The Lion King.
Photo: Disney Productions
Family movie night should never be a battle. It should also be spent watching films that are actually great for the whole family. Instead of driving the kids down the meandering side roads of the streaming algorithms and Netflix’s subcategories, make it easy on yourself and scroll down this list. We’ve curated 30 essential family movies available to watch now on streaming services — no matter what you’re signed up for. Almost every movie on the list is rated either G or PG, and above all, we wanted to curate the best each service had to offer: You’ll find well-known classics like The Wizard of Oz and Beauty and the Beast, vibrant artistic statements like Spirited Away, and new Vulture favorites like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse. Read on to find something new to watch this week with the kids — no matter which of the major streaming services you subscribe to.
Year: 1982
Runtime: 2h 7m
Director: John Huston
It’s a hard knock life in this beloved ‘80s original adaptation of the ‘70s musical of the same name. Aileen Quinn played little orphan Annie but it’s really Albert Finney, Carol Burnett, and Bernadette Peters who steal the show in the classic tale of the adorable redhead and her Daddy Warbucks. Teach your kids why the sun will come out tomorrow.
Year: 2021
Runtime: 1h 54m
Directors: Mike Rianda, Jeff Rowe
Originally planned for a theatrical release by Sony (with the much-worse title Connected), the studio sold this off to Netflix during the pandemic…and probably regretted that decision. One of the most beloved animated films in recent years, this is an incredibly smart and sweet family vacation movie, a comedy that’s as much about a tender relationship between a father and daughter as it is the fact that they end up having to save the world together.
Year: 2014
Runtime: 1h 35m
Director: Paul King
One of the sweetest family films ever made adapts the classic talking bear to modern London when Paddington (Ben Whishaw) finds his way there from “Darkest Peru,” looking for a new home. He finds one with an average family led by Hugh Bonneville and Sally Hawkins, but crosses paths with a nefarious taxidermist (a wonderful Nicole Kidman) who tries to take him down. This is such a gently funny and likable movie. You kind of have to be a jerk to hate it.
Year: 2022
Runtime: 1h 56m
Directors: Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson
The Oscar-winning director paired his visionary skills with those of stop-motion animators to create this instant classic, a retelling of the beloved fairy tale about the wooden boy who longed to be real. With spectacular voice work, this version reimagines Pinocchio during the period before World War II, allowing him to explore his themes of innocence and violence again. It’s a deeply personal, beautiful film.
Year: 2001
Runtime: 1h 30m
Directors: Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson
How culturally seismic was this skewering of fairy tales? It was announced in 2020 that it would be inducted into the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. That’s how big. It’s the first non-Disney film to get that recognition. As for the movie itself, it’s held up remarkably well, a modern classic with great voice work and clever writing.
Year: 2023
Runtime: 2h 20m
Directors: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson
This is how you do a big-budget blockbuster sequel, developing the themes of the first movie and setting up the stake for what now appears will be one of the best trilogies in superhero history. Packed with so much detail and creativity, it’s a film you’ll want to watch over and over again.
Year: 2022
Runtime: 1h 46m
Director: Henry Selick
The director of A Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline finally returned this year with this clever and twisted tale co-written by Oscar winner Jordan Peele. The comedian also co-stars as one of the title characters, the literal demons for a girl who blames herself for the death of her parents. Selick is a master of stop-motion animation and this project allows him to stretch his visual prowess in new, gross ways. It’s a new Halloween classic (that can be watched any time, of course).
Year: 1991
Runtime: 1h 32m
Directors: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
A formative chapter in the history of Disney, this 1991 blockbuster became known as the first animated feature to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. It should have won. It’s a gorgeous movie, a moving retelling of a classic legend with beautiful animation and unforgettable original songs. There’s a passion to the artistry here that’s too often lacking from Disney movies, and it’s one of the main reasons it’s one of the biggest ever.
Year: 2015
Runtime: 1h 35m
Director: Pete Docter
One of Pixar’s best films ever gets viewers into the mind of a teen girl named Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) and the emotions that live there, centered by Joy (Amy Poehler) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith), who end up on a journey through the young girl’s inner being. Visually striking and perfectly voiced, there’s also a theme here that’s important for young viewers about how life takes a blend of happiness and misery. A sequel will be released this summer, and it has a high bar to reach to match the original.
Year: 1994
Runtime: 1h 33m
Directors: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
A key part of the Disney Renaissance, this animated classic is one of the most beloved Disney films in the history of the company. It’s one of the Disney movies that became more than just a movie, inspiring sequels, theme park attractions, and even a massive hit Broadway show. People keep returning to the story of Simba as it gets passed down from generation to generation, probably earning a new fan somewhere in the world every single day.
Year: 1987
Runtime: 1h 38m
Director: Rob Reiner
One of the most beloved fantasy films of all time, this adaptation of the book of the same name by William Goldman was an instant hit. Regularly appearing on lists of the funniest and most romantic films ever made, the tale of Westley and the Princess Buttercup was even inducted into the National Film Registry in 2016. It’s a classic, a movie that works well for all ages because of its big heart, sharp wit, and creative soul.
Year: 2007
Runtime: 1h 52m
Director: Brad Bird
Brad Bird would quite simply be one of the best family filmmakers of all time if he had only worked on The Simpsons or made The Iron Giant or The Incredibles, but he directed this gem, too. The man is a master of the animated form, and that’s certainly true regarding this fable about a rat who becomes a master chef in Paris. A wonderful tale about fulfilling unexpected dreams, it’s one of Pixar’s best.
Year: 1995
Runtime: 1h 24m
Director: John Lasseter
As Snow White is to Disney, Woody and Buzz are to Pixar. The iconic characters took the world by storm with their first film, the true breakthrough for Pixar, and a movie that changed modern animation forever. Every kid on Earth dreamed at some point about what would happen if their toys came to life, and the geniuses at Pixar turned that idea into movie history. All four films, of course, are on Disney+, and they’re all worth revisiting.
Year: Various
Runtime: Various
Director: Various
J.K. Rowling is horrible now, but the books and films that emerged from her work continue to maintain, and even build, an incredibly loyal audience. The Harry Potter films have a habit of rolling on and off streaming sites, and they’re back on Max (and Peacock) for now, waiting for the entire family to have a marathon of the story of the Boy Who Lived. Like any massive franchise, the series is a rollercoaster of quality, but Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire rule.
Year: 1988
Runtime: 1h 29m
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Directed by a master of animation, this gentle and beautiful kids movie from 1988 follows an unforgettable spirit friend to two little girls. After their mother is hospitalized, two girls move to an old house, and become friends with the spirits in the woods. That’s just the start of one of the best animated films of all time.
Year: 2001
Runtime: 2h 4m
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Almost all of the Studio Ghibli films are on Max, the now-exclusive home to them when it comes to streaming. It may ve the most important modern animation studio in the world, and the Oscar-winning Spirited Away may be the studio’s pinnacle in terms of animated storytelling. Start with Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Castle in the Sky. You won’t stop.
Year: 2018
Runtime: 1h 24m
Directors: Peter Rida Michail, Aaron Horvath
Teen Titans Go! Is one of the smartest superhero cartoons of the modern era and their feature film debut is an underrated joy. The writers here joyfully satirize the world of superheroes, including cameos from many famous DC characters, while never losing the heart of their leading men and women. It’s very funny and clever.
Year: 1939
Runtime: 1h 41m
Director: Victor Fleming
What could possibly be written if you’re on the fence about The Wizard of Oz? Maybe you haven’t seen it since you were a little kid? Revisit the journey of Dorothy over the rainbow if that’s the case and appreciate this wonderful fantasy on a new level.
Year: 2009
Runtime: 1h 28m
Director: Wes Anderson
The director of The Royal Tenenbaums and The Grand Budapest Hotel adapted the 1970 children’s novel of the same name in this delightful stop-motion animated classic with one of the best voice casts in history. George Clooney, Meryl Steep, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, and Owen Wilson star in the tale of the titular character as his family is hunted by three farmers. It’s a visual marvel for the whole family.
Year: 2006
Runtime: 1h 23m
Directors: Tim Johnson, Karey Kirkpatrick
Remember when they made CGI movies based on comic strips? That’s the case with this 2006 DreamWorks Animation film with a modestly goofy plot but a fantastic voice cast that includes Bruce Willis, Garry Shandling, Steve Carell, William Shatner, and Nick Nolte. Yes, that’s a crazy group for an “animated family film” and the movie has just enough quirky humor to make it work.
Year: 2020
Runtime: 1h 40m
Director: Marc Munden
Frances Hodgson Burnett’s 1911 novel has been adapted multiple times over the last century, most recently in this 2020 version by director Marc Munden. Dixie Egerickx plays the orphan girl who discovers a magical garden in her uncle’s backyard this time, and she’s supported by the great Colin Firth and Julie Walters. It’s a bit sentimental, but its heart is in the right place, and that’s not always true with children’s entertainment.
Year: 2019
Runtime: 1h 23m
Director: Rebecca Sugar
After Steven Universe ended its run on Cartoon Network, they produced a film in 2019 that maintains the hit show’s brilliant blend of fantasy and humor. Most of the ensemble cast returns for another story of the Crystal Gems trying to save all organic life on Earth. Steven Universe is a wonderful show, and this movie is a nice cap on its legacy. (Note: The series is also on Hulu.)
Year: 2022
Runtime: 1h 40m
Director: Pierre Perifel
The 2022 film based on the graphic novels by Aaron Blabey was surprisingly clever and fun, making a fortune around the world while the pandemic was loosening the grip on when families felt safe going back to the theater. Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina, and Craig Robinson lead an all-star voice cast in the tale of a group of animal criminals who pretend to go straight only to discover that their leader may not actually be pretending.
Year: 1946
Runtime: 2h 10m
Director: Frank Capra
One of the most beloved films of all time doesn’t just have to be watched around the holidays. The lessons in this film about what people value in life could be appreciated any time of the year, as could one of the most iconic performances in film history from Jimmy Stewart.
Year: 1982
Runtime: 1h 19m
Director: Don Bluth
Animation great Don Bluth made his directorial debut with this twisted 1982 fantasy film, proving that he wasn’t going to make movies that talked down or coddled his audience. Adapted from Robert C. O’Brien’s novel, it turns the existence of average field mice into an elaborate fantasy world. Audiences of a certain generation were probably haunted by its visuals at a young age. Pass the trauma on to your kids!
Year: 2023
Runtime: 1h 39m
Directors: Jeff Rowe, Kyler Spears
Heavily inspired by the Spider-verse movies, the latest adventure for the pizza-loving ninja turtles is arguably the best yet. Working more from the comic books than the goofy previous films, it’s a story of brotherhood and a tale of how outsiders respond to being outsiders by becoming heroes or villains. There will almost certainly be a sequel to this one, and it might even be better.
Year: 2009
Runtime: 1h 30m
Directors: Phil Lord, Chris Miller
How could anyone have known that an adaptation of a pretty thin piece of children’s literature would become one of the most beloved family films of its era? Bill Hader voices Flint Lockwood, a hapless inventor who unleashes food-based weather on his small community. Funny and sweet, this hit film was successful enough to produce a sequel that’s almost as good and even a spin-off TV series.
Year: 2023
Runtime: 1h 42m
Director: Joel Crawford
No one would have predicted that the presumed-dead Shrek franchise had another spin-off sequel of this caliber yet to be released, but 2022 saw the critical and commercial success of arguably the best film in the entire series. Using a style more reminiscent of Into the Spider-verse than typical DreamWorks, The Last Wish is a gorgeous and surprisingly moving story of the title character dealing with something he never expected to face: mortality. It’s funny, clever, and memorable.
Year: 2020
Runtime: 1h 43m
Director: Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart
Wolfwalkers should have won the Oscar in early 2021. It’s a lyrical and gorgeous final act to Cartoon Saloon’s “Irish Folklore Trilogy,” the story of a girl named Robyn Goodfellowe, whose father has been hired to hunt wolves. Robyn befriends a shapeshifter, a girl who is both wolf and human, in a story that incorporates modern storytelling with Irish folklore and inspired visual style. It’s a beauty.
Year: 2022
Runtime: 2h 2m
Director: Jeff Fowler
For a while it kind of felt like these films about the fast little blue guy were the first new mega-franchise of the pandemic. They’ve frequently ping-ponged between streaming services, and with a third racing into theaters later this year, there’s no time like the present to see why they’re in such high demand.
