42 Best Family Movies for Movie Night at Home (With a Snack Idea for Each)
Quick answer: for an easy win, try Toy Story or Paddington 2 with little ones, Coco or Encanto for the whole family, and Back to the Future for bigger kids.
Here are 42 family favourites for movie night at home, grouped by who is watching. Each one comes with a short description and a snack idea, perfect for filling your MovieJam snack tray. Still can’t decide? Let the Movie Night Picker choose for you.
Little ones
Gentle, colourful favourites that suit younger children.
- 1995
Toy Story
Woody the cowboy doll feels threatened when a shiny new space ranger arrives in the toy box.
Snack idea: Cowboy-hat cheese sandwiches and a bowl of popcorn 'space rocks'
- 2003
Finding Nemo
A nervous clownfish crosses the ocean to find his missing son, helped by a forgetful blue fish.
Snack idea: Goldfish-shaped crackers and blue jelly 'sea'
- 2001
Monsters, Inc.
Two monster friends who power their city with children's screams get an unexpected visitor.
Snack idea: Green grapes and cheesy puffs for 'monster snacks'
- 2015
Shaun the Sheep Movie
Shaun takes a day off from the farm and ends up in the big city with the whole flock trying to bring him home.
Snack idea: Woolly marshmallows and a bowl of apple slices
- 2014
Paddington
A polite bear from Peru arrives in London with a suitcase and a love of marmalade.
Snack idea: Marmalade sandwiches cut into triangles
- 2017
Paddington 2
Paddington is blamed for a crime he did not commit, and his friends set out to clear his name.
Snack idea: Marmalade sandwiches and a plate of buns
- 1994
The Lion King
A young lion cub must find the courage to take his place in the circle of life.
Snack idea: A 'Pride Rock' popcorn tower and orange slices
- 2000
Chicken Run
A flock of clever hens plan their great escape from a farm in this Aardman classic.
Snack idea: Egg-shaped chocolates and a big bowl of popcorn
- 1964
Mary Poppins
A magical nanny arrives on the wind and turns the Banks family's ordinary days into adventures.
Snack idea: Tea-party sandwiches and a plate of biscuits
- 2016
Sing
A koala theatre owner puts on a singing competition to save his failing theatre.
Snack idea: Popcorn 'stage lights' and fruit skewers
The whole family
Films that make the grown-ups laugh as much as the kids.
- 2001
Shrek
A grumpy ogre sets out to rescue a princess so he can get his swamp back.
Snack idea: Green-tinted popcorn and gingerbread biscuits
- 1996
Matilda
A brilliant girl with a special talent takes on her awful parents and the terrifying headmistress.
Snack idea: Chocolate cake slices and a jug of squash
- 1990
Home Alone
Eight-year-old Kevin is accidentally left behind at Christmas and has to defend the house from burglars.
Snack idea: Cheese pizza squares and a bowl of popcorn
- 2017
Coco
A boy who dreams of being a musician finds himself in the colourful Land of the Dead.
Snack idea: Tortilla chips with a mild dip and orange slices
- 2016
Moana
A brave island girl sets sail across the ocean to save her people, with help from a shape-shifting demigod.
Snack idea: Tropical fruit skewers and coconut biscuits
- 2021
Encanto
Every member of the Madrigal family has a magical gift in a Colombian village, except Mirabel.
Snack idea: Cheesy arepas or mini quesadillas and fruit
- 2015
Inside Out
The emotions inside a young girl's head try to guide her through a big move to a new city.
Snack idea: Rainbow sweets, one colour per emotion
- 2007
Ratatouille
A rat with a gift for cooking teams up with a young kitchen worker in a Paris restaurant.
Snack idea: Cheese cubes, grapes and mini bread rolls
- 2009
Up
A grumpy widower ties thousands of balloons to his house and floats off to South America, with an unexpected stowaway.
Snack idea: Party rings and a bowl of colourful sweets
- 2013
Frozen
Two royal sisters, one with icy powers, must save their kingdom from an endless winter.
Snack idea: White chocolate popcorn and blue lemonade
- 2004
The Incredibles
A family of superheroes tries to live a normal suburban life until the world needs them again.
Snack idea: Red and yellow snacks: strawberries and crisps
- 2010
How to Train Your Dragon
A young Viking makes friends with a dragon instead of fighting it, and changes his village forever.
Snack idea: Roasted-style sausages on sticks and popcorn 'sparks'
- 2005
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
The inventor and his loyal dog protect a village's giant vegetable competition from a mysterious beast.
Snack idea: Cheese on crackers and carrot sticks
- 2008
Kung Fu Panda
A clumsy, noodle-loving panda is chosen to become the legendary Dragon Warrior.
Snack idea: Noodle cups and prawn-cracker style crisps
- 2014
The Lego Movie
An ordinary Lego figure is mistaken for the chosen one and joins a band of rebels.
Snack idea: Brick-shaped sandwiches and coloured sweets
- 2016
Zootropolis
A determined rabbit police officer teams up with a sly fox to solve a case in an animal city.
Snack idea: Carrot sticks, and fish-shaped crackers for the fox
- 2014
Big Hero 6
A young inventor and a soft, inflatable robot form a team of heroes in a futuristic city.
Snack idea: Marshmallows and a bowl of popcorn
- 2002
Lilo & Stitch
A lonely Hawaiian girl adopts a very naughty 'dog' who is really an escaped alien experiment.
Snack idea: Pineapple chunks and blue sweets
- 1992
Aladdin
A street thief finds a magic lamp and a fast-talking genie who grants three wishes.
Snack idea: Flatbreads with hummus and a bowl of dried fruit
- 2010
Despicable Me
A grumpy would-be supervillain plans to steal the moon, until three little girls change his mind.
Snack idea: Banana slices and yellow sweets for the Minions
Bigger kids and teens
Bigger adventures, a little more excitement and some classics to share.
- 2018
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Teenager Miles Morales meets Spider-People from other dimensions in a visually stunning animated adventure.
Snack idea: Red and blue sweets and salty popcorn
- 1985
Back to the Future
A teenager is sent thirty years into the past in a time-travelling car and must make sure his parents fall in love.
Snack idea: Sweet and salty popcorn and cola
- 1982
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
A lonely boy befriends a gentle alien who is stranded on Earth and wants to go home.
Snack idea: Chocolate sweets in a trail, just like the film
- 1985
The Goonies
A group of friends follow an old treasure map to try to save their neighbourhood from being demolished.
Snack idea: A 'treasure chest' of mixed sweets and crisps
- 1987
The Princess Bride
A grandfather reads his sick grandson a fairy tale full of sword fights, giants and true love.
Snack idea: A cosy bowl of berries and shortbread
- 2017
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Four teenagers are sucked into a video game and become the adult avatars they chose.
Snack idea: Jungle mix: banana chips, nuts-free trail mix and popcorn
- 2006
Night at the Museum
A new night guard discovers that the museum exhibits come to life after dark.
Snack idea: Dinosaur-shaped biscuits and popcorn
- 2001
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
An orphaned boy learns he is a wizard and starts at a school of witchcraft and wizardry.
Snack idea: Sweets in a 'Honeydukes' mix and pumpkin-shaped biscuits
- 2012
Hotel Transylvania
Dracula runs a hotel for monsters, until a human teenager checks in.
Snack idea: Bat-shaped biscuits and green jelly
- 2009
Coraline
A curious girl finds a secret door to a world that seems better than her own, but has a dark side.
Snack idea: Button-shaped biscuits and warm milk
- 1984
Ghostbusters
Three scientists start a ghost-catching business in New York.
Snack idea: Marshmallows and green sweets for the 'slime'
- 2008
Mamma Mia!
A bride-to-be secretly invites three possible fathers to her wedding on a Greek island, with ABBA songs throughout.
Snack idea: Greek-style snacks: olives, feta and pitta chips
These groups are our suggestions, not official age ratings. Please check the BBFC rating of any film before watching it with children.
Quick answers
What is a good family movie for all ages?
Films like Toy Story, Paddington 2, Coco and Finding Nemo have plenty for both children and adults. Use the Movie Night Picker if you want us to choose.
What are good movies for little kids?
Gentle, colourful films such as Paddington, Finding Nemo, Shaun the Sheep Movie and The Lion King suit many younger children. Always check the BBFC rating for your child.
Are these age ratings?
No. The groups are our suggestions to help you choose. Please check the official BBFC rating of any film before you watch it with children.
