This post originally appeared on the DVD Netflix blog “Inside the Envelope.” That company folded in 2023, and the blog was shut down, but you might find some good stuff here.
Family movie night can be a challenge these days. When we just want a laugh, appropriate for multiple generations, we often end up with a comedy that contains cringe-worthy moments. You know, the ones with content you’d rather not explain to your kids just yet, or lines you’d rather they didn’t repeat, or a scene you’d rather not experience with Grandma in the room. Luckily, DVD Netflix has plenty of movies the whole family can enjoy. Here are seven comedies that are funny and not likely to create an awkward moment.
Parental Guidance (PG) 2012
Billy Crystal and Bette Midler team up in Parental Guidance as a couple of empty nesters who agree to care for their three grandchildren whose parents go out of town for a week. They soon realize that their daughter is an over-controlling maniac, and her kids are crazy. Childrearing has changed quite a bit since they were young parents and they feel like fish out of water with their old-school parenting ideas. The idea for the film came from Billy Crystal’s own experience caring for his own grandchildren.
Home Alone (PG) 1990
Every kid who’s ever been sent to their room can only dream of the kind of adventure Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) has in Home Alone. No child left behind takes on a whole new meaning in this comedy. Kevin’s parents are so busy with the chaos of arranging a family vacation to Paris that they leave the eight-year-old behind. He’s not your average kid though and does quite well on his own, even outsmarting a couple of not-so-smart bad guys.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (PG) 2014
Did you ever have one of those days when everything that can go wrong does? For Alexander Cooper, it seems every day is like that. His family is quite the opposite, so on the eve of his 12th birthday party, he wishes his family members just one bad day. His wish comes true, but after he witnesses all the bad things that happen to his family members, Alexander feels responsible. The movie is based on a children’s book by the same name by Judith Viorst. Steve Carrell and Jennifer Garner star.
Cool Runnings (PG) 1993
The late John Candy stars in this comedy that juxtaposes tropic breezes with crystalline chills. When Derice, a Jamaican track star, doesn’t qualify for his country’s Olympic team, he can’t bear to miss out on the Olympic experience. Jamaica just happens to have a former U.S. bobsledding gold medalist (Candy) among its residents and Derice convinces him to coach a Jamaican team for the 1988 Olympics.
The Kid (PG) 2000
This feel-good comedy stars Bruce Willis, as Russ, a workaholic executive, who encounters an eight-year-old version of himself. Young Rusty thinks his grownup counterpart is a loser because he doesn’t have any of the things (a chick, a dog) he thought he would as a grownup. With the assistance of time travel, both versions of Russ are able to help each other make the best of life. Spencer Breslin, brother of actress Abigail (Little Miss Sunshine), stars as young Rusty.
Hotel for Dogs (PG) 2009
When a sister and brother are placed in a foster home that won’t allow them to bring their dog along, they make him a home in an abandoned hotel. Soon, other dogs arrive and the hotel is populated by every stray dog in town, arousing suspicion in the nearby shelter personnel and neighbors who are disturbed by all the barking. This comedy is based on a 1971 novel of the same name by Lois Duncan. Don Cheadle, Lisa Kudrow, and Emma Roberts star.
Slappy and the Stinkers (PG) 1998
A group of grade schoolers, known as the “Stinkers,” because they don’t follow rules, visit an aquarium and encounter a sad-looking sea lion. They decide to do something about Slappy’s situation and give him refuge in the principal’s (B.D. Wong) hot tub. Slappy is not safe though, because the school’s groundskeeper (Bronson Pinchot) thinks Slappy is a giant groundhog and wants to do away with him. Then, an animal broker wants to sell him to a circus. The question is, should Slappy go back to the aquarium?
