Finding The Best Movies for Families
With so many streaming services and endless options, picking a movie everyone in the family will actually enjoy can feel harder than it should be.
This page is your starting point: a full directory of every movie list on 24 Hour Family, organized by category, so you can find the right pick for tonight’s movie night, a classroom lesson, or a road trip.
How to Pick a Movie the Whole Family Will Enjoy
- Match the movie to the youngest viewer in the room. A film that’s fine for a 12-year-old may not work for a 5-year-old; check the rating and a quick content summary before pressing play.
- Rotate who picks. Letting each family member choose on a rotating basis keeps movie night fair and introduces everyone to films outside their usual taste.
- Pair a movie with an activity. Many of our lists below include a free printable, like a Movie Review Template, to turn movie night into a bit of hands-on learning too.
- Preview anything unfamiliar. A quick read of a parent-focused review (Common Sense Media is a good resource) takes two minutes and saves surprises.
STEM and Educational Movie Lists
- 43 Best Math Movies for Adults, Teens, and Kids: Our full roundup of math-themed films spanning every age group, from animated shorts to Oscar-winning biopics.
- 53 STEM Movies about Science for Teens and Kids: A broader science, technology, engineering, and math list covering everything from space exploration to robotics.
- 50 Best Computer Science Movies of All Time: Hackers, AI, and dystopian futures, organized by content level from family-friendly to mature.
- Movies about Math for Kids: A younger-skewing, elementary and tween-focused math movie list, all PG and under.
- Best Math Movies for High School Students: More advanced, mature math movies and biopics for older teens.
- Math Movies for Middle School: The middle ground between the kids’ and high school lists, with content notes for the handful of heavier titles.
- Science on Screen: Top STEM Movies for Kids: Age-tiered STEM picks from preschool through teens.
- The Best Science Movies for Middle School: A middle-school-specific list of science movies covering space, robotics, and environmental science, with teacher tips for classroom use.
- Best Math Movies on Netflix: A verified, regularly updated list of what’s currently streaming.
- Math Movies on Disney Plus: The (small but real) lineup of math and STEM content currently on Disney Plus.
- The Best Christmas Math Movies for Kids: Real Christmas movies with genuine math tie-ins, plus a bonus list of non-Christmas math movies for winter break.
- Best Math Movies about Science: A list of movies that cover both math and science in the movie.
Adventure and Franchise Movie Lists
- Best Camping Movies of All Time: From gentle family comedies to true wilderness survival stories, organized by age and content level.
- Marvel Movies List 2015 to 2020: The complete lineup of MCU films from this era, in release order, with a content note for each.
- The Best Lego Movies for Families: All five theatrical Lego films, including the surprising 2024 Pharrell Williams documentary told entirely in Lego animation.
Classic Family Favorites
Beyond the themed lists above, a few timeless picks worth keeping on your family movie night rotation:
The Wizard of Oz (1939) — Rated G. A whimsical, generation-spanning classic with a story, characters, and visuals that still hold up for viewers young and old.
Toy Story (1995) — Rated G. Pixar’s original animated classic follows Woody, a cowboy toy who feels threatened when Andy gets an exciting new toy, spaceman Buzz Lightyear, for his birthday. The film’s real heart is the friendship the two eventually build, not a villain story; it’s about jealousy, belonging, and growing up.
Back to the Future (1985) — Rated PG. Teenager Marty McFly is accidentally sent back in time in a DeLorean built by his friend Doc Brown, in a film that blends comedy, adventure, and surprisingly thoughtful family themes.
Other reliable family favorites worth adding to your list: Up, The Princess Bride, Mary Poppins Returns, Toy Story 4, Coco, Frozen 2, and Moana.
Free Printables to Pair with Movie Night
- Movie Review Template for Kids: A structured way for kids to write about what they watched, helping with sentence structure, grammar, and vocabulary while turning movie night into a bit of writing practice too.
- Marvel Movie Bingo Game and Bucket List: A bingo card built around common superhero movie tropes, works with any Marvel movie, plus a 32-film checklist spanning the MCU, X-Men, and Deadpool franchises to track your way through the wider Marvel catalog.
Where should I start if I’m looking for an educational movie night?
Start with STEM Movies about Science for Teens and Kids and Best Math Movies for Adults, Teens, and Kids; both cover a wide age range and are organized so you can quickly find something age-appropriate.
I have younger kids. Which lists are safest to browse without previewing everything?
Movies about Math for Kids and the Younger Kids sections within Science on Screen: Top STEM Movies for Kids and Best Camping Movies of All Time are the most consistently G/PG-focused lists on the site.
Do any of these lists include streaming availability, or just recommendations?
Best Math Movies on Netflix and Math Movies on Disney Plus are both built around verified, currently streaming titles. The other lists are general recommendations, available across various platforms for rent, purchase, or streaming depending on your region.
Is there a printable to use alongside these movie lists?
Yes, our free Movie Review Template for Kids works well with any movie on any list on this page, and our Marvel Movie Bingo Game and Bucket List is a fun, game-based option specifically for Marvel movie nights.
No matter what your family is in the mood for- an inspiring true story, a laugh-out-loud comedy, or a deep dive into space and science- there’s a list above to help you find it. Happy viewing!