10 family-friendly Netflix movies to keep the Kids happy
Carolina
Argentinian Carolina has an extensive movie background in the cinematic universe. She is our resident TV analyst and a seasoned expert in global streaming platforms. She showcases her comprehensive knowledge through her love for Netflix 'Originals', Frozen, The Good Place, and The Dragon Prince.
Watching movies together to spend quality family time is a great experience, but sometimes it is hard to find movies that are appealing to both adults and kids.
Or when you need to keep the kids entertained for a while and you wonder what the best movie is to catch their attention for an hour or so.
Well, in the following list, we’ve picked ten movies available on Netflix that can be great to share with your kids, keep them busy for a while or if you want, sit down and watch with them too!
Headnote
Netflix movies vary by region. Some of these movies may not be available in your region.
However, you can watch all of these using a VPN app that let’s you change regions with your regular Netflix account. We recommend ExpressVPN because they’re fast, easy to use and allow you to switch regions with ease. However, there are other choices such as CyberGhost VPN and VyprVPN which are suitable too.
1. Bolt
(2008 – Animation – 96 min)
From Disney Animation Studios, Bolt was one of the first wise moves after a couple of failed attempts in trying to follow Pixar’s steps.
The story is about Bolt, a star dog that has his own TV series along with the girl who is his owner. In fiction, he’s a genetically manipulated dog with superpowers who fights villains and saves the world. The problem is he believes everything is real.
So, when he’s accidentally separated from his owner, he runs into action to go back home believing he can solve everything as quickly as in his TV show.
Link : https://www.netflix.com/title/70099615
2. Beauty and the Beast
(2017 – Live Action – 129 min)
In Disney’s trend of live-action remakes from their animated classics, this redemption invokes all the songs, all the magic, and all the characters from the original movie with some new additions.
When a selfish prince is cursed to be a beast for the rest of his life, his only hope is falling in love with the young woman he keeps as a prisoner.
Belle is intelligent and brave. When the Beast takes her father prisoner, she decided to exchange places to save him. There, she will find a whole enchanted castle and a whole lot of magical staff.
Little by little she will see that beneath the Beast there is a man who is learning to love. Emma Watson and Dan Stevens bring to life these beloved characters from this tale as old as time.
Link : https://www.netflix.com/title/70242079
3. Kubo
(2016 – Animation – 101 min)
From Laika, the same animation studio who brought us Paranorman comes this tale of adventure, fate, and magic. Made entirely with the stop-motion animation technique, Kubo is a feast for the eyes.
The story revolves around a young boy who lost one of his eyes when he was an infant and has a magical shamisen that allow him to manipulate origami. When her two aunts attack him, his mother sends him far away to find his father’s armour. In this journey and with the help of a snow monkey and a beetle, he will fight the evilness running in his family.
Link : https://www.netflix.com/title/80099365
4. Goosebumps
(2015 – Live Action – 103 min)
Based on the children’s horror book series of the same name created by R.L. Stine, the movie follows a teenager who teams up with Stine’s daughter to stop the chaos that all the imaginary demons from the books are wrecking in the real world after they were set free.
A comedy with hints of horror and suspense for all ages.
Link : https://www.netflix.com/title/80049939
5. The Water Horse
(2007 – Live Action – 112 min)
When a lonely boy discovers a mysterious egg, he takes it home to protect it. Once the egg hatches, it reveals a legendary and magical creature that’s related to the myth of the Loch Ness.
A beautiful and robust friendship flourish between the boy and this fantastic creature that will lead them into a great adventure.
Link : https://www.netflix.com/title/70060017
6. Ballerina
(2016 – Animation – 89 min)
Felicie and Victor are two orphans living at an orphanage in rural France. Both of them have big dreams: Felicie dreams of becoming a ballerina and Victor dreams of being an inventor.
Both flee to Paris where Felicie passes as someone else to get a position as a ballet pupil at the Grand Opera House, while Victor becomes the assistant of a great artist. Adventure, misunderstandings, and humour are all mixed in this tale about friendship and pursuing your dreams.
Link : https://www.netflix.com/title/80166318
7. Netflix’s Benji
(2018 – Live Action – 87 min)
Netflix’s remake of the classic movie from 1974 about a stray dog named Benji.
Two sibling kids befriend a stray dog and take him home hiding him from their mother. When the kids are kidnapped, Benji is the only one who knows where they are and joining forces with another dog, they do the impossible to save their friends.
Adventure, friendship, danger, and a lot of barks are guaranteed in this remake about one of the dearest dogs from Hollywood.
Link : https://www.netflix.com/title/80204923
8. Heidi
(2015 – Live Action – 111 min)
The heartwarming story of the little girl living in the Alps with her grandpa is back in this German production.
Heidi is five years old and an orphan. When her aunt Dete gets a job in the city, she brings the little girl to the Alps to live with her grandfather. There, Heidi will make new friends as Peter the goatherd, and she will change the life of all the people she meets.
Based on the novel of the same name by Johanna Spyri, Heidi is a classic for the whole family that has been adapted both for TV and cinema several times. This is the latest incarnation of this classic and counts with the late Bruno Ganz as Heidi’s grandfather.
Link : https://www.netflix.com/bl/title/80172283
9. Mary and the Witch’s Flower
(2017 – Animation – 103 min)
From Japan comes this animated movie based on the book The Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart about a girl who gains magical powers thanks to a strange flower.
This movie is the first production by Studio Ponoc founded by Yoshiaki Nishimura who previously worked at Studio Ghibli.
Link : https://www.netflix.com/title/80217130
10. Next Gen
(2018 – Animation – 105 min)
A Netflix original animated film co-produced between Canada, America, and China.
In the future, sentient robots are everywhere. Mai Su, a lonely teenager who lives with her mother, meets a top secret robot known as 7723. Together, they will develop a strong bond and join forces to stop a conspiracy.
Action, comedy, and drama in this animated sci-fi tale.
Link : https://www.netflix.com/title/80988892
What are your favorite family-friendly movies that keep the kids happy? I would love to know so why not share them in the comments section below!
