Sure, the weather is getting nicer and the kids might be staying outside later, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a family movie night from time to time. And with Netflix absolutely loaded with family-friendly films, you’d be remiss not to take advantage! However, with so many movies to choose from, movie night can easily be derailed by a search for something to watch. Don’t worry, we’ve gone ahead and identified 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+.
Recently added to Netflix
-
-
Sing 22021
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) new
136m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Stars
Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans
Directed by
Marc Webb
There are a lot of Spider-Man movies these days, no doubt about it. But that doesn’t mean you can’t kick back with your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. In this franchise, Andrew Garfield plays Peter Parker, an outcast high school student being raised by his Uncle Ben and Aunt May while struggling to navigate his massive crush on Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). When he discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, Peter is led on a quest that brings him to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors, his father’s former partner. But the desire to understand his parents’ disappearance also puts him in the crosshairs of Connors’ alter-ego, The Lizard, forcing Peter to choose to use his newly discovered powers to become a hero.
Sing 2 (2021) new
110m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family, Music
Stars
Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson
Directed by
Garth Jennings
The whole singing animal troupe returns in this sequel as Buster Moon (Matthew McConaughey) and his band of all-star performers take on their biggest challenge yet: Holding a dazzling concert in the entertainment capital of the world. But first, they have to persuade the world’s most reclusive rock star to join the group.
Corpse Bride (2005)
77m
Genre
Romance, Fantasy, Animation
Stars
Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson
Directed by
Tim Burton, Mike Johnson
Corpse Bride is some of legendary director Tim Burton’s finest work. The wacky computer-animated comedy adds stop-motion elements for a truly unique take on arranged marriage in a 19th-century European village. Victor (Johnny Depp) is a young man whose parents plan for him to marry into a wealthy family. He’s game, but before the wedding, he’s unwittingly pulled into the underworld and wed to a Corpse Bride (Helena Bonham-Carter) who died before she could be married to her true love. In the land of the living, the real bride waits bereft as Victor tries to figure out how to not be dead anymore.
Forrest Gump (1994)
142m
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Stars
Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise
Directed by
Robert Zemeckis
Sometimes, family movie night should be a chance to introduce the kids to the classics. And it doesn’t get much more classic than Forrest Gump. The sweeping dramedy follows the mentally-impaired titular character (Tom Hanks) through 30 tumultuous years of American history, where he’s unwittingly, charmingly found himself at the center of some of the world’s most important events … all while hoping to run into his beloved childhood friend, Jenny (Robin Wright).
How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
98m
Genre
Fantasy, Adventure, Animation, Family
Stars
Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson
Directed by
Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois
Hiccup is the teenage son of a Viking chief in the village of Berk. In Berk, men are bred to be dragon slayers, defending the village from nighttime pillagers. But Hiccup would prefer to invent and create things rather than destroy them. These interests mark him as an outcast. So when he stumbles across an injured dragon and learns they aren’t the mindless murderers the village believes them to be, he has an uphill battle to convince his people to work with dragons, not against them.
Enola Holmes (2020)
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.
The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
95m
Genre
Family, Adventure, Fantasy, Drama
Stars
Sarah Bolger, Jordy Benattar, Mary-Louise Parker
Directed by
Mark Waters
Based on the beloved book series of the same name, The Spiderwick Chronicles stars Freddie Highmore as Jared Grace, a mischievous boy that uncovers a mythic secret. After moving into the old manor of one Arthur Spiderwick, Jared discovers an ancient tome that details the estate owner’s connection with the world of fairies and other fantastical creatures. As magical beings begin emerging, it’s up to Jared and his companions to confront the otherworldly powers before they overrun the Grace family’s new home. A pulse-pounding feast of visual effects and incredible monster designs, The Spiderwick Chronicles is the perfect watch for your next family weekend.
Klaus (2019)
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.
Digital Trends streaming roundup
Home (2015)
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.
Pee-wee's Big Holiday (2016)
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.
The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)
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.
Benji (2018)
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.
Monster House (2006)
91m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Stars
Mitchel Musso, Sam Lerner, Spencer Locke
Directed by
Gil Kenan
Monster House is a rare family-friendly horror story. Mitchel Musso voices as Dustin James “D.J.” Walters, a young boy who has a contentious relationship with his cranky neighbor, Horace Nebbercracker (Steve Buscemi). After Nebbercracker suffers a heart attack, D.J. and his friends, Chowder (Sam Lerner) and Jenny (Spencer Locke), learn that Nebbercracker’s house may be the true monster on the block. And they’re the only ones who can save the neighborhood from a dire fate.
The Willoughbys (2020)
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.”
Invader ZIM: Enter the Florpus (2019)
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.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
102m
Genre
Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family
Stars
Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler
Directed by
Dean DeBlois
Like any franchise, it’s probably best to start with the first How to Train Your Dragon. But you won’t be completely lost if you jump in with the equally outstanding sequel. Five years since Hiccup and his dragon friend Toothless united the dragons and Vikings of Berk, the town is more intrepid and more peaceful than ever. However, when Hiccup and Toothless discover a secret cave out in the ocean that’s filled with hundreds of wild dragons, they begin to ask questions. Soon, they find that the dragons answer to a mysterious rider, and they’re just the first domino to fall as a power-hungry warlord closes in on Berk.
Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014)
92m
Genre
Animation, Adventure, Family
Stars
Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Ariel Winter
Directed by
Rob Minkoff
The classic duo of Mr. Peabody and Sherman gets a modern update for a new generation in this 2014 animated hit. Mr. Peabody is the most accomplished dog in the world, and with his mischievous boy Sherman, they travel time and space together in their time machine, the WABAC. But when Sherman takes the WABAC out for a joyride to impress his friend Penny, they inadvertently tear a hole in the universe, wreaking havoc on history. Before past, present, and future are forever altered, Mr. Peabody must put everything back together again, simultaneously making the world right and becoming a parent.
Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution (2019)
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.
Editors' Recommendations
- The best Christmas movies on Netflix (June 2022)
- The 100 best movies on HBO Max right now (June 2022)
- The best movies on Disney+ right now (June 2022)
- Save money with the best free movie apps for iPhone and Android
- The 50 best movies on Netflix right now (June 2022)
