We all know good things come in small packages — same goes for Hollywood’s finest. To celebrate the upcoming Oscars® ceremony, let’s focus our lens on the younger crew that deserve a huge round of applause — or at least a high five — for their family-friendly work on the big screen this year. 

Mackenzie Foy
Who: Younger Murph, in Interstellar (PG-13)
Why: Just 15 years old and she’s juggling more projects than a millennial living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. But it’s her role as Murph in Christopher Nolan’s outer-space mind bender that’s worth a nod. Not only does she flex serious acting chops with the likes of Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey, she’s representing the younger side of Oscar-nominated Jessica Chastain. And those are some big britches to fill. 
Parents’ Note: Your littles won’t get the message — heck, many adults still don’t know what Nolan was trying to get across — but they’ll dig the imagery and they’ll connect with Murph. She’s that good.
What’s Next: No stranger to animation (she voiced Celestine in the English-language version of French charmer Ernest and Celestine), you can hear her next in The Little Prince, along with superstars Rachel McAdams, James Franco and Marion Cotillard. 

Jaeden Lieberher 
Who: Oliver, in St. Vincent (PG-13)
Why: There aren’t many actors who make their feature-film debut opposite a comedic genius, but this one did. And though he may be short on height, topping out at about costar Bill Murray’s belly button, Lieberher’s long on comedic timing in the little indie about a saint charading as a drunken sloth.
Parents’ Note: There’s some naughty language and questionable behavior, but the film’s overall message of finding the good in people trumps a little day drinking and chain smoking, yes?
What’s Next: This kid’s got big plans. While most critters his age, that being 12, will be starting junior high, Lieberher’s booked a few gigs with some of Hollywood’s finest directors. 2015 projects include gigs with Cameron Crowe (Jerry Maguire) and Jeff Nichols (Mud).

Quvenzhané Wallis

Who: Annie, in Annie (PG)
Why: Though it wasn’t a hit with critics, Annie had oodles of moxie, thanks to the singing/dancing/smile-inducing talent of one Wallis, who actually made history as the youngest Best Actress Oscar nominee ever with her role as Hushpuppy in Beasts of the Southern Wild. Plus, her chemistry with costar Jamie Foxx made the movie anything but a hard-knock experience.
Parents’ Note: Gather the entire family, wear giant wigs, and sing along. Loudly.
What’s Next: Find her alongside Aaron Paul, Amanda Seyfried and Russell Crowe in a film called Fathers and Daughters, about, well, fathers and daughters, from Seven Pounds director Gabriele Muccino.

Ryan Potter
Who: Hiro, in Big Hero 6 (PG)
Why: Why acknowledge someone’s voice performance in an animated film? Because even though voice actors can show up to work in their footsie jammies if they so please, they still must lend their mannerisms, facial expressions and the like to the film’s animators for maximum effect. And Potter became Hiro, body and soul, a boy who lost his brother but won six very cool, very smart friends.
Parents’ Note:  Disney can’t seem to put out a film without including some kind of tragic family death in its story — just know that. Once you get past that part, the film’s theme of modern superheroes using their brains rather than their powers is phenomenal. 
What’s Next: Kick it with Potter as he shows off his martial arts skills in his next gig, a karate competition flick called Underdog Kids, out this year. 

Kodi Smit-McPhee
Who: David, in A Birder’s Guide to Everything (PG-13)
Why: Tales about a boy and his dog are so last year. This one, a coming-of-age story about a boy and some birds, puts birding on the social map. As David, a 15-year-old bird-watching enthusiast who believes he’s spotted a new species, Smit-McPhee will make your kids laugh and cry, but will make you actually miss one of the most difficult times in life: puberty. 
Parents’ Note: Think a more family friendly Stand by Me. And make these simple DIY binoculars beforehand to increase the fun. 
What’s Next: Adding another great costar to his resume that includes Ben Kingsley, Viggo Mortensen and Gary Oldman, he just wrapped Sundance hit Slow West with his greatest costar yet, Michael Fassbender.

Shailene Woodley
Who: Tris in Divergent and Hazel in The Fault in Our Stars (both PG-13)
Why: Oldest of the bunch, Woodley’s had a solid year, fighting for her own persona in a dystopian society, then jerking tears from theatergoers in a young-adult film adaptation of the best-selling same-name novel. 
Parent’s Note: Have a mother-daughter day, but watch Fault first, then Divergent. There’s nothing like a little girl-power butt-kicking to dry those crying eyes. 
What’s Next: Girl’s busy completing the rest of the four-part Divergent series. Look for part two, Insurgent, to release March 20. 

Madeleine Arthur

Who: Older Jane, in Big Eyes (PG-13)
Why: Tim Burton departs animation station (Frankenweenie) and heads back to live action with a film about artsy forgery that’s based on painter Margaret Keane’s true story. And who he scored to play the older version of Jane, Keane’s daughter, couldn’t be more spot-on. Not only does she look the part, with saucerlike bright blue eyes, she holds her own alongside Oscar frequenters Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz. 
Parents’ Note: There are a few frightening moments — some verbal abuse, big-eyed imagery and such — but all of that’s nothing if they’ve already been introduced to Beetlejuice.
What’s Next: Other than a short film, her schedule’s open. Someone scoop her up!