Best Family-Friendly Movies on Netflix, According to Age

Well, here we are. It’s 2021. I bet a lot of us thought that 2020 would never end. But, just because 2020 is over, doesn’t mean that everything is back to “normal”. We likely spent a lot of time in 2020 cuddled up on the couch binge-watching shows and having movie nights. Well, looks like those days aren’t over, folks!

Do you ever find yourself with decision fatigue when it comes to choosing a movie on Netflix? There are SO.MANY.OPTIONS. I know I’ve spent at least 10 minutes scrolling through, watching trailers, and still not being able to decide. Don’t let that happen with the kids! Choose a couple of options from this list and let your kids decide what to watch (if they are old enough, of course!).

Here’s a list of family-friendly movies on Netflix for your movie nights (or shows for the littles) with the kids!

family watching movie

Family-Friendly Movies on Netflix by Age

Ages 3/4+
The Rugrats Movie – Parents of a certain age will remember this series and movie from childhood. A fun option to share with your littles. Follow Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, and Lil as they try to return Tommy’s new baby brother to the hospital, worried that his parents won’t love him as much anymore.

Llama Llama
Super Monsters
True and the Rainbow Kingdom
VeggieTales in the City
Beat Bugs

Ages 6+
The Princess & The Frog – A delightful Disney spin on the Frog Prince. Tiana dreams of one day opening the finest restaurant in New Orleans. Her dream takes a detour when she meets Prince Naveen, who has been turned into a frog by a witch doctor. Mistaking her for a princess and hoping to break the spell, Naveen kisses Tiana, thereby turning her into a frog as well. Together, they go on an adventure through the bayous to figure out how to become human again.

The Secret Life of Pets 2 – The sequel to the first Secret Life of Pets; watch what happens to the pets when a baby enters the picture.

Mary Poppins Returns – A great family movie where Mary Poppins returns to the Banks “children” who are now adults.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs – When his town falls on hard times, forcing the people to eat nothing but sardines, Flint Lockwood invents a machine that converts water into food. He becomes the hometown hero until the machine gets out of control.

Over the Moon

Mr. Peabody & Sherman

Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa

The Main Event

The Boss Baby: Back in Business

Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast

Ages 8+
Jingle Jangle – A wonderful Christmas movie (but really you could watch it anytime) that tells the story of a depressed toymaker finding new hope, thanks to the curiosity of his granddaughter coming into his life.

The Neverending Story – A classic movie (likely from many parents’ childhoods) to introduce to your kids.

Mirror Mirror – A twist on the Snow White story.

Ralph Breaks the Internet – The sequel to Wreck-it Ralph follows Ralph and Vanellope as they get lost in the Internet. Fun for the whole family.

Next Gen

Pokemon the Movie: I Choose You!
Pokemon Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution
Miracle
The Willoughbys

Ages 10+
Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse – An animated version of Spider-Man, telling the story of Miles Morales and Peter Parker, who must battle Kingpin to save the universe.

The Breadwinner – Parvana, an 11-year-old girl living in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, embarks on an epic quest to find her father and reunite her family.

Feel the Beat
The Little Prince
White Fang

Ages 12+
Enola Holmes – The story of Enola Holmes, the teenage sister of Sherlock Holmes, as she searches for her missing mother.

Dumplin’ – The teenage daughter of a former beauty queen signs up for her mom’s pageant as a protest, revolutionizing the pageant and their small Texas town.

Loving – The true story of Richard and Mildred Loving, the plaintiffs in the 1967 U.S. Supreme Court decision Loving v. Virginia, which invalidated state laws prohibiting interracial marriage.

Animated Family-Friendly Movies on Netflix

Over the Moon
The Princess & The Frog
Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Ralph Breaks the Internet
The Secret Life of Pets 2
The Little Prince
Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse
White Fang
The Breadwinner
The Willoughbys
The Rugrats Movie
Llama Llama
Super Monsters
True and the Rainbow Kingdom
VeggieTales in the City
Beat Bugs
Next Gen
Pokemon the Movie: I Choose You!
Pokemon Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution
The Breadwinner

Live-Action Family Movies on Netflix

Mary Poppins Returns
Mirror Mirror
The Muppets
Miracle
The Main Event
Jingle Jangle
Feel the Beat
The Neverending Story
Enola Holmes*
Dumplin’*
Loving*

What are some of your favorite family-friendly movies on Netflix?

Movies are currently on Netflix as of this post written in January 2021.

Looking for Halloween movie recommendations, check out this post.

*These three movies I’d recommend for older kids, 12/13+.

Catie Wood
Catie is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, went to college in San Diego, and moved to North Texas after getting married in 2009. They have lived in Collin County since 2017 and welcomed their son to the world in 2018. She likes to call herself a "naptime entrepreneur," working during her toddler's naps as a personal branding photographer - creating visual content and branded images for creative entrepreneurs and small business owners. In her limited spare time, you'll find her reading a mix of fiction, parenting, and business books; daydreaming about traveling to Europe; giving some attention to their dachshund named Kevin; and watching classics on Disney+ with her husband.