From animated delights to liveaction thrills, these films are a fun watch no matter your age. 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.

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.

By Chris Snellgrove

and Ilana Gordon

Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

EW's editorial guidelines

on August 15, 2025 07:14AM EDT

Moana (voice: Auli'i Cravalho) in 'Moana'; Paddington (voice: Ben Whishaw) in 'Paddington'; Mirabel (voice: Stephanie Beatriz), Agustín (voice: Wilmer Valderamma), and Julieta (voice: Angie Cepeda) in 'Encanto'. Credit:

Disney; StudioCanal; Disney

Nothing brings a family together faster than laughter — except maybe pizza. We can't help you with the pizza, but if you're in search of a good movie to elevate family time, look no further than this list of the 30 best family comedies compiled below.

From animated classics to live-action favorites, these films are sure to provoke some laughter and at least 90 minutes of blissful, argument-free fun. Keep scrolling to see if any of your favorites made our list of must-stream movies.

Bend It Like Beckham (2002)

Parminder Nagra as Jess (center left) and Keira Knightley as Jules (center right) in 'Bend It Like Beckham'. Christine Parry/Fox Searchlight

This coming-of-age soccer movie (or, rather, football in England, where it's set) catapulted Keira Knightley to movie star status, but it's *Bend It Like Beckham*'s cultural perspective and commentary that truly make it special. The story follows Jess Bhamra (Parminder Nagra), a teen girl obsessed with soccer (and with David Beckham, who gave the film permission to use his name because he wanted to promote girls' soccer). Feeling suffocated by her strict Indian parents and their hope that she'll someday become a homemaker and devoted wife, Jess secretly joins a soccer team and must juggle responsibilities for both her family and her coach (Jonathan Rhys Meyers).

The film resonates with anyone who knows the acute angst of pretending around loved ones to be someone they're not. The result is director Gurinder Chadha's supremely watchable sports film about gender, culture, sexuality, diversity, and love — and it's a touching one to boot. *—Ilana Gordon***

Where to watch *Bend It Like Beckham*: Disney+**

**EW grade:** A (read the review)**

**Director: **Gurinder Chadha**

**Cast:** Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Anupam Kher, Juliet Stevenson, Shaznay Lewis, Archie Panjabi**

Big (1988)

Tom Hanks as Josh in 'Big'.

20th Century Fox Film Corp./Courtesy Everett

*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. *—Chris Snellgrove*

Where to watch *Big*: Disney+

**Director:** Penny Marshall

**Cast:** Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins, Robert Loggia, John Heard, Mercedes Ruehl

Despicable Me (2010)

Minions and Gru (voice: Steve Carell) in 'Despicable Me'.

Universal/Courtesy Everett

*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 leader 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. *—C.S.*

Where to watch *Despicable Me*: Peacock

**Directors:** Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin

**Cast:** Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Kristen Wiig

Encanto (2021)

Antonio (voice: Ravi Cabot-Conyers) and Toucan (voice: Alan Tudyk) in 'Encanto'. Disney

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. *—C.S.*

Where to watch *Encanto*: Disney+

**EW grade:** B (read the review)

**Directors:** Jared Bush, Byron Howard

**Cast:** Stephanie Beatriz, María Cecilia Botero, John Leguizamo, Mauro Castillo, Jessica Darrow

Finding Nemo (2003)

Marlin (voice: Albert Brooks) and Dory (voice: Ellen DeGeneres) in 'Finding Nemo'.

Walt Disney/Courtesy Everett

*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." *—C.S.*

Where to watch *Finding Nemo*: Disney+

**EW grade:** (Read the review)

**Director:** Andrew Stanton

**Cast:** Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe, Geoffrey Rush

Freaky Friday (1976)

Jodie Foster as Annabel and Barbara Harris as Mrs. Andrews in 'Freaky Friday'. Everett Collection

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. *—C.S.*

Where to watch *Freaky Friday*: Disney+

**Director:** Gary Nelson

**Cast:** Jodie Foster, Barbara Harris, John Astin, Patsy Kelly, Dick Van Patten

Home Alone (1990)

Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister and Joe Pesci as Harry in 'Home Alone'. Everett Collection

*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." *—C.S.*

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

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)

Chance (voice: Michael J. Fox), Shadow (voice: Don Ameche), and Sassy (voice: Sally Field) in 'Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey'.

There are plenty of movies chronicling the triumph of the human spirit, but what about triumphs of sheer animal will? *Homeward Bound* follows three pets temporarily left at a farm while their family moves to the city — but these pets will not be denied. Determined to find their way back to their humans, the wise Shadow, the sarcastic Sassy, and the impulsive Chance attempt to navigate their way home using only their wiles and each other.

While the film doesn't technically qualify as a nature documentary, the shots of the three pets crossing the Sierra Nevada make for some solid cinematography. And if the bickering and bantering between the animal leads doesn't win you over, the ending will take you down. (Heads-up: This is as much of a drama as it is a comedy…) *Homeward Bound *is a great movie to watch with kids and pets, as long as you don't mind them seeing you cry. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Homeward Bound*: *The Incredible Journey*: Disney+

**Director: **Duwayne Dunham

**Cast:** Michael J. Fox, Sally Field, Don Ameche

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)

Marcia Strassman as Diane Szalinski and Rick Moranis as Wayne Szalinski in 'Honey, I Shrunk the Kids'. Everett Collection

*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. *—C.S.*

Where to watch *Honey, I Shrunk the Kids*: Disney+

**Director:** Joe Johnston

**Cast: **Rick Moranis, Matt Frewer, Marcia Strassman, Kristine Sutherland

The Incredibles (2004)

Dash (voice: Spencer Fox), Violet (voice: Sarah Vowell), Mr. Incredible (voice: Craig T. Nelson), and Elastigirl (voice: Holly Hunter) in 'The Incredibles'.

Walt Disney/Courtesy Everett Collection

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. *—C.S.*

Where to watch *The Incredibles*: Disney+

**Director:** Brad Bird

**Cast:** Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Spencer Fox, Jason Lee, Samuel L. Jackson

The 26 best family films on Disney+ for movie night

The 24 best comedy movies on Max right now

Inside Out (2015)

(From left to right): Sadness (voice: Phyllis Smith), Anger (voice: Lewis Black), Fear (top, voice: Bill Hader), Disgust (voice: Mindy Kaling), and Joy (voice: Amy Poehler) in 'Inside Out'.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Courtesy Everett

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. *—C.S.*

Where to watch *Inside Out*: Disney+

**Director:** Pete Docter

**Cast:** Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Richard Kind, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling

Klaus (2019)

Jesper (voice: Jason Schwartzman) and Klaus (voice: J.K. Simmons) in 'Klaus'.

Netflix/Everett

*Klaus* is a Santa Claus origin story that's enjoyable any time of year. Starring Oscar winner J.K. Simmons as the film's eponymous hero, *Klaus *tells the tale of a widowed Norwegian lumberman who is recruited by the town's new postman, Jesper* *(Jason Schwartzman), to make toys for him to deliver in an effort to prove his father, the postmaster general, wrong. But when Klaus' toys begin to cheer up the children of Smeerensburg — a community whose inhabitants are perpetually engaged in a feud between two familial clans — Jesper and Klaus must step out of their comfort zones to help save the town from itself.

A Spanish/American animated film marking the debut of director Sergio Pablos (who also developed the concept for *Despicable Me*), *Klaus* offers a new perspective on the gift giving hero of the Christmas season. "It's not Santa Claus, it's Klaus," Simmons — who was once a mall Santa himself — tells EW. "He's certainly not the cuddly St. Nick that people see when they go to Macy's when we first meet him." *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Klaus*: Netflix

**Director: **Sergio Pablos

**Cast: **Jason Schwartzman, J. K. Simmons, Rashida Jones, Will Sasso, Neda Margrethe Labba, Sergio Pablos, Norm Macdonald, Joan Cusack

Labyrinth (1986)

Jennifer Connelly as Sarah and David Bowie as Jareth in 'Labyrinth'.

TriStar Pictures/Courtesy Everett

*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 from the Goblin King's (David Bowie) Labyrinth before the little one turns into a goblin 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 earwormy songs performed by the late, great Bowie. *—C.S.*

Where to watch *Labyrinth*: Peacock

**Director: **Jim Henson

**Cast:** David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly, Toby Froud

The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)

Katie (voice: Abbi Jacobsen), Linda (voice: Maya Rudolph), Rick (voice: Danny McBride), and Aaron (voice: Michael Rianda) in 'The Mitchells vs. the Machines'. Sony Pictures Animation

Every family has problems, but the Mitchell family has *big* ones — like a robot apocalypse. In this animated comedy, a dysfunctional family's already messy road trip is thrown into further chaos when robots attempt to take over the world. As the only people left to fight them off, it's up to the Mitchells (voiced by Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, and director Mike Rianda) to take out the machines and save humanity. But, to do that, they'll have to ensure their family's connection to each other is stronger than their connection to their phones and iPads.

In an ironic twist, *The Mitchells vs. the Machines *— whose message warns of the dangers of relying too much on technology — employs both hand-drawn and CGI animation to create its visuals. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Mitchells vs. the Machines*: Netflix

**Director:** Mike Rianda

**Cast: **Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Mike Rianda, Eric André, Olivia Colman

Moana (2016)

Maui (voice: Dwayne Johnson) and Moana (voice: Auli'i Cravalho) in 'Moana'.

Now that *Moana 2 *is streaming on Disney+, what better time to revisit the original? Featuring one of the best soundtracks in recent Disney history, *Moana *is set in Polynesia and tells the story of a young girl who loves the water, but is forbidden by her father from venturing beyond their island. After the ocean chooses her to return a goddess' heart, Moana must brave the sea to save her people. *Moana* features a diverse cast, with special attention paid to the Polynesian myths on which the film is based, and retains all the old Disney magic, but adds a little special something for the new generation. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Moana*: Disney+

**Directors:** John Musker, Ron Clements

**Cast:** Dwayne Johnson, Auliʻi Cravalho, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Jemaine Clement, Nicole Scherzinger, Alan Tudyk**

Monsters, Inc. (2001)

Randall Boggs (voice: Steve Buscemi), Sulley (voice: John Goodman), and Mike Wazowski (voice: Billy Crystal) in 'Monsters, Inc.'.

Buena Vista/Courtesy Everett

*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.

EW's critic praises 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." *—C.S.*

Where to watch *Monsters, Inc.*: Disney+

**EW grade:** (Read the review)

**Director:** Pete Docter

**Cast:** John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Steve Buscemi, James Coburn, Jennifer Tilly

The Muppets (2011)

Fozzie Bear (voice: Eric Jacobson), Miss Piggy (voice: Eric Jacobson), and Kermit the Frog (voice: Steve Whitmire) in 'The Muppets'.

Scott Garfield/Walt Disney Pictures/Courtesy Everett

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 explains, "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." *—C.S.*

Where to watch *The Muppets*: Disney+

**EW grade: **B+ (read the review)

**Director:** James Bobin

**Cast:** Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Rashida Jones

Paddington (2014)

Paddington (voice: Ben Whishaw) in 'Paddington'. Everett Collection

There are few things the internet can agree on, but the undisputed dominance of the 2015 semi-animated film *Paddington, *starring beloved children's book character Paddington Bear, just happens to be one of those things. Garnering a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and hailed for its charming script, family-friendly content, and excellent voice acting courtesy of star Ben Whishaw, the movie has since amassed a following of Paddington loyalists, prompting a sequel in 2017 and a threequel released in 2025.

If you're looking for a heartwarming film, *Paddington* should be number one on your list — and if you need a topical reason to check out the movie, you should know that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky voiced everyone's favorite bear in the film's Ukrainian release. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Paddington*: MovieSphere+

**Director:** Paul King

**Cast: **Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Nicole Kidman

Paddington in Peru (2024)

Paddington (voice: Ben Whishaw) in 'Paddington in Peru'.

Britain's fuzziest marmalade enthusiast is back for his third adventure, and this time he's headed home to the jungle. After learning that the bear who raised him after his parents died has gone missing, Paddington convinces his adoptive family to join him on a quest to Darkest Peru to find and rescue his Aunt Lucy.

Of course, nothing on a quest is ever as it seems, and Paddington and the Brown family must contend with gold hunters and scheming villains on their journey. In times of great stress, there's nothing quite like turning on a *Paddington* movie and setting off on a well-mannered adventure. *Paddington in Peru* doesn't reinvent the franchise, but it does not disappoint. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Paddington in Peru*: Netflix

**Director: **Dougal Wilson

**Cast: **Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Carla Tous, Olivia Colman, Antonio Banderas

The Parent Trap (1998)

Natasha Richardson as Elizabeth James, Lindsay Lohan as Annie and Hallie Parker, and Dennis Quaid as Nick Parker in 'The Parent Trap'.

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. *—C.S.*

Where to watch *The Parent Trap*: Disney+

**Director:** Nancy Meyers

**Cast:** Lindsay Lohan, Dennis Quaid, Natasha Richardson

The Princess Bride (1987)

Robin Wright as Buttercup and Cary Elwes as Westley in 'The Princess Bride'. Everett Collection

*The Princess Bride* sounds straightforward: A farmhand (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. *—C.S.*

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

The Sandlot (1993)

Patrick Renna as Hamilton 'Ham' Porter in 'The Sandlot'. Everett Collection

*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 puts the film's nostalgic appeal succinctly in the 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." *—C.S.*

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

School of Rock (2003)

Rivkah Reyes as Katie and Jack Black as Dewey Finn in 'School of Rock'. Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

*School of Rock* resonates across generations because everyone wishes they had a teacher as cool as Jack Black's substitute imposter–turned–rock & roll guardian angel, Dewey Finn. 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 notes, "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." *—C.S.*

Where to watch *School of Rock*: Paramount+

**EW grade:** (Read the review)

**Director: **Richard Linklater

**Cast: **Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Miranda Cosgrove, Mike White, Sarah Silverman

Shrek (2001)

Donkey (voice: Eddie Murphy), Shrek (voice: Mike Myers), Princess Fiona (voice: Cameron Diaz), and Lord Farquaard (voice: John Lithgow) in 'Shrek'.

DreamWorks/Courtesy Everett

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." *—C.S.*

Where to watch *Shrek*: Peacock******EW grade**: A (read the review)******Directors: **Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson******Cast: **Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, John Lithgow, Vincent Cassel, Conrad Vernon**

Sierra Burgess Is a Loser (2018)

Shannon Purser as Sierra Burgess and Noah Centineo as Jamey in 'Sierra Burgess Is a Loser'. Netflix

A high school rom-com based on the 19th-century French play *Cyrano de Bergerac*, *Sierra Burgess Is a Loser* is a modern love story in the style of literary adaptations like *Clueless* or *10 Things I Hate About You*. Sierra Burgess (*Stranger Things' *Shannon Purser) is an average looking American kid, which in rom-com land, makes her worthy of ridicule. Unlike other high school movie protagonists, however, Sierra isn't looking for a glow-up or an invitation to the popular crowd. But when she lands in the middle of a romantic mix-up, Sierra finds herself pretending to be someone else for the first time in her life.

The film might not break genre conventions, but EW's reviewer writes that "Purser is refreshingly relatable, and Peter Kavinksy-obsessed fans will love getting [Noah] Centineo as another jock with a heart of gold." *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Sierra Burgess Is a Loser*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B (read the review)

**Director:** Ian Samuels

**Cast: **Shannon Purser, Kristine Froseth, RJ Cyler, Noah Centineo

Toy Story (1995)

Buzz Lightyear (voice: Tim Allen) and Woody (voice: Tom Hanks) in 'Toy Story'.

Buena Vista/Courtesy Everett Collection

*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 writes, "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." *—C.S.*

Where to watch *Toy Story*: Disney+

**EW grade:** (Read the review)

**Director:** John Lasseter

**Cast: **Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, John Ratzenberger

WALL-E (2008)

WALL-E (voice: Ben Burtt) in 'WALL-E'. Walt Disney Studios/Pixar

If Pixar knows anything, it's how to make existentialism adorable. A film about corporate greed, overconsumption, and overreliance on technology, *WALL-E *is the animation studio's ninth feature, and arguably one of its best.

The movie follows WALL-E, a roving trash compactor left alone on Earth to consolidate the garbage that caused humans to flee the planet. Director Andrew Stanton knows how to speak volumes with silence, and a good portion of the movie is wordless, or communicated with beeps and other electronic sounds. But a good love story doesn't require much talking, and WALL-E does eventually find a partner — and a purpose — in this beautiful, introspective film. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *WALL-E*: Disney+

**Director: **Andrew Stanton

**Cast:** Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard, John Ratzenberger, Kathy Najimy, Sigourney Weaver

Wicked (2024)

Ariana Grande as Galinda Upland and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp in 'Wicked'.

Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures

Directed by Jon M. Chu and starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp and Ariana Grande as Galinda Upland, the movie musical *Wicked* follows these two young women as they enroll in Shiz University, enter into a rivalry, and eventually become best friends — all before a life-altering encounter with the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum).

Adapted from the first act of Stephen Schwartz's long-running Broadway hit (which, itself, is an adaptation of Gregory Maguire's book), the film is visually stunning, with impeccable production design, choreography, and, of course, powerhouse vocals. Familiarize yourself with this tale of two witches now, as *Wicked: For Good* (the movie musical version of the second act of the stage show) is scheduled for release on Nov. 21. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Wicked*: Amazon Prime Video

**EW grade: **B (read the review)

**Director:** Jon M. Chu

**Cast: **Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum

Wreck-It-Ralph (2012)

Ralph (left, voice: John C. Reilly) in 'Wreck-It Ralph'.

Walt Disney Pictures/Courtesy Everett

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 writes, "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." *—C.S.*

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

Zootopia (2016)

Judy Hopps (voice: Ginnifer Goodwin), Nick Wilde (voice: Jason Bateman), and Flash the Sloth (voice: Raymond S. Persi) in 'Zootopia'.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Courtesy Everett

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 notes, the film brings in "deep socio-political metaphors… plenty of food for thought regarding prejudice and tolerance," and "zany slapstick, zippy one-liners." *—C.S.*

Where to watch *Zootopia*: Disney+

**EW grade:** B (read the review)

**Directors: **Byron Howard, Rich Moore

**Cast:** Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Jenny Slate

Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL Movies"

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Source: Astro Blog

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