of the Very Young (1984)
The best movies like The Secret World of the Very Young (1984) are Cadet Kelly (2002), Thunderstruck (2012) and Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (2008). If The Secret World of the Very Young hooked you with its family, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedLove Don't Co$t a Thing (2003)7.7/10 from 743 votes
- NewestTractor Ted Spuds in Mud (2025)Released 2025
Cadet Kelly (2002)
Hyperactive teenager Kelly is enrolled into a military school when her new stepfather becomes the Commandant. At first she has problems fitting in and taking orders until she tries out for the drill team.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThunderstruck (2012)
After NBA star Kevin Durant switches talent with 16 year old Brian, the teenager becomes the star of his high school team, but Durant starts struggling and eventually learns an important lesson.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisWelcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (2008)
When a celebrated TV show host returns to his hometown in the South, his family is there to remind him that going home is no vacation!
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisChang Can Dunk (2023)
Chang, a 16-year-old, Asian American, bets the high school basketball star that he can dunk by Homecoming. The bet leads 5' 8" Chang on a quest to learn to dunk—not only to impress his crush, Kristy, but to gain the respect of his high school peers too. But before he can rise up and truly throw one down, he'll have to reexamine everything he knows about himself, his friendships and his family.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisRookie of the Year (1993)
When the cast comes off his once broken arm, a 12-year-old boy can throw a 100-mile-an-hour fastball, and the Chicago Cubs want him as their new pitcher.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPAW Patrol: Jet to the Rescue (2020)
A royal relative steals a gem with the power to make things fly, the Paw Patrol takes to the skies to stop him and save Barkingburg.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMake Mine Music (1946)
In the tradition of Fantasia, Make Mine Music is a glorious collection of musically charged animated shorts featuring such fun-filled favorites as "Peter and the Wolf", narrated by the beloved voice behind Winnie the Pooh. In addition you'll enjoy such classic cartoon hits as "Casey at the Bat," "The Whale Who Wanted to Sing at the Met" and "Johnnie Fedora and Alice Bluebonnet."
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
SnoozefestMovies like thisFree Rein: The Twelve Neighs of Christmas (2018)
As Bright Fields preps for its Mistletoe Ball, a broken ornament leads Zoe to a family secret, while Gaby finds herself at the mercy of new boss Mia.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Air Up There (1994)
Jimmy Dolan is a college basketball coach who wants a big promotion. To get it, he needs to make a dramatic find. He ends up deep in Africa, hoping to recruit Saleh, a huge basketball prodigy Jimmy glimpsed in a home movie. But Saleh is the chief's son and has responsibilities at home, since the tribe's land is threatened by a mining company with its own hotshot basketball team.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisRecess: All Growed Down (2003)
T.J. and The Recess Gang are kidnapped by the Third Street School's kindergartners, who are in turn being bullied by a new kid in their class.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Longshots (2008)
The true story of Jasmine Plummer who, at the age of eleven, became the first female to play in Pop Warner football tournament in its 56-year history.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Boy with Green Hair (1948)
Peter, an orphaned boy, is adopted by Gramp Frye after his parents are killed in Europe while doing war relief work. The boy feels safe with his new caretaker, but when he is taunted for being an orphan, he gets demoralized. The next day Peter wakes up with green hair. Embarrassed and further ridiculed, Peter seeks solace in a nearby forest. To his surprise, he finds other orphans in the woods, who encourage him to spread news of the injustices of war.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisWinnie the Pooh: A Valentine for You (1999)
After Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and Rabbit see Christopher Robin making a valentine for -- gasp! -- a girl, they find he's been bitten by a "Smitten" and is lovesick! Worried that he'll no longer have time for them, and hoping a second bite from the love bug will cure him, they set out on a wild adventure to capture the Smitten. This wonderful story, filled with magic and whimsy, and sweetened with three new songs, reminds us all that the heart is big and always has plenty of room for friends -- old and new.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisLove Don't Co$t a Thing (2003)
A high school outcast pays a cheerleader to pose as his girlfriend so he can be considered cool.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisPuss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Tale (2017)
After tumbling into a magic storybook, Puss in Boots must fight, dance and romance his way through wild adventures as he searches for an escape.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSneakerella (2022)
When El, an aspiring sneaker designer from Queens, meets Kira King, the fiercely independent daughter of legendary basketball star and sneaker tycoon Darius King, sparks fly as the two bond over their mutual affinity for sneakers. With a little nudge from his best friend and a sprinkle of Fairy Godfather magic, El finds the courage to use his talent to pursue his dream of becoming a ‘legit’ sneaker designer in the industry.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
SnoozefestMovies like thisBeverly Hills Chihuahua 2 (2011)
Puppy mayhem turns the lives of newlywed Chihuahua parents Papi and Chloe upside down when their rambunctious, mischievous puppies present one challenge after another. But when their human owners end up in trouble, the tiny pups will stop at nothing to save them - because in good times and hard times, the family always sticks together. So Papi, Chloe and the puppies embark on a heroic adventure, proving once again that big heroes come in small packages.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
SnoozefestMovies like thisLittle Big League (1994)
When the owner of the Minnesota Twins passes away, he bequeaths the team to his preteen grandson. The newly minted head honcho quickly appoints himself manager, causing unrest in an organization that struggles to take orders from a 12-year-old.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Loud House Movie (2021)
The Loud family travel to Scotland and discover they are descendants of Scottish royalty as they move into their giant ancestral castle.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Jetsons & WWE: Robo-WrestleMania (2017)
Blast off to adventure in this animated feature where our favorite space-age family, The Jetsons, meet the superstars of WWE! When George unearths WWE’s Big Show, who has been frozen for 100 years, the futuristic face-off begins! Once thawed, Big Show wastes no time in taking the WWE belt from the current robot champ as well as taking total control of Orbit City. It’s up to The Jetsons to travel back in time and enlist help from WWE’s brightest stars: Sheamus, Alicia Fox, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and the Uso brothers. Can this cosmic tag-team prevail and set this twisted time-warp straight? Tune in and see with The Jetsons and WWE!
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisTractor Ted Brilliant Baler (2025)
The forage harvester cuts the tall grass and then the brilliant baler squashes it into big bales.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Tractor Ted Spuds in Mud (2025)
Clever machines are needed in the potato field and Cheeky Midge gets a closer look.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Tractor Ted Sunny Seeds (2025)
The combine harvester harvests sunflowers and the children make sunflower seed balls for the birds.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Tractor Ted Tumbling Time (2025)
An apple harvester collects up apples that are given a good wash and the children make apple juice.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Musical Multiplication (1986)
Join Video Dan Ranger and his friends Harmony Heart, Eddie Eagle, and Bouncy the Bouncing Ball for an installment of Learn-a-Long, where we learn our times tables with occasional interspecials of public domain cartoons (putting the "fun" in "Fun Learning").
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Never Be A Victim (1996)
POLICE OFFICER JIM BYRNE, Canada's most honoured Safety Education Specialist brings you his famous TEN RULES, with which he has personally tested more than 25,000 students. Learn key strategies now taught in many schools and used by police working with the full NEVER BE A VICTIM Institutional Study Program. Develop your own personal streetproofing skills so you can train and test your family. Robert Gordon, who created this remarkable program in partnership with Metropolitan Police introduces this family video library against a backdrop of today's troubled society. TEACHING LIFE SKILLS FOR A SAFER COMMUNITY OFFICER JIM'S TEN RULES FOR STREETPROOFING • STRANGER MYTHS • ABDUCTION • BEING FOLLOWED • DANGEROUS PLACES • AVOIDING CARS AND VANS • GOOD TOUCHING-BAD TOUCHING
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
A Day in the Forest with Smokey Bear (2010)
Several children spend a day in the forest and learn from Smokey Bear the five rules to fire safety.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: All About Faces (2009)
Join Sesame Street’s curious red monster as he explores his face! Elmo learns about winking and whistling, and even tries to balance a ball on his nose! Elmo also finds out that the optometrist can help you take care of your eyes, it’s very important to blow your nose properly, and brushing your teeth will keep your mouth happy. Bonus features include the “Elmo’s Make-a-Face” game, where you can mix and match eyes and noses to create your own special character! Includes special guest appearance by Fred Newman.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Tractor Ted Mucky Muck (2025)
It's time for muck spreading on the farm using all the muck that Farmer Tom has cleared from the cow's barn.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Getting Ready to Read (1992)
The video promotes reading skills with various Sesame inserts, along with a new framing sequence where Big Bird operates his own "Reading Hotline."
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Like The Secret World of the Very Young and something else?
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like The Secret World of the Very Young?
The closest matches to The Secret World of the Very Young are Cadet Kelly (2002), Thunderstruck (2012) and Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (2008). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after The Secret World of the Very Young?
Start with Cadet Kelly (2002), the closest match to The Secret World of the Very Young.
What is the highest-rated movie like The Secret World of the Very Young?
Love Don't Co$t a Thing (2003), rated 7.7/10 by 743 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like The Secret World of the Very Young?
Tractor Ted Spuds in Mud (2025) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like The Secret World of the Very Young?
Yes: Cadet Kelly (2002), Thunderstruck (2012) and Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (2008).
How are movies similar to The Secret World of the Very Young chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside The Secret World of the Very Young, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.