Rainy afternoons and school holidays have a way of arriving at the same time as bored kids and a very short list of ideas. One of the easiest fixes? Pop some popcorn, grab a blanket, and settle in for a family movie.
We’ve pulled together our pick of fun family movies to enjoy on Netflix — a mix of firm favourites and newer additions, with something for younger kids, tweens, and everyone in between. As always, Netflix’s line-up changes from time to time, so it’s worth double-checking a title is still there before movie night officially begins.
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Want a few more suggestions before you dive in? Watch our short video below for extra family movie night inspiration:
Our Pick of Family Movies on Netflix
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 starts a family of his own. Missy’s owner, Regina, wants to sell off the puppies for a profit, so the Newton kids spring into action to rescue the litter before she can make her deal.
Rating: U
Enola Holmes
When Enola Holmes, Sherlock’s teen sister, discovers her mother is 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 a few ground rules, for a 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, along with his best friend and her smart-talking llama, goes on a mission to get it back.
Rating: PG
Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle
A live-action retelling of the classic Jungle Book story. 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 tutelage of a bear named Baloo and a panther named Bagheera, Mowgli becomes accepted by the animals as one of their own — but the fearsome tiger Shere Khan doesn’t take a liking to him.
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 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 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 rightly, 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. Twelve-year-old Ted lives in a place virtually devoid of nature — no flowers or trees grow in the town of Thneedville. To win the heart of Audrey, the girl of his dreams, Ted must find what she wants most: a Truffula tree. To get it, he delves into the story of the Lorax, once the 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 March, with Timothée Chalamet as their neighbour Laurie, Laura Dern as Marmee, and Meryl Streep as Aunt March.
Rating: U
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Ballerina
Best friends Félicie and Victor hatch a plan to escape from 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 in a production of The Nutcracker.
Rating: PG
My Neighbour Totoro
Two girls, 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 strikes, their new friends help them rediscover hope.
Rating: U
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Matilda
The film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Matilda follows Matilda Wormwood, a gifted girl forced to put up with a crude, distant father and mother. Worse, Agatha Trunchbull, the evil principal at Matilda’s school, is a terrifyingly strict bully. 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 exactly come in 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 alongside the legendary Furious Five, under the leadership of Master Shifu. When the vengeful snow leopard Tai Lung comes calling, 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. Barry learns humans have been stealing and eating honey for centuries, and realises his true calling is to obtain justice for his kind.
Rating: U
The BFG
In this 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 image, Annie is selected. While she gets used to life in Warbucks’ mansion, she still longs to meet her real parents, and Warbucks announces a search for them — 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 is all about when they adopt an orphaned flock of geese and teach them to fly. Starring Jeff Daniels, Anna Paquin and Dana Delany.
Rating: U
Hook
When Captain James Hook kidnaps his children, an adult Peter Pan must return to Neverland and reclaim his youthful spirit to challenge his old enemy.
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. Lost and alone, he meets the kindly Brown family, who read the label around his neck — “Please look after this bear. Thank you” — and offer him a temporary haven. Things look up until this rarest of bears catches the eye of a museum taxidermist.
Rating: PG
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are all of these movies suitable for younger children?
Not every title here is aimed at very young kids — a few carry a 12+ rating, so it’s worth checking the rating against your child’s age before you press play.
Do I need a Netflix subscription to watch these?
Yes, all the films on this list are intended to be streamed through a Netflix subscription. Streaming libraries do change over time, so it’s a good idea to search for the title in the app to confirm it’s still available before movie night.
What if a film isn’t on Netflix anymore?
Streaming catalogues shift regularly, and a film that was available last year may have moved elsewhere. If a title has disappeared from Netflix, check other streaming services you already subscribe to, or look out for it airing on TV.
How do I choose a movie the whole family will agree on?
Try picking two or three options from the list that suit your children’s ages and letting them vote, or take it in turns each movie night to choose. It takes the pressure off finding one “perfect” film every time.
More Family Movie Ideas
Looking for more inspiration for your next movie night? You might also enjoy our roundups of the best family movies of all time, our pick of tween-friendly films, and our list of Studio Ghibli favourites — all linked above, and all worth bookmarking for the next rainy day.
Save This for Your Next Rainy Day
Not ready to watch tonight? Save or bookmark this page so it’s ready to go the next time you need a quick answer to “what will we watch?” — and browse our other rainy day ideas for even more ways to fill an indoor afternoon.
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