Family Movie Night: Top 25
Family movie nights are a favorite and give me all the feels and all the warm fuzzies. My family has a thing for movies and we have genuinely LOVED watching them together! I’m gonna assume that if this post caught your attention, you have a movie-lovin’ family as well.
As I thought about this post and started to compile my list I started to feel sentimental and nostalgic. We have so many memories involving movies. This is truly a list of love. The movies I’ve chosen are because they have been my family’s favorite movies over the past 25 years.
This family movie night list is by no means a comprehensive list of all the movies we watched over the years. It is simply a random list with a variety of new and old movies alike. Each of these movies touched a chord with my family and has a place in our hearts.
For that reason, I thought maybe it might do the same with yours. The best thing about this list is they are movies that you, mama, will find enjoyable too. Buckle up my movie-lovin’ peeps because you are going to LOVE this post!
FYI, The complete list is at the end of this post!
Favorite Movie of 2022
Buckle up because (1) Top Gun: Maverick is where I am going to begin. This movie was my absolute favorite from 2022. And dare I say, extremely family friendly in my opinion. The language was at a minimum, there were no hidden agendas, and there was one scene where you only saw kissing but something more was implied.
The story was fully developed and so good. The actors were tremendous. The action had us on the edge of our seats. We cheered for the hero and were exhilarated when, in the end, Maverick succeeded in his mission.
You know a movie is good when it seems like it went by in the blink of an eye. That is how we felt about Topgun. I could go on and on about this movie but this post is about 25 movies, not just one…lol.
So let’s talk about what we consider age-appropriate “family” movies. I will leave that up to your discretion because only you know your kids and you have to make that decision for your family. For my family, there were 10 years between our oldest and youngest so at times it was a little difficult but we made it work.
Our older ones were always great about watching a movie that might be better suited for our daughter (she came five years after our youngest boy). When the movie was perhaps a bit more for our older boys we would fast forward or cover the eyes of our daughter if there was a scene we didn’t want her to see.
I think most people would say we were rather conservative about what we let our children watch. However, it is frankly all about perspective, right? There are some parents who might be offended by what we let our children watch. I’m sure you understand what I am referring to.
Every family has to do what is best for their own family. So this is my plea to ask you not to judge. Do whatever you feel is best for your family.
I do not claim that all of these movies are free of cuss words or subtle sexual innuendos but the majority of them are. The release date of these movies spans many years. Some are recent and some are from years ago. I love a good classic for family movie nights!
An Unlikely Favorite
That brings me to my next movie, (2) The Greatest Showman. This movie brings with it a little story from my family. The Greatest Showman was released in December 2017. Our kids were all home for Christmas and Mama, me 🙋♀️, was dying to see this movie. Definitely a great time for a family movie day at the theatre!
December 26th we packed up the car with snacks in my purse because who can afford to buy movie candy for 7 adults? Although I must tell you, we always buy a large popcorn 😘 because who can watch a movie at the movie theatre without movie theatre popcorn dripping with movie theatre butter, right???
My kids had no idea what this movie was about. As the movie started, within the first three minutes of the movie, I leaned over to my husband with excitement and anticipation and said, “I am going to love this movie!”.
At about the same time, out of the side of my eye, I started to observe my kids whispering to one another and flashing me questioning looks wondering what the heck I had gotten them into for the next two hours. They weren’t too keen on musicals.
To make a long story short, THEY LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF THE MOVIE! Our children, at the time, spanned in age from 27 to 17. They were talking incessantly from the time we exited our seats until we arrived home. They were literally downloading the soundtrack from the backseat of the car.
We have watched that movie quite a few times since the first time we saw it and it is definitely a family favorite.
Blessings of Family Movie Night
Before I move on to the other movies, I want to talk about the blessings of family movie nights. This is a time to gather together, side by side, with popcorn and snacks. It is a wonderful time to create a cozy atmosphere. Bring out the pillows and blankets and create a beautiful experience together.
Be intentional, mamas, by creating experiences and memories in our homes. In turn, your children will remember their homes with fondness and a warm fuzzy feeling. The smell of popcorn, a song from a particular movie, laughs, tears, and snuggles all add to the memories.
Our children are grown now, but when they come home one of the things we love to do always is have a movie night together. I cherish this time with my adult children and look forward to doing the same with my grandchildren as they grow.
Engaging Your Child’s Senses At Home
I believe it is important to engage our children’s senses on a daily basis in our homes. I elaborate on this so much more in my post How to Awaken Your Child’s Senses At Home. Family movie nights are one way you can accomplish this in your home.
Make your family movie night a tradition and an experience. Make it a thing, Mama, and do what you can to make it fun.
Let’s move on to the next 23 movies on our list.
Sports Movies
How about a few sports movies? There is nothing like a good sports story to give you the warm fuzzies. Sports movies are usually true stories, have humor and intensity, and evoke every single emotion throughout the movie.
They are always inspirational and who doesn’t need a little inspiration these days? We absolutely love a good sports movie for Family Movie Night. I could name many more but maybe that is for another post!
Our first love will always be (3) Remember the Titans. My family can recite this movie line for line. We have seen it so many times over the years and as I’m typing this post, lines from the movie are popping up in my head. Denzel Washington is phenomenal as is the entire cast. This movie is based on a true story and knowing it is a true story makes it even better.
Of course, (4) Miracle has to be on the list. This is the story of the Men’s US Hockey Team in the 1980 Olympics. If you haven’t seen it you must! I mean truly, you must! It is a piece of history and an inspiring, beautiful story. The movie was made in 2004 but it never gets old.
The (5) Blindside is next up. This movie is from 2009 with Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw and it is the story of Michael Oher. It, too, is a true story about a homeless black teenager who drifted in and out of school until he was taken in by the Tuohys. His life is changed forever. I could not recommend this movie more. You will find yourself laughing and crying. Your family will love it.
And the last two in the sports genre are (6) The Rookie and (7) Forever Strong. The Rookie is about a high school baseball coach who gets the opportunity to live out his dream of playing major league baseball.
Forever Strong might be one of those movies you have never heard of but I will never forget the first time I watched this movie. It is the story of a troubled rugby player who ends up in a juvenile detention center. He joins the center’s rugby team and, in the end, plays against his dad’s team in the championship. This movie will not disappoint.
Oldies But Goodies
The next three are oldies but goodies. (8) The Princess Bride is one where I have to be honest and tell you that this is NOT one that I love, BUT, everyone else in my family does. It might be I’ve never really given it a chance. I cannot leave this one off the list. It is a classic.
If you have not seen (9) Sahara (2005) or (10) A Knight’s Tale (2001) I highly recommend both. They both have humor and adventure and will surprise you. We have many so many memories of watching these two movies and every so often a line from one of them just pops up in our conversation. Lines like “It’s called a Lance”. Watch a Knight’s Tale to see what I mean.
“Parent” Movies
Let’s talk about movies where the subject of parenting is the theme; movies like (11) The Parent Trap, (12) Parental Guidance, and (13) Instant Family. First, The Parent Trap is a classic and a must-see for all families. Before our daughter was born, I took our three boys to see this movie. Honestly, I wasn’t sure how they would feel about it but I really wanted to see it so we went! Teehee. They absolutely LOVED it and it became a family favorite.
Parental Guidance with Billy Crystal and Bette Midler is one of the funniest movies I’ve seen. It is actually about grandparents and the relationship they create with their grandkids. Talk about laughing out loud.
Instant Family is another great one where you will belly laugh and cry all at the same time. It’s all about fostering. I adore the mom and dad in this movie. It is heartfelt, hilarious at times, and so sweet. Beware of some language in this one.
Speaking of inappropriate language, you can purchase apps called profanity filters. This may be something to consider for your family. I wish we would have had it when our children were younger.
Unfortunately, with a lot of movies today, there is so much more to filter out other than language but that topic is for another post!
Rom-Com Movies
How about the romantic comedy genre, better known as a Rom-Com? Our family of three boys and one girl has always loved a good rom-com. So for those of you mamas with boys, don’t rule them out. Don’t forget about a sweet rom-com for family movie night.
I have to say at this point in our lives they would probably all say (14) The Proposal is their favorite. In the proposal, Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds are hilarious. It is a movie about an unlikely couple and how a pretend engagement turns into an actual love story. Caution to families with younger children on this one.
I have to add (15) Sweet Home Alabama and (16) Maid in Manhattan to my list. Reese Witherspoon is adorable and funny in Sweet Home Alabama. You will laugh and cry and cheer. Maid in Manhattan is a classic. Jennifer Lopez is a maid who gets accidentally entangled with a kind politician. Again, it has all the best qualities of a great rom-com.
Disney “Real Life”
(17) Enchanted (2007) and (18) Aladdin (2019) are “real-life” Disney movies (not cartoons) and two of our favorites. Both are musicals and you will find them whimsical, sweet, and entertaining throughout. Amy Adams (Enchanted) is endearing and believable and I couldn’t love her more in this movie.
This next movie has a part 1 and 2 and I wish I could see them all over again for the first time. I could not think of a better movie for family movie night. I am still a bit salty about the fact that at the end of number 2, it was implied that there would be a part 3, but much to my chagrin, it never happened
The next two on my list of 25….drumroll please, (19&20) National Treasure 1 & 2. In my opinion, two of the best family movies ever made.
Nicholas Cage plays Ben Gates in this adventure/comedy/love story that every family will love. His sidekick Riley is the comedic relief of the movie and you will love him. If you haven’t seen it, put it on your list of things to do this weekend!
Movies With Resilient Characters You Love
The next movie is one where I read the book first. (21) The Help. I LOVED this book so much and when the movie came out I knew I had to see it. Much to my surprise, the movie did not disappoint and was almost as good as the book.
This is a story of black maids in the South in the 1960s. This movie is about resilience despite difficult circumstances. It is funny and poignant and full of lessons for every person who sees it. Make sure you take the time to discuss this movie with your children when it is over. It is a great teaching movie.
Next up, (22) Ever After: A Cinderella Story. This is an early Drew Barrymore movie, not E. T. early, but definitely a while ago-1998 to be exact. This could be considered a rom-com but it’s more a story of the resilience of a young woman during the Renaissance despite her tragic circumstances. Definitely, one to watch.
(23) Dog Gone is brand new (February 2023) on Netflix. My husband, myself, and our daughter, who was home from school for the weekend, watched this movie together. We LOVED this movie! It is a true story and one full of family relationships, resilience, and love. Rob Lowe and Kimberly Williams are fabulous in this movie. You will cry and laugh and cheer loudly in your living room.
The Final Two Top 25 Movies for Family Movie Night
The (24) Hundred-Foot Journey might be one you’ve never heard of but, oh, how we love this movie. This is the story of an Indian family who is searching the countryside of France for a new location for their restaurant that burned down.
They eventually bought a run-down restaurant directly across the street from an upscale French Restaurant. It is funny, touching and inspiring.
And last but certainly not least, and I am fairly certain most of you have seen it, I absolutely, positively must add (25) Elf to our list of 25 Family Movie Night favorites.
We love this movie. It is a tradition. We laugh out loud when we watch it. Will Farrell is unbelievably funny as Elf and if by chance you haven’t seen it then put this on your list for this Christmas (although I am fairly certain a very high percentage of you have seen it).
As we come to the end of our Top 25 family movie night favorites, there is a boatload of other movies I could add to the list but this 25 has my heart and memories.
As for other genres, we also loved action films like the Marvel movies. Captain America is one of my favorites. There are other series like Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings that are great for family movie nights. While my kids love these movies they aren’t my favorites so I tried to add movies that EVERYONE would love.
On a final note, I want to encourage you to take a few moments after your family movie night and discuss any lessons from the movie. This is a wonderful opportunity to teach your children life lessons and to learn from the movie you watched. Take advantage of teaching moments when possible.
My prayer is that you make special moments and memories as you laugh, cry, and cheer together as a family!
Enjoy your night at the movies!
Much Love~Kim💗
