The 95 Best Family Movies Ever

In my home, family movie night is a weekly tradition. It's a shared experience that safely introduces my children to new ideas, places, cultures, people, and emotions. It reinforces qualities like humility, persistence, and kindness. And, of course, it's fun to snuggle up on a couch to laugh, cry, and scream together.

Movie night doesn't require conversation, though it might spark one after you watch a film that challenges viewers' perceptions of reality. And unlike in the theater, you can sit wherever you want, too, though a small couch will help keep young ones within a hug's reach during tense moments. Don't worry about snacks or bathroom breaks, either; both are only a quick pause and short walk away.

To help you find the best films for the event, I put together a list of the 95 best family films you can watch today. They will make family movie night (or morning, or afternoon) memorable for the entire clan, from the kindergarten-aged on up. Some films feature innovative artistic techniques, kicking open doors to new universes of creative discovery. Some films sneak in a moral lesson, the medicine the cinematic spoonful of sugar helps go down. Some may inspire impromptu dance parties, especially during the end credits. And all 95 of these movies are perfect for film-loving families, including mine.

This world is certainly extraordinary. "April and the Extraordinary World" takes place in a steampunk reimagining of Earth that's drawn in a stark 2D style, keeping every moment grounded — even the slapstick and moments that require a suspension of disbelief. The story unfolds in an alternate timeline where scientists are abducted to work for a mysterious fascist regime. April (Angela Galuppo) and her talking cat, Darwin (Tony Hale), work to uncover her missing parents' scientific breakthrough as powerful beings from several factions try to stop her.

"April and the Extraordinary World" feels like a French-Belgian attempt at a Studio Ghibli movie. The world-building is complex, but playful and fun. The characters have depth; no one is truly evil. The twists successfully surprise. The only thing that's missing are the meditative pauses in Hayao Miyazaki's films. Instead, "April and the Extraordinary World" fills those moments with frenetic action that keeps you on the edge of your seat. You don't know what's coming next, and you'll be caught off guard by many of the film's reveals.

• Starring: Angela Galuppo, Tony Hale, Paul Giamatti
• Directors: Christian Desmares, Franck Ekinci
• Year: 2015
• Runtime: 105 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%

"Back to the Future" is airy as a hoverboard, timeless as an orange puffer vest, and as earnest as thinking someone stitched Calvin Klein's name into their underwear. It's so breezy that, while watching, you'll forget it's about a teenager who travels through time to fend off his mother's seductions and push his dad to save mom from sexual assault to preserve her virginity. Yes, it's bonkers, but it's also incredible. Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale wrote a flawless script. There are no wasted words. There are no wasted moments. The time travel rules are clearly established and perfectly followed. The climax builds to an electrifying conclusion.

The greatest thing about "Back to the Future" is its rewatchability. You've seen it and know it's great, but it's still better than you're expecting, even on viewing number 20. The sequels do not quite match the first film's quality, but watched consecutively they make for a string of fantastic movie nights.

• Starring: Michael J. Fox, Lea Thompson, Christopher Lloyd
• Director: Robert Zemeckis
• Year: 1985
• Runtime: 116 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

Thank you, Warner Bros. for trusting Tim Burton to summon "Beetlejuice" into our lives. Of course, Warner Bros probably would've been out a few million if not for Michael Keaton, whose grotesque but hilarious portrayal of the bio-exorcist serves as the heart of the film. He's like Robin Williams on a demonic slurry bender. Can you imagine what it would've been like if Burton had actually landed Sammy Davis Jr. for the lead role?

"Beetlejuice" is dark. It's about a dead couple (played by Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin) who don't want their dream home to turn into a mod nightmare, so they call forth Beetlejuice to help evict the house's living tenants. The movie is unlike anything else in cinema, aside from other Burton films. It's cartoony, hilarious, off-beat, and often bonkers. "Beetlejuice" has some strong language and adult references, but that shouldn't dissuade you from showing your kids this surreal supernatural comedy. Kick back with some popcorn, hit play, and scream out — in your best Beetlejuice voice — "It's showtime!"

• Starring: Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin
• Director: Tim Burton
• Year: 1988
• Runtime: 92 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%

Few films handle recovery from a tragic loss like "Big Hero 6." Yes, it's a rambunctious, sometimes ridiculous, robot-centric movie about super-genius youngsters who become high-tech superheroes. It's also a heart-warming story about a teenager who, despite his pain, learns to accept the help of the people who care for him in order to carry on the entrepreneurial and altruistic spirit of his late brother.

Directors Don Hall and Chris Williams create a balance that keeps the film level, layering on humor as heavily as heartbreak. The heroes are super, but they're also normal people. San Fransokyo is cartoonish, but the effects team's innovative techniques emulate real city lighting and make it feel lived in. This kind of care makes the film's heavier content approachable for young audiences. "Big Hero 6" essentially puts itself on your kids' level, tells them that they will face tough moments in life, then shows them they're going to be okay.

• Starring: Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, Jamie Chung
• Directors: Don Hall, Chris Williams
• Year: 2014
• Runtime: 102 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

While watching "The Breadwinner," be ready to hit the pause button. The film's unflinching realism will likely invite a few conversations. Like the Deborah Ellis novel it's based on, "The Breadwinner" follows a young girl in 2001 Afghanistan named Parvana (Saara Chaudry), who cuts off her hair and dresses like a boy to put food on the table for her family and help rescue her father from a Taliban prison. As such, it doesn't shy away from depicting the impacts of oppression, hatred, and social violence.

"The Breadwinner" doesn't feature the abstract style of Cartoon Saloon's other features. Thankfully, the animation and art direction create a beautiful realism that rarely overwhelms you despite the film's heavy content. It's actually heartwarming to see people in the community stick their necks out for each other during tough times. Paarvana's boldness isn't an accident, either. Her father is a teacher and her mother is a storyteller, and when she's met with challenges, she relies on the lessons they taught her to succeed. "The Breadwinner" is ultimately about the power of storytelling and how important it is to pass on our knowledge to the next generation. It's challenging, but worth it.

• Starring: Saara Chaudry, Soma Bhatia, Ali Badshah
• Director: Nora Twomey
• Year: 2017
• Runtime: 94 minutes
• Rating: PG-13
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%

Great storytelling can make a movie feel universal even when it's about a very specific time and place. "A Christmas Story" is set in a fictional Midwest town during the 1940s Christmas season. However, the movie is relatable (and hilarious) no matter where you live or what holidays you celebrate. At its core, "A Christmas Story" is about a nine-year-old who wants something just outside his reach — in this case, a Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle — but obstacles block him at every turn.

"A Christmas Story" wonderfully encapsulates the culture and spirit of the Midwest before the Rust Belt era. But the story doesn't rely solely on classic cars and old-timey radios to establish its setting. Middle-aged Ralphie (the boy) narrates the story as if in remembrance, which adds a soft glow to the nostalgia. It's also filled with relatable laugh-out-loud moments of fatherly pride ("It's a major award!"), crushed expectations ("Ovaltine?"), and ill-fitting snowsuits ("I can't put my arms down!").

• Starring: Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin
• Director: Bob Clark
• Year: 1983
• Runtime: 93 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

Neil Gaiman's worlds are dreamily fantastic, and recreating them in a visual medium is no easy task. Luckily for us, Henry Selick and the team at Laika were up to the challenge for the children's fantasy-horror film "Coraline." In it, Coraline finds a door to another world that's a mirror of her own, offering her all the excitement she dreams of in her mundane reality. It's delightfully eerie and playfully bizarre, dancing at the edge of horror but never fully jumping in, much like a Grimm fairytale.

Despite the tone, there are moments of joy in "Coraline." The characters are quirky. The magic of the other world is fun (at first). Coraline herself is an inquisitive and sometimes fearless kid with a good heart. The emotional range she displays as a stop-motion figure is unparalleled thanks to the hardworking team at Laika, who designed and printed hundreds of faces to match her many moods. Tip: Stay seated for the quick but incredible animated sequence that follows the credits.

• Starring: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, John Hodgman
• Director: Henry Selick
• Year: 2009
• Runtime: 100 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

The Marx Brothers are at their best when operating amid chaos. In "Duck Soup," they hijack a story about the tentative relationship between two neighboring countries and make themselves integral pieces of the proceedings, then drive the countries to war with insults, physical gags, and forced misunderstandings. It works because the other characters don't realize they're the butt of the jokes. Groucho's punchlines are relentless. He delivers zingers with perfect timing and cleverly structures long-form jokes that have him running circles around other characters. It's still funny today, nearly a century after "Duck Soup" hit theaters.

It's not just Groucho, though. Harpo and Chico are hilarious doing vaudevillian slapstick. In one particularly notable scene, they're running around dressed like Groucho in pajamas when Harpo pretends to be a mirror image of his brother. And behind all the jokes, there's also a prescient theme (for 1933) about how ridiculous warmongering dictators can be. "Duck Soup" is a great jumping off point for your family's exploration of Hollywood's Golden Age.

• Starring: Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx
• Director: Leo McCarey
• Year: 1933
• Runtime: 70 minutes
• Rating: NR
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%

Will Ferrell's Buddy is like the fifth food group in "Elf": sugar-coated, with a sweet innocence that plays well in this classic Swedish-Fish-out-of-water story. Buddy, a human raised by Santa's elves, heads to New York to find his biological dad. Director John Favreau taps into Rankin/Bass' signature style to represent the North Pole, which is full of costumes, colors, and stop-motion animation. Ferrell then pulls off a miraculous feat, inserting this nostalgic charm into a much more grounded journey through Manhattan, which moves at a in-a-New York-minute pace.

Even though Buddy is a mediocre elf, he's an almost super-powered human, able to fire off snowballs like they're being shot from a Gatling gun, draw masterpieces on an Etch A Sketch, and fill people with enough Christmas spirit to save Santa Claus (Ed Asner) and the holiday. Many Christmas movies are unwatchable when it's not the right season, but you can enjoy "Elf" year-round thanks to a strong cast, funny moments, and Buddy's insatiable optimism.

• Starring: Will Ferrell, James Cana, Zooey Deschanel
• Director: Jon Favreau
• Year: 2003
• Runtime: 97 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%

With its fish-out-of-water story, "Enchanted" feels a bit like Disney ripped the green leotard off "Elf" and strapped on a princess gown. And yet, it works because "Enchanted" is the Disney-est thing you'll ever see. The studio hadn't introduced a new Disney princess in two decades. After announcing it would start making animated features again, Disney transitioned from the helpless princesses of yore (Aurora and Snow White) to more independent and capable royals (Tiana and Moana). "Enchanted" opens with the look, sound, and script of a classic Disney animated feature. Then, Giselle (Amy Adams) is banished from her kingdom by her evil stepmother, Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon), and crash-lands in modern, live-action New York.

At first, Giselle's wide-eyed wonder is a little much. She's too naïve and doesn't connect with you like Buddy does in "Elf." However, she, and the movie, start to grow on you. Amy Adams wields enough acting magic that you'll be drawn to her like a woodland creature. Several characters rediscover themselves in their own story arcs — especially Giselle, who grows from a helpless princess of yore to a capable anti-princess of today, all of which come together in a satisfying conclusion.

• Starring: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden
• Director: Kevin Lima
• Year: 2007
• Runtime: 108 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

There aren't many films like "Fantasia." It's an avant-garde collection of animated shorts set to orchestral performances, all separated by introductions from Walt Disney himself. The famous innovator predicted that "Fantasia" would change the history of motion pictures, and it did ... eventually. It took until the psychedelic '60s for the film to turn a profit and become recognized as landmark cinema. The content may have been too much for crowds in 1940, who just wanted to see Mickey Mouse's usual antics, not an art film that shows the dawn of Earth, the process of evolution, and Chernabog, the god of evil (played by none other than Bela Lugosi).

"Fantasia" remains wondrous today thanks to its innovative animation techniques. In fact, it may be the closest representation of fine art ever committed to film. You may have to bribe your kids with popcorn to sit through the first 20 minutes, but once the animation begins, it's like a trip to a museum that isn't peppered with questions like "Can we go home yet?"

• Starring: Deems Taylor, Leopold Stokowski, Walt Disney
• Directors: James Algar, Samuel Armstrong, Ford Beebe, Norman Ferguson, Jim Handley, T. Hee, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Bill Roberts, Paul Satterfield
• Year: 1940
• Runtime: 120 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%

"Forbidden Planet" is a sci-fi classic that's beloved by generations of film nerds — including the creators of "Star Wars" and "Star Trek." Gene Roddenberry borrowed the film's phaser and transporter designs for his epic space series. You'll see designs here that would look at home on Tatooine, too, including Robby the Robot. He's exactly what you think of when someone asks you to imagine a classic sci-fi robot. The set is exotic; it seems like a place that could exist millions of miles from Earth (or in a galaxy far, far away). The effects come to life via animated drawings and camera tricks, but don't feel grossly outdated, even though the film debuted in 1956. The score is spooky and otherworldly, and for good reason; it's the first completely electronic film score.

The film's script is smart, too. It's structured like "The Tempest" in space, but explores how technology and power manipulate humans, even those with good intentions. The payoff in the final act is fantastic. Some of the film's science is dated and the treatment of the lone woman on the planet is off-putting, but "Forbidden Planet" is still an engrossing outer space adventure with a creative flair that remains fun nearly seven decades later.

• Starring: Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis, Leslie Nielsen
• Director: Fred M. Wilcox
• Year: 1956
• Runtime: 98 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

"Galaxy Quest" is a parody of sci-fi conventions (both kinds). Unlike other send-ups, though, this one doesn't make fun of its source material. "Star Trek" fans aren't the butts of demeaning jokes. Instead, they're the targets of an ion nebulizer charged full of love. The cast, which is too long to list, is phenomenal, and fully embraces the roles they're playing. The pace will keep you on the edge of your seat, too. "Galaxy Quest" delivers big action sequences that are tempered with good silliness and deadpan humor. It's also full of heartwarming moments, like when Sir Alexander Dane (Alan Rickman) realizes the importance of his role as Dr. Lazarus. Finally, the digital and practical effects in "Galaxy Quest" surpass those in other '90s sci-fi films and television shows. During production, CGI couldn't handle everything, forcing the VFX team to rely on models, miniatures, and animatronic creature effects. You'll be happy they did.

• Starring: Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman
• Director: Dean Parisot
• Year: 1999
• Runtime: 104 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

When you're a kid, you're rarely in control. You're told to stay home with an adult, and to keep out of the way when your neighborhood is in danger of being torn down. But it's hard to do nothing when you have a treasure map, bikes, and friends ready to join you on an adventure. "The Goonies" is like a swashbuckling saga, though it all takes place along a stretch of Oregon coast. The rain-soaked small-town setting feels lived in and of our world. And yet, it's the jumping-off point for an adventure that resembles a fantasy epic, albeit a fairly down-to-earth one.

"Indiana Jones" may be a little too mature for some families. If so, let this underdog squad from the Goon Docks fill that void on movie night. The kids are resourceful, optimistic, loyal, and persistent as they solve a centuries-old mystery and try to save their homes. This is one of the lowest-rated movies on this list, but only according to critics. Audiences love the heart and spirit of "The Goonies," and so will your family.

• Starring: Sean Astin, Kerri Green, Ke Huy Quan
• Director: Richard Donner
• Year: 1985
• Runtime: 111 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 77%

The Potterverse is not owned by one person. It's a community of people who see wonder in the world around them, and who believe that every person is capable of greatness. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (or "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," if you live in the U.K.) zips in light as a Nimbus 2000 to capture that spirit. It's not the best movie in the Harry Potter franchise, but it is the franchise's best family film. Daniel Radcliffe's ability to elicit so much empathy at such a young age is magic unto itself.

Harry Potter is an underdog, yet the weight of the world rests on his shoulders, which is something we can all relate to. At least he's not alone in this fight. Hermione, Ron, Hagrid, and all of the others come to feel like allies as you wrestle control of the Wizarding World away from the dark forces who want to control it. Once you've seen "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," you should be able to gauge whether your kids are ready for the series' other movies, which get progressively darker.

• Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint
• Director: Chris Columbus
• Year: 2001
• Runtime: 152 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 81%

Implausible. Crass. Sadistic. "Home Alone" is a Christmas classic for all of those reasons, and more. Yes, Mr. Ebert, it is "implausible" that an 8-year-old would be able to fend off two seasoned thugs using MicroMachines and roof tar, but Christmas is a time for miracles. Yes, Ms. Cooper, some of the movie's dialogue and situations are "crass," but the story is still wholesome with a good moral. Yes, Mr. Gleiberman, the entire movie is "sadistic," but boy oh boy is it fun.

"Home Alone" is fantasy fulfillment for every kid who wished their family away and dreamed about how successful they'd be roleplaying at adulthood. The cast is excellent, especially Macaulay Culkin and Catherine O'Hara. The cinematography is better than it should be. John Williams' score is — wait, John Williams wrote the score? And was nominated for an Oscar for it? I'm not surprised — the score is delightful. And let's not forget Daniel Stern's octave-soaring scream. He and Joe Pesci place charming menaces who take burned scalps, sliced feet, and paint cans to the head like champs. What's really implausible is that, decades later, this crass and sadistic film has become a Christmas classic. Yet here we are, you trout sniffers.

• Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Catherine O'Hara, Joe Pesci
• Director: Chris Columbus
• Year: 1990
• Runtime: 102 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 66%

The best family films take the everyday parts of our lives, like jobs and crushes, and put them into fantastic settings and situations. In "The Incredibles," the Parrs toil through the same mundane social and professional muck we all do, but they're not your average family — they wear tights. Unfortunately for the Parrs, they cannot be super anymore. Due to government mandates, they're forced to hide their powers and live boring, un-super lives. Watching them break free from those constraints is a blast.

Bob (Craig T. Nelson) and Helen (Holly Hunter) are accustomed to being superpowered superstars. They fell in love while saving the world, and there's a competitiveness behind their charming banter. In fact, their relationship is so well-realized that you almost forget this is a superhero movie until the action kicks in. That's when you realize "The Incredibles" is one of the best films in the entire genre. With each punch, blast, and power surge, the characters grow and the story expands. "The Incredibles" culminates with a dynamic finale that showcases the family's growth as individuals and as a team. It's a perfect family movie.

• Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson
• Director: Brad Bird
• Year: 2004
• Runtime: 115 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%

What if a gun had a soul? "The Iron Giant" writer and director Brad Bird pitched that very concept to Warner Bros. and, surprisingly, the suits loved it. Bird felt that most animated movies were patronizing to children. "The Iron Giant" is not. It's about a child who befriends a lost alien war machine that's forgotten its purpose, and who guides his mechanical companion on a journey of rediscovery with optimism and empathy, even if that means rejecting the Iron Giant's original programming.

It's not just the allegory that makes this movie incredible. The action scenes are exhilarating, and the story will make you both laugh and cry. Brad Bird later merged his sensibilities with the Pixar formula, but with "The Iron Giant," you're getting pure, uncut Bird. It's full-on '50s B-movie schlock, but delivered with a cinematic sheen that recalls classic Disney fil,s. Bird credits Warner Bros. for keeping its mitts out of the production; his animation team oversaw the entire process. Of course, the movie flopped at the box office, but has since found a following thanks to strong word of mouth and "best of" lists like this.

• Starring: Eli Marienthal, Jennifer Aniston, Vin Diesel
• Director: Brad Bird
• Year: 1999
• Runtime: 86 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

Hayao Miyazaki is known for inserting moments of "ma," or empty, motionless silence, into his movies, keeping the pace light and airy. Well, "Kiki's Delivery Service" is a deep inhale of "ma," filling you with an almost meditative peacefulness. The ambient sounds that accompany Kiki on her flights add a texture that caresses the back of your mind. Taking them in while admiring Studio Ghibli's hand-drawn art makes "Kiki's Delivery Service" like a leisurely afternoon stroll through an outdoor art exhibit.

"Kiki's Delivery Service" is about 13-year-old witch-in-training Kiki (Kirsten Dunst), who's unsure of her abilities. She opens a delivery service and, as a result of her exploration of the world and her interactions with the people in her life, her confidence returns. It's a coming-of-age story, but it's told like nothing else in film. There's almost no conflict, just charm. Oh, and did I mention that Phil Hartman plays a delightfully sarcastic talking cat? I encourage you to return to "Kiki's Delivery Service" again and again to breathe in — and out — its wonderful "ma."

• Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Phil Hartman, Debbie Reynolds
• Director: Hayao Miyazaki
• Year: 1998
• Runtime: 103 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%

The release of "Kung Fu Panda" in China sent a Silken Moon Touch blast through the nation's cultural and arts communities. Some artists denounced the improper use of a national symbol (the panda). Others wondered why a film with such rich cultural representation couldn't be made in China itself. "Kung Fu Panda" stirs emotions like this because it's made with care and thoughtfulness. Chinese audiences and critics lauded its attention to detail in referencing Chinese mythology, history, culture, architecture, design, and martial arts. It's also a delightful film no matter where you happen to live.

"Kung Fu Panda" is about an orphaned panda who doesn't fit the classical mold of a kung fu master, yet he perseveres to become one anyway. Po's (Jack Black) journey is one hilarious failure after another. His adoptive father, a goose named Mr. Ping (James Hong), constantly believes in Po, and his big revelation is one of the several sweet moments that make "Kung Fu Panda" about more than just kicks and giggles.

• Starring: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, James Hong
• Directors: John Stevenson, Mark Osborne
• Year: 2008
• Runtime: 91 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%

It's a little bawdy. It's a little crude. It's a little rude. It's entirely fantastic. "A League of Their Own" is a feel-good movie that earns its feel-good moments and is much more than a vehicle for a classic Tom Hanks one-liner. It's about the women who filled stadiums playing baseball while the men were at war. As you may expect, these ladies face a constant barrage of sexism, both from individuals and society at large. It makes it feel like each character is an underdog, leading to plenty of joy when they succeed.

"A League of Their Own" is one of the best sports movies ever made because it touches on the nostalgia of playing baseball and has the same pace — exciting, but not overwhelming — as a live game at the ballpark. It works as a family film because of the fantastic cast. Each player on the Rockford Peaches has a distinct personality, particularly Dottie Hinson (Geena Davis), a woman who knows her place in the world and helps her teammates (and their manager) become their best selves.

• Starring: Geena Davis, Tom Hanks, Madonna
• Director: Penny Marshall
• Year: 1992
• Runtime: 126 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 81%

"The Lion King" is the apex of the Disney Renaissance. It follows a young lion who returns to his homeland to avenge his father and take back control from his usurping uncle. You know, typical kids' stuff. However, despite several intense moments, "The Lion King" is mostly about hope and family bonds. There's not a lot of humor, but the story is fun, and most of the jokes that are there land well. The art is beautiful, too, even if it marks a seismic shift in the animation industry.

"The Lion King" is the last blockbuster animated film that used mostly hand-drawn art, and even it isn't entirely CGI-free. You can see the results of Disney's computer animation production system (CAPS) during the wildebeest stampede. Animators developed a system that made the computer-drawn wildebeests fit seamlessly into the hand-drawn environment. Yes, "The Lion King" represents the end of an era, but its passing opened up new opportunities and new ways to tell stories. It's the circle of life.

• Starring: Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones
• Directors: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
• Year: 1994
• Runtime: 87 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

A young explorer comes of age on the high seas. It sounds like "Moana," but "Long Way North" is no Disney film. In fact, the movie charts a course in the opposite direction of Disney's style, offering a somewhat realistic look at the effort to explore the Northwest Territory and discover the North Pole. It all unfolds from the point-of-view of a Russian aristocrat who defies her parents to find her grandfather's lost ship and restore her family name.

"Long Way North" features beautiful 2D animation and a style that resembles a young art student's Crayola oil-drawn masterpiece. You could pause any frame and hang the picture on your wall. The approachable animation introduces children to a challenging story with few laughs but a lot of heart. The girl persists by learning, adapting, and working hard. A wonderful montage displays her resilience as she works at a seaside inn to pay for her new life, and while the movie ends before she returns home, a delightful medley during the end credits shows us her triumphant moment.

• Starring: Christa Théret, Féodor Atkine
• Director: Rémi Chayé
• Year: 2016
• Runtime: 81 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%

Animals are fantastic vessels for storytelling because anthropomorphism helps kids see themselves in the characters and makes abstract concepts more accessible. Also, they're cute and do funny things. Nature documentaries are easy crowd-pleasers, though few have a cinematic narrative as engaging as "March of the Penguins." Narrator Morgan Freeman takes us on a journey along the circle of life, showing us the devotion, hard work, and care it takes to be a parent — especially in harsh Antarctica. The editing and music drive the slow action forward. Clever writing gives weight to pivotal moments. The star of the film, though, is the photography, which takes us to a place where most humans couldn't survive for more than a few seconds.

The conditions the crew endured while filming "March of the Penguins" were hostile at best, and life-threatening at worst. There aren't many people who can spend 13 months shooting in 40-below-zero weather and 100-mile-per-hour winds. Yet this devoted crew, led by director Luc Jacquet, captured 120 hours' worth of intimate and loving moments that help you understand why these Emperor penguins keep marching despite overwhelming odds against their survival.

• Starring: Morgan Freeman, penguins
• Director: Luc Jacquet
• Year: 2005
• Runtime: 80 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%

Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews) is the original manic pixie dream girl, though this MPDG refuses to be tamed by the bland men of her world. Instead, she upends the meticulously outlined lives of a well-to-do 1910 London family. Poppins employs a little nanny magic that makes you wonder if she's an angel, fairy, or Hufflepuff. Don't look too deeply under Poppins' beflowered boating hat for answers. This is Disney. You have to assume there's going to be a little magic in this world.

Director Robert Stevenson and crew show employ some cinematic wizardry of their own, using camera and editing tricks to conjure on-screen illusions. But Poppins and her cockney-churning chum Bert (Dick Van Dyke) don't require any lens tricks to draw a crowd. They enthusiastically manipulate the city and people around them, usually through song and dance. "Mary Poppins" has a frenetic energy that matches its vibrant technicolor sets and costumes. Some of the jokes and story elements will go right over your kids' heads, but there's nothing a little spoonful of sugar won't cure — and "Mary Poppins" isn't shy about doling out doses of sweetness.

• Starring: Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, Glynis Johns
• Director: Robert Stevenson
• Year: 1964
• Runtime: 140 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

"Moana" follows the predictable Disney princess formula: A frustrated teenager who sets out to find her inner voice and save her kingdom. But Moana (Auli'l Cravalho) doesn't wear a satin dress, doesn't want to be called princess, has no love interest, and her parents are ... alive? Disney, what have you become?! "Moana" also throws a few wrenches into Disney's well-worn gears by including a diverse cast and attempting to be culturally accurate, though there are concerns about how realistic the film's depiction of Polynesian culture really is.

The songs, though, are thoughtful, narrative-driven earworms by a team that includes Lin-Manuel Miranda, composer Mark Mancina, and songwriter Opetaia Foa'i. Dwayne Johnson delivers zingy one-liners and hammy show tunes in equal measure, and offers a steady voice to guide Moana. The ocean accompanies Moana on her journey and, miraculously, the animation team makes the blue mass empathetic. There's a lot of Disney magic on display here, though what really powers the sails of "Moana" is the lead character, voiced by Auli'l Cravalho. She's persistent and tough, but the movie doesn't treat her empowerment like a novelty. It's just Moana being Moana.

• Starring: Auli'l Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Temuera Morrison
• Directors: John Musker, Ron Clements
• Year: 2016
• Runtime: 113 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%

"The Muppets" is a clever, loving ode to the furry, fuzzy, monstrous, adorable characters who influenced a generation. It dusts off an old concept — bringing back the band for one last show — and adds some modern flair to the mix. The popularity of Jason Segel's musical performance in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" likely opened some eyes. He clearly has a passion for the Muppets, and it shines through in this 2011 movie, which he co-wrote. The film introduced Jim Henson's creations to a new generation, and they've remained in our collective consciousness since.

"The Muppets" is awash in positivity and joy, especially when the odds are against the titular performers. The sharp and witty jokes come flying at you, but before you have a chance to truly process the humor, the story has already moved on. As a result, you'll find yourself perma-smiling as you suppress a laugh so that you can hear the next joke. Segel and Amy Adams fully commit to the gags, too, keeping pace with their felt counterparts. The love shown to the Muppets will bring a tear to the eyes of anyone who grew up singing along to "It's time to get this started."

• Starring: Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Peter Linz
• Director: James Bobin
• Year: 2011
• Runtime: 98 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%

"My Octopus Teacher" latches on to your heart, and won't unstick for several days. The documentary follows an emotionally exhausted professional photographer who retreats to his childhood home along the coast of South Africa. While diving, he meets a curious and intelligent octopus who inspires him to document what becomes an unusually intimate cross-species friendship. The film portrays octopuses as playful, socially inquisitive, and brilliant survivalists.

The relationship between man and mollusk will leave your heart aflutter, but the most pulse-pounding moments don't feature photographer Craig Foster. In several scenes, a species of octopus-hunting shark arrives, leading to pursuits that play out like blockbuster car chases. You'll be amazed at the many ways an octopus can evade and survive an attack. Given the animals' short lifespans, you know this relationship will come to an end. However, this eventuality is not a downer, because the octopus has a lasting effect on Foster. This uncanny relationship sensitizes him to the needs of others, including his son, whom he reconnects with. The realism of "My Octopus Teacher" showcases the circle of life in a way even "The Lion King" cannot.

• Starring: Craig Foster
• Directors: Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed
• Year: 2020
• Runtime: 85 minutes
• Rating: TV-G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

There's a swamp full of kindertrauma in "The NeverEnding Story," but it's worth enduring the heavy moments for those when Falkor takes you soaring above the clouds. This movie introduced a generation of kids to the concept of the metaverse via a boy who saves the world he's reading about by believing in the power of imagination. Director Wolfgang Petersen deftly balances the story in both the real and the fantasy worlds — and yes, the guy best known for intense adult thrillers directed "The NeverEnding Story."

You never feel like you're trapped underwater as in "Das Boot," but Peterson doesn't shy from intense moments, like when the terrifying wolf-like Gmork attacks Atreyu (Noah Hathaway). If you're watching "The NeverEnding Story" with a young one, you'll need to offer a comforting hand now and again, but the spectacle justifies the extra work. Despite its high-fantasy setting, the film's young characters hold their own. The Empress (Tami Stronach) is an ageless wonder, powerful but vulnerable. Atreyu is a capable warrior, but isn't afraid of emotion. "The NeverEnding Story" will make you scream, cheer, cry, and bop along to the bubbly '80s techno theme that accompanies the credits.

• Starring: Barret Oliver, Noah Hathaway, Tami Stronach
• Director: Wolfgang Petersen
• Year: 1984
• Runtime: 94 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%

Here's your new answer to the "are there any movie sequels better than the originals?" debate. The first "Paddington" is sweet as a marmalade sandwich, but "Paddington 2" is even better; both are wonderful films, but the sequel just lands like nothing you've seen before. Director Paul King captures the essence of Paddington's story, which is based on a book that brightened the day for countless kids stuck inside during downpours. Paddington's buoyant personality illuminates the lives of those around him, and that charm is on full display in "Paddington 2."

King shows a Wes Anderson-like flair for choosing colors, dictating pace, and employing humor, but never takes it too far. In one of the film's best scenes, Paddington imagines giving a special pop-up book to his aunt. The book's pages fill the screen, as Paddington thinks about sharing the places that make his new home special with his family. The animation is miraculous, and the moment makes you want nothing more than for Paddington to get his paws on the book. You absolutely understand why everyone he meets wants to help him on his journey.

• Starring: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins
• Director: Paul King
• Year: 2017
• Runtime: 103 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%

Historically, Disney has loved to embrace its dark side, especially during the studio's golden era — and "Pinocchio" may be the darkest Disney film of them all. This family classic features human trafficking, slavery, and a transformation scene that's one of the creepiest moments of body horror in all of film. Despite all this, "Pinocchio" is an incredible cinematic experience. There's a reason why the New York Times called it the "best cartoon ever made" when it first hit theaters, and why it's still considered a masterpiece today.

With each frame painstakingly drawn by hand, "Pinocchio" is stunning. Disney's unparalleled craftsmanship is on full display when Jiminy Cricket warms himself by Geppetto's glowing hearth; when ocean waves part for Monstroso the whale; and when Pinocchio takes his first jangly steps. The studio's multiplane camera technique allowed the animators to fill every still with depth, color, and texture. "Pinocchio" will take your family on an adventure filled with peril, but the film's brightest moments break through all that gloom.

• Starring: Dickie Jones, Cliff Edwards, Christian Rub
• Directors: Ben Sharpsteen, Hamilton Luske
• Year: 1940
• Runtime: 87 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%

The miracle of Hayao Miyazaki's films is that they feel like his imagination is spilling directly onto the screen. From the wave-walking storm scene to the near-infinite colors of the ocean kingdom, the attention to detail in "Ponyo" is amazing. Its story is a loose take on Hans Christian Anderson's "Little Mermaid," following a sea creature who falls in love with the surface world and nearly destroys her underwater village to pursue a new life.

There are moments here that will take your breath away, especially when you consider the entire film is hand-drawn; Miyazaki shut down Studio Ghibli's CGI department before filming began. But while the visuals grab you, it's the story that holds you. "Ponyo" has a buoyant innocence that keeps it floating along without bogging everything down with unnecessary conflict. It's an excellent Sunday morning watch, particularly snuggled under blankets. A tip: Pre-order ramen for lunch — you'll thank me after seeing the steaming bowls up on screen.

• Starring: Noah Cyrus, Frankie Jonas, Tina Fey (English dub)
• Director: Hayao Miyazaki
• Year: 2009
• Runtime: 100 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%

Films in the Shrekiverse like to boast about having layers, but they've never been peeled back like they are in "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish." The Oscar-nominated film caught audiences by surprise thanks to several drastic changes to the franchise's typical output. The animators used a painterly art style to highlight emotional moments, and the film's theme focuses on a heavy subject. Puss suffers panic attacks while confronting the one thing he cannot outrun: death.

The crew took no shortcuts to depict Puss's intense moments of anxiety. The audio was recorded under the guidance of mental health experts. According to the Animation World Network, the animators made sure the stylized animation, which risked making the animation look cheap, maintained a "high level of detail and fidelity." Most of the story moves at a breakneck pace — it's like "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" on two cups of cappuccino. However, the moments when Puss feels fear bring everything screeching to a halt. It's a brilliant portrayal of a challenging mental state that's depicted with care and never used arbitrarily. And, after all this, if you're worried that the movie is too heavy, don't be. In spite of the topic, "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" will leave your family in stitches.

• Starring: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Florence Pugh
• Director: Joel Crawford
• Year: 2022
• Runtime: 102 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%

Pixar movies will alter your perception of what's normal. After watching "Ratatouille," you may think, "I'm open-minded. I'd eat food prepared by a rat." There's not a chance you would, but the story makes you care enough that you'll at least entertain the thought. "Ratatouille" takes okace behind the scenes at a French restaurant that's lost its luster since its beloved chef passed away. Remy (Patton Oswalt), a rat with a nose for fine cuisine, wonders if there's more to food than a means to stay alive. He teams up with a young restaurant worker to explore his culinary passion.

There's nothing complicated about "Ratatouille," but it's prepared with a delightful combination of layered colors, seasoned characters, and organically-developed moments. The scene that brings this movie home is when the food critic tastes Remy's version of ratatouille for the first time. His reaction and the ensuing intersection of culminating character arcs make this film a chef's kiss. If you're a family of foodies or film lovers, your entire crew will want to indulge in this culinary cinema classic.

• Starring: Patton Oswalt, Lou Romano, Ian Holm
• Director: Brad Bird
• Year: 2007
• Runtime: 111 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

There are few joys in this world like bringing something back from the brink of death, whether it's a garden or a sickly boy who says, "Everybody thinks I'll die." In "The Secret Garden," both are rejuvenated by a stubborn girl. Mary Lennox (Kate Maberly) lost her parents during an earthquake in India. She's sent to her uncle's rural estate; he's in mourning and mostly absent, so she becomes the spark that brings everything back to life.

Mary discovers a hidden garden that she begins to nurture. That's where her cousin takes his first step. Once he's walking, the kids cast a spell to grab the attention of his absent father. There's no actual magic in this movie, but the way the incantation is shot will haunt you, while the garden's transformation of the garden will dazzle you. The reunion between uncle and cousin may summon a tear to the corner of your eye, too. The 1993 film is the best of six film adaptations of Frances Hodgson Burnett's 1911 novel because of its skillful photography, its world-class acting (hi, Dame Maggie!), and its gothic but cheerful atmosphere.

• Starring: Kate Maberly, Heydon Prowse, Maggie Smith
• Director: Agnieszka Holland
• Year: 1993
• Runtime: 101 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%

Don Bluth spent years polishing the animation of Disney classics like "Robin Hood," "Pete's Dragon," and "The Rescuers." While filming "The Fox and the Hound," he and a group of talented animators left Disney to launch their own studio that focused on hand-drawn animation. They developed a 1980s classic that Disney wishes it had made — seriously. "The Secret of NIMH" is a dark fantasy about a mother mouse who seeks help from a mysterious group of rats to save her ill son and home.

I say dark because "The Secret of NIMH" is renowned nightmare fuel thanks to the imposing Great Owl and stalking farm cat. A few intense moments, though, come with a payoff. Mrs. Brisby (Elizabeth Hartman) shows courage despite terrible odds that worsen at every turn. The images are impactful because of the artistry in each frame. That intensity is matched by Jerry Goldsmith's dramatic score that feels like it's composed for a live-action blockbuster. Some story arcs become convoluted but "The Secret of NIMH" has an uplifting energy that keeps you locked into Mrs. Brisby's heroic journey. It's dark but beautiful and makes for an exciting family film night.

• Starring: Elizabeth Hartman, Dom DeLuise, Shannen Doherty
• Director: Don Bluth
• Year: 1982
• Runtime: 88 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

There aren't many mid-20th-century movies that inspire choruses of laughs, cheers, and wows from kindergarteners. "Singin' in the Rain" does, though. It's a movie about making movies during the transition from the silent era to sound, not to mention one of the most celebrated movies in film history.

That esteem is well-earned. The athleticism on display in every scene is stunning. Gene Kelly is an icon for a reason: His balanced strength and precise timing make him a generational talent. He apparently performed the title sequence with a 103-degree fever. Debbie Reynolds told NPR that she had never danced before filming, which is surprising. The movie's third wheel, Donald O'Connor, is brilliant as a dancer and comedian. I witnessed multiple guffaws from a five-year-old during O'Connor's "Make Them Laugh" sequence.

"Singin' in the Rain" is a movie you'll want to watch several times. You won't be bored, and you may be caught off guard by how funny it is. For the best viewing experience, find a theater that plays classic films, and have your family experience this one with a crowd. It was made for the big screen.

• Starring: Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor
• Directors: Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly
• Year: 1952
• Runtime: 102 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%

Cartoon Saloon can do no wrong. With "Song of the Sea," the Irish studio serves up another animated classic. Unlike the other two movies in the studio's "Irish Folklore Trilogy," which also includes "The Secret of Kells" and "Wolfwalkers," this film is set during modern times. Like the other two movies, though, it's packed with beautiful Irish folk imagery. The art is precisely incongruent and asymmetrical, and its colors come from across the spectrum. Its true strength, though, is its storytelling.

"Song of the Sea" is about a father, brother, and sister who struggle after the mother is lost at sea during the girl's birth. The brother blames his sibling, but learns that his mother's magic is still alive in her. When she disappears, he goes on a magical journey to save her. As a parent or grandparent, you love seeing children grow and develop. In "Song of the Sea," the children learn to care for each other by trusting one another and discovering that love is stronger than fear.

• Starring: David Rawle, Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan
• Director: Tomm Moore
• Year: 2015
• Runtime: 94 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%

Real kids. Real pressure. Real emotions. "Spellbound" is a miraculous drama that exudes tension without introducing unnecessary conflict. It's about eight regional spelling bee champions who earn the chance to compete at the 1999 Scripps National Spelling Bee. The cast of kids is diverse in every conceivable way, from race and income level to their popularity (or lack thereof) among their peers. Many of the young contestants experience a sense of kinship for the first time with their fellow elite spellers.

The children make "Spellbound" captivating. They display commitment, persistence, pride, and poise, all with unfiltered sincerity. You feel the pressure of their tasks along with the disappointment when they lose, or relief when they do well. The filmmakers also cleverly highlight the spelling mistakes that adults make (I'm looking at you, Hooters) while demanding perfection from these kids. We also meet some past winners to get a sense of who these spelling champions could become. One tip: Turn off your captions, if you can. You'll want to experience this rollercoaster ride without any spoilers.

• Starring: Emily Stagg, Angela Arenivar, Ted Brigham,
• Director: Jeffrey Blitz
• Year: 2003
• Runtime: 97 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%

"Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" is an amazing film regardless of genre. It brilliantly blends art styles, interweaves character arcs, and is perfectly cast. It's also an open-arm welcome to every iteration of Spidey, from the character's surprisingly dark roots to his goofiest forms. Somehow, director Peter Ramsey and his crew pace the action and set up conflicts and characters — so many characters — in a way that's never overwhelming.

Superhero fans say they're tired of origin stories. They're not. "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" proves that viewers are just tired of seeing origin stories told the same way over and over. In most Spider-Man stories, Peter Parker is isolated and alone, struggling with his newfound powers. In this film, Miles Morales has a group of supportive people who know exactly what he's going through. Their camaraderie lifts the film, even as you watch Miles' life fall apart. "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" is best experienced in a theater, though the couch also works. The visuals and the story are just that strong.

• Starring: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld
• Directors: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman
• Year: 2018
• Runtime: 117 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%

It takes adults a few scenes to realize that "Spy Kids" is not made for them. Once your expectations drop, however, the film becomes surreal and subversive fun. In it, two former spies who team up for one final job, but disappear, forcing their kids to step into their roles and save the day. It's all very Nickelodeon, including the special effects. However, "Spy Kids" delivers on its promise as a spy movie for kids with cool gadgets, exotic locales, big plot twists, and family-friendly action sequences. Director Robert Rodriguez is clearly having fun and the excellent actors are 100% onboard, no matter how weird it gets.

And "Spy Kids" is brazenly weird. Some characters are all thumbs (literally) while others appear to be melted. There are a few nonsensical moments that make it hard for adults to suspend their disbelief — why does every bystander refuse to acknowledge the craziness around them? But then you breathe, relax your shoulders, and remember that sometimes nonsense is okay — or, in this case, actively encouraged. Rodriguez manages to make the film both as exciting as a spy thriller and as light and imaginative as an after school cartoon.

• Starring: Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara, Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino
• Director: Robert Rodriguez
• Year: 2001
• Runtime: 88 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

Director Makoto Shinkai is a cinematic force. He makes stunning anime films that are grounded by realistic people and their relationships. "Suzume" follows a teenage girl who helps a mysterious man close off portals around Japan to prevent an apocalypse. It's Shinkai's third disaster film, and the most accessible one to young audiences. "Suzume" feels like a nod to Disney with a talking cat, an inanimate object that speaks, a missing slipper, dead parents, and an awakening kiss, but it's nothing like modern Disney features.

For one, the animation doesn't take a break, ever. Between the action, we're treated to incredible glimpses of nature, cities, and people living their lives. Shinkai's films use a measured combination of hand-drawn and computer-generated animation, and it can be hard to tell which is which. "Suzume" has some heavy moments and intense action, but the movie never becomes unbearable. It's filled with magic, technology, and surprisingly mundane situations, like other people reacting on social media to that talking cat. There's nothing else like Shinkai's film out there — except, of course, Shinkai's other movies. See "Suzume" on the big screen if you get the chance.

• Starring: Nichole Sakura, Josh Keaton, Jennifer Sun Bell (English dub)
• Director: Makoto Shinkai
• Year: 2023
• Runtime: 122 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

"Toy Story" stars a bunch of toys and is mostly set in a bedroom, yet Pixar somehow made it an epic adventure that will make you cheer, laugh, and cry — often during the same scene. Tom Hanks leads a brilliant cast whose enthusiastic vocal performances give the characters a depth of personality that doesn't always come across in animation. Their motivations are all similar — they want what's best for their child, Andy — but their bravery, humility, shame, and empathy are uniquely their own.

This harmonic blend of story, conflict, and nostalgia endures through the entire series, creating a particularly potent blend for older viewers who want to revisit their childhoods. "Toy Story" has a timeless feel because its themes — growing up and growing old — are universal. The story is sophisticated, but never confusing. Each of the four "Toy Stories" movies could be considered the best in the series. You've likely seen them all before, but adults will appreciate how rewatchable they are; expect the kids to put this one on repeat.

• Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts
• Directors: John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich, Josh Cooley
• Year: 1995
• Runtime: 80 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%

"What About Bob?" is Looney Tunes for adults who think they don't like cartoons. It's a slapstick comedy packed with one-liners, and features a protagonist who, in the act of trying to live his life, gently applies pressure to another character, making him snap. Their last names are even Wiley (as in "Coyote") and Marvin (as in "The Martian"). In "What About Bob?," the likable but fear-ridden Bob Wiley (Bill Murray) faces his fears in an attempt to visit his vacationing shrink, Dr. Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss), and upends both of their lives.

Murray is in his top form as a comedian here. Instead of snarky, Murray's usual mode, Bob is genuine and endearing. The other characters rally around his relentless positivity — except for Dr. Marvin. Dreyfuss is fantastic as the egotistical ticking time bomb. The small-town summer setting is nostalgically pleasing for anyone who loves vacation movies, and each scene with Bob is filled with quotables lines that aren't really funny until Murray delivers them (and Dreyfuss is tormented by them). Their incongruent chemistry makes "What About Bob?" a dark family classic.

• Starring: Bill Murray, Richard Dreyfuss, Julie Hagerty
• Director: Frank Oz
• Year: 1991
• Runtime: 100 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%

Not many 50-year-old films feel fresher than their nearly-20-year-old remakes. "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" is the exception. It's charming, cheeky, and thoughtful. Broadway fans will be hooked by the musical numbers, "Simpsons" fans will love the cultural fervor around the hunt for the golden ticket, and every adult will recognize the wistful yet cheeky tone of Willy Wonka's one-liners. He's burned out, but still has a flickering flame of his old playfulness that he uses to entertain his guests.

With his deadpan delivery and that twinkle in his eye, Gene Wilder is brilliant as Willy Wonka. Once "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" reaches the candy factory, the pace picks up like the film is in a sugar-fueled fervor and doesn't stop. Each set piece is creative, colorful, psychedelic, wacky, and — usually — spectacularly dangerous, with every annoying character getting picked off (but not killed) like the victims in an Agatha Christie novel. The story builds until Wonka explains his motivation for the tour, but the ending doesn't really matter. "Willy Wonka" is all about the journey, which — sorry to say, Mr. Wonka — is more fun than pure imagination.

• Starring: Gene Wilder, Peter Ostrum, Jack Albertson
• Director: Mel Stuart
• Year: 1971
• Runtime: 98 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%

Some movies are timeless for a reason. "The Wizard of Oz" endures because its fantasy story is relatable and its visuals are still stunning eight decades later. Dorothy's trek through Oz is a Technicolor wonder. The cameras used to film it required high levels of light to capture the incredible array of colors used on each set, making the characters and costumes pop on screen. Think about how the ruby slippers and the Wicked Witch's face stand out. The shadows in each shot create a depth that makes you feel just as lost as Dorothy.

When the Wicked Witch shows up, she's appropriately terrifying. Margaret Hamilton's screeching dialogue and jolting movements will send shivers up your spine. The special effects form another part of the movie's magic. The Wicked Witch's crystal ball, the Wizard of Oz's floating head, and the flying monkeys are impressive for 1939 and still pack a punch today. The best part about watching "The Wizard of Oz" with multiple generations of viewers, however, is that everyone remembers seeing the movie as a child. Not many films offer shared experiences like that.

• Starring: Judy Garland, Margaret Hamilton, Frank Morgan
• Director: Victor Fleming
• Year: 1939
• Runtime: 101 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%

There are few big cities in film like the titular metropolis of "Zootopia," where distinct cultures and their respective environments are connected by the hope of interspecies unity (and tunnels). Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) fulfills her dream and becomes a police officer in Zootopia, but discovers it's not the blissful paradise she thought it would be. Judy also learns that, at first, she's not the open-minded bunny she thought she was, but must evolve to become her ideal big-city self.

"Zootopia" tackles prejudice and racism with kid gloves. The magic of this movie is not the message, though — the magic lies in how it teaches its lesson. Judy and the sly fox Nick (Jason Bateman) have ongoing conversations about their struggles integrating with other species, but those discussions are peppered with jokes, reveal character growth, or unlock another clue in the film's neo-noir-esque mystery. It all unfolds against a cleverly designed backdrop that's full of interesting characters who have more than one side, be they the yoga-teaching yak, the sloth who works at the DMV, and the Arctic shrew who happens to be a mob boss. "Zootopia" is a fun movie that teaches young ones that there's always more to someone than what you see on the surface.

• Starring: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba
• Director: Byron Howard and Rich Moore
• Year: 2016
• Runtime: 108 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%