The 25 best family movies on Max in July 2024
These family-friendly films are available to stream now.
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Everett(3)If your regular family movie night is getting stale, Max has a wide library of both tried-and-true classics (The Wizard of Oz; The Return of the Pink Panther) and recent releases (Wonka; Blue Beetle) that can bring the whole clan together. Whether you're looking for coming-of-age films, thrilling adventures, heartfelt character dramas, or laugh-out-loud comedies, the popular streamer has something family-friendly for every taste. Here are Entertainment Weekly’s picks for the 25 best family movies on Max right now.
Spirited Away (2001)
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If you've ever wondered why it's a bad idea to visit an abandoned roadside amusement park, Studio Ghibli has the answer: Your parents will turn into giant pigs and you'll be left on your own to deal with the resident ghosts, witches, and river sprites. Spirited Away creates a new, fascinating mythology with its own mysterious rules and customs, pitting 10-year-old Chihiro against dragons and demons with only her strength of will to guide her. The film can get a little scary at times for younger viewers, but both parents and kids will be captivated by its haunting beauty.
Where to watch Spirited Away: Max
EW grade: N/A (read the review)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Daveigh Chase, Jason Marsden, Suzanne Pleshette, Michael Chiklis
Related content: Here's what Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away looks like as a play
Blue Beetle (2023)
Warner Bros
The first superhero movie with a Latino protagonist, Blue Beetle stars Xolo Maridueña as Jaime, a recent college grad who accidentally ends up bonding with an ancient alien relic that turns him into a high-flying vigilante. But Jaime isn't alone in fighting against evil corporate androids: When he needs help, his Mexican-American family works together to rescue him. EW’s writer appreciated how, "Blue Beetle is one of the rare opportunities to celebrate a specific part of the Latin community, and it revels in that specificity, only adding more heart to Jaime's journey to becoming a hero."
Where to watch Blue Beetle: Max
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: Ángel Manuel Soto
Cast: Xolo Maridueña, Adriana Barraza, George Lopez, Susan Sarandon, Harvey Guillén
Related content: Xolo Maridueña hopes to play Blue Beetle for a long time: "I want to do 12 more years"
The LEGO Batman Movie (2017)
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A buzzy sugar rush of villains, explosions, and bat-guitar solos, The Lego Batman Movie sets out to be the ultimate kid-friendly superhero comedy, deftly skewering every pretentious, bloated summer blockbuster. The Joker (Zach Galifianakis) is crushed when Batman (Will Arnett) refuses to admit that he's the hero's "greatest enemy," so the offended clown prince of crime recruits every baddie in the multiverse, including velociraptors and Voldemort. EW’s critic predicted, "Seventy-five percent of the film’s carpet-bomb campaign of pop culture meta punchlines will ricochet over the target audience’s head, but parents dragged along for the ride will no doubt be grateful for Arnett’s rat-a-tat send-ups of Adam West and superhero clichés."
Where to watch The LEGO Batman Movie: Max
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: Chris McKay
Cast: Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, Ralph Fiennes
Related content: Batman Rewatch: The LEGO Batman Movie and The Batman bury the Dark Knight to heap on praise
Wonka (2023)
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A sparkling Timothée Chalamet headlines this prequel to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, embodying the whimsical candy maker at the start of his ambitious (and delicious) career. He's opposed by the establishment Chocolate Cartel and tricked by his devious landlady into indentured servitude, but you can't keep a born dreamer down. "In many ways, Wonka is far more delightful than it has any right to be," EW’s critic wrote while also praising Chalamet: "He's a warm and winning Wonka, infusing the character with a fanciful sense of humor and a guileless enthusiasm."
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: Paul King
Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Calah Lane, Hugh Grant, Olivia Colman, Keegan-Michael Key
Related content: Wonka director 'didn't want to reinvent' the Gene Wilder film
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
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One of the most beloved films of all time, The Wizard of Oz delivers visual spectacle, winning characters, and an emotional sincerity that still retains its charm 85 years later. Judy Garland sparkles as a girl from Kansas who drops out of the sky into the magical land of Oz, where she teams up with a scarecrow, a tin man, and a cowardly lion to fight a witch and find her way home. With unforgettable songs like "Over the Rainbow" and "If I Only Had a Brain," the film has delighted generations with its imagination and wit.
Where to watch The Wizard of Oz: Max
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: Victor Fleming
Cast: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Margaret Hamilton, Jack Haley
Related content: 19 rare behind-the-scenes photos from The Wizard of Oz
Time Bandits (1981)
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A young boy is swept into a wild adventure when six squabbling dwarfs appear, looking for a magical portal on the other side of his bedroom wall. The intruders have swiped a map from the Supreme Being, which they're using to travel through space and time, stealing the treasures of history. Together, Kevin and the Bandits meet Napoleon Bonaparte and Robin Hood, and visit ancient Greece and the sinking of the Titanic. Directed by Monty Python alum Terry Gilliam, Time Bandits includes cameos from fellow Pythons John Cleese and Michael Palin as well as Sean Connery as King Agamemnon.
Where to watch Time Bandits: Max
Director: Terry Gilliam
Cast: Craig Warnock, John Cleese, Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall, Katherine Helmond
Related content: Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement tease their Time Bandits TV show in exclusive first look
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
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My Neighbor Totoro isn't the only Studio Ghibli film on this list, but it's arguably the sweetest. Two young girls move with their father to a house in the country while their mother is recovering in the hospital, and they discover a giant, furry wood spirit in the nearby forest. Totoro doesn't speak, but he's a gentle and reassuring presence who creates magical, dream-like experiences for the girls. It's not a fast-moving film, but EW’s critic asserts that "Totoro conjures up a whimsical, occasionally scary, and transcendent world of youthful imagination."
Where to watch My Neighbor Totoro: Max
EW grade: A (read the review)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Tim Daly, Dakota Fanning, Elle Fanning, Lea Salonga
Related content: Watch Baby Yoda befriend some soot sprites in Studio Ghibli and Lucasfilm's outrageously cute Disney+ short
The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie (2004)
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Nickelodeon star SpongeBob Squarepants catapults to the big screen with an epic story too deep for tiny TVs. Fiendish fast-food slinger Plankton frames his rival, Mr. Krabs, for stealing King Neptune's crown, and SpongeBob and Patrick are sent on a quest to retrieve the treasure and prove their friend is innocent. The movie features celebrity voice actors Jeffrey Tambor, Scarlett Johansson, and Alec Baldwin along with an unforgettable live-action David Hasselhoff cameo. But as EW’s critic asserted, "The best moments in his first movie outing are those that feel most TV-like, just another day in the eternally optimistic undersea society created with such contagious silliness by Stephen Hillenburg."
Where to watch The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie: Max
EW grade: N/A (read the review)
Director: Stephen Hillenburg
Cast: Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Clancy Brown, David Hasselhoff
Related content: David Hasselhoff joins the SpongeBob SquarePants 20th anniversary special
Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
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A warm-hearted anime from Studio Ghibli, Kiki's Delivery Service sees the titular 13-year-old witch (Kirsten Dunst) leave home with her black cat Jiji (Phil Hartman) and embark on a year-long journey of self-discovery in another village. Using her magic broom, Kiki opens a flying courier service and begins to experience both the satisfaction and the difficulties of independence and self-reliance. Kiki's struggles with self-consciousness and doubt will be familiar to any kid who's had to adjust to a new situation, and the exquisitely rendered character animation makes the film an enchanting trip.
Where to watch Kiki's Delivery Service: Max
EW grade: A (read the review)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Janeane Garofalo, Phil Hartman, Debbie Reynolds
Related content: All of the Studio Ghibli movies, ranked
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
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With all eight Harry Potter films streaming on Max, here's your opportunity to introduce your kids to the wizarding world. In the first installment, neglected orphan Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) is invited to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he begins his formal education as a spellcaster, along with new best friends Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson). He also discovers that he has a powerful enemy: the defeated but still dangerous Voldemort, who tried to kill him as a child and is ready for a rematch. Exploring the halls of Hogwarts is a modern rite of passage for imaginative youngsters, as the film “translates places previously imagined by millions of readers into shiny images absorbable by millions more,” says EW’s critic.
Where to watch Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Max
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: Chris Columbus
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane, John Cleese
Related content: Harry Potter series aiming for 2026 premiere on Max after J.K. Rowling meeting
Ponyo (2008)
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In another stunning Studio Ghibli anime, a little boy and a magical goldfish princess form an unlikely friendship. Ponyo's desire to become a human girl and join Sosuke on the land is so strong that it overpowers her wizard father's enchantments, leading to an explosion of aquatic energy that endangers Sosuke's seaside village. As the waters rise, the two children set out on a quest to save the town and restore the balance of nature. Director Hayao Miyazaki's lush, colorful backgrounds give the film a hand-crafted feel, blurring the distinction between land and sea.
EW grade: A (read the review)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Noah Cyrus, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Frankie Jonas
Teen Titans Go! To the Movies (2018)
Warner Bros.
Boy wonder Robin and his team of Teen Titans are offended that nobody wants to make a hit movie about them, so they head to Hollywood to demand a Robin movie, taking swipes at numerous pop culture clichés along the way. Will Arnett plays the squad’s supervillain foil, while Kristen Bell is a blockbuster director who refuses to take them seriously. In an era when DC superhero films are struggling to feel grown-up and important, it's refreshing to see the Teen Titans Go! crew kick back and have a good time. To quote EW’s critic, "This is a rollicking, goofy superhero send-up that never overstays its welcome."
Where to watch Teen Titans Go! to the Movies: Max
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: Peter Rida Michail, Aaron Horvath
Cast: Greg Cipes, Tara Strong, Will Arnett, Kristen Bell
Related content: Teen Titans Go! To the Movies: Will Arnett on his 'childish' take on Slade
Return of the Pink Panther (1975)
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Almost every Pink Panther movie is streaming on Max, but Return of the Pink Panther might just be the funniest. The series is a showcase for the great Peter Sellers in his most iconic role: the clumsy, incompetent French detective, Inspector Clouseau. In this entry, Clouseau is on the trail of a jewel thief while being hunted by assassins who may be even more bumbling than he is. Sellers' legendary comic timing, outrageous accent, and gift for slapstick never fail to amuse, and will likely entice younger viewers despite being nearly 50 years old.
Where to watch Return of the Pink Panther: Max
Director: Blake Edwards
Cast: Peter Sellers, Christopher Plummer, Catherine Schell, Herbert Lom
Related content: Blake Edwards: Friends remember the Pink Panther director
Because of Winn-Dixie (2005)
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If the kids like dog movies, Because of Winn-Dixie offers undiluted canine appreciation. Opal (AnnaSophia Robb) moves to a new town in Florida with her preacher father (Jeff Daniels) and has trouble making friends — until she links up with a big, fuzzy stray dog that she dubs Winn-Dixie. The friendly, impulsive pooch wastes no time in melting hearts and bringing people together, as the town's residents share their stories, admit their mistakes, and offer each other empathy and forgiveness. Plus, there’s plenty of adorable shenanigans, of course.
Where to watch Because of Winn-Dixie: Max
Director: Wayne Wang
Cast: AnnaSophia Robb, Jeff Daniels, Cicely Tyson, Dave Matthews, Eva Marie Saint
Related content: Q&A with Winn-Dixie star Jeff Daniels
Daddy Day Care (2003)
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When Charlie (Eddie Murphy) loses his job, his wife Kim (Regina King) has to be the breadwinner in the family, leaving Dad at home with a toddler. Recognizing a need for affordable child care, Charlie hooks up with his laid-off friend Phil (Jeff Garlin) to open a day care center in his house — and they quickly learn there's a lot they don't know about taking care of a dozen kids at once. Though understandably not a critical darling, Daddy Day Care gave Murphy another avenue to flex his comedic chops in a family-friendly and undeniably fun format.
Where to watch Daddy Day Care: Max
Director: Steve Carr
Cast: Eddie Murphy, Jeff Garlin, Anjelica Huston, Regina King, Steve Zahn
DC League of Super-Pets (2022)
Warner Bros.
This brash, high-flying comedy adventure puts Superman's dog Krypto (Dwayne Johnson) in charge of a crew of super-powered shelter animals, including an indestructible hound (Kevin Hart) and a speedy turtle (Natasha Lyonne). When the actual Justice League is captured by an evil hairless guinea pig (Kate McKinnon) — it's a stretch, but go with it — it's up to the pets to take her down. It's a playful twist on the typical superhero fare, with an appealing ensemble cast that includes John Krasinski as the Man of Steel himself.
Where to watch DC League of Super-Pets: Max
Director: Jared Stern
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Natasha Lyonne, Kate McKinnon, John Krasinski
Related content: Dwayne Johnson's Krypto assembles a team in DC League of Super-Pets first look
The Peanuts Movie (2015)
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Good grief! Fifty years after Charlie Brown and Snoopy made their 2-D animated debut in A Charlie Brown Christmas, Blue Sky Studios pulled off an amazing feat: putting the Peanuts characters into a more realistically rendered world while remaining faithful to the character designs and spirit of the original. In The Peanuts Movie, Charlie tries to shed his "loser" image to impress the Little Red-Haired Girl with the support of his faithful dog. All the comic-strip favorites get their chance to shine, including Linus, Lucy, and Peppermint Patty, making this a nostalgic trip for parents and a great introduction for new Peanuts fans.
Where to watch The Peanuts Movie: Max
Director: Steve Martino
Cast: Noah Schnapp, Hadley Belle Miller, Mariel Sheets, Alex Garfin
Related content: Meghan Trainor sings happy birthday to Snoopy for the Peanuts Movie
Ramona and Beezus (2010)
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Beverly Cleary's Ramona novels inspired this endearing family film starring a 10-year-old Joey King as the irrepressible and accident-prone Ramona, and Selena Gomez as her older sister Beatrice (a.k.a. "Beezus"). Ramona, a 4-foot-tall force of nature, is always dreaming and scheming, and when Dad (John Corbett) loses his job, she tries to earn money with disastrous results. There are rom-com style subplots for Beezus and for their Aunt Bea (Ginnifer Goodwin), who reconnects with a hunky old flame played by Josh Duhamel. Meanwhile, Ramona's eccentric efforts lead to a happy ending in this sunny, funny sibling rivalry movie rooted in real heart.
Where to watch Ramona and Beezus: Max
Director: Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum
Cast: Joey King, Selena Gomez, John Corbett, Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Duhamel
Related content: Ramona Quimby's greatest mishaps, in honor of Beverly Cleary's birthday
Robots (2005)
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In a world of living machines, young Rodney Copperbottom (Ewan McGregor) travels to the big city to follow his dream of becoming an inventor, but discovers an evil plot by corporate leader Phineas T. Ratchet (Greg Kinnear) to force robots to take expensive upgrades or be junked as "outmodes." The plot's a bit thin, but Robots is filled with ingenious mechanical gags and a bouncy soundtrack keeps things moving. What’s more, Robin Williams reliably steals the show as the scrap-happy Fender, Rodney's clanking, clattering sidekick.
EW grade: N/A (read the review)
Director: Chris Wedge
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Robin Williams, Greg Kinnear, Halle Berry, Mel Brooks
Inkheart (2009)
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Mo (Brendan Fraser) has the magical power of bringing fictional characters to life by reading books aloud to his daughter — which turns out not to be the delightful fantasy you'd imagine. Capricorn (Andy Serkis), the villain of a rare novel titled Inkheart, escapes into the real world, as does the fire-juggling hero Dustfinger (Paul Bettany), while Mo's wife Resa is accidentally trapped in the pages. To get her back, Mo, his daughter, Dustfinger, and great-aunt Elinor (Helen Mirren) must find the book's author and defeat Capricorn. What follows is an adventure that EW’s critic says inspires “the distinct sensation of being a young bookworm again, falling into a world as vividly real as it is impossible.”
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: Iain Softley
Cast: Brendan Fraser, Paul Bettany, Helen Mirren, Andy Serkis
How to Eat Fried Worms (2006)
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11-year-old Billy is having a tough time adjusting to his new school, especially when he's targeted by the resident bully, who puts worms in Billy's lunch. To prove his worth, Billy bets that he could eat 10 worms in a day — and then has to live up to that promise. Much of the film is concerned with the gross-out recipes the kids come up with, including "Le Big Porker," "The Burning Fireball," and "Barfmallo." Watching Billy chow down on these disgusting concoctions is a surprisingly thrilling experience, and the film offers some lessons on how to stand up to bullies.
Where to watch How to Eat Fried Worms: Max
Director: Bob Dolman
Cast: James Rebhorn, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Tom Cavanagh, Hallie Kate Eisenberg
Scoob! (2020)
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There's a mystery afoot, but the Mystery Inc. crew can handle it — after all, Scooby, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma have been running around after masked crooks for over five decades. This time, the plot involves Dick Dastardly manipulating Scooby to gain access to the mythological Underworld, while the good guys get an assist from the Hanna-Barbera heroes Dyno-Mutt and the Blue Falcon. It’s an airy storyline, but quippy voice acting makes this another demonstration of why the Mystery Machine teens are so endearing and enduring.
Director: Tony Cervone
Cast: Will Forte, Mark Wahlberg, Jason Isaacs, Gina Rodriguez, Zac Efron, Amanda Seyfried
Related content: The Scoob! cast solves our silliest (and weirdest) Scooby-Doo mysteries
Free Birds (2013)
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Reggie (Owen Wilson), a turkey who's been "pardoned" by the president, is leading a peaceful life ordering pizza and watching telenovelas. That is, until he's approached by Jake (Woody Harrelson), a member of the Turkey Freedom Front, who recruits him for a dangerous mission: steal an experimental time machine, travel back to the first Thanksgiving, and try to convince the early settlers to feast on something other than turkeys. It's a wild premise, but the buddy-comedy chemistry between the two vocal leads makes Free Birds a tasty treat for kiddos.
Where to watch Free Birds: Max
Director: Jimmy Hayward
Cast: Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson, Amy Poehler, George Takei
Aliens in the Attic (2009)
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A squadron of little green critters land on the roof of a family's vacation home in this silly sci-fi comedy from the "don't tell the parents" subgenre. The ETs want to take over the Earth, of course, starting with this specific house, because there's a dangerous weapon buried in the basement that they must not be allowed to reach. The movie has a lot of characters and subplots to keep straight — four aliens, seven kids, three parents, and a grandmother — but the little ones will enjoy the slapstick mind-control device that ends up in the hands of a pair of mischievous twins.
Where to watch Aliens in the Attic: Max
Director: John Schultz
Cast: Kevin Nealon, Robert Hoffman, Tim Meadows, Ashley Tisdale
Zookeeper (2011)
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Kevin James plays Griffin, a zookeeper who's still broken up about his ex-girlfriend (Leslie Bibb) turning down his marriage proposal five years prior. He's considering leaving the zoo, so the animals reveal that they can speak English — apparently, every animal can — and they want to help him win Stephanie back. Fortunately for parents, the talking animals are often legitimately funny, especially Adam Sandler as the group's gravelly-voiced spokesmonkey. In the film's best sequence, Griffin takes a depressed gorilla out to TGI Fridays for his birthday, explaining to the waitress that his friend is in a very convincing costume.
Director: Frank Coraci
Cast: Kevin James, Leslie Bibb, Adam Sandler, Rosario Dawson
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.
