Summary
- Netflix offers a wide range of family movies, both original content and licensed properties, ensuring there's something for everyone.
- The best family movies on Netflix cater to a variety of demographics, with options for both animated and live-action films.
- From classic favorites like "Casper" to newer releases like "Finding Ohana," Netflix has a selection of heartwarming and fun movies for the whole family to enjoy.
For viewers looking for some fun for all ages, the best family movies on Netflix offer a wide range of options. When it comes to streaming, Netflix is still one of the most popular platforms on the market — especially when it comes to families and customers with young kids, thanks to the range of animated and family-friend movies on offer. The vast array of original content and licensed properties means that there is something for everyone to watch, regardless of the age range and dynamic of the family sitting down on movie night.
This being the case, it is not surprising that Netflix is home to many incredible family films. Some are original content, while others are classic and timeless family movies Netflix has acquired the license for. Netflix hasn't limited the family movies available to any single genre or format, either. There are plenty of both live-action and animated family movies available on Netflix, and the best cater to a wide variety of demographics. These are the best family movies on Netflix to guarantee the next household movie night is a winner.
30 Despicable Me (2010)
The animated movie that exposed the world to the Minions is Despicable Me. Multiple sequels, prequels, and spinoffs have made sure that the world will always know the Minions and Gru (Steve Carell). In the first of the movies, Gru ends up taking care of three little girls who interrupt his villainous plans. He has to go from plans for world domination with his Minions to making sure his new daughters are tucked in for bedtime. The movie is fun, funny, and heartwarming.
29 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once And Always (2023)
Classic Power Rangers shows are known for being pretty campy, but that’s part of the charm. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once And Always is the 30th anniversary special made for Netflix which manages to combine that campiness of the original series while still having depth and drama for a modern audience. The original Power Rangers lineup from 1993 reunites to take on a familiar threat while one of their children discovers their secret identity as a Power Ranger. It’s perfect for adults who grew up watching the series and their kids who might be watching the modern Dino Fury and Cosmic Fury series on Netflix.
28 You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah (2023)
One of the best family movies on Netflix is one of the newest Adam Sandler offerings for the streamer. Most of the Sandler family unites in roles in the movie which chronicles the Bat Mitzvah of his daughter’s friend. When she and her best friend fight right before the rite of passage, it puts a damper on their celebration. The movie is a great coming-of-age story that isn’t an animated or superhero feature that the entire family can enjoy.
27 The Road to El Dorado (2000)
Set in the 1500s, this animated feature focuses on the mythical story of the city of gold in South America. Two con artists who live in Spain win a map to the city of El Dorado and decide they’re going to get one big score by using it. Their road to El Dorado is plagued with missteps and misadventures. In the end, the two revel in the adventure they share - whether they end up with gold or not - and have a taste for more adventure. The movie is gorgeously animated and the Kevin Cline and Kenneth Branagh are truly hilarious in their roles. Some of the more mature jokes will go over kids' heads, but will definitely make adults chuckle.
26 We Can Be Heroes (2020)
There’s always something great when the kids have to save the adults. That’s part of what makes the Spy Kids franchise so popular and Sky High a beloved Disney Channel Original Movie. We Can Be Heroes, from Robert Rodriguez, is a sequel to The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in the vein of Spy Kids, only the kids have the superpowers of Sky High. The story follows a group of kids who have to save the day when all the grown-up heroes in the world are in trouble. It’s a great look at what the world of Sharkboy and Lavagirl has become and another case where adults who saw the original movie when they were younger will love sharing this one with their kids.
25 A Babysitter’s Guide To Monster Hunting (2020)
Inspired by a trilogy of novels, A Babysitter’s Guide To Monster Hunting takes the idea of the monsters under the bed and in the closet and brings them to life. When a teenager (Tamara Smart) is tasked with babysitting the son of her mom’s boss, she witnesses a trio of small monsters abducting him. She discovers that the monsters she used to have nightmares of when she was a little girl are actually real. She’s recruited by a secret society of babysitters, all whom have had their own run-ins with the Boogeyman, and all who are tasked with protecting kids from monsters. It’s a great way to show kids that there’s no reason to be afraid of the monsters under the bed.
24 Skater Girl (2021)
Not all the best family movies on Netflix are animated or about things that are out of the ordinary. Here, Skater Girl is easily a story that could have been plucked from reality. Set in India, the story follows a young girl who falls in love with the sport of skateboarding. Unfortunately, the adults in her small town don’t approve of all the kids skateboarding everywhere. When an adult who brought skateboarding to town wants to build a skate park, the conflict between the rebellious skateboarders and the more traditional adults comes to a head.
23 The Karate Kid (1984)
Awesome of the best family movies on Netflix are also classics. The Karate Kid might not be for the youngest of family members, but it will certainly appeal to older kids and their parents, especially if they’re already familiar with Cobra Kai, the sequel series to the Karate Kid movie franchise. Ralph Macchio stars as Daniel LaRusso as he moves to a new town, faces off against a bully, and is taught to defend himself and enter a karate competition. If the family enjoys the movie, there are more sequels and Cobra Kai to enjoy after finishing.
22 Casper (1995)
Casper is one of the most beloved family Halloween movies of all time, but it can really be watched at any point in the year. Christina Ricci stars as Kat, a young girl who moves into a haunted house with her father (Bill Pullman) because he works as a professional ghost hunter. While she has trouble fitting in at school, she finds a new friend in Casper (Devon Sawa), the ghost of the boy who used to live in the house. While there are plenty of comedic antics in the movie, it also tugs at the heartstrings as Kat deals with her grief over losing her mother, and even gets a chance to see what Casper could have been like if he was living alongside her.
21 Finding Ohana (2021)
When Finding Ohana became available to stream, it was quickly marked as one of the best family movies on Netflix as it earned a lot of comparisons to family classics like The Goonies. The movie follows a group of kids in Hawaii as they search for treasure when they’re moved to Hawaii to help an older relative. Finding Ohana focuses on the bond between friends and family as they go on an unbelievable adventure.
20 Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
Animated movies can be dismissed as children’s fare, but movies like Puss In Boots: The Last Wish prove that animation is as much for adults as it is for kids. The animation of the movie itself is gorgeous, but it’s the story that will capture the hearts of kids and adults alike. It features Puss in Boots angling to restore his lost eight of nine lives by finding a Wishing Star. As he embarks on the emotional adventure though, he learns to value the one life he has left and even meets Death for a duel. It was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature.
19 Yes Day (2021)
This Netflix original movie features Jennifer Garner and Edgar Ramirez as parents who decide, for one day, to not tell their children “no.” It’s in an effort to help the family bond, for the mom and dad to trade off on disciplinary actions, and for the kids to understand just why their parents don’t allow them to do whatever they want. The movie manages to accomplish all those things while taking the audience on a fun ride through $40 ice cream sundaes, carwashes with the windows down, and a huge music festival. The movie also stars Jenna Ortega as the oldest daughter of the family is Wednesday fans are looking to see her in a slightly sunnier role.
18 Trolls (2016)
With the voices of Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake as trolls on a musical adventure, it’s hard to imagine that anyone wouldn’t enjoy what Trolls has to offer. Poppy (Kendrick) and Branch (Timberlake) are polar opposites, but they have to team up to save their friends when their home is invaded. They’re very much in an odd-couple situation as Poppy is an eternal optimist and Branch is overly cautious. That’s what makes their adventure so fun to watch. If the family enjoys the movie, Netflix also offers a streaming series and a holiday special following the characters.
17 A Boy Called Christmas (2021)
One of the best family movies on Netflix is also one of the best Christmas movies on the streamer. This animated story is Netflix’s take on a classic holiday feature, giving the audience an origin story for Santa Claus. Nicholas is tasked with finding a mythical village called Elfhelm, and when he does, the village is what inspires him to create Christmas Day celebrations. The movie might be a little cheesy for older kids, but it will definitely bring the family together if they’re looking for a holiday movie to enjoy.
16 Hook (1991)
Disney’s animated Peter Pan might be available on Disney+, but the live-action Hook is currently available on Netflix. It gives the audience a look at what might happen if Peter Pan decided to grow up instead of remain a boy in Neverland forever. Complete with Robin Williams as Peter, Julia Roberts as Tinkerbell, and Dustin Hoffman as Hook, the movie has an impressive cast and infectious spirit that makes it a great successor to any adaptation of Peter Pan. It’s definitely a movie adults can share with their kids.
15 Matilda: The Musical (2022)
Though the 1990s saw a live-action adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Matilda (which is also on Netflix), a Broadway musical adaptation of the book followed. This version of Matilda adapts the Broadway musical fantastically. Featuring Emma Thompson as the villain and Alisha Weir as the titular Matilda, the movie stands out from the previous adaptation thanks to its impressive musical numbers. The cast has fantastic chemistry and Weir earned several award nominations in England and Ireland for her work in the movie.
14 The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
The Christmas Chronicles is one of Netflix’s earliest takes on an original holiday movie, and it’s easily one of the best family movies on Netflix. In it, children conspire to kidnap Santa Claus, played fantastically by Kurt Russell. The kids wind up having to assist Santa with delivering his gifts, giving them a great Christmas adventure and the audience a pretty cool Santa. Kurt Russell’s Santa is definitely unique among the many Santas that exist in pop culture. If the family enjoys the movie, there’s also a sequel on Netflix with Goldie Hawn as Mrs. Claus.
13 Slumberland (2022)
Seeing Jason Momoa stepping into a family-friendly movie feels a little odd at first, but he is the best part of Slumberland. Slumberland follows a little girl — Nemo, played by Marlow Barkley — who lost her father and ends up entering a portal to Slumberland, the world in which dreams exist. She meets the eccentric outlaw Flip (Momoa), a man-goat hybrid and notorious con artist, and the pair set out on an adventure to fun her father. The inventive setting and Momoa's performance help to make this Netflix original a charming tale, with enough action and suspense to entertain both adults and kids of around 8 and up. Younger viewers may find some scenes scary given Slumberland's fantastical elements (such as Flip's sharpened teeth), but outside this Slumberland is guaranteed to deliver for a difficulty-free family movie on Netflix.
12 Lyle, Lyle Crocodile (2022)
A family movie on Netflix that'll engage viewers in the 5-6 age range, as well as older kids and adults, is Lyle, Lyle Crocodile. Like Hop, the fun of Lyle, Lyle Crocodile comes from having a talking CGI animal thrown in with the bemused characters and watching the hilarity ensue. The live-action adaptation of a children's book about a singing crocodile could have been a big miss, so it is impressive that Lyle, Lyle Crocodile ended up as charming as it is. The movie follows the titular crocodile who lives with a family in New York City, helping to make their lives better. It is a silly yet fun ride with a surprisingly committed performance from Javier Bardem, clearly having a lot of fun in the movie.
11 Goosebumps (2015)
As far as family movies on Netflix that are part of existing properties go, few belong to as recognizable a household name as Goosebumps — and the 2015 movie starring Jack Black is nothing if not a celebration of source material. Bringing R.L Stine's beloved children's horror book series to life was no easy task, but Goosebumps found a clever way to handle the material. The movie follows a group of youngsters who meet R. L Stine (Black) and accidentally unleash the horrors from his books. Goosebumps features a notably committed comedic performance from Jack Black, and spiritually taps into the legacy of classics like Jumanji and Ghost Busters. Younger viewers may struggle with the horror elements of Goosebumps, but parents with kids between the ages of 7-9 have reported getting thumbs-ups and no nightmares. This is definitely a family movie on Netflix which, provided the youngest viewers present have a proclivity for Halloween and all things spooky, will be enjoyed by adults as much as the kids.