Imagine it’s Saturday night, and you are looking for a fun night with your family — what are you doing? A perfect answer to that is a family movie night with a feel-good movie. But which movie should you watch that is both kid-friendly and enjoyable for adult audiences? Netflix is a great place to start.
While they are better known for their original movies and their broad range of TV shows and reboots, Netflix also has a great selection of family-friendly movies. When Disney+ opened as a streaming platform, they took with them many of the Disney-produced family-friendly films from Netflix’s catalog. With spaces to fill, Netflix surged ahead and brought back a variety of family films worth watching. As of February 2022, their film library ranges from classics like Hook to Netflix Originals such as Klaus. Here is a list of some of the best family movies on Netflix to watch with your kids on your next family movie night.
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9 Free Willy
A boy and an orphaned orca end up becoming an unlikely duo of friends after both end up at the same marina in Free Willy. Willy is separated from his parents and taken to the marina where he meets Jesse, a young boy who is forced to clean up the vandalism he created at the same marina. When the marina owner tries to sell off Willy, Jesse must step up and help Willy return to the wild.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
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The 1993 classic spurred four movies and a TV show throughout the 90s. This unlikely bond of friendship is cliché but can be enjoyed by all ages. The live-action film touches on topics of acceptance, maturing, and compassion for all.
8 Home Team
In this new Netflix original, Kevin James stars as Sean Payton, an NFL coach who was suspended for his role in the Saints’ Bountygate scandal. During his suspension, he becomes his son’s football coach in the hopes of reconnecting with him. Based on a true story, this film includes the acting talent of Kevin James, Taylor Lautner, and Rob Schneider. Similar to Disney sports films, this movie teaches a valuable lesson in family relationships while including a story that adults can also enjoy.
7 My Dog Skip
Warner Bros.
This heartwarming movie is about a boy and his dog. Growing up in Mississippi in the 1940s, Willie Morris, played by Frankie Muniz, has trouble making friends until his parents give him a Jack Russel Terrier puppy, whom he names Skip. Together, the two help each out survive daily life.
This movie covers topics of responsibility, friendships, and one’s own strength. Since its release in 2000, My Dog Skip has remained highly rated and enjoyed by all ages. Spoiler alert, you may want to watch this movie with a box of tissues nearby.
6 Despicable Me
Gru is a villain who is planning on stealing the moon. To do this, he adopts three girls to trick his nemesis into giving up the shrink-ray he stole. Along with his adorable and clumsy minions, Gru and his girls end up finding something more important: a family.
Despicable Me took the world by storm when it came out in 2010. Its cute storyline and characters stemmed a franchise of three movies and a spinoff with Gru’s minions. This comedy-filled movie is perfect for a family movie night, especially if you want to watch more than one movie as the first two movies in this franchise are on Netflix now.
5 Blue Miracle
An orphanage in Mexico is on the brink of shutting down due to insufficient funds. In order to try to save the orphanage, Omar and a few of the children team up with arrogant fisherman, Wade, played by Dennis Quaid, to try and catch the largest fish and win the cash prize.
This 2021 Netflix original touches on poverty in Mexico and is loosely based on a true story. A truly heartwarming and inspirational film, Blue Miracle is easy to watch and enjoy no matter the age. True to its name, the film is cast in blue hues that are both aesthetically pleasing and helps to add to the artistic value of the movie.
4 Paddington
Perhaps one of the most underrated films on this list, Paddington centers around the beloved bear from Michael Bond’s A Bear Called Paddington. Paddington is looking for a home in London when he meets the kind Brown family who offer him a temporary haven. It’s not all fun and games, though, as Paddington accidentally catches the eye of a museum taxidermist who wants to add this rare bear to his collection.
Paddington is another perfect example of a heartwarming film. The film is full of simple humor like trying to figure out a toothbrush and valuable lessons of human decency and belonging. In fact, the author and creator of this beloved bear gave his approval to the adaptation saying the film did justice to his beloved character.
3 Happy Feet
In a world of penguins who use songs to attract their partner, little Mumble is born with a terrible singing voice. Instead, he can tap dance, further adding to his status as an outcast. Together with a few other penguins of a different species, Mumble sets out to find the answer behind the famine in order to prove himself worthy.
Backed by a star-studded cast of Nicole Kidman, Hugo Weaver, Elijah Wood, Hugh Jackman, Brittany Murphy, and Robin Williams, this film is full of song and dance. The music is music of known artists that you can sing along with. Both funny and light-hearted, Happy Feet will definitely dance its way to the top of the family movie night list.
2 The Mitchells vs The Machines
A quirky and slightly dysfunctional family accidentally finds themselves in the midst of a robot apocalypse. Katie has recently been accepted into film school and her dad insists the entire family, including their pig, drives her. On this trip, the Mitchells run into all kinds of machines that have been released to capture the humans. It’s up to the Mitchells and two simple-minded robots to save humanity.
Both humorous and heartwarming, The Mitchells vs the Machines was recently nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film. With an emphasis on being creative, unique, and loving yourself, this film uses bright animation and quirky characters to help boost this film on your movie night watch list.
1 Home
from imdb
Experts in running away, the Boov aliens make Earth their new home by moving all humans to Australia. Oh, a misfit Boov, accidentally send coordinates of the Boov’s new home to their enemy. While on the run, he meets up with Tip, a girl who got separated from her family and left behind. Together, the two team up to get Tip back to her mother.
This underrated movie by DreamWorks features a great cast including Big Bang Theory’s Jim Parsons, Rihanna, Steve Martin, and Jennifer Lopez. Filled with comedic moments and lessons on being unique, Home is the kind of movie that can be enjoyed multiple times over again.
