With the increase in our workload, the need for “me-time” is gradually growing. But sometimes, the “me” may also imply spending time with our family. The movies that are mentioned below are some of the films that have been my childhood favourite. And the way they became favourite was, that my parents, used to leave me in the house with a babysitter, and gave me a little homework to keep me engaged. I, instead of doing the homework, went straight for the movie channels on TV. This is a list of the 20 best family-friendly Hollywood movies that you can watch.
Also read: 15 Best Christmas Movies To Boost Your Holiday Spirits
1. Baby’s Day Out (1994)
Three people posing as photographers try to kidnap the son of a millionaire. But what they to be a simple mission turns out to be the most daunting task for the three of them as the little boy wanders throughout the streets of New York.
2. The Sound of Music (1965)
When I saw Sound of Music as a child, I instantly fell in love with it. The amazing songs, the gorgeous landscapes, and the Colour pallet made it extremely appealing to me. I hope it does the same to you too.
3. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
The classic musical romantic comedy was directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen. It captures a time of transition. A transition from silent films to talkies.
4. The Lion King (1994)
This is not the 2019 remake, but the original one. Not to say that the remake is bad, it’s alright. But this. This is classic. It was a tremendous achievement in animation when it came out. After all these years, the charm still persists.
Also read: 13 Lion King Quotes About Life, Leadership, And Family
5. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Directed by Hollywood’s most trusted director, Steven Spielberg, E.T The Extra-Terrestrial is a science-fiction film about a young boy Elliot who befriends an alien who is stuck on earth.
6. Home Alone (1990)
Home Alone makes a terrific Christmas movie. It is extremely enjoyable as a kid gets to be the hero of the movie. When I was a kid and watched Home Alone for the time, I hoped my parents forgets to take me on a vacation so that I could ward off any thief.
7. The Goonies (1985)
Maps. Treasure. Pirates. Teenagers. That’s it. An instant classic. Oh and a story by Steven Spielberg. Right, that’s about it.
8. Harry Potter (Entire series)
If you haven’t read Harry Potter, I would suggest reading the series first. I wished I had done the same. I wanted to read Harry Potter for the first time to experience the thrill as everyone did before the movie came out.
9. Coco (2017)
It is a heartwarming story about a family. It takes us to the land of the dead, living, and explores a bond between father and son.
10. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Robin Williams disguises himself as Mrs. Doubtfire an aging Scottish female housekeeper in order to enter his ex-wife’s house to spend more time with their children.
11. Jumanji (1995)
Jumanji is a story about a board game. Rather a board game that takes it too seriously. If you are not intrigued by the premise, let me tell you, this movie stars Robin Williams.
12. Back to the Future (1985)
When it came out it was a big hit as with most family-friendly Hollywood movies. This movie is about a guy called Marty, who travels back in time and meets his parents. He must make his parents who were then at high school fall in love in order to return to the present.
13. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
I could have included the original from 1971, but this is my favourite. Let’s face it. It has really good graphics, great sets, amazing production design and Johnny Depp.
14. The Adventures of Tintin (2011)
Another Steven Spielberg on the list. This is so faithful to the comics and yet succeeds to have the flare of Steven Spielberg’s filmmaking style. It would have been amazing if you could have watched it in the theatres in 3D. But a home screening is just as fun.
15. The Karate Kid (2010)
This was the first Jackie Chan film I saw. I remember practicing those moves alone in a room. It was a joy.
16. Jurassic Park (1993)
Apart from being a blockbuster and starting an entire franchise, this movie is known for its groundbreaking visual effects. By the way, yet another Steven Spielberg. This man is a genius.
17. Soul (2020)
The incredible part of this film is how it is extremely insightful and entertaining at the time. Not that both can’t go hand in hand. But they are rare. Movies like Soul, are rare. Watch it. And Watch it again.
18. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
This is a heart-wrenching film about a father whose wife leaves him for his financial failures. If you are in the mood for a light-hearted film, this might not be the best choice. But it is a must-watch.
19. Queen of Katwe (2016)
Based on a true incident, the movie tells the story of Phiona, who comes from an extremely poor background, gets an opportunity to escape from a life of poverty by playing Chess.
20. The School of Rock (2003)
Probably Richard Linklater’s one of the best works. This movie is funny, inspiring, and entertaining. And it has lots of songs which will keep everybody engaged. And it stars Jack Black. What else do we need?
This was our list of the 20 best family-friendly movies in Hollywood. Did we mention your favorites? Or did we miss them? Let us know in the comments.