The Most Hilarious Family Movies That Keep Everyone Laughing
The best family comedies work on multiple levels—slapstick for the kids, clever wordplay and cultural references for adults, and genuine heart for everyone. Here are the ones that actually deliver:
Animated Winners:
- The Mitchells vs. The Machines (Ages 7+)
- Paddington 2 (Ages 5+)
- The LEGO Movie (Ages 6+)
- Ratatouille (Ages 6+)
Live Action Classics:
- School of Rock (Ages 8+)
- Night at the Museum (Ages 7+)
- Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (Ages 10+)
For Younger Kids:
- Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (Ages 6+)
- Monsters, Inc. (Ages 4+)
Finding a movie that genuinely makes the whole family laugh—not just kids giggling at fart jokes while parents scroll their phones—is harder than it should be. You need physical comedy for the little ones, sharp writing for the adults, and ideally something that doesn't make you want to throw the remote at the TV by minute fifteen.
The good news? There are actually quite a few films that thread this needle beautifully. The secret is usually a combination of smart writing, visual gags that work at any age, and characters everyone can root for.
The movies that work best aren't just "kid movies that adults can tolerate." They're genuinely funny films that happen to be appropriate for kids. There's a difference.
What you're looking for:
- Layered humor - Physical comedy for young kids, wordplay and references for older viewers
- Actual jokes - Not just random = funny (looking at you, most YouTube content)
- Characters with real personalities - Not just archetypes screaming at each other
- Visual creativity - Animation or cinematography that's genuinely impressive
- Heart without schmaltz - Emotional moments that don't feel manipulative
Ages 7+ | Netflix
This is the gold standard for modern family comedy. A dysfunctional family road trip gets interrupted by a robot apocalypse, and somehow it works perfectly. The animation style is kinetic and inventive (think Spider-Verse energy), the family dynamics are painfully relatable, and the jokes land consistently for both kids and adults.
The humor ranges from sight gags about dad's inability to use technology to genuinely clever commentary about our relationship with screens and AI. Plus, the family actually feels like a real family—awkward, loving, frustrated, and trying their best.
Why it works: It respects both kids' and adults' intelligence. The robot uprising is silly enough for kids to enjoy, but the emotional core about family connection and growing up hits hard for parents.
Ages 5+ | Available for rent
Yes, a movie about a polite bear is legitimately one of the funniest family films ever made. The physical comedy is impeccable (the prison sequence alone is worth the watch), Hugh Grant is clearly having the time of his life as a washed-up actor villain, and the whole thing is just... joyful.
It's also genuinely clever. The jokes aren't dumbed down, the plot actually matters, and there's real craft in every frame. Plus it's one of the few family movies where the message—kindness and optimism can change the world—doesn't feel preachy because Paddington just is that way.
Ages 6+ | HBO Max
"Everything is awesome" became a cultural phenomenon for a reason. This movie takes what could have been a 90-minute toy commercial and turns it into a legitimately funny, surprisingly thoughtful film about creativity, conformity, and father-son relationships.
The jokes fly by at a breakneck pace (you'll catch new ones on every rewatch), the animation is stunning, and the twist in the third act actually adds emotional depth instead of just being a gimmick. Kids love the action and colors, adults appreciate the satire and meta-humor.
Bonus: The sequel is almost as good, and The LEGO Batman Movie is the best Batman movie in years (fight me).
Ages 6+ | Disney+
Pixar's most underrated film is also one of their funniest. A rat who wants to be a chef in Paris sounds like a weird premise, but the physical comedy of Remy controlling Linguini like a puppet is endlessly entertaining, and the food critic subplot is genuinely sophisticated.
This is also one of those rare family movies that's actually about something—pursuing your passion, the nature of art and criticism, overcoming prejudice. But it never forgets to be funny along the way.
Ages 8+ | Paramount+
Jack Black at his absolute peak, playing a failed musician who cons his way into a substitute teaching job and turns his class into a rock band. It's funny, the music is great, and it actually respects both kids and teachers as real people with their own dreams and challenges.
The humor works because Black is genuinely committed to the bit, the kid actors are actually good, and the script (by Mike White, who went on to create The White Lotus) is smarter than it needs to be. Plus, the final concert sequence is genuinely thrilling.
Note: Some mild language and a few adult references, but nothing that should worry most parents of 8+.
Ages 7+ | Disney+
The premise—museum exhibits come to life at night—is inherently fun, and the movie delivers on that promise with creative set pieces and solid jokes. Ben Stiller plays the straight man well, and the supporting cast (Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan) clearly had fun with their roles.
It's not going to change your life, but it's reliably entertaining, genuinely funny, and educational-ish (kids will definitely want to learn more about Teddy Roosevelt and ancient Egypt after watching). The sequels have their moments too, though the first is the strongest.
Ages 10+ | Netflix/Starz
A surprising reboot that actually works. Four teenagers get sucked into a video game and have to navigate Jumanji while inhabiting avatar bodies that don't match their real personalities. The body-swap comedy is handled well, the video game references are on point, and Dwayne Johnson doing a nerdy teenage boy voice is funnier than it has any right to be.
The action is fun, the jokes land, and it actually has something to say about friendship, self-confidence, and growth. Just be aware there's more action violence and some mild sexual humor than younger kids can handle.
Ages 6+ | Peacock
Nobody expected a Shrek spinoff sequel released in 2022 to be this good, but here we are. The animation is gorgeous (that stylized, almost comic book aesthetic), the villain is genuinely menacing, and the humor works on multiple levels.
Plus it's secretly a film about mortality, anxiety, and finding meaning in life—but wrapped in enough swashbuckling adventure and visual gags that kids just think it's a fun action movie. The therapy dog character alone makes it worth watching.
Ages 4+ | Disney+
Peak Pixar, before they got formulaic. The premise is brilliant (monsters scare kids for energy, but one kid gets into the monster world), the buddy comedy between Sulley and Mike works perfectly, and Boo is genuinely adorable without being annoying.
The physical comedy is accessible to very young kids, but there's enough wit in the dialogue to keep adults engaged. Plus the door chase sequence is a masterclass in animated action comedy.
Don't sleep on older family comedies that have stood the test of time:
The Princess Bride (Ages 8+) - Perfect blend of adventure, romance, and comedy. "Inconceivable!" is still funny.
Home Alone (Ages 7+) - The slapstick violence is cartoonish enough to work, and Macaulay Culkin's performance holds up.
Mrs. Doubtfire (Ages 8+) - Robin Williams in a fat suit doing voices. Some of the gender comedy hasn't aged perfectly, but Williams' performance transcends it.
The Incredibles (Ages 6+) - Superhero family dynamics, mid-century modern aesthetic, and actually funny jokes about suburban life.
Not every popular family comedy is worth your time. Here are some that get recommended constantly but don't quite deliver:
Minions movies - Random does not equal funny. These are basically feature-length YouTube videos for toddlers.
Most Illumination films - Sing and its ilk are fine background noise, but they're not actually funny. Just loud.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies - The books are great. The movies are not. Just read the books.
Boss Baby - The premise is clever for about five minutes, then it's just... exhausting.
Ages 4-6: Stick with Pixar's gentler offerings (Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo), Paddington movies, and classic Disney. They need clear good guys and bad guys, simple plots, and lots of visual humor.
Ages 7-9: You can graduate to The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Night at the Museum, The LEGO Movie. They can handle more complex plots and some mild peril.
Ages 10+: School of Rock, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, and most PG-13 comedies are fair game. They'll actually get the adult jokes now (whether you want them to or not).
Humor is subjective: Your kid might think something is hilarious that makes you cringe, and vice versa. That's fine. The goal is finding overlap, not perfect agreement.
Rewatchability matters: Kids will want to watch their favorites repeatedly. Choose movies you can actually stand to see multiple times. The Mitchells vs. The Machines and Paddington 2 both hold up on rewatch. The Minions do not.
Context helps: Watching together and being available to explain jokes or references makes everything more enjoyable. Plus you can pause to discuss anything that comes up.
Quality over quantity: One genuinely good family movie is worth ten mediocre ones. Don't just throw on whatever's trending on Netflix Kids.
The best family comedies are actual movies—with craft, heart, and real humor—that happen to be appropriate for kids, not "kid movies" that adults have to endure. The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Paddington 2, and The LEGO Movie are the modern gold standard, but there are plenty of other options that deliver genuine laughs for everyone.
The key is finding films that work on multiple levels—physical comedy for young kids, clever dialogue for older viewers, and emotional resonance for everyone. When you find those, family movie night stops being something to endure and becomes something everyone actually looks forward to.
Want more recommendations? Check out our guides to best animated movies for kids, movies that teach emotional intelligence, or family movies on Netflix worth watching.