The best thing about family movies is that they have a non-defined audience: youngsters and adults can enjoy them just as much. However, the interesting bit is that, depending on the age, the viewers may take different aspects from their watching experience. While the younger ones might enjoy the adventures or identify with the characters, the older ones might take away the moral message or delve into the dialogues and where the characters are coming from.
It’s pretty easy to pinpoint what makes a family movie. Movies for family usually include characters of different ages, with younger ones generally being the film’s main protagonists. Family friendly movies should also avoid using explicit language and be non-violent or sexual. However, it takes more than that to make good family movies. Top-tier ones should also serve a moral message (something we expect the young ones to take away from the film) and have a well-written, gripping, timeless storyline that will capture the attention of everyone watching, no matter the age.
Although there are many family movies to watch to fritter away time or keep the kids busy while doing housework, there are plenty of really good movies for family that will serve as actual quality family time. Below, we’ve gathered some of, in our opinion, the best family movies that will surely tickle one’s pickle and help you bond with your loved ones. Which movies to watch with family are your favorite? Let us know!
#1 The Goonies
1985 | 1 hour 54 minutes | Directed by Richard Donner
Starring Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen
The Goonies is about children who have grown up together but are about to be split apart because their parents are forced to sell their homes. Soon the kids discover an endless supply of fascinating items in the attic of one kid’s home, including paintings, enigmatic writings in other languages, and treasure maps. They come across a map that seems promising and decide to check it out in the hopes of finding enough wealth to save their parents’ homes. Perhaps, every child has fantasized about having some sort of grand adventure. Pirate ships, police chases, gold-filled treasure chests surrounded by human skeletons with eye patches, and the underlying intrigue of the possible existence of a vast wonderworld beneath the streets where they currently reside all add to the excitement. It includes all of the features that any child might desire. Anyone who grew up in the 1980s will undoubtedly pick The Goonies as one of their favorite movies, or at the very least, will remember it fondly.
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#2 Moana
2016 | 1 hour 47 minutes | Directed by Ron Clements, John Musker, Don Hall
Starring (voices) Dwayne Johnson, Auli’i Cravalho, Rachel House
Moana is a throwback to Disney’s classic formula, complete with clichés and characters plucked from various other animated films. The production’s sheer beauty and skill, on the other hand, elevates the old story to new heights. Easily among the best from the Disney Studio and a worthy successor to Mulan (1998). Also, perhaps one of Dwayne Johnson’s best works, despite his not being the first name that comes to mind when we think of “voice acting.”
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#3 The Greatest Showman
2017 | 1 hour 45 minutes | Directed by Michael Gracey
Starring Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron
This is the perfect family night movie. Also, get your Kleenex ready if you enjoy musicals because this movie will have you sobbing ugly tears of joy. The Greatest Showman celebrates and tells the story of a visionary who came from nothing to build a spectacle that became a global sensation. The cast is excellent, especially the pitch-perfect performance of Hugh Jackman, the story will keep you interested, children and parents alike will enjoy the soundtrack, and the overall message is uplifting. Every time you see this movie, you’ll feel something, sometimes for different reasons. After watching this film, you will be filled with joy and have the most beautiful songs stuck in your brain. Your next move is probably to get the DVD so you may relive the magic once more.
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#4 Toy Story
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#5 Dr. Dolittle
1998 | 1 hour 25 minutes | Directed by Betty Thomas
Starring Eddie Murphy, Peter Boyle, Ossie Davis
Following an accident, Dr. John Dolittle (Eddie Murphy) regains his childhood ability to communicate with animals. The good doctor is surrounded by drunken monkeys, hurt owls, and downtrodden lions who need his special help, so the gift ends up being a mixed blessing. Dolittle ends up in a psychiatric hospital after his wife, Lisa (Kristen Wilson), notices his rather peculiar behavior. However, he is fortunate to have animal buddies who can rescue him from this rather hairy situation. It’s the ultimate feel-good movie that will surely tickle your funny bone. It has a strong plot, witty lines, and a wonderful message. Psst, look out for the voice of Chris Rock as the hilarious hamster!
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#6 The LEGO Movie
2014 | 1 hour 40 minutes | Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
Starring (voices) Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks
An ordinary LEGO figurine named Emmet (Chris Pratt), who always abides by the rules, is wrongly believed to be someone he’s not. He is mistakenly identified as the Special, an extraordinary being who holds the key to rescuing the world. He is forced to join a group of strangers on a mission to thwart a wicked tyrant’s (Will Ferrell) aspirations to rule the entire planet. Emmet will give it his all even though he is utterly and hilariously unprepared for such a task. It displays a humorous hero tale that feels brand-new despite not breaking new ground in terms of plot. Finally, The Lego Movie is a kid’s movie that appeals to the child in all of us thanks to its themes and occasionally biting comedy.
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#7 Princess And The Frog
2009 | 1 hour 37 minutes | Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker
Starring (voices) Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Oprah Winfrey
The film’s main character is an obedient waitress (Anika Noni Rose). She is saving money to fulfill her father’s long-held desire to open her own restaurant. The Pixar influence is highly felt throughout the film and might be a dominant driver behind its appeal. It features some of the most moving animated sequences since Simba’s heartbreaking moment in The Lion King when he sees Mufasa lifeless. Princess And The Frog will make you cry as much as it will make you laugh, even while it fails to capture Up‘s emotional torment (honestly, few movies ever will). This film is just inches away from reaching Pixar status and has all the enthusiasm, excellence, tenderness, and superb animation of the Disney movies from the 1990s. Go ahead and see this film to get a taste of what being a child was like again.
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#8 Aladdin
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#9 E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
1982 | 1 hour 55 minutes | Directed by Steven Spielberg
Starring Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote
The family classic from the 1980s, E.T., explores the friendship between Elliot, a young boy living in California, and an extraterrestrial unintentionally left behind by his spaceship. It is a magnificent and touching depiction of childhood. A humane and emotionally engaging tale, it features cutting-edge visual effects, bold direction, and creative storytelling. Watching E.T. is a remarkable cinematic experience. It is a movie that should also be viewed as a model that all future films should attempt to follow. The financial success of movies like E.T. and Star Wars has a reason. There is also a reason why they endure so long in our memories. This is so because they have meaning and are representative of something. These are the elements of movies that stand the test of time and cross generational boundaries. Psst, E.T., you can phone or visit us anytime.
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#10 Annie
2014 | 1 hour 58 minutes | Directed by Will Gluck
Starring Quvenzhané Wallis, Cameron Diaz, Jamie Foxx
Little Annie (Quvenzhané Wallis) has led a hard life with her calculating foster mother ever since her parents abandoned her as a baby. But all changes when Will Stacks (Jamie Foxx), a ruthless millionaire and mayoral candidate, adopts her. Stacks thinks he is Annie’s protector angel. However, it might be Annie and her self-assurance and upbeat outlook that will save Will instead. While with a slightly different take, every actor, song selection, and plot point provided a taste of the original adaptation from 1982 while retelling Annie’s timeless Rags to Riches tale to a new audience. Indeed, the film’s messages are clichéd and overused in the West, yet convey an absolute truth: family, whether biological or adopted, affection is more significant than material success, everyone needs love, and greed leads to evil. Yes, Annie is lengthy, cheesy, basic, clichéd, and repetitive. Yet, it also supports nearly unchallengeable messages about love and family while being whimsical, pleasant, and full of excellent performers. In other words, it’s a great movie to watch as a family.
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#11 The Karate Kid
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#12 The Secret Life Of Bees
2008 | 1 hour 54 minutes | Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood
Starring Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah
Dakota Fanning plays Lily, who is brought up by her brutal, abusive father (Paul Bettany)in a loveless family. Lily, fourteen years old, yearns for a mother she never knew. When her only friend, maid Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson), is racially abused, they escape to a little town dot on a map thanks to a clue Lily’s mother left behind. They arrive at the home of August, June, and May Boatright (Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, and Sophie Okonedo), who gather and preserve the best honey in the area. What happens next is a smörgåsbord of odd family life that gradually gives young Lily hope. Adapted from the 2001 novel of the same name by Sue Monk Kidd and set in 1964, the movie briefly touches on the Civil Rights Act and the persistent racism in the South. Still, it places a stronger emphasis on the power of love and family. The Secret Life of Bees will supply the honey if you seek a sweet way to spend the evening.
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#13 Stand By Me
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#14 Hugo
2011 | 2 hours 6 minutes | Directed by Martin Scorsese
Starring Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz, Christopher Lee
Hugo tells the tale of a young kid named Hugo Cabret to revive long-forgotten movies and remind us of their magic. Hugo is an orphan who lives within the walls of a Parisian train station and whose father perished in a museum fire. He fixes an old automaton his father retrieved from museum storage in his free time when he’s not keeping the station clocks running. After running with a grumpy toy store owner and his granddaughter Isabelle, Hugo begins a quest to fix the automaton and unearth its long-kept mysteries. This movie is a family-friendly adventure that may turn off Scorsese aficionados because it deviates from the director’s usual themes. Yet, it’s a beautiful experience. If you’re a movie snob who values movies as works of art, Hugo is a movie that has a lot to offer. One of those family movies that adults may enjoy just as much as children, if not more.
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#15 Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
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#16 Daddy Day Care
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#17 Enchanted
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#18 Where The Wild Things Are
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#19 Mary Poppins
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#20 Shrek
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#21 Up
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#22 Wall-E
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#23 The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants
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#24 Finding Nemo
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#25 Lion King
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#26 Mrs. Doubtfire
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#27 The Hunger Games
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#28 Jurassic Park
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#29 Jumanji
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#30 A Bug’s Life
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#31 Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory
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#32 Ratatouille
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#33 Zootopia
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#34 The Princess Bride
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#35 The Incredibles
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#36 Ice Age
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#37 The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe
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#38 How To Train Your Dragon
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#39 Home Alone
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#40 The Land Before Time
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#41 Maleficent
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#42 Despicable Me
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#43 Hook
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#44 Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone
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#45 The Nightmare Before Christmas
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#46 Tangled
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#47 Madagascar
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#48 Remember The Titans
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#49 Matilda
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#50 Frozen
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