Rainy days are part and parcel of family life, and sooner or later you’ll find yourself looking for something to keep everyone happily occupied indoors. One of the easiest wins? Pop some popcorn, grab a drink, and settle in for a family movie together.
We’ve gone through what’s on Netflix and pulled together 20 fun family movies to enjoy — a mix of well-loved classics and newer favourites, with something for every age.
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Prefer to watch rather than read? Here’s a quick video with a few more family movie picks worth adding to your watchlist:
Our pick of 20 fun family movies on Netflix
A quick look at what’s on the list: Beethoven’s 2nd, Enola Holmes, Yes Day, Benji, Pachamama, Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, Gnome Alone, The Little Prince, The Lorax, Little Women, Ballerina, My Neighbour Totoro, Matilda, Kung Fu Panda, The Bee Movie, The BFG, Annie, Fly Away Home, Hook, and Paddington.
Beethoven’s 2nd
Our favourite St Bernard 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. But Missy’s owner Regina wants to sell the puppies for a 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 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 for one day — with a few ground rules — leading to a whirlwind 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 find themselves in serious danger.
Rating: PG
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Pachamama
An award-winning animated film about a 10-year-old boy who dreams of becoming his village’s shaman. When a sacred statue is taken from his Andean village, he and his best friend — along with her smart-talking llama — set off on a mission to get it back.
Rating: PG
Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle
A live-action retelling of Disney’s classic The Jungle Book. Human child Mowgli is raised by a wolf pack in the jungles of India, learning the often harsh rules of the jungle under the guidance of a bear named Baloo and a panther named Bagheera. As Mowgli becomes accepted by the animals as one of their own, the fearsome tiger Shere Khan — and his own human origins — bring new dangers.
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 girl to a world where she rediscovers her childhood and learns that human connections matter most — and that it’s only with heart that one can truly see; 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 Thneedville, a place with no flowers or trees. To win the heart of Audrey, the girl of his dreams, he must find what she wants most: a Truffula tree. His search leads him to 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 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 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 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 new home with some unusual creatures — including a rather large forest guardian they call Totoro. When trouble arrives, their new friends help them rediscover hope.
Rating: U
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Matilda
The film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Matilda follows a gifted girl forced to put up with a crude, distant father and mother — and Agatha Trunchbull, the terrifyingly strict headmistress at her 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 exactly come in handy while working in his family’s noodle shop. Unexpectedly chosen to fulfil an ancient prophecy, Po joins the legendary Furious Five under the guidance of Master Shifu. But when the vengeful snow leopard Tai Lung comes looking for revenge, 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. When he flies outside the hive for the first time and talks to a human, he learns that people have been stealing and eating honey for centuries — and decides his true calling is to sue humanity for theft.
Rating: U
The BFG
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. As she settles into life in the Warbucks mansion, she still longs to meet her real parents — so Warbucks announces a search, bringing plenty of fraudsters out of the woodwork.
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 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 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 quite what he imagined — until he meets the kindly Brown family, who read the label around his neck that says “Please look after this bear. Thank you,” and take him in. Just as his luck seems to have changed, this rare bear catches the eye of a museum taxidermist.
Rating: PG
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Don’t miss our best family movies checklist — a handy download to work your way through as a family. Did your favourite make the list?
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all of these movies still available on Netflix?
Streaming libraries change regularly, so it’s always worth checking the Netflix app for current availability before movie night, as titles can be added or removed without much notice.
What do the film ratings mean?
The ratings listed (U, PG, 12) follow the age classifications used in Ireland and the UK. U means suitable for all, PG suggests parental guidance for younger viewers, and 12 means the film is generally considered suitable for children aged 12 and over.
What’s a good way to plan a family movie night?
Let everyone take turns picking a title, keep snacks simple, and treat it as a proper wind-down activity — dim the lights, get comfy, and make it a relaxed treat rather than background noise.
Do you have more family movie recommendations?
Yes — check out our related picks below for more rainy day inspiration, including feel-good films, tween movies, and Studio Ghibli favourites.
Related Articles
- 50 of the Best Family Movies of All Time
- 101 Terrific Tween Movies The Whole Family Will Enjoy
- 40 of the Best Feel-Good Family Films
- 10 Brilliant Studio Ghibli Films to Watch with the Kids
- 18 Family Halloween Movies on Netflix for a Fun Fright Night
More Rainy Day Ideas
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