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I adore watching family movies with my people. But it’s becoming harder and harder to find funny family movies and new cool movies that are clean, though. Amen?! I know I’m not alone on the search because some of my most popular posts around here are the clean movies list and my Christmas movie review. So I created a new family movie list below of a few that you’ve never heard of or forgot about! Classic movies, action and adventure, mystery, and Christmas movies, oh my!
FAMILY MOVIES
As a kid, one of the best memories with my Dad was watching Wonderful World of Disney movies on Sunday nights. Anyone else remember that? In the late 70s, we had one TV with shows geared to adults most days of the week except for Saturday morning cartoons and our beloved Sunday night movies.
Return to Witch Mountain, The Shaggy DA, and other movies that came on during those Sunday nights will always hold a nostalgic place in my heart since my stepdad passed away 16 years ago. I guess that’s what I’m trying to recreate with my family – a couple of hours to escape together to a new world of entertainment.
And I don’t want to have to worry about unnecessary language and inappropriate scenes. That’s not asking too much, is it?
YOU’LL LOVE THIS FUN LIST OF MOVIES
I’m tickled to say that although you have to dig for them, good movies can be found – it just takes a while. So I’ve done the hard work for you. That’s why I’m adding more of these awesome films to this list as I find them. Below you’ll find action and adventure, romantic, and classic family movies that everyone can watch together without awkwardness or surprises (if you know what I mean!).
You’re welcome, friend!
There are so many animated movie lists for small kids, so most of the family movies below are for slightly older kids and adults. CAVEAT: I’m personally pretty prudish when it comes to movie content. But, I may have missed something or forgotten a scene, so I challenge you to do your own research with the links provided to ensure that each of these is right for you and yours.
I get lots of questions about family movies but the following has to be the most common…..
That’s a hard one for me to choose for you and your family. Many great, classic movies come to mind but it depends on the age of the grownups AND the kiddos in the room. I’ll let you choose that for yourself on this great list of fun ones below.
Netflix changes their lineup frequently, but to date, my favorites have been Benji, White Christmas, National Treasure, The Princess and the Frog, The Star, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and Peter Rabbit and many many more (apparently I should devote an entire post to this next)!
The Kid Who Would Be King, Aladdin, Toy Story 4, Frozen 2, and The Lion King to name a few safe ones.
It’s true that my ultimate cool movies list and the links I’ve listed above have already been very popular with you, I thought I’d give you a fun list according to category. Have fun finding the best classic or action and adventure movies below:
CLASSIC FAMILY MOVIES
I list the year the movie was made on purpose. I can’t recommend movies that have the same title but are a different version/year. Just another reason why I include the links so that there is no confusion. Enjoy!
Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo 1977
Such happy memories watching all of the Love Bug movies with my family. Don Knotts makes this one extra funny! Amazon says, “Herbie, the VW with heart, falls hood over wheels in love when he encounters a sleek, sporty, light blue Lancia. Also vying for Herbie’s attention is a gang of jewel thieves, who’ve ingeniously hidden a stolen gem in Herbie’s gas tank!”
The Shaggy D.A. 1976
I distinctly remember how much I enjoyed this movie the first few hundred times I watched. OK, joking, sort of. A delightful story! Amazon describes it as, “Disgusted by the shady dealings of not-so “Honest” John Slade (Wynn), Wilby Daniels (Jones) decides to run for District Attorney, but when robbers steal a magic Borgia ring, the fur really begins to fly! Once again, Wilby keeps turning into a large, talking sheepdog at the worst possible moments.”
Amazon Video, Youtube, or DVD
Cheaper by the Dozen 1950
I’ve seen all of the different versions of this film and this one is the best, in my opinion. Amazon describes it as “The light-hearted family comedy is the true story of Frank and Lilian Gilbreth, efficiency experts and parents to twelve precious children.” You see, it’s based on a true story, and knowing that made it even more fun!
Amazon Video, YouTube, or DVD
Roman Holiday 1953
If you or your family have been wanting to see what all of the hype about Audrey Hepburn is, this is a great place to start. This was her debut film and she won an Oscar. The rest, they say, is history. She portrays a modern-day princess rebelling against her royal obligations. She runs into an American Journalist who helps her enjoy one day in the city after being medicated by her doctor.
Amazon Video, YouTube, or DVD
Escape to Witch Mountain 1975
I remember watching fascinating movies like this one with my family on Wonderful World of Disney Sunday Nights. This original movie about two orphans with extraordinary powers was fun and interesting then (when I was a kid) and still is today. Amazon describes it as, “A vehicle floats in midair a coat rack comes to life and attacks a sheriff and wild animals are putty in the hands of Tony and Tia Malone in Disney’s thrilling fantasy adventure about the psychic powers of two young orphans. ” It’s also great to see how things have changed since the 1970s too!
Amazon Video, YouTube, or DVD
A Christmas Carol 1984
A movie with a classic message for every single generation. I’ve seen every version possible of this film and although I love the original, it isn’t as readily available. This 1984 version is the best of the modern ones. Amazon says, “Christmas elicits nothing more than “Bah, humbug!” from Ebenezer Scrooge (Scott), a miser whose sole pursuit of financial success has left him a bitter and lonely old man. But a Christmas Eve visit from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future ultimately teaches him to open his heart to the spirit of Christmas and to the joys of friends and family.”
Amazon Video, YouTube, or DVD
Swiss Family Robinson 1960
A childhood book for many of my generation, I didn’t watch this until I was much older. Amazon says it’s, “a spectacular screen version of the literary classic that is full of breathtaking South Seas scenery, hundreds of exotic animals, and treacherous pirates. This heroic tale chronicles the courageous exploits of the Robinson family after they are shipwrecked on a deserted island. Using teamwork and ingenuity, they skillfully overcome the obstacles of nature and transform their new home into a “civilized” community.”
Amazon Video, YouTube, or DVD
The Parent Trap 1961
One of my favorites because of all of the lively adventure. And the fact that I always dreamed of having an identical twin to switch with! Amazon describes it, “Twins girls, separated at birth, scheme to reunite their biological parents.”
Amazon Video, YouTube, or DVD
Blackbeard’s Ghost 1968
Ever heard of scary family movies? Now you have because this one is clean and pretty entertaining! Amazon describes it, ” a foreboding scroll recounts the legend of one of the bloodiest pirates in the history of the Caribbean. Leave it to Disney to turn him into a fun-loving old prankster with a whimsical side.”
Amazon Video, YouTube, or DVD
ACTION AND ADVENTURE FAMILY MOVIES
I think you’ll agree that the list of more modern family movies below is quite an eclectic mix. There should be something here for everyone!
The Adventures of Ociee Nash 2005
I had never heard of this movie until another Mom asked me if I wanted to borrow their DVD. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I remember this one made us laugh and caused great discussion. A spirited nine-year-old’s rural Mississippi idyllic life is thrown into a tailspin when she’s sent to live with her Aunt Mamie to become a “young lady.” Amazon says, “Ociee’s true bravery, character and spirit are put to the test in this uplifting family drama.”
Enchanted 2007
Just thinking of this movie makes me smile. Although somewhat silly at times, that’s part of its charm. One of my teenager’s favorite fun movies of all time. Amazon describes it, “Beautiful Princess Giselle is banished by an evil queen from her magical, musical animated land and finds herself in the gritty reality of the streets of modern-day Manhattan. Shocked by this strange new environment that doesn’t operate on a happily ever after basis, Giselle is now adrift in a chaotic world badly in need of enchantment. But when Giselle begins to fall in love with a charmingly flawed divorce lawyer who has come to her aid even though she is already promised to a perfect fairy tale prince back home she has to wonder, can a storybook view of romance survive in the real world?”
Amazon Video, YouTube, or DVD
Yours, Mine & Ours 2005
This movie is so funny and fast! You definitely won’t get bored, that’s for sure. There is an older version of this that stars Lucille Ball, and for once, I like the modern one MUCH better! Amazon says, “A widowed Coast Guard Admiral and a widowed handbag designer fall in love and marry, much to the dismay of her 10 and his 8 children.”
Amazon Video, YouTube, or DVD
The Lost Medallion 2013
A fast-paced movie that should pull in every age group. Amazon describes, “A man who stops into a foster home to drop off some donations soon tells the kids a story about two teenage friends who uncover a long-lost medallion that transports them back in time.”
Amazon Video, YouTube, or DVD
Ramona and Beezus 2010
Whether or not you were a Beverly Cleary book fan like I was in elementary school or not, the whole family can enjoy this hilarious story of a girl with an outrageous imagination. One of our very favorites that we own and have watched over and over!
Amazon Video, YouTube, or DVD
Nim’s Island 2008
I love this movie about an 11-year old girl sharing an idyllic life on a private island in the middle of the South Asiatic Sea with her father, a microbiologist. She heads out to sea to help her father collect plankton specimens often, plays soccer on the beach, plays with her animal friends, and reads adventure novels. Everything changes when her father departs on the boat for a two-night expedition to collect plankton specimens and gets caught in an unexpected storm. How she deals with being alone and saving her Dad are amazing!
Amazon Video, YouTube, or DVD
Forever Young 1992/1997
This movie is fabulous, Y’all. I saw it years ago and the storyline has stuck with me all of this time. Warning: when Mel Gibson’s character wakes up from his 50-year “nap,” he isn’t wearing clothing. I remember that it shows his backside but he quickly wraps a jacket around himself.
Amazon describes, “In 1939 Army Air Corps test pilot Daniel McCormick (Gibson) has a perfect job and a woman he loves. But a tragedy suddenly strikes his love, and Daniel’s future is snatched away in an instant. Grief-stricken, Daniel volunteers for a top-secret cryogenics experiment–which accidentally puts him into frozen slumber for more than 50 years. He awakens in 1992, lost and alone. But through friendship with a fatherless young boy (Elijah Wood) and the boy’s mother (Lee Curtis), Daniel discovers that time waits for no man, but true love waits forever.” *chill bumps*
Spy Kids 2001
It’s action-packed, funny, and super clean. My kind o’ movie. Amazon describes, “The children of secret-agent parents must save them from danger.”
Love Comes Softly 2004/2010
Oh, my. I can’t say enough about the amazing family movies in this series. This is the first in a saga based on Christian Author, Janette Oke. It’s a crowd-pleaser even for the fellas because of the “Western Prairie” pioneer events and settings. I dare you to be able to stop after this movie is over and not move on to the others! Amazon says, “Stubborn Marty Claridge (Katherine Heigl, Grey’s Anatomy) travels west with her new husband–but after they find a beautiful patch of land, her husband dies in an accident before they’ve even started building. A man named Clark makes a proposal: If Marty will enter into a platonic marriage with him, he’ll pay for her passage back east in the spring.” Watch what really happens in the end!
Amazon Video, Youtube, or DVD
Journey to the Center of the Earth 2008
I remember being surprised out how much our whole family enjoyed this when we watched it the first time. The original is good but this 2008 version is better in my opinion. Amazon says, “During a scientific expedition in Iceland, visionary scientist Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser), his nephew Sean (Josh Hutcherson) and their beautiful local guide, Hannah (Anita Briem), are unexpectedly trapped in a cave from which their only escape is to go deeper and deeper into the depths of the Earth. “
Amazon Video, YouTube, or DVD
When Calls the Heart Christmas
One of my favorite TV shows had a Christmas special last year and it was the most special holiday movie! A lovely story where Christmas is coming to Hope Valley, and everyone’s in a festive mood. The lessons that are learned about faith and trusting others is more than meets the eye.
Sharing clean family movies that may otherwise be forgotten makes me happy. All the work is worth it when families like you leave positive messages about it.
The way I decipher whether a movie is fit for my family is to simply put the movie title in the search box on a site called Kids in Mind. Every movie isn’t listed yet, but I love their rating system are the ones that are.
You may also like…
- Family Movie Guide #4: Forever My Girl Movie Review – read my honest Mama review of “FOREVER MY GIRL.” It’s the story of a country music superstar that walks away from everything he loved back home only to find a few surprises when he returns.
- Mandie And The Secret Tunnel – read my nostalgic review of this book made into a movie about valuable lessons that Mandie and friends learn in the midst of their late 1800s world.
- Family Movie Guide #2: Crimes and Mister Meanors – I wrote a review of this movie that my daughter and I stumbled across accidentally and what I candidly thought about it.
- Movie Guide: Anne of Green Gables Review – Ah, Anne of Green Gables books are loved by so many. See if this movie is worth watching and if it does the books justice!
YOU MAY NEED
Sometimes it’s fun to crank up the family fun and have a little movie night decor. But this cute set would also work well for any type of movie-themed party like a birthday theme.
Enjoy!
Which of these family movies is your favorite? Did I leave any out that you adore? Let me hear from you in the comments!
Published on HuffPost, Okefenokee Living Magazine, and more, Shan is a Family Travel Journalist with a passion for helping women lose the overwhelm of planning family-friendly trips in the south. She shares travel reviews & insider secrets that Women REALLY want to know about Georgia, Florida, & the Carolinas vacations.
☕️ It’s THE REAL DEAL around here ☕️
Great list here! My kids watched Bedtime Stories tonight. It was a new one for some of them and an old favorite for the older ones. They all loved it!
My favorite of the list? The Parent Trap! One of my all time faves. 🙂
SO many great movies you’ve put in one place! I saw a few of my favorites on there. The original Yours, Mine & Ours with Lucille Ball is one of my all-time faves!
Author
Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed it. Lucille Ball is a hoot wherever she is acting for sure!
shan
I haven’t heard of many of these. Thanks for the suggestions!
Author
Yay! I’m glad it was helpful. Happy Watching!!!
shan
This looks like a great list!/ I have actually never seen any of thee myself, so these would be perfect for family movie nights.
Author
Really?! I am SO glad it was helpful for your sweet little family. Have fun with it!
shan
So many of my favorites!! I love Escape to Witch Mountain! The Parent Trap is also one of my go to movies to put in if I am am having trouble sleeping. Something about Hayley Mills voice soothes me to sleep. Have you ever seen The Trouble with Angels?! It’s another one of my favorites of hers!! And oh my gosh!! Forever Young?! How could I have forgotten!! Going to watch this again asap!
Author
Thanks, Melanie. I’ll have to check out that Haley Mills movie you mentioned. I’ve never heard of it. Yay for Forever Young! 😉
shan
This is a great list for some fun old fashioned family movies
Author
Thank you, Catherine. “Old fashioned” should be my middle name! 🙂
shan
Great list and I have seen all but one. I love having movie nights at home.
Author
Thanks, Sheri! Glad I’m not the only one that loves movie night!
shan
This is an awesome list! I am always in search of good movies for my 3 boys, saving this! thanks!
Author
Thanks, Karen! And you are certainly welcome. It’s my pleasure!
shan
OH MY GOSH!!! These are some of my FAVORITES from throughout the years!! Cheaper by the Dozen, Escape to Witch Mountain, Yours, Mine & Ours, Love Comes Softly- just wonderful movies! Thank you so much for this list, there are a few I’m not familiar with, so I’ll certainly check them out!
Author
Yay, Robin! Glad this is helpful to you. Have fun watching those new movies!! 😉
-shan
These were some oldies but goodies! I wish all movies were more appropriate, even though I don’t have kids. You can usually tell the story without adding all the language, you know? Thanks for sharing!
The Parent Trap is not a descent movie. Filled with blasphemy. Little girls playing poker for money?
Not exactly a clean family movie…….