Amanda Seyfried Shares Kids' Movie Viewing Habits
The actress said her nine-year-old daughter watched Mean Girls for the first time last year, at age eight.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Parenting
Amanda Seyfried said her nine-year-old daughter, Nina, watched her 2004 teen comedy Mean Girls for the first time last year. Nina did not find the film particularly funny but enjoyed watching her mother's performance.
Why it matters
Seyfried's account offers a glimpse into how a performer introduces her children to her own film work, selecting titles she considers appropriate for each child's age. The reflections come as she prepares to share her animated film Steps with her family.
Mean Girls was released in 2004 and Mamma Mia! in 2008, with Nina first becoming familiar with her mother's acting through Mamma Mia! watched with her grandmother. Steps is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on November 20, 2026.
The players
Amanda Seyfried
An American actress known for Mean Girls, Mamma Mia!, and a wide range of film and television roles.
Netflix
A global streaming service that is set to release Seyfried's animated film Steps on November 20, 2026.
The details
Seyfried, who shares her children with actor Thomas Sadoski, said she selected films for her children to watch and let them see her work at ages she judged suitable. Nina has also watched Mamma Mia! with her grandmother and enjoyed seeing her mother perform in Mean Girls, though she did not find the comedy especially funny.
Timeline
2004: Mean Girls is released, with Seyfried as Karen Smith.
2008: Mamma Mia! is released.
Last year: Nina watches Mean Girls for the first time at age eight.
November 20, 2026: Steps is scheduled to premiere on Netflix.
Legacy Film Reach
Mean Girls, released in 2004, remains a reference point for parents deciding when to introduce teen comedies to children. Seyfried's account shows how a film that premiered two decades ago is still reaching new audiences at home.
Parents deciding when to show their children a film with mature themes can use Seyfried's approach of choosing titles based on each child's age and maturity. Families can also look to the Netflix premiere calendar when planning viewing for new releases like Steps.
The takeaway
Parents can consider a child's age and sensitivity before sharing a movie, and revisit titles later when they are ready. Seyfried's experience suggests that family viewing can be a way to share a parent's work over time.
What happens next
Steps is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on November 20, 2026.
Further reading
Explore more on parenting and how families navigate movies and media together.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of India.
