Best Heartwarming Family Movies (That Aren't Just for Kids)
In short: For the funniest, watch Paddington 2 or The Princess Bride. For a good cry, Up, Coco or The Iron Giant. For something clever about feelings, Inside Out. For a classic, E.T. For a musical, Encanto. All work for adults as well as kids, and most run under two hours.
Get movie picks based on this article
Want a movie the whole family will love? Get picks matched to your mood.
Get movie picksPrefer to answer a few questions? Take the 8-question movie quiz →Funny and warm
Paddington 2 (2017, dir. Paul King, 103 minutes). Paddington is framed for stealing a pop-up book and wins over a prison. Hugh Grant's vain actor-villain is a joy. For years it held a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score.
The Princess Bride (1987, dir. Rob Reiner, 98 minutes). Pirates, giants, sword fights and true love, framed as a story read to a reluctant grandson. Endlessly quotable.
Encanto (2021, Disney, 102 minutes). Mirabel is the only member of the magical Madrigal family without a gift. "We Don't Talk About Bruno" became a chart hit.
Bring tissues
Up (2009, Pixar, 96 minutes). Carl ties balloons to his house to keep a promise to his late wife, with a boy scout stowaway. Its opening montage is one of the most moving sequences in animation.
Coco (2017, Pixar, 105 minutes). Miguel wants to be a musician against his family's wishes and ends up in the Land of the Dead. Its ending gets everyone.
The Iron Giant (1999, dir. Brad Bird, 86 minutes). A Cold War story about a boy who befriends a giant metal man that fell from space. A flop on release, now a classic.
Clever and classic
Inside Out (2015, Pixar, 95 minutes). Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust try to guide Riley through a move to San Francisco. It explains why sadness matters better than most self-help books. A sequel followed in 2024.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982, dir. Steven Spielberg, 115 minutes). A lonely boy hides a stranded alien from the government. Still magical.
Our verdict
For a family night that pleases everyone, Paddington 2. If everyone's in the mood to cry, Coco.
Frequently asked questions
What family movie will make adults cry? Up's opening montage, Coco's final scene and The Iron Giant's climax are famous for it.
What's a good family movie for younger children? Paddington 2 and Encanto are gentle enough for most young kids. Coco deals with death and The Iron Giant has peril, so they suit slightly older children.
Want a family movie for tonight?
Our movie quiz can match one to your mood, with runtimes for each pick.