Settling in with your loved ones for a fantastic movie night is one of life’s simple pleasures. But finding the perfect film that captivates every generation, from the little ones to the grandparents, can be a delightful challenge. The best family movies are opportunities to create shared memories and spark meaningful conversations.
We understand the importance of togetherness on family film night, so we’ve carefully selected the top 20 best family movies, all readily available for streaming, and ranked them by their respected IMDb ratings. From whimsical animated adventures that ignite imagination to timeless classics that transcend eras, these films will bring your family closer. Discover your next family favourite and make movie night truly special.
What are the best family movies to watch together?
We created our list of the best family movies by focusing on films that genuinely resonate across different age groups. We considered the best family films that offered engaging stories and positive messages suitable for shared viewing. The primary ranking factor for our top 20 is the IMDb rating, a widely recognised and reliable indicator of a movie’s quality and appeal across nations.
For each featured film, we’ve included essential details to assist your movie night planning. You’ll find the movie’s release year, its director, key leading actors, and awards won. We also specified the streaming service where it’s currently available, its age rating (if you want to make sure the little ones can join in), a brief synopsis, and its global box office revenue. This helps you easily choose the perfect film for your family.
A Minecraft Movie
Fantasy •Action •Adventure •Comedy •Family •Kids •Animation
Overview
Four misfits find themselves struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld: a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back home, they’ll have to master this world while embarking on a magical quest with an unexpected, expert crafter, Steve.
Director
Jared Hess
Duration
105 minutes
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Fantasy •Family •Kids •Action •Adventure
Overview
Harry Potter has lived under the stairs at his aunt and uncle’s house his whole life. But on his 11th birthday, he learns he’s a powerful wizard—with a place waiting for him at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As he learns to harness his newfound powers with the help of the school’s kindly headmaster, Harry uncovers the truth about his parents’ deaths—and about the villain who’s to blame.
Director
Chris Columbus
Cast
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Richard Harris, Tom Felton
Duration
152 minutes
Z-O-M-B-I-E-S 4: Dawn of the Vampires
Comedy •Family •Kids •Romance •Music •Musical •Action •Adventure
Overview
A new adventure dawns for Zed and Addison when their summer road trip takes an unexpected detour, landing them in the middle of yet another monster rivalry: Daywalkers vs. Vampires. Tensions flare when Zed and Addison find themselves acting as camp counselors between the two opposing supernatural factions. With the help of Eliza and Willa, they must convince sworn enemies Nova and Victor to try to unite their warring worlds before an even greater threat endangers them all.
Director
Paul Hoen
Cast
Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Chandler Kinney, Kylee Russell, Freya Skye
Duration
88 minutes
How to Train Your Dragon
Animation •Kids •Fantasy •Adventure •Action •Family
Overview
A young Viking with aspirations of becoming a dragon hunter befriends a young dragon, and learns more about the creatures than he ever assumed.
Director
Chris Sanders
Cast
Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill
Duration
94 minutes
The Princess Bride
Kids •Comedy •Family •Fantasy •Romance •Action •Adventure
Overview
In this enchantingly cracked fairy tale, the beautiful Princess Buttercup and the dashing Westley must overcome staggering odds to find happiness amid six-fingered swordsmen, murderous princes, Sicilians and rodents of unusual size. But even death can’t stop these true lovebirds from triumphing.
Director
Rob Reiner
Cast
Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, André Roussimoff
Duration
98 minutes
The Goonies
Kids •Comedy •Family •Action •Adventure
Overview
A young teenager named Mikey Walsh finds an old treasure map in his father’s attic. Hoping to save their homes from demolition, Mikey and his friends Data Wang, Chunk Cohen, and Mouth Devereaux run off on a big quest to find the secret stash of Pirate One-Eyed Willie.
Director
Richard Donner
Cast
Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen, Corey Feldman, Kerri Green
Duration
109 minutes
The Wizard of Oz
Fantasy •Family •Kids •Action •Adventure
Overview
Young Dorothy finds herself in a magical world where she makes friends with a lion, a scarecrow and a tin man as they make their way along the yellow brick road to talk with the Wizard and ask for the things they miss most in their lives. The Wicked Witch of the West is the only thing that could stop them.
Director
Victor Fleming
Cast
Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Margaret Hamilton
Duration
102 minutes
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Animation •Action •Adventure •Sci-fi •Fantasy •Family •Kids
Overview
After reuniting with Gwen Stacy, Brooklyn’s full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is catapulted across the Multiverse, where he encounters the Spider Society, a team of Spider-People charged with protecting the Multiverse’s very existence. But when the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles finds himself pitted against the other Spiders and must set out on his own to save those he loves most.
Director
Justin K. Thompson
Cast
Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jason Schwartzman, Oscar Isaac, Brian Tyree Henry
Duration
140 minutes
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Animation •Kids •Fantasy •Adventure •Comedy •Action •Family •Drama
Overview
Five years have passed since Hiccup and Toothless united the dragons and Vikings of Berk. Now, they spend their time charting unmapped territories. During one of their adventures, the pair discover a secret cave that houses hundreds of wild dragons — and a mysterious dragon rider who turns out to be Hiccup’s mother, Valka. Hiccup and Toothless then find themselves at the center of a battle to protect Berk from a power-hungry warrior named Drago.
Director
Dean DeBlois
Cast
Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera
Duration
98 minutes
The Super Mario Bros Film
Animation •Family •Fantasy •Comedy •Kids •Action •Adventure
Overview
While working underground to fix a water main, Brooklyn plumbers—and brothers—Mario and Luigi are transported down a mysterious pipe and wander into a magical new world. But when the brothers are separated, Mario embarks on an epic quest to find Luigi.
Director
Aaron Horvath
Cast
Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key
Duration
92 minutes
K-Pop: Demon Hunters
Action •Adventure •Fantasy •Music •Musical •Animation •Comedy •Family •Kids
Overview
When K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey aren’t selling out stadiums, they’re using their secret powers to protect their fans from supernatural threats.
Director
Maggie Kang
Duration
96 minutes
The Wild Robot
Animation •Sci-fi •Family •Kids
Overview
After a shipwreck, an intelligent robot called Roz is stranded on an uninhabited island. To survive the harsh environment, Roz bonds with the island’s animals and cares for an orphaned baby goose.
Director
Chris Sanders
Cast
Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu
Duration
102 minutes
Snow White
Family •Fantasy •Romance •Kids
Overview
Following the benevolent King’s disappearance, the Evil Queen dominated the once fair land with a cruel streak. Princess Snow White flees the castle when the Queen, in her jealousy over Snow White’s inner beauty, tries to kill her. Deep into the dark woods, she stumbles upon seven magical dwarves and a young bandit named Jonathan. Together, they strive to survive the Queen’s relentless pursuit and aspire to take back the kingdom in the process.
Director
Marc Webb
Cast
Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, Andrew Burnap, Jeremy Swift, Jason Kravits
Duration
109 minutes
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Animation •Kids •Comedy •Crime •Drama •Family
Overview
The Fantastic Mr. Fox, bored with his current life, plans a heist against the three local farmers. The farmers, tired of sharing their chickens with the sly fox, seek revenge against him and his family.
Director
Wes Anderson
Cast
George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe
Duration
83 minutes
Jumanji
Kids •Fantasy •Comedy •Family •Action •Adventure
Overview
When siblings Judy and Peter discover an enchanted board game that opens the door to a magical world, they unwittingly invite Alan — an adult who’s been trapped inside the game for 26 years — into their living room. Alan’s only hope for freedom is to finish the game, which proves risky as all three find themselves running from giant rhinoceroses, evil monkeys and other terrifying creatures.
Director
Joe Johnston
Cast
Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, Bradley Pierce, Bonnie Hunt, Jonathan Hyde
Duration
104 minutes
The Sound of Music
Drama •Family •Romance •Kids •Music •Musical
Overview
In the years before the Second World War, a tomboyish postulant at an Austrian abbey is hired as a governess in the home of a widowed naval captain with seven children, and brings a new love of life and music into the home.
Director
Robert Wise
Cast
Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Eleanor Parker, Richard Haydn, Peggy Wood
Duration
175 minutes
Uncle Buck
Comedy •Drama •Family •Kids
Overview
Buck Russell, a lovable but slovenly bachelor, suddenly becomes the temporary caretaker of his nephew and nieces after a family emergency. His freewheeling attitude soon causes tension with his older niece Tia, loyal girlfriend Chanice and just about everyone else who crosses his path.
Director
John Hughes
Cast
John Candy, Jean Louisa Kelly, Gaby Hoffmann, Macaulay Culkin, Amy Madigan
Duration
100 minutes
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Sci-fi •Family •Kids •Fantasy •Action •Adventure
Overview
An alien is left behind on Earth and saved by the 10-year-old Elliot who decides to keep him hidden in his home. While a task force hunts for the extra-terrestrial, Elliot, his brother, and his little sister Gertie form an emotional bond with their new friend, and try to help him find his way home.
Director
Steven Spielberg
Cast
Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Robert MacNaughton, Peter Coyote, Dee Wallace
Duration
110 minutes
Annie
Kids •Comedy •Drama •Family
Overview
An orphan in a facility run by the mean Miss Hannigan, Annie believes that her parents left her there by mistake. When a rich man named Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks decides to let an orphan live at his home to promote his image, Annie is selected. While Annie gets accustomed to living in Warbucks’ mansion, she still longs to meet her parents. So Warbucks announces a search for them and a reward, which brings out many frauds.
Director
John Huston
Cast
Aileen Quinn, Albert Finney, Carol Burnett, Ann Reinking, Tim Curry
Duration
127 minutes
Beethoven
Kids •Comedy •Drama •Family
Overview
The Newton family live in their comfortable home, but there seems to something missing. This “hole” is filled by a small puppy, who walks into their home and their lives. Beethoven, as he is named, grows into a giant of a dog… a St Bernard. Doctor Varnick, the local vet has a secret and horrible sideline, which requires lots of dogs for experiments. Beethoven is on the bad doctor’s list.
Director
Brian Levant
Cast
Charles Grodin, Bonnie Hunt, Dean Jones, Nicholle Tom, Christopher Castile
Duration
87 minutes
Frequently asked questions
A genuinely family-friendly movie is designed to entertain every age group, from young children to adults. It features themes, humour, and storylines that are accessible and enjoyable for everyone, without content that would be inappropriate or confusing for the youngest viewers. These films foster shared viewing experiences for all.
When choosing a film for varied age groups, consider movies with universal themes like friendship, courage, or adventure. Animated features often work well since many of these are kids movies. Look at the age rating as a guide, and perhaps read a quick synopsis or a trusted review to ensure the content and themes will resonate positively with everyone watching.
Not all animated movies are inherently family-friendly. While many are perfect for all ages, some animated films explore complex, mature themes or feature content intended for older audiences. Always check the official age rating and a brief content overview to ensure it aligns with your family’s viewing preferences.
In Australia, several major streaming services provide excellent family movie selections. You’ll find a strong collection on platforms like Disney Plus, Netflix, and Stan, which regularly update their libraries with new releases and beloved classics. It’s always worth checking their specific family sections.
Absolutely! Family movies, especially animated features, frequently win major industry awards. The Academy Awards, for instance, have a dedicated category for Best Animated Feature, which has been won by many beloved family films. The category’s latest winner is the independent animated film Flow. They also receive nominations in other categories, recognising their artistic merit.
Popular family movies often explore universal themes like the power of friendship, overcoming challenges, the importance of family bonds, and discovering one’s inner strength. They frequently feature characters learning valuable life lessons, encouraging empathy, perseverance, and kindness through engaging storytelling—the very same elements used in the top favourite The Wild Robot.
Watching movies together is a wonderful way to bond and share experiences. It can spark imagination, help children understand different emotions, and teach valuable life lessons through relatable characters and situations. It also provides a relaxed environment for family discussions about themes and events in the film.
To make movie night special, let everyone take turns choosing the film. Get comfy with blankets and pillows, and don’t forget the popcorn or favourite snacks. Afterwards, chat about your favourite parts or characters. It’s about creating lasting memories and enjoying quality time together.
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