Family time means a must-have movie night for the whole family. There is no denying that animated movies are the best for family movie nights. The comedy, emotion, and adventure it can create are quite magical. In the huge collection of family-friendly movies available on streaming services, several non-animated family movies are also equally good.
Some family movies can get dull at some point, especially for adults and teenagers. Netflix has covered it all, and it has so many non-animated family movies that it gets hard to choose from. So here is the curation of some of the best non-animated family comedy movies on Netflix you can watch with your entire family without getting bored. The list includes some great stories, some funny moments and, of course, some naughty kids.
List of 10 Best Non-animated Family Comedy Movies on Netflix:
10. We Can be Heroes (2020)
- Cast: Pedro Pascal, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Yaya Gosselin, Nathan Blair, Andy Walken, Lyon Daniels.
- Director: Robert Rodriguez.
About We Can be Heroes:
We Can be Heroes is a Netflix original show in the Kids and Family movies category on Netflix. Parents might remember the name SkarkBoy and LavaGirl, well, it has these two characters in the movie, but it is not the movie sequel.
In the movie, aliens attack the Earth and capture all the superheroes. At the Heroics Headquarters, Missy Moreno and other children plan to rescue their parents and bring them back.
9. The Sleepover (2020)
- Cast: Sadie Stanley, Malin Akerman, Cree Cicchino, Maxwell Simkins
- Director: Trish Sie
The next film is another 2020 Netflix movie, The Sleepover.
The Sleepover Plot:
Two siblings, each with their friends, were enjoying sleepovers when they learned that their parents had been kidnapped. While they tried to save them, they learned another secret their mother was a high-end thief in the witness protection program. If your family is passionate about adventure movies, then this is a great choice.
8. Benji (2018)
- Cast: Darby Camp, Gabriel Bateman, Angus Sampson, Jerod Haynes, Will Rothhaar.
- Director: Brandon Camp
A family’s loyal companion can only be a dog, who is also a part of the family. Benji is one of the best family movies with a dog which you cannot resist watching with your family. The heartwarming story is the remake of the 1974 movie Benji.
Benji Plot:
When a brother and a sister stumble into a dangerous situation, a determined dog follows and saves the kids. Benji used to be a stray dog, and one day the young boy Carter tried to feed Benji; after that, Carter and his sister became friendly with the dog. Benji rescued the kids even, healed and provided emotional support to the broken family. Such an angel Benji is.
7. Hook (1991)
- Cast: Julia Roberts, Maggie Smith, Bob Hoskins, Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams.
- Director: Steven Spielberg.
Best pick for a family movie night with the best classic story that includes some of the best artists like Robin Williams and Julia Roberts. The film earned five nominations at the Academy Awards.
Hook Plot:
In this non-animated movie, Peter Pan, presently Peter Banning, is all grown up now and has become a successful lawyer. He has forgotten everything about his past childhood memories. But when Captain Hook kidnaps his children, he has to return to Neverland. He regains his memories of the past and eventually saves his children.
6. Enola Holmes (2020)
- Cast: Helena Bonham Carter, Sam Claflin, Louis Partridge, Henry Cavill, Millie Bobby Brown.
- Director: Harry Bradbeer.
You can guess the character by the very familiar name, detective Sherlock Holmes. Yes, she is the teen sister of the Victorian-era famous detective, Sherlock Holmes. Starring Millie Bobby Brown and Henry Cavill, this is the best pick if you prefer adventure and mystery.
Enola Holmes Plot:
Enola escapes to London to find her missing mother, who taught her to be independent and courageous. On the way, she stumbles upon a runaway lord and ends up helping him, further solving mysteries surrounding this rich family’s runaway. Millie Bobby Brown returns in Enola Holmes 2, which came out recently in the first week of November on Netflix.
5. The Spy Next Door (2010)
- Cast: Madeline Carroll, Magnús Scheving, Will Shadley, Billy Ray Cyrus, George Lopez, Amber Valletta, Jackie Chan.
- Director: Brian Levant.
Actor and martial artist Jackie Chan is in the leading role in this action-comedy movie. Not only is he a spy, but he also has to babysit the three troublesome kids.
The Spy Next Door Plot:
Bob Ho is a former CIA agent. Now he has to take care of his longtime girlfriend’s three kids who live next door. The kids are not fond of him and bring him lots of trouble. When one of the kids accidentally downloads a top-secret file, trouble begins, and Bob has to handle the situation like a true spy.
4. Yes Day (2021)
- Cast: Jenna Ortega, Julian Lerner, Everly Kerganilla, Edgar Ramirez, Jennifer Garner, H.E.R.
- Director: Miguel Arteta.
Starring Jennifer Garner, this family comedy is a fair pick for a family movie night. Yes Day is based on Tom Lichtenheld and Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s book of the same name.
Yes Day Plot:
Allison and Carlos, the typical mother and father, always say “no” to their three kids. One day they decided to say yes to their children’s requests for a whole day. On this “yes day,” their parents said yes to everything, with some ground rules, which led to a fun and adventurous day for the family.
3. Pee-wee’s Big Holiday (2016)
- Cast: Joe Manganiello, Paul Reubens
- Director: John Lee.
This is one of the best non animated family comedy movies on Netflix.
Pee-wee’s Big Holiday Plot:
After meeting a mysterious stranger named Joe Manganiello, small-town resident Pee-wee Herman decided to go on his first holiday in New York to attend Joe’s birthday party. He had a whirlwind adventure and lots of trouble as he traveled across the country.
2. A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting (2020)
- Cast: Oona Laurence, Ian Ho, Lynn Masako Cheng, Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson, Tom Felton, Tamara Smart.
- Director: Rachel Talalay.
Based on the first book of his trilogy, Joe Ballarini also wrote this dark fantasy comedy film. This spooky little film features Harry Potter star Tom Felton.
A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting Plot:
A high school student, Kelly Ferguson, is on babysitting duty, but on Halloween night, Boogeyman and his monster kidnap the child. She is on a mission to rescue the kid and finds a secret society of children-protecting babysitters as well as a world of monsters.
1. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)
- Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lily Banda, Aïssa Maïga, Maxwell Simba.
- Director: Chiwetel Ejiofor.
This true story can inspire many young children. This inspirational movie, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, is the best pick from this list for a family movie night. The movie is originally based on the memoir by Bryan Mealer and the legend himself, William Kamkwamba.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Plot:
The movie deals with a 13-year-old boy who comes from a farming family in Malawi. His parents could no longer afford his school fees, so his school banned him from attending his beloved school. But he sneaked into the library and learned various topics, including studies like electrical engineering and energy production.
It paid off when this kid saved his Malawian village from famine by making a wind turbine. This British movie got widely positive critical reviews for its great story, acting, and direction.
