Family movie night is a sacred tradition. But scrolling and scrolling through Netflix to find something you can all agree to watch is anything but sacred. While it’s great that Netflix has such an extensive collection of family-friendly movies, that can be counterproductive to actually enjoying movie night. Don’t worry, we’ve already searched the collection to trim the fat. Check out the best family movies on Netflix right now.
If you’re looking for more films suitable for the whole family, we’ve also rounded up the best family movies on Amazon Prime Video and the best family movies on Disney+.
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86m
Genre Animation, Family, Adventure, Comedy
Stars Martin Lawrence, Ashton Kutcher, Gary Sinise
Directed by Jill Culton, Roger Allers
The hunters become the hunted in this animated romp about a domesticated 900-pound grizzly bear named Boog (Martin Lawrence) who finds himself stranded in the woods just before hunting season starts. Unsure of how to exist in the wild, Boog must rely on fast-talking mule deer, Elliot (Ashton Kutcher), to learn the ropes of survival during open season. But rather than just survive this season, Boog and Elliot become determined to raise an army to fight back against the hunters.
83m
Genre Western, Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Drama
Stars Matt Damon, James Cromwell, Charles Napier
Directed by Kelly Asbury, Lorna Cook
This Dreamworks Animation adventure tells the tale of Spirit (Matt Damon), a wild and rambunctious mustang stallion’s travels across the Old West. Befriending a pioneering young human, Spirit travails the untamed American frontier and finds true love with another wild and free mare.
179m
Genre Adventure, Fantasy, Action
Stars Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen
Directed by Peter Jackson
Why not turn movie night into a multinight affair? The Lord of the Rings trilogy is now on Netflix, offering practically 10 hours of fantasy adventure fun for the whole family. In The Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo (Elijah Wood) inherits the One Ring from his Uncle Bilbo, prompting the wizard Gandalf the Grey (Sir Ian McKellen) to task Frodo with the existential task of returning the Ring of Power to Mordor to destroy it in the fires from whence it came. As evil spreads throughout Middle Earth under the leadership of Sauron, the tribes of men, elves, and dwarves must forge a fellowship to defend Middle Earth and protect Frodo at all costs.
106m
Genre Comedy, Family, Music
Stars Javier Bardem, Winslow Fegley, Shawn Mendes
Directed by Josh Gordon, Will Speck
Josh Primm (Winslow Fegley) has just moved to New York City with his family but is struggling to adapt to his new school and make friends. But when he discovers Lyle (Shawn Mendes), a sophisticated singing crocodile living in the attic, the two become fast friends. Unfortunately, the evil neighbor Mr. Grumps (Brett Gelman) wants Lyle thrown out on the street. Now, Josh, his parents (Constance Wu and Scoot McNairy), and Lyle’s owner, Hector P. Valenti (Javier Bardem), must band together to protect the unique crocodile.
142m
Genre Comedy, Drama, Romance
Stars Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
This family-friendly classic tells the tale of Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks), a man born with a low IQ in the Bible Belt South with an uncanny knack for finding himself in the right places at the right time. The sweeping epic examines some of the most tumultuous decades of American history through the eyes of Forrest, who somehow manages to achieve more than anyone could imagine he could despite his one true love — Jenny (Robin Wright) — eluding him.
100m
Genre Animation, Action, Adventure, Crime, Comedy
Stars Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina
Directed by Pierre Perifel
There’s never been such a dastardly crew as The Bad Guys — Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos), and Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina). The criminal crew has pulled off countless heists and become the world’s most wanted villains … until they’re finally caught. Now, Mr. Wolf brokers a deal to save them all from prison. Under the tutelage of Professor Marmalade (Richard Ayoade), they’ll learn what it takes to go good. Of course, Mr. Wolf fully plans to renege on the deal until he surprises himself with how much he actually enjoys doing good.
110m
Genre Romance, Comedy
Stars John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing
Directed by Randal Kleiser
One of the most beloved musicals ever is on Netflix! Australian good girl Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) and American greaser Danny (John Travolta) enjoyed a beautiful summer romance, but both fully expected it to remain in the past. But when they discover they’re now at the same high school, their love faces new tests in the form of eccentric friends and high school politics.
92m
Genre Comedy, Family
Stars Eddie Murphy, Jeff Garlin, Steve Zahn
Directed by Steve Carr
When Charlie (Eddie Murphy) and Phil (Jeff Garlin) realize that they’ve become so consumed by their executive advertising jobs that they’re missing out on the joys of fatherhood, they decide to do something about it once and for all. So, they quit and start their very own daycare. Unfortunately, their kids quickly put their feet to the fire and show them that childcare isn’t quite what they bargained for.
117m
Genre Animation, Fantasy, Drama, Thriller
Stars Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Gregory Mann
Directed by Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson
There have been enough Pinocchio revivals over the past few years that it’s reasonable to ask why Guillermo del Toro thought another one was a good idea. And yet … del Toro’s pleasantly demented mind is sort of perfect for Pinocchio if you think about it. His stop-motion reimagining of Carlo Collodi’s classic tale is a whimsical musical that breathes surprising new life into the world’s most famous puppet who thinks he’s a real boy. It premieres December 9 on the streaming service.
103m
Genre Comedy, Drama
Stars Macaulay Culkin, Anna Chlumsky, Dan Aykroyd
Directed by Howard Zieff
A seminal movie for millennial parents when they were preteens, My Girl holds up as an adorable, poignant treatise on young love. Eleven-year-old Vada Sultenfuss (Anna Chlumsky) is obsessed with death due to her mother being dead and her father running a funeral parlor. She’s in love with her English teacher and will do anything to impress him. Her best friend, Thomas (Macaulay Culkin), sticks by her through absolutely everything as Vada’s life starts turning upside down as she approaches her teenage years.
129m
Genre Mystery, Adventure, Crime
Stars Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Louis Partridge
Directed by Harry Bradbeer
Millie Bobby Brown returns as Sherlock Holmes’ unheralded — yet even more brilliant — little sister, Enola! Fresh off of solving her first case, Enola decides it’s time to open her very own agency, just like her brother, Sherlock (Henry Cavill). Unfortunately, she quickly discovers the demand for female detectives isn’t quite what it is for her male counterparts. Struggling to get any cases, Enola is about ready to close up shop when a penniless matchstick girl asks Enola to find her missing sister. The case, however, is far more complex than expected, sending Enola deep into London’s underworld and all the way to the highest echelons of society.
93m
Genre Comedy, Mystery, Crime, Adventure, Family
Stars Steve Martin, Jean Reno, Kevin Kline
Directed by Shawn Levy
Let’s be honest, this 2006 remake of the classic 20th-century trilogy doesn’t hold a candle to the original, but what are the chances you’re going to get your kids to watch a comedy made in 1963? Instead, you can introduce them to the franchise through Steve Martin’s portrayal as the classically bumbling police inspector Jacques Clouseau. When the French national soccer team’s coach is murdered by a poisoned dart in the stadium, his famous ring with the diamond Pink Panther quickly disappears. The ambitious Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Kevin Kline) assigns Clouseau to the case, intentionally putting Clouseau in the crosshairs of the media while Dreyfus assembles a superior team to work the case in secret.
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86m
Genre Animation, Action, Comedy, Family, Science Fiction
Stars Ben Schwartz, Omar Benson Miller, Brandon Mychal Smith
Directed by Andy Suriano, Ant Ward
Nickelodeon’s hit YA series got the Netflix Original treatment! In their biggest adventure yet, Leo (Ben Schwartz), Raph (Omar Benson Miller), Mikey (Brandon Mychal Smith), and Donnie (Josh Brener) are the last hope against an alien invasion. In the year 2044, Earth is on the brink of becoming completely conquered by the Krang. In a desperate hail mary, an older Leo and Mikey send their student Casey Jones (Haley Joel Osment) to the year 2022 to help the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles find a key to stop the invasion before it happens.
110m
Genre Animation, Comedy, Family, Music
Stars Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson
Directed by Garth Jennings
Buster Moon (Matthew McConaughey) and his talented bunch of animal crooners are back with their most ambitious show yet! After the success of their last talented show, Moon and company aspire to launch a brand new stage extravaganza in the entertainment capital of the world, Redshore City. But to keep the gig, Buster will have to deliver on a promise to cast loner lion rock legend Clay Calloway (Bono) in the show.
106m
Genre Family, Comedy
Stars Karolina Gruszka, Dorota Kolak, Andrzej Grabowski
Directed by Kristoffer Rus
Too Old for Fairy Tales is a Polish film that stars newcomer Maciej Karas as Waldek, a spoiled gamer who fills his life with fantasy. But when there is a very real earthquake that forces Waldek apart from his mother, he’s taken in by an unpredictable aunt who introduces a whole new regiment of chores and responsibilities that Waldek has never experienced. Suddenly wrenched away from his precious games, Waldek is put into real-life survival mode, all while learning lessons he didn’t know he needed.
84m
Genre Documentary
Stars Craig Foster, Tom Foster
Directed by James Reed, Philippa Ehrlich
A documentary may seem like a bold choice for family movie night, but the Oscar-winning My Octopus Teacher feels like so much more than an educational film. Craig Foster is a professional photographer and videographer who returns to his childhood home at the southern tip of Africa, hoping to recover from burnout. Swimming in the same freezing ocean that he did as a child, Foster soon meets a young octopus who displays remarkable curiosity and intelligence. Foster continues to visit her den and track her movements, eventually earning her trust. The result is an extraordinary friendship that feels like it could only exist in a fantasy movie.
115m
Genre Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Stars Karl Urban, Zaris-Angel Hator, Jared Harris
Directed by Chris Williams
The age of monster hunters is alive and well in this animated Netflix original. And those monsters happen to live in the sea. For years, brave humans have ventured to the sea to wage war against the monsters and make the oceans navigable. The most beloved of all these monster hunters is Jacob Holland (Karl Urban). When little Maisie Brumble (Zaris-Angel Hator) meets her hero in a tavern, she becomes obsessed with the idea of going to sea with him. So, she stows away on Jacob’s legendary ship. When Jacob finds her, he’s not thrilled, but he soon discovers that Maisie is a courageous crew member and unexpectedly useful.
99m
Genre Animation, Family, Comedy
Stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ynairaly Simo, Zoe Saldana
Directed by Kirk DeMicco
Looking for something Encanto-adjacent? A joint effort between Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation, Vivo calls upon the talents of Hollywood music-man Lin-Manuel Miranda to properly weave its animated tale. Miranda not only provides original music to the film, but he also voices the titular character, a magical kinkajou who spends his days serenading alongside Andrés (Juan de Marcos), the creature’s spirited owner. When a chance communication from Andrés’ lost love arrives, the musical duo sets off on a journey to deliver the ultimate love song to the musician’s muse. A kaleidoscopic arrangement of visuals and sound, Vivo is a film filled with heart that bountifully delivers on the beautiful cultural traditions of its Latin-American setting and characters.
97m
Genre Action, Fantasy, Family, Comedy
Stars YaYa Gosselin, Lyon Daniels, Andy Walken
Directed by Robert Rodriguez
Writer-director Robert Rodriguez certainly knows a thing or two about delivering VFX-laden adventure films, centered on the crazy missions of exceptional pre-teen saviors. Serving as a spiritual continuation of The Adventure of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D, We Can Be Heroes follows the story of Earth’s many superheroes, extraterrestrial supervillains, and the children of the former. When the vile alien invaders take the heroes as their prisoners, the kids, led by Missy Moreno (YaYa Gosselin), must band together to save their families from the intergalactic foe. Tailor-made for younger viewers, We Can Be Heroes comes to life through dazzling visuals, big set pieces, and great acting from its primary players.
92m
Genre Animation, Family, Adventure, Comedy
Stars Isla Fisher, Tim Minchin, Eric Bana
Directed by Harry Cripps, Claire Knight
Back to the Outback is a lively animated film that follows the cat-and-mouse getaway of a group of zoo creatures, led by Maddie (Isla Fisher), a snake looking to get back to the Australian outback where she believes she truly belongs. In tow are friends Zoe (Miranda Tapsell), Frank (Guy Pearce), and Neil (Angus Imrie) — a lizard, spider, and scorpion. With the zoo hot on their trail, the band of reptiles and insects must do everything in their power to make it to the faraway continent in one piece. Leaning heavily on the golden rule to never judge a book by its cover, even if it’s scaly or slimy, Back to the Outback is a fun-filled excursion that the whole family will enjoy.
123m
Genre Mystery, Crime, Adventure
Stars Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin
Directed by Harry Bradbeer
The Sherlock Holmes legend adds a wrinkle with Enola (Millie Bobby Brown), a much younger sister who has spent her adolescent life learning and experimenting with her brilliant mother in the family’s reclusive mansion. But when her mother goes missing, big brother Sherlock (Henry Cavill) finally comes calling to reassure Enola that he’ll find their mother. Enola, however, has other ideas. She sets out to beat Sherlock at his own game.
96m
Genre Animation, Family, Adventure, Comedy
Stars Jason Schwartzman, J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones
Directed by Sergio Pablos
Jesper (voiced by Jason Schwartzman) is content with living life his own way, and specifically against the will of his Postmaster General father. After being transferred to the isle of Smeerensburg, Jesper is forced to post six-thousand letters within the year or risk losing his inheritance. Fortunately for him, a reclusive toymaker named Klaus (J.K. Simmons) lives just around the corner. When the children of Smeerensburg learn about the toymaker, they begin writing letters to Klaus, each hoping they’ll receive a toy. A mesmerizing, hand-drawn interpretation of the Santa Claus mythos, Klaus is a brilliant film and an all-new holiday classic.
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94m
Genre Fantasy, Comedy, Animation, Science Fiction, Family
Stars Jim Parsons, Rihanna, Steve Martin
Directed by Tim Johnson
With a great voice cast headed up by Jim Parsons, Rihanna, and Steve Martin, Home is an exciting, intergalactic adventure for the whole family. When aliens known as the Boov conquer Earth and begin to relocate the human population, one little girl, Tip, manages to evade escape. But when she crosses paths with a fugitive Boov named Oh, the two form an odd couple with similar aims. Together, they form a friendship and seek out Tip’s mother to help save humanity.
90m
Genre Adventure, Comedy, Family
Stars Paul Reubens, Joe Manganiello, Jessica Pohly
Directed by John Lee
Pee-wee Herman is back in a new adventure in this Netflix original introducing a new generation of fans to the plucky adventurer. When Pee-wee meets a mysterious, inspiring stranger (Joe Manganiello), he decides it’s finally time to take his first-ever holiday, hitting the road for his biggest adventure yet.
114m
Genre Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Science Fiction, Action
Stars Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph
Directed by Michael Rianda
If you’re going to do a family movie night, why not watch a movie about a dysfunctional family coming together? This Lord/Miller (The Lego Movie) animated romp is a ton of fun for everyone. Young Katie Mitchell (Abbi Jacobson) feels a bit like an outcast in her family of outcasts, but she knows she’ll find her people once she leaves for her first year of film school. Worried about losing his daughter permanently, Katie’s dad cancels her flight to LA and decides to do a family road trip instead. However, family bonding time is interrupted by the global uprising of electronic devices, organized by a scorned artificial intelligence (A.I.) named Pal. With the rest of the world rounded up and due for banishment to space, the Mitchells must come together to save their family and the planet.
87m
Genre Crime, Drama
Stars Gabriel Bateman, Darby Camp, Kiele Sanchez
Directed by Brandon Camp
Netflix’s remake of the classic doggy hero tale is a heart-warming, fun adventure for the whole family. Siblings Carter (Gabriel Bateman) and Frankie (Darby Camp) are struggling with a family that’s falling apart at the seams. The only silver lining appears to be Benji, a stray dog that has struck up a special friendship with the children. But when they stumble into serious danger, Benji will have to save the day.
92m
Genre Animation, Comedy, Family
Stars Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Alessia Cara
Directed by Kris Pearn
Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Alessia Cara, Terry Crews, Martin Short, Jane Krakowski, Sean Cullen, and Ricky Gervais lend their voices to this computer-animated film based on the book of the same name by Lois Lowry. It’s about the Willoughbys, two neglectful parents, and their unique children who try to survive on their own until a mysterious nanny arrives. Despite the presumably sad subject matter about orphaned children with bad parents, critics loved the film and lauded its silliness that is “anchored in genuine emotion.”
Genre Family, Animation, Comedy, Science Fiction, TV Movie
Cast Jhonen Vasquez, Melissa Fahn, Wally Wingert
While it may not be the same Invader Zim millennials grew up watching, the Netflix-adapted Enter the Florpus will still get the entire family reeling. The story tracks Zim (Richard Steven Horvitz) after the events of the original TV series, seeing the little alien in the throes of an existential dilemma. As he’s fighting for a chance to make a difference and attempting to unlock his true purpose on Earth, Zim’s arch-nemesis plots his downfall in the shadows. Can the little alien gain the confidence he needs to overcome his human rival, or will he only be a memory? With a critics review score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, no family can go wrong with Invader Zim and his Florpus adventures.
98m
Genre Animation, Adventure, Fantasy, Action, Family
Stars Rica Matsumoto, Ikue Otani, Mayumi Iizuka
Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama, Tetsuo Yajima
This Pokémon movie is a CGI remake of the massively popular 1998 Pokémon film, Pokémon: The First Movie. It doesn’t quite meet the hype of the original movie, which many of today’s parents probably went bananas for as kids, but it’s nonetheless a fun trip down nostalgia lane for adults and an action-packed ride for kids. Starring all the characters from the original Pokémon series, the movie follows Ash, Brock, and Misty as they discover the enormously powerful psychic Pokémon Mewtwo and realize he’s not the villain he’s made out to be.
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