10 of the best family movies on Netflix to watch now
Watching a movie with your family is a great way to spend some precious quality time together, but we know how difficult it can be to find a movie that everyone will enjoy. Thankfully Netflix’s film offering is so extensive, you’re bound to find something you’ll all love – yes, even you, parents!
But seeing as the selection can be a tad overwhelming, we’ve whittled down the selection to the 10 best family movies that Netflix has to offer.
Alongside brand new Netflix originals, the streaming service’s library also includes some classics you’ll remember from your own youth, and there’s nothing more special than watching these movies with your own children.
Some are live-action, while others are animated – but don’t worry, these aren’t childish cartoons. We’ve picked the best animated movies with genuinely brilliant storylines and excellent comedy, meaning they’ll be loved by adults and kids alike.
So get some popcorn popping, dim the lights, and enjoy some quality time with your nearest and dearest…
Matilda
Based on Roald Dahl’s novel of the same name, Matilda is a sweet girl with magical gifts. With the help of her teacher Miss Honey, and best friend Lavender, she can triumph over the ‘baddies’ that are her awful parents and her school’s terrifying headteacher, Miss Trunchbull.
The Willoughbys
This brand-new Netflix original follows four old-fashioned siblings who are neglected by their parents, and venture out into the modern world with their new nanny.
A Cinderella Story
This teen rom-com ticks all the boxes. A modern-day remake of the classic Disney movie Cinderella, Hilary Duff plays lovable Sam who meets her online love-interest Austin (Chad Michael Murray) at the school dance but has to run away when the clock strikes midnight so as not to anger her evil stepmother (played by the always-brilliant Jennifer Coolidge).
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Based on the memoir by William Kamkwamba, this British Netflix original movie was directed and written by its star, Chiwetel Ejiofor. Set in Malawi, a 13-year-old boy is thrown out of the school he loves when his family can no longer afford the fees. He sneaks into the library and learns how to build a windmill to save his village from a famine.
Hook
This live-action sequel of Peter Pan is directed by Steven Spielberg and stars the legendary Robin Williams as a grown-up Peter Pan, and Julia Roberts as pixie Tinker Bell. Peter must return to Neverland to save his lost boys from the nasty pirate Captain Hook.
The BFG
Another Roald Dahl remake, the BFG tells the heart-warming story of the Big Friendly Giant who befriends a young girl, Sophie. It’s a tale about kindness and accepting people despite their differences.
The NeverEnding Story
This sci-fi fantasy feels just as brilliant now as it did when it was released in 1984. To escape from his dull life and bullies at school, Bastain takes refuge in an old book store, where he begins reading an old storybook and finds himself drawn into Fantasia, a mythical world.
Madagascar
Do you like to move it, move it? Well, you will after you watch this wonderful animated movie about four animals who escape from the New York Central Zoo and seek a new life in the wild. The animals are voiced by some of Hollywood’s biggest comedy names including David Schwimmer, Chris Rock and Sacha Baron Cohen, so it’s no surprise that hilarity ensues.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Based on J.R.R. Tolkein’s classic novel – the prequel to the iconic Lord of the Rings series – the first part (out of three) follow hobbit Bilbo Baggins (played by Martin Freeman) who is convinced by the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) to accompany thirteen dwarves on a quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug. With epic animation, you’ll feel like you really are in Middle Earth.
Spirited Away
This classic Japanese cartoon sees 10-year-old Chihiro and her parents stumble upon an abandoned amusement park. After her mother and father are turned into giant pigs, Chihiro meets the mysterious Haku, who explains that the park is a resort for supernatural beings and that she must work there to free herself and her parents.
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