From 1937’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to 2024’s The Wild Robot, some of the best family films of all time have been animated. These films appeal to children as well as their parents by combining vivid, colorful imagery with intriguing plots and characters, ensuring that many of them have remained classics for generations.
Unfortunately, with the overwhelming amount of great animated family films that have been released over the years, it can be easy to forget that there are also some truly stellar live-action family films out there too, sometimes even surpassing their animated counterparts in terms of quality. These are the 10 essential live-action family movies that everyone should see at least once, ranked based on their level of entertainment value and overall impact.
10
‘Paddington 2’ (2017)
Directed by Paul King
A follow-up to 2014’s Paddington, Paddington 2 may not be the most influential family film of all time, but it is certainly one of the most wholesome. The film follows the titular Paddington (Ben Whishaw), a young bear living with a human family after being sent to London by his aunt in Peru, as he is wrongly convicted of theft and subsequently sent to prison. At the same time, his adoptive family, the Browns, attempt to clear his name.
Simply put, Paddington 2 is a great comfort movie. The film heavily emphasizes the importance of kindness and human connections, with Paddington making the best of his experiences in prison by attempting to better the lives of his fellow prisoners, while maintaining his own optimism through his certainty that the Brown family will eventually prove his innocence. In addition to its positive themes and messages, the film also features some fantastic performances, with Hugh Grant being a notable highlight as villain Phoenix Buchanan. So, while Paddington 2 may not hold the cultural relevance of other live-action family movies, its quality alone makes it a film that shouldn’t be skipped.
Paddington 2
- Release Date
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January 12, 2018
- Runtime
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104 Minutes
9
‘The Goonies’ (1985)
Directed by Richard Donner
1985’s The Goonies is, in many ways, the perfect way to introduce younger audiences to the adventure genre. In it, the Goonies, a group of close young friends, explore a cave system in search of pirate treasure, all while being pursued by the sinister Fratelli crime family. In the 40 years since its release, the film has remained a staple of both adventure and family cinema.
The biggest selling point in The Goonies is its memorable cast of characters: Mikey (Sean Astin) is an effective leader whose sadness over having to say goodbye to his friends soon should be relatable for younger viewers who have ever had to switch schools; Data (Ke Huy Quan) has a wide variety of wacky gadgets that feel like they’re ripped straight out of a Looney Tunes cartoon; and both Corey Feldman and Jeff Cohen (playing Mouth and Chunk, respectively), earn some big laughs from younger and older audiences alike. It hasn’t aged perfectly, but The Goonies is still a thrilling adventure with great characters and broad appeal, solidifying it as a perfect pick for family movie night.
The Goonies
- Release Date
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June 7, 1985
- Runtime
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114 minutes
8
‘The Muppets’ (2011)
Directed by James Bobin
2011’s The Muppets checks in on the titular troupe of felt performers long after Kermit (Steve Whitmire), Fozzie (Eric Jacobson) and the gang have all gone their separate ways. It sees them reunite in order to save the Muppet Theater after learning from super fan Walter (Peter Linz) that an oil baron (Chris Cooper) intends on tearing it down. The film was a critical and financial success, introducing a new generation to the Muppets, while reminding older generations why they loved them to begin with.
Much of the film’s success can be chalked up to the fact that it largely seems to understand what made the Muppets beloved icons of family entertainment in the ’70s and ’80s. The script is genuinely funny, featuring wacky wordplay, goofy sight gags and the occasional bit of adult humor that will fly straight over any younger audience members’ heads. In addition, the songs, mostly penned by Flight of the Conchords‘ Bret McKenzie, are some of the strongest in the franchise, combining catchy tunes with laugh-out-loud lyrics, most notably in the Oscar-winning “Man or Muppet”. It’s one of the few live-action comedies that is just as likely to appeal to children as their parents, solidifying The Muppets as an absolutely essential watch for any family looking for a laugh.
The Muppets
- Release Date
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November 23, 2011
- Runtime
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103 Minutes
- Director
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Randall Einhorn
7
‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ (2001)
Directed by Chris Columbus
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is the first film in the beloved Harry Potter franchise. In it, young Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) is suddenly whisked into the world of wizardry when he learns he has been accepted into Hogwarts, a school for young witches and wizards to hone their magical abilities. The film depicts Potter’s first year at Hogwarts, during which he befriends Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), learns his first spells, and encounters the sinister Voldemort (Ian Hart and Richard Bremmer).
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is an absolute must-watch for a number of reasons. Firstly, the franchise that it kicked off has maintained its relevance for over two decades now, becoming a pop-culture staple on a level comparable to Star Wars. Its cultural relevancy aside though, the first Harry Potter is also a genuinely great fantasy film, largely thanks to just how masterfully its creative team brought Hogwarts to life on the big screen, as is perfectly illustrated in its thrilling Quidditch sequence. It may not be the best film in the franchise, but Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is still a wildly enjoyable film that starts an essential series that everyone should see at least once.
6
‘Mary Poppins’ (1964)
Directed by Robert Stevenson
While Disney has primarily been known for their animated works over the years, they’ve also released some stand-out live-action family films as well. Perhaps the most notable is 1964’s Mary Poppins, a musical in which the title character, a magical nanny played by Dame Julie Andrews, descends from the skies of London to tend to Jane (Karen Dotrice) and Michael (Matthew Garber) Banks, two young children whose parents have previously struggled to find a suitable caretaker.
Featuring iconic song and dance numbers like “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and “Step in Time”, stellar performances from Andrews and Dick Van Dyke and meaningful messages for the whole family, Mary Poppins is widely viewed as one of the best musicals of all time. It also serves as an excellent introduction to live-action musicals for younger viewers, as it integrates many aspects of some of Disney’s best animated works (including the animation itself in a few scenes) to keep them engaged, even in the face of its lengthy runtime. It may be more than 60 years old, but Mary Poppins remains an absolutely essential live-action musical that every family should watch together at least once.
5
‘The Princess Bride’ (1987)
Directed by Rob Reiner
Generally viewed as one of the best fantasy films of the 1980s, The Princess Bride is the story of Westley (Cary Elwes) and Buttercup (Robin Wright), two lovers who are separated following Westley’s mysterious disappearance. Years later, as Buttercup is set to marry Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon), she is kidnapped by a gang of outlaws, only to be suddenly saved by a reappearing Westley.
As a family film, one of the most brilliant decisions made during the production of The Princess Bride was to structure it as a story within a story. Presenting the film as if it is a book being read by Peter Falk‘s grandfather character allows it to skip over parts that children might not find interesting, while also making a joke out of it that will appeal to parents. Aside from that, the rest of the script is hilarious and memorable, featuring endlessly quotable lines like Vizzini’s (Wallace Shawn) “Inconceivable” and Inigo Montoya’s (Mandy Patinkin) “You killed my father, prepare to die”. To this day, The Princess Bride‘s unique sense of humor makes it a nearly perfect fantasy film, especially well-suited for families.
4
‘Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory’ (1971)
Directed by Mel Stuart
1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory was initially a box office flop, but has since become an iconic piece of ’70s family cinema. Based on the Roald Dahl novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the film follows Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum), one of a number of young children invited to tour Willy Wonka’s (Gene Wilder) chocolate factory. As the group goes deeper into the factory, members are picked off one-by-one as they give in to their candy-related temptations.
One of the most beloved aspects of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is Wilder’s performance as the eponymous character. The actor brilliantly switches between being almost scary at times, and totally whimsical at others, making Wonka extremely fun to watch. On top of that, the film has some absolutely amazing set design, fantastic messages and exceedingly memorable songs, like the iconic “Pure Imagination”. Certain scenes may frighten younger viewers, but Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is still an essential family movie that everyone should be sure to watch.
3
‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939)
Directed by Victor Fleming
Throughout cinema’s long history, there have been few films more iconic than 1939’s The Wizard of Oz. The classic movie, in which young Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) is carried by a tornado into the mystical land of Oz, was a critical hit upon its initial release, earning itself a nomination for Best Picture at the Oscars, but it has continued to be recognized as one of the best films of all time, for a huge number of reasons.
The Wizard of Oz‘s universal themes, including appreciating the comforts of one’s home and recognizing one’s own self-worth, are key to its continued relevance. Additionally, The Wizard of Oz is just a great piece of filmmaking. It masterfully uses color to make the world of Oz visually pop when compared to the black-and-white hues of the ordinary world, and the sets and backdrops are absolutely stunning, even today. The Wizard of Oz has justifiably remained a classic, and it is still a family film that everyone should see at least once.
The Wizard of Oz
- Release Date
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August 25, 1939
- Runtime
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102 minutes
- Director
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Victor Fleming
Directed by Steven Spielberg
While plenty of Steven Spielberg‘s films are enjoyable for viewers of all ages, few have the universal appeal of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The simple story about a lonely child (Henry Thomas) of divorce who befriends an extraterrestrial visitor was a massive hit with both critics and audiences when it first released in 1982, quickly becoming the highest grossing movie of its time, once again proving Spielberg’s talent and skill as a filmmaker.
What makes E.T. so special is that it is likely to emotionally resonate with just about anyone. The main relationship between E.T. and Elliott is incredibly touching, and it’s endearing to watch their bond grow as the film goes on. Of course, much of the film’s credit should go to both Spielberg, who provided the masterful direction necessary for the audience to truly believe that E.T. was alive, and John Williams, who provided some of the best work of his legendary career, making scenes like the bike ride in the sky even more thrilling and memorable than they would be otherwise. When it comes down to it, E.T. was, and continues to be, one of the best films of all time, cementing it as an absolutely essential family movie.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
- Release Date
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June 11, 1982
- Runtime
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1h 55m
1
‘Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope’ (1977)
Directed by George Lucas
When it was released in 1977, George Lucas‘ Star Wars was a massive hit with audiences of all ages. Since then, the beloved space opera, in which young farm boy Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) leaves his home planet of Tatooine in order to rescue Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) from the evil clutches of the Galactic Empire, has spawned one of the most successful film franchises of all time, while continuing to be an exceedingly rewatchable entry in its own right.
Even when disregarding the franchise as a whole, it is impressive how much the first Star Wars contributed to pop-culture. It introduced audiences to iconic characters like Luke, Leia, Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Darth Vader (David Prowse and James Earl Jones), while also dazzling them with mind-blowing special effects in action sequences that pushed the industry forward, most notably in the Death Star trench run. It remains one of the best Star Wars movies, but the impact that it has had on pop-culture as a whole also makes it the single most essential live-action family movie that everyone should watch at least once.
