Best Movies Streaming for Families (August 2021)

Seabiscuit(PG-13, 2003): In the midst of the Great Depression, a temperamental undersized horse and its down-and-out human partners all team up to make horse-racing history. Our Bob Smithouser noted this pic’s “smart script, unobtrusive musical score and exciting race sequences.” But he also warned family audiences that the film’s profanity and alcohol use will cause this Seabiscuit to stumble for any young kids in the crowd.

Quartet (PG-13, 2012): This not-so-quiet film centers on Beecham House, a home for retired performers. When the once-popular opera diva Jean Horton (Maggie Smith) moves in, her presence causes quite a stir. As I noted in my review, this tale, “culled from a 1984 documentary called Tosca’s Kiss and adapted then into stage play form and, finally, a screenplay, is a tasty story of beautiful music and colorful old characters well past their prime.” There’s some foul language to deal with, but for older viewers, the film “bursts with sweet sentiments.”

Annie (PG, 1982): This fun musical about a little feisty orphan stars the likes of Albert Finney and Carol Burnett and will definitely appeal to your whole family crew. Let’s face it, there are lots of different versions of this tale to choose from, but this one sparkles with a picture-perfect cast.

Hook (PG-1991): It’s the tale of Peter Pan all grown up—starring Robin Williams as Peter and Dustin Hoffman as Capt. Hook. And it’s directed by Steven Spielberg. Talk about a winning trifecta of Hollywood talent! The result is a fun fantasy pic full of charm and depth that’s worth gathering the family for.

Pearl Harbor (PG-13, 2001): This movie, based on real historical events, follows American boyhood friends as they enter World War II as pilots. Plugged In’s Tom Neven praised it for a number of its historical and story aspects—particularly the fact that the film doesn’t graft “21st-century morality [onto] 1941.” But he did warn moms and dads that some torpedoes lurk here in the form of profanity and alcohol use.

Contagion= (PG-13, 2011): Having just come out of a real-world pandemic, this spreading-disease horror story might be a little unsettling for some, or at least a little more feasible seeming than it did back in 2011. There’s also some foul language and bloodiness that sets this film on the quarantine list for youngsters. But as I mentioned in my review, for adult viewers it’s yet another “well-made drama (decorated by a crowd of A-list stars, helmed by a highly respected director) that draws you in with believable characters and an evenly paced story of heroism and selflessness.”

Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 (G, 2011): A slightly silly flick about a pair of California-based chihuahuas and their litter of pups. OK, it ain’t Shakespeare. But as our Bob Waliszewski noted: It’s got “talking animals, silly jokes and some furry four-legged adventure.” And “young viewers will walk away chewing on a few light lessons about loving others.” So it ain’t just a smelly dog either.

Dolphin Tale (PG, 2011): This pic tells the story of a young dolphin that gets caught in a trap and severely damages its tail. In fact, this dolphin, dubbed Winter by her human rescuers, needs a miracle to survive. And she gets it through the love and effort of a small boy and his dedicated friends. As I noted in my review, “Dolphin Tale is one of those simple stories that’s more than you might expect. This satisfying, sometimes teary tale—based on and starring the real Winter—is comfortably delivered by a handful of seasoned actors and a couple of young fresh faces. It’s full of lightly anthropomorphized charm.”

Johnny English Reborn (PG, 2011): And lastly, we have the chance to view a James Bond action spoof starring English comedian Rowan Atkinson. And as British spy spoofs go, this one’s pretty funny and doesn’t pack many negatives in the boot of its Aston Martin. “There are several bloodless assassinations—delivered by an elderly Chinese woman who can somehow make silenced weapons out of vacuum cleaners and golf bags,” I mentioned in my review of the film. “But it’s the crotch kicks” that tend to be the worst of things.