18 best family movies on Max for a fun night in

After a long day of school and work, it’s time to settle in with the whole family and enjoy a movie night at home. But choosing what to watch can be overwhelming. There are so many options in streaming. Plus, picking something that appeals to everyone’s tastes can be as tricky as ordering pizza for the whole block. Don’t fret. We’ve been there, and we’re here to help. 

Whether you’re hungry for wacky musicals, craving outrageous adventures, thirsty for whimsical fantasy, hankering for sweet nostalgia, or in search of fresh fun, we’ve got you covered with a rich array of fantastic movies fit for all ages. Bonus: Every single one of them pairs great with popcorn!

Here are the best family movies now available on Max:

1. Ponyo

Max boasts a whole hub dedicated to Studio Ghibli productions, so it can be tricky to pick just one for a fun family night in. If you’re seeking whimsy, we recommend this 2008 treasure about a magical goldfish who yearns to become a real girl. It all begins when a kind-hearted boy rescues the little fish, sparking a friendship that will enrage her sorcerer father and shake up land and sea alike. In this critically acclaimed cartoon, Miyazaki’s artistry is on rapturous display whether he is animating crashing waves, frolicking children, or homemade ramen. Kids will feel seen in the free-spirited young heroes, while parents will revel in the fantasy and heartfelt storytelling. Best of all, viewers can choose between the original Japanese language track or the English overdub, which features voice performances from Tina Fey, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, and Liam Neeson. — Kristy Puchko, Film Editor

How to watch: Ponyo is now streaming on Max.

2. The Wizard of Oz

Relish in the wonderful world of Oz with this 1939 classic. Adapted from L. Frank Baum’s fantasy novel, The Wizard of Oz follows Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland), a brave farm girl who is magically whisked away to a far-off realm of flying monkeys, deadly poppies, and a cascade of curious characters. On her quest to get back home, she — and her little dog too — befriend a daffy scarecrow (Ray Bolger), a cowardly lion (Bert Lahr), and a tin man in want of a heart (Jack Haley). Together, they must face off against the fearsome Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) and meet the mysterious wizard. With radiant colors, imaginative production design, and a panoply of jaunty songs, director Victor Fleming ushered audiences along the yellow brick road on an adventure that’s been treasured for generations. — K.P.

How to watch: The Wizard of Oz is streaming on Max.

3. The LEGO Movie

Emmet (Chris Pratt) is an ordinary LEGO citizen of Bricksburg. He’s friendly, follows the rules, and always adheres to the LEGO-building instructions. But a chance encounter with a mysterious LEGO named Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks) and a mythical item called the Piece of Resistance, sends him on an adventure that will break through both the boundaries of his city and his entire understanding of what LEGOs are capable of. 

The LEGO Movie is a smart, fast-paced, and hilarious ride that packs a surprisingly potent emotional punch for a movie about plastic figurines. The star-packed ensemble — which includes Will Ferrell, Will Arnett, Nick Offerman, Alison Brie, Charlie Day, Liam Neeson, and Morgan Freeman — is at the top of their game, and the visuals are a never-ending treat. It’s a smash hit for a reason! 

How to watch: The Lego Movie is now streaming on Max.

4. Kiki’s Delivery Service 

Kiki is an exuberant 13-year-old witch-in-training whose best friend is a talking cat named Jiji. As part of her village’s tradition for witches, who are tasked with spending a year away from home, Kiki settles in the seaside town of Koriko. She sets up her titular delivery service, flying by broomstick to bring parcels and packages all over town. But after the initial excitement, Kiki learns being on her own is harder than she thought, and she begins to lose her powers. 

Another Studio Ghibli masterpiece, Kiki’s Delivery Service is an impossibly warm and charming watch. It’s hard not to fall in love with the independent and effervescent Kiki, who’s just trying to do her best in a big, new world, as well as with the soft, inviting animation that somehow feels like a hug. The English dub features Kirsten Dunst as Kiki and the late, great Phil Hartman as her mouthy feline sidekick.

How to watch: Kiki’s Delivery Service is now streaming on Max.

5. Singin’ in the Rain

Easily one of the greatest movie musicals ever made, Singin’ in the Rain tells the story of Hollywood’s shift from silent films to talking pictures. Caught in this transition is leading man Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly), whose leading lady Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) has the most grating voice imaginable. With the help of his best friend Cosmo Brown (Donald O’Connor) and aspiring actor Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds), he plans to make a movie musical. What follows are some of the best musical numbers in history, with showstopping choreography accompanying catchy tunes. The title number is an absolute joy, as are “Good Morning” and the comedic masterpiece “Make ‘Em Laugh.” But it’s the 13-minute “Broadway Melody” sequence in all its Technicolor glory that solidifies Singin’ in the Rain as one of the all-time greats. * — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Singin’ in the Rain is now streaming on Max.

6. The Iron Giant

Nine-year-old Hogarth Hughes is the only one to notice a bright object falling from space and crashing in the woods near his home in rural Maine. What he finds in its crater is a towering robot who remembers nothing about where he came from but is curious about his surroundings and looking for a friend. Unfortunately, the military gets wind of the robot’s existence and can’t accept that anything that big could be peaceful. A beautiful, captivating meditation on pacifism, prejudice, and self-determination set during the Cold War, The Iron Giant is an unforgettable film that will crash-land firmly in your heart. Director Brad Bird pitched the concept as “What if a gun had a soul and didn’t want to be a gun?” So, yeah. Bring your tissues. 

How to watch: The Iron Giant is now streaming on Max.

7. Shazam! 

Billy Batson (Asher Angel) is a 14-year-old living in a group home who can’t seem to stay out of trouble. But when he’s mysteriously transported to an mythical cave called the Rock of Eternity, a wizard grants him the power to transform into Shazam, an adult superhero played by Zachary Levi. So what would a teenager do if he could instantly look like a grown-up and had super strength? Make viral videos of course! 

Shazam! is a fun and welcome twist on the classic superhero flick. Zachary Levi is pitch perfect as a 14-year-old in an adult’s body, and Mark Strong is deliciously evil as the villain trying to steal Shazam’s powers for himself. 

How to watch: Shazam! is now streaming on Max.

8. Fantastic Mr. Fox

Adapted from the Roald Dahl children’s book by Noah Baumbach and Wes Anderson (who also directs), Fantastic Mr. Fox is a quirky and stylish stop-motion romp about a fox who just can’t quit thieving produce. When his criminal behavior puts his family in danger, Mr. Fox commits to a safer lifestyle, but years as a journalist can’t keep him yearning for his old life. He raids a local farm and catches the attention of three determined farmers who vow to take him out. 

This movie is full of whimsy, giving animals a rich underground community that includes badger lawyers, opossum superintendents, and little fox kids who love juice boxes. As with all Anderson flicks, the visuals are gorgeous, and the cast is stacked. George Clooney lends his smooth voice to the titular sly fox, with Meryl Streep as Mrs. Fox, Willem Dafoe as a rat, Bill Murray as a badger — the list goes on and on. 

How to watch: Fantastic Mr. Fox is now streaming on Max.

9. Time Bandits

If you remember Time Bandits, then we are happy for you, for you truly know the meaning of joy. This insane and amazing fantasy, written by Monty Python veterans Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin, is a one-of-a-kind adventure. Eleven-year-old Kevin is asleep in his bedroom when a man on horseback bursts out of his wardrobe and rides off into a forest that disappears behind him. The following night, five small bandits tumble out of the wardrobe and take Kevin on an adventure through history, stopping by the Napoleonic Wars, Ancient Greece, and even the Titanic. John Cleese, Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall, and Ian Holm sparkle as their historical counterparts, adding wit and gravitas to the whimsical plot. This is a film that needs to be seen to be believed — but once seen, it will quickly be beloved.*

How to watch: Time Bandits is now streaming on Max.

10. The Water Horse

Angus MacMorrow is a young boy living in WWII-era coastal Scotland who is both drawn to the water and deathly afraid of it. He spends his time collecting shells from tide pools and counting the days to his father’s return from the war. But one morning he finds a mysterious egg on the shore of the nearby loch. It hatches into a cuddly and ravenous baby Loch Ness monster (the titular “water horse”) that he must keep hidden from his mother, as well as the regiment of British soldiers billeting in his house while searching for German submarines. 

The Water Horse is a fantastical and heartwarming family adventure about both friendship and grief. A perfectly pleasant watch for family movie night that stars Emily Watson, Alex Etel, Ben Chaplin, David Morrissey, and Brian Cox.

How to watch: The Water Horse is now streaming on Max.

11. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Ignore the inferior Johnny Depp and Timothée Chalamet versions — the only chocolate factory you need to know about is Gene Wilder’s, the original candy-coated morality movie that’s positively scrumdiddlyumptious. Eccentric and fanciful, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory faithfully takes its cues from the beloved Roald Dahl children’s novel: After years of closure, a famous chocolate factory gives five children with five golden tickets a chance to peek inside. Our hero, the poor, earnest, and honest Charlie Bucket, just happens to be one. 

With iconic, colorful visuals of chocolate rivers and girls turning into blueberries, Willy Wonka remains unparalleled in its imagination and its staying power. It’s simply unbeatable. 

How to watch: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is now streaming on Max.

12. My Neighbor Totoro

When their father moves them into a house in the country, sisters Mei and Satsuki are curious about their new surroundings. It turns out, their surroundings are curious about them too. Mei follows a few small sprites into a hidden forest enclave where she befriends an enormous spirit named Totoro who helps the sisters adjust to their new home, as well as to a bigger, almost unspoken-about hardship in their lives.

My Neighbor Totoro features a simple plot with deeply lovable characters, and Hayao Miyazaki’s signature silky hand-drawn animation. It’s impossible to not be captivated by this story that elegantly gives life to the joy, the outrage, and the magic of childhood. 

How to watch: My Neighbor Totoro is now streaming on Max.

13. Jumanji

Jumanji sees multiple decades of kids playing a mysterious and seemingly innocent board game that puts their lives on the line. Once they start playing, they can’t walk away. In 1969, Alan gets sucked into the board game itself. Twenty years later, when Judy (Kirsten Dunst) and Peter (Bradley Pierce) find the game in the attic, their dice rolls release killer spiders, a stampede, and an evil hunter into their town. They also free Alan, who has spent the last two decades in a mystical jungle — a quintessential Robin Williams performance! After the players join forces, will they beat the game, or will the game beat them? 

Jumanji is nothing less than a top-tier family adventure. It’s exciting, it’s unpredictable, and it’s got heart at its core. And if you love it, you’ll be happy to know that its most recent reboots carry on the cursed-game tradition with spunk and laughs to spare! 

How to watch: Jumanji is now streaming on Max.

14. Coraline

Looking for family-friendly horror? Then Coraline is the dark and twisted movie for you. Young Coraline (voiced by Dakota Fanning) just moved with her parents to Oregon and is keen to explore her new home, the Pink Palace apartments, and meet its eccentric tenants (voiced by the incredible Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, and Ian McShane). But one night, she discovers a small door that leads her to a strange, mirror version of her world dubbed the Other World, where everyone seems happy and has buttons sewn over their eyes like dolls. She keeps visiting this Other World, until the Other version of her mother — the Other Mother — tries to trap her there. 

Based on a Neil Gaiman novella, all signs (eerie aesthetics, macabre themes for kids, an ever-present sense of foreboding) point to Coraline being a Tim Burton movie. Everyone remembers it as a Tim Burton movie. But somehow Coraline is NOT a Tim Burton movie — it’s by the terrific Henry Selick, with stop-motion animation by the equally terrific LAIKA Studios. The voice-acting ensemble is also incredible and includes Keith David, John Hodgman, and Teri Hatcher.

FYI: Other Mother and her machinations might be too scary for younger kiddos! And also some adult-os…

How to watch: Coraline is now streaming on Max.

15. The Harry Potter movies

And now the franchise that needs no introduction: Harry Potter. The original eight-movie series starts as a charming coming-of-age tale about a boy wizard learning about magic and ends as a serious and emotional allegory about fighting fascism and the lengths we will go to protect the people we love. J.K. Rowling notwithstanding, Harry Potter is our hero, Ron Weasley our goofy best friend, and Hermione our actual hero, because duh.

The quality of the movies vary based on the different directors at the helm and the age of the young leads, but the strength of the source material — paired with the prodigious gifts of the many, many storied British actors who fill out the sparkling supporting cast — assure a satisfying watch. Most agree that the final two movies, each covering half of the last book in the series, are the most enthralling in the group — but you’ll have to watch them all to get what’s going on. So, you might as well start with number one, The Sorcerer’s Stone, and go from there. Poor you! You’re about to have a really great time!*

How to watch: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is now streaming on Max.

16. The Neverending Story

Bastian (Barret Oliver) is a shy kid who hides from bullies in a bookstore. One day, the eccentric bookseller warns him against reading a certain book called The Neverending Story, because it isn’t “safe.” Naturally, Bastian is hooked. He takes the book and hides in his school’s attic to read it. There, he learns all about a wondrous land called Fantasia that’s threatened by “The Nothing” (an excellent metaphor for depression). As the book’s hero’s quest begins to mirror Bastian’s life — the hero must find a cure for the empress, Bastian has just lost his mother to illness — the stakes become higher and the story, more real. It’s a beautiful, thrilling, and poignant tribute to the power of imagination. You will laugh, you will cry, you will scream “Yeah!!!” while riding a luck dragon.

How to watch: The Neverending Story is now streaming on Max.

17. Space Jam

Come on and slam, and welcome to the jam! World-famous basketball star Michael Jordan gets recruited (kidnapped) by the Looney Tunes to help them win a big game against a team of aliens currently holding Bugs Bunny and his pals hostage. Will Jordan help them win their freedom? Will he still know how to play basketball in a cartoon universe where the laws of physics are debatable? Space Jam is silly, wacky fun, seamlessly integrating cartoons with live-action actors. While the recent LeBron James version is more of a bloated Warner Bros. ad than a movie, the original hit has lost none of its shine in the three decades since its release.

How to watch: Space Jam is now streaming on Max.

18. Spirited Away

If you want to get into the beautiful, captivating films of Studio Ghibli, the vast majority of which are on Max, Spirited Away is a great place to start. It’s the story of Chihiro, a young girl trapped in a spirit world who must work to free her parents from a witch’s curse, and it’s a perfect movie. Everything about it, from the visuals to the characters to the score, grabs you tightly and immerses you in director Hayao Miyazaki’s imaginative world of spirit bathhouses, soot sprites, dragons, and more. There’s beauty in Spirited Away’s most elaborate sequences, but also in its quiet moments too, like a train ride or a meal shared between friends. These are the moments when you’ll find yourself crying without fully knowing why. All you’ll know for sure is that Spirited Away is amazing and you’ll never want it to end.* — B.E.

How to watch: Spirited Away is now streaming on Max.

*This blurb has appeared on a previous Mashable list

UPDATE: Nov. 22, 2023, 9:43 a.m. EST This post has been updated to reflect the current selections on Max.