The 16 best family movies on HBO Max that'll please any crowd

Blue Beetle (2023)

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 appreciates 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." —Danny Horn

Where to watch Blue Beetle: HBO Max

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: Ángel Manuel Soto

Cast: Xolo Maridueña, Adriana Barraza, George Lopez, Susan Sarandon, Harvey Guillén

DC League of Super-Pets (2022)

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. —D.H.

Where to watch DC League of Super-Pets: HBO Max

Director: Jared Stern

Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Natasha Lyonne, Kate McKinnon, John Krasinski

Flow (2024)

This dialogue-free Latvian animated film speaks to the power of visuals to tell a universal story. The film centers on a cat that tries to survive a devastating flood alongside a diverse group of animals, including a capybara, a lemur, and a Labrador Retriever. With no humans in sight, the animals must rely on their own instincts to find safe ground as the water continues to rise. Even if you're not a cat person, it's nearly impossible not to be by the film's end; Flow also made history in 2025 as the first independent film to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. —Kevin Jacobsen

Where to watch Flow: HBO Max

Director: Gints Zilbalodis

How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

It was almost inevitable that this beloved DreamWorks film would become a franchise. Telling the story of a Viking boy named Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) who befriends a dragon named Toothless despite his clan's fear of them, How to Train Your Dragon is a universal story about letting go of prejudice and embracing what makes you special. It also has one of the most majestic scores in modern movie history and vibrant animation that perfectly captures childhood wonder. "When Hiccup and Toothless take to the sky, we’re free of constraint, aware of the space on all sides," writes EW's critic. "At moments like those, the movie makes you feel in every way miles high." —K.J.

Where to watch How to Train Your Dragon: HBO Max

​​EW grade: A– (read the review)

Directors: Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois

Cast: Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, Jonah Hill, Kristen Wiig

Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)

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. —D.H.

Where to watch Kiki's Delivery Service: HBO Max

EW grade: A (read the review)

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Janeane Garofalo, Phil Hartman, Debbie Reynolds

The LEGO Batman Movie (2017)

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 writes, "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." —D.H.

Where to watch The LEGO Batman Movie: HBO Max

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: Chris McKay

Cast: Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, Ralph Fiennes

My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

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." —D.H.

Where to watch My Neighbor Totoro: HBO Max

EW grade: A (read the review)

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Cast: Tim Daly, Dakota Fanning, Elle Fanning, Lea Salonga

Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)

We may never see a screen persona quite like Paul Reubens' Pee-wee Herman again, as explored in the excellent two-part documentary Pee-wee as Himself (also on HBO Max). Pee-wee's Big Adventure contains lots of the eccentric character's trademark zaniness, following the title character on his cross-country quest to retrieve his stolen bicycle. The film marked Tim Burton's feature directorial debut, and thus, it does contain bits of dark/surreal imagery that may not be suitable for the youngest of viewers, but there's a childlike wonder to it all that makes it universal in its own quirky way. —K.J.

Where to watch Pee-wee's Big Adventure: HBO Max

Director: Tim Burton

Cast: Paul Reubens, Elizabeth Daily, Mark Holton, Diane Salinger, Judd Omen

Ponyo (2008)

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. —D.H.

Where to watch Ponyo: HBO Max

EW grade: A (read the review)

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Cast: Cate Blanchett, Noah Cyrus, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Frankie Jonas

Return of the Pink Panther (1975)

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 50 years old. —D.H.

Where to watch Return of the Pink Panther: HBO Max

Director: Blake Edwards

Cast: Peter Sellers, Christopher Plummer, Catherine Schell, Herbert Lom

Scoob! (2020)

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 more than 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. —D.H.

Where to watch Scoob!: HBO Max

Director: Tony Cervone

Cast: Will Forte, Mark Wahlberg, Jason Isaacs, Gina Rodriguez, Zac Efron, Amanda Seyfried

Spirited Away (2001)

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. —D.H.

Where to watch Spirited Away: HBO Max

EW grade: N/A (read the review)

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Cast: Daveigh Chase, Jason Marsden, Suzanne Pleshette, Michael Chiklis

Time Bandits (1981)

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. —D.H.

Where to watch Time Bandits: HBO Max

Director: Terry Gilliam

Cast: Craig Warnock, John Cleese, Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall, Katherine Helmond

Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

"Let the wild rumpus start!" Readers of all ages have been exclaiming this declaration for decades, ever since Maurice Sendak's iconic children's book Where the Wild Things Are was published in 1963. This lively adaptation follows Max (Max Records), a 9-year-old boy who feels neglected at home and runs away, escaping to a magical island inhabited by giant monsters known as Wild Things. The group ultimately accepts Max, crowning him their new king and giving him a sense of belonging. "Profoundly beautiful and affecting, Where the Wild Things Are is a breath-taking act of artistic transubstantiation," writes EW's critic. —K.J.

Where to watch Where the Wild Things Are: HBO Max

EW grade: A (read the review)

Director: Spike Jonze

Cast: Max Records, Catherine Keener, Mark Ruffalo, Lauren Ambrose, Chris Cooper, James Gandolfini, Catherine O'Hara, Forest Whitaker

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

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 decades 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. —D.H.

Where to watch The Wizard of Oz: HBO Max

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: Victor Fleming

Cast: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Margaret Hamilton, Jack Haley

Wonka (2023)

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 writes while also praising Chalamet: "He's a warm and winning Wonka, infusing the character with a fanciful sense of humor and a guileless enthusiasm." —D.H.

Where to watch Wonka: HBO Max

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Paul King

Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Calah Lane, Hugh Grant, Olivia Colman, Keegan-Michael Key