Even though Disney Plus has a huge library of movies and shows, don’t forget about HBO Max. There are all kinds of movies on the streaming platform, from hit franchises to DC heroes to vintages. You may certainly uncover some treasures for the entire family if you scroll through any period or kind of movie. Harry Potter has moved from HBO Max to Peacock, but we’ve put together a list of movies that even your older kids will likely enjoy. With these choices, you can go on some memorable adventures. Also, check out our suggestions for streaming services for kids, the best family movies watch online on Netflix, and the best Pixar movies.
1984 – The NeverEnding Story
The NeverEnding Story is a 80s classic that everyone should see. It is about a boy named Bastian who finds a magical book that pulls him into the world of Fantasia. Watch Atreyu, the Child Empress, Falkor and his horse, and many other characters as they try to save Fantasia or meet them for the first time. Try not to cry over the sad death of [spoiler!].
1985 – The Goonies
The Goonies is a great kids-on-a-quest movie with danger, humor, and heart. It has a big impact on pop culture and generations of filmmakers. This was Josh Brolin’s first movie, and Sean Astin played Mikey, the unofficial leader of the group, long before he played Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings and Bob in Stranger Things. Dig into this hidden treasure.
2001 – Spirited Away
Hayao Miyazaki won an Academy Award for this animated classic. It has everything good about Studio Ghibli, even Totoro’s soot sprites. In this movie, Chihiro, only 10 years old, finds herself in a magical world full of monsters and has to work to free her parents from a bad spell.
2019 – Steven Universe The Movie
Steven Universe is one of the most loved animated shows on Cartoon Network. In this movie, Steven, who is 16 years old, and the Gems go on a musical ride where they meet a new enemy who wants to kill Steven. They deal with weapons that take away people’s lives, memory loss, and action on other planets. If you fall down the rabbit hole, watch all of the episodes of the TV show while it’s still on HBO Max.
2008 – Ponyo
Ponyo is a charming friendship tale and another treasure from Miyazaki’s Ghibli. Ponyo is a fairy-tale fish princess (sure, why not?). She wants to move to the human world to be with her best friend, Sosuke, but they face many problems. In this anime story, some English-speaking voice actors are Matt Damon, Betty White, Cate Blanchett, and Liam Neeson.
1985 – Pee-Big Wee’s Adventure
All of the descriptions of his movie get the “man-boy in a grey suit” part right, but they don’t show how Pee-Wee Herman started a dance craze and a rap song. It’s a goofy yet humorous comedy about a mature boy having a bow tie who has to jump over hurdles to discover his stolen bicycle. This movie was also Burton’s first time directing a full-length movie.