This post is updated regularly to reflect the latest movies to leave and enter Hulu. *New additions are indicated with an asterisk.
The truth is that Hulu doesn’t particularly value the family audience in the same way that companies like Netflix or Disney+ do, perhaps realizing that the latter have a monopoly on that demographic. However, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to rally the entire clan around when you’re looking for something to watch on Hulu. Their eclectic mix of family films include recent blockbuster hits, dramas from the ‘00s and ‘10s, and movies you won’t find anywhere else.
The Amazing Maurice
Year: 2023
Runtime: 1h 33m
Director: Toby Genkel
Terry Pratchett wrote a beloved series of books called Discworld, but this is an adaptation of a novel called The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents. It’s the animated tale of a cat named Maurice (Hugh Laurie) who gets entangled in a village with a crazy secret. Laurie is joined by Emilia Clarke, David Thewlis, Gemma Arterton and many more in a film that actually made some decent money worldwide, but barely got a U.S. release. So your kids probably haven’t seen it yet!
Annie
Year: 2014
Runtime: 1h 59m
Director: Will Gluck
It will never replace the original, but this musical remake with Quvenzhane Wallis, Jamie Foxx, and Cameron Diaz deserves a reappraisal. Yes, it’s kind of a cash grab, but think of that cast! Foxx can do literally anything, and Wallis is as charming as any version of Annie has ever been. And it will remind how much the movies miss Ms. Diaz, a welcome presence in everything she ever did.
*Big
Year: 1988
Runtime: 1h 44m
Director: Penny Marshall
People forget that Big is the movie that really made Tom Hanks a star, earning him his first of several Oscar nominations. Yes, it’s a little creepier now than it was when it was released, but it’s the energy of Hanks that keeps this tale of a boy who suddenly becomes a man funny and real. It’s a truly great performance in a film that made an absolute fortune and started a future legend on the path to superstardom.
*The Fantastic Mr. Fox
Year: 2009
Runtime: 1h 28m
Director: Wes Anderson
The director of The Royal Tenenbaums and The Grand Budapest Hotel adapted the 1970 children’s novel of the same name in this delightful stop-motion animated classic with one of the best voice casts in history. George Clooney, Meryl Steep, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, and Owen Wilson star in the tale of the titular character as his family is hunted by three farmers. It’s a visual marvel for the whole family.
Father of the Bride
Year: 1991
Runtime: 1h 45m
Director: Charles Shyer
One of the biggest hits of Steve Martin’s career came in this 1991 remake of the 1950 classic comedy of the same name. He plays George Banks, an ordinary guy who panics in the run-up to the wedding of his daughter, played by Kimberly Williams. Diane Keaton and Martin Short co-star in a film that got a hit sequel, also on Hulu.
Goosebumps
Year: 2015
Runtime: 1h 30m
Director: Rob Letterman
The series of books by R.L. Stine remain massive hits on the YA market, and are as popular as ever thanks to the recent Disney+ series. However, that wasn’t the first adaptation. Go back to the mid-‘10s to this theatrical release starring Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush, and Amy Ryan. It’s a goofy family comedy with horror themes, a great introduction to the genre for young viewers. Just like the books.
Ice Age: Continental Drift
Year: 2012
Runtime: 1h 28m
Director: Steve Martino, Mike Thurmeier
Hulu gets so random with their family choices, choosing different films in this franchise on about a quarterly basis. They’ve gone back to the 2012 fourth film in the series as of this writing. Watch this and remember a time when Manny, Sid, and Diego led one of the biggest franchises in the world. Continental Drift made almost a billion dollars worldwide, which is almost hard to believe. So while nearly every kid on Earth has probably seen it, there’s no reason they can’t watch it again.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Year: 2017
Runtime: 1h 59m
Director: Jake Kasdan
This massive blockbuster actually isn’t on streaming services that often, so take this chance while you can on Hulu. Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan star as the avatar versions of four teens who end up transported into a video game. A massive hit when it was released, it’s already produced one sequel, with another in development. It’s a lot of fun.
The Karate Kid
Year: 2010
Runtime: 2h 16m
Director: Harald Zwart
No, not the Ralph Macchio original, but the 2010 remake starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan. It doesn’t have the nostalgic kick of the first movie (or even Cobra Kai), but it’s worth a look for Chan’s commitment. He’s an actor who never phones it in, and he gives his Mr. Han the same kind of grace and wisdom that Pat Morita used to elevate the ‘80s classic.
The Last Unicorn
Year: 1982
Runtime: 1h 32m
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
Remember when they made animated fantasies for kids that could be dark and intense too? The Last Unicorn is a thrilling adventure film based on the beloved novel of the same name by Peter S. Beagle. Featuring the voices of Alan Arkin, Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, and more, it’s the story of its title: A unicorn searching for what happened to her kind.
*The Mask
Year: 1994
Runtime: 1h 41m
Director: Charles Russell
Coming off the massive success of Ace Ventura, Jim Carrey was quickly becoming one of the biggest stars in the world when this Dark Horse Comics adaptation was released. Carrey is fearless as Stanley Ipkiss, a bank clerk who discovers a mask that unleashes his dark side. His energy made this into a quotable, worldwide smash hit.
Pokémon Detective Pikachu
Year: 2019
Runtime: 1h 45m
Director: Rob Letterman
Video game movies are having a moment with the success of Super Mario Bros. Movie but they used to be poison to Hollywood. This was actually the first live-action video game adaptation since the first SMB movie in 1993. And it’s not bad! Ryan Reynolds voices Pikachu, who partners with Tim Goodman (Justice Smith) to figure out what happened to his missing father. It’s largely for Pokemon fans only, but they were pretty happy with it.
Shark Tale
Year: 2004
Runtime: 1h 30m
Directors: Bibo Bergeron, Vicky Jenson, Rob Letterman
Remember when every month seemed to produce a new CGI-animated film with a major voice talent at its center in the ‘00s? This one from 2004 is just old enough to know to maybe have some nostalgic fans out there who want to revisit when they fell in love with a fish named Oscar, voiced by Will Smith.
Stuart Little
Year: 1999
Runtime: 1h 32m
Director: Rob Minkoff
Michael J. Fox playfully voices the title character in this adaptation of the beloved children’s book by E.B. White. The tale of a talking mouse adopted by a new family and adjusting to life in the big city has something for any kid who ever felt like he wasn’t quite like everyone else. It’s a sweet flick that made an absolute fortune at the box office, leading to two sequels and even a TV series.
We Bare Bears: The Movie
Year: 2020
Runtime: 1h 10m
Director: Daniel Chong
If you haven’t heard of We Bare Bears, you probably don’t have kids. The show ran from 2015 to 2019, producing over 140 episodes about Grizz, Panda, and Ice Bear, a trio of bears who try to live in a human world. It’s a cute charmer and the creators closed it out with a movie in 2020 that’s totally worth a look for fans of the show.
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