The 13 best family movies on HBO Max that'll please any crowd
The 13 best family movies on HBO Max that'll please any crowd
Danny Horn, Kevin JacobsenSun, February 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM UTC
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Batman (voice: Will Arnett) in 'The LEGO Batman Movie'; Timothée Chalamet as Willy Wonka in 'Wonka'; Kiki (voice: Minami Takayama) in 'Kiki's Delivery Service'
Everett (3)
Finding a movie that the whole family wants to watch isn't easy. Luckily, HBO Max has a treasure trove of family-friendly films to choose from, including classics like The Wizard of Oz (1939) and Time Bandits (1981), and modern animated favorites like The LEGO Batman Movie (2017) and the Oscar-winner Flow (2024).
The streamer also carries several works from the beloved Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli, whose films provide a refreshing alternative to Disney and DreamWorks fare. Ahead, find our guide to the 13 best family movies streaming now on HBO Max.
01 of 13
Blue Beetle (2023)
Xolo Maridueña as Jaime Reyes/Blue Beetle in 'Blue Beetle'
Warner Bros.
The first superhero movie with a Latino protagonist, Blue Beetle stars Xolo Maridueña as Jaime, a recent college grad who accidentally ends up bonding with an ancient alien relic that turns him into a high-flying vigilante. But Jaime isn't alone in fighting against evil corporate androids: When he needs help, his Mexican American family works together to rescue him. Entertainment Weekly’s writer appreciates how "Blue Beetle is one of the rare opportunities to celebrate a specific part of the Latin community, and it revels in that specificity, only adding more heart to Jaime's journey to becoming a hero." —Danny Horn
Where to watch Blue Beetle: HBO Max
EW grade: B+
Director: Ángel Manuel Soto
Cast: Xolo Maridueña, Adriana Barraza, George Lopez, Susan Sarandon, Harvey Guillén
02 of 13
The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (2024)
Daffy Duck and Porky Pig (both voiced by Eric Bauza) in 'The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie'
Ketchup Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Collection
This hysterical sci-fi comedy had the honor of being the first original all-animated Looney Tunes film released in theaters. The Day the Earth Blew Up finds Daffy Duck and Porky Pig trying to ward off an alien invasion. After learning of a clever chewing gum-related mind control scheme devised by the mysterious Invader (Peter MacNicol), Daffy and Porky desperately try to warn the skeptical public. Packed with meta humor (our heroes are well aware they're in a movie) and fun references to cult classic B-movies of the '50s, the film skillfully rides that classic Looney Tunes line of appealing to kids and adults alike. —Kevin Jacobsen
Where to watch The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie: HBO Max
Director: Pete Browngardt
Cast: Eric Bauza, Candi Milo, Peter MacNicol
03 of 13
Flow (2024)
Cat in 'Flow'
Courtesy of Sideshow and Janus Films
This dialogue-free Latvian animated film speaks to the power of visuals to tell a universal story. The film centers on a cat that tries to survive a devastating flood alongside a diverse group of animals, including a capybara, a lemur, and a Labrador Retriever. With no humans in sight, the animals must rely on their own instincts to find safe ground as the water continues to rise. Even if you're not a cat person, it's nearly impossible not to be by the film's end; Flow also made history in 2025 as the first independent film to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. —K.J.
Where to watch Flow: HBO Max
Director: Gints Zilbalodis
04 of 13
Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
Jiji (voice: Rei Sakuma) and Kiki (voice: Minami Takayama) in 'Kiki's Delivery Service'
Everett
A warm-hearted anime from Studio Ghibli, Kiki's Delivery Service follows the titular 13-year-old witch (Minami Takayama; Kirsten Dunst in the English dub) as she leaves home with her black cat, Jiji (Rei Sakuma; Phil Hartman in the English dub), and embarks on a year-long journey of self-discovery in another village. Using her magic broom, Kiki opens a flying courier service and begins to experience both the satisfaction and the difficulties of independence and self-reliance. Kiki's struggles with self-consciousness and doubt will be familiar to any kid who's had to adjust to a new situation, and the exquisitely rendered character animation makes the film an enchanting trip. —D.H.
Where to watch Kiki's Delivery Service: HBO Max
EW grade: A
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Janeane Garofalo, Phil Hartman, Debbie Reynolds
05 of 13
The LEGO Batman Movie (2017)
Batman (voice: Will Arnett) and Superman (voice: Channing Tatum) in 'The LEGO Batman Movie'
Everett
A buzzy sugar rush of villains, explosions, and bat-guitar solos, The LEGO Batman Movie sets out to be the ultimate kid-friendly superhero comedy, deftly skewering every pretentious, bloated summer blockbuster. The Joker (Zach Galifianakis) is crushed when Batman (Will Arnett) refuses to admit that he's the hero's "greatest enemy," so the offended clown prince of crime recruits every baddie in the multiverse, including velociraptors and Voldemort.
EW’s critic writes, "Seventy-five percent of the film’s carpet-bomb campaign of pop culture meta punchlines will ricochet over the target audience’s head, but parents dragged along for the ride will no doubt be grateful for Arnett’s rat-a-tat send-ups of Adam West and superhero clichés." —D.H.
Where to watch The LEGO Batman Movie: HBO Max
EW grade: B+
Director: Chris McKay
Cast: Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, Ralph Fiennes
06 of 13
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
Totoro (voice: Hitoshi Takagi), Mei Kusakabe (voice: Chikaa Sakamoto), and Satsuki Kusakabe (voice: Noriko Hidaka) in 'My Neighbor Totoro'
Tokuma Enterprises/Kobal Collection
My Neighbor Totoro isn't the only Studio Ghibli film on this list, but it's arguably the sweetest. Two young girls move with their father to a house in the country while their mother is recovering in the hospital, and they discover a giant, furry wood spirit in the nearby forest. Totoro doesn't speak, but he's a gentle and reassuring presence who creates magical, dream-like experiences for the girls. It's not a fast-moving film, but the whimsical and even sometimes scary elements make for a fun, imagination-inspiring watch. —D.H.
Where to watch My Neighbor Totoro: HBO Max
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Tim Daly, Dakota Fanning, Elle Fanning, Lea Salonga
07 of 13
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Ponyo (2008)
Ponyo (voice: Yuuri Nara) and Sosuke (voice: Hiroki Doi) in 'Ponyo'
Everett
In another stunning Studio Ghibli anime, a little boy and a magical goldfish princess form an unlikely friendship. Ponyo's desire to become a human girl and join Sosuke on land is so strong that it overpowers her wizard father's enchantments, leading to an explosion of aquatic energy that endangers Sosuke's seaside village. As the waters rise, the two children set out on a quest to save the town and restore the balance of nature. Director Hayao Miyazaki's lush, colorful backgrounds give the film a hand-crafted feel, blurring the distinction between land and sea. —D.H.
Where to watch Ponyo: HBO Max
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Noah Cyrus, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Frankie Jonas
08 of 13
Porco Rosso (1992)
Porco Rosso (voice: Shûichirô Moriyama) in 'Porco Rosso' Everett Collection
Porco Rosso has all the markings of a cynical World War I veteran...except for the fact that he's been mysteriously cursed with a pig's head. As such, the Italian fighter pilot now spends most of his time as a bounty hunter hired to attack air pirates. He eventually meets his match when the pirates hire an American pilot, Donald Curtis, to take him down. Animation legend Hayao Miyazaki crafts a clever historical fiction story that appeals to both kids and adults, with eye-popping aerial battles and potent themes of war and political resistance. And let's never forget Porco Rosso's timeless words: "I'd rather be a pig than a fascist." —K.J.
Where to watch Porco Rosso: HBO Max
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Michael Keaton, Cary Elwes, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Susan Egan, David Ogden Stiers
09 of 13
Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015)
Shaun (voice: Justin Fletcher) with his fellow sheep in 'Shaun the Sheep Movie'
Alamy Stock Photo
This delightful stop-motion comedy from the world of Wallace & Gromit brilliantly tells its story without a word of dialogue. The film centers on the titular farm sheep as he devises a plan to make the farmer fall asleep so he and his flock can finally have a day off from work, though the scheme quickly goes awry. When the farmer is accidentally driven away in a van and bumps his head, he loses his memory, prompting his flock to try to find him and make him remember who he is. Packed with cleverly devised gags that entertain audiences of all ages, EW's critic calls Shaun the Sheep Movie "contagiously cute." —K.J.
Where to watch Shaun the Sheep Movie: HBO Max
Directors: Mark Burton, Richard Starzak
Cast: Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes, Omid Djalili
10 of 13
Spirited Away (2001)
Haku (voice: Miyu Irino) and Chihiro (voice: Rumi Hiiragi) in 'Spirited Away'
Walt Disney Pictures/Everett Collection
If you've ever wondered why it's a bad idea to visit an abandoned roadside amusement park, Studio Ghibli has the answer: Your parents will turn into giant pigs, and you'll be left on your own to deal with the resident ghosts, witches, and river sprites. Spirited Away creates a new, fascinating mythology with its own mysterious rules and customs, pitting 10-year-old Chihiro against dragons and demons with only her strength of will to guide her. The film can get a little scary at times for younger viewers, but both parents and kids will be captivated by its haunting beauty. —D.H.
Where to watch Spirited Away: HBO Max
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Daveigh Chase, Jason Marsden, Suzanne Pleshette, Michael Chiklis
11 of 13
Time Bandits (1981)
Sean Connery as King Agamemnon and Craig Warnock as Kevin in 'Time Bandits'
Twentieth Century Fox/Everett Collection
A young boy is swept into a wild adventure when six squabbling dwarves appear, looking for a magical portal on the other side of his bedroom wall. The intruders have swiped a map from the Supreme Being, which they're using to travel through space and time, stealing the treasures of history. Together, Kevin and the Bandits meet Napoleon Bonaparte and Robin Hood, and visit ancient Greece and the sinking of the Titanic. Directed by Monty Python alum Terry Gilliam, Time Bandits includes cameos from fellow Pythons John Cleese and Michael Palin, as well as Sean Connery as King Agamemnon. —D.H.
Where to watch Time Bandits: HBO Max
Director: Terry Gilliam
Cast: Craig Warnock, John Cleese, Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall, Katherine Helmond
12 of 13
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale in 'The Wizard of Oz'
Everett
One of the most beloved films of all time, The Wizard of Oz delivers visual spectacle, winning characters, and an emotional sincerity that still retains its charm decades later. Judy Garland sparkles as a girl from Kansas who drops out of the sky into the magical land of Oz, where she teams up with a scarecrow, a tin man, and a cowardly lion to fight a witch and find her way home. With unforgettable songs like "Over the Rainbow" and "If I Only Had a Brain," the film has delighted generations with its imagination and wit. —D.H.
Where to watch The Wizard of Oz: HBO Max
EW grade: B+
Director: Victor Fleming
Cast: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Margaret Hamilton, Jack Haley
13 of 13
Wonka (2023)
Timothée Chalamet as Willy Wonka in 'Wonka'
Warner Bros./Everett
A sparkling Timothée Chalamet headlines this prequel to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, embodying the whimsical candy maker at the start of his ambitious (and delicious) career. He's opposed by the establishment Chocolate Cartel and tricked by his devious landlady into indentured servitude, but you can't keep a born dreamer down. "In many ways, Wonka is far more delightful than it has any right to be," EW's critic writes while also praising Chalamet: "He's a warm and winning Wonka, infusing the character with a fanciful sense of humor and a guileless enthusiasm." —D.H.
Where to watch Wonka: HBO Max
EW grade: B
Director: Paul King
Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Calah Lane, Hugh Grant, Olivia Colman, Keegan-Michael Key
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
