10 Morally Uplifting Films The Whole Family Can Watch
By Movieguide® Contributor
Having a family movie night is a fantastic way to spend time, especially if the film is morally uplifting. It can be challenging to find a flick with wholesome content and a moral worldview. Movieguide® is removing the guesswork with this curated list of movies. Children will learn valuable lessons, and adults will be entertained, bringing the whole family together.
LYLE, LYLE CROCODILE is a fun comedy about a singing crocodile who defends a middle school boy named Josh who sees the good in the talking reptile and builds an unlikely friendship with him. LYLE, LYLE CROCODILE is funny and enjoyable and has a strong moral worldview with many positive themes, but it could use a little more jeopardy and some scenes can be scary for little children.
Adam Sandler’s latest movie on Netflix, LEO, is a clean, clever, utterly wonderful animated musical comedy for all ages that follows a talking lizard named Leo who helps some students and their mean teacher with numerous life lessons. Leo has spent his entire 74 years of life in a glass-encased terrarium at an elementary school fifth-grade classroom alongside his best friend, Squirtle the Turtle, but now wants to see the world.
+1Moderately questionable elements. (Discernment required for young children.)
THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE (2023) is based on the iconic Nintendo video game of the same name and follows brothers Mario and Luigi, two plumbers from Brooklyn, New York. After a green pipe in the sewers transports them into a different universe, the brothers find themselves wrapped up in an evil plot by King Bowser. Bowser plans to kidnap and marry Princess Peach, take over the Mushroom Kingdom, and rule the universe. The movie has a strong moral message about brotherhood, sacrifice, and working together to defeat evil. Due to some intense animated action/violence, Movieguide® advises caution for younger children.
-1Caution advised for older children, including teenagers, and sensitive adults.
In SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE, Miles Morales runs into a society of Spider-Men or Spider-People protecting the multiverse from threats, but when they clash on how to handle a new supervillain, Miles faces a moral dilemma that affects the people he loves the most. SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE is a creative, exciting, funny superhero movie with a strong, heartfelt pro-family worldview that also promotes doing the right thing, but there’s lots of animated action violence and some brief foul language, so caution is advised for older children.
+1Moderately questionable elements. (Discernment required for young children.)
In the animated movie PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH, Puss in Boots realizes he’s on his last life, so he needs to find the Last Wish star and ask for more lives. Funny and exciting, PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH is well made and has a strong Christian, moral worldview that includes Christian references and promotes being less selfish and reckless, thinking of others before yourself, and loving your family, but there are some scary characters and moments.
-1Caution advised for older children, including teenagers, and sensitive adults.
WONKA is a colorful fantasy that tells how Willy became Willy Wonka and overcomes a government-sanctioned cartel of three large chocolate makers to start his own chocolate factory. WONKA is a delight to watch, a very fun and funny movie with memorable songs and a positive story about good triumphing over evil through the magic of joy and great dreams, but the criminal chocolate makers bribe a group of chocoholic clergy to look the other way.
+3Some minor questionable elements. (Media-wisdom is suggested to discuss.)
In PADDINGTON 2, Paddington the Bear is falsely accused of stealing, so the Brown family has to solve the mystery and fight to get him out of jail. PADDINGTON 2 is a funny, loveable, highly entertaining family movie with a strong moral worldview.
+3Some minor questionable elements. (Media-wisdom is suggested to discuss.)
THE PEANUTS MOVIE is a wonderful animated movie based on the beloved comic strip created by Charles Schulz, wherein Charlie Brown falls for the new girl in town and tries to make a good first impression, despite his poor reputation. THE PEANUTS MOVIE is a lovable, funny, entertaining animated movie for all ages that teaches positive lessons of compassion, honesty, and selflessness, with only some slapstick and minor perilous scenes that might scary sensitive, very young children.
+1Moderately questionable elements. (Discernment required for young children.)
MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON is a live action Claymation comedy about a little seashell wearing tennis shoes who lives with his grandmother at a rental house and who becomes friends with a divorced documentary filmmaker, who puts popular videos of Marcel online. A celebration of family and community, MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON is cute, funny, winsome, and sometimes profoundly beautiful and contains brief though implied Christian content, but there are some light profanities and themes of divorce, old age and abandonment.
+4Biblical, usually Christian, worldview, with no questionable elements whatsoever.
MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN is a heartrending, faith-affirming drama about the true story of a 12-year-old girl suffering from a very serious medical disorder. The cast and the filmmakers do a beautiful job making this story come alive.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
