Rainy days, too-hot-to-go-out days, or just those afternoons when everyone needs to slow down and be together — every family needs a good list of movies on hand for when indoor time is the order of the day.
A family movie is one of the easiest ways to fill a few hours together, so we’ve pulled together our pick of 20 fun family movies to enjoy on Netflix. There are some well-loved classics on the list alongside newer favourites, so there should be something for every age and mood.
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Before you scroll through the list, take a look at our short video below for a few more family movie night ideas:
📺 Watch: Family Movie Night Ideas
Family Movies on Netflix
Streaming libraries shift around from time to time, so it’s always worth double-checking that a title is still available before you settle in with the popcorn. That said, here’s our pick of 20 fun family films to look out for.
Beethoven’s 2nd
Our favourite St Bernard dog is back, and the Newtons are in for another adventure when their dog, Beethoven, falls in love with fellow canine Missy and becomes a father himself. Instead of one big happy family, though, Missy’s owner Regina wants to sell off the puppies for a tidy profit — so the Newton kids spring into action to rescue the little dogs before she can strike a deal.
Rating: U
Enola Holmes
When Enola Holmes, Sherlock’s teenage sister, discovers her mother has gone missing, she sets off to find her. Using her own super-sleuth skills, she outwits her famous brother and unravels a dangerous conspiracy around a mysterious young Lord.
Rating: 12+
Yes Day
A mum and dad who usually say no decide to say yes to their kids’ wildest requests, with just a few ground rules, for one whirlwind day of fun and adventure.
Rating: PG
Benji
A dog comes to the rescue and helps heal a broken family when a boy and his sister stumble into serious danger.
Rating: PG
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Pachamama
An award-winning animated film that tells the tale of a 10-year-old boy who dreams of becoming his village’s shaman. When a sacred statue is taken from his Andean village, the boy and his best friend — along with her smart-talking llama — go on a mission to get it back.
Rating: PG
Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle
Another take on the Disney classic The Jungle Book. In this live-action version, human child Mowgli is raised by a wolf pack in the jungles of India. As he learns the often harsh rules of the jungle under the guidance of a bear named Baloo and a panther named Bagheera, Mowgli is accepted as one of the pack — but the fearsome tiger Shere Khan has other ideas, and there may be greater dangers waiting as Mowgli comes face to face with his human origins.
Rating: 12+
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Gnome Alone
A teenage girl moves into a new house in a new town and discovers it’s under attack by underground beasts. She soon finds that she and the house gnomes are the only ones who can protect the town.
Rating: PG
The Little Prince
An animated version of the classic children’s book. The Aviator introduces a young girl to a world where she rediscovers her childhood and learns that it’s human connections that matter most — that it is only with heart that one can see clearly, and what is essential is invisible to the eye.
Rating: PG
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The Lorax
Another film adaptation of a Dr Seuss book. The Lorax tells the story of twelve-year-old Ted, who lives in Thneedville, a place virtually devoid of nature — no flowers or trees grow there at all. Ted wants to win the heart of Audrey, the girl of his dreams, and to do it he must find the one thing she wants most: a Truffula tree. To get it, he uncovers the story of the Lorax, once the gruff guardian of the forest, and the Once-ler, who let greed overtake his respect for nature.
Rating: U
Little Women
The beloved story of the March sisters — four young women each determined to live life on her own terms — is both timeless and timely. The film stars Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh and Eliza Scanlen as Jo, Meg, Amy and Beth, with Timothée Chalamet as their neighbour Laurie, Laura Dern as Marmee, and Meryl Streep as Aunt March.
Rating: U
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Want to keep track of your family’s favourites as you go? Take a look at our best family movies checklist — a handy way to tick off titles as you watch them together.
Ballerina
Best friends Félicie and Victor hatch a plan to escape their rural orphanage in 19th-century France. Félicie dreams of becoming a ballerina, while Victor wants to use his brainpower to invent things. After busting out, Félicie makes her way to the Paris Opera, where she joins a class of highly trained dancers auditioning for the lead role in a production of The Nutcracker.
Rating: PG
My Neighbour Totoro
Two sisters, Satsuki and Mei, move with their father to a new house in the countryside while their mother recovers from illness in a nearby hospital. They discover they share their home with some unusual creatures, including a rather large forest guardian the girls call Totoro. When trouble arises, their new friends help them rediscover hope.
Rating: U
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Matilda
The film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Matilda tells the story of a gifted girl forced to put up with a crude, distant mother and father — and worse, Agatha Trunchbull, the terrifyingly strict headmistress at Matilda’s school. When Matilda realises she has the power of telekinesis, she begins to defend her friends from Trunchbull’s wrath and fight back against her unkind parents.
Rating: PG
Kung Fu Panda
Enthusiastic, big and a little clumsy, Po is the biggest fan of kung fu around — which doesn’t come in especially handy while working every day in his family’s noodle shop. Unexpectedly chosen to fulfil an ancient prophecy, Po’s dreams become reality when he joins the world of kung fu and studies alongside his idols, the legendary Furious Five, under their guru, Master Shifu. But the vengeful snow leopard Tai Lung is headed their way, and it’s up to Po to defend everyone from the threat.
Rating: PG
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The Bee Movie
Fresh out of college, Barry the Bee finds the prospect of working with honey uninspiring. He flies outside the hive for the first time and talks to a human, breaking a cardinal rule of his species. When Barry learns that humans have been stealing and eating honey for centuries, he decides his true calling is to obtain justice for his kind.
Rating: U
The BFG
In a modern adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The BFG, a little orphan meets a kind giant who’s supposed to eat her but instead protects her from some truly horrible giants who terrorise them both.
Rating: PG
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Annie
An orphan in a facility run by the mean Miss Hannigan, Annie believes 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 boost his public image, Annie is selected. While she gets used to living in Warbucks’ mansion, she still longs to meet her parents — so Warbucks announces a search and a reward, bringing out plenty of frauds along the way.
Rating: PG
Fly Away Home
The soaring adventure of a 13-year-old girl and her estranged father, who learn what family really means when they adopt an orphaned flock of geese and teach them to fly. Starring Jeff Daniels, Anna Paquin and Dana Delaney.
Rating: U
Hook
When Captain James Hook kidnaps his children, an adult Peter Pan must return to Neverland and reclaim his youthful spirit to face his old enemy once again.
Rating: U
Paddington
Paddington tells the story of the comic misadventures of a young Peruvian bear who travels to the city in search of a home. Finding himself lost and alone, he begins to realise that city life isn’t all he imagined — until he meets the kindly Brown family, who read the label around his neck saying “Please look after this bear. Thank you,” and offer him a temporary home. All seems well until this rare bear catches the eye of a museum taxidermist.
Rating: PG
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are these movies suitable for all ages?
Ratings vary across the list, from U to 12+, so it’s worth checking the rating noted for each film against your own child’s age and sensitivity before you press play.
Will all of these movies definitely be on Netflix right now?
Streaming libraries change over time, with titles added and removed regularly. We recommend a quick search on Netflix before movie night just to confirm a title is still there.
What’s a good way to choose a movie the whole family will enjoy?
Look for something that suits your youngest viewer’s age rating first, then let older kids and adults enjoy the humour and detail built in for them — most of the films on this list work well across a range of ages for exactly that reason.
More Family Movie Ideas
If this list has you in the mood for more movie night inspiration, you might also enjoy:
- 50 of the Best Family Movies of All Time
- 101 Terrific Tween Movies The Whole Family Will Enjoy
- 10 Brilliant Studio Ghibli Films to Watch with the Kids
- 18 Family Halloween Movies on Netflix for a Fun Fright Night
Save This for Your Next Movie Night
Bookmark this page or save it to your phone so you’ve got a ready-made list next time you need a family film in a hurry — no scrolling through Netflix for twenty minutes required.
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