The Best Family Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now (February 2021)

Sonic the Hedgehog (2020): The Best Film Based on a Sega Property Since House of the Dead

Video game-based films have a reputation for being bad, but Sonic the Hedgehog breaks from tradition by being a fun, family-friendly film about friendship. Superspeedy alien Sonic is hiding out on Earth when he befriends a local sheriff named Tom (James Marsden). Together, they battle the evil Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey), who dreams of world conquest. Yes, it's goofy, but it's a charming enough way to spend 90 minutes with the kids.

Playing with Fire (2019): Best Schmaltzy Slapstick Featuring a Former Wrestler

Former wrestler John Cena has made a number of family films since leaving his previous career behind. In Playing with Fire, he plays one of three wildland firefighters called "smokejumpers" who have to look after three kids rescued from a burning cabin. Straight-laced and serious about his job, Cena finds he's no match for the rambunctious children. Filled with plenty of slapstick and schmaltz, stay after the credits for some fun bloopers.

Antz (1998): Featuring One Heck of a Voice Cast

This early Dreamworks film appears a bit dated by today's standards, but it features an A-list voice cast. Woody Allen, Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Sylvester Stallone, and a lot more play various members of an ant colony.

Z (Allen) is a non-conformist who chases a beautiful princess (Stone) and becomes a hero in the process. Considered a technical achievement at the time of its release, it's also surprisingly violent for a kids movie and may not be suitable for the youngest audiences.

Shanghai Noon (2000): An Old-Fashioned Comedy Western for Teens

Action star Jackie Chan's follow-up to his 1998 box office hit Rush Hour is this likeable, old-fashioned Western comedy, where he plays an Imperial Guard who travels to the Wild West to rescue a kidnapped princess (Lucy Liu). Owen Wilson plays a train robber who helps him on his quest. The film features plenty of stupid humour, charm, and action set pieces, but might not be suitable for younger viewers.

Belle and Sebastian (2013): Best Boy and His Dog Foil Nazis Film

Belle and Sebastian is a charming family film based on an equally delightful children's book about a 6-year-old boy and a stray dog who help defend their French Alps home from Nazis during World War II. While some of the film's themes might be a bit too much for younger viewers, this old-fashioned adventure is a pleasant diversion.

Troop Zero (2019): Best Underdog Scout Revenge Story

This Amazon Original movie tells the story of Christmas Flint (Mckenna Grace), a young girl growing up in rural 1970s Georgia. Shut out of the local Birdie Scout group, she rallies a group of fellow misfits to create their own troop and compete for the chance to have their voices transmitted into space by NASA.

Though it deals with some heavy themes and emotions, Troop Zero is a fun comedy with an uplifting message that the whole family can enjoy.

Charlotte's Web (1973): Best Talking Spider You'll Love Story

Classic children's book Charlotte's Web has multiple adaptations, but this version is the 1973 Hanna Barbara/Sagittarius Productions animated film. The story follows a pig named Wilbur (Henry Gibson) who is first raised by Fern (Pamelyn Ferdin) as a pet, and then sent to a farm when he gets too big. There he meets a spider named Charlotte (Debbie Reynolds), who tries to save him from the eventual fate of all barnyard swine by spinning short messages like Some Pig into her webs.

This one is a real tear jerker, but we won't say exactly why just in case anyone has actually managed to avoid spoilers on this over the years.

Maya the Bee (2015): A Sweet Film with Positive Messages

Maya the Bee is a sweet (get it?) film about bee-ing yourself (OK, I'll stop now). Maya is a curious and trusting girl who, despite her hive's warnings, befriends a musically-inclined grasshopper, a dung beetle, and some hornets. But when those same hornets are accused of stealing the hive's Royal Jelly, Maya needs to clear their names, as well as her own. The film is filled with positive messages but may be too saccharine for parents to enjoy.

Wonder Park (2019): A Lovely Animated Film About Imagination

This enjoyable film features a bevy of well-known actors and actresses like Jennifer Garner, Matthew Broderick, and John Oliver. It's about a young girl who finds out that the amusement park of her dreams is real and run by talking animals. But when the park is threatened by a villainous presence called the Darkness, the girl and her new friends embark on an energetic adventure to save it. While many critics criticized the movie's plot, it's not a bad way to spend a lazy afternoon with the kids.