The 30 best family comedy movies ready to stream right now
From animated delights to live-action thrills, these films are a fun watch no matter your age.
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Looking for an activity that helps bring the entire family together? For our money, nothing does the job better than a good film. Comedies are a reliable option, but it’s often hard to find something genuinely funny that all ages can enjoy.
If that dilemma sounds familiar, don’t worry, we’re here to help you pick the perfect feature. Here is Entertainment Weekly’s list of the 30 best family comedy movies — and where you can watch them.
13 Going on 30 (2004)
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13 Going on 30 is basically a spiritual successor to Big: In this case, we follow an unpopular middle school girl named Jenna who is transformed into an older version of herself (Jennifer Garner) with the help of magic dust rather than a magic Zoltar machine. While her newfound adulthood isn’t perfect, it does give her a chance to connect with her former neighbor turned crush (Mark Ruffalo). Though the premise seems simple, EW’s critic praised the big ideas under the film’s whimsical surface, writing, “It’s saying that the postfeminist princess culture has become a trap for every age group, ensnaring girls and women alike in a perpetual chain of arrested Babe Values.”
Where to watch 13 Going on 30: Netflix
EW grade: N/A (read the review)
Director: Gary Winick
Cast: Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer, Andy Serkis
Related content: Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo reenact 13 Going on 30 scene at his Walk of Fame ceremony
The Addams Family (1991)
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The Addams Family is wildly entertaining whether you’re a fan of the classic show or not. That’s because the kooky performances help bring every wild scene and gothic set piece to life, as an oddly macabre clan (helmed by Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston) spars with a con man who resembles their lost relative. Christopher Lloyd is stellar in dual roles, but the most notorious Addams is a certain sullen, world-weary daughter in a star-making performance. Or, better put by EW’s critic, “Best of all is the scene-stealing Christina Ricci, who plays Wednesday with the adorable, saucer-eyed disengagement of a demon child from Neptune.”
Where to watch The Addams Family: Paramount+
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Cast: Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci, Dan Hedaya
Related content: The Addams Family adaptations, ranked
Babe (1995)
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Babe isn’t just a great children’s movie for families — it’s perfect for animal lovers, too. When a sweet farmer (James Cromwell) wins the titular pig (voiced by Christine Cavanaugh) at the fair, the runt escapes his fate as a Sunday ham and instead learns how to herd sheep. Along the way, he navigates the surprisingly complex world of farm politics with the other livestock. EW’s critic praised the entire cast — pigs, farmers, and all — in her review, writing, “[Cromwell and Magda Szubanski] maintain perfect pitch as a variation on Jack and Mrs. Sprat, but the real stars are the animals — including dogs, horses, cows, sheep, ducks, and mice as well as the fabulous Babe.”
Where to watch Babe: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)
EW grade: A (read the review)
Director: Chris Noonan
Cast: James Cromwell, Christine Cavanaugh, Magda Szubanski, Hugo Weaving
Related content: James Cromwell rescues baby pig, names it Babe
Big (1988)
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Big is the ultimate “be careful what you wish for” story. When 12-year-old Josh is too short to hop on a carnival ride and woo his crush, he yearns (with prompting by a fortune-telling machine) to be “big.” The boy wakes up the next morning as a grown-up Tom Hanks, whose joy at unexpectedly getting what he wanted is subdued by his new responsibilities and inability to hang with his not-so-big best friend. Alongside a veteran cast in supporting roles — Elizabeth Perkins as the love interest, John Heard as the jerk co-worker, Robert Loggia as the toy company boss who’s inspired by his mysterious new employee’s childlike charms — Hanks transformed his career here, proving his dramatic chops and earning his first Oscar nomination.
Director: Penny Marshall
Cast: Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins, Robert Loggia, John Heard, Mercedes Ruehl
Related content: Big was 'more of a horror movie' with original star Robert De Niro, says Elizabeth Perkins
Despicable Me (2010)
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Despicable Me asks us to root not just for the bad guy, but a proud supervillain, Gru (voiced by Steve Carell), whose army of loyal Minions enthusiastically help their master pull off his devious plans. To one-up his new villainous (if not pathetic) rival (voiced by Jason Segel), Gru adopts three young girls as part of an elaborate scheme, but they melt his heart quicker than a ray gun. EW’s critic pointed out that the film’s artistic pedigree is a globetrotting success much like the very spy movies it evokes, writing, “Despicable Me…is an American story, from a Spanish animator’s idea, fleshed out by a French animation house; no wonder a certain Euro je ne sais quoi influences the aesthetic of this charming tale of bad intentions and happy endings.”
Where to watch Despicable Me: Peacock
EW grade: A- (read the review)
Director: Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin
Cast: Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Kristen Wiig
Related content: Despicable Me, delightful movie: Animated kids' stuff is where filmmakers go to have fun
Encanto (2021)
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Like a superhero movie set in a small town, Encanto is the story of a Colombian family whose children are endowed with magical abilities. Well, all except Mirabel (voiced by Stephanie Beatriz), who seemingly has no special power but must save her kin anyway. The uplifting message is perfect for a family movie night, with EW’s critic calling it “a smiling tale about familial reconciliation and learning to see your relatives for who they are rather than who you wish they were...” That said, it’s Lin-Manuel Miranda’s songs — especially “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” — that turned Encanto into a genuine cultural sensation.
Where to watch Encanto: Disney+
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: Jared Bush, Byron Howard
Cast: Stephanie Beatriz, María Cecilia Botero, John Leguizamo, Mauro Castillo, Jessica Darrow
Related content: Encanto's 'We Don't Talk About Bruno' ties 'A Whole New World' as highest-charting Disney animation song of all time
Finding Nemo (2003)
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Finding Nemo is as much about family as it is about fish, following a neurotic clownfish father Marlin (Albert Brooks), and his young son Nemo (Alexander Gould). When Nemo’s curiosity gets the best of him and he’s captured by a diver, his dear old dad is powerless to save him. So, Marlin teams up with a forgetful new friend (Ellen DeGeneres) to bring his son home. Pixar populates this ocean with entertaining characters and unforgettable dangers, but the thrills won’t scare young viewers about taking a dip, even with the presence of a ravenous shark. The resulting film, according to EW’s critic, “sustains its own comic universe of intelligent life, a thronging biosphere of amusement simultaneously scaled for children and pitched for knowing adults.”
Where to watch Finding Nemo: Disney+
EW grade: N/A (read the review)
Director: Andrew Stanton
Cast: Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe, Geoffrey Rush
Related content: Finding Nemo: Photographer snaps shark that looks like Bruce
Freaky Friday (1976)
Still better than the 2003 remake, the original Freaky Friday should be mandatory watching for all teenagers and their parents. The story focuses on a bickering mother and daughter duo (Barbara Harris and Jodie Foster) who switch places with one another for a single day. The results are predictably hilarious, with each one learning that walking a mile in the other’s shoes isn’t nearly as easy as they had imagined. Throw in performances from other old-school legends like John Astin and Dick Van Patten, and you’ve got a classic coming-of-age film that can bring parents and children a little closer.
Where to watch Freaky Friday: Disney+
Director: Gary Nelson
Cast: Jodie Foster, Barbara Harris, John Astin, Patsy Kelly, Dick Van Patten
Related content: Which Freaky Friday is better?
The Goonies (1985)
Directed by Richard Donner with a story from Steven Spielberg, The Goonies has quite the pedigree. It’s the tale of adventurous children (including Corey Feldman, Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, and future Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan) who embark on a treasure hunt to find improbable riches that could save their homes from foreclosure, thereby keeping their tight-knit group together. The Goonies has stood the test of time as a heartwarming coming-of-age film carried by colorful characters — especially the villainous Mama Fratelli (Anne Ramsey).
Where to watch The Goonies: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)
Director: Richard Donner
Cast: Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen, Corey Feldman, Kerri Green, Anne Ramsey, Joe Pantoliano
Related content: The Goonies cast: Where are they now?
Home Alone (1990)
Home Alone is a kid’s fantasy brought to life: 8-year-old Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) is accidentally left behind during his family’s overseas Christmas vacation and gets to be the man of the house for a change. When two bumbling thieves (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) attempt to rob his home, Kevin begins an elaborately violent, slapstick battle of wits via booby traps involving a tarantula, paint buckets, and flamethrowers. According to EW’s critic, “The real reason behind Home Alone‘s gargantuan success, of course, is the unforced, marble-mouthed performance of Macaulay Culkin, a kid whose naturalism is the obverse of every tiny prime-time wiseass from Dennis the Menace to Steve Urkel.”
Where to watch Home Alone: Disney+
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: Chris Columbus
Cast: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, Catherine O'Hara, John Heard, Roberts Blossom, John Candy
Related content: Macaulay Culkin has tearful reunion with Home Alone mom Catherine O'Hara at Walk of Fame ceremony
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids mashes together a schlocky sci-fi premise reminiscent of the ’50s with the comedic sensibilities of the ’80s. Rick Moranis plays a genius inventor whose miniaturization device accidentally shrinks his children to a quarter of an inch. More accurately, the kids actually shrink themselves while messing around in Dad’s makeshift lab, but hey, he shouldn’t have left that dangerous technology within their reach. Ignorant of their fate and upset about his professional failures, he destroys his invention, leaving them to navigate a world where even ants are major threats. Matt Frewer and Kristine Sutherland provide great supporting performances, but the biggest stars are the memorable practical effects, most of which have held up remarkably well.
Where to watch Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: Disney+
Director: Joe Johnston
Cast: Rick Moranis, Matt Frewer, Marcia Strassman, Kristine Sutherland
Related content: Rick Moranis makes rare return to talk Honey, I Shrunk the Kids on Disney+'s Prop Culture
The Incredibles (2004)
In a world where most superhero films have become CGI slurry, The Incredibles remains an original genre take that gives us beautiful family dynamics instead of post-credits teasing. The titular family is in the middle of an identity crisis; the government doesn’t want “supers” around anymore, so they’re stuck in the suburbs and masquerade as (shudder) normies. But their past eventually comes back to haunt them in the form of Syndrome, whom Mr. Incredible ran afoul of years earlier. Vengeance has been brewing ever since — along with plans for world domination, naturally. The result confidently distills the Silver Age of comics into a new Golden Age of animation.
Where to watch The Incredibles: Disney+
Director: Brad Bird
Cast: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Spencer Fox, Jason Lee, Samuel L. Jackson
Related content: The 15 best Pixar movies, ranked
Inside Out (2015)
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The real brilliance of Inside Out is that it personifies the stresses of adolescent life. When young Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) moves from Minnesota to San Francisco, her many feelings go haywire. Those emotions get voices of their own: Amy Poehler is Joy, the head of Riley’s emotional circuit board; Disgust is a diva courtesy of Mindy Kaling; Sadness is embodied by Phyllis Smith; Fear by Bill Hader; and Anger by famously irate comedian Lewis Black. It’s a bold approach to portraying big ideas and even bigger feelings. As EW’s critic observed in his review, director Pete Docter and his creative team “take this daring, conceptually abstract premise and tweak it into a battle royal for control over the tween’s evolving personality.”
Where to watch Inside Out: Disney+
EW grade: A (read the review)
Director: Pete Docter
Cast: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Richard Kind, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling
Related content: Inside Out: Bing Bong scene was supposed to be even sadder
Jumanji (1995)
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While the recent Dwayne Johnson-led sequels have their own charms, the original Jumanji is a more authentically archetypal adventure that plays like a kid’s fever dream. When two youngsters (Kirsten Dunst and Bradley Pierce) begin playing the eponymous board game, they open up a fantasy realm where new dangers are just a dice roll away. Of course, the film's main draw is Robin Williams as the long-bearded Alan Parrish, a player who's been stuck in the board game world for over two decades. In addition to being a great family comedy movie, Jumanji is also a real nail-biter.
Director: Joe Johnston
Cast: Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, David Alan Grier, Bonnie Hunt, Jonathan Hyde, Bradley Pierce
Related content: Jumanji cast: Where are they now?
Kung Fu Panda (2008)
This animated family movie sees Jack Black voice a lazy panda, Po, who must master martial arts by training under a strict, eccentric master (Dustin Hoffman). That simple premise kicks off a slapstick action-comedy buoyed by great voice performances by true-blue action stars like Angelina Jolie and Jackie Chan. Kung Fu Panda is as inspiring in conception as it is unique in execution, with EW’s critic writing, “Just about all animated movies teach you to Believe in Yourself… but the image of a face-stuffing panda-turned-yowling Bruce Lee dervish is as unlikely, and touching, an advertisement for that message as we've seen in quite some time.”
Where to watch Kung Fu Panda: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)
EW grade: A- (read the review)
Director: John Stevenson, Mark Osborne
Cast: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Ian McShane, Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen, Jackie Chan
Related content: Would Hollywood make Kung Fu Panda today?
Labyrinth (1986)
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Labyrinth is proof that, in the right director’s hands, classic fantasy storytelling translates perfectly to modern viewing. Jim Henson is one such director, and his tale of a young girl (Jennifer Connelly) who must rescue her infant brother before she can become the bride of the Goblin King (David Bowie) is as weirdly fascinating now as it was decades ago. The premise has all the simplicity of a Dungeons & Dragons starter adventure, but that’s okay. Its straightforward narrative helps us appreciate how the film sings, literally, thanks to the mesmerizing and ear-wormy songs performed by the late, great Bowie.
Where to watch Labyrinth: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)
Director: Jim Henson
Cast: David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly, Toby Froud
Related content: Labyrinth react: A little Bowie could do the CW miniseries some good
The Lego Movie (2014)
Just months before he took the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise by storm, Chris Pratt voiced a hapless Lego figure who is mistaken for someone “special” enough to keep an evil tyrant (Will Ferrell) from destroying the world. With Hollywood giving us one lukewarm multiverse after another, The Lego Movie’s fierce playfulness and originality remind us of what we’ve been missing. (How many other films offer up two Liam Neeson cops — one good and one bad, respectively — for the price of one?) As EW’s critic noted, the movie “invents a kind of child-friendly meta universe in which the playthings on display are at once objects and characters. The transparently fake LEGO constructions embody the pure spirit of make-believe.”
Where to watch The Lego Movie: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)
EW grade: A (read the review)
Director: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
Cast: Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Nick Offerman, Morgan Freeman
Related content: Pharrell Williams' life story to be told 1 brick at a time in new Lego biopic
Matilda (1996)
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To younger audiences, Matilda will read as the offspring of Harry Potter and the MCU. Our titular character (Mara Wilson) endures awful parents (Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman, both adorably hammy) and a cartoonishly abusive principal, though she never loses her sense of wonder. Matilda’s hard-knock life lightens considerably, however, once she develops telekinesis. Thanks in large part to DeVito’s unforgettable direction, Matilda remains the best-ever Roald Dahl adaptation. EW’s critic pinpointed the enduring appeal of this story of childhood vengeance, calling it “an ideal rental for the legions of kids looking for a film in which they triumph at last.”
Where to watch Matilda: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: Danny DeVito
Cast: Mara Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Embeth Davidtz, Pam Ferris
Related content: Danny DeVito and Mara Wilson intend to reunite for Matilda in Concert after SAG-AFTRA strike ends
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
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Monsters, Inc. taps into the woefully unexplored idea that children may embrace cinematic monsters rather than cower from them. Accordingly, the antics of two “top scarers” (John Goodman and Billy Crystal) fall flat when they try to frighten a young girl, but their improbable relationship with her could completely revolutionize how the monsters interact with humanity. The ensuing film combines soul with CGI, fortifying the lofty reputation Pixar had already built by 2001, just six years into its theatrical run. In her review, EW’s critic praised the movie for striking the right balance across generations, writing, “Indeed, Monsters, Inc. has got that swing, that zippity, multilevel awareness of kids’-eye sensibilities and adult-pitched humor.”
Where to watch Monsters, Inc.: Disney+
EW grade: N/A (read the review)
Director: Pete Docter
Cast: John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Steve Buscemi, James Coburn, Jennifer Tilly
Related content: Monsters, Inc: Pete Docter dives deep into movie's legacy and creation, 15 years later
The Muppets (2011)
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Co-writer and star Jason Segel infuses The Muppets with all the intense devotion of a true superfan. The story here is very slight: With the help of his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams), Segel’s Gary and his Muppet friend Walter must foil a plot by an oil-hungry baddie (played by Chris Cooper, with a full-fledged maniacal laugh) to destroy the Muppet Studio for more of that liquid gold. Though there have been countless Muppet films (and TV shows), this quality 2011 comedy revitalized the brand for a new era without sacrificing any of its classic charms. As EW’s critic explained, “For adults, the movie’s gentle, clever, unironic humor feels freshly, trendily retro now, enhanced by laughs provided in cameos from a very up-to-date roster of stars.”
Where to watch The Muppets: Disney+
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: James Bobin
Cast: Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Rashida Jones
Related content: The Muppets: The gang's all here!
Paddington (2014)
Paddington proves that movies can tell simple, old-fashioned stories as long as they bring their own charm, their own sense of style, and, of course, their own marmalade recipe. (That the film has such a huge heart doesn’t hurt, either.) In this case, it’s a traditional “fish out of water” tale, but with a bear. When Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw) leaves the only home he’s ever known — the jungles of Peru — to move to London, he’s soon adopted by a kind human family (including Hugh Bonneville and Sally Hawkins). But while he’s discovering all the delights of the big city, he’s pursued by an evil taxidermist (Nicole Kidman). Director Paul King’s movie is so impressive that EW’s critic called it “a gloriously whimsical big-screen debut that’s closer to the madcap spirit of the Muppets and the lovingly rendered style of a Wes Anderson film than to standard multiplex family fodder.”
Where to watch Paddington: Netflix
EW grade: A- (read the review)
Director: Paul King
Cast: Ben Whishaw, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent
Related content: Hugh Grant says Paddington 2 might be "the best film I've ever been in"
The Parent Trap (1998)
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Call it a tale of two Lohans. In this modern remake of The Parent Trap, Lindsay Lohan plays twins who live on opposite sides of the country and switch places as a gambit to reunite their divorced parents (Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson). In her feature film debut, Lohan perfectly fills the shoes (all four of them) of original star Hayley Mills, delivering two memorable performances as separated sisters-turned-best friends. The spectacular final result was cause for celebration from EW’s critic, who wrote, “It’s no small feat that this kind hearted remake is as graceful as it is, an homage as well as an update for an era of even more split families, and more fervent children’s wishes for the magical ability to make things whole.”
Where to watch The Parent Trap: Disney+
EW grade: N/A (read the review)
Director: Nancy Meyers
Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Dennis Quaid, Natasha Richardson
Related content: Hayley Mills calls Parent Trap costar Maureen O'Hara a 'force of nature' on film's 60th anniversary
Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985)
As Tim Burton’s directorial debut, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure holds up well in our irony-laced culture because of how authentically surreal it is. Paul Reubens is so fully realized as the title character that he seems less an actor and more a visitor from another world (or another playhouse). Burton’s assured direction and distinctly peculiar visual sensibilities perfectly embody the madcap style of Pee-Wee’s picaresque tale. But the over-the-top characters and hilariously haunting moments (Large Marge, anyone?) never threaten the integrity of the narrative or the comedy. This film is Burton’s red bicycle, and he’s been riding it to Hollywood success ever since.
Where to watch Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure: Tubi
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Paul Reubens, E.G. Daily, Mark Holton, Diane Salinger
Related content: Pee-wee's Big Adventure star E.G. Daily honors late Paul Reubens: 'The Pee-wee to my Dottie'
The Princess Bride (1987)
The Princess Bride sounds straightforward: a boy (Cary Elwes) meets a princess (Robin Wright) and sparks fly, but their love falters when she’s kidnapped by an evil monarch (Chris Sarandon). However, that simple description omits the colorful characters, bizarre adventures, and brilliant dialogue that have helped this film stand the test of time. A classic sword fight, a pit of despair, a six-fingered man, a lifelong revenge plot, and several rodents of unusual size… no matter how many movies children watch with their parents, none of them quite fit that description. Ultimately, every performance, from André the Giant to Mandy Patinkin, is pitch-perfect, and this film is a crown jewel of Rob Reiner’s royal reign in Hollywood.
Where to watch The Princess Bride: Disney+
Director: Rob Reiner
Cast: Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, André the Giant
Related content: Best moments from Princess Bride reunion: Mandy Patinkin and more swap André the Giant stories
The Sandlot (1993)
The Sandlot’s picture of adolescence teeters between awkward and awesome. The film follows a group of baseball-loving suburban kids who, during the summer of 1962, navigate the treacherous world of playground insults and a fearsome, ball-gobbling dog dubbed “the Beast.” EW’s critic put the film’s nostalgic appeal succinctly in his review, writing, “As the gang learns to work as a team off the field, the movie never loses its quick pace or its sense of fun. Old baseball wisdom: The best teams win with strong fundamentals. So do the best movies.”
Where to watch The Sandlot: Disney+
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: David Mickey Evans
Cast: Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Patrick Renna, Chauncey Leopardi, Marley Shelton, Karen Allen
Related content: The Sandlot cast: Where are they now?
School of Rock (2003)
School of Rock resonates across generations because everyone wishes they had a teacher as cool as Jack Black’s substitute imposter turned rock-n-roll guardian angel. He poses as an educator for a talented group of students, but his energetic passion for music and his affection for the kids are completely genuine. And let’s be honest, when you’re at an uptight prep school, the only true antidote is the infectious energy of a Jack Black type. As EW’s critic noted in his review, “When they finally get up to play at the Battle of the Bands, it’s an ecstatic scene, yet you may also wipe away a tear as you realize that Dewey has become a great teacher after all, and that Jack Black, raising his goblet of rock, now rules.”
Where to watch School of Rock: PlutoTV
EW grade: N/A (read the review)
Director: Richard Linklater
Cast: Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Miranda Cosgrove, Mike White, Sarah Silverman
Related content: School of Rock cast: Where are they now?
Shrek (2001)
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Don’t monsters and outcasts deserve a happily ever after, too? That’s the question at the heart of Shrek, the insanely quotable animated classic about an ogre (Mike Myers) who agrees to rescue a beautiful princess (Cameron Diaz) for an awful lord to restore peace in his own swamp. But the damsel isn’t in distress, the monster isn’t so bad, and some raunchy jokes may go over kids’ heads (but will likely delight parents). In short, EW’s critic insists Shrek succeeds “because it’s such a feisty but good-natured embrace of the inner ogre in everyone, and such an irreverent smackdown of the Establishment in all its ‘heigh-ho’ tyranny.”
EW grade: A (read the review)
Director: Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson
Cast: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, John Lithgow
Related content: Shrek stars look back on the fractured fairy-tale franchise
Toy Story (1995)
Toy Story is literally a child’s fantasy come to life, imagining a world where toys have lives of their own and reanimate whenever the kids leave the room. However, the status quo enforced by cowboy doll Woody (Tom Hanks) is disrupted by the arrival of spaceman Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), who adamantly believes he’s an actual intergalactic ranger rather than a plaything. The ensuing power struggle between Woody and Buzz threatens to put their owner’s childish things away forever in Pixar’s debut feature. This story’s keen sense of childhood wonder was not lost on EW’s critic, who wrote, “The beauty of Toy Story is the way it expresses the essence of child’s play — that pretending is the art of dreaming when you’re wide awake.”
Where to watch Toy Story: Disney+
EW grade: N/A (read the review)
Director: John Lasseter
Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, John Ratzenberger
Related content: Tim Allen shares idea for Toy Story 5, says Disney has reached out to him and Tom Hanks about sequel
Wreck-It-Ralph (2012)
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Like Toy Story for gamers, Wreck-It-Ralph imagines that game characters live in a secret digital world whenever the arcade closes. Ralph (John C. Reilly) wants to stop being the villain who always loses to the cheerful Fix-It-Felix (Jack McBrayer), leading him on a quest to finally become a hero. Of course, as Ralph discovers, every hero needs a good sidekick, and Ralph’s is the perpetually glitchy Vanellope (Sarah Silverman) from a racing game. The resulting animated feature charmed EW’s critic, who wrote, “There are more video game cameos and winks than you can shake a Wiimote at… but the real success of the film is its emotional core and the relationship between the two misfits.”
Where to watch Wreck-It-Ralph: Disney+
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: Rich Moore
Cast: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch
Related content: Wreck-It Ralph: The Grand Theft Auto-style game that was cut
Zootopia (2016)
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Move over, buddy cop films… Zootopia has pioneered the “buddy fox” genre. We follow an eager bunny (Ginnifer Goodwin) who has just joined the police force and her reluctant new partner, a sly con artist of a fox (Jason Bateman). Together, they work on a case whose outcome may deeply affect their world’s social order, in which predators and prey work alongside each other. As EW’s critic noted in his review, the film brings in “deep socio-political metaphors… plenty of food for thought regarding prejudice and tolerance,” and “zany slapstick, zippy one-liners.”
Where to watch Zootopia: Disney+
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: Byron Howard, Rich Moore
Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Jenny Slate
Related content: Zootopia: 7 easter eggs you might have missed
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.
