Let’s be real: Picking the perfect film to watch for your family movie night is hard, especially when there are so many choices. But don’t fret. We’ve compiled the best family movies on Netflix in one list, so all you have to do is watch your way through them. 

After hours of combing through the titles in Netflix’s catalog, here’s how we pick the films. For starters, a good film needs to be entertaining (I’m looking at you, Hairspray), have a great cast that works well together (ahem, School of Rock) and have a great message that will make you think long after the movie is over. (I challenge you to get Over the Moon out of your head.)

So gather everyone in the living room (even those moody teenagers), pop some popcorn, and watch some of the best family flicks streaming on Netflix right now. You’ll thank us later.

How to Train Your Dragon 2

Synopsis: Hiccup and his dragon, Toothless, spend their time exploring their island’s unmarked territories. But during one of their many adventures, they find a secret cave with hundreds of dragons. It’s up to them to protect their island from a warrior who has a dragon army of his own.

What makes it a great movie: You don’t need to watch the first film before you watch How to Train Your Dragon 2. This sequel, which takes place five years later, has a unique message, highlighting the bond between people and their animal companions, in addition to touching on family dynamics. Both of these things will make your supercreative kiddo who’s obsessed with magic continue to talk about the movie once the credits have started rolling. 

Rating: How to Train Your Dragon 2 is rated PG due to adventure, action and mildly crude humor.

The Mitchells vs. the Machines

Synopsis: As she heads off to film school, Katie Mitchell embarks on a cross-country road trip with her mom, dad, younger brother and dog, Monchi. But their trip is interrupted when robots turn on them. It’s up to Katie, her family, and their knowledge of technology to save the planet and one another from this technological revolt. 

What makes it a great movie: It’s a little too relatable, minus, you know, the technological revolt. The older generations can sympathize with Rick and Linda Mitchell’s reluctance to adopt technology, while the younger kids will LOL at the jokes and that adorable pug. Not to mention, the movie features a special appearance by Chrissy Teigen. Need we say more? 

Rating: The Mitchells vs. the Machines is rated PG due to action and some language, which can be a little intense at times, but these scenes are all in good fun.

The Willoughbys

Synopsis: Tired of being neglected by their selfish parents, the four Willoughby children hatch a plan to send their parents on vacation so they can escape from their folks for good. This takes the foursome on an adventure of their own to find the true meaning of family. Throw in some colorful animation, light singing and lots of heart, and you’ve got a winner.

What makes it a great movie: It’s hard not to love the film after you hear about the cast, featuring the voices of Saturday Night Live alums Martin Short, Will Forte and Maya Rudolph, in addition to Terry Crews, Jane Krakowski and Alessia Cara. But star power aside, The Willoughbys is equipped with a great message about families coming in all shapes, sizes and colors that will make you hug your own family members a little tighter. Rating: The Willoughbys is rated PG because of rude humor and some thematic elements. Some reviewers note that the comedy is dark and that the neglect the Willoughby children experience is serious. So, if your kiddo is sensitive, you might need them to sit this one out.

Vivo

Synopsis: In this musical, a singing kinkajou (it’s kind of like a monkey) named Vivo embarks on a journey of a lifetime to deliver a song for an old friend. Along the way, Vivo meets a bunch of interesting characters who help him discover the meanings of love and friendship.

What makes it a great movie: Music by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The Hamilton creator not only lends his voice (and those incredible pipes) to the titular character but also wrote its song lyrics. If you’re looking for a movie that will take you on an adventure with catchy music, then Vivo is the film for you.

Rating: Vivo is rated PG for some thematic elements and mild action, but it’s the kind of action that you’ll find in any animated film.

School of Rock

Synopsis: When an overly enthusiastic guitarist, played by the hilarious Jack Black, gets thrown out of his band, he’s in dire need of a new gig. A chance phone call leads to him becoming a substitute teacher at an elite private school, where he exposes his by-the-book students to the beauty of rock ’n’ roll and changes their lives forever. 

What makes it a great movie: Jack Black does an amazing job of being a messy rock fan while being a source of inspiration and fun to his uptight students. But most of all, School of Rock teaches kids to embrace their creativity and makes you wish you had stuck with those piano lessons you took in first grade. Grown-ups will love the nostalgia factor (the movie is 18 years old); kids will love the music and the easy jokes. It’s a win-win for everyone. 

Rating: School of Rock is rated PG-13 for some rude humor and drug references, making it the most explicit movie on this list. Parents might want to rewatch before showing it to the kiddos, just in case those jokes about groupies come off a little differently 18 years later.

Hugo

Synopsis: A young orphan named Hugo lives in the walls of a train station in Paris in the 1930s and maintains the station’s clocks. Gifted with a notebook from his late father, Hugo embarks on a quest to solve a mystery, find a place he can call home and fulfill his destiny, whatever that may be.

What makes it a great movie: This fantasy film will take you to brand-new heights. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the movie is so well done that you’ll be immersed in and mesmerized by Hugo’s world.

Rating: Hugo is rated PG, for mild thematic material and some action, but it’s nothing that you haven’t seen before in family adventure films.

Arlo the Alligator Boy

Synopsis: Arlo, a half-alligator, half-human boy, embarks on an adventure to the Big Apple in search of the father that he never knew existed. Along the way, he meets a group of friends who help him find his father and support him in accepting the things that make him different, which therefore make him beautiful. 

What makes it a great movie: You can’t talk about this movie without discussing its supersweet message about accepting your differences. Plus, Arlo the Alligator Boy is a musical, which makes this offbeat and quirky film incredibly entertaining.

Rating: Arlo the Alligator Boy is rated TV-Y7 for some elements of fear, but it is totally OK for kids ages 7 and older to watch.

Hairspray (2007)

Synopsis: In this 2007 adaptation of the popular Broadway musical, a teenager with a heart of gold and a talent for dancing tries to stop racial segregation and sizeism in her hometown of Baltimore with the power of music, dance and standing up for what she believes in.

What makes it a great movie: It’s not just the music, or the spot-on casting of Zac Efron as Link Larkin, or the fact that “I Can Hear the Bells” will be stuck in your head for days to come, although all of these things are great. It’s the fact that Hairspray isn’t afraid to tackle real issues about race and segregation in the 1960s, shedding light on this time in the US. You won’t be able to look away, and you won’t be able to stop dancing.

Rating: Hairspray is rated PG for some language and suggestive content, which might spark questions from younger audience members.

My Little Pony: A New Generation

Synopsis: The magical land of Equestria has been divided, and Earth ponies, unicorns and Pegasi have all grown apart. But one small hero named Sunny believes that all three groups can be pals again and embarks on a mission to prove this and begin a new era for Equestria.

What makes it a great movie: The unicorns and ponies will bring out your inner child, and the movie offers a fresh, sweet take on accepting others and rejecting intolerance.

Rating: My Little Pony: A New Generation is rated PG for some thematic elements like ponies nearly falling off cliffs.

Labyrinth (1986)

Synopsis: Sarah Williams is a 16-year-old avid reader tasked with babysitting her half-brother, Toby. But when Sarah doesn’t want to watch Toby one day, she wishes that the goblins in the book she’s reading,The Labyrinth, would take him away. To her surprise, the Goblin King from the book shows up with a task: solve his maze before Toby will be turned into a goblin forever. 

What makes it a great movie: It perfectly captures all of the wackiness and fashion trends that made the 1980s, well, the 1980s. It’s a great introduction to the decade, the music of David Bowie, and the colorful, fantastical stylings of director (and Muppets founder) Jim Henson.

Rating: Labyrinth is rated PG; some parental guidance is advised, since some parts of the film are mildly scary.

Jumanji

Synopsis: While exploring an old mansion, two siblings come across a mysterious board game called Jumanji. Upon playing it, they discover that a man (Robin Williams) has been trapped in the game for decades, and it’s up to them to win the game in order to free him forever. But first, they have to brave all of the animal stampedes that come with the game.

What makes it a great movie: If you were a fan of the children’s book of the same name, then you’ll understand all of the nostalgia that comes with watching Jumanji. This is also a great way to introduce your kids to the late Robin Williams’ comedic genius. 

Rating: Jumanji is rated PG for some fantasy action and mild language. If your little one is easily frightened by big animals, you might need to skip this.

Beethoven

Synopsis: When the Newton family adopts Beethoven, a supercute Saint Bernard puppy, they don’t expect him to grow so large and win over their hearts, even that of reluctant father George. But when Beethoven’s new life is threatened by a scheming vet, it’s up to the Newtons to save their rowdy new relative.

What makes it a great movie: If you grew up watching this film in your family’s home in the 1990s, then you’ll understand. Although critics were not too fond of this movie when it was released in 1992, it’s a sweet animal film that will tug at your heart. But be warned: It might make you want to adopt a puppy ASAP. 

 Rating: Beethoven is rated PG due to some violence surrounding the villain’s storyline.

The BFG

Synopsis: There are giants and then there is the Big Friendly Giant, or BFG. While most giants want to eat little kids, the BFG just wants to protect them from evil. When the BFG befriends an orphan, Sophie, they make it their mission to meet the Queen of England and ask her to get rid of the bad giants for good. 

What makes it a great movie: Roald Dahl’s books expand your imagination, and The BFG, based on his book by the same name, does just that. The animation mixed with live action is beautiful, and the cheeky story is the kind that fairy tales are made of. Fans of Willy Wonka will love this one.

Rating: The BFG is rated PG due to action peril and some scary moments involving the meaner giants.

YES Day

Synopsis: Tired of saying no, a mom and dad decide to say yes to their children’s wildest requests, only for one day, with just a few rules. But this fun experiment ends up bringing the family closer together in ways they didn’t know were possible. 

What makes it a great movie: It’s a brilliant idea for a film that is made to be watched with your family. Grown-ups will find the good-cop, bad-cop relationship between the parents relatable, while kids will relate to the children who find their parents to be a bit too strict. But be warned: Your kids will definitely want to have their own Yes Day after watching the movie.

Rating: Yes Day is rated PG for some rude and suggestive material. Since it’s set in the 2020s, a major part of the plot revolves around letting teens attend a music festival called Fleekfest, so younger children might not understand everything.

Over the Moon

Synopsis: Fei Fei is a young girl who believes in the mythic Moon Goddess, even if the adults around her do not. Fueled by the memory of her late mother, Fei Fei builds a rocket to the moon to prove the Moon Goddess’ existence. But while she is there, Fei Fei finds something much greater.

What makes it a great movie: The animation, the delicious-looking food, the fun song breaks, Fei Fei’s determination, the representation — we could go on and on. And since it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, it’s kind of a big deal. Just saying.

Rating: Over the Moon is rated PG for some thematic elements, including topics like grief and sadness.