50 Greatest Family Movies to Watch with Kids: The Highest-Rated Films

There is nothing better than a good movie night with some entertaining film for the whole family. These movies are usually offer something more than a mindless fun: a lot of family films have engaging stories to tell and a few important lessons to teach. That’s why they are perfect for both children and their parents.

Table of contents

Yes Day

Rating: Kinopoisk – 5.9 / IMDB – 5.7
Genre: Comedy, family
US production / 2021
Directed by: Miguel Arteta
Cast: Jennifer Garner, Edgar Ramirez, Jenna Ortega, Julian Lerner, Everly Carganilla, Tracy Toms, Fortune Feimster, Nat Faxon, Arturo Castro, Hayden Szeto

Allison and Carlos are a young couple living by a set of strict rules. They are raising three children, usually declining their kids’ requests and suggestions. At some point, the couple decides to give the children a gift: they will have only one day to fulfill all their wildest desires with the full approval of their parents. Such a decision encourages the family to go on an unforgettable journey full of unexpected surprises.

In 2008, a similar movie was released on the big screens. It was Yes Man starring Jim Carrey. Interestingly, both films have a character named Allison and feature actress Molly Sims.

50 Best Family Movies to Watch With Kids

Cinderella (2021)

Rating: Kinopoisk – 4.6 / IMDB – 4.3
Genre: Musical, fantasy, melodrama, comedy
Production: US, UK / 2021
Directed by: Kay Cannon
Cast: Camila Cabello, Nicholas Golitsyn, Idina Menzel, Pierce Brosnan, Minnie Driver, Tallulah Grieve, Billy Porter, Maddie Baillio, Charlotte Spencer, James Corden

Released in 2021, Cinderella shows a modern take on a classic story. Ella is forced to live in the basement and serve her stepmother and stepsisters. She devotes her free time to sewing, and when she succeeds, she goes to the local fair to sell one of her dresses. There she meets Prince Robert. Ella gets a second chance to see the prince at the ball, with the help of the Fairy Godparent.

This movie has a number of differences from the original. For example, the prince is not just a background character, he has his own motives and desires, and in this story, Robert is not the only child of the king. The story and stepmothers are expanded, and Cinderella herself does not seek marriage and puts her dreams above the opportunity of becoming a queen.

Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway

Rating: Kinopoisk – 6.6 / IMDB – 6.2
Genre: Animation, fantasy, drama, comedy, crime, adventure, family
Production: USA, Australia, India / 2020
Budget: $45,000,000
Worldwide gross: $153,901,717
Director: Will Gluck
Cast: James Corden, Rose Byrne, Domhnall Gleeson, David Oyelowo, Margot Robbie, Elizabeth Debicki, Aimee Horne, Colin Moody, Lennie James, Hayley Atwell

The story of the mischievous and restless rabbit Peter continues. His old friends Thomas and Beatrix decided to get married. They live a quiet life in the suburbs, like all the rabbits in the area.

Peter is not happy with this new boring life he has as his rebellious nature is begging for some changes. Finally, he decides to leave his loved ones and take off on a dangerous journey to the big city. Anticipating trouble, his family and friends follow Peter.

Like the previous movie, the story is based on the works of Beatrix Potter about Peter Rabbit. The film is full of references to the writer’s work, for example, at the beginning of the sequel there is an inscription “The Tailor of Gloucester” which is the name of one of the Potter books.

Togo

Rating: Kinopoisk – 8.0 / IMDB – 8.0
Genre: Drama, adventure, family, biography, history
US production / 2019
Directed by: Erickson Core
Cast: Willem Dafoe, Julianne Nicholson, Christopher Heyerdahl, Richard Dormer, Adrian Dorval, Madeleine Wickins, Michael Greyes, Niv Nielsen, Nikolaj Nikolaeff, Thorbjorn Harr

In 1913, Leonhard Seppala adopts a puppy, at first being not quite a fan of it. But day after day this puppy manages to show its strong character and fortitude, so Seppala decides to keep it with him. He names the dog Togo after the Japanese admiral Heihachiro.

The years are passing by. The city of Nome in Alaska is gripped by a diphtheria outbreak, and the number of victims is constantly growing. The only hope is Seppala and Togo, who must deliver the medicine as soon as possible.

This is a true story that was previously told in the Balto movie. In reality, Togo led the team most of the time, but in the end, Balto got all the fame and glory.

Wonder

Rating: Kinopoisk – 8.0 / IMDB – 7.9
Genre: Drama, family
Production: USA, Hong Kong, Canada / 2017
Budget: $20,000,000
Worldwide gross: $305,937,718
Director: Stephen Chbosky
Cast: Jacob Tremblay, Owen Wilson, Isabela Vidovic, Julia Roberts, Mark Doclaw, Rukia Bernard, Jennifer March, Mandy Patinkin, Noah Jupe, Bryce Gheisar

August Pullman is almost no different from his peers. He has hobbies, a beloved pet, and some friends to spend time with. But there is one “but”: due to a congenital disease, August had to undergo 27 operations on his face. For a long time, he studied at home, but now it’s time to go to a regular school.

Such radical changes in life worries the boy very much: will other children be able to accept him? He will have to prove to others that the disease does not make him abnormal, that he is just an ordinary child like everyone else.

This movie is based on the novel of the same name by R. J. Palacio. August’s disease is called Treacher Collins Syndrome and occurs in about one in 50,000 people.

A Dog’s Way Home

Rating: Kinopoisk – 7.3 / IMDB – 6.7
Genre: Melodrama, family, adventure
Production: USA, China / 2019
Budget: $18,000,000
Worldwide gross: $80,708,134
Directed by: Charles Martin Smith
Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Ashley Judd, Edward James Olmos, Alexandra Shipp, Jonah Hauer-King, Christopher Bauer, Barry Watson, Motell Jean Foster, Wes Studi, John Cassini

Before meeting Lucas, a dog named Bella was homeless. The guy had to sacrifice a lot for the sake of the puppy, even to hide it from the landlords, but he was happy that he could find a true friend. No matter how good Bella was, one day she disobeyed Lucas, and led to their separation.

Missing Lucas, the dog decides to find him, no matter what. She goes on a long journey, intending to return home. Bella will meet many new friends and, unfortunately, those who try to harm her.

This movie is based on the book of the same name by Bruce Cameron.

The role of the adult Bella was performed by a dog named Shelby, who lived in a landfill in Tennessee before filming.

A Dog’s Purpose & A Dog’s Journey

Rating: Kinopoisk – 7.9 / IMDB – 7.2
Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Comedy, Adventure, Family
Production: USA, India / 2017
Budget: $22,000,000
Worldwide gross: $205,035,819
Directed by: Lasse Hallström
Cast: Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid, Peggy Lipton, Bryce Geisar, KJ Apa, Juliet Rylance, Luke Kirby, Gabriel Rose, Michael Bofshever, Britt Robertson

The protagonist of both movies is a golden retriever named Bailey. He remembers every life he lived and people that surrounded him. He had a special bond with a boy named Ethan from a small American town.

After this life, Bailey lived several other, no less eventful lives, but his soul always yearned back to Ethan. The retriever tries to reunite with his favorite owner even if it means finding him in the next life.

The film is based on the novel of the same name by Bruce Cameron and his wife, Cathryn Michon, who co-wrote the screenplay for The New Lassie.

The Call of the Wild

Rating: Kinopoisk – 7.5 / IMDB – 6.7
Genre: Drama, Adventure, Family
Production: USA, Canada / 2020
Budget: $135,000,000
Worldwide gross: $111,105,497
Director: Chris Sanders
Cast: Harrison Ford, Omar Sy, Kara Gee, Dan Stevens, Bradley Whitford, Jean Louisa Kelly, Michael Horse, Karen Gillan, Colin Woodell, Micah Fitzgerald

Buck is a pampered domestic dog who, after being kidnapped, left warm California and ended up in frosty and wild Alaska. The service in the postal team was initially difficult for him, but very quickly the dog got used to it and became the leader of the pack.

However, Buck’s life changes quickly again as he finds himself in a middle of exciting adventures. The new world frightens and surprises Beck, but also provides an opportunity to understand who he is and what his true purpose is.

The film is based on the novel by Jack London. In an attempt to honor the writer, the production of this movie was completely environmentally friendly.

To avoid animals being injured and to make them more emotional, dogs were created using CGI.

Blue Miracle

Rating: Kinopoisk – 6.5 / IMDB – 6.7
Genre: Drama, biography, family
US production / 2021
Directed by: Julio Quintana
Cast: Jimmy Gonzalez, Dennis Quaid, Miguel Angel Garcia, Anthony Gonzalez, Nathan Arenas, Isaac Arellanes, Steve Gutierrez, Fernanda Urrecola, Bruce McGill, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson

It is an inspiring new family-friendly movie that shows the importance of kindness and mutual help. In 2014, Mexico survived Hurricane Odile that destroyed everything in its path including the Casa Hobar orphanage in Cabo. It was on the verge of bankruptcy. The guardian and orphans understand that only they can help themselves, so they partner with the moody captain Wade Malloy, hoping to win $250,000 in a fishing competition.

The film is based on real events and tells the story of the first winners from Mexico in such a competition.

The color blue features prominently in every scene referencing the movie’s title.

Paddington 1&2

Rating: Kinopoisk – 7.2 / IMDB – 7.3
Genre: Comedy, family, adventure, fantasy
Production: UK, France, USA, China / 2014
Budget: $55,000,000
Worldwide gross: $282,370,135
Director: Paul King
Cast: Ben Whishaw, Nicole Kidman, Imelda Staunton, Sally Hawkins, Michael Gambon, Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Samuel Joslin, Tim Downey

40 years ago, a traveler from England found unusual, intelligent bears in the forests of Peru and taught them some modern wisdom. Leaving, he invited the cubs to visit England and find him there. Only one of bears dared to embark on such a journey – Paddington. In London, he will find many fun adventures, face a lot of dangers and meet new friends.

Both movies are based on a book series by Michael Bond. The writer came up with the story of Paddington when he saw a lonely plush bear in the toy store before Christmas. The spontaneous purchase prompted Bond to write an entire series about this “toy”.

Aladdin

Rating: Kinopoisk – 7.3 / IMDB – 6.9
Genre: Musical, fantasy, melodrama, comedy, adventure, family
Production: USA, UK, Australia / 2019
Budget: $183,000,000
Worldwide gross: $1,050,693,953
Director: Guy Ritchie
Cast: Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, Will Smith, Marwan Kenzari, Navid Negahban, Nazim Pedrad, Billy Magnussen, Jordan A. Nash, Talia Blair, Aubrey Lyne

The young guy Aladdin is a very kind and noble person at heart, but in order to somehow survive among poverty he has to be a thief. Princess Jasmine is unhappy and feels as if she has been deprived of her freedom, although she lives in luxury.

They meet by chance in the market and might never meet again. Later, Aladdin becomes the owner of a magic lamp, and the mighty Genie promises to fulfill his three wishes. The fate of all the inhabitants of Agrabah depends on these wishes.

The remake of the animated movie was directed by Guy Ritchie, who became interested in this story because the main character was a thief. The street hustlers often play an integral part in Ritchie’s films.

The Christmas Chronicles 1&2

Rating: Kinopoisk – 7.1 / IMDB – 7.0
Genre: Fantasy, comedy, adventure, family
US production / 2018
Directed by: Clay Katies
Cast: Kurt Russell, Judah Lewis, Darby Camp, Oliver Hudson, Kimberley Williams-Paisley, Lamorne Morris, Martin Roach, Vella Lovell, Lauren Collins, Goldie Hawn

On Christmas Eve, single mother Claire has to go to work, leaving the kids at home. She entrusts eldest son Teddy with looking after her sister Kate. The girl is sure that Santa Claus exists, and therefore asks her brother to help her find the evidence.

They try to film Santa on a video camera and suddenly find themselves involved in a fascinating story. The second movie focuses on Kate, who once again has to keep Santa company and save Christmas.

Santa was played by Kurt Russell, and in the sequel, the role of Mrs. Claus went to his wife Goldie Hawn.

Santa’s list from the first movie contains the names of Russell and Hawn’s real-life grandchildren: Bing Bellamy and Ryder Robinson.

Maleficent & Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

Rating: Kinopoisk – 7.2 / IMDB – 7.0
Genre: Fantasy, family, melodrama, adventure
Production: USA, UK / 2014
Budget: $180,000,000
Worldwide gross: $758,410,378
Directed by: Robert Stromberg
Cast: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley, Sam Riley, Isobel Molloy, Leslie Manville, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, Brenton Thwaites, Kenneth Cranham

In the enchanted forest, far away from people there once lived a young sorceress named Maleficent. By the will of fate, she was involved in the confrontation between two worlds: human and magical. The betrayal of her best friend prompted the girl to resort to the darkest magic, placing a curse on Princess Aurora. But it is this girl who will be the key to ending the war.

The second movie continues the story of Maleficent and Aurora who try to reconcile the dark elves and people and bring peace to both worlds.

During the casting, the filmmakers chose the actors based on their similarity to the characters in Sleeping Beauty (1959).

If Angelina Jolie had turned down the role of Maleficent, filming would have to be cancelled.

Dumbo

Rating: Kinopoisk – 6.8 / IMDB – 6.3
Genre: Fantasy, family, adventure
Production: USA, UK, Australia, Canada / 2019
Budget: $170,000,000
Worldwide gross: $353,284,621
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Eva Green, Alan Arkin, Nico Parker, Finlay Hobbins, Roshan Seth, Lars Eidinger, Deobia Oparei

After the World War I, Holt Farrier returns home. He was a brilliant equestrian performer before, but now he has lost his arm and his wife. Holt has two children to raise, so he decides to take his old job at circus. There, he is assigned to take care of an elephant who is about to give birth.

To everyone’s dismay, the baby elephant is born with huge ears, which makes him a laughingstock. It soon turns out that the unusual appearance is far from being a shortcoming of baby Dumbo, because thanks to his ears he can fly.

To make circus scenes look more authentic and believable, real circus performers were involved in the filming.

The original model of Dumbo looked too realistic, so filmmakers decided to give him more “cartoonish” look.

Ramona and Beezus

Rating: Kinopoisk – 7.2 / IMDB – 6.5
Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Comedy, Family
US production / 2010
Budget: $15,000,000
Worldwide gross: $27,293,743
Directed by: Elizabeth Allen
Cast: Joey King, Selena Gomez, John Corbett, Bridget Moynahan, Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Duhamel, Jason Spivak, Sierra McCormick, Sandra Oh, Kathryn Zanna

Ramona was always a mischievous and cheerful child. Because of her hyperactivity, she more than once got into ridiculous stories. Her older sister, Beatrice, or Beezus as she is known in the family, is nothing like Ramona. She studies well, keeps emotions under control and obeys her parents.

Their family is going through a difficult period after their father are out of his job. While her parents and older sister deal with life’s problems in their own way, Ramona develops her own money-making strategy, which certainly won’t make Beezus happy would she find out about it.

In the Beverly Cleary book series, Ramona and Beezus were initially minor characters. Only in a book published in 1955, the main roles were given to the sisters.

Christopher Robin

Rating: Kinopoisk – 7.4 / IMDB – 7.2
Genre: Animation, fantasy, drama, comedy, adventure, family
Production: USA, UK / 2018
Budget: $75,000,000
Worldwide gross: $197,744,377
Director: Mark Forster
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Hayley Atwell, Bronte Carmichael, Mark Gatiss, Oliver Ford Davis, Ronky Adecoluejo, Adrian Scarborough, Roger Ashton-Griffiths, Ken Nwosu, John Daglish

30 years ago, Christopher Robin was an ordinary cheerful boy who had fun in the company of furry friends. He grew up, got married, went through the World War II, and now holds a prestigious position in a company that manufactures bags and suitcases.

This company is going through difficult times, so Christopher does not even have time for loved ones. But one day, Winnie the Pooh returns to his life, giving and old friend a chance to become happy again.

Some of the filming took place in Windsor Great Park and Ashdown Forest, Sussex. It was these places that inspired Alan Milne, the author of the original book.

A Christmas Carol

Rating: Kinopoisk – 7.7 / IMDB – 6.8
Genre: Animation, fantasy, drama, comedy, adventure, family
US production / 2009
Budget: $200,000,000
Worldwide gross: $325,286,646
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Bob Hoskins, Steve Valentine, Daryl Sabara, Sage Ryan, Amber Gainey Meade

Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge is an old, stingy financier who values nothing except money. He despises friendship, love, and especially Christmas along with everything connected with it. On the eve of the upcoming holiday, the Ghosts of Christmas enter Scrooge’s house, intending to change the old man’s attitude to life forever. They show him the past, the present and what awaits him if he does not give up his callousness and greed.

This cautionary tale was written by Charles Dickens in 1841. It is Disney’s third film adaptation of a Dickens story, and Robert Zemeckis’ third film to make full use of motion capture technology.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

Rating: Kinopoisk – 5.8 / IMDB – 5.6
Genre: Fantasy, adventure, family
Production: USA, Canada / 2018
Budget: $120,000,000
Worldwide gross: $173,961,069
Directed by: Lasse Hallström, Joe Johnston
Cast: Mackenzie Foy, Jaeden Favora-Knight, Keira Knightley, Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman, Misty Copeland, Eugenio Derbez, Richard E. Grant, Matthew Macfadyen, Sergei Polunin

For many years, Christmas was the main holiday for the Stahlbaum family. But the former fun was replaced by sadness and loneliness after the death of the mother. Young Clara misses her more than others. The last thing she had left from her mother was an unusual mechanical box.

Trying to unravel the mystery of the mechanism, Clara goes in search of the key and finds herself in the fairy-tale world of the Four Kingdoms. A long time ago, her mother brought peace back to this place by defeating the Mouse King. But much has changed since then, and the Kingdoms are once again facing a great danger.

The filmmakers took an inspiration from The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffmann and The Nutcracker ballet by P.I. Tchaikovsky, leaning more towards the latter.

Little Nicholas

Rating: Kinopoisk – 7.7 / IMDB – 7.1
Genre: Comedy, family
Production: France, Belgium / 2009
Worldwide gross: $59,486,494
Directed by: Laurent Tirard
Cast: Maxime Godard, Vincent Claude, Charles Wellen, Victor Carles, Benjamin Everty, Germain Petit Damico, Damien Ferdel, Virgil Tirard, Eliza Heusch, Valerie Lemercier

Little Nicholas is the only son of his parents. He loves being mischievous and often does whatever comes to his mind with his friends. Nicholas is also very naive and gullible, because he takes the word of a friend who tells how terrible it is to have a younger brother.

One day, Nicholas notices that his parents will soon have another child. After listening to scary stories, Nicholas begins to panic and tries to avoid the appearance of his brother by all means.

The film is based on the book series of the same name by Rene Goscinny. Goscinny is also the author of the comic book Asterix, which is also referenced here, in the scene with the Pilote magazine.

Mary Poppins Returns

Rating: Kinopoisk – 6.6 / IMDB – 6.7
Genre: Musical, fantasy, comedy, adventure, family
Production: USA, UK / 2018
Budget: $130,000,000
Worldwide gross: $349,537,494
Director: Rob Marshall
Cast: Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Pixie Davis, Nathaniel Sale, Joel Dawson, Julie Walters, Meryl Streep, Colin Firth

When Michael and Jane Banks were children, they believed in miracles and magic. But time passed, they both grew up, and instead of miracles they now have routine and many problems. Michael became a widower with three children, and on top of that, their home can be taken away because of debts.

It is possible to avoid the eviction if Michael can prove that he is a shareholder of the bank. But the valuable certificate was lost somewhere at home. After 25 years, Mary Poppins returns to the Banks to once again bring the bright colors in their lives.

The very first Disney film about Mary Poppins was made in 1964. Interestingly, both times the production of movies had to be stopped due to the pregnancy of the leading actresses.

Mia and the White Lion

Rating: Kinopoisk – 7.5 / IMDB – 6.5
Genre: Drama, Adventure, Family
Production: France, Germany, South Africa, Switzerland, Monaco, USA / 2018
Worldwide gross: $36,412,175
Directed by: Gilles de Maitre
Cast: Dania De Villiers, Melanie Laurent, Langley Kirkwood, Ryan Mac Lennan, Thor, Lionel Newton, Lillian Dubais, Brandon Auray, Benjamin Garrad

This is a heartwarming family movie about the friendship of a man and a beast. Mia’s family moves to South Africa where they buy a lion farm. The current situation does not suit the girl, she misses London and her friends, and she is not interested in lions at all. To somehow distract their daughter, the parents bring home the white lion cub Charlie.

At first, Mia did not want to accept him, but very quickly they became best friends. Soon the girl learns that her friend may become a victim of poachers. She runs away from home, intent on finding Charlie a new and safe home.

The filming went on for three years, and during this time actress Dania De Villiers and the white lion cub really grew up next to each other.

Beauty and the Beast

Rating: Kinopoisk – 6.7 / IMDB – 7.1
Genre: Musical, fantasy, melodrama, adventure, family
US production / 2017
Budget: $160,000,000
Worldwide gross: $1,263,521,126
Directed by: Bill Condon
Cast: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Josh Gad, Kevin Kline, Hattie Morahan, Haydn Gwyn, Gerard Horan, Ray Fearon, Ewan McGregor

As a punishment for his selfishness and rudeness, Prince Adam was turned into a terrible monster for a long time. Only a true love kiss could break the spell. But Adam was convinced that no one would love the monster, and therefore did not even try to become a better man.

When an old man named Maurice gets lost and finds himself in the Beast’s castle, the Beast takes him prisoner. The beautiful Belle comes to the aid of her father and eventually becomes the last hope for the Beast and the inhabitants of the castle.

When director Bill Condon approached Disney to make a live-action remake of the 1991 animated movie, the studio was hesitant to make a musical. But the director insisted on keeping the songs because he thought they were “too good”.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Rating: Kinopoisk – 6.9 / IMDB – 6.7
Genre: Fantasy, Thriller, Drama, Adventure, Family
Production: USA, UK, Belgium, Canada / 2016
Budget: $110,000,000
Worldwide gross: $296,482,446
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, Samuel L. Jackson, Judi Dench, Rupert Everett, Allison Janney, Chris O’Dowd, Terence Stamp, Ella Purnell, Finlay MacMillan

From his childhood, Jacob enjoyed listening to Grandpa Abe’s stories about the orphanage where unusual children live under the care of the strict Miss Peregrine. He also told his grandson about the monsters that were fought by people with unique abilities.

When his grandfather died under strange circumstances, Jacob received a letter from Miss Peregrine, who invited him to visit her home. In Wales, he finds the same orphanage with the same children from his grandfather’s stories, who have not aged a year.

The orphanage building exists in reality: it is located in Antwerp, Belgium and is known as Nottenbohm. The design of monsters from the movie is inspired by the works of a Polish artist named Zladislav Beksinsky.

Cinderella (2015)

Rating: Kinopoisk – 7.1 / IMDB – 6.9
Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Romance, Adventure, Family
Production: USA, UK / 2015
Budget: $95,000,000
Worldwide gross: $542,351,353
Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
Cast: Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden, Helena Bonham Carter, Nonso Anozie, Stellan Skarsgård, Sophie Macshera, Holliday Granger, Derek Jacobi, Ben Chaplin

After her mother’s death, Ella lived alone with her father until he married a second time. The girl’s stepmother turned out to be the vicious and cruel Lady Tremaine, who arrived accompanied by her daughters Anastasia and Drisella. When her father died, the stepmother and sisters showed their true character by evicting Ella from the room to the attic and making her a servant, or Cinderella.

Being on a brink of despair, Ella met a handsome young man in the forest, the future king of those lands. She did not know it yet, as well as the fact that she would soon meet the Fairy Godmother and go to the fateful ball.

Cinderella could have been a dark fantasy tale until Kenneth Branagh took over the project.

The director wanted to see Emma Watson as Ella, but she refused.

Enchanted

Rating: Kinopoisk – 7.0 / IMDB – 7.1
Genre: Comedy, fantasy, cartoon, musical, melodrama, family
US production / 2007
Budget: $85,000,000
Worldwide gross: $340,487,652
Directed by: Kevin Lima
Cast: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall, Susan Sarandon, Idina Menzel, Rachel Covey, Julie Andrews, Jeff Bennett, Kevin Lima

Young Giselle lived all her life in her beautiful, fairy-tale world. There she met Prince Edward whom she fell in love with. But the insidious stepmother of the young man could not allow this union to happen, and therefore she decided to send her rival away.

The girl moves to modern Manhattan, where people are not used to singing and rejoicing for no reason and for the most part are indifferent to everything. The lawyer Robert agreed to shelter the princess. They will have to find a way to bring Giselle home and prevent her evil stepmother from taking over the fairy tale world.

The production lasted for almost 2 years, and half of that time was spent on animation, which took up only 13 minutes of screen time. Meanwhile, it took only 72 days for the actors to shoot.

The Game Plan

Rating: Kinopoisk – 7.1 / IMDB – 6.1
Genre: Comedy, family, sports
US production / 2007
Budget: $22,000,000
Worldwide gross: $147,869,324
Director: Andy Fickman
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Madison Pettis, Kyra Sedgwick, Roselyn Sanchez, Morris Chestnut, Hayes MacArthur, Brian J. White, Jamal Duff, Paige Turco, Tubbs

Professional American football player Joe Kingman had everything he needs to be successful. He is the strongest athlete on the field, leading a luxurious life outside of it and basking in the love of fans. But his eight-year-old daughter did not fit into this lifestyle.

The girl suddenly appeared at his door, declaring a relationship. Like a hurricane she burst into his life, forcing him to reconsider his priorities and life principles. And it may turn out that Joe can be not only a great athlete, but a good father too.

This is second to last movie film to credit Dwayne Johnson as “The Rock”.

Goosebumps

Rating: Kinopoisk – 6.2 / IMDB – 6.3
Genre: Fantasy, comedy, adventure
Production: USA, Australia, Canada / 2015
Budget: $58,000,000
Worldwide gross: $158,260,952
Director: Rob Letterman
Cast: Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush, Amy Ryan, Ryan Lee, Jillian Bell, Jack Black, Halston Sage, Steven Kruger, Keith A. Bolden, Amanda Lund

After the loss of his father, Zach and his family move to a new location. His neighbors are Hannah and her enigmatic father, Robert Stein. Stein is not so simple, because he is the author of the popular book series titled Goosebumps. Without no explanation he forbids Hannah to leave the house.

Curiosity prompted Zach to break into Stein’s house, where the young man found a strange library locked with a padlock. Zach decided to break into the room to see what kind of books Stein collects. But he ended up releasing all the monsters from the Goosebumps novels into the real world.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Rating: Kinopoisk – 7.6 / IMDB – 6.7
Genre: Musical, fantasy, comedy, adventure, family
US production / 2005
Budget: $150,000,000
Worldwide gross: $474,968,763
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, Helena Bonham Carter, Noah Taylor, Deep Roy, David Kelly, AnnaSophia Robb, Christopher Lee, Adam Godley, Missi Pyle

Charlie lives in a small house that is about to fall apart and shares the space with his parents, two grandfathers and two grandmothers. When his family was on the verge of poverty, he was lucky to be among a few winners receiving a tour of the factory of the eccentric confectioner Willy Wonka.

Some of them might even get an endless supply of chocolate. Charlie discovers the wonderful world of a chocolate factory, which, like its owner, keeps many secrets.

During production, real sweets were mainly used as props, for example, candy on trees. Nestle provided the crew with about 1,850 chocolate bars.

Pixels

Rating: Kinopoisk – 5.9 / IMDB – 5.6
Genre: Animation, sci-fi, fantasy, action, comedy
Production: USA, China, Canada / 2015
Budget: $88,000,000
Worldwide gross: $244,874,809
Director: Chris Columbus
Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan, Peter Dinklage, Josh Gad, Brian Cox, Matt Lintz, Sean Bean, Jane Krakowski, Dan Aykroyd

In 1982, after the arcade games championship, the recording from the competition is placed in a time capsule and sent into space. Having received such a message, the aliens erroneously interpreted it as a declaration of war.

After 33 years, they found a way to answer the earthlings and sent the heroes of popular arcade games against them. Such a war turned out to be beyond the power of the military, so former professional gamers and participants of said championship came to aid.

The film required over a hundred old arcade machines to be found and repaired. And when selecting points scored by players in this movie, the authors focused on real-life records.

Alice in Wonderland

Rating: Kinopoisk – 7.1 / IMDB – 6.4
Genre: Fantasy, detective, adventure, family
Production: USA, UK / 2010
Budget: $200,000,000
Worldwide gross: $1,025,467,110
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Crispin Glover, Matt Lucas, Michael Sheen, Stephen Fry, Alan Rickman, Barbara Windsor

Alice Kingsman is unlucky to live through the times when women were rarely free to do what they wanted. But the girl was not okay with it, and even more so, she did not want to become the wife of the stupid Hamish Ascot. After escaping from the party, Alice finds herself in a wonderful world where everything looks and works completely different from what she used to. However, Wonderland is not repulsive, but seems surprisingly familiar to Alice.

Filming with actors took 40 days, and only three sets were needed for production. The actors were mostly filmed against a green screen, and the entire environment was created using CGI.

The Haunted Mansion

Rating: Kinopoisk – 6.2 / IMDB – 5.1
Genre: Horror, fantasy, comedy, detective, family
US production / 2003
Budget: $90,000,000
Worldwide gross: $182,290,266
Director: Rob Minkoff
Cast: Eddie Murphy, Terence Stamp, Nathaniel Parker, Marsha Thomason, Jennifer Tilly, Wallace Shawn, Deanna Spybey, Mark John Jeffreys, Ari Davis, Jim Dugan

Jim and Sara Evers devoted their entire lives to work. They are very busy realtors who are willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of their jobs. Instead of celebrating their wedding anniversary, they went with their children to inspect an old mansion, hoping to sell it profitably.

As it turned out, most of the residents of the house are ghosts. And the owner of the estate, Mr. Gracey, is convinced that Sara is his dead beloved Elizabeth, whom he intends to return. But the Evers family was not alone in its trouble, because not all the ghosts of the mansion mean them harm.

Like Pirates of the Caribbean, the film is inspired by the Disneyland ride of the same name.

Ella Enchanted

Rating: Kinopoisk – 6.8 / IMDB – 6.3
Genre: Fantasy, melodrama, comedy, family
Production: USA, Ireland, UK / 2004
Budget: $31,000,000
Worldwide gross: $27,388,767
Directed by: Tommy O’Haver
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Hugh Dancy, Cary Elwes, Aidan McArdle, Joanna Lumley, Lucy Punch, Jennifer Higham, Minnie Driver, Eric Idle, Steve Coogan

On her birthday, Ella received an unusual, but very uncomfortable gift from the sorceress Lucinda: no matter what she was asked, she could not refuse. Unfortunately for Ella, this gift is known to many. People often use it to force the girl to obey their orders and whims.

Tired of the mockery, Ella sets off, hoping to find Lucinda and ask for the spell to be cancelled. Ahead of her lies a difficult adventure, because her “gift” will be a source of many more surprises and troubles.

The film is based on the 1997 novel of the same name by Gail Carson Levine. Anne Hathaway, who played Ella, read the book at the age of 16 and was glad that the movie turned out to be more comedic than the original.

Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium

Rating: Kinopoisk – 6.8 / IMDB – 6.2
Genre: Fantasy, comedy, family
Production: USA, Canada / 2007
Budget: $65,000,000
Worldwide gross: $69,474,661
Director: Zack Helm
Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Jason Bateman, Ted Ludzik, Zach Mills, Madalena Brancatella, Paula Boudreau, Mike Rilba, Steve Whitmire, Liam Pauli-Webster

Eccentric and always cheerful Edward Magorium owns an extraordinary store. He has been managing it for 114 years, while Magorium himself has recently turned 243 years old. After weighing the pros and cons, Mr. Magorium decides it’s time to retire.

But he is not going to close his store and deprive thousands of children of happiness. Molly Mahone takes his place. At first glance, the girl seems cheerful and optimistic, but inside she struggles with hard feelings and depression. And soon her true mood turns the store into a boring and gray place that scares children away.

Natalie Portman learned to play the piano for the role, and Dustin Hoffman designed the look and character of Mr. Magorium.

Blended

Rating: Kinopoisk – 6.8 / IMDB – 6.5
Genre: Comedy, family
US production / 2014
Budget: $40,000,000
Worldwide gross: $127,994,610
Directed by: Frank Coraci
Cast: Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Bella Thorne, Emma Fuhrmann, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Braxton Beckham, Kyle Red Silverstein, Kevin Nealon, Zach Henry, Wendy McLendon-Covey

Lauren and Jim are both single parents. They both dream of meeting the one who will accept them with children. But their blind date goes badly, which is why they mutually decide never to see each other again.

Nevertheless, the fate brings them together again in a distant resort in South Africa, where, as it turned out, they also live in the same hotel. It is not possible to avoid communication even if desired, so Lauren, Jim and their children are struggling, but trying to improve their relationships.

This is the third romantic comedy starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, the first two being The Wedding Singer (1998) and 50 First Dates (2004).

The character that keeps saying “Hi, I’m Tom” is a reference to 50 First Dates.

Peter Pan

Rating: Kinopoisk – 7.3 / IMDB – 6.8
Genre: Fantasy, melodrama, adventure, family
Production: UK, Australia, USA, New Zealand / 2003
Budget: $100,000,000
Worldwide gross: $121,975,011
Directed by: P.J. Hogan
Cast: Jason Isaacs, Jeremy Sumpter, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Lynn Redgrave, Richard Briers, Olivia Williams, Jeffrey Palmer, Harry Newell, Freddie Popplewell, Ludivine Sagnier

The last thing Wendy wants to do is grow up, but her parents insist that she leave her childhood games behind. The girl will be getting married soon. This news really upsets her brothers, who love to listen to their sister’s fairy tales.

They get the opportunity to escape from the boring world to Neverland, where eternally young children live, led by Peter Pan. But the fairy tale land turns out to be not the safest place, mostly because of the cruel Captain Hook.

This movie marks the first time a male actor has played Peter Pan in cinema: this role was traditionally given to actresses before.

The roles of Captain Hook and Mister Darling were performed by the same actor.

Big Daddy

Rating: Kinopoisk – 7.4 / IMDB – 6.4
Genre: Drama, comedy
US production / 1999
Budget: $34,200,000
Worldwide gross: $234,801,895
Directed by: Dennis Dugan
Cast: Adam Sandler, Joey Lauren Adams, John Stewart, Cole Sprouse, Dylan Sprouse, Josh Mostel, Leslie Mann, Allen Covert, Rob Schneider, Christy Swanson

Few adults can afford to fool around, which is not the case with Sonny Koufax. At 32, he does not deny himself anything and does not think about finding a job. One day, Sonny’s friend leaves his child with him as he flies away on a business trip. And although many were skeptical about such a decision, the boy was completely delighted with the teacher, because now he got rid of daily worries and can have fun all day long. Gradually, Sonny comes to understand what responsibility has been placed on him, and that perhaps it’s time to grow up.

At the time, Big Daddy was Adam Sandler’s most successful film, grossing over $234 million worldwide. The first contender for the role of Sonny was Jim Carrey.

The Alvin and the Chipmunks Series

Rating: Kinopoisk – 6.2 / IMDB – 5.2
Genre: Family, comedy, music
US production / 2007
Budget: $60,000,000
Worldwide gross: $361,336,633
Director: Tim Hill
Cast: Jason Lee, David Cross, Cameron Richardson, Jane Lynch, Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Allison Karman, Tiara Parker, Kira Verrastro

The Night at the Museum Trilogy

Rating: Kinopoisk – 7.0 / IMDB – 6.4
Genre: Fantasy, comedy, adventure, family
Production: USA, UK / 2006
Budget: $110,000,000
Worldwide gross: $574,480,841
Directed by: Shawn Levy
Cast: Ben Stiller, Jake Cherry, Carla Gugino, Robin Williams, Steve Coogan, Owen Wilson, Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, Bill Cobbs, Ricky Gervais

After losing his job, Larry Daley is hired as a night security guard at the Museum of Natural History. The job seemed easy until Larry saw the museum pieces come to life on his first night there.

Animals, Indians, heroes of American history and even the skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus rex are eager to meet a new security guard. The reason for the miracles lies in the golden plate belonging to the Egyptian pharaohs. Many want to steal a valuable artifact, so Larry will have to protect it from the kidnappers more than once.

The language of the Huns shown in these movies is a complete ad-lib from actors.

During the shooting of the first movie, the capuchin monkey spent a week training to hit and bite Ben Stiller.

Garfield: The Movie

Rating: Kinopoisk – 6.8 / IMDB – 5.0
Genre: Comedy, family, fantasy
US production / 2004
Budget: $50,000,000
Worldwide gross: $198,964,901
Directed by: Peter Hewitt
Cast: Breckin Meyer, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Stephen Tobolowsky, Bill Murray, Evan Arnold, Mark Christopher Lawrence, Vanessa Kristel, Daamen J. Krall, Rufus Gifford, Randy Reicher

This is a family comedy that follows the famous comic book character named Garfield. He doesn’t need much to be happy: just eat well, sleep, and play a joke on someone. The ginger cat is often joking about his owner John, but still loves him.

Garfield’s self-confidence is shaken when John brought home the puppy, Odie. Burning with jealousy, Garfield does everything to get rid of his opponent, but when he succeeds, he realizes what a mistake he made.

Garfield is the only animal in the film that was entirely CGI, the other four-legged “actors” had real animals as stunt doubles.

Nicholas on Holiday

Rating: Kinopoisk – 6.8 / IMDB – 6.2
Genre: Comedy, family
Production: France / 2014
Worldwide gross: $27,567,832
Directed by: Laurent Tirard
Cast: Mateo Beusselier, Valerie Lemercier, Cad Merade, Dominique Lavanan, Bouli Lanners, François-Xavier Demaison, Luca Zingaretti, Judith Henri, Bruno Lochet, Fabien Galoula

The schooldays are over, and little Nicholas can’t wait to spend an unforgettable summer on a sunny resort. Accompanied by his parents and grandmother, he goes to the seashore, where he immediately finds the same restless children.

But in addition to the boys, Nicholas also meets Isabelle, who can’t take her eyes off him. Everyone around is convinced that Isabelle is in love, and the parents begin to joke about the upcoming wedding.

Nicholas is shocked as he clearly does not want to be with such a bride. With the support of his friends, he makes an attempt to get out of the relationship with the girl and her family, which leads to even more ridiculous situations.

Despite this being a sequel of the 2009 movie, there is no mentioning of Nicholas’ younger sister.

The House with a Clock in Its Walls

Rating: Kinopoisk – 6.0 / IMDB – 6.1
Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Comedy, Detective, Family
Production: USA, Canada / 2018
Budget: $42,000,000
Worldwide gross: $131,457,147
Director: Eli Roth
Cast: Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, Owen Vaccaro, Kyle MacLachlan, Renée Goldsberry, Colleen Camp, Sunny Suljic, Lorenza Izzo, Braxton Bjorken, Vanessa Ann Williams

After the death of his parents, Lewis has to move in with his eccentric uncle Jonathan. He immediately notices the strange ticking of clocks throughout the house, and then he finds out that his uncle is a wizard, like Jonathan’s girlfriend, Mrs. Zimmerman. For a long time, they are trying to solve the mystery of the clock house. They have to find the very source of the ticking and stop the impending Doomsday.

The movie was based on a book of the same name by John Bellairs. This is a favorite novel of Eric Kripke, who admitted that it inspired him to create the Supernatural series.

Tooth Fairy

Rating: Kinopoisk – 6.1 / IMDB – 5.0
Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Family, Sports
Production: USA, Canada / 2009
Budget: $48,000,000
Worldwide gross: $112,462,508
Directed by: Michael Lembeck
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Ashley Judd, Stephen Merchant, Ryan Sheckler, Seth MacFarlane, Julie Andrews, Chase Allison, Destiny Whitlock, Brandon T. Jackson, Dan Yoffre

There is only one thing in common between tooth fairies and tough hockey player Derek Thompson – his nickname. The athlete is far from being as fabulous and magical as the fairies, as he is not a stranger to breaking his opponents’ teeth. Derek is skeptical about the existence of fairy tale creatures. He does not believe in miracles and imposes his beliefs on children.

Such behavior greatly angered the real tooth fairies. To teach a bad hockey player a lesson, they turn him into one of them and send him to two weeks of corrective labor.

The script for the movie was written in 1993, and the main role was supposed to go to Arnold Schwarzenegger. But he preferred another film, so the project had to be frozen.

Furry Vengeance

Rating: Kinopoisk – 5.1 / IMDB – 3.9
Genre: Comedy, family
Production: UK, USA, UAE, Germany / 2010
Budget: $35,000,000
Worldwide gross: $36,236,710
Directed by: Roger Kumble
Cast: Brendan Fraser, Ricky Garcia, Eugene Cordero, Patrice O’Neill, Jim Norton, Brooke Shields, Matt Prokop, Billy Bush, Ken Jeong, Angela Kinsey

It is a fascinating comedy that would be interesting to viewers of all ages. This time, Brendan Fraser is playing not another brave macho, but a successful real estate developer and the head of a small family, Dan Sanders.

Dan’s boss instructs him to cut down part of the forest in the Oregon wilderness in order to build a city there in the future. But the inhabitants of the forest are not satisfied with the plans of the developers, they are preparing a terrible revenge on anyone who tries to destroy their home.

Most of the animals that appear on the screen are dolls. During filming, only one live creature participated in shooting, which was a turkey.

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Rating: Kinopoisk – 5.4 / IMDB – 3.9
Genre: Drama, romance, comedy, adventure, family
Production: USA, Mexico / 2008
Budget: $20,000,000
Worldwide gross: $149,281,606
Directed by: Raja Gosnell
Cast: Piper Perabo, Manolo Cardona, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jose Maria Jaspik, Maury Sterling, Jesus Ochoa, Eugenio Derbez, Omar Leiva, Naomi Romo, Ali Hillis

Chihuahua Chloe is a small and spoiled dog whose owner does not deny her anything. But one day, Chloe has to stay under Rachel’s care for a while. Unable to bear being in four walls, the girl breaks down and storms off to Mexico City, taking Chloe with her.

This is where the dog’s adventures begin. She is kidnapped and forced to participate in dog fights. Now Chloe must stand up for herself and learn how to survive in difficult conditions.

All the dogs on the screen are real. Filmmakers collaborated with Mike Alejandro, a renowned trained, who supervised every scene with dogs, telling the four-legged actors what to do.

Zathura: A Space Adventure

Rating: Kinopoisk – 6.4 / IMDB – 6.2
Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Action, Comedy, Adventure, Family
US production / 2005
Budget: $65,000,000
Worldwide gross: $64,321,501
Directed by: Jon Favreau
Cast: John Bobo, Josh Hutcherson, Dax Shepard, Kristen Stewart, Tim Robbins, Frank Oz, John Alexander, Derek Mears, Douglas Tate, Joe Bucaro III

The cosmic interpretation of a cult classic Jumanji would be a good choice for a family movie night. Brothers Walter and Danny are constantly arguing, and the adults just turn a blind eye to their conflict. At the moment of a short truce, the brothers decide to play Zatura, a game they found in their father’s basement.

As soon as the first move was made, their house was immediately transported into space. There is no way back, and one can return to Earth only after reaching the end stage of the game. The ongoing rivalry between brothers puts everything at risk.

Due to the movie being shot in chronological order, the same house was constantly destroyed and rebuilt.

It Takes Two

Rating: Kinopoisk – 7.4 / IMDB – 5.9
Genre: Melodrama, comedy, family
US production / 1995
Worldwide gross: $19,474,589
Director: Andy Tennant
Cast: Mary-Kate Olsen, Ashley Olsen, Kirstie Alley, Steve Guttenberg, Philip Bosco, Jane Sibbett, Michelle Grisom, Desmond Robertson, Tiny Mills, Chanelle Henry

Alyssa and Amanda are not related, but it so happened that they are like two peas in a pod. Quiet and obedient, Alyssa lives in a luxurious mansion, raised by her father, while the mischievous orphan Amanda lives in an orphanage under the supervision of the teacher named Diana.

Finding themselves in the same place at the same time, the girls are at first shocked by their similarity, but then they realize that they can help each other. They switch places to prevent Alyssa’s father from marrying the greedy Clarissa while making him fall in love with Diana.

The filmmakers borrowed many plot points from The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain.

Free Willy

Rating: Kinopoisk – 7.7 / IMDB – 6.0
Genre: Drama, Adventure, Family
Production: USA, Mexico / 1993
Budget: $20,000,000
Worldwide gross: $153,698,625
Directed by: Simon Winser
Cast: Jason James Richter, Laurie Petty, Jane Atkinson, August Schellenberg, Michael Madsen, Michael Ironside, Richard Rihley, Mykelti Williamson, Michael Bacall, Danielle Harris

A killer whale falls into the hands of Dial, the greedy owner of the oceanarium. He sees it as another opportunity to enrich himself. The killer whale was named Willy and was supposed to increase the flow of customers of the oceanarium.

Dial’s expectations were not justified; it was not possible to recoup the expenses for the maintenance of a sea animal. He decides to get rid of Willie in order to at least get the insurance money. When the killer whale’s life is in danger, the boy Jesse unexpectedly comes to its aid.

This is an amazing story about the friendship of a killer whale and a man, which drew the public attention to the issue of protecting whales. After filming, the killer whale Keiko, who portrayed Willie, was released into the wild from an amusement park in Mexico City.

Mouse Hunt

Rating: Kinopoisk – 7.6 / IMDB – 6.5
Genre: Comedy, family
US production / 1997
Budget: $38,000,000
Worldwide gross: $122,417,389
Directed by: Gore Verbinski
Cast: Nathan Lane, Lee Evans, Vicki Lewis, Maury Chaykin, Eric Christmas, Michael Jeter, Christopher Walken, Debra Kristofferson, Camille Söhberg, Ian Abercrombie

It is a fun and lighthearted film for a family movie night. The plot follows two brothers, Lars and Ernie Smuntz, who, after the death of their father, inherited a factory and an old mansion.

At first, they are not particularly interested in the ancient house until they find out that it costs a lot of money. The brothers expect to profitably sell the mansion, but first it needs to be put in order. But their plans are tampered with by one annoying mouse, which does not want to give up its home without a fight.

In close-up scenes, filmmakers used a rat instead of a mouse.

Curly Sue

Rating: Kinopoisk – 7.6 / IMDB – 5.8
Genre: Comedy, family, melodrama, drama
US production / 1991
Budget: $25,000,000
Worldwide gross: $33,691,313
Director: John Hughes
Cast: Alisan Porter, James Belushi, Kelly Lynch, John Getz, Fred Dalton Thompson, Cameron Thor, Branscombe Richmond, Steve Carell, Gail Boggs, Burke Byrnes

Billy Dancer and his young companion Curly Sue are homeless. They travel from city to city, trading in petty scams. Their goal is not money, but the opportunity to eat and go further on the road.

Once in Chicago, they chose the successful lawyer Gray Alison as their next victim. Billy and Sue faked a car accident with Alison, counting on dinner, but to their surprise, out of guilt, the girl invited them to stay at her place for a while.

This movie was the acting debut for Steve Carell. There is also a small role performed by Ralph Foody, known for the role of a gangster in the film that Kevin McCallister watched in Home Alone.