While there are a lot of serious movies geared toward adults on HBO Max, sometimes you just want something to watch with the family. Despite these movies being geared toward children, they are often packed with jokes for the adults that will go over the kids’ heads and keep everyone in the house entertained. They are also surprisingly good with well written scripts, fantastic animations, and heartfelt moments. There is a lot to choose from on the streaming service, so we have put together a list of the 20 best family movies on HBO Max.
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10. The Wizard of Oz, (1939)
Perhaps one of the greatest movies of all time, The Wizard of Oz is beloved by families around the world. In the movie, a tornado hits a town in Kansas and a young girl named Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are whisked away in their house to a magical land called Oz. After an encounter with a witch, the pair set out along a yellow brick road to meet the Wizard in the Emerald City. Along the way, they meet a series of characters including a Scarecrow who wants a brain, a Tin Man who wants a heart, and a Lion who wants some courage. When they meet the wizard, he requests that the gang bring him the Wicked Witch of the West’s broom in exchange for their wishes being granted.
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9. Scooby-Doo, (2002)
Every child has probably seen the animated version of these five crime fighters, but have they seen the 2002 live action? Scooby-Doo: The Movie starts off with Mystery Inc. closing its doors two years previous, and each character we know so well are individually summoned to Spooky Island to investigate a series of paranormal incidents at the Spring Break hot spot. Zoinks!
8. The Book of Life, (2014)
Though I have not seen this movie, I’ve only heard great things about The Book of Life. In the film, we are situated in the Mexican town of San Angel where three friends, Maria, Joaquin, and Manolo have grown up together. Now adults, one thing still remains the same — Manolo and Joaquin both want to marry Maria. Unfortunately for them though, battling husband-and-wife deities have made a high-stakes wager on who will win.
7. Spirited Away, (2001)
A beautiful animated film from the legendary Studio Ghibli and director Hayao Miyazaki, Spirited Away follows a young girl who stumbles upon an abandoned amusement park. When her parents are transformed into pigs, she learns that the park is a resort for supernatural beings and she must navigate around them to free her parents.
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6. Horton Hears a Who, (2008)
I honestly loved Horton Hears a Who when I was little, and I still think it’s a great movie today. The transformed Dr. Seuss book has elephant Horton, who finds a speck of dust floating in the Jungle of Nool. Upon further inspection, he realizes there is a tiny city called Who-ville on the speck, and that he can hear them but cannot see the Whos. Horton then travels to find the best spot where Whoville can be safe, while trying to fight off those who don’t believe Who-ville is real.
5. Night at the Museum: The Secret of the Tomb, (2014)
Our next choice in the best family movies on HBO Max list is part of a series, but is still worth watching. Night at the Museum: The Secret of the Tomb follows Larry Daley, who is now the director of nighttime operations at the museum, and starts to notice that the exhibits are acting strangely. The Tablet, which magically brings the exhibits alive is failing, and its up to Larry and his son to save them.
4. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, (1971)
One of my favorite Roald Dahl stories is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and I love all of the films that have been made from the book, including Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. A sweet boy has a dream of finding one of the five golden tickets hidden inside candy wrappers that will allow him to visit the eccentric and reclusive Willy Wonka’s factory. One after the other tickets are being found — will Charlie be able to get one too?
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3. Space Jam: A New Legacy, (2021)
Check out the newest addition to the Space Jam family! Space Jam: A New Legacy features superstar basketball player LeBron James. When his young son Dom and him get tripped in digital space by a rogue AI, the only way they can get home is by teaming up with the Looney Tunes gang for a high-stakes basketball game.
2. The Lego Batman Movie, (2017)
Following up the LEGO movie is another great experience in the LEGO franchise that has shifted onto the screen, The Lego Batman Movie. When the Joker takes over the city of Gotham, Batman must drop his lone vigilante approach to team up with other heroes to stop the rampant rogues gallery in this hilarious adventure.
1. The Goonies, (1985)
I absolutely adore this movie, and it’s perfect for those kids that love scavenger hunts. In The Goonies, a group of kids search for a hidden treasure in order to save their homes and towns from a property developing company which plans to build a country club. But, there are obstacles in the way of their prize, and some crooks who want the jewels just as much as the kids do.
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