Best Fantasy Family Movies to Watch Together

Dear readers, this time we’re taking you to magical kingdoms, talking animals, and the world of children who never grow up. We’ve put together fantasy films you can settle onto the couch and watch as a family — films that nourish the imagination and warm the heart.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

Adapted from C.S. Lewis’s classic novel, this film follows four siblings sent from London to the countryside during World War II, who step through an old wardrobe into the magical land of Narnia. Led by the wise lion Aslan, the siblings fight against the evil White Witch, who has cursed the land to an eternal winter.

Note: The sequels Prince Caspian (2008) and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010) are also set in the same magical universe and form a trilogy that can be watched together as a family. Readers who enjoy this film can follow the whole series.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

This film, about an orphaned boy living an ordinary life who discovers he’s actually a wizard and enrolls at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, is the beginning of a giant fantasy series that appeals to both children and adults.

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

This musical fantasy film, about Dorothy being swept away by a tornado into the land of Oz and her journey home together with the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion, is considered one of the most-watched productions in film history.

Matilda (1996)

Adapted from Roald Dahl’s novel, this film follows Matilda, a bright little girl who loves reading, as she uses her telekinetic powers to stand up to her neglectful family and her school’s bullying headmistress. It’s counted among the finest children’s films to watch as a family.

The Princess Bride (1987)

Told by a grandfather to his sick grandson, this fairy tale filled with pirates, giants, sword duelists, and “true love” is one of the rare films that appeals to children and adults at the same time. It has reached cult classic status.

Bridge to Terabithia (2007)

This film, about two lonely children creating the magical kingdom of Terabithia in the woods with their imagination, is both a fantasy adventure and an emotional story about friendship and loss. It has a tone very similar to Narnia, but with a more grounded, touching narrative intertwined with the real world.

The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)

This film, about three siblings who move into a run-down mansion and discover a hidden magical world after finding a secret fairy guidebook, can be considered a natural next stop for fans of Narnia and the Spiderwick book series.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

Tim Burton’s take on Roald Dahl’s classic book. Charlie Bucket, a boy from a poor family, becomes one of five children who get the chance to tour the factory of the mysterious chocolatier Willy Wonka.

Jumanji (1995)

This film, about a magical board game that brings the jungle’s wild dangers into the real world, offers an adventure that’s both thrilling and a little scary. Two young siblings must finish the game after releasing Alan, who has been trapped inside it for 26 years.

My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

This Studio Ghibli film, about two sisters who move to the countryside because of their mother’s illness and meet the adorable forest spirit Totoro living in the woods, is a story of pure innocence sitting right at the intersection of animation and children’s film.

Hook (1991)

This film, about Peter Pan growing up into an ordinary businessman who must return to Neverland and learn to fly again to save his children, gives a fun and touching answer to the question “what if we grow up.”

Mary Poppins (1964)

This Disney classic, set in early-1900s London, follows the magical nanny Mary Poppins as she arrives at the home of a cold banker and both delights his children and brings them closer to their father. It’s a musical fairy tale that blends live action and animation.

Mary Poppins Returns (2018)

As Michael and Jane Banks, now grown up, go through a difficult time, Mary Poppins returns once more, this time to help Michael’s children. A direct sequel to the 1964 film, this musical brings that same magical, song-filled spirit to today’s audiences.

Nanny McPhee (2005)

This film follows Nanny McPhee, an ugly-looking nanny with magical powers, who arrives at the home of a widowed father struggling to control his seven mischievous children. Every time the children learn a lesson, one of Nanny McPhee’s ugly features (warts, crooked teeth, a huge nose) disappears, and she gradually becomes more beautiful. This visual transformation is framed as a tangible reward for the children’s good behavior.

Note: A sequel titled “Nanny McPhee Returns” was made in 2010.

James and the Giant Peach (1996)

This stop-motion film, about orphaned James, forced to live with his cruel aunts, who through a magical twist of fate journeys to New York inside a giant peach together with talking insects, is a visually enchanting Roald Dahl adaptation produced by Tim Burton.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, The Princess Bride, The Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins, and Hook top this list.

On this list, The Princess Bride has the highest IMDb rating at 8.0, followed by The Wizard of Oz and My Neighbor Totoro, both at 8.1.

Mary Poppins, Mary Poppins Returns, and Nanny McPhee are better suited to young children with their calm, home-centered tones. Hook and Jumanji appeal to slightly older kids.

The Spiderwick Chronicles and Bridge to Terabithia both explore a similar “passage from the real world into a magical realm” theme.

Yes, Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and James and the Giant Peach are all adapted from Roald Dahl’s novels, and all three involve magic or extraordinary powers.