Most Best Picture winners are designed for voters in Los Angeles, not for a Tuesday night with a third-grader, but you can absolutely find "prestige" movies that won't require you to explain a mid-life crisis or graphic violence to your kids.
TL;DR: While recent winners like One Battle After Another (2026) and Anora (2025) are strictly for the "after the kids are in bed" pile, classics like The Sound of Music and modern gems like CODA prove that Academy-level storytelling can be a family affair. For a safe bet that feels like an event, stick to the musicals or the high-adventure epics like Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
If you're looking to catch up on the newest "Best" films with the family, you need to be careful. The Academy has been on a "gritty and grounded" kick lately.
The big winner from last month's ceremony is a Paul Thomas Anderson masterpiece, but guys, it’s a war epic. It’s stunning, but it’s heavy. Unless you have a teenager who is a literal history buff or a budding cinematographer, this is going to be a "parent-only" watch. It’s loud, intense, and deals with some pretty harrowing themes of loss.
Hard pass for the kids. I don’t care how much the critics raved about Mikey Madison’s performance; this is a story about a sex worker and a Russian oligarch’s son. It’s funny and brilliant, but it is wall-to-wall R-rated content. Save this for a date night where you don't have to worry about little ears hearing things they can't un-hear.
This one is a "maybe" for the 13+ crowd. It’s PG-13, but it’s three hours of men talking in rooms about physics and politics. If your kid liked Interstellar, they might hang. If they’re looking for Marvel action, they will be asleep by the first hour.
Back in the day, "Best Picture" often meant "Massive Spectacle the Whole Town Can Watch." These are the ones that actually feel like "family movies" in the modern sense.
- It’s the gold standard. Yes, there are Nazis, but it’s mostly about singing in the mountains and standing up for what's right. It’s long, so maybe break it into two nights, but it’s a mandatory cultural touchstone.
- A musical about orphans in Victorian London. It’s got some "scary" moments with Bill Sikes, but the songs are bangers and the "Consider Yourself" dance number is pure joy.
- Audrey Hepburn is a vibe. It’s basically a long lesson in phonetics with incredible costumes. Kids usually find the "Rain in Spain" scene hilarious.
If you want something that feels current but won't make things awkward, these are the Screenwise-approved picks for the middle-school-and-up crowd.
- This is the ultimate "cool parent" movie pick. It’s chaotic, it’s about the multiverse (which kids already get thanks to Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse), and it’s secretly a movie about a mother and daughter trying to understand each other. Warning: there is some "weird" humor that might make you blush, but the heart of the movie is 10/10.
- A truly beautiful story about a girl who is the only hearing member of a Deaf family. It deals with growing up and following your dreams. It’s PG-13 for some "teen talk" and sexual references, but it’s one of the most accessible winners in decades.
- Want to trick your kids into watching a silent movie? This is the one. It’s charming, it has a very cute dog, and because there’s no dialogue, it’s actually a great way to talk about how movies tell stories through pictures.
When you're browsing the list of 98 winners, keep a few "Screenwise Rules" in mind:
- The "Boring" Factor: Just because it's a masterpiece doesn't mean a 10-year-old won't find it "mid" or "brain rot." Movies like The King's Speech are great, but they are slow.
- Historical Context: Older winners like Gone with the Wind carry significant racial baggage. If you're going to watch them, be ready for a conversation about how the world has changed since 1939.
- The R-Rating Trap: In the 70s and 80s, Best Picture winners got dark. The Godfather and The Silence of the Lambs are incredible, but they are not for kids. Don't let the "classic" status fool you into thinking they're safe for a family Friday.
If you do sit down for an Oscar winner, use it as a springboard. These movies are "Best Picture" for a reason—they usually have something to say.
- "Why do you think the Academy picked this as the 'best' of that year?" (Teaches critical thinking about art vs. entertainment).
- "How would this story be different if it were made as a Roblox experience or a YouTube series?" (Helps them bridge the gap between "prestige" media and their digital world).
- "Which character made the hardest decision?" (Great for moral development).
Q: Is Forrest Gump okay for a 10-year-old?
Forrest Gump is generally okay for most 10-year-olds, but be prepared for some heavy themes. It covers the Vietnam War, drug use, and some brief sexual situations, so it's a "co-watch" rather than a "set it and forget it" movie.
Q: What is the best Oscar winner for a family movie night?
The most universally loved Best Picture winner for families is likely The Sound of Music. If you want something more modern and action-packed, Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is the winner that usually keeps kids the most engaged.
Q: Are there any animated movies that won Best Picture?
No animated movie has ever won the top prize of Best Picture, though Beauty and the Beast, Up, and Toy Story 3 were all nominated. If you want the best of the best in animation, look at the Best Animated Feature winners like The Wild Robot (2025).
Don't feel like you have to force "prestige" on your kids just because it has a gold statue attached to it. If you're going to dive into the Best Picture archives, start with the musicals or the 2000s-era epics. Save the 2026 war dramas and the 2025 indie darlings for your own time—you deserve a break from "Skibidi" anyway.