Family movie night can quickly be derailed by scrolling endlessly and not finding a film to agree on. Fortunately, that’s why we keep this list of the best family movies on Netflix updated every month. Skip the scrolling and come here to find the most up-to-date breakdown of the family-friendly movies on Netflix that are most worth your time.
This month, a classic franchise joins the list as well as the live action adaptation of a beloved children’s series.
Looking for something else? We’ve also rounded up the best shows on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime, and the best movies on Disney+. For Netflix fans, check out the 10 most popular movies on Netflix right now.
Recently added to Netflix
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The Land Before Time1988 -
Paddington2014
The Land Before Time (1988) new
69m
Genre
Family, Animation, Adventure
Stars
Gabriel Damon, Candace Hutson, Will Ryan
Directed by
Don Bluth
There was a time when it felt like every time you went to Blockbuster, there was a new Land Before Time movie. That’s how beloved of a children’s franchise this was, and the 1988 original The Land Before Time remains a wonderful family-friendly film. Orphaned after an earthquake, young brontosaurus Littlefoot sets off in search of the legendary Great Valley, where dinosaurs can thrive in peace away from the desolation of the rest of the planet. On his way, he meets four other lost young dinosaurs, each of a different species, with their own preconceptions about one another. To make the journey, they must learn how to work together to survive.
Paddington (2014) new
96m
Genre
Comedy, Adventure, Family
Stars
Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins
Directed by
Paul King
Based on Michael Bond’s beloved novels, Paddington tells the story of the titular bear, traveling from the jungles of Peru to London in search of a home. The reality of city life is not quite as glamorous as his dreams, and Paddington soon finds himself lonely and adrift. That is, until he meets the Brown family, who offer him a temporary home. His luck seems to have turned until he catches the eye of museum taxidermist Millicent (Birth‘s Nicole Kidman).
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
136m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
Stars
Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans
Directed by
Marc Webb
Great for families with preteens and teens, The Amazing Spider-Man is a superhero high school movie for both adults and kids. Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield, arguably the best Spider-Man) is a typical high schooler except for the fact that he lives with his Uncle Ben and Aunt May (Martin Sheen and Sally Field) after the passing of his parents, and he has secret superpowers that nobody knows about. The challenges of high school seem minor, however, after he finds a mysterious briefcase that once belonged to his father, leading him on an investigation that lands in his father’s former partner’s lab. Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans) is thrilled to welcome the bright Peter to the lab, but he has a dark secret. His alter-ego The Lizard is gaining power, and Peter may be the only person who can stop him.
Nimona (2023)
102m
Genre
Adventure, Animation, Fantasy, Family
Stars
Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Eugene Lee Yang
Directed by
Troy Quane, Nick Bruno
One of Netflix’s coolest family-friendly movies, Nimona went a bit under the radar when it was released in 2023. Nonetheless, the hyperstylized, colorful fantasy adventure is well worth your time. After knight Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed) is framed for a murder he didn’t commit, he finds that the only person who can prove his innocence is Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz), a shape-shifting teen outcast who may also be a monster that he’s duty-bound to kill.
Ready Player One (2018)
Genre
Adventure, Action, Science Fiction
Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi thrill ride is a great mix of nostalgia for parents and gaming for kids. In 2045, the world is in shambles, on the brink of collapse. People seek refuge in OASIS, the vast virtual reality universe created by James Halliday (Mark Rylance). On his deathbed, Halliday leaves a digital Easter egg somewhere in the OASIS and announces he’ll leave his entire fortune to the first person to find the egg. It sets off a global (virtual) chase to unravel the mystery, and at the center of it all is an unlikely young hero named Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan). A celebration of technology and the enduring impact of pop culture, Ready Player One may be intense for little kids, but it’s a great option for families with pre-teens.
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2022)
90m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Stars
Jenny Slate, Dean Fleischer Camp, Isabella Rossellini
Directed by
Dean Fleischer Camp
The feature film debut of Jenny Slate’s YouTube phenomenon, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On takes audiences deeper into the life of Marcel (Slate), the one-inch-tall shell who leads a fabulous existence in a house with his grandmother, Connie, and their pet lint, Alan. They once lived as part of a large community of shells, but a mysterious tragedy left them abandoned and alone. When a documentary filmmaker (Dean Fleischer Camp) discovers Marcel and Connie in his Airbnb, he begins documenting their lives, soon drawing the attention of millions of fans. Those fans bring about new and unfamiliar dangers, but they also inspire hope that Marcel may be able to find his long-lost family.
Antz (1998)
83m
Genre
Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family
Stars
Woody Allen, Sharon Stone, Dan Aykroyd
Directed by
Eric Darnell, Tim Johnson
Basically a slightly more grown-up version than Disney/Pixar’s A Bug’s Life, Antz is surprisingly provocative when seen through an adult’s perspective without sacrificing the joyful innocence of animation. “Z” (Woody Allen) is a neurotic worker ant who is hopelessly in love with the rebellious Princess Bala (Sharon Stone). But when he rises to unlikely stardom after switching places with a soldier ant, Z becomes a propaganda symbol for the army, led by the bloodthirsty General Mandible (Gene Hackman). But what he thinks is just a fun, patriotic turn of events leads to horror when he’s marched off to fight a termite army.
Leo (2023)
102m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family
Stars
Adam Sandler, Bill Burr, Cecily Strong
Directed by
Robert Smigel, Robert Marianetti, David Wachtenheim
Leo (Adam Sandler) is a 74-year-old lizard who has been stuck in the same Florida classroom for decades with his terrarium-mate Squirtle the turtle (Bill Burr). Upon finding out he only has one year left to live, he decides it’s time to break out and experience what the world has to offer. Unfortunately, that proves harder than expected as he gets caught up in the problems of anxious students and their cruel substitute teacher, Mrs. Malkin (Cecily Strong).
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
93m
Genre
Animation, Family, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy
Stars
Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day
Directed by
Michael Jelenic, Aaron Horvath
One of 2023’s most popular movies, The Super Mario Bros. Movie puts a little more of a realistic spin on the classic video game series. Mario and Luigi (Chris Pratt and Charlie Day) are the Mario Brothers, Brooklyn plumbers who are struggling to get by. When they see an opportunity to fix an underground water main, they jump at the opportunity, only to be sucked down a magical pipe and into the Mushroom Kingdom. Unfortunately, only Mario lands in the Mushroom Kingdom, while Luigi lands in Bowser’s domain. Now, Mario must save Luigi before it’s too late.
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (2022)
106m
Genre
Comedy, Family, Music
Stars
Javier Bardem, Winslow Fegley, Shawn Mendes
Directed by
Josh Gordon, Will Speck
Josh Primm (Winslow Fegley) has just moved to New York City with his family but is struggling to adapt to his new school and make friends. But when he discovers Lyle (Shawn Mendes), a sophisticated singing crocodile living in the attic, the two become fast friends. Unfortunately, the evil neighbor Mr. Grumps (Brett Gelman) wants Lyle thrown out on the street. Now, Josh, his parents (Constance Wu and Scoot McNairy), and Lyle’s owner, Hector P. Valenti (Javier Bardem), must band together to protect the unique crocodile.
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022)
117m
Genre
Animation, Fantasy, Drama, Thriller
Stars
Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Gregory Mann
Directed by
Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson
There have been enough Pinocchio revivals over the past few years that it’s reasonable to ask why Guillermo del Toro thought another one was a good idea. And yet … del Toro’s pleasantly demented mind is sort of perfect for Pinocchio if you think about it. His stop-motion reimagining of Carlo Collodi’s classic tale is a whimsical musical that breathes surprising new life into the world’s most famous puppet who thinks he’s a real boy.
Enola Holmes 2 (2022)
129m
Genre
Mystery, Adventure, Crime
Stars
Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Louis Partridge
Directed by
Harry Bradbeer
Millie Bobby Brown returns as Sherlock Holmes’ unheralded — yet even more brilliant — little sister, Enola, in Enola Holmes 2. Fresh off of solving her first case, Enola decides it’s time to open her very own agency, just like her brother, Sherlock (Henry Cavill). Unfortunately, she quickly discovers the demand for female detectives isn’t quite what it is for her male counterparts. Struggling to get any cases, Enola is about ready to close up shop when a penniless matchstick girl asks Enola to find her missing sister. The case, however, is far more complex than expected, sending Enola deep into London’s underworld and all the way to the highest echelons of society.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (2022)
86m
Genre
Animation, Action, Comedy, Family, Science Fiction
Stars
Ben Schwartz, Omar Benson Miller, Brandon Mychal Smith
Directed by
Andy Suriano, Ant Ward
Nickelodeon’s hit YA series got the Netflix Original treatment! In their biggest adventure yet, Leo (Ben Schwartz), Raph (Omar Benson Miller), Mikey (Brandon Mychal Smith), and Donnie (Josh Brener) are the last hope against an alien invasion. In the year 2044, Earth is on the brink of becoming completely conquered by the Krang. In a desperate hail mary, an older Leo and Mikey send their student Casey Jones (Haley Joel Osment) to the year 2022 to help the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles find a key to stop the invasion before it happens.
Too Old for Fairy Tales (2022)
106m
Genre
Family, Comedy
Stars
Karolina Gruszka, Dorota Kolak, Andrzej Grabowski
Directed by
Kristoffer Rus
Too Old for Fairy Tales is a Polish film that stars newcomer Maciej Karas as Waldek, a spoiled gamer who fills his life with fantasy. But when there is a very real earthquake that forces Waldek apart from his mother, he’s taken in by an unpredictable aunt who introduces a whole new regiment of chores and responsibilities that Waldek has never experienced. Suddenly wrenched away from his precious games, Waldek is put into real-life survival mode, all while learning lessons he didn’t know he needed.
My Octopus Teacher (2020)
84m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Craig Foster, Tom Foster
Directed by
James Reed, Philippa Ehrlich
A nature documentary may seem like a bold choice for family movie night, but the Oscar-winning My Octopus Teacher feels like so much more than an educational film. Craig Foster is a professional photographer and videographer who returns to his childhood home at the southern tip of Africa, hoping to recover from burnout. Swimming in the same freezing ocean that he did as a child, Foster soon meets a young octopus who displays remarkable curiosity and intelligence. Foster continues to visit her den and track her movements, eventually earning her trust. The result is an extraordinary friendship that feels like it could only exist in a fantasy movie.
The Sea Beast (2022)
115m
Genre
Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Stars
Karl Urban, Zaris-Angel Hator, Jared Harris
Directed by
Chris Williams
The age of monster hunters is alive and well in the animated Netflix original The Sea Beast. And those monsters happen to live in the sea. For years, brave humans have ventured to the sea to wage war against the monsters and make the oceans navigable. The most beloved of all these monster hunters is Jacob Holland (Karl Urban). When little Maisie Brumble (Zaris-Angel Hator) meets her hero in a tavern, she becomes obsessed with the idea of going to sea with him. So, she stows away on Jacob’s legendary ship. When Jacob finds her, he’s not thrilled, but he soon discovers that Maisie is a courageous crew member and unexpectedly useful.
Vivo (2021)
99m
Genre
Animation, Family, Comedy
Stars
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ynairaly Simo, Zoe Saldana
Directed by
Kirk DeMicco
Looking for something Encanto-adjacent? A joint effort between Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation, Vivo calls upon the talents of Hollywood music-man Lin-Manuel Miranda to properly weave its animated tale. Miranda not only provides original music to the film, but he also voices the titular character, a magical kinkajou who spends his days serenading alongside Andrés (Juan de Marcos), the creature’s spirited owner. When a chance communication from Andrés’ lost love arrives, the musical duo sets off on a journey to deliver the ultimate love song to the musician’s muse. A kaleidoscopic arrangement of visuals and sound, Vivo is a film filled with heart that bountifully delivers on the beautiful cultural traditions of its Latin-American setting and characters.
We Can Be Heroes (2020)
97m
Genre
Action, Fantasy, Family, Comedy
Stars
YaYa Gosselin, Lyon Daniels, Andy Walken
Directed by
Robert Rodriguez
Writer-director Robert Rodriguez certainly knows a thing or two about delivering VFX-laden adventure films, centered on the crazy missions of exceptional pre-teen saviors. Serving as a spiritual continuation of The Adventure of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D, We Can Be Heroes follows the story of Earth’s many superheroes, extraterrestrial supervillains, and the children of the former. When the vile alien invaders take the heroes as their prisoners, the kids, led by Missy Moreno (YaYa Gosselin), must band together to save their families from the intergalactic foe. Tailor-made for younger viewers, We Can Be Heroes comes to life through dazzling visuals, big set pieces, and great acting from its primary players.
Back to the Outback (2021)
92m
Genre
Animation, Family, Adventure, Comedy
Stars
Isla Fisher, Tim Minchin, Eric Bana
Directed by
Harry Cripps, Claire Knight
Back to the Outback is a lively animated film that follows the cat-and-mouse getaway of a group of zoo creatures, led by Maddie (Isla Fisher), a snake looking to get back to the Australian outback where she believes she truly belongs. In tow are friends Zoe (Miranda Tapsell), Frank (Guy Pearce), and Neil (Angus Imrie) — a lizard, spider, and scorpion. With the zoo hot on their trail, the band of reptiles and insects must do everything in their power to make it to the faraway continent in one piece. Leaning heavily on the golden rule to never judge a book by its cover, even if it’s scaly or slimy, Back to the Outback is a fun-filled excursion that the whole family will enjoy.
Enola Holmes (2020)
123m
Genre
Mystery, Crime, Adventure
Stars
Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin
Directed by
Harry Bradbeer
The Sherlock Holmes legend adds a wrinkle with Enola (Millie Bobby Brown), a much younger sister who has spent her adolescent life learning and experimenting with her brilliant mother in the family’s reclusive mansion. But when her mother goes missing, big brother Sherlock (Henry Cavill) finally comes calling to reassure Enola that he’ll find their mother. Enola, however, has other ideas. She sets out to beat Sherlock at his own game.
Klaus (2019)
96m
Genre
Animation, Family, Adventure, Comedy
Stars
Jason Schwartzman, J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones
Directed by
Sergio Pablos
Jesper (voiced by Jason Schwartzman) is content with living life his own way, and specifically against the will of his Postmaster General father. After being transferred to the isle of Smeerensburg, Jesper is forced to post six-thousand letters within the year or risk losing his inheritance. Fortunately for him, a reclusive toymaker named Klaus (J.K. Simmons) lives just around the corner. When the children of Smeerensburg learn about the toymaker, they begin writing letters to Klaus, each hoping they’ll receive a toy. A mesmerizing, hand-drawn interpretation of the Santa Claus mythos, Klaus is a brilliant film and an all-new holiday classic.
Digital Trends streaming roundup
Pee-wee's Big Holiday (2016)
90m
Genre
Adventure, Comedy, Family
Stars
Paul Reubens, Joe Manganiello, Jessica Pohly
Directed by
John Lee
Pee-wee Herman is back in a new adventure in this Netflix original introducing a new generation of fans to the plucky adventurer. When Pee-wee meets a mysterious, inspiring stranger (Joe Manganiello), he decides it’s finally time to take his first-ever holiday, hitting the road for his biggest adventure yet.
The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)
114m
Genre
Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Science Fiction, Action
Stars
Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph
Directed by
Michael Rianda
If you’re going to do a family movie night, why not watch a movie about a dysfunctional family coming together? This Lord/Miller (The Lego Movie) animated romp is a ton of fun for everyone. Young Katie Mitchell (Abbi Jacobson) feels a bit like an outcast in her family of outcasts, but she knows she’ll find her people once she leaves for her first year of film school. Worried about losing his daughter permanently, Katie’s dad cancels her flight to LA and decides to do a family road trip instead. However, family bonding time is interrupted by the global uprising of electronic devices, organized by a scorned artificial intelligence (A.I.) named Pal. With the rest of the world rounded up and due for banishment to space, the Mitchells must come together to save their family and the planet.
Benji (2018)
87m
Genre
Crime, Drama
Stars
Gabriel Bateman, Darby Camp, Kiele Sanchez
Directed by
Brandon Camp
Netflix’s remake of the classic doggy hero tale is a heart-warming, fun adventure for the whole family. Siblings Carter (Gabriel Bateman) and Frankie (Darby Camp) are struggling with a family that’s falling apart at the seams. The only silver lining appears to be Benji, a stray dog that has struck up a special friendship with the children. But when they stumble into serious danger, Benji will have to save the day.
The Willoughbys (2020)
92m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family
Stars
Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Alessia Cara
Directed by
Kris Pearn
Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Alessia Cara, Terry Crews, Martin Short, Jane Krakowski, Sean Cullen, and Ricky Gervais lend their voices to this computer-animated film based on the book of the same name by Lois Lowry. It’s about the Willoughbys, two neglectful parents, and their unique children who try to survive on their own until a mysterious nanny arrives. Despite the presumably sad subject matter about orphaned children with bad parents, critics loved the film and lauded its silliness that is “anchored in genuine emotion.”
Invader ZIM: Enter the Florpus (2019)
Genre
Family, Animation, Comedy, Science Fiction, TV Movie
Cast
Jhonen Vasquez, Melissa Fahn, Wally Wingert
While it may not be the same Invader Zim millennials grew up watching, the Netflix-adapted Enter the Florpus will still get the entire family reeling. The story tracks Zim (Richard Steven Horvitz) after the events of the original TV series, seeing the little alien in the throes of an existential dilemma. As he’s fighting for a chance to make a difference and attempting to unlock his true purpose on Earth, Zim’s arch-nemesis plots his downfall in the shadows. Can the little alien gain the confidence he needs to overcome his human rival, or will he only be a memory? With a critics review score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, no family can go wrong with Invader Zim and his Florpus adventures.
If you’re looking for more films suitable for the whole family, we’ve also rounded up the best family movies on Amazon Prime Video and the best family movies on Disney+.
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