Free Christian Movies for Kids: Where to Stream Them Legally

Yes, you can find genuinely free Christian movies and shows for kids without touching a pirate site. The best free options right now are the Superbook app from CBN, RedeemTV (a donation-funded Christian streaming service with no ads), the Jesus Film Project's children's film, and Kanopy Kids through your public library. Each is free for a different reason, and knowing that reason tells you what to expect.

This guide covers what each one actually offers, which ages it suits, and a ten-minute setup that keeps young viewers on the shows you chose instead of whatever autoplay picks next.

Why "free" means three different things

When a Christian kids' service costs nothing, someone else is paying. It is usually one of three models:

Ministry-funded: donors cover the cost so families watch with no fee and often no ads (Superbook, RedeemTV, Jesus Film Project).
Library-funded: your public library pays a licence, and you sign in with a library card (Kanopy, Hoopla).
Ad-supported: free streaming apps that show commercials and rotate titles in and out.

For young children, the first two are usually the better fit. There are no adverts to explain, and the catalogue is chosen for families rather than for clicks. Our wider guide to where to watch Christian movies free covers the ad-supported apps; this one stays focused on kids.

Superbook (CBN Animation): best for ages 5 to 12

Superbook is an animated series in which two children and their robot friend are pulled into Bible stories: Daniel in the lions' den, the Exodus, Noah, the resurrection and dozens more. CBN describes its Superbook Kids Bible App as "always free for every child," and the app page says families can watch all 68 episodes free. On the web, CBN's Superbook GO page offers all five seasons free with an email sign-up, and episodes also appear on the official Superbook YouTube channel.

Why it works for kids: each episode is a complete story with a clear moral and a Bible reference, so it doubles as a lead-in to family devotions. The app adds games and a children's Bible, which some parents love and others find distracting. Decide whether you want "watch time" or "app time" before you hand it over.

For families in India, Superbook has regional sites, including English for India, Hindi and Marathi.

RedeemTV: the closest thing to a free Christian kids' channel

RedeemTV is run by Vision Video, which has distributed Christian films for decades and became a ministry of the non-profit Christian History Institute in 2019. Its about page states that the vast majority of its content is offered with no membership fee, no pay-per-view charge and no ads, funded by viewer donations. Donors who give at least $5 a month become "Redeem3:16 partners" and get early access to some premium titles, and a small number of films are rentals, so not every title is free.

The library includes children's favourites, animated features and family dramas. It runs on the web and has apps for iOS, Android, Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV, which makes it easy to put on the living-room television. You sign up for a free account to watch.

Torchlighters: Heroes of the Faith (best for ages 8 to 12)

Torchlighters is an animated series about real Christians from church history, including John Bunyan, William Tyndale and Jim Elliot. It streams on RedeemTV. It is one of the few kids' series that teaches church history rather than only Bible stories, and older children often find "this really happened" more gripping than fiction.

A caution: these are stories of imprisonment, persecution and, in some episodes, martyrdom. They are handled for a young audience, but watch one first if your child is under eight or sensitive to peril.

The Story of Jesus for Children (Jesus Film Project)

The Jesus Film Project, makers of the 1979 JESUS film, offers The Story of Jesus for Children, a 61-minute telling of the life of Jesus made for young viewers. It is free to watch on the Jesus Film Project website and app, with 193 audio translations and subtitles in eight languages.

That language range makes it one of the most useful single films for multilingual homes, grandparents who prefer their mother tongue, and children's ministries serving mixed congregations. It suits ages 4 and up, and it makes a natural Easter or Christmas viewing for the whole family.

Kanopy Kids and Hoopla: free through your library

If your public library subscribes to Kanopy, you can sign in with your library card and open Kanopy Kids, a section built for children roughly aged 2 to 8. Several US libraries note that titles in the Kanopy Kids catalogue do not use up your monthly Kanopy credits, but check your own library's rules. Hoopla works in a similar way, with a borrowing limit set by each library.

Be realistic: library catalogues are general, not Christian, so expect a handful of faith titles at most. The value is a safe, ad-free kids' space where you can mix a Bible-story film with wholesome secular picks. Search for "Bible," "Jesus" or a specific title, and check what your own library offers.

BibleProject: free videos for curious tweens

BibleProject is a non-profit, crowdfunded studio that makes free animated videos explaining books and themes of the Bible. They are not cartoons for preschoolers, but children around 10 and older who are starting to ask "what is this book about?" often enjoy them. They are short and visual, and parents tend to learn something too.

Paid, but worth knowing: Minno

Minno is a Christian streaming service for children with ad-free shows and audio. It is a paid subscription with a free trial, not a free service. It can make sense if your family has watched through the free options above and wants a larger, curated kids' library. Cancel before the trial ends if you only want a short look.

A quick plan by age

Ages 2 to 4: short Bible-story episodes and Kanopy Kids picks; keep sessions to one episode.
Ages 5 to 7: Superbook episodes and The Story of Jesus for Children, watched together.
Ages 8 to 12: Superbook, Torchlighters (preview first) and RedeemTV family features.
Ages 10 and up: add BibleProject videos, then move on to our list of Christian movies for teens as they grow.

For full-length feature films the whole family can share, see 15 Christian movies your whole family will enjoy, and use our movie planner to line up a month of family nights.

Ten-minute setup for safe free streaming

Free services are only safe if the screen stays where you put it. Before handing over a tablet:

Turn off autoplay in YouTube and in any app that offers it. Most unwanted viewing starts with "up next."
Use the official channel or app. Full movies uploaded by random accounts are often pirated, and the comments and suggestions around them are unpredictable.
Create a child profile where the service allows it, and sign in once so the child is never browsing as you.
Check a review for anything feature-length. Our guide to Christian movie review sites shows how to check content in five minutes.
Watch the first episode together. It tells you more than any description, and it gives you something to talk about afterward.

What to avoid

If a site offers this year's cinema release "free" with no ministry, library or advertiser behind it, it is almost certainly pirated. Besides the legal problem, these sites are known for pop-ups and malware, which is the last thing you want on a child's device. If a title you want is not free legally, borrow the DVD from your library or church, or wait for it to arrive on a free service. Catalogues rotate.

Frequently asked questions

Are these services really free, or are there hidden charges? Superbook, the Jesus Film Project children's film and most of RedeemTV are free to watch. RedeemTV has some premium and rental titles, and library services depend on your library's subscription. Minno is paid after its free trial.

Can I show these films at church or in a kids' club? Showing a film to a group outside your home is a public performance, and it usually needs permission or a licence even when the film streams free at home. Check the ministry's terms first. Our guide to hosting a church movie night explains the licensing basics.

Do these work outside the US? RedeemTV describes itself as available worldwide, the Jesus Film Project offers many languages, and Superbook runs regional sites. Library services depend on having a card from a participating library.