This list is regularly updated as movies rotate on and off of Prime Video. *New additions are indicated with an asterisk.
The selection of family films on Amazon Prime’s streaming service leaves a little something to be desired, but that just makes a guide like this even more useful! You have to dig through the titles on Prime Video to find something appropriate for everyone from kindergartener to great grandpa, but there are some titles worth a look, including some family classics that you may have forgotten.
*The Adventures of Tintin
Year: 2011
Runtime: 1h 46m
Director: Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg directed this underrated adaptation of the Hergé comic series with fantastic voice work from people like Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, and Daniel Craig. Spielberg can do things with animation that wouldn’t be possible with live-action and he brings his childlike wonder as a filmmaker to this engaging adventure flick.
The Brady Bunch Movie
Year: 1995
Runtime: 1h 28m
Director: Betty Thomas
Movies based on beloved sitcoms are almost always a waste of time but Betty Thomas knew how to take the crowd-pleasing comedy of The Brady Bunch and twist it into a subversive satire of suburban norms. She took the 1970s family and dropped them in the ‘90s, turning their values and styles into fish-out-of-water humorous targets. It’s still a surprisingly funny movie.
Cinderella
Year: 2021
Runtime: 1h 53m
Director: Kay Cannon
Another year, another Cinderella movie. The original one on Prime belongs to pop superstar Camila Cabello, who channeled her fame from the music world into this jukebox musical take on the classic tale. That means familiar hits, intertwined with a few original songs. It’s not the best Cinderella, but it’s not the worst either. Maybe it will be the shoe that fits you.
Hotel Transylvania: Transformania
Year: 2022
Runtime: 1h 27m
Director: Derek Drymon and Jennifer Kluska
The massive blockbuster franchise of Hotel Transylvania films took a surprising turn in early 2022 when the pandemic forced this once-Sony property into a Prime Video exclusive. Likely the final film in this four-movie series, this one sees Dracula (Adam Sandler) becoming a human as his son-in-law (Andy Samberg) becomes a monster. Of course, it’s about what’s on the inside that really counts. Everybody knows that.
How to Train Your Dragon
Year: 2010
Runtime: 1h 37m
Director: Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois
The movies based on the book by Cressida Cowell comprise one of the best trilogies of the 2010s. It all started with this DreamWorks adventure film about a boy (Jay Baruchel) who befriends a dragon named Toothless, despite his people’s fear of the flying creatures. A classic tale of never judging a book by its cover, this a beautiful adventure tale, a movie with equal amounts of heart and spirit.
It’s a Wonderful Life
Year: 1946
Runtime: 2h 10m
Director: Frank Capra
One of the most beloved films of all time doesn’t just have to be watched around the holidays. The lessons in this film about what people value in life could be appreciated any time of the year, as could one of the most iconic performances in film history from Jimmy Stewart.
Kicking & Screaming
Year: 2005
Runtime: 1h 35m
Director: Jesse Dylan
Will Ferrell stars in this goofy soccer comedy about a father and son—Robert Duvall plays dad—who end up coaching rival soccer teams. Is it a classic of family comedy in the 2000s? Not really, but the scary truth is that prime Ferrell is already starting to become something nostalgic, and this could be the gateway into his career for the little ones in your family.
Mousehunt
Year: 1997
Runtime: 1h 37m
Director: Gore Verbinski
The great Gore Verbinski directed this 1997 black comedy that works for the whole family. On the surface, it’s the story of two brothers tormented by one small mouse in a house they’ve inherited from their father. It’s filled with great physical humor from Nathan Lane and Lee Evans, who crib their style from classic comedy duos like Laurel & Hardy and Abbott & Costello.
Paul Blart: Mall Cop
Year: 2009
Runtime: 1h 31m
Director: Steve Carr
Kevin James stars in this likable goofy comedy about a mall cop who stumbles into an actual heist. Critics pretty much hated this one, but there’s a reason that viewers made it into such a massive hit that it even produced a sequel. James has a likability and timing with physical comedy that’s perfect for a bumbling idiot who saves the day.
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank
Year: 2022
Runtime: 1h 37m
Director: Rob Minkoff, Mark Koetsier, Chris Bailey
A loose remake of Blazing Saddles, this 2022 CGI animated film barely made any waves when it was released last Summer, but it’s not bad! Michael Cera, Ricky Gervais, Samuel L. Jackson, Michelle Yeoh, and even Mel Brooks himself contribute voice work to the tale of a dog who becomes a samurai to help rescue a cat village from its awful owner.
The Secret of NIMH
Year: 1982
Runtime: 1h 19m
Director: Don Bluth
Animation great Don Bluth made his directorial debut with this twisted 1982 fantasy film, proving that he wasn’t going to make movies that talked down or coddled his audience. Adapted from Robert C. O’Brien’s novel, it turns the existence of average field mice into an elaborate fantasy world. Audiences of a certain generation were probably traumatized by its visuals at a young age. Pass the trauma on to your kids!
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Year: 2022
Runtime: 2h 2m
Director: David Mickey Evans
With a third film in production, it kind of feels like these films about the fast little blue guy are the first new mega-franchise of the pandemic, right? And something interesting about them is how quickly Paramount has worked to make them available to subscribers. This film jumped from theatres to Paramount+ before it was even on Blu-ray and now it’s on Prime Video too. There’s a reason kids love these movies. Watch for yourself and find out why.
Sounder
Year: 1973
Runtime: 1h 45m
Director: Martin Ritt
It may not be the kind of family film that Minions fans are looking for, but why not challenge your kids with something more grounded every now and then? Sounder is more than just the story of a dog. It’s a tale of the Deep South during the Great Depression, anchored by stunning performances from Paul Winfield and Cicely Tyson, both of whom earned Oscar nominations for their work here, and the movie was also nominated for Best Picture.
Stardust
Year: 2007
Runtime: 2h 7m
Director: Matthew Vaughn
The director of The Kingsman may not seem a fit for this guide, but his adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s novel is a charming romantic fantasy for all ages. Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, Sienna Miller, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro, and many more familiar face star in a film that’s modest but sweet, a flick that has developed a cult following since its release.
TMNT: Mutant Mayhem
Year: 2023
Runtime: 1h 39m
Director: Jeff Rowe, Kyler Spears
Heavily inspired by the recent Spider-verse movies, the latest adventure for the pizza-loving ninja turtles is arguably the best yet. Working more from the comic books than the goofy previous films, it’s a story of brotherhood and a tale of how outsiders respond to being outsiders by becoming heroes or villains. There will almost certainly be a sequel to this one, and it might even be better.
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