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13 Best Movies That Celebrate Family Love

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Throughout the years, there have been several impactful films centered around family love and dynamics. The concept of family is something that many can relate to, and seeing it portrayed on screen can ignite many feelings of nostalgia. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have learned the importance of family and loved ones and, unfortunately, many have experienced the pain of loss. Films based around families can create scenes that are comedic, dramatic, and endearing . Many of these films show that when hard times hit, it's going to be your family who are there to support you.

Films like Kramer Vs. Kramer shows you that even if marriages don't last, there is still a bond there due to the fact of sharing a child. Family dynamics have changed a lot in the past decades for the better, and the world now sees many types of families that are not exactly traditional. When it comes down to it, a true family member is someone who will always be there for you through the good and the bad. They will always be there to guide you through life without judgment. There are many films focused on strong bonds created by families. Let's take a look at the best films celebrating family love.

Updated on October 4th, 2023 by Darren Gigool: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.

13 Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)

Cheaper by the Dozen introduces audiences to the Baker family's delightful antics. Twelve children fill their home, ensuring daily excitement and exquisite adventures. They are faced with the need to adapt to different challenges after they move.

Consequently, both the unfamiliar environment and their ever-active household fuel numerous comedic blunders, resulting in a heartfelt family spectacle. Amidst the disorder and confusion, resilience becomes the Bakers' trademark trait. This journey isn't solely about embracing alterations but highlights the empowerment derived from an environment rich in love, irrespective of family numbers.

12 Soul Food (1997)

Depicted in urban settings, Soul Food unveils the intricate dynamics of a tight-knit African-American family. Emotions, both euphoric love and heart-wrenching loss, paint the narrative's essence. Central to its theme is the significance of familial meals, where traditional recipes, joy, and occasionally sorrow converge.

Dining traditions, especially ones centered around sumptuous tables, anchor our existence. Soul Food emphasizes that these occasions transcend mere culinary delights, symbolizing the family's vibrant legacy and unwavering spirit. They stand as touching testaments to collective memories and the unyielding ties of family lineage.

11 Coco (2017)

Making its way onto the silver screen in 2017, Coco rapidly garnered recognition as a gem in Pixar's illustrious canon. The film's dynamic lead, Miguel, inadvertently journeys into the ethereal Land of the Dead. His mission? To decode ancestral secrets interwoven in the fabric of his familial history. Weaving vivid imagery with emotive themes, the film masterfully underscores the importance of honoring one's cultural heritage and ancestral lineage.

In this animated spectacle, the audience receives both a visual feast and a touching moral lesson. Coco amplifies the importance of acknowledging and celebrating familial roots and cultural backgrounds. As a soulful guidepost, the movie elucidates that understanding one's origin inevitably shapes one's destiny.

10 The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Captivating in its raw intensity, The Pursuit of Happyness stands as an emotional tour de force that encapsulates the nuances of fatherhood. Will Smith's compelling portrayal of Chris Gardner propels viewers through a life-altering odyssey. From the abrasive streets where homelessness plagues Chris and his son, to the polished hallways of Wall Street, the journey and their story is one of relentless aspiration and unbreakable familial love.

Transcending the basic rags-to-riches archetype, this cinematic opus dives into the intricate dynamics of paternal devotion. It highlights the relentless spirit of a father committed to securing a better future for his offspring. Emanating from the narrative's crux is the timeless maxim: familial ties possess the resilience to surmount any obstacle, triumphing over external adversities.

9 My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

This exciting movie captivates viewers with comedic highs. The film centers around Toula, a woman deeply rooted in her Greek heritage. Yet, as she's drawn to a culturally opposite man, an unexpected comedy unfolds . The narrative adeptly contrasts Greek traditions with Western conventions, delivering scenes that are both hilarious and contemplative. Family remains pivotal in the cinematic piece, with identity holding equal significance.

The story explores the intricacies of uniting distinct family backgrounds, but profound lessons surface. It underscores the value of understanding and honoring diverse family traditions. Nevertheless, the film consistently emphasizes staying true to oneself. Through touching sequences and meaningful exchanges, My Big Fat Greek Wedding reinforces the idea that love means not sacrificing self, but evolving jointly, cherishing individual and shared legacies. The essence of familial affection lies in its flexibility, tenacity, and the fusion of ancestral customs with fresh experiences.

These movies show how weddings are never just about the two people saying the vows, how life doesn’t always go as planned, and that’s perfectly okay.

8 The Family Stone (2005)

The Family Stone is an underrated Christmas gem showcasing the strong bonds of the Stone family that come together every Christmas. This time, their oldest son, Everett (Dermot Mulroney), brings home his girlfriend (Sarah Jessica Parker), who fails miserably to fit in with the Stone family.

Each member of the Stone family has a unique persona about them, but they all share a close love for one another. At the same time, they all must face the fact that this will be their mother's (Diane Keaton) last Christmas, giving us a fine tale of accepting loss and moving forward.

7 The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

The Tenenbaums are far from a traditional family. They are disconnected and dysfunctional but come together when their estranged father, Royal (Gene Hackman), informs them that he is dying, when in fact he is lying. Wes Anderson's artistic film showcases the power of family getting through the most unusual circumstances.

Chas (Ben Stiller) refuses to forgive his father for his wrongdoings, and Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow) has never felt accepted due to the fact that she is adopted. The Royal Tenenbaums is a great blend of comedy and drama that focuses on many topics including divorce, death, and the power of family.

6 The Kids Are All Right (2010)

In The Kids Are All Right , Annette Bening and Julianne Moore play a middle-aged couple who conceived two children through a sperm donor. While the family seems happy on the surface, there are many underlying issues.

Bening's character drinks too much, Moore's character feels like an underachiever, and the two children feel confused, especially when their mothers' sperm donor comes into their lives. This brilliant film showcases the power of a family sticking together through tough times. At the same time, it shows the struggles of keeping a relationship intact after several years of marriage.

5 The Descendants (2011)

The Descendants focuses on a man (George Clooney) trying to take care of his daughters while his wife is in a coma, on the brink of death. At the same time, he ponders his ancestors as he debates whether or not to sell an inherited piece of land.

The film shows the struggles of being a parent while dealing with the fact that his wife was unfaithful. Even though he feels disdain for his wife, he has to do right by his daughters and his in-laws. Alexander Payne's film features a brilliant script and one of Clooney's best performances to date.

4 What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)

What's Eating Gilbert Grape focuses on the bond between Gilbert Grape (Johnny Depp), and his mentally impaired brother (Leonardo DiCaprio). Gilbert does whatever he can to be there for his family, including his morbidly obese mother (Darlene Cates).

The film focuses on the struggles of sacrifice when caring for the ones you love. Gilbert does wish to make a life of his own, but he refuses to abandon his little brother and the rest of his family. It is an unconventional tale of love, life, and the power of brotherhood.

Johnny Depp’s next steps in the industry will be interesting. Whatever happens, these movies deserve more credit.

3 Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

Kramer vs. Kramer showcases the tragedy of a failed marriage but focuses on the life-long bond that comes along when having a child together. The film is filled with conflict while Ted (Dustin Hoffman) and Joanna ( Meryl Streep, in one of her best roles ) fight for custody of their son (Justin Henry).

At the same time, the movie centers on the love between Ted and his son that grows after Johanna leaves them. In the end, Ted and Johanna put their differences aside for the benefit of their son, giving us an emotional, but happy, ending.

2 Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Little Miss Sunshine tells the story of a family filled with flaws and conflicting personalities. On a road trip to get the youngest daughter, Olive (Abigail Breslin), to a beauty pageant, the family learns to come together during many chaotic adventures.

What the film shows brilliantly is that life doesn't always turn out the way that you expect it, but in the end, your family will be there to get you through it. Little Miss Sunshine features fantastic performances, including Alan Arkin who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

1 Terms Of Endearment (1983)

Terms of Endearment focuses on many topics including parenthood, infidelity, and overcoming loss. The film centers on the powerful relationship between Aurora (Shirley MacLaine) and her daughter, Emma (Debra Winger), over the course of many years.

The film shows you that life is never fair, and it will throw you many unexpected things along the way. Through it all, the love between Aurora and Emma keeps them afloat through the pain and struggles. In the heartbreaking ending, when Emma tragically dies, Aurora is there for Emma's children, giving us a story of pushing forward through loss.

• Movie Lists
• The Family Stone (2005)
• Whats Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)

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The 83 Best Family Movies of All Time

Stream these for your next family movie night with the kids.

Snuggling up together on the couch with the kids, an entertaining family movie and a giant bowl of popcorn is hands down one of the best ways to enjoy some quality family time (at least in my humble opinion). But deciding on a film that everybody wants to watch isn’t easy (cue the sibling bickering ).

As an aunt of three very picky young nephews and a teenage niece, I know a thing or two about selecting movies that cater to diverse age groups. So, whether you’re looking for a classic flick (like The Goonies ) or an upbeat musical (like The Greatest Showman or Coco ), there’s something for everyone on this list. And if you prefer to keep your movie night short and sweet, we've got run times, in addition to casting details and where to watch (like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and more). From Moana to Toy Story , here are 83 family movies that all generations will love, including throwbacks from your own childhood. Dim the lights, prepare your snacks and enjoy.

The 57 Best Teen Movies of All Time

1. The Goonies (1985)

• Suitable for: Kids ages 10+
• Who's in it: Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen, Corey Feldman
• Run time: 114 minutes

This coming-of-age ’80s classic has got it all: hidden treasure, everlasting friendship, edge-of-your-seat thrills and a young Josh Brolin. The bad guys (the thieving Fratellis) are a little scary, which is why I recommend saving this one for kiddies ten years and up.

If you're still having doubts about this one, then take it from PureWow's VP of News & Entertainment, Philip Mutz , who considers it a childhood favorite. He said, "I still remember watching The Goonies with my parents and younger brother as a kid (obviously both of us wished we could be one of the Goonies—honestly, I probably still do). Goonies never say die!"

2. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

• Suitable for:  Kids ages 8+
• Who's in it : Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black
• Run time:  92 minutes

If you love the classic video game, you'll want to tune in to this nostalgic film that follows Mario and his friends as they battle the one and only Bowser. It features an all-star voiceover cast, including Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen and more.

While Quint isn't a big fan of the film, it's a favorite for her kids. She said, "This movie is objectively terrible, but for some reason kids love it (I have been forced to see it twice in the movie theater) and there's something oddly hypnotic about Jack Black singing about Princess Peach."

3. The Greatest Showman (2017)

• Suitable for: Kids ages 8+
• Who's in it : Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya
• Run time: 105 minutes

Get into your comfy clothes and bring out the popcorn because this family-friendly musical will keep everyone entertained—for at least an hour and 45 minutes. Hugh Jackman plays legendary Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus showman P.T. Barnum, in this film that follows his rise into showbiz and worldwide fame.

PureWow Associate Editor Chelsea Candelario said, "I'm  a BIG musicals fan  and this one is on the top of my must-watch list. The entire cast is phenomenal. (Um, hello Zendaya and Zac Efron's duet!) And it's such a catchy film to watch with the whole fam."

4. Moana (2016)

• Suitable for: Kids ages 5+
• Who's in it : Auliʻi Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison
• Run time: 103 minutes

The first of many Disney flicks on our list, this musical adventure earns extra points for its killer soundtrack (courtesy of Lin-Manuel Miranda) and total badass heroine (no prince swooping in to rescue her). Follow brave Moana as she sets out to explore the Polynesian seas with the help of demigod sidekick Maui in order to save her island. (Note: There’s a scary-ish scene at the end with a sputtering volcano that you may want to fast-forward for younger viewers.)

PureWow Associate SEO Editor Marissa Wu said, "Dwayne Johnson as Maui was hilarious (like, his theme song is 'You're Welcome,' how can you not laugh?!). But honestly, I stayed for the compelling story of a young woman searching for her identity while trying to save her people."

5. Annie (2014)

• Who's in it : Quvenzhané Wallis, Jamie Foxx, Rose Byrne
• Run time: 118 minutes

If your kids like to complain about doing their chores, wait until they see what Annie has to put up with. There have been a few versions of this musical rags-to-riches story, including John Huston's 1982 classic. But I think this 2014 rendition, with its unforgettable characters and catchy tunes, is the best.

PureWow Associate Sales & Deals Editor Destinee Scott says, " Annie is my favorite, and it's not only because I have a small crush on Jamie Foxx...The movie is funny, uplifting and just so inspiring. I always feel warm and fuzzy after watching it, and everyone knows the plot, but for me, it's all about finding love in the places you least expect it."

6. The Lego Movie (2014)

• Suitable for: Kids ages 6+
• Who's in it : Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett
• Run time: 100 minutes

Everything is awesome in this animated movie inspired by the popular toys, especially the stellar cast. Will ordinary construction worker Emmet Brickowski be able to defeat the evil Lord Business from Kragling (i.e., gluing) the Lego universe? Guess you'll have to watch to find out.

According to PureWow Editor-in-Chief Jillian Quint , "This movie is so subversive and weird—full disclosure—my husband and I first saw it in the theater without our kids. But kids also love the bananas plotlines and lessons about creative play. And my kids are ALWAYS singing the 'Everything is Awesome' song."

7. Princess and the Frog (2009)

• Who's in it : Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos, Michael-Leon Wooley
• Run time: 97 minutes

Tiana’s dream of opening a restaurant is put on hold when she meets Prince Naveen, who was turned into a frog by the evil villain, Dr. Facilier. From gorgeous animation to well-rounded characters, what's not to love?

Assistant Editor Delia Curtis said, "As someone who doesn’t always gravitate toward animated movies, The Princess and the Frog had me hooked!! I loved the jazzy, Southern flare that this film had. The strong, belt-it-out lyrics are fun for the whole family. It’s also a film that adults can appreciate too, with some of those silly sly jokes that only adults will pick up."

8. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

• Rating: PG-13
• Who's in it : Dee Wallace, Henry Thomas, Peter Coyote
• Run time: 115 minutes

Steven Spielberg's classic sci-fi story of an extraterrestrial stranded on planet Earth is pure movie magic. Parents will love the nostalgia throwback (baby-faced Drew Barrymore) and little ones will love the adorable E.T. and his friendship with his earthling family (although keep in mind that there is some light swearing and a few sad moments). Oh, and Reese’s Pieces are a must while watching.

"I fully believe there is no greater children's movie," said Quint. "I've watched with my 7 and 9-year-old, who are really the perfect ages for appreciating the magic while also understanding the gravity."

9. Elemental (2023)

• Who's in it : Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Ronnie del Carmen, Shila Ommi
• Run time:  103 minutes

The film is set in a world where elements of nature—fire, water, land and air—coexist as one community. Everything changes when Ember Lumen, a fire element, befriends Wade Ripple, a water element, and discovers their commonalities.

Rachel Gulmi , Director of Special Projects, said, "It is visually so beautiful and enticing with all the colors and how everything comes together, but I love the message behind it and it actually made me tear up."

10. Luca (2021)

• Who's in it : Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, Emma Berman, Saverio Raimondo
• Run time: 95 minutes

Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, this recently-released Disney and Pixar flick tells the story of a young boy, Luca, who is having the best summer of his life eating gelato and riding on a scooter with his new best friend, Alberto. There’s just one problem...the duo are sea monsters from another world below water.

Quint calls it a "charming movie with a great message," adding, "My kids love the naughty boyhood hi-jinx, and I love feeling transported to the Amalfi coast."

11. Daddy Day Care (2003)

• Who's in it : Eddie Murphy, Jeff Garlin, Steve Zahn, Regina King
• Run time: 92 minutes

When Charlie and his friend lose their jobs, they make the drastic decision of turning Charlie's home into a daycare center. Chaos ensues, however, when a rival daycare tries to shut them down.

Curtis, who rewatched the film as an adult, said, "The jokes hit different as an adult because they most definitely have some hidden meaning. I also loved that the story revolves around expectations around gender roles and undoing the stereotypes that women are the only capable caretakers. Plus, I will never get over the scene of Eddie Murphy and Jeff Garlin having a boxing match dressed as a carrot and a broccoli."

12. Stand By Me (1986)

• Suitable for: Kids ages 12+
• Who's in it : Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman
• Run time: 89 minutes

This coming-of-age story about four 12-year-old boys in 1950s Oregon is an inspiring tale of friendship, growing up and doing the right thing. Featuring some darker themes (making this film best for teens and up), this moving film strikes the right balance of childhood adventure, grown-up drama and a cute Jerry O’Connell.

13. Toy Story (1995)

• Who's in it : Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney
• Run time: 81 minutes

With enough inside jokes for adults, this animated film of toys coming to life is perfect for family movie night. It’s so good, it spawned three sequels and numerous spin-offs, setting you up for the next couple of weekends.

Quint said, "It's hard to believe this movie is from 1995—it feels so current, both in look and in message. When my kids were little, we watched it approximately 1,000 times, and it's still a favorite."

14. The Karate Kid (1984)

• Who's in it : Ralph Macchio, Noriyuki "Pat" Morita, Elisabeth Shue
• Run time: 126 minutes

Confession: Mr. Miyagi's iconic "Wax on, wax off" scene still lives rent-free in my head. And LaRusso's final match against Lawrence? Arguably one of the best moments in cinematic history. When Daniel LaRusso enrolls at a new school, he tries to defend himself from bullies and enlists the help of Mr. Miyagi—a repairman who also happens to be a martial arts master.

15. Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)

• Who's in it : Paul Briggs, Don Hall, Adele Lim, Carlos López Estrada
• Run time: 117 minutes

This animated film introduces viewers to a warrior named Raya, who tries to find the last dragon in an ancient civilization. To top it off, the magical creature is voiced by Crazy Rich Asians star Awkwafina.

Executive Editor Alexia Dellner 's son is just one of many who enjoyed the film. She said, "My 4-year-old was definitely scared during quite a few parts of this one BUT, he ultimately loved it. The plot is really interesting (I thought so too!), the characters feel fresh and the takeaways are very sweet without being saccharine. Just maybe wait until your kid is 5 or 6 to show it to them."

16. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)

• Who's in it : America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, Blake Lively, Alexis Bledel
• Run time: 119 minutes

A group of best friends are preparing to spend their first summer apart. In an attempt to stay connected, they create a custody schedule…for a pair of jeans.

Curtis, who grew up watching the comedy-drama, said, "When I was a kid, finding confidence in the shape of my body was a tough thing to do in the early '00s. Magazines and TV shows glorified skinny bodies, but I’ll never forget the moment when America Ferrera, the curviest girl in the friend group, tried on the magic pants and they fit her like a glove. It made me feel seen and beautiful. A great film about friendship, connection and self-acceptance."

17. Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

• Who's in it : Lauren Ambrose, Chris Cooper, James Gandolfini, Catherine O'Hara
• Run time: 101 minutes

Where the Wild Things Are tells the story of a boy named Max, who travels to a magical island inhabited by creatures called the "Wild Things." Exploring themes of loneliness and insecurity, director Spike Jonze revisits the classic children’s story in a dreamlike atmosphere. Read the book to your 5-year-old, but save the film for your tween.

18. Enchanted (2007)

• Who's in it : Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall
• Run time: 107 minutes

Amy Adams shines in this sweet musical comedy in which she plays a fairy-tale princess trying to live happily ever after in Andalasia. That is, until her evil mother-in-law banishes her to real-life New York City. She sings, she dances—is there anything Adams can’t do? (Fun fact: the movie is based on Gail Carson Levine's fantasy novel, Ella Enchanted , which is a retelling of Cinderella.)

19. Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)

• Who's in it : Michael J. Fox, Don Ameche, Sally Field
• Run time: 84 minutes

Craving a feel-good flick that centers on animals? Make room on the couch and let your furry friends watch this uplifting adventure film with you as lovable pups Shadow and Chance and kitty cat Sassy journey across the country to be reunited with their humans. Based on Sheila Burnford's novel of the same name, this movie—which marked Duwayne Dunham's feature film debut—is so charming and funny. Plus, it boasts an incredible voice cast.

20. The Hunger Games (2012)

• Who's in it : Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
• Run time: 144 minutes

In this film based on Suzanne Collins's hugely popular YA series, plucky Katniss Everdeen (played by the brilliant Lawrence) is the perfect role model for teenage girls. After volunteering as tribute to compete in the deadly Hunger Games, Katniss bravely fights against the evil Panem nation. (And there's a budding romance between her and fellow volunteer, Peeta.)

21. Finding Nemo (2003)

• Suitable for: Kids ages 4+
• Who's in it : Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould

Dive into this adorable underwater flick that’s got plenty of giggles and morals for younger viewers (and adults) including the importance of teamwork, embracing what makes you unique and how a little bit of determination goes a long way.

PureWow Senior Director of Special Projects & Royals, Rachel Bowie , said, "This one is such a hit in our fam! My son is ocean-obsessed and he loves to watch and call out all the sea creatures he knows. Bruce is of course his favorite, being a Great White Shark and all. My six-year-old loves to gloat about how 'not scared' he is during those scenes!"

22. Inside Out (2015)

• Who's in it : Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Richard Kind, Bill Hader, Lewis Black
• Run time: 102 minutes

In this feel-good Pixar flick, we follow young Riley as she’s uprooted from her childhood home and forced to move to a new city. Her emotions (Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust) try to guide her through this difficult transition but it’s not easy being an 11-year-old girl in a new place.

"If there's a better explanation of pre-adolescent emotions, I don't want to see it," said Quint. "I weep every time I watch, and I honestly think it helps my kids talk about their feelings."

23. All The Harry Potter Films (2001 - 2010)

• Who's in it : Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson

Revisiting J.K. Rowling’s magical story of a young wizard fighting against evil Voldemort is one of the best parts of having children. Just kidding (sort of). Read the books first, then snuggle up for multiple weekends of world-class entertainment (there are eight films, plus numerous spin-offs in the works).

Candelario, an avid fan of the franchise, said, "I still remember getting the books as a child and then falling in love with the movies as a teen. I've been hooked on the films ever since and still watch them whenever it's on TV. I'll probably be in my 80s still mouthing the words like the true Ravenclaw I am!"

24. Elf (2003)

• Who's in it : James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen, Edward Asner
• Run time: 90 minutes

Is Elf the best Christmas movie of all time? Quite possibly. Meet Buddy, a man who was raised as an elf in Santa’s workshop. When he ventures away from the North Pole and down to New York City in search of his real father, he’s soon confronted with a harsh reality: His dad is on the naughty list.

Curtis said, "If you ever need a silly, festive pick me up, this will do the trick. Will Ferrell running loose through the streets of Manhattan dressed as an elf, a sassy and unbothered blonde Zooey Deschanel and Christmas decorations galore?! What’s not to love? Not to mention learning about the 4 main food groups: Candy, candy canes, candy corn and syrup."

25. Home Alone (1990)

• Who's in it : Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern

While the thought of going on vacation and leaving your eight-year-old child behind is totally inconceivable, you’ll be happy the McAllisters accidentally did. This holiday classic (that makes for great viewing all year round) has got plenty of hilarious hijinks to keep the whole family entertained.

Mutz said, "Watching Home Alone with my dad is still one of my favorite childhood memories. Obviously, I remember enjoying it, but the memory of my dad cackling at Harry and Marv getting utterly destroyed by Kevin still makes me smile."

26. Matilda (1996)

• Who's in it : Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Mara Wilson, Embeth Davidtz
• Run time: 98 minutes

This classic revolves around a telekinetic young girl who uses her newfound powers to defend herself and her pals from the cold-hearted Miss Trunchbull. Meanwhile, she develops a bond with a kind-hearted teacher named Miss Honey. Based on the Roald Dahl book of the same title, this story will teach your kids that with a little encouragement (and a lot of reading), they can accomplish whatever they set their minds to. And who doesn’t want to teach their kids that?

27. Minions (2015)

• Who's in it : Steve Carell, Pierre Coffin, Taraji P. Henson, Lucy Lawless
• Run time: 91 minutes

How did the Minions originate? Where did they come from? And how did they first cross paths with Gru? If you've seen Despicable Me , I can assure you, this prequel has loads of answers (and laughs!). Fun fact: Minions was the fifth highest-grossing film of 2015 and the tenth-highest-grossing film of all time.

28. Spirited Away (2001)

• Who's in it : Rumi Hiiragi, Miyu Irino, Mari Natsuki
• Run time: 125 minutes

Studio Ghibli’s beautiful and surreal animation about a young girl trying to save her family after they’ve all been turned into pigs by an evil witch will captivate young audiences. In fact, you might even enjoy it more than your kids. Believe it or not, Spirited Away made history as Japan’s highest-grossing film of all time, and it held the record for 19 years. Per Time magazine, it surpassed $300 million at the local box office after it was re-released in 2021.

29. Akeelah and the Bee (2006)

• Who's in it : Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett, Keke Palmer
• Run time: 112 minutes

Akeelah and the Bee follows 11-year-old Akeelah as she tries to compete in the National Spelling Bee. This movie is super c-u-t-e and chock-full of important lessons for kids, including how to stand up to peer pressure and how to work hard to achieve your goals. (Not to mention how much it’ll help them with their spelling.)

30. Frozen (2013)

• Who's in it : Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad, Jonathan Groff

Fact: Every child loves this movie. The sweet story of two sisters living in a perpetual winter, plus the ridiculously catchy songs, will warm your grown-up heart. But the real star of the movie? My favorite snowman, Olaf.

Quint says, "For better or worse, I know every word of every song, having watched this preschool favorite something like 100 times. And you know what? I don't hate that about myself."

31. The Princess Bride (1987)

• Who's in it : Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon

Before she ruled on Capitol Hill, Robin Wright starred in this fantasy adventure comedy about a farm girl (Buttercup), her one true love (Westley) and their quest to be together, despite the odds. It’s inconceivable that your family won’t totally love it. (See what I did there?)

While speaking with NPR , Cary Elwes, who plays Wesley, explained that the classic was a sleeper hit. He said, "The film came and did some modest business—respectable, modest, but not the kind of money that they hoped. It wasn't until about almost a decade later when VHS came out that the film found its legs again—from a film that had been mostly dead, it was suddenly alive again. And then it became this huge hit."

32. Coco (2017)

• Who's in it : Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Alanna Ubach

This Oscar-winning film follows Miguel on his quest to become an accomplished musician, despite his family’s ban on music. Through a series of unfortunate events, he finds himself in the Land of the Dead where he meets some interesting characters and learns about his family's mysterious past. A thoughtful film that tackles a difficult subject matter beautifully.

33. Paddington (2015)

• Who's in it : Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent

Follow this adventurous (and not to mention, totally adorable) Peruvian bear as he travels to London in search of a home. After finding himself lost in Paddington Station, his luck begins to change when he meets the kind Brown family. For a fun-filled weekend, watch the first movie on Friday night and then enjoy the just-as-good sequel on Saturday . Don't forget the popcorn.

34. Wreck-It Ralph (2012)

• Who's in it : John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer
• Run time: 108 minutes

Youngsters who can’t get enough of video games will love this sci-fi comedy about an arcade game villain who decides to rebel against his role and fulfill his lifelong dream of being a hero instead. But things don’t go quite according to plan, and Ralph has to save the arcade world from his own mess. Hilarity ensues, of course.

35. The Land Before Time (1989)

• Who's in it : Gabriel Damon, Candace Hutson, Judith Barsi
• Run time: 69 minutes

Bring out the tissues for this sweet flick, which follows orphaned Brontosaurus Littlefoot (sob!) and his dino pals as they journey to the Great Valley to reunite with their families. (No really, you will need tissues.)

According to film director Don Bluth, the most heartbreaking scene almost didn't make it into the film. He told Vulture , “I remember we came to that moment in The Land Before Time , and everyone said, ‘Oh, this is too hard—no, no, we don’t want kids to see this. It was Steven Spielberg who said, ‘Wait a minute. We all are born, we all live to a certain age, and then we all go. And someday we come back again. Everyone has to go through it. This is a moment called the great circle of life.’”

36. The Secret Life of Pets (2016)

• Who's in it : Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Jenny Slate, Kevin Hart

From the creators of Despicable Me, this adorable family film gives audiences a behind-the-scenes look at exactly what pets do when their owners aren’t home. (Ahem, eat all of your food and get totally lost roaming around the city.)

Quint said, "We watched this one as a family when my kids were little, and it was one of the first examples of all four of us truly enjoying a film. Silly, exciting and great, memorable characters."

37. Jurassic Park (1993)

• Who's in it : Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum
• Run time: 127 minutes

You probably remember the story of a remote island where real dinosaurs come to life thanks to dormant DNA, but you’ll be surprised at how the special effects and suspense still hold up.

Quint said, "I may not win mom of year for showing this one to my 6 year-old. But you know what? She loved it. And still talks about getting eaten off a toilet seat."

38. Jumanji (1995)

• Who's in it : Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, David Alan Grier
• Run time: 104 minutes

Forget the reboot, the original movie is guaranteed fun for the whole family. When two youngsters find a magical board game, they release a world full of excitement (including Alan Parrish, who’s been trapped inside the game for decades) and dangers that can only be stopped by finishing the game.

39. The Incredibles (2004)

• Who's in it : Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Spencer Fox

In this 2004 animated film, the Parrs are just trying to live a normal, quiet suburban life. But that’s not exactly easy when you’re a family of undercover superheroes. Kids of all ages will love watching to find out if these guys manage to save the world from a superhero wannabe.

Easily one of the best superhero movies of all time, The Incredibles scored two Academy Awards (including Best Animated Feature). It also spawned a sequel, The Incredibles 2 , which grossed over $1.2 billion worldwide.

40. Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

• Suitable for: Kids ages 9+
• Who's in it : Charlize Theron, Art Parkinson, Ralph Fiennes, George Takei

Featuring an A-list voiceover cast and seriously impressive animation, this stop-motion action-adventure follows a young boy, Kubo, as he sets out to locate a magical suit of armor that once belonged to his father. With some dark and scary themes, this one's better to watch with older kids.

While chatting with Deadline , director Travis Knight revealed that the film's core message is "the sustaining love of family." He added, "It offered us an opportunity to pay homage to a beautiful cultural tradition and art style that we typically don’t see on the big screen, and that’s something that’s rooted in Japan."

41. The Kissing Booth (2018)

• Suitable for: Kids ages 14+
• Rating: TV-14
• Who's in it : Joey King, Jacob Elordi, Joel Courtney

Tweens and teens will appreciate this fun adaptation of Beth Reekles's book . In the film, Elle and Lee created a list of friendship rules when they were kids, and they still abide by them today. However, when Elle goes behind Lee’s back to pursue a romantic relationship with his off-limits older brother, Noah, Elle is forced to choose between friendship and love.

42. A Bug's Life (1998)

• Who's in it : Dave Foley, Kevin Spacey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Flik is a misfit ant and inventor who really wants to make a difference. However, his inventions are always causing problems for his ant colony. When he accidentally destroys their hard-earned food storage, they’re forced to distract Hopper while they fix the problem. I love that this film tackles real-life issues (like colonialism and violence) without losing its humor and charm. It'll appeal to fans of all ages.

43. The Addams Family (1991)

• Who's in it : Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd
• Run time: 99 minutes

The Addams Family is thrilled when Gomez’s missing brother, Fester, suddenly reappears. That is, until Morticia realizes that something about his sudden arrival is...off.

BTW, Huston's performance was inspired by a longtime friend of hers. She told The Guardian , "I based Morticia on  Jerry Hall . With the Addams Family everything white is black and everything good is bad, but Morticia is the most lenient, understanding and wonderful mother. I’ve always seen Jerry as a perfect example of motherhood." Fortunately, Huston received not one, but two Golden Globe nominations for her role.

44. Brave (2012)

• Who's in it : Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters
• Run time: 93 minutes

Meet Merida, the daughter of Scottish King Fergus and Queen Elinor. When she receives an ill-fated wish from a witch (voiced by the brilliant Julie Walters), she must undo the curse before it’s too late. Brave was the first Pixar movie to be released with a female protagonist, and it was originally called The Bear and the Bow . Plus, it scored the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature Film.

45. Over the Moon (2020)

• Who's in it : Cathy Ang, Phillipa Soo, Ken Jeong, John Cho

This is the story of a young dreamer named Fei Fei, who is mesmerized by the legend of the moon goddess, Chang’e. Directed by Glen Keane, the musical fantasy was nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature and won a Golden Globe. Also, it only took one week for Over the Moon to become Netflix’s most-watched movie .

46. Maleficent (2014)

• Who's in it : Angelina Jolie, Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley

In this dark retelling of Sleeping Beauty , Maleficent is shocked when an invading army threatens her idyllic life. After engaging in an epic battle, Maleficent places a curse on the king’s newborn daughter, only to realize it was a mistake. Fans of the original fairy tale are in for a treat, and Jolie delivers an unforgettable performance as the iconic villain.

47. The Willoughbys (2020)

• Who's in it : Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Alessia Cara, Terry Crews

Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby used to be an adventurous couple, but they’re too caught up in everyday life to spend time with their four children. This prompts the neglected kids to take their nanny on a once-in-a-lifetime journey into the modern world. With stunning animation, great dialogue and fascinating characters, it's impossible not to enjoy this gem. Oh, and did I mention that it features the best soundtrack?

48. Beauty and the Beast (2017)

• Who's in it : Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Kevin Kline
• Run time: 139 minutes

In this live-action version of the Disney classic, Belle switches places with her father, who was locked up in a dungeon by an arrogant prince. With the help of the mansion’s enchanted servants, Belle discovers the Beast isn’t as tough as he seems.

While speaking with CNN , Watson, who plays Belle, revealed she wanted to bring authenticity to the role. She said, “My Belle wears riding boots, and she’s got mud on her, and she has bloomers underneath her dress so she can kick her legs over a horse, and she’s got these big pockets we created for her so she can carry books around with her all the time. And you see a very tender side of Belle in this film.”

49. Despicable Me (2010)

• Who's in it : Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Miranda Cosgrove, Kristen Wiig

Gru (voiced by Carell) is on a mission to steal the moon, so he adopts three orphan girls as a means of furthering his plan. When he starts to feel parental love for his adopted brood, he soon realizes family isn’t so bad after all.

"I kinda think there's no greater children's movie franchise," said Quint. "My kids have loved those damn minions from the moment they first saw them. And Steve Carrell as an evil genius with a heart of gold is pretty great for grownups too."

50. The Red Balloon (1956)

• Suitable for: Kids ages 2+
• Rating: TV-G
• Who's in it : Pascal Lamorisse
• Run time: 34 minutes

Inspire your child’s inner cinephile with this 34-minute French film from 1956. The fantasy comedy-drama follows a young child named Pascal who traipses around Paris with, yep, a red balloon. Fun fact: Albert Lamorisse, who wrote, produced and directed the film, selected his real-life son, Pascal, for the main role. His daughter, Sabine, also appears as a young girl. Très cute.

51. Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)

• Run time:  87 minutes

Minions: The Rise of Gru (also known as  Minions 2 ) takes place in the ’70s, when Gru is considering joining the Vicious 6 supervillains. Of course, things don’t go according to plan.

According to Quint, "The coming attraction for this movie got my family through the pandemic. And we were the first in the theater when it came out. Spoiler: the historical romp through Gru's childhood did not disappoint."

52. Soul (2020)

• Who's in it : Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Graham Norton, Rachel House

We’re total suckers for a good Disney-Pixar movie, but this flick is especially good. Soul tells the story of a musician who has lost his passion for music. When he’s transported out of his body, he must find his way back with the help of an infant soul. (Bonus points: The characters are voiced by Fey and Foxx.)

53. Aladdin (1992)

• Who's in it : Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larkin

Introducing another Disney classic. Who doesn’t love this Arabian nights musical featuring Robin Williams in one of the most iconic roles of his career? Clear your living room carpet and have a family sing-along to “A Whole New World” as Aladdin tries to win the heart of Princess Jasmine.

54. Mulan (2020)

• Who's in it : Yifei Liu, Donnie Yen, Tzi Ma, Jason Scott Lee

This live-action version of the Disney classic features Yifei Liu as a brave girl named Mulan, who disguises herself as a man so she can serve in the Rouran army in Imperial China. Unfortunately for fans of the animated version, none of the original songs were used. Still, it features a remake of "Reflection," and a not-so-subtle not to "I'll Make a Man Out of You."

55. To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018)

• Who's in it : Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish, Anna Cathcart, Madeleine Arthur, Emilija Baranac

Lara Jean is content with her life as a nearly invisible high school junior. Everything changes when five of her secret love letters accidentally get mailed out to their recipients—including her friend Josh, who happens to be dating her older sister, Margot. In an attempt to convince him it meant nothing, she quickly enlists the help of Peter Kavinsky to fake a romance.

56. Upside-Down Magic (2020)

• Suitable for: Kids ages 7+
• Rating: TV-PG
• Who's in it : Izabela Rose, Siena Agudong
• Run time: 96 minutes

When two best friends enroll in Sage Academy (a prestigious magic school), they must learn to utilize their special powers against the forces of evil. If the title sounds familiar, it's probably because the movie is based on the fantasy book series by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins. Also, it was directed by Joe Nussbaum, best known for titles like Sleepover and Sydney White .

57. Secret Magic Control Agency (2021)

• Who's in it : Nicholas Corda, Sylvana Joyce, Alyson Rosenfeld

Remember Hansel and Gretel? Well, they’re now acting as secret agents in this family-friendly film. The animated flick, directed by Aleksey Tsitsilin, documents the duo as they use their magic to find a missing king, demonstrating teamwork along the way. Tsitsilin said in an interview , "We wanted not to remake [the original], but to rethink. Leave the logic of the narrative and string some additional details. The story begins to play with new colors, it becomes different, but at the same time you realize that it is all the same  Hansel and Gretel ."

58. We Can Be Heroes (2020)

• Who's in it : YaYa Gosselin, Lyon Daniels, Andy Walken, Hala Finley
• Run time: 110 minutes

When Earth’s superheroes are kidnapped by alien invaders, the government takes in all their children to protect them against evil forces. Everything changes when Missy Moreno devises a plan to use all of the kids’ powers to escape the safe house and save their parents. FYI, according to Variety , Netflix has already confirmed that a sequel is in the works, thanks to the first film's success.

59. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

• Who's in it : Will Smith, Thandiwe Newton, Jaden Smith

When Chris Gardner, a San Francisco salesman, is evicted from his apartment, he and his young son embark on a challenging and life-changing journey. Inspired by true events, this poignant flick is bound to make you smile, but it will also make you reach for the tissue box.

PureWow Assistant Editor of News and Entertainment, Karelle McKay , said, "Will Smith's character truly cared about his son, who was played by the actor's actual son, Jaden Smith. Despite the adversity they faced throughout the film, there were some sweet, tender moments that you can't help but smile at. This movie really showed the unconditional love between a father and son."

60. Little (2019)

• Who's in it : Regina Hall, Issa Rae, Marsai Martin

Regina Hall stars as Jordan, a woman whose life gets flip-turned upside-down when she magically turns into her younger self. Luckily, her faithful assistant April is more than happy to step up in her absence. BTW, did you know that Martin served as an executive producer for the film at just 14 years old? This made her the youngest person to ever hold the title on a Hollywood production.

61. Queen of Katwe (2016)

• Who's in it : David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong'o, Madina Nalwanga
• Run time: 124 minutes

This feel-good flick is based on a true story and is sure to inspire some interesting family discussions after viewing. Katwe (pronounced Kah-tway) is from one of Uganda's poorest slums but manages to overcome impossible hurdles to become a teenage chess champion. (And don’t worry—this film is in English and no knowledge of chess is required.)

62. Mary Poppins (1964)

• Who's in it : Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson

From the catchy tunes to the formidable cast...there’s a reason why this fantastical technicolor movie is a classic. I'd even go as far as to say that this story of a magical nanny who sweeps into the Banks home to take charge of the children is “practically perfect in every way.”

Bowie said, "We're just introducing this one to our six-year-old, but he cannot stop laughing at some of the scenes—like when Mary Poppins gets the kids to clean the nursery or when Bert (all hail Dick Van Dyke) dances with the penguins who are all trying to impress Mary. We sometimes skip around, but it is a delight that still feels totally timeless!"

63. Remember the Titans (2000)

• Who's in it : Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Wood Harris
• Run time: 113 minutes

This is the ultimate sports movie (inspired by a true story) about a newly integrated high school football team in 1971 Alexandria, Virginia. Full of ups and downs, this all-star flick (yep, that’s a young Ryan Gosling singing in the changing room) gives parents an opportunity to talk to kids about race and prejudice. Plus, the film—directed by Boaz Yakin—boasts an amazing soundtrack, including songs by Bob Dylan, The Hollies, Marvin Gaye, James Taylor and The Temptations.

64. Hidden Figures (2016)

• Who's in it : Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner

This Academy Award-nominated film tells the story of the unsung heroes of NASA’s early days: three brilliant African American women who played pivotal roles in launching the manned spaceflight program. Based on an inspiring true story, this family film will teach young minds about perseverance and teamwork, as well as give them an important look at the racial tensions of the Civil Rights era. Henson, Spencer and Janelle give Oscar-worthy performances here.

65. Hugo (2011)

• Who's in it : Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Asa Butterfield

Your kids may be too young for Goodfellas , but this kid-friendly Martin Scorsese flick is just as entertaining. The ode to cinema is set in a romantic Parisian atmosphere and follows the adventures of Hugo Cabret, a young orphan who tries to solve an important mystery and find a new home. It has enough adventure and laughs to keep kids of all ages enthralled. Fun fact: Hugo received 11 Academy Award nominations, including one for Best Picture, and it won a total of five Oscars: Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects.

66. Encanto (2021)

• Who's in it : Stephanie Beatriz, María Cecilia Botero, John Leguizamo
• Run time: 109 minutes

Meet Mirabel Madrigal, a Colombian girl who’s dealing with the fact that she’s the only one in her family who was born without powers. But when her magical home comes under threat, she discovers that she could be the key to saving it. The musical fantasy, which grossed $256 million worldwide, won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. I can see why, given how the film tackles important issues like family dynamics and generational trauma.

67. The Adam Project (2022)

• Who's in it : Ryan Reynolds, Walker Scobell, Addison Tusing, Mark Ruffalo
• Run time: 106 minutes

The story follows Adam as he travels back in time to reunite with his younger self. Together, they must eliminate time travel…before it’s too late.

In her honest review , PureWow Senior Editor Greta Heggeness said, "The story is as silly as it sounds, resembling more of a family flick than an edge-of-your-seat thriller. (Disclaimer: It has some action scenes and language references that might be inappropriate for young audiences.) Still, the movie is loaded with nostalgic references that will delight every millennial."

68. Sing (2016)

• Who's in it : Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane

Prepare to sing along as this talented group of animal performers rehearse for their next musical extravaganza. The question is: Can Buster Moon convince a busy rock star to join the cast?

Quint said, "When I first showed this to my son (age 5) he freaked out because the animals were 'scary.' But a few years later and upon a rewatch, it's become a family favorite. The songs—ranging from a heart-filled 'I'm Still Standing' to a cheeky 'Shake it Off" are in constant rotation on the family playlist."

69. Shrek (2001)

• Who's in it : Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz

Shrek’s isolated lifestyle is turned upside-down thanks to Lord Farquaad. When the ogre cuts a deal with the dictator, he’s tasked with rescuing Princess Fiona. The problem? She’s hiding a deep, dark secret. (Psst, after this, do yourself a favor and watch the sequels: Shrek 2 , Shrek the Third and Shrek Forever After .)

70. Vivo (2021)

• Who's in it : Zoe Saldana, Juan de Marcos, Brian Tyree Henry

The movie highlights a musically gifted duo: Andrés Hernández and his kinkajou—a tropical rainforest mammal—named Vivo. After a tragic event, Vivo embarks on a dangerous journey to fulfill Andrés’s last wishes.

Quint said, "I've always maintained that this movie didn't get the attention it deserved. The songs are so catchy, and my kids love the message of 'marching to the beat of your own drum.'"

71. Turning Red (2022)

• Who's in it : Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Ava Morse

In this Oscar-nominated coming-of-age comedy, Mei Lee is a confident 13-year-old who struggles to balance school and adolescence with her overbearing mom. Not only that, but whenever she gets a little too excited, she morphs into a giant red panda.

Director Domee Shi told Deadline , "This film is one of the first, if not the first film, at least from Pixar, that really shines a light on and highlights the Chinese Canadian community. The protagonist is this Chinese girl struggling with this very specific yet universal issue of her mom being super protective. It’s so important and amazing to see that this film...has been embraced globally."

72. Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (1997)

• Who's in it : Brandy Norwood, Whitney Houston, Jason Alexander, Whoopi Goldberg
• Run time: 85 minutes

From Whitney Houston’s dazzling golden ensemble to Brandy Norwood’s catchy musical numbers, this fairytale remake still stands as one of the best (and most diverse) Cinderella adaptations ever made. I can still vividly recall singing along to "Impossible" and "In My Own Little Corner" while watching it as a kid.

In a previous review , I wrote, "Cinderella is a bit more complex. She's got an active imagination and a knack for bringing out the good in people. But more importantly, she has hopes and dreams that go far beyond attending a lavish ball, as evidenced in her rendition of 'In My Own Little Corner.'"

73. Good Burger (1997)

• Who's in it : Kenan Thompson, Kel Mitchell, Abe Vigod

Who knew that a simple comedy sketch from All That could inspire this timeless cult classic? In Good Burger , Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell steal the show as two employees who go out of their way to save the popular fast-food joint from crumbling. The movie spawned a sequel, Good Burger 2 , which follows Dexter and Ed reuniting at their old workplace and unveiling a major secret.

74. Clifford the Big Red Dog (2021)

• Who's in it : Jack Whitehall, Darby Camp, Tony Hale, Sienna Guillory

I love a feel-good film that takes me back to my childhood. Inspired by Norman Bridwell’s classic book series, this adaptation is about a young girl who receives a tiny red puppy. But little does she know that her furry friend will turn into a giant ten-foot dog.

FYI, if you need a compelling movie to keep the kids distracted, then this is your best bet. Quint said, "This is the movie I put on for my daughter while administering a two-hour lice comb-out. That's all you need to know."

75. Up (2009)

• Who's in it : Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai

Carl Fredricksen is a 78-year-old widower who has always dreamed of traveling to South America and finding the mysterious Paradise Falls. To fulfill his promise to his late wife, he attaches thousands of balloons to his house and embarks on his biggest adventure, along with his new friend and young Boy Scout, Russell. The Pete Docter film was originally called Heliums, and it spawned a Diesny+ sequel series called Dug Days .

76. Anastasia (1997)

• Suitable for: Kids ages 3+
• Who's in it : Meg Ryan, John Cusack, Kelsey Grammer
• Run time: 94 minutes

Anastasia is the last surviving member of the Russian royal family—but she doesn't know it. Determined to learn more about her history, she teams up with two mischievous con men and heads back to Paris, while the evil Rasputin sets out to destroy her. The Oscar-nominated film spawned multiple adaptations, including a stage musical and a spin-off film called Bartok the Magnificent .

77. The Parent Trap (1998)

• Who's in it : Dennis Quaid, Natasha Richardson, Lindsay Lohan
• Run time: 128 minutes

After being separated at birth and raised by just one of their parents, siblings Annie and Hallie wind up attending the same summer camp and are stunned to find out that they're identical twins. Before heading back home, the sisters hatch a plan to switch places so they can get their parents back together. But unfortunately, something is standing in their way: their father's new gold-digging girlfriend.

78. Alvin & The Chipmunks (2007)

• Who's in it : Jason Lee, David Cross, Cameron Richardson

The movie follows a businessman and aspiring composer who becomes fast friends with three talented chipmunks and then adopts them as his own. These lovable furry creatures will totally appeal to kids and adults alike. The musical comedy made a whopping $361.3 million worldwide and led to three sequels: Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel , Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip .

79. Dr. Dolittle (1998)

• Who's in it : Eddie Murphy, Ossie Davis, Oliver Platt, Norm MacDonald

Meet Dr. John Dolittle, an eccentric veterinarian who can communicate with a variety of exotic animals. His ability, however, causes his wife to suspect that he's going insane, landing him in a mental institution. Can his animal friends rescue him?

Quint watched the movie with her family and said, "It has an awful Rotten Tomato rating, but I watched it last week with my kids and aside from having an all-star cast, it has a lot of jokes that truly land. Well…at least with the under 10 set."

80. Bend It Like Beckham (2003)

• Who's in it : Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Jess is extremely passionate about football (soccer to us Americans). Unfortunately, her strict conservative family refuses to let her play because of her gender. So, Jess steps out of her comfort zone and secretly joins the local women’s football team. BTW, did you know that the film's title refers to David Beckham's curling free kick technique, which is also called bending?

81. The Secret Life of Bees (2008)

• Suitable for: Kids ages 13+
• Who's in it : Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys

In an attempt to learn more about her late mother, Lily Owens travels to a small South Carolina town. While there, she meets the Boatwright sisters, who take her in and teach her about beekeeping. Based on Sue Monk Kidd's equally compelling novel of the same name, this coming-of-age story deftly tackles racism, religion, loss and forgiveness.

82. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (2022)

• Who's in it : Shawn Mendes, Javier Bardem, Constance Wu, Winslow Fegley
• Run time:  106 minutes

Meet Josh, a young boy who’s struggling to fit in after moving to New York City. Everything changes, however, when he befriends a singing crocodile named Lyle. Aside from the star-studded cast, this musical fantasy is heart-warming and funny enough to make any kid smile. Plus, adults will appreciate the solid storytelling and catchy tunes.

83. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

• Who's in it: Dakota Fanning, Elle Fanning, Tim Daly
• Run time: 86 minutes

Miyazaki’s breakthrough film has stood the test of time—namely because of the beautiful animation and the low-key storyline, which brings the children's emotions to light in the most magical way and boasts positive messages about siblings and friendship. This poignant fantasy is sure to stir the hearts and minds of viewers of all ages.

The Best Movies on Netflix for Families

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

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Why 'A Family Affair' works so well as a Netflix romcom

Linda Holmes

Nicole Kidman as Brooke Harwood and Zac Efron as Chris Cole in A Family Affair. Aaron Epstein/Netflix hide caption

About seven minutes into the new Netflix romantic comedy A Family Affair , Zac Efron, playing a conceited, not-too-bright movie star who's just broken up with his girlfriend, is whining to his assistant (played by Joey King) that she needs to pick up his stuff from the ex-girlfriend's place. He left treasured items there, he explains. He left his autographed Jordans! He left his Himalayan t-shirt! And then he says, gravely, as if it shows the urgency of the mission, "I left my copy of The Courage to be Disliked ." And I said, in my living room, "Ha!"

The Courage to be Disliked is a real book . It doesn't actually endorse the practice of being a jerk; it's more nuanced than that . But this character, without a pinch of self-awareness, bemoaning the disappearance of a book called The Courage to be Disliked ? That's a very solid joke, very solidly delivered by Efron. He follows it up with, "I have several underwears there. And people sell those."

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Eventually, the movie star, whose name is Chris, has one too many fights with the assistant, whose name is Zara, and he has to go find her to make amends. But when he goes to her house, he finds her mother, Brooke (Nicole Kidman), a beautiful widowed author who lives in the kind of gorgeous and classy house that starred in most of the best Nancy Meyers movies . (It's sharply different from Chris' house, which is equally fancy but also ugly and impractical, as seen in an effective little bit about his absurd front door.) Brooke and Chris start drinking tequila, they hit it off, and Zara, who lives at home and observes few boundaries with her mom, eventually walks in on them upstairs in Brooke's bedroom.

Zara's dismay over her mother's relationship with Chris is not about the age difference (which goes mostly undiscussed), but about the fact that she's seen Chris go through his girlfriend-dumping routine enough times to fear that her mother might get hurt. What follows in the script from Carrie Solomon is one part romance between Chris and Brooke, one part ongoing clash between Chris and Zara, and one part mother-daughter story about Zara and Brooke. And honestly, in this film from director Richard LaGravenese, it all works pretty well!

Joey King as Zara Ford and Zac Efron as Chris Cole in A Family Affair. Tina Rowden/Netflix hide caption

Some of this — particularly an older woman getting involved with a younger male celebrity — may call to mind the recent movie The Idea of You , in which Anne Hathaway fell for a boy band member played by Nicholas Galitzine. I didn't care for that movie at all , in part because it wasn't funny enough, in part because the romance was unconvincing, and in part because the ending lacked emotional resonance. (It was based on a book with a completely different ending, and it turns out you can't just take a carefully built story and flip the ending on its head and have the result make sense.) That book wasn't written to be a romcom, but was adapted and wedged into the romcom box. This, on the other hand, is meant to be one — and it shows.

Movie Interviews

Zac efron on the physical demands of playing a wrestler in sean durkin's 'iron claw', nicole kidman went all in on becoming lucille ball for role in 'being the ricardos'.

Efron is a much more successful, charismatic, and (especially) funny lead than Galitzine (whom I'd liked in Red, White & Royal Blue ) opposite Hathaway in The Idea of You . And it's refreshing to see Kidman happily making out with somebody, at least temporarily making her way out of the haunted-sad-person rut she's been in for the past few years. Chris' relationship with Brooke feels real and brings out nice things in them both, beginning when she explains the Icarus myth so he can understand its connections to his movie franchise, Icarus Rush , which she's never seen. He certainly seems like a dope at first ("I'm Australian." "Oh, do you know Margot Robbie?" "...No." "I do."), but as he gets comfortable, he grows on Brooke, in addition to being, you know, very hot.

All the way back in 2012, I wrote that Efron was making an interesting play to follow in the footsteps of somebody like Ryan Gosling. (At that time, in his mid-twenties, Efron was appearing in a Nicholas Sparks film.) Gosling was also once a Disney kid, and he managed to grow into a very good dramatic actor, a very good comic actor, and a very swoony romantic lead. Efron doesn't have the Oscar nominations just yet, but he was excellent in a pure dramatic role in The Iron Claw in 2023, and he's funny enough here as the willfully goofy hunk that he might have been a pretty terrific Ken if Gosling hadn't been available — or a good Fall Guy .

Romantic Comedy Guide: Irish Wish, Anyone But You, Upgraded

King is an established Netflix romcom lead herself, but she does a very nice job here, too. Besides the romance, particularly welcome is the strand of the story about Zara figuring out that the world is not all about her, even in her relationship with her mother. In a scene with her grandmother, played (skillfully as ever) by Kathy Bates, Zara starts to figure out what we all eventually must: Your parents are not only your parents, they are also human beings with lives and thoughts and wants that have nothing to do with you. She has a truth-telling moment with her best friend (Liza Koshy), too, about her problems not lying at the center of the universe, which gives the whole last act a very nice "What if somebody had forcefully told Rory Gilmore to get over herself?" quality.

Nicole Kidman as Brooke Harwood in A Family Affair. Tina Rowden/Netflix hide caption

It's too early to declare some golden age of streaming romcoms, because the ones we get are still wildly uneven, and because on cable, it's not as if they ever went away. But there's some star power here, and some budget, and some writing and directing, that suggests interest in the genre is picking up steam and getting good results.

Movie Reviews

These are the 19 movies we're most excited about this summer.

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A Family Affair

A surprising romance kicks off comic consequences for a young woman, her mother and her movie star boss as they face the complications of love, sex, and identity. A surprising romance kicks off comic consequences for a young woman, her mother and her movie star boss as they face the complications of love, sex, and identity. A surprising romance kicks off comic consequences for a young woman, her mother and her movie star boss as they face the complications of love, sex, and identity.

• Richard LaGravenese
• Carrie Solomon
• Nicole Kidman
• 291 User reviews
• 72 Critic reviews
• 43 Metascore

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• Brooke Harwood

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• Trivia In the doctor's office when Zara ( Joey King ) asks her mother, Brooke ( Nicole Kidman ), "What is he like 20 years younger than you?" referring to Chris ( Zac Efron ), her mom responds, "Sixteen." Kidman is 20 years older than Efron.
• Goofs Around 25 minutes in Chris arrives at Zara's house in a black Cadillac pulling up right outside the front door, when Zara arrives home the car is no longer there.

Leila Ford : No great tryst ever started with someone being rational.

• Connections References The More the Merrier (1943)
• Soundtracks I'm Your Man Written by George Michael Performed by Wham! Courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited By arrangement with Sony Music Entertainment

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• Jun 29, 2024
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‘a family affair’ review: nicole kidman and zac efron in a netflix rom-com that charms despite missteps.

The Richard LaGravenese-directed film centers on a widowed middle-aged writer having an affair with a younger movie star — who happens to be her daughter's boss.

By Angie Han

Television Critic

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Throughout A Family Affair , daughter Zara ( Joey King ) and mom Brooke ( Nicole Kidman ) argue over just what kind of a man Chris Cole ( Zac Efron ) is. To Zara, he’s a self-absorbed movie star boss who oscillates between unreasonable demands and threats of firing. For Brooke, he’s an attentive lover, the first man to reawaken her to the possibility of romance since the death of Zara’s father, Charlie.

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The first Chris we meet is the obnoxious one. Onscreen, he’s the Marvel-style hero of a terrible-sounding franchise called Icarus Rush ; offscreen, he’s a vain man-child pitching hissy fits at Zara. He calls her at odd hours to send her looking for protein powder, and makes her assemble gift baskets for his dogs with her own money. He runs through girlfriends like tissues, then sends her to pick up his stuff from their houses. He strings her along with the promise of an assistant producer credit, but continually insists she’s not “ready” to do much more than pick up his dry cleaning. None of these gags are especially fresh — Chris is simply every spoiled Hollywood stereotype rolled into one. But screenwriter Carrie Solomon comes at them with the wry fondness of an insider who knows just how ridiculous her industry can be.

All this Hollywood satire is merely set-up for the real plot of A Family Affair , which kicks in once Chris invites himself over to the home Zara shares with her mother. While waiting for her to show, he and Brooke get to talking over tequila shots. The next thing either of them know, Brooke is ripping open the very t-shirt that Chris, only the day before, had screamed at Zara for not treating more gently.

At first, the hook-up is played for laughs. Chris remains his ditzy self, wooing Brooke from lines with his own movies. (“This time I mean it,” he insists when she teasingly calls him out on it.) Zara is so startled to find her mother in bed with her employer that she goes full slapstick, choking on a grape and knocking herself unconscious. Fumbling to explain, Brooke accidentally invokes the same excuse Zara gave her for getting a forbidden eyebrow piercing as a teen: “It made sense at the time when the guy was putting it in.”

In fact, A Family Affair barely leans into the fairy tale of dating a rich and sexy A-lister. In contrast to The Idea of You , with which it shares a superficially similar premise, the film is largely unconcerned with the specific perks or challenges of dating while famous. Brooke is unfamiliar with Chris’ career, and she does not need him to whisk her away on vacations or bring her to fancy galas; she’s done well enough already to have her own cliffside mansion and closet full of designer dresses. Though Chris can’t so much as go for a grocery run without getting swarmed, the couple do not discuss what it might mean to go public with their relationship — and they never have to, since it somehow never happens. The biggest threat to their connection is Zara’s disapproval, not the gap in age and social standing.

Parallels are drawn between Brooke lovingly tending to Zara’s every need through a difficult childhood and Zara catering to Chris’ now. I’d point out that those situations are not remotely the same, and in fact have no business being in the same conversation — just as A Family Affair ‘s Hollywood material and its drama feel at times like they’ve come from two completely different films. But the lines are delivered with such heartfelt tenderness that for a moment, you might be moved in spite of yourself.

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85 of the best family movies to watch all together

Grab that blanket and pop that popcorn — it’s family movie time. Between eye-rolling teenagers, cartwheeling young kids and parents fighting to stay awake, it can be hard to pick a movie that the whole family will enjoy.

Save the drama for the screen with TODAY.com’s selection of 85 of the best movies to watch as a family.

Classics, such as “Freaky Friday” and “Home Alone,” round out newer movies, like “Barbie” and “Wonka.”

We must warn you, though — some of the movies may lead to tears. TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager watched “Barbie” with her youngest daughter, Poppy, who was 7 at the time, and said she was “weeping.”

“I cried, and I know I’m an easy crier,” Jenna said on “TODAY on Hoda and Jenna” in July 2023 , adding that she, “cried multiple times.” “It’s beautiful.”

Although it’s rated PG-13, Jenna said the movie would have been suitable for Hoda’s daughter, Haley, who was 6 at the time of its release.

“There is a lot of talk about what is underneath the Barbie skirt,” she said. “I've always wondered about that, but most of that goes over her head, so it doesn’t matter.”

Continue reading for more tearjerkers — and other options that are less likely to make you cry.

Movies for families with teenagers

'school of rock' (2003).

“School of Rock” features Jack Black as Dewey Finn, a down-on-his-luck musician who poses as a substitute teacher at an elite preparatory school after being ousted from his own rock band. Under the guise of Mr. Schneebly, Dewey forms a band with his students to compete in a Battle of the Bands, planning to use the prize money to cover his rent.

Rating: PG-13

'Barbie' (2023)

“Barbie,” starring Margot Robbie in the title role, is a sharp-witted musical comedy that explores Barbie’s existential crisis as she ventures into the human world to discover her purpose and identity. And Ken, portrayed by Ryan Gosling, is there, too. As the saying goes, “She’s everything. He’s just Ken.”

'Mean Girls' (2004)

The Plastics — Regina George, Gretchen Wieners and Karen Smith — recruit newbie Cady Heron into their clique at school. On the surface, they're friends. But underneath, they secretly plot against each other.

'Miss Juneteenth' (2020)

In this drama, a former beauty pageant winner and single mom prepares her rebellious daughter for her first pageant. “Miss Juneteenth” shows the joys and sorrows of Black motherhood and girlhood in a new and refreshing way.

Rating: TV-MA

'Fighting With My Family' (2019)

Perfect for watching with teenagers, “Fighting With My Family” is the story of an English family who lives and breathes wrestling, and what happens when two of the children are invited to try out to be part of WWE.

'Thor: Love and Thunder' (2022)

Thor is one of the few remaining original Avengers and in the last ensemble movie, “Avengers: Endgame,” Thor struggles with maintaining his mental health and aimlessly joins the Guardians of the Galaxy due to lack of other options. “Thor: Love and Thunder” picks up here, and apparently Thor has turned things around and is working on something big.

'The Fabelmans' (2022)

It only takes one inspirational experience to completely change the direction of a kid’s life. Director Steven Spielberg had that moment in “The Fabelmans,” an award-winning film that shows how he first fell in love with movies and how, step-by-step, he became the beloved director he is today. The Oscar nominated movie may inspire the young people in your life to follow their dreams.

'Good Will Hunting' (1997)

“Good Will Hunting” is a classic starring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Robin Williams. Will (Damon) and Chuckie (Affleck) are bootstrapping their way through life in a run down Boston neighborhood, often fighting their way through troubles. Will works as a janitor at MIT and a professor discovers Will is a young prodigy who should be in college, not on the streets. The movie follows Will as he tries to reach his potential while also figuring out what he wants to do, not what the professor is forcing on him.

'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania' (2023)

“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” finally answers the questions that previous Marvel movies have teased regarding what’s actually in the quantum realm and how did Ant-Man’s mother-in-law survive down there for 30 years. In the movie, the superhero’s teenage daughter gets them, Hope (her dad’s wife) and her grandparents all sucked into the quantum realm, which leads to a lot of arguments. But throughout the movie, they find common ground and she ends up saving the day.

'Elf' (2003)

“Elf” is a classic starring Will Ferrell (Buddy), who plays a human raised by Santa’s elves before journeying to New York City to meet his biological father. Leaving the North Pole is hard, but so is bringing its culture to the big apple, so Buddy has to decide who he is in this new city.

'Jerry Maguire' (1996)

The title character in “Jerry Maguire” is a knuckle-busting sports agent who suddenly has a change of heart and wants to do things the right way. He’s fired over it, and only one person at the company, a single mother, leaves with him and they start a new company together. They somehow manage to fall in love despite losing clients, money and Jerry’s less than warm words at times.

'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' (2023)

Multiverses is the name of the game in Marvel's world these days. In "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," Miles Morales, who is Spider-Man in the comic book, is thrown to the multiverse. Shameik Moore stars as Miles; Daniel Kaluuya and Issa Rae also star.

'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' (2022)

"Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" is a eulogy to King T'Challa and his original actor, Chadwick Boseman, who died in 2020. It's also a celebration of Wakandans coming together and finding their new leader as they thwart off new attacks.

'Flamin' Hot' (2023)

Is "Flamin' Hot" based on a true story ? The movie supposedly tells the tale of how a janitor created the Flamin' Hot Cheetos flavor, which is disputed by Frito-Lay. But the movie still has lessons to share .

Rating: PG-3

'Draft Day' (2014)

Kevin Costner and the last Chadwick Boseman star in "Draft Day," the story of how Costner's character, Sonny Weaver Jr., landed the No. 1 draft pick for the NFL's Cleveland Browns in a true uphill battle. Boseman plays Vontae Mack, who Sonny wants to draft, but he has no support from his team to do it since they think there are better players available.

'Freaky Friday' (2003)

"Freaky Friday" is a classic starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis as mother and daughter who just are not seeing eye-to-eye. They literally have to walk in each other's shoes to have empathy and more respect for each other.

'Coach Carter' (2005)

Samuel L. Jackson plays the title character in “Coach Carter,” a classic film that shows what a high school basketball team can do when their coach believes in them and is a great teacher. Their city, Richmond, California, needs something to believe in and some good news to share. The high school’s potential boy’s basketball championship would be perfect.

'Honk for Jesus' (2022)

Sterling K. Brown and Regina Hall shine in “Honk For Jesus,” a parody that points out double standards related to the institution of the church and the pros and cons of being a part of mega churches or smaller, local churches.

'Unchartered' (2020)

“Uncharted” is a modern day treasure hunt. Two orphaned brothers (Tom Holland and Mark Walhberg) join forces to stop a corrupt billionaire from finding the treasure before they do. But the treasure is hidden and most people don’t think it exist at all, so the friends have their work cut out for them.

Movies for families with middle grade kids

'wonka' (2023).

Drawing from the character in Roald Dahl's 1964 children’s novel, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Wonka” serves as the origin story for eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka, played by Timothée Chalamet. It chronicles the journey of a young Willy Wonka, who attempts to establish his first chocolate shop amidst competition from rival chocolatiers.

'Sky High' (2005)

Every student in “Sky High” has super powers. Their high school trains them to use their skills — an investment that proves useful when their school comes under attack.

'Akeelah and the Bee' (2006)

Keke Palmer, Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishbourne star in this classic about students from different socioeconomic backgrounds and high schools competing in spelling bees. It’s a lighthearted story with some heavier moments sprinkled in (not to mention oodles of star talent).

'High School Musical' (2006)

The original “High School Musical” set the foundation for all the spinoffs that have since happened (and are available on Disney+). Troy (Zac Efron) and Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) fall in love as he reconciles being a basketball player who wants to perform theatre and she prepares for a big science competition.

Rating: TV-G

'The Greatest Showman' (2017)

Ideal for families with older kids, “The Greatest Showman” is an irresistible musical starring Hugh Jackman, consummate showman himself, as circus maestro P.T. Barnum. The musical takes its liberties with Barnum’s life story, but — featuring music by duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul — is likely more entertaining for the editorializing.

'Holes' (2003)

“Holes” has a dark premise — but kids will enjoy the movie’s twists nevertheless. The movie is set at a brutal boot camp where teens in need of “straightening out” are sent. There, they dig holes. All day. eventually, they find out what their days of toil are for, but it takes some ... digging.

'Mrs. Doubtfire' (1993)

In one of his most enduring roles, the late Robin Williams plays Daniel Hillard, a dad who, amid a divorce, goes to great lengths to get more time with his kids. He dresses up as a nanny, Mrs. Doubtfire, in the hopes that he can remain a caregiver — and his ex-wife hires him, not knowing who’s really behind that prosthetic nose. As Mrs. Doubtfire, he learns what’s really going on with his family, and how to fix it. The movie’s legacy is continued in a Broadway show .

'Inside Out' (2015)

Feel every feeling through this Pixar movie, which alternates between showing a teenage girl’s perspective and the viewpoints of the five main emotions in her brain. “Inside Out” shows how to balance the voices of joy, sadness, anger, fear and disgust — for we all have them inside us.

'Spy Kids' (2001)

Carmen (Alexa PenaVega) and Juni (Daryl Sabara) are roped into their parents’ gadget-filled life as spies. All four “Spy Kids” movies are a blend of “James Bond” and kid-friendly hijinks.

'The Princess Bride' (1987)

As you wish. With its blend of adventure, comedy and romance, “The Princess Bride” is likely to appeal to everyone in the family. Based on the novel by William Goldman, “The Princess Bride” is about a couple wrenched apart by a king — but the side characters, from Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) to Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), are largely what render the spoof film a cult classic.

'Elemental' (2023)

People are fire, water, earth or air in "Elemental" and have to figure out how to live together even though they are complete opposites. The experimental movie is a great followup to "Inside Out," prompting questions as it elicits laughs.

'The Little Mermaid' (2023)

The live-action remake of "The Little Mermaid" is spectacular in its emotion, visual effects and storyline. The plot is the same as the original: Ariel the mermaid wants to live on land and trades her voice to the sea witch Ursula for legs. While on land, Ariel falls in love, but has to figure out a way to get her voice back and keep her new legs. But the vivid visuals are more dramatic (and scary!) in live-action form, making it appeal to older kids as well as younger.

'Queen of Katwe' (2016)

A 10-year-old chess prodigy (played by the late Nikita Pearl Waligwa) from the slums of Kampala, Uganda becomes a widely recognized chess player and uses the opportunity to escape her impoverished lifestyle. Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo star in this family drama, based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi.

'Turning Red' (2022)

“Turning Red” sparked conversation between parents when it premiered on Disney+ in 2022. For all its use of fantasy plot lines — our protagonist is from a line of women who turn into red panda bears — the animated movie takes a real look at what it’s like to be a preteen girl, marked by unabashed enthusiasm, intense feelings and forever friendship.

'National Treasure' (2004)

“National Treasure” is the first in a three movie series in which Benjamin Gates (Nicolas Cage) uses U.S. history facts to uncover clues that lead to a treasure. Along the way, he falls in love and grows even closer to his aging father.

'The Game Plan' (2007)

Football star Joe Kingman (Dwyane Johnson) is enjoying his bachelor years after previously getting a divorce only to find out he actually has a young daughter with his ex-wife. Joe ends up taking in his daughter to live with him. His life is shaken up for the worst before he realizes it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to him.

Movies for families with elementary schoolers

'trolls' (2016).

“Trolls” is an animated musical comedy starring Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake as the optimistic Poppy and cautious Branch. When the Bergens invade Troll Village, Poppy and Branch set off on a mission to rescue fellow trolls before they are eaten.

'Bee Movie' (2007)

In “Bee Movie,” Jerry Seinfeld voices fresh-out-of-college honeybee Barry B. Benson. On a rare trip outside the hive, Barry is saved by a florist named Vanessa, played by Renée Zellweger. As their friendship develops, Barry learns that humans have been exploiting bees for honey and decides to sue the human race.

'Kung Fu Panda' (2008)

Po, a worker in his father's noodle shop, dreams of being a kung fu warrior alongside the Furious Five — Tigress, Monkey, Crane, Viper and Mantis — but thinks it'll never happen. His dream becomes a reality when a supervillain threatens all of their livelihoods.

'The Family Switch' (2023)

Jess and Bill Walker and their two pre-teens are just not seeing eye-to-eye. When they unknowingly encounter an astrology reader who switches Jess into her daughter's body and Bill into his son's. Living as each other for a day sure brings some perspective, to say the least. Jennifer Garner, Ed Helms, Emma Myers and Brady Noon star.

'Yes Day' (2001)

Parents (played by Jennifer Garner and Edgar Ramirez) say yes to anything their kids want in “Yes Day” for 24 hours and the three Torres kids do not hold back.

'Daddy Day Care' (2003)

Forced into being a stay-at-home dad, Charlie (Eddie Murphy) ends up starting a day care that becomes quite popular. As attendance surges, Charlie has to find a way to bring the center up to code and stay open for the rambunctious kids who love his day care.

'Wish' (2023)

It’s time to believe in “Wish” when teenager Asha asks for help and gets a response from a ball of energy called Star. They team up to help save Asha’s kingdom from its corrupt ruler who intentionally keeps the townspeople under his powerful thumb.

'Dr. Dolittle' (1998)

Eddie Murphy can talk to animals in “Dr. Dolittle” and his kids don’t know what to think. He tries to bond with them while also helping as many animals as he can.

'Over the Hedge' (2006)

Scrappy woodland friends uncharacteristically wake up in the middle of their hibernation season and have to band together to withstand the bounty that humans in their neighborhood put on their heads.

'Stuart Little' (1999)

"Stuart Little," an adaptation of E.B. White's novel of the same name, is a spin on pet adoption. The Little family adopts an anthropomorphic mouse, Stuart, and expects their son, George, to treat him like his real brother. It takes time, as you might expect.

'Brave' (2012)

This Scotland-set animated film tells the story of Merida, a teenager set on defying a patriarchal tradition her village follows, and Queen Elinor, her mother who tries at all cost to prevent Merida from achieving her goal. Even though it’s a kid’s movie, the mother and daughter’s rocky relationship is likely to resonate with adults, too.

'Vivo' (2021)

Young Andres and his cute pet kinkajou, straight out of the local Cuban rainforest, off to find Andres’ best friend in an eventful road trip adventure. The musical.

'Horton Hears a Who!' (2008)

Jim Carrey played the Grinch in one Dr. Seuss adaptation; here, he plays an animated elephant named Horton who, oddly enough, hears sounds coming from a tiny speck of dust. Turns out these the speck of dust is home to Whos of Whoville (where “The Grinch” takes place). Horton mounts a campaign to convince others what he hears is real.

'Despicable Me' (2010)

Gru (Steve Carrell) is a proud supervillain, and with good reason — he’s good at it. When he ends up getting custody of three orphaned sisters, though, he has to get a whole new skill set. “Despicable Me” will open up a universe of movies, including sequels and movies based on the minion side characters.

'The Princess and the Frog' (2009)

“The Princess and the Frog” uses Disney’s classic style of animation for a new story. In this New Orleans-set story, Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) kisses a frog and becomes one herself. There go her dreams of starting a restaurant — or so she thinks.

'The Sandlot' (1993)

“The Sandlot” captures the feeling of childhood, especially for those ‘90s kids who grew up watching it over and over. Set in the ‘60s, the movie follows a group of baseball-loving kids over the course of one pivotal summer.

'Finding Dory' (2016)

In the "Finding Nemo" sequel, all the questions surrounding Dory’s parents and short attentions pan are finally answered, and she’s reunited with her family, at last.

'Shark Tale' (2004)

The ocean is literally full of loan sharks and indebted fish in "Shark Tale." Lenny the shark decides he doesn't want to be a part of his family's shady business — but how does he get out? He meets Oscar the fish, who owes Lenny's family a lot of money. The two hatch a plan that's supposed to solve both their problems. But, of course, it just creates more. These two are in deep .

'Jumanji' (1995)

A family game night goes completely wrong in "Jumanji" when the kids find an old, sketchy looking board game in the attic. Turns out, the game is magical and as they play, random people emerge from the board and the family has to figure out how to help them, if they can. Robin Williams stars. The 2017 and 2019 remakes star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Kevin Hart and Jack Black.

'The Wizard of Oz' (1939)

Follow the yellow brick road through a spirited journey in "Wizard of Oz." This classic musical's favorite characters are Dorothy, the Lion, the Scarecrow and the Tin Man, who each lack something and travel to the Wizard of Oz hoping he can fulfill their requests. Unfortunately, the wizard turns out to be a complete sham and the quartet realizes they already had what they were seeking.

'How to Train Your Dragon' (2010)

It's already hard being the chief's son, but it's doubly difficult when Hiccup disagrees with some of the clan's ways of life, such as hunting and killing dragons. Forced into dragon-fighting school, Hiccup actually befriends a dragon and creates a new possibility for his clan: How to train dragons and co-exist.

'Aliens in the Attic' (2009)

"Aliens in the Attic" is exactly what the title suggests. So much for a peaceful family vacation! When a few kids find aliens in their attic, they concoct a plan to drive them out. Piecing clues together, they learn that the aliens can only control adults. So, for the plan to work, the kids must ban together and keep the adults completely in the dark.

'Ella Enchanted' (2004)

Parents who have wished their kids always did as they were told may rethink that after watching "Ella Enchanted." In the movie, Ella (Anne Hathaway) has a spell cast on her that makes her obey every command. People later use it against her and she internally struggles to find a way to break the spell.

'Lightyear' (2022)

"Toy Story" fans already know Buzz Lightyear. Or, do they? In "Lightyear," fans finally get the back story how how Buzz ended up on Earth and what he wanted to do before becoming one of Andy's toys.

'Me Time' (2022)

Finally! One dad managed to stumble into some free time when his wife and kids are away with her family. So he meets up with an old childhood friend for a hilarious adventure while his wife and kids have one of their own. The movie stars Mark Wahlberg, Regina Hall and Kevin Hart.

'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial' (1982)

"E.T." is all about letting possibility into your universe. Oh, and it's also about aliens. This Steven Spielberg classic follows what happens when a boy (Henry Thomas) discovers a friendly alien and tries to help him find his way home.

'Paddington' (2014)

Paddington the Bear, the classic character from children's literature, was revived for a new generation through these charming movies featuring just about every famous English actor. You might even like the sequel more than the first one.

'The Goonies' (1985)

"The Goonies" was a classic children's movie for one generation, and still holds up. An old pirate map found in an attic leads to real-life treasure. This movie will have kids looking for avenues for magic in their own lives.

'Luca' (2021)

Travel to the coast of Italy in this Pixar movie about a pre-teen sea monster who explores the land, and finds there's a lot to love (including gelato).

'Sing' (2016)

This animated movie takes place in a world where anthropomorphic animals live side-by-side, and follows a particularly talented bunch. Matthew McConaughey is a koala bear theater owner who launches a singing contest to save his theater. Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson and Taron Egerton are among the animals shooting for stardom. "Sing 2," out in 2022, is just as song-filled (and might even be your favorite of the two).

'Are We There Yet?' (2005)

Suzanne Kingston's (Nia Long) two kids are determined to keep her from finding a romantic connection. And while Nick Persons (Ice Cube) has a crush on Suzanne, he's not interested in raising anyone's kids. Nick offers Suzanne and her kids a ride to the airport — but ends up driving them all the way from Oregon to Canada. The road trip is long, not only in miles, but teaches everyone a few lessons along the way. This family comedy has a sequel, "Are We Done Yet" (2007), that's worth watching next.

'Encanto' (2021)

The Madrigal family, the family at the center of this Pixar move, captivated viewers with their array of powers, their enchanted magic house, and their original songs written by Lin-Manuel. One family member, Mirabel, doesn't have any powers but ends up being the key to solving a family dilemma. We all ended up talking about Bruno , thanks to this movie.

'Cheaper by the Dozen' (2003)

"Cheaper by the Dozen" features Steve Martin and Kate Baker as parents who've put their career and dreams on the back burner to raise 12 rambunctious kids. The 2022 remake starring Gabrielle Union and Zach Braff puts a new age spin on the classic movie.

'Ice Age' (2002)

For parents who can handle talking animals (and we know that some simply cannot), "Ice Age" is for you. In the movie, animals across species band together to survive in a changing environment. Ray Ramano and Queen Latifah lead this four-movie series that, despite its name, is nothing if not warm.

'The Parent Trap' (1998)

Imagine Hallie and Annie's surprise when they learn they are each other's twin while at summer camp. Their parents, they realize, split them up as kids. At the end of the summer, the twins go home with the unknown parent to get their questions answered and reunite their family. This classic stars Lindsey Lohan as both the twins.

'Finding Nemo' (2003)

"Finding Nemo" might cause tears before laughter, and that's thanks to the sad opening scene. In this classic Pixar movie, a clownfish named Marlin tragically loses his wife in an accident that destroyed all their unhatched babies — except one, Nemo. When Nemo goes missing, Marlin has to face his agoraphobic tendencies and venture out into the ocean.

'Matilda' (1996)

Matilda Wormwood (Mara Wilson) is a genius — but hardly anyone seems to acknowledge this. The only bright spots in her life are her beloved books and her teacher, Mrs. Honey (Embeth Davidtz), who's sympathetic to her situation. Matilda's unused brainpower leads her to develop powers that surprise her family and delight the rest of us. The musical adaptation on Netflix is equally memorable.

'Honey, I Shrunk the Kids' (1989)

This classic family comedy is a whirlwind of adventure. A scientist (Rick Moranis) accidentally shrinks his four kids with a shrink ray he thought didn't work. When he throws it out, his quarter-of-an-inch-sized kids have to get from the garbage can in the yard back to the house while combatting now-dangerous sprinkler systems and stampedes of ants.

'The Lion King' (1994)

Sing along in this coming-of-age classic as Simba rediscovers who he is after tragically losing his dad, Mufasa, and learns to inherit his birthright.

'Home Alone' (1990)

As his family prepares for a Christmas vacation to Paris, Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) gets accidentally left behind. While home alone, hence the title, Kevin tries to outsmart the two criminals trying to ransack his family's house. Kevin is initially criticized for his mischievousness — but that quality ultimately saves the day.

'The Incredibles' (2004)

When they're not suiting up and saving the world, the family in "The Incredibles" are doing laundry and homework. They're almost normal — but not quite, and that's why they've been tasked with taking down villains. This classic movie and its sequel feature America's favorite superhero family.

'Johnson Family Vacation' (2004)

This road trip movie stars Cedric the Entertainer, Vanessa Williams, Bow Wow, Solange Knowles and Steve Harvey as estranged family members heading on a road trip from California to Missouri for a reunion.

Rating: PG-13

'Moana' (2016)

Moana (Auli'i Cravalho) is a princess of a Pacific island that no one ever leaves — but she wants to. The daring teenager hopes to save her community by sailing away and embarking on an ancestral quest. Music by Lin-Manuel Miranda punctuates her journey. After seeing this movie, which co-stars Dwyane Johnson as a demigod, you'll say, "You're welcome ."

'Shrek' (2001)

Journey into Shrek's swamp — actually, on second thought, best not to. This Scottish ogre, voiced by Mike Meyers, hates visitors on his land. Follow, instead, as Shrek falls in love with the princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz).

'Ramona and Beezus' (2010)

Joey King and Selena Gomez star as sisters (and total opposites) trying to save their family home. Ramona (King) is a rambunctious grade schooler who uses her imagination to make sense of her changing reality. Beezus (Gomez) is an older sister just trying to keep up with all Ramona's shenanigans, all the while trying to secure their family home. The movies is based on a children's book series by Beverly Cleary .

'Bridge to Terabithia' (2007)

In this classic book adaptation, two teenagers (AnnaSophia Robb and Josh Hutcherson) create an imaginary world that magical creatures inhabit. The young adults find freedom and empowerment in this world, a stark contrast to the their home lives. "Bridge to Terabithia" has a notoriously tear-jerking ending — you've been warned.

'The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl' (2005)

What's a lonely boy to do? Create an imaginary world filled with superheroes, of course. In this film, a kid with an overactive imagination is drawn into the world that might be more real than he originally thought.

'Because of Winn-Dixie' (2005)

Families with pets will appreciate "Because of Winn-Dixie," the story of Opal Buloni (AnnaSophia Robb), a 10-year-old girl who finds companionship in a stray dog she encounters outside of a Winn-Dixie supermarket. Through the relationship she has with Winn-Dixie and new friends in the community, Opal helps come to terms with the mom who abandoned her, and connect with the preacher father who she's suddenly living with.

'Up' (2009)

Since "Up" celebrates intergenerational friendships, it's a great pick for grandparents to watch with their grandkids. In "Up," 78-year-old widower Carl Fredricksen (Edward Asner) is about to fulfill his and his wife's lifelong dream of flying, via balloon, to a vista in South America. To his surprise, a kid named Russell (Jordan Nagai) and his dog are in the house when he takes off, disrupting his plans of a solitary, contemplative journey.

'The Lorax' (2012)

12-year-old Ted (Zac Efron) is on a mission: He wants to win over his crush, Audrey (Taylor Swift), and she loves Truffula trees. Unfortunately, that simple gift is impossible to get in their town, which completely lacks vegetation. His efforts to find a tree lead him closer to an explanation of why all the plants disappeared.

Randi Richardson is a reporter for NBC News' TODAY.com based in Brooklyn.

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There's this belief that the studio comedy is slowly dying. While only 10 years ago we'd be greeted each weekend with a brand-new studio comedy, now they feel far and few in between. The summer 2023 movie season feels like the first in a long time that harkens back to those days with films like No Hard Feelings , Strays , The Machine , and Joy Ride all making their way to the big screen. Then there's About My Father , a new film starring two-time Academy Award winner and legend of the screen Robert De Niro alongside Sebastian Maniscalco in his first starring role. If you haven't heard of Maniscalco, there's a good chance that the next person you talk to does as he's become one of the biggest names in the stand-up comedy scene.

In the film, Maniscalco plays a fictionalized version of himself who is dating the lovely Ellie ( Leslie Bibb ). When he's invited to spend the Fourth of July with Ellie's wealthy and very American family for the Fourth of July, Sebastian reluctantly brings along his father Salvo (de Niro), an Italian immigrant hairstylist who is unfiltered but loving, in his own unique way. Ellie's family consists of the matriarch Tigger ( Kim Cattrall ), a polarizing politician who is constantly making waves on the cable news circuit, her father Bill ( David Rasche ) who tries to keep a happy face despite his constant concerns about his children, her douchey brother Lucky ( Anders Holm ) who has a knack for aviation, and the hippy socialist Doug ( Brett Dier ) who spends his time playing with sound bowls and serenading the family's pet peacock. It's clear from the get-go that Ellie and Sebastian are from different walks of life and bringing their families together creates a massive clash of cultures where secrets are spilled, feathers are ruffled, and peacocks are eaten.

RELATED: Robert de Niro & Sebastian Maniscalco Talk 'About My Father' and Possible Sequel Ideas

'About My Father' Is a Love Story Between Father and Son

About My Father is both exactly what you'd expect it to be and also one of the most pleasant surprises of the year. It's in the vein of the studio comedies of the early aughts like My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Meet the Parents while also having a bit of Wedding Crashers thrown in there as well. It would have been extremely easy to have its sense of humor built completely around one-note stereotypes but director Laura Terruso , as well as co-writers Maniscalco and Austen Earl , don't go that route. There is something so sweet and honest about the film as it's a romantic comedy where the love story is about the bond between father and son. Ellie's wealthy family aren't portrayed as villains nor is Salvo portrayed as some antagonist father. Instead, the film establishes very early on that these two families are from different worlds. The film opens with Maniscalco narrating a montage about what it means to be Silician as well as reminiscing about his childhood, so by the time we meet Ellie's family, Terruso doesn't antagonize them, but instead shows them as otherworldly. For example, when we first meet Lucky he's stepping out of the family's helicopter wearing a flight suit that makes him look like he just walked off the set of Top Gun: Maverick .

De Niro's track record in comedy has had some mighty heights, the aforementioned Meet the Parents , Analyze This , and Silver Linings Playbook , as well as some dismal lows such as Dirty Grandpa and The Big Wedding . Fortunately, de Niro is in fine form playing Salvo, who is directly based on Maniscalco's real-life father. In a role that feels almost the polar opposite of Jack Byrnes, de Niro gleefully throws out witty one-liners about being an immigrant, building Nintendos out of wood, and Che Guevera. He's clearly having a wonderful time on set, and he truly does feel so natural as this character (it probably helps that he met up with the real-life Salvo before and during filming). He plays Salvo like he's that relative that you only see at family reunions who lives in his own world, talking to you for hours as you sit next to him while downing your fourth bottle of beer, not annoyed, but having the time of your life. Paired with Maniscalco's everyman, the two leading men have excellent chemistry, bouncing off of each other extremely well. Leslie Bibb, Kim Cattrall, David Rasche, and Anders Holm all get their time to shine as well, but the supporting cast's biggest scene-stealer is Brett Dier as Doug who garners some of the film's biggest laughs every time he appears on screen.

'About My Father' Brings Maniscalco's Jokes to the Big Screen

The plot of About My Father is extremely predictable in nature and not all the jokes land as hard as they could have, including a bit about Maniscalco's fear of flying, but there's a lot of sincerity that surrounds the film and makes it incredibly easy to fall for. The film does feel a little bit rushed, with a runtime of just under 90 minutes, and it would've been nice to spend a bit more time with the characters, especially as the ending does come abruptly as some of the character's dilemmas are solved a little too quickly and easily.

There are not a lot of movies out there that you can take the entire family to the theater for (outside of some of the tent-pole blockbusters, but even then) where everybody will enjoy themselves regardless of age, especially in the realm of comedies, but About My Father really does feel like it is from a different, and simpler era. It's never mean-spirited (well except maybe towards peacocks) nor is its humor ever too edgy. Both Maniscalco and Laura Terruso have said that they made the film as a love letter to their respective parents, and it clearly shows. This obviously isn't a film that's striving to win any major awards but, at the same time, it isn't as sophomoric as some of the marketing may have led you to believe. Maniscalco has built himself a very large and dedicated following through his work in stand-up, and with About My Father , he's finally able to bring his jokes to the big screen in a way that will please his fans but also garner him some new loyal followers as well.

About My Father opens in theaters everywhere on May 26.

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Family Movie Review: Love, Simon (PG-13)

MPAA Rating: PG-13       Length: 110 minutes

Age Appropriate For: 14+. This teen drama focuses on a high school senior and his decision to come out to his friends and family. Some cursing and homophobic slurs, some bullying, some sexually themed humor and conversations, a party where teens drink to excess, some kissing and flirting.

‘Love, Simon’ is the kind of earnest coming-of-age story that focuses on a teen boy’s coming of age and his first love—he also just happens to be gay. The film is gentle and generous, with a captivating performance from Nick Robinson as the titular Simon.

By Roxana Hadadi

Based on the YA novel “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda” by Becky Albertalli, the film is the first studio picture to focus on a gay teen romance, and director Greg Berlanti—who worked extensively in teen TV like “Dawson’s Creek,” “Everwood,” “Arrow,” and “Supergirl”—was the right choice. He has a true understanding of how teens think and how they act, and he often lets the camera linger on Robinson’s face so we can observe the complexity of the emotions there: the fear when he thinks someone may know his secret, how he averts his eyes from his father when he makes corny, heteronormative sex jokes, the affection and curiosity that wash over his face as he reads another email from his online confidante.

Robinson has been lovable in many teen-focused films before this, in particular “The Kings of Summer” and last year’s “Everything, Everything,” and he is exceptional here. You’ll feel for him and hope for him, especially during the film’s final 15 minutes or so, which veer very closely to the seminal ‘90s romantic comedy “Never Been Kissed” and are just as charming.

“Love, Simon” is set during Simon’s senior year, as he and his friends await graduation: his best friend Leah (Katherine Langford), who shares many of his interests, including alternative rock like Radiohead and Elliott Smith; his close friend Nick (Jorge Lendeborg Jr., of “Spider-Man: Homecoming” ), who plays soccer on their school team; and newcomer Abby (Alexandra Shipp, of “X-Men: Apocalypse” ), who recently moved to the Atlanta suburbs from Washington, D.C., after her parents’ divorce. Things are pretty normal, for better and for worse: their school has an overzealous vice principal who is well-meaning but too involved in everyone’s business; Nick has been crushing on Abby but doesn’t know how to approach her; and there are a few bullies who are casually cruel to the high school’s only openly gay student, Ethan (Clark Moore), who holds his own but is regularly taunted regardless.

Oh yeah, and Simon has a “huge secret”: He’s also gay, and hasn’t yet come out to his family or friends. But when he sees that a classmate of his has posted anonymously on an online message board that he is also gay, the two begin emailing, with Simon calling himself “Jacques” and his confidante being nicknamed “Blue.” They can share their experiences, talk about their fears and their hopes, and wonder how their family and friends will all react—and Simon begins questioning who Blue could be, analyzing little clues in their communications to figure out with whom he is falling in love.

But this is high school, and nothing is easy: not when a classmate finds out Simon’s secret and starts blackmailing him, not when Simon starts lying to his friends, and especially not when Simon’s relationship with his parents becomes particularly strained. What should Simon do? What about his great love story?

“Love, Simon” nicely reflects the world in which we live (racial and gender diversity in both Simon’s friend group and the school’s community overall) while still putting enjoyable spins on the trademarks of the teen movie genre (like a drunken Halloween party with ’90s karaoke, after which Simon responsibly walks home and still gets there before curfew). These are the clichés that come with every high school film, but “Love, Simon” updates them for our time while never veering into slapstick or stereotypes. The film insightfully navigates not only Simon’s journey and his consideration of how being out may alter his identity or presentation of himself, but also provides looks inside the lives of his friends, his openly gay classmate Ethan, and Blue, whose journey overlaps with Simon’s but is unique in its own ways. The realism with which it treats its protagonist, with his uneasy mix of unsureness and yearning, and his family and friends, with their varying reactions to Simon’s secret but their ultimate support and love for him, is the key to making “Love, Simon” relatable while still revelatory. It’s warm, funny, and open-hearted, and it’s a must-see for parents and teenagers alike.

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Life is tough in the Witness Protection Program. Life is pretty cushy, too, especially if you're the Manzoni family in Luc Besson 's " The Family ": you get to live in a quaint house in a tiny village in Normandy, you eat well, you have FBI guys stationed across the street 24/7, and you have a personal handler who makes sure that you and your loved ones are safe. The point of being in Normandy for the Manzonis is to somehow "pass" as regular Americans on holiday or sabbatical, and the Manzonis fail to manage this from the start, mainly because they are all raging maniacs. 

"The Family" is a pretty uneven film, lurching from comedy to violence to sentiment, but it's best when it sticks in the realm of flat-out farce. The pleasure comes in watching the actors ( Michelle Pfeiffer , in particular) submitting wholeheartedly to ridiculous situations. The film has a mix of influences and genres, obviously, and Besson plays with these and references them openly, but the farcical elements rest uneasily beside the violence, leaving the unmistakeable feeling that this is a film slightly at war with itself. 

When dealing with the family's adjustment (or lack thereof) to small-town French life, it is on sure (and often hilarious) footing. Giovanni Manzoni ( Robert De Niro ) snitched on his Mafia friends back in the States, and because of that there is now a $20 million price on his head. In exchange for his testimony, he and his family (wife and two teenage kids, Belle and Warren) are placed in the Witness Protection Program, under the control of FBI agent Robert Stansfield ( Tommy Lee Jones ). Maggie Manzoni (Pfeiffer) is already sick of the life in hiding, and has a tiny habit of blowing stuff up when she gets upset. Of course placing a well-known Mob boss into a tiny village in France doesn't seem like the best strategy for the FBI, because the witness will stick out even more there, but you really can't ask those questions when you watch "The Family." The answers will not hold up under interrogation.

The film opens with the family (Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dianna Agron , and John D’Leo) driving through the French countryside to yet another hideout since their cover was blown in the Riviera. The two kids loll bored in the back seat, Giovanni tries to tell everyone the new place will be fine, everything will be okay, the dog gets blamed for the bad smell in the car (when actually it is the stink of a dead corpse in the trunk, hidden there by Giovanni on his way out of Nice). This opening scene contains everything that is good and pleasurable about the film: watching Pfeiffer and De Niro act with one another, the weird juxtaposition of violence and everyday family matters, the family's anxiety at being in France when they'd rather be in Brooklyn. You are lulled into a false sense that you understand what is going on here—that the father, Giovanni Manzoni (Robert De Niro) is the "wise guy," and his family is just along for the ride. But the next couple of scenes explode that sense of safety (literally) as you realize that all of them, all four of them, are out of their minds.

Belle and Warren size up their new small-town school and promptly begin to wreak havoc among their peer group. In a matter of days, Warren has taken over 50% of the blackmarket cigarette business, as well as the prescription pill business, and when he is told by a teacher that his conduct has been poor, he says he wants a lawyer. On her first day, Belle accepts a ride home with four French guys who tell her they want to "practice their English," and when she realizes that maybe they want more from her, she beats one of the guys to a pulp with a tennis racket. Played by "Glee"'s Dianna Argon, Belle is a creepy character, gorgeous and innocent, but when she falls in love with her math tutor, you can't get the image of her smashing the tennis racket into another human being's face out of your mind. Meanwhile, Warren and Belle's parents are oblivious to what's happening in their children's lives. Giovanni thinks he might try his hand at a memoir, not a smart move for someone who is supposed to be in hiding. Maggie visits a local church, trying to re-connect to her faith.  Tommy Lee Jones shows up now and then to say it's hard to protect them if they insist on breaking the plumber's legs because he can't fix the pipes.

De Niro could play this role in his sleep, but he's fun to watch, especially in the scenes with Pfeiffer, and when his power is demeaned by his family's shenanigans. In one awesome sequence, the curator of a local film group calls up Giovanni and asks if he wouldn't come to their next meeting to have a nice debate on a great American film, Vincente Minnelli's "Some Came Running" (starring Frank Sinatra as an aspiring writer with a tormented past). Against the advice of Stansfield, Giovanni accepts. The head of the film society tells him they were sent " Goodfellas " by mistake, so maybe the visiting American would have something to say about that? Boy, does he ever. It's a giant wink to the audience, an inside joke, as we are treated to the bizarre vision of Robert De Niro as Giovanni Manzoni watching Robert De Niro as Jimmy in "Goodfellas."

Pfeiffer's performance is the reason to see the film, though. Calling back her show-stopping turn in " Married to the Mob ," her Maggie is both supportive and bored out of her mind, yearning towards her old Catholic faith but unrepentant about blowing stuff up. She cooks at the stove, her hair in gigantic curlers. She kneels in church, praying to Jesus with earnest eyes. Pfeiffer has been very good in dramatic material, but she might be a comedienne at heart. There's one scene near the end of "The Family" where events are coming to a boil, buildings are exploding, and she crawls across the floor as quickly as she can clutching a gigantic kitchen knife. Her eyes are manic, wild, and yet also focused, like an assassin's. 

Luc Besson has built a career on stylish and thrilling action films, and "The Family" is a mess compared to such earlier efforts as "Le Femme Nikita" and "Léon: The Professional." But for what it is, it works, while reminding us and again to not take it too seriously.

Sheila O'Malley

Sheila O'Malley received a BFA in Theatre from the University of Rhode Island and a Master's in Acting from the Actors Studio MFA Program. Read her answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

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Common Sense Media Review

Language, drinking in affecting comedy about acceptance.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Family is about a selfish, blunt workaholic (Taylor Schilling) whose unexpected week with her middle school-age niece (Bryn Vale) changes her in important ways. The main characters learn to have empathy for each other and for themselves, and both make positive changes in their lives…

Why Age 15+?

Frequent strong language includes "f--k," "s--t," "bitch," "p---y," "ass," and "

An adult handles stress by drinking; she gulps down wine, shots, cocktails. One

Brief conversation about using two condoms for birth control (a character correc

Viewers hear how violent a group of Juggalos is (talk of them stabbing each othe

Any Positive Content?

Mixed messages about women and girls (a set of middle school bullies is insulted

Kate is selfish and painfully blunt, but softens over course of movie, acknowled

Frequent strong language includes "f--k," "s--t," "bitch," "p---y," "ass," and "bulls--t." A middle school-age child is called a "loser," and others are called "dogs" and "freaks."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

An adult handles stress by drinking; she gulps down wine, shots, cocktails. One scene shows many cocktails being downed. A character shows up drunk at a school; she takes a Lyft there and is driven by a sober friend so she doesn't drive drunk. At a gathering of Juggalos, people smoke joints and share large bongs; a character talks about being addled because she's on a lot of drugs.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Brief conversation about using two condoms for birth control (a character correctly says that it's safer to use just one) and some talk about dating. Two characters seem headed toward a romance at the end of the movie, but they never kiss.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Violence & Scariness

Viewers hear how violent a group of Juggalos is (talk of them stabbing each other and damaging public property, and viewers see them fistfighting), but they ultimately emerge as sweet eccentrics who drop everything to search for a lost kid. A bullied girl fights back against her foes by kicking one so hard she falls down; the kicker is then suspended from school. A woman is injured by a closing garage door.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Mixed messages about women and girls (a set of middle school bullies is insulted for being "dogs" and "bitches," and one girl is said to have a "lazy eye"), but also very sweet messages about empathy, unity, importance of feeling like you belong, being true to yourself, understanding that most people feel like "freaks" inside no matter what they look like outside.

Positive Role Models

Kate is selfish and painfully blunt, but softens over course of movie, acknowledges her faults and need to be kinder. Adults are deeply involved with the young characters. Even though bullied middle school girl joins a socially reviled group with off-putting outward attributes, viewers see that the group accepts her as she is, cares for her. Some stereotyping, including middle school "mean girls" group. An adult woman calls them "dogs," says they don't have right to pick on others because they're so unattractive. At 11, Maddie is empathetic toward others: When told that it should make her happy to shop for a dress when there are poor kids who can't, she logically answers, "Why would that make me happy? It just makes me sad those kids are poor." A mom who thinks "karate is for boys" learns better. Characters are diverse in race, ethnicity, gender, body type.

Parents need to know that Family is about a selfish, blunt workaholic ( Taylor Schilling ) whose unexpected week with her middle school-age niece (Bryn Vale) changes her in important ways. The main characters learn to have empathy for each other and for themselves, and both make positive changes in their lives. A girl who feels like she doesn't fit in is bullied by a group of female classmates who are then spoken of in stereotypical terms (as "dogs," "bitches," and "mean girls"); the girl ultimately defeats them by kicking one to the ground (she's suspended for it). At the same time, the girl also finds a group of friends who accept her for who she is. Despite some iffy choices, those friends are eventually revealed to be kind-hearted, thoughtful, and caring (even if viewers see them shrieking, punching each other, and sharing giant bongs). In other scenes, adults guzzle wine and cocktails; they don't usually appear drunk, but in one scene a character does show up drunk at a school. Frequent strong language includes "f--k," "s--t," "bitch," "p---y," "ass," "bulls--t"; several characters are also called (or call themselves) "freaks." There's no sex or romance, but there's a brief joke involving condoms and suggestions of the potential for romance between two characters. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

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Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say (2)
• Kids say (1)

Based on 2 parent reviews

This is a 5 year old movie

What's the story.

Kate ( Taylor Schilling ) has her eyes on the prize at work and doesn't have a lot of time for FAMILY. But when her brother ( Eric Edelstein ) and sister-in-law ( Allison Tolman ) have to leave town for an emergency, Kate's the only one available to take care of her 11-year-old niece, Maddie (Bryn Vale). Kate figures she can hold things together as usual, despite a challenging period at work. But Maddie's a kid who needs help -- and, luckily, she finds it, thanks to Kate and a friendly group of local Juggalos (followers of the band Insane Clown Posse).

Is It Any Good?

It churns through plenty of cinematic clichés along the way, but ultimately this comedy gets to a place of genuine sweetness -- in a gathering of the Juggalos, of all places. Viewers will instantly recognize Schilling's Kate from the first scenes: She's tightly wound, all business, with no time for friends or family. "I have a habit of saying things that everyone is thinking, but then someone's always like 'Why did you say that?' so I'm usually in the place where I hate myself but also think I'm better than everybody else," she sums up to Maddie. We know, by the way, that Maddie will be the driving force of Kate's story arc, because of course Kate has to change by the time the credits roll, or why else would she be dressed in pristine white silk shirts and frowning? So change she does, and in all the ways you imagine she will -- but the magic of Family is that it's done with such artistry that it transcends the trite setup.

Maddie is a weird kid, but the movie's not laughing at her -- even though her true friends wind up being Juggalos who hang out in front of a mini mart playing a recorder. We feel the pain of her differentness from the kids at school, as well as her joy at finding a group that accepts her as she is -- and an aunt who can help her feel comfortable and supported in choosing to stand out rather than trying fruitlessly to fit in. Maddie's new friends, as Kate tells Maddie's worried mom, "play with their spit, and all their songs are about stabbing people, but once you get beyond that, they're really kind of sweet." And, without giving away the ending, it's true. No, it's not realistic, but Family gets at a real feeling: the wonder of finding your people. And clichéd as it is, it's awfully affecting.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about how Family compares to other family-centered movies. Does the content seem more or less realistic than others'? How is this family different from other movie families?

Is it ever OK to use stereotypes as a way of portraying characters? Do you see any stereotypes in this movie? Do the characters ultimately affirm or upend their stereotypes?

How do the characters in Family demonstrate empathy ? Why are these important character strengths ?

How does the movie portray drinking ? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?

Movie Details

• In theaters : April 19, 2019
• On DVD or streaming : July 16, 2019
• Cast : Taylor Schilling , Brian Tyree Henry , Kate McKinnon , Bryn Vale
• Director : Laura Steinel
• Inclusion Information : Female directors, Female actors, Black actors, Lesbian actors
• Studio : The Film Arcade
• Genre : Comedy
• Character Strengths : Empathy
• Run time : 85 minutes
• MPAA rating : R
• MPAA explanation : language, some sexual content and drug use
• Last updated : July 27, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

What to watch next.

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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

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The Importance of Family Love

Learn how to create and sustain this type of love.

Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images

What Is Family Love?

Benefits of family love.

• Estrangement
• Negative Impact of the Pandemic

Creating Family Love With Friends

• How to Sustain Family Relationships

The first love you ever know often comes from your mother and your immediate family members. This unconditional love seeks nothing in return. Those loving times you remember cuddling with your parents, playing ball with your brother in the backyard, or getting ice cream down the street with your grandmother aren’t just cherished memories.

A family's love psychologically grounds you and provides a framework for future relationships. It enables you to form secure attachments . Securely attached children feel safe and cared for. If you had secure bonds, your parents were likely responsive and fulfilled your needs when you were young.

Having positive attachments and feeling cared for by your loved ones leads to higher social functioning later on. A child with secure attachments also can more easily form healthy ties with others when they grow up and throughout their future.

The advantages mentioned above regarding the fostering of secure attachments and higher social functioning aren’t the only ones accrued by stable family relationships. When you feel safe, protected, and cared for during those crucial early years, you have a good framework for the world. The future outlook seems bright.

Living in a warm environment that is surrounded by a family's love generates other benefits including:

• You gain confidence and a high sense of self-esteem .
• You learn conflict resolution skills .
• You learn about communication and social interactions.
• You have good physical health (thanks to home-cooked healthy meals, regular exercise and play, and early bedtimes).
• You become more resilient and adaptable as you and your family surmount challenges.
• You feel like you have support when you need it.
• You feel a sense of stability and predictability based on routine.
• You don’t have to do anything to earn family love. You have it unconditionally—just for being born.
• Your childhood experiences and growth are seen in a positive light.
• You also decrease the possibility that you’ll have mental health challenges in the future.

Recent Research

A 2019 study showed that adults with higher levels of positive childhood experiences had lower odds of depression and/or poor mental health and greater adult-reported social and emotional support.

Feeling loved by our families and having great childhood experiences when you’re young is important. The study also showed that enhancing positive childhood experiences may reduce adult mental health problems even when adverse childhood events happened.

Estrangement From Family Members

Perhaps you didn’t have an idyllic childhood and your parents weren’t good role models. You might have chosen to distance yourself from them by choice. Or in later years, you preferred to strike out in a different direction than the one you were expected to follow.

Thus, rather than have tension and discomfort, you opted not to spend time with family.

About 27% of Americans are estranged from a family member. That’s according to a survey by the  Cornell Family Reconciliation Project  conducted for the book, Fault Lines: Fractured Families and How to Mend Them , by Cornell University sociologist Karl Pillemer.

What If Effects of the Pandemic Negatively Impacted Your Family?

During COVID-19, family dynamics often shifted. As a result of spending more time together, let’s face it. Many of us became frustrated with each other. Some relationships frayed. Unable to escape to movies or to meet friends, you might have even grown resentful of your brother playing his music too loud or your cousin eating your favorite cereal on a daily basis.

Though you are related to them by genetics, maybe you’ve grown tired of being cooped up with them. With added stressors and demands placed upon you, you might feel you didn’t get the understanding or assistance you needed.

Consequently, you may feel depleted and, to be frank, less than enamored with these people. Many confess they are more alienated from family members now than before the pandemic, although the whole family still remains under the same roof or in the same apartment building.

Recent research from Penn State showed because family members were stuck together for more time than they were used to, people's overall well-being began to suffer.

Others of us lived and worked across the country from our family. We couldn’t travel to visit them or perhaps we couldn’t give much time to loved ones. Maybe we felt guilty. Maybe we were relieved.

Disagreements over politics , wearing masks, and getting the vaccine strained family relationships. Perhaps you feel there won’t be a return to the way things were before the pandemic and that’s okay.

You can cope with estranged relationships and make peace with them through family therapy or individual therapy .

If you didn’t have a wonderful family experience growing up or don’t have one now, you still have agency in creating another kind of family. Family love can be found whether it’s based on bloodline relationships or not.

Family love can be built with a group outside of your family, such as your friendship circle. Rest assured you don’t have to be extremely close to your parents or siblings or children to have familial love.

The relationships you forge with neighbors, friends from work, or childhood friends who might be back in your life can serve extremely well as your family. Perhaps you’re close to college friends or church friends. You can establish your own close ties with people you choose to be with.

For many people, their close friends aren’t just "like family," they are family. The important thing is to have close, meaningful relationships as they sustain us.

According to a scientific review of about 150 studies that included 300,000 participants, people with strong social ties have a 50% better chance of survival than those with weaker ties. This is regardless of age, sex, or health status.

While we can maintain ties through texting or quick phone calls to just check in, you might want to devote more attention to these important relationships in your life. We need to remember that having these close relationships is a significant aspect of good health.

Tips for Nurturing Family Love

Let’s focus on easy ways to maintain these bonds; they matter deeply. Here are additional ways to nurture family love and significant relationships:

• Make spending time with loved ones a priority.
• Play games online regularly.
• Practice better listening skills .
• Write letters and send via snail mail .
• Set up a regular weekend hour to chat at length.
• Travel to your loved one’s home.
• Eat meals together.
• Cook together in person or virtually.
• Set up a weekly happy hour.
• Join an exercise or weight lifting class together.
• Join a recreational sports team together.
• Volunteer together for a charity you both admire.
• Be sensitive and caring.
• Tell your loved ones you love them .
• Express your gratitude to them, which not only will make them happy but makes you happier.
• Use non-verbal expressions like eye contact, smiles, and affectionate embraces.

Hugs are important as we need physical touch as human beings . In fact, during a warm and welcome hug , the hormone oxytocin is released, which slows down our heart rate, reduces stress, and lowers anxiety. In addition, the brain also releases endorphins that flood us with feelings of pleasure and happiness.

There are many benefits of belonging to a supportive family network.  It’s an integral part of physical and mental well-being. Begin to focus your time and attention on those you love. Soon you’ll be creating fun times and happy memories.

Bethell C, Jones J, Gombojav N, Linkenbach J, Sege R. Positive Childhood Experiences and Adult Mental and Relational Health in a Statewide Sample: Associations Across Adverse Childhood Experiences Levels .  JAMA Pediatr.  2019;173(11):e193007. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.3007

Feinberg ME, Mogle, JA, Lee JK, Tornello SL, Hostetler ML, Cifelli JA, Bai S, Hotez E. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Parent, Child, and Family Functioning . Fam. Proc . 2021. 

Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Layton JB. Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review . PLOS Medicine . 2010.

By Barbara Field Barbara is a writer and speaker who is passionate about mental health, overall wellness, and women's issues.

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