This movie is perfect. Like, annoyingly perfect. It's sweet without being saccharine, funny without being stupid, and has actual stakes without being scary. Hugh Grant as a washed-up actor villain is chef's kiss. Your kids will love the slapstick prison sequences. You'll love the visual gags and the surprisingly sophisticated humor about gentrification and community.

Ages 5+ | The whole family will quote "If we're kind and polite, the world will be right" for weeks. You've been warned.

Everything really IS awesome in this one. It moves at a breakneck pace (which keeps younger kids engaged), but it's also genuinely smart about creativity, conformity, and the relationship between parents and kids. The jokes-per-minute ratio is insane, and there are enough pop culture references to keep adults entertained while kids are laughing at Batman being a dramatic dork.

Ages 6+ | Warning: your kids will want to watch this 47 times. The good news? You won't hate it.

Yes, it's technically a musical, but it's also hilarious. The family dynamics are painfully relatable (every family has a Bruno), and the humor about generational expectations hits different when you're the parent now. Kids love the magic and the songs. Parents love that it's about therapy without being preachy about therapy.

Ages 5+ | "We Don't Talk About Bruno" will live rent-free in your head for months. This is not a warning, just a fact.

A rat controls a human by pulling his hair like a puppet to cook fancy French food. On paper, this sounds unhinged. In practice, it's Pixar at its absolute best. The physical comedy is brilliant, the food critic monologue at the end makes adults cry, and there's something deeply satisfying about watching a rat achieve his dreams through sheer determination and culinary skill.

Ages 6+ | Bonus: might inspire your kids to actually try new foods. Might.

This movie GETS what it's like to be a terminally online kid with parents who don't understand why you'd rather make videos than go camping. The robot apocalypse plot is genuinely funny, but the real heart is the family dysfunction that feels painfully real. The animation style is chaotic in the best way, and there are enough meme references to make your tweens feel seen without being cringe.

Ages 8+ | Parents of creative kids who live on their devices: this one will hit you in the feelings.

Hear me out. Yes, the effects are dated. Yes, it's campy. But it's also Robert Rodriguez making a movie about kids who are more competent than adults, with genuinely creative action sequences and a surprising amount of heart about family. It's goofy without being dumb, and there's something refreshing about a family comedy where the parents are actually cool and capable.

Ages 7+ | The thumb-people villains are nightmare fuel, but in a fun way.

A security guard whose exhibits come to life at night sounds like it could go very wrong, but this movie is just pure fun. Robin Williams as Teddy Roosevelt, a T-Rex skeleton that acts like a puppy, and Owen Wilson as a tiny cowboy. The humor works on multiple levels, and it sneaks in actual history lessons without being educational in that painful way.

Ages 8+ | Great for kids who love museums or need to love museums because you're tired of children's museums.

Four teens get sucked into a video game and have to play as completely mismatched avatars. The Rock playing an awkward nerd in a bodybuilder's body is comedy gold. Jack Black playing a teenage girl is somehow not cringe. The movie understands video game logic and uses it for genuinely clever jokes. There's action, there's heart, and there's a surprising amount of body-positive messaging.

Ages 10+ | Some mild language and innuendo, but nothing that'll make you dive for the remote.

A murder mystery that's hilarious, clever, and has something to say about wealth and immigration without being preachy. Ana de Armas is perfect as the nurse who literally cannot lie. Daniel Craig doing a Southern accent is a choice that somehow works. The whole cast is clearly having a blast, and the mystery is actually mysterious.

Ages 13+ | Some language and adult themes, but nothing gratuitous. Great for families with teens who think they're too cool for "family movies."

Wes Anderson's visual style is like candy for your eyeballs, and the story is both hilarious and surprisingly touching. It's about a legendary concierge and his protégé getting caught up in theft, murder, and fascism, but somehow it's also a comedy? Ralph Fiennes is perfect. The humor is dry and sophisticated, which makes it great for teens who are developing their taste.

Ages 13+ | Some violence and mature themes, but stylized in that Wes Anderson way. If your teen likes this, check out more Wes Anderson films.

A foster kid and his grumpy foster uncle go on the run in the New Zealand bush. It's quirky without being annoying, heartfelt without being sappy, and genuinely funny in that dry New Zealand way. Sam Neill is perfect as the reluctant father figure, and the kid actor holds his own. It's about found family and belonging, wrapped up in a comedy adventure.

Ages 12+ | Some mild language and themes about foster care and loss, but handled with sensitivity.

Okay, this one is WEIRD. Like, hot-dog-fingers and googly-eyes weird. But it's also one of the funniest, most creative, and most emotionally resonant movies in recent years. It's about a Chinese immigrant family, generational trauma, and the multiverse, but it's also about doing your taxes and being kind. The action is incredible, the humor is absurd, and the heart is real.

Ages 14+ | Some mature themes and brief violence. Best for families who like their comedy with a side of existential crisis.

The movies that work for the whole family share a few things:

They respect everyone's intelligence. No one wants to feel pandered to, whether you're 7 or 47. The best family comedies have jokes that work on multiple levels.

They have real stakes. Comedy without stakes is just noise. Even in silly movies like The LEGO Movie, there's genuine emotion and consequences.

They don't rely on cruelty. Humor that punches down or makes fun of people for being different isn't funny to kids OR adults. The best comedies punch up or find humor in situations, not in mocking people.

They move. Pacing matters. Kids have been trained by YouTube and TikTok to expect constant stimulation. Movies that drag lose them. Movies like The Mitchells vs. The Machines understand this and keep the energy high without being exhausting.

For younger kids (5-9): Stick with movies that have clear good guys and bad guys, happy endings, and physical comedy. They're still building their understanding of narrative structure and humor. Paddington 2 and Ratatouille are perfect for this age.

For middle grades (8-12): They can handle more complex plots, mild peril, and humor that requires some cultural knowledge. They're starting to appreciate irony and satire. The Mitchells vs. The Machines and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle hit this sweet spot.

For teens (13+): They want to be treated like adults and can handle sophisticated humor, complex themes, and moral ambiguity. They're developing their own taste and will call out anything that feels fake or preachy. Knives Out and Hunt for the Wilderpeople respect their intelligence.

Minions movies: I'm sorry. I know kids love them. But these are basically feature-length commercials for toys. The humor is random chaos with no real substance. You can do better.

Most live-action Disney remakes: They're not funny, they're not necessary, and they're basically just expensive nostalgia bait. The originals are better.

Anything with "Movie" in the title that's not The LEGO Movie: Scary Movie, Epic Movie, Disaster Movie—these are all unwatchable garbage that aged like milk in the sun.

Family movie night shouldn't feel like a sacrifice where parents grit their teeth through 90 minutes of nonsense. The movies on this list are genuinely good—the kind you might actually want to rewatch, the kind that spark conversations afterward, the kind that become family favorites.

Start with Paddington 2 if you have younger kids—it's universally beloved for a reason. If you have tweens or teens, The Mitchells vs. The Machines or Knives Out are safe bets.

And if your kids are resistant to "family movie night" because they think it means watching something babyish, show them this list. These aren't kids' movies that adults can tolerate. They're good movies that happen to be appropriate for families.

Want more movie recommendations for your specific age range? Or looking for movies that aren't comedies? We've got you covered.