Top 10 Best Live Action Movies to Watch as a Family

Expertly cast with Angelica Houston as Morticia and Raul Julia as Gomez, this film is based on the TV series which was in turn based on a comic. The big screen version re-introduces audiences to the delightfully dark and gleefully goth extended family that includes the kids, Wednesday and Pugsley, their grandmother, Grandmama, cousin Itt, and their butler, Lurch. When Gomez’s long-lost brother, Fester, suddenly returns to the family, they struggle to uncover his true intentions while staving off would-be thieves and con artists. Gomez and Morticia’s perpetual passion is enough to make the film adult-worthy, but somehow the filmmakers found a way to make that and the macabre family friendly.

Being taken care of by a billionaire is pretty much the dream of both kids and adults alike, which is probably why this film is so universally relatable. This live-action classic tells the story of a hardscrabble orphan who’s used to getting kicks instead of kisses – that is, until she’s temporarily adopted by a mega-rich businessman for PR purposes. After a while, the billionaire warms up to the curly headed kid and they search for her birth parents, before realizing that they’re already a family. It’s jam-packed full of catchy songs, cute kids and excessive spending. It’s a rags-to-riches tale that even the adult crowd can get behind.

This ‘80s classic continued John Hughes’ reign as the preeminent teen-movie maker, although this one skewed a bit younger. After a couple has to make an emergency trip to visit an ailing family member, they leave their three kids in the care of their irresponsible slob of an uncle, Buck. Played by John Candy, Uncle Buck may be an unemployed klutz, but he’s also fiercely protective of his young nieces and nephew. The time he spends with his young charges is fraught with complications, including gross teenage boyfriends, laundry, and a rocky relationship. There’s also slapstick for the kids, “parenting hell” moments that the grownups can relate to, and a happy ending that everyone can get on board with.

You wouldn’t think that a movie about a magical, singing nanny would be something that’d work for the entire family, or at least for adults, but it’s completely enjoyable. When a family puts out an ad for a nanny, they probably weren’t expecting their call to be answered by a flying sorceress. Ms. Poppins, played expertly by Julie Andrews, literally descends from the heavens and transforms the lives of not only the children, but the adults in the family as well. Lively choreography and a wonderful score make this film entirely watchable for adults. And penguins serving tea is something everyone wants to see at all times.

Westley and Buttercup must overcome unspeakable obstacles to be together, including scheming fiancés, kidnapping and Rodents of Unusual Size. But through it all they are accompanied by loyal friends who will stop at nothing to thwart the evil Prince Humperdinck and his even evil-er plans. Framed as a story a man is reading to his grandson, this quotable Rob Reiner rom-com slash fantasy adventure flick is a madcap journey through a fairytale-like land, and one whose main theme is love; romantic love, yes, but also the love between families.

Who knew that time travel and almost hooking up with your mom could make for good family viewing? This ‘80s smash hit stars Christopher Lloyd as the maddest movie scientist of the decade, Doc Brown, and Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, a teenager who accidentally travels back to 1955 during a high-speed chase with Libyan terrorists in a mall parking lot. In the past, he meets a teenage version of his mother, who’s smitten with him in the grossest way possible. To make sure he doesn’t jeopardize his own existence, he must see to it that his painfully awkward teenage father makes a love connection with his mom. It’s an exciting, lighthearted movie that is easily a repeat watch for family movie night.

At first blush, this family-oriented flick about a boy who wins a trip to a candy factory may seem like it’s just going to be a happy shiny, feel-good movie. In reality, it’s more like a child-friendly acid trip. Sure, there’s a river of chocolate and lickable wallpaper, but there are also children being sucked up tubes, thrown down garbage chutes and turning into giant blueberries. All the while, there are little orange people singing creepy moralistic jingles. There’s a happy ending of course, as Charlie, the film’s protagonist, inherits the business and saves his family from their abject poverty. But this movie is clearly so much more than children’s cinema - it deserves a wider audience.

This movie wasn’t just a movie; it was a phenomenon. Although not instantly popular, since its release, “The Wizard of Oz” has become one of the most popular films in movie history. The story centers on a young girl name Dorothy, who, along with her dog, Toto, finds herself transported to a fantastic world of good and evil witches, flying monkeys, and adorable munchkins. She teams up with a lion, a scarecrow, and a tin man as they journey to find a wizard to who can help each of them. It’s a fanciful tale with a lot of whimsy and pretty much no adult content but plenty of brains, smarts and heart. It allows both parents and children to suspend disbelief and revel in the quirky fun.

There was a point in movie history when Steven Spielberg was hitting the public with back-to-back cinematic masterpieces. He followed up “Raiders of the Lost Ark” with this story about a young boy who befriends a sweet-natured alien shipwrecked on Earth. The young boy works to find a way to return E.T. to his home while also keeping him hidden from the authorities that are hot on the alien’s trail. Surprisingly heartwarming, the film is also fairly intense and emotionally draining, but in a cute way. Besides, there aren’t many films that secretly make both parents and kids wish for an alien invasion just to make new friends.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” (1971)
- “The Karate Kid” (1984)
- “The Goonies” (1985)
- “Cool Runnings” (1993)

In one of his most entertaining performances, Robin Williams plays an out-of-work actor who becomes estranged from his children after he and his wife split. After he loses out in a custody hearing, he decides to don a full-body costume and disguise himself as a housekeeper. He’s quickly hired by his ex-wife and gets to spend quality time with his children, teaching them life skills as he becomes a better parent himself. While the film features a lot of good-natured fun, and some tongue-in-cheek nods to the adults, it also deals with themes such as divorce and living in two-family households – both of which are themes a lot of modern families can understand.

Do you agree with our list? What is your favorite live-action family movie? For more entertaining Top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.