It’s happened to our family so many times: we’re in the mood to have a simple family movie night, but we spend so much time looking for a good pick that a bunch of our watching time is gone.
If this scenario sounds all too familiar, look no further than our list of five good choices for family movie night that are available streaming right now.
Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)
Ralph Breaks the Internet is the sequel to the animated Disney video game movie Wreck-It Ralph. In this sequel, video game characters Ralph and Vanellope have some shenanigan adventures in the Internet.
While this sequel definitely isn’t as light and fluffy as the first one, and most of the Internet references seem aimed at parents and older kids, there is definitely some fun here for everyone. Though beware that it’s rated PG and there are a few scary images.
Ralph Breaks the Internet is on Netflix until Dec. 11th. After that, it will be streaming on Disney +.
The Adventures of Tintin (2011)
This is an animated Stephen Spielberg film about a young reporter who ends up on an adventure that involves a treasure hunt, a sunken ship and lots of swashbuckling. And in addition to the fun adventure elements, there’s also a dog, which can be a big bonus for some kids.
The Adventures of Tin Tin is rated PG and does a fair amount of non-bloody violence, so it could be a bit intense for some littler kids. It’s included on Amazon Prime right now.
The March of the Penguins (2005)
It took me a while to really get on board with the idea of watching documentaries with my kids, but some of these animal docs can really be a hit with the whole family.
Morgan Freeman narrates The March of the Penguins, which follows penguins’ quest for mates in Antarctica. It’s rated G and is pretty tame, though there is some non-graphic discussion of mating and some non-bloody animal death to be aware of.
The March of the Penguins is currently streaming on Amazon Prime and Hulu.
Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
I had only low to moderate hopes for this movie myself, as I can’t stand the original Mary Poppins (gasp, I know). But this sort-of sequel, starring Emily Blunt, is actually pretty good.
The magical nanny Mary Poppins comes back into the lives of the Banks children when they are grownups, to help them navigate through a difficult time and sing some songs that aren’t as annoying as the ones in the original movie.
Mary Poppins Returns is on Amazon Prime, Netflix and Disney+ right now.
The Avengers (2012)
One of the first big films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this first Avengers movie tells the story of how all those superheroes first team up to try and save the world. Some of the backstory in this film is a little hard to keep straight, but there’s enough fun and spectacle to make up for it.
Some of more recent Marvel movies have gone a bit too heavy on the innuendo and such to be very good for a family movie night, but this one is pretty mild. It is rated PG-13 for sci-fi action and violence -- not gory, but some of it could probably be too intense for younger kids.
The Avengers is currently included with Amazon Prime and Disney+.
Image: Adobe Stock
Adrienne Thorne is a Catholic mom, blogger and screenwriter.
Keep up with Family Theater Productions on our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
