“Being stuck” at home with the whole family can be challenging at times. How to work from home and keep your children entertained or busy is now the real question, right?
Finding the right movie to make everybody happy isn’t always easy – kids have different interests, and adults can be even more persnickety.
We have gathered a list of top family-friendly or better said kids-friendly movies to watch while in quarantine. The movies included are perfect for the whole family and all ages. We might just see a giggle come out of mom or dad.
Ice age (all movies)
I remember having a blast watching all Ice Age movies. Especially that squirrel Scrat who is solely responsible for the division of continents and the ice breaking. What does a squirrel have to do to get the nut?
Anyway, enough about the funny squirrel. There is more to this movie. Set against the onslaught of the ice age — and a world filled with wonder and danger — the story revolves around three unforgettable characters: a wooly mammoth, a saber-toothed tiger, and a sloth.
Wall-E
After hundreds of lonely years of doing what he was built for, WALL-E (short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class) discovers a new purpose in life (besides collecting knick-knacks) when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL-E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet’s future, and races back to space to report her findings to the humans (who have been eagerly awaiting word that it is safe to return home).
Meanwhile, WALL-E chases EVE across the galaxy and sets into motion one of the most exciting and imaginative comedy adventures ever brought to the big screen. Joining WALL-E on his fantastic journey across a universe of never-before-imagined visions of the future is a hilarious cast of characters including a pet cockroach, and a heroic team of malfunctioning misfit robots.
Madagascar
A fan favorite for sure! Who doesn’t love to “Move it, move it“? If you don’t know this reference then this is the first movie on your watch list while in quarantine.
Four zoo animals are shipped back to their homeland by an animal rights group that feels they belong in the wild. When the ship capsizes, the animals find themselves stranded in Madagascar. Having had humans care for them their entire life, they know nothing about survival and must work together with the locals to help them fit in.
Oh, and check out what I meant with “Move it, move it“. Thank me later.
Monsters Inc.
Hulking, blue-furred behemoth James P. “Sully” Sullivan (John Goodman) and his one-eyed assistant Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) are employed by Monsters, Inc., a scream processing factory. It seems that the denizens of their realm thrive on the screams of kids spooked by monsters lurking under their beds and in their closets. It’s the job of Sully, Mike, and their co-workers, including sarcastic Randall Boggs (Steve Buscemi), crab-like CEO Henry J. Waternoose (James Coburn), and lovely snake-headed receptionist Celia (Jennifer Tilly) to keep the frights flowing. When Sully and Mike are followed back into the monster world by a very unafraid little human girl named Boo (Mary Gibbs), they are exiled to her universe, where they discover that such a modern-day mythological specimen as the Abominable Snowman is a fellow refugee.
Babe
Not only will it make you rethink bacon, but this film about an orphaned piglet who goes from being an option for Christmas dinner to a champion sheep-herder will warm everyone’s hearts. Also, it features one of the best final movie lines ever: “That’ll do, pig. That’ll do.” A family movie classic.
Frozen
You honestly didn’t think we would skip this one? Just “let it go“. See what I did there.
Featuring the voices of Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel, “Frozen” is the coolest comedy-adventure ever to hit the big screen. When a prophecy traps a kingdom in eternal winter, Anna, a fearless optimist, teams up with extreme mountain man Kristoff and his sidekick reindeer Sven on an epic journey to find Anna’s sister Elsa, the Snow Queen, and put an end to her icy spell. Encountering mystical trolls, a funny snowman named Olaf, Everest-like extremes and magic at every turn, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom from destruction.
How to Train Your Dragon
While “Lord of the Rings” might be your initial fantasy go-to, this is a more family-friendly trilogy to tackle, beginning with the animated movie that first introduced a Viking teenage boy with identity issues and the story of how he met his scaly best friend Toothless.
The Lego Batman Movie
Who doesn’t love Legos?
The Lego films are pretty awesome across the board, yet this one is special. Little children love Batman, and the animated movie sends up his dark and macho persona from more adult movies by putting the Caped Crusader through his nightmare: actually needing a family.
The Little Prince
Kung-fu Panda director Mark Osborne teams with producers Aton Soumache and Dimitri Rassam for this animated take on Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s beloved novella about a pilot (voice of Jeff Bridges) who crash lands in the Sahara desert and encounters a mysterious young boy who claims to be an extraterrestrial prince. James Franco, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Benicio Del Toro, and Paul Giamatti also lend their voices to this Onyx Films production.
The Secret Life of Pets
Worth it just to watch Kevin Hart voice a high-strung rabbit. “Pets” takes a relatable concept that everybody can wrap their heads around – what do our animals do when we’re not around? – and goes to town with hilarity and heart. Now you and your dogs/cats/hamsters can watch together!
Ratatouille
In the hilarious new animated-adventure, Ratatouille, a rat named Remy dreams of becoming a great chef despite his family’s wishes and the obvious problem of being a rat in a decidedly rodent-phobic profession. When fate places Remy in the city of Paris, he finds himself ideally situated beneath a restaurant made famous by his culinary hero, Auguste Gusteau.
Despite the apparent dangers of being an unwanted visitor in the kitchen at one of Paris’ most exclusive restaurants, Remy forms an unlikely partnership with Linguini, the garbage boy, who inadvertently discovers Remy’s amazing talents. They strike a deal, ultimately setting into motion a hilarious and exciting chain of extraordinary events that turns the culinary world of Paris upside down. Remy finds himself torn between following his dreams or returning forever to his previous existence as a rat. He learns the truth about friendship, family and having no choice but to be who he really is, a rat who wants to be a chef.
Moana
Three thousand years ago, the greatest sailors in the world voyaged across the vast Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. But then, for a millennium, their voyages stopped – and no one knows exactly why. From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes “Moana,” a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people.
During her journey, Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) meets the mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), who guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder. Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity.
The Angry Birds 2
If you never watched the first Angry Birds movie, there’s no hiccup when jumping into this sequel, which boasts an all-star cast of everyone from Jason Sudeikis and Bill Hader to Sterling K. Brown and Awkwafina. One of those rare kids’ movies that is magically as side-splitting for the child as it is for the parent, this is one you actually won’t mind hitting double digits in the watch count.
Toy Story
Another fan-favorite among the kids around the world. Don’t skip any movie! Yes, there are 4 of them to keep your kids occupied while you answer all your work emails.
Woody, a traditional pull-string talking cowboy, has long enjoyed a place of honor as the favorite among six-year-old Andy’s menagerie of toys. Quick to calm their anxieties about being replaced by newer arrivals, Woody finds his own confidence shaken, and his status as top toy in jeopardy, upon the arrival of Buzz Lightyear, simply the coolest space action figure ever made.
Woody plots to get rid of Buzz, but things backfire and he finds himself lost in the outside world with Buzz as his only companion. Joining forces to find their way home, the two rivals set out on an adventure that lands them in the clutches of Sid, a sadistic neighborhood kid who is notorious for dismembering and reassembling “mutant” toys in his bedroom. As “guests” of Sid and his dog, Scud, the two fugitive toys forge a genuine friendship and learn that only through mutual trust and respect do they have any chance of survival.
Up
Carl Fredricksen is a 78-year-old balloon salesman. His entire life, Carl has longed to wander the wilds of South America. Then, one day, the irascible senior citizen shocks his neighbors by tying thousands of balloons to his home and finally taking flight. But Carl isn’t alone on his once-in-a-lifetime journey, because stowed away on his front porch is an excitable eight-year-old wilderness explorer named Russell.
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Let’s be real: Everyone came for the princesses but stayed for Gal Gadot. More heart-tugging and even smarter than the original, this movie is like watching a version of your internet search history that you don’t mind your kids seeing.
The Addams Family
Get ready to snap your fingers!
The first family of Halloween, the Addams Family, is back on the big screen in the first animated comedy about the kookiest family on the block. Funny, outlandish, and completely iconic, the Addams Family redefines what it means to be a good neighbor.
Kung Fu Panda
Everyone went kung fu fighting … Ok, we didn’t really go kung fu fighting, cause you know, we are stuck in quarantine like the rest of you.
A clumsy panda bear becomes an unlikely kung fu hero when a treacherous enemy spreads chaos throughout the countryside in this animated martial arts adventure featuring the voices of Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, and Jackie Chan. On the surface, Po (voice of Black) may look like just another portly panda bear, but beneath his fur he bears the mark of the chosen one. By day, Po works faithfully in his family’s noodle shop, but by night he dreams of becoming a true master of martial arts. Now an ancient prophecy has come to pass, and Po realizes that he is the only one who can save his people from certain destruction.
It seems like a fitting movie for these times … All jokes aside. You and your kids will enjoy this movie. And who knows perhaps they will pick interest in kung fu?
Despicable Me
Who doesn’t love the Minions? We certainly do!
Despicable Me is a fun movie for the whole family to watch while in quarantine. LOL´s are quarantined. Just check the funny Minion clip below! Oh, and by the way, there are three movies about them. Movie marathon anyone?
E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL
The movie of our childhood and I do mean THE movie. How many of us shed a tear during this movie? No worries, it is not a sad movie.
A family or kids classic for sure and a movie your kids shouldn’t miss out on. E.T. is a sci-fi adventure that captures that strange moment in youth when the world is a place of mysterious possibilities (some wonderful, some awful), and the universe seems somehow separate from the one inhabited by grown-ups.
Tangled
No, this isn’t a movie about how I my hair looks like in the morning. Or is it?
When the kingdom’s most wanted-and most charming-bandit Flynn Rider hides out in a mysterious tower, he’s taken hostage by Rapunzel, a beautiful and feisty tower-bound teen with 70 feet of magical, golden hair. Flynn’s curious captor, who’s looking for her ticket out of the tower where she’s been locked away for years, strikes a deal with the handsome thief and the unlikely duo sets off on an action-packed escapade, complete with a super-cop horse, an over-protective chameleon and a gruff gang of pub thugs. Oh, and there is a sequel.
Finding Nemo
There are more fishes in the sea, but none of them are quite like Nemo.
In this stunning underwater adventure, with memorable characters, humor and heartfelt emotion, Finding Nemo follow the comedic and momentous journey of an overly protective clownfish named Marlin (voice by Albert Brooks) and his son Nemo (voice by Alexander Gould) — who become separated in the Great Barrier Reef when Nemo is unexpectedly taken far from his ocean home and dumped into a fish tank in a dentist’s office. Buoyed by the companionship of Dory (voice by Ellen DeGeneres), a friendly-but-forgetful Pacific regal blue tang, Marlin embarks on a dangerous trek and finds himself the unlikely hero of an epic effort to rescue his son — who hatches a few daring plans of his own to return safely home
Surf’s Up
Another sea adventure up ahead! My surf buddies know this movie very well.
A “mockumentary” on how penguins were actually the inventors of surfing, including behind-the-scenes footage from the Penguin World Surfing Championship.
Onward
Set in a suburban fantasy world, Disney-Pixar’s “Onward” introduces two teenage elf brothers who embark on an extraordinary quest to discover if there is still a little magic left out there.
Shrek (all movies)
Another classic we grew up with. And by we, I mean the Millenials, ok Boomer? Joking … This movie is a true gem of pop culture still to this day and we can guarantee you and your kids will have a blast watching it.
Once upon a time, in a faraway swamp, there lived an ornery ogre named Shrek whose precious solitude is suddenly shattered by an invasion of annoying fairy tale characters. There are blind mice in his food, a big, bad wolf in his bed, three little homeless pigs and more, all banished from their kingdom by the evil Lord Farquaad. Determined to save their home–not to mention his own–Shrek cuts a deal with Farquaad and sets out to rescue the beautiful Princess Fiona to be Farquaad’s bride. Accompanying him on his mission is wisecracking Donkey, who will do anything for Shrek… except shut up.
And this is just the first movie. Wait till you see the rest of them!
Hotel Transylvania
Welcome to the Hotel Transylvania, Dracula’s (Adam Sandler) lavish five-stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up, free to be the monsters they are without humans to bother them. On one special weekend, Dracula has invited some of the world’s most famous monsters–Frankenstein and his bride, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, a family of werewolves, and more–to celebrate his daughter Mavis’s 118th birthday. For Drac, catering to all of these legendary monsters is no problem–but his world could come crashing down when one ordinary guy stumbles on the hotel and takes a shine to Mavis.
The Princess Diaries
A fun story about a princess … oh, and there is a second movie too! Which one do you like more?
This teen comedy from Disney is based on a popular novel by Meg Cabot and directed by Garry Marshall. Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) is a teenage klutz who’s openly mocked by the popular Lana Thomas (pop singer Mandy Moore). In fact, Mia’s only friend at her exclusive prep school is the socially outcast Lilly (Heather Matarazzo). Mia’s life takes a dramatic turn, however, when her mom announces that her late biological father was in actuality the crown prince of a small European nation, Genovia.
Now Mia is the sole heir to the throne, and her grandmother, Queen Clarisse Renaldi (Julie Andrews) wants to tutor the awkward teen in royal behavior. It’s a daunting task given Mia’s lax table manners, poise, and hair care, but the girl perseveres with some makeover help from her grandmother’s security chief Hector Elizondo) and a style expert (Larry Miller). In the meantime, Mia’s romantic affections are torn between the handsome, popular Josh (Erik Von Detten) and the more appropriate Michael (Robert Schwartzman), who also happens to be Lilly’s brother.
If you are not convinced here is the funniest moment from the second movie. Let us know in the comments if you laughed. Don’t sass your grandma, children!
Jumanji (both movies)
I recently watched both movies, and I have to say they are quite funny.
When four high-school kids discover an old video game console with a game they’ve never heard of–Jumanji–they are immediately drawn into the game’s jungle setting, literally becoming the avatars they chose: gamer Spencer becomes a brawny adventurer (Dwayne Johnson); football jock Fridge loses (in his words) “the top two feet of his body” and becomes an Einstein (Kevin Hart); popular girl Bethany becomes a middle-aged male professor (Jack Black); and wallflower Martha becomes a badass warrior (Karen Gillan). What they discover is that you don’t just play Jumanji–you must survive it. To beat the game and return to the real world, they’ll have to go on the most dangerous adventure of their lives, discover what Alan Parrish left 20 years ago, and change the way they think about themselves–or they’ll be stuck in the game forever…
Harry Potter franchise
Perhaps a series of movies for older kids about the famous wizard, Harry Potter.
The best-selling novel by J.K. Rowling (titled Harry Potter becomes this hotly anticipated fantasy adventure from Chris Columbus, the winner of a high-stakes search for a director to bring the first in a hoped-for franchise of Potter films to the screen by Warner Bros. Upon his 11th birthday, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), who lives in misery with an aunt and uncle that don’t want him, learns from a giant named Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) that he is the orphaned son of powerful wizards. Harry is offered a place at prestigious Hogwarts, a boarding school for wizards that exists in a realm of magic and fantasy outside the dreary existence of normal humans or “Muggles.” At Hogwarts, Harry quickly makes new friends and begins piecing together the mystery of his parents’ deaths, which appear not to have been accidental after all. The film features alternate-version scenes for every mention of the titular rock. Richard Harris, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, John Cleese, and Fiona Shaw co-star.
Harry Potter movies are the perfect pick for movie marathon night. With this being said, there are like 8 movies, and each one is around 2 hours long (if not more), so make sure you have enough snacks and time for this. Maybe one Harry Potter movie per night is a better option. But then again it is not like we have anywhere to go the next morning, am I right?
