If you’re a parent, you’re likely always on the hunt for movies that you can watch with the whole family. As any parent knows, though, content that is great for kids is not necessarily also great for adults. It can be annoying, repetitive, or cloying, and kids tend to want to watch the same things over and over again.
That’s why we’ve curated a list of 10 family-friendly titles that will be great for both kids and their parents. These titles are available through services that are entirely free, so while they might come with some ads, they won’t cost you anything to watch.
We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
Coraline (2009)
One of the great animated movies of the 21st century, Coraline might be just a little bit too scary for younger kids. The film follows a young girl who wants to escape after her parents move her to a new town. When she discovers a portal to a different world, she initially believes everything might be better there.
After her parents in this alternate dimension try to trap her there, though, she develops a new appreciation for the world she left behind and has to use all of her wits to escape.
You can watch Coraline on Tubi.
Smallfoot (2018)
If you ever heard that “Zendaya is Meechee,” then you’ve heard of Smallfoot. This lighthearted animated comedy tells the story of a yeti who finds himself alienated from his clan after he discovers the existence of humans and his compatriots refuse to believe that they exist.
As our yeti goes on a quest to prove that humans (or smallfoots) are real, he discovers more about their culture and how it differs from his own. Light, wintry, and fun, Smallfoot is the perfect movie to watch during the colder months of the year.
You can watch Smallfoot on Tubi.
The Boxtrolls (2014)
A clever, dazzlingly realized stop-motion adventure from Laika Studios, The Boxtrolls imagines a world in which the titular boxtrolls live underground. Even though they’re harmless, there are those in the city above them who want to see them eliminated.
When a human boy is orphaned and grows up among them, he decides to venture to the surface in order to save his friends and prove that the humans above have nothing to fear from their neighbors down below.
You can watch The Boxtrolls on Tubi.
ParaNorman (2012)
Another great Laika stop-motion movie, ParaNorman tells the story of a young boy named Norman who can commune when the dead. When he learns that a centuries-old curse is about to destroy his town, Norman does everything in his power to stop it, even though he doesn’t really enjoy the company of the living.
Starring the vocal talents of Anna Kendrick (Woman of the Hour), John Goodman (Roseanne), and Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea), among others, ParaNorman is the kind of family-friendly movie that’s perfect if you’r in the mood for something mildly spooky.
You can watch ParaNorman on Tubi.
Jumanji (1995)
The original Jumanji is, among other things, a great excuse for Robin Williams to do what no one did better than him. The film tells a remarkable simple story, following two kids who discover an old board game and decide to play it, only to learn that a man has been trapped inside it for decades.
As the board game continues to unleash a variety of wild animals and other dangers into the real world, these kids, with the help of Williams, must finish the board game and contain the madness it holds.
You can watch Jumanji on Tubi.
The Lego Movie (2014)
The Lego Movie is a great movie that led to the creation of a lot of terrible movies. It’s a movie set in a world of Legos, but the movie’s animation style makes this plastic, toy world feel strangely tactile.
The movie follows Emmett, a regular guy working in construction who discovers that he may actually be the chosen one destined to save all of Lego-dom from the tyranny of Lord Business. As he begins to discover his true potential, though, Emmett also starts to wonder whether he’s all that special. Featuring a slew of great voice performers, The Lego Movie also benefits from being so, so funny.
You can watch The Lego Movie on Amazon Prime Video for free.
Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (2022)
This latest installment in the Hotel Transylvaniafranchise doesn’t have the voice talent of Adam Sandler behind it, but Transformania is nonetheless a fun, funny extension of this universe. The film’s premise is actually remarkably simple.
What if all the monsters we know and love were transformed into humans, and they had to find a way back into their real bodies before it was too late. With some rock-solid animation and zippy storytelling, Transformania may not be the franchise’s high watermark, but it’s no slouch.
You can watch Hotel Transylvania: Transformania on Amazon Prime Video for free.
Charlotte’s Web (2006)
An adaptation of the classic children’s novel, Charlotte’s Web is a beautiful, heartbreaking story of loss. The film follows a spider who, after discovering that a pig friend’s days are numbered, conceives of an elaborate scheme that will save his life.
Starring Dakota Fanning (The Equalizer 3) and featuring the vocal talents of Julie Andrews, this adaptation is every bit as moving as the original, and both versions of the story are a reminder that living and loving also means losing, and that might be OK.
You can watch Charlotte’s Web on Amazon Prime Video for free.
Puss in Boots (2011)
A Shrek spinoff that spends more time with one of that franchise’s breakouts, Puss in Boots is a prequel that follows Puss as he teams up with Humpty Dumpty and Kitty Softpaws for what amounts to an elaborate heist.
Featuring outstanding vocal performances from Antonia Banderas, Salma Hayek, and Zach Galifianakis, Puss in Boots proved to be just as sturdy as every other installment in the franchise, and a little bit cuter because of its focus on Puss.
You can watch Puss in Boots on Amazon Prime Video for free.
The Music Man (1962)
A classic that has earned that status, The Music Man is a musical that your kids will still enjoy today. The film follows a conman who arrives in a small town and convinces the residents to start a marching band.
He plans to skip town after selling them their instruments and uniforms, but finds himself falling for the town librarian, and reevaluating his plan to leave. Featuring a slew of catchy songs and great musical numbers, The Music Man is light, frothy, and full of enduring music.
You can watch The Music Man on Tubi.
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