The best family movies on Netflix right now
It may be challenging to keep the family occupied in the midst of winter, particularly if it’s chilly and wet rather than snowy. Thus, why not restart family movies night? Everyone enjoys watching movies, but nobody wants to waste that precious time looking for anything to watch on Netflix. We’ve already combed through Netflix’s family-friendly offerings to bring you the top family films available right now, so don’t worry.
If you’re searching for more family-friendly movies, we’ve also compiled lists of the top titles available on Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Why not extend movie night to many nights? The Lord of the Rings trilogy is now available on Netflix, providing the whole family with almost 10 hours of epic adventure entertainment. The wizard Gandalf the Grey (Sir Ian McKellen) gives Frodo (Elijah Wood) the existential task of bringing the Ring of Power back to Mordor so that it can be destroyed in the fires from which it originated in The Fellowship of the Ring after Frodo (Elijah Wood) inherits the One Ring from his Uncle Bilbo. The tribes of mankind, elves, and dwarves must unite as a fellowship to preserve Middle Earth and safeguard Frodo at all costs as evil spreads there under the direction of Sauron.
Klaus (2019)
Netflix has overdone the holiday season, but the multiple award-winning Klaus distinguishes out for its exquisite 2D animation and unique spin on the proverbial story.
In the feature film debut of director Sergio Pablos, a spoiled young postal (Jason Schwartzman) and a recluse toymaker (J.K. Simmons) race through the snow to bring toys to a village in the Arctic that is in urgent need of some happiness.
The movie has a Nightmare Before Christmas vibe that can turn it into a cult favourite in the future. But, critics seem to like it more than my children, who complain that it lacks Christmas spirit and enthusiasm.
Enola Holmes 2
Sequels frequently profit from the work that their predecessors did to create a pleasant environment for the characters and the viewer. Hence, young Enola (Millie Bobby Brown) Holmes is now prepared to launch her own agency and emerge from her renowned brother’s (Henry Cavill) shadow. She is also old enough to understand that the public won’t take a young girl as a detective seriously.
She meets Bessie (Serrana Su-Ling Bliss), a factory worker in dire need of assistance locating her missing sister, which is a good thing. As a result, while the audience is amused, they will also learn about the matchgirls’ strike of 1888.
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (2022)
Josh Primm (Winslow Fegley) and his family have relocated to New York City, but he is having trouble settling in and making friends at his new school. However, the two quickly become friends after he meets Lyle (Shawn Mendes), a sophisticated singing crocodile who lives in the attic. Sadly, Mr. Grumps, the wicked neighbour (Brett Gelman), wants to dump Lyle on the street. Josh must now work along with Lyle’s owner, Hector P. Valenti (Javier Bardem), his parents, Constance Wu and Scoot McNairy, and Lyle.
The Willoughbys (2020)
Will Forte’s character as Tim Willoughby, Alessia Cara’s as Jane Willoughby, and Sean Cullen as twin boys come up with a scheme to “orphan” themselves from their heartless parents and start a new family.
You can tell this isn’t your normal children’s film because Ricky Gervais, who portrays a cat, narrates. In fact, it’s made clear from the beginning that this story won’t end happily.
Then, in the style of a Roald Dahl novel, a hilarious, kid-friendly adventure that plays with some quite serious themes begins.
In case any worried parents are wondering, “orphaning” is not as simple as it sounds, and hopefully, your children won’t have any ideas.
Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical
Not every family can attend a Royal Shakespeare Company play, and not every child is reared by parents who value education. We now discuss the newest rendition of Matilda the Musical on Netflix. This movie has received praise for strong performances all around — Emma Thomson and Lashana Lynch were as excellent as was to be anticipated, while newcomer Alisha Weir also dazzles — and is evidence that Netflix can produce some of the finest family films ever. And kudos to writers Dennis Kelly and director Matthew Warchus for adding just the right amount of risk and peril to the mix.
Forrest Gump (1994)
This beloved family film follows the story of Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks), a man with a low IQ who was born in the Bible Belt region of the South and has an amazing ability to be in the right places at the right times. Through the perspective of Forrest, who somehow manages to accomplish more than anybody could have imagined he could despite Jenny (Robin Wright), his one true love, the grand epic explores some of the most turbulent decades in American history.
Flushed Away (2006)
The Wallace and Gromit creators’ latest comedy, Flushed Away, is sure to make you laugh out loud. Roddy (Hugh Jackman), a luxurious pet rat, is flushed down the toilet by Sid (Shane Richie), an ordinary sewer rat.
Roddy meets a number of unique individuals in the bustling sewer realm of Ratropolis, including an evil toad who is after him and an entrepreneurial scavenger named Rita (Kate Winslet).
Even adults should have a blast because there is a considerable deal of potty comedy and none of the standard American moralising.
Labyrinth
Give your kids a taste of the past with Jim Henson’s Labyrinth if they’re sick of CGI kids movies and yearning for something authentic. They will view a story while watching little Sarah (Jennifer Connelly), which will illustrate the importance of getting along with their siblings. This is due to Sarah’s irritation at having to watch her little stepbrother and her yearning for Toby (Toby Froud) to go. The Goblin King Jareth (David Bowie), in a stroke of brilliant casting, then accepts her offer. Bowie’s performance and all of the creative creatures that Sarah encounters along the way help Labyrinth endure for years.
The Bad Guys (2022)
The Bad Guys, Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos), and Ms. Tarantula, are the most villainous group of all time (Awkwafina). The criminal group has committed several heists and rose to the top of the most wanted list until they are eventually apprehended. Now, Mr. Wolf negotiates a deal to keep everyone out of jail. They will learn what it takes to succeed from Professor Marmalade (Richard Ayoade). Naturally, Mr. Wolf fully intends to back out of the agreement until he discovers for himself how much he genuinely likes doing good.
Next Gen (2018)
Next Gen is a stylish animated production based on the online Chinese comic 7723 by Wang Nima, which is set in what appears to be Tokyo in ten years.
To prevent a crazy person from taking over the world, a lonely girl and a fugitive robot band together.
Indeed, the plot has been done before, and this version unmistakably has similarities to Iron Giant and Big Hero 6. But, it does bring up some new issues about the powerful yet bittersweet nature of memories and what you’d be willing to give up in order to preserve your own.
Overall, watching Next Gen with the kids isn’t the worst way to pass some time.
The Sea Beast
The Sea Beast is the most recent indication that Netflix is gradually regaining its footing in the realm of animated family films. In this underwater adventure, the orphaned Maisie (voiced by Zaris-Angel Hator) stows away on a pirate ship captained by Captain Crow and manned by monster hunters (Jared Harris). Yet a monster stalking the waters and causing difficulties for the crew is known as The Red Bluster. Jacob Holland, the captain’s adoptive son, and Maisie are soon cut off from the rest of the crew and must fend for themselves.
Grease (1978)
Netflix has one of the most cherished musicals ever! The lovely summer relationship between American greaser Danny (John Travolta) and Australian nice girl Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) was expected to end by both parties. Yet when they learn that they are now attending the same high school, their relationship is put to the test by oddball friends and the drama of the student body.
Back to the Outback (2021)
The “deadliest creatures” in Australia from the Sydney Zoo set out on a perilous trek to locate their family in the Outback.
The animals, including the lizard Zoe (Miranda Tapsell), the funnel-web spider Frank (Guy Pearce), and the super-cute snake Maddie (Isla Fisher), who feels bad about being dubbed a “monster” by children at the zoo, make a magnificent escape.
They discover while travelling that the people who genuinely love and accept them are already there. The premise is quite unoriginal and has Madagascar and other “travel home” movie similarities. but what if it keeps the children quiet?
Daddy Day Care (2003)
Charlie (Eddie Murphy) and Phil (Jeff Garlin) make the decision to take action once and for all after realising that they have grown so engrossed in their senior advertising careers that they are losing out on the joys of parenting. So they gave up and opened their own daycare. Sadly, their children quickly show them that daycare isn’t quite what they had hoped for and hold them accountable.
Sing 2
The movie office sensation Sing 2 may have already been seen by families, but we doubt many of them will be able to stop themselves from watching it. Due to its entertaining score and enjoyable performances, Sing 2 is one of the greatest family films on Netflix. In this sequel, Buster Moon (Matthew McConaughey) reunites the gang for one huge new show on a new stage. Nevertheless, they require the assistance of Clay Calloway (Bono), a rock star lion who has been hiding out.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)
It’s natural to question why Guillermo del Toro decided that another Pinocchio revival was a good idea given the number of Pinocchio revivals that have occurred in recent years. Yet, if you think about it, del Toro’s delightfully crazy mind is kind of a match for Pinocchio. His stop-motion adaptation of Carlo Collodi’s timeless story is a charming musical that gives the most renowned puppet in the world—who believes he is a real boy—surprisingly fresh new life. On December 9, it makes its streaming service debut.
My Girl (1991)
My Girl still holds up as an endearing, moving examination of youthful love. It was a key film for millennial parents when they were preteens. Vada Sultenfuss, played by Anna Chlumsky, is eleven years old and has a death obsession because her mother passed away and her father owns a funeral home. She will stop at nothing to win over her English instructor, with whom she is madly in love. Vada’s life starts to flip upside down as she reaches her teenage years, but her closest friend Thomas (Macaulay Culkin) is at her side through it all.
Enola Holmes 2 (2022)
As Enola, Sherlock Holmes’ unnoticed yet arguably more brilliant little sister, Millie Bobby Brown makes a comeback! After successfully resolving her first case, Enola resolves to launch her own agency, following in her brother Sherlock’s footsteps (Henry Cavill). She rapidly learns, however, that there isn’t exactly the same demand for female investigators as there is for their male counterparts. Enola is about to quit her business since she isn’t getting any cases when a poor matchstick girl asks her to help her find her lost sister. The investigation, however, turns out to be far more complicated than anticipated, leading Enola all the way up to the top levels of society and into the heart of London’s underbelly.
Spider-Man (2002)
Spider-Man continues to be a standout example of popcorn cinema and one of the early proofs of ideas for the superhero craze of the 2000s. When Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire), an awkward high school student, is bitten by a genetically modified spider, he awakens with superhuman strength and skills. This is the renowned origin narrative. Peter struggles to balance a dual existence as a student and your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man, especially when he finds that he has a personal link to a new criminal on the scene, the Green Goblin. As he rapidly learns, though, with great power comes tremendous responsibility (Willem Dafoe).
