25 of the Best Math Movies for Kids and Families to Watch

 If you are on the hunt for the best math movies for kids like I was then this list is for you.  You see, math is one of my least favorite subjects. However, I have two kids that absolutely love it to the point that they beg to do extra math lessons almost daily. They also enjoy watching educational movies and shows about math any chance they get.

25 Math Movies for Kids & Family Friendly Math Shows

A fun way to encourage a love of math is by introducing your students to math television shows and math movies. My little ones watch several television shows that promote early math learning. I knew I needed to search for math shows and movies for the older kids too. You never know, you may create a math lover after all!

When you incorporate movies about math, you can turn it into school using our Movie Response Template Pack. Scroll to the end of this post to get it today!

What if my child hates math?

Yes, I have kids who love math, but my other two homeschool aged kids do not enjoy math. One completely loathes it and the other is pretty indifferent, so long as it doesn’t take too long or require too much from her. She might be my child. I was never terrible at math, but it definitely wasn’t my favorite subject. 

However, I have found that inspiring them with games, rhymes and even movies about math helps them not only learn the concepts but sometimes even understand them better.

True Stories about Mathematicians

I was surprised at the number of  movies I found promoting math or based on the true story of a mathematician. And while there were much more than the ones I have listed here, many of them were not ones I would allow my own children to watch, so I would never pass them on to you as resources.

However, a quick search for movies about mathematicians will give you quite a few more if you so choose. 

Use Math Movies and Shows to Understand the Why Behind Math

Math is such a complex subject that it intimidates many children. Show students just how useful it can be through these movies – many based on true stories. These movies and shows about math may help your math-hating child understand the why behind having to learn math.

Which movie features a mathematical genius?

If you are looking for a movie that features an inspiring story about a mathematical genius, then you might want to preview “A Beautiful Mind.” It’s rated PG-13, so not suitable for younger children, but your high school students might enjoy it. I haven’t watched it, so you’ll want to read the parents guide first.

Family Friendly Math Shows

Our family has enjoyed many math movies, likely because we have some math-loving kids and I have a math-genius husband. Even if your family all loathes math, watching math shows can help make it more palatable to them and introduce math topics that they may actually find interesting.

NOTE: Shows should always be reviewed by a parent first. We do not make any claims to know what is appropriate for your child(ren), that is totally your call. Please review these shows to make sure they align with your family values.

Math Shows for Younger Kids

Team Umizoomi – If you haven’t seen these shows, you probably don’t have a preschooler. All of my kids have enjoyed this show at one time or another. It has literally helped teach them colors, shapes and even counting skills. This is a great pre-math show for kids. There are 4 seasons in total. 

Peg + Cat – If you have little ones, this is another adorable showing kids that math is literally everywhere. Peg goes on imaginary adventures with her cat to places like New York City’s Radio Music Hall, a land of pirates, to farms and purple planets and more. 

Cyberchase – This is another math shows for kids that my children loved. My kids have mostly watched this on PBS kids over the years. In this show, the main characters are always solving math problems and strategies to save Cyberspace from Hacker, their arch-nemesis. 

Odd Squad – My kids still love this math show. In fact, they love this show so much, I’m pretty sure they’ve seen every single episode at least twice. Kids will follow agents Otto and Olive as they work through unusual issues and missions as they arise in their town.

Math Music Videos that Teach -These short videos will help make math fun by teaching tricks through songs. You’ll find multiplication, 3D shapes, place value, geometry, angles, fractions, the order of operations and more! These math shows for kids will probably become a favorite for kids that enjoy learning with songs and music.

Math Show for Older Kids

Numb3rs – This is an older TV show that my husband and I loved to watch together. It was fascinating to see how math might just possibly help lead to captures. That being said, it was such a fun show to watch.

NOTE: Because of the nature of some of the content, it may not be suitable for younger children. I would use extreme caution before viewing in your home.

Math Movies for Kids

Teach your children at a young age that math can be fun and encourage them, even if they dread math. Math movies can make it seem more relatable to them; they can see how we use it in everyday situations. The following list are some of the best math movies we have enjoyed together. 

Matilda (PG) – My kids love this movie. It is such a sweet story of an adorable little girl that turns out to be extremely smart but lives in a terrible family situation. However, she is gifted in math, which may inspire some kids to see that being smart isn’t silly or nerdy.

NOTE: The main character does have “powers” so if that bothers you, stay away from this movie.

Queen of Katwa (PG) – I have not seen this one, but it sounds like a great movie. Queen of Katwe is a story about a young girl named Phiona Mutesi, who lives in rural Uganda. She dreams of becoming a chess champion, but she doesn’t have access to a chess board. Her family is poor, and they cannot afford to buy one. So, she decides to create her own.

Donald in Mathmagic Land (NR) – If your kids like Donald Duck, then they’re sure to love this adorable animated film. Follow Donald Duck as he ventures into a world of fantasy in Mathmagic Land where trees have square roots and river are full of numbers.

Stand and Deliver (PG) – This is the story of Jaime Escalante, a high school math teacher in East LA. He believed that his students had potential, so he took them out of their comfort zone and taught them advanced calculus. His unorthodox methods helped many of his students pass the AP Calculus test.

Nova: The Great Math Mystery (PG) – NOVA: The Great Math Mystery explores the origins of mathematics. Is math invented by humans, like we think, or is it the natural language of the universe? This film explores the history of mathematics. From Pythagoras to Einstein, mathematicians have tried to answer this question. 

The Story of Maths (G) – The Story of Maths is a four part British documentary series about the history of mathematics. It covers topics such as the invention of Zero, the unproven Riemman Hypothesis, the Pythagorean theorem, the Fibonacci sequence, the Golden Ratio, complex numbers, various types of algebra and more.

Math Movies for Older Kids

If you have older students, having them watch math movies or movies about mathematicians can help them not hate math so much. They may be inspired and encouraged to learn more mathematical skills. 

Whether you are looking for a movie that is about a real mathematician or just something that may inspire your family to not hate math, there are lots of options. 

Hidden Figures (PG) – I know I’ve mentioned this movie before, but it is too good not to mention again for math. It is literally one of my all-time favorite movies. African-American women at NASA – Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson are featured in this real life math movie.

And while it is only rated PG, I have it listed for the older kids because I feel like the subject matter would go over their heads. Kevin Costner is fabulous in this move, as is Taraji P. Henson, Katherine Johnson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe. Parents Guide

Moneyball (PG-13) – This movie starring Brad Pitt is based on the book of the same name by Michael Lewis. It shows how Oakland A’s Athletic Director, Billy Beane, used mathematics to help him assemble a team on shoestring budget by using computer-generated analysis for drafting. Parents Guide

Stand and Deliver (PG) – Based on a true story story of the life of an East Los Angeles math teacher, Jaime Escalante, who challenges the system and typical stereotypes in his school to encourage them and raise the standard of life for his inner-city students by teaching them calculus.

While only rated PG, this is an older movie, so I would caution parents to view this first themselves or use the Parents Guide to help you determine if this is suitable for your own children.

Math Movies for Middle School

October Sky (PG)- This is the perfect math movie for a student in middle school. It’s the true story of Homer Hickam and shows how hard work pays off and gives real-life examples of how and why math is important. 

The Man Who Knew Infinity (PG-13) – I have not seen this one, but it has great reviews. From Amazon: “In 1913, Srinivasa Ramanujan (Dev Patel), a self-taught Indian genius, traveled to Cambridge where he forged a lifelong bond with his eccentric math professor, G.H. Hardy (Jeremy Irons), while fighting a world that refused to acknowledge his achievements.” Parents Guide

The Story Of One – In this 2014 math documentary, host Terry Jones explores the incredible story of the natural numbers. He reveals the fascinating history behind the number 1, and shows how it has shaped our culture and society.

Back to the Future (PG) – Marty McFly, a high school student, is sent 30 years into the past accidentally by his friend, the maverick scientist Doc Brown. Marty must help Doc Brown use a complex equation to build a time machine out of a DeLorean car.

The Imitation Game (PG-13) – The Imitation Game is a fascinating story about teamwork and persistence. It is also an excellent introduction to the field of Mathematics. This should be screened by parents as there is some controversial content. 

Math Movies for High School

Here are some more possible math movies for older students in high school that may need parental screening. These are other popular math movies that may not be suitable for students due to language or other factors.

A Beautiful Mind (PG-13) – (Starring Russel Crowe, Duston Hoffman)- A Beautiful Mind is more than just an intriguing story about a paranoid mathematician, its shares several examples of how math really is beautiful as well as how it applies in our everyday lives. 

Mathematics Movie “21” (PG-13) – (Starring Kevin Spacey) – Inspired from the real life events of two MIT students who were able to master the art of card counting at Las Vegas casinos and made millions of dollars. They need to count cards to determine if there will be a winning streak or not.

To keep track of the cards, they create a complex system of counters and timers. Their goal is to beat the casino and win big. But when they start losing, they realize that they might lose everything.

Proof (PG-13)  (Starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Anthony Hopkins) – This movie is about Catherine (Gwyneth Paltrow) and her father, renowned and brilliant mathematician Robert (Anthony Hopkins). It’s a twisted tale of suspense that has some strong content. Parental screening is recommended. 

A Brilliant Young Mind (PG-13) – (Starring Asa Butterfield) – This movie is about an autistic boy named Max who struggles with his parents’ expectations and the pressure he feels to succeed academically. Mathematics and math concepts are woven throughout the movie. 

Good Will Hunting (R) – (Starring Matt Damon and Robin Williams) – Will Hunting is an odd character. He lives in a small town in Massachusetts, and works as a janitor at MIT. Will doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere. He has a gift for math, but he isn’t very smart, but there is something special about him. He thinks differently than everyone else.

Using Math Movies to Teach Math Concepts

Math movies are great for teaching children about numbers and concepts like fractions, decimals, percentages, ratios, proportions, and even geometry! Math-themed movies can also help parents understand what their child is learning at school.

For example, if your child is struggling with multiplication, watching a movie about multiplying two numbers together could help him/her understand the concept.

Our Favorite Math Movies from the List

We hope you enjoyed this list of the best math movies for kids. Here are some of our favorite movies from this list and our favorite math movie: Jerry and Marge Go Large.

Stand and Deliver – The true story of an inner city teacher in Los Angeles who motivates his high school students to learn Calculus.

Hidden Figures – An inspiring true story of the women who worked for NASA and were instrumental with their brilliant minds in launching an astronaut to space.

Jerry and Marge Go Large – This movie is rated PG-13, and has some great and hilarious actors in it. It is a personal favorite and a funny movie about a retiree and his wife who discover a mathematical loop hole in the lottery. They win over 20 million dollars and use it to help revive their small town in Michigan.

Movie Response Template Pack

Make sure to grab our movie response template pack to use in your homeschool, either during or at the end of the movie. 

This simple, but fun Movie Response Template Pack is the perfect print-and-go resource for kids of all ages. It includes printables for noting information about the movie, character highlights, illustrations, and more.

There is also a book and movie comparison just in case you want to send your kids on a journey of highlighting similarities and differences between the movie and book (if there is a book too!).