The 25 essential family movies

When your kids sit down to watch Toy Story for the first time, they will likely want to spend more time with Woody and Buzz after it's over. Luckily there are three more chapters, each of which is filled with the imagination of a director who sees the world as their toy box. 

What's the right order to watch Star Wars? I'm glad you asked! Our advice is to start with the original, then move onto the next two chapters and then skip the others altogether. That doesn't mean that the others don't have their moments--the most recent trilogy starts off with a bang. But once your kids have hung out with Luke Skywalker, taken down the Death Star and kicked into light speed, there's really nowhere better they can go in this franchise. 

Did you really think we were going to get this far without a Miyazaki movie? The director takes us to worlds unlike any other, as seen in his story of a girl who gets lost in the spirit realm. The animation will make your jaw drop as much as the kid's. 

Embrace your inner child with this movie about a giant elf. Not just any giant elf, but one played by Will Ferrell in a role that's as sweet as syrup and as funny as just about anything on our list. It's a perfect movie to watch with the family on Christmas. 

Are you ready to phone home and talk to your inner child? That's the magic of watching Steven Spielberg's classic about an alien who makes friends with the locals and eats Reese's Pieces for breakfast. The movie will have you over-the-moon with wonder, thanks to Spielberg's touch. 

Two words: Julie Andrews. Two more: great music. Combine the two with some gorgeous visuals and some great actors, and you've got something special. The story of a nanny who looks after the Von Trapp family during World War II is alive with the sound of music — and the possibilities of the movie medium. 

Remember when Disney was cranking out live-action films? This was the apex. A story of twins who meet at summer camp, The Parent Trap has one of the great child performances of all time, with Lindsay Lohan in the role of both sisters. 

Look, at some point everyone has to traumatize their kids with those flying monkeys. It's part of growing up. It's a testament to the rest of this movie — about a girl who enters another world — that your kids are going to love it despite those monkeys. 

You might think a movie about kids ditching school would be a bad influence on your own kids, but there are some real life lessons here. Kids should learn not to take school too seriously, have fun, enjoy life and make the most of their situation. There are some timeless moments during this film, many of which will have your kids wanting to enjoy the sunshine themselves.

When you can't find a movie to watch with the whole family, who you gonna call? Ghostbusters! No matter how many times we watch this comedy about ghostbusters, we always find ourselves sucked back in. 

Who wouldn't want to have the house to themselves as a kid? No parents, no rules! But things take a turn when two burglars show up at the house, which means this kid is going to have to protect himself the only way he knows how: with booby-traps! 

Two words: Julie Andrews. Oh wait, did we already use that? Guess we'll have to find another way to describe this musical, which sees Andrews soar over the chimneys of London with her magical umbrella. With her new nanny gig, one could easily draw a line between her role in the The Sound of Music and the one she plays here, which is basically the same character with a few more powers.

Family movies tend to have characters who get swept away to other worlds, and My Neighbor Totoro is no exception. The animation from Miyazaki sees two girls move to the countryside with their dad, where they befriend a fluffy creature who lets them into his world of secret portals and magical cat buses. Yes, we said "cat buses." Anyone who is willing to take a ride will be glad they did. 

Horror movies may not be the first thing you think of when it comes to family movie night, but you'll see why this one made our list within several minutes. Spielberg's movie about a dinosaur amusement park isn't just out for scares. It's out to capture the imagination of everyone between the ages of 10 and 100. 

More Spielberg! This time it's the adventures of an archaeologist who is closer to James Bond than he is to any real-life archaeologist. No one in the field of archaeology is outrunning boulders or killing bad guys, at least as far as we know. 

Kids love it. Parents love it. Even the curmudgeons who hate musicals love it. Singin' in the Rain was made for everyone, even if the satire on moviemaking will fly right over your child's head. 

It's the Disney movie that defined a generation... and a new way to visit zoos. Following a lion who was born into royalty, the film brings you great songs and adventures, packed to the brim with characters who are still being quoted to this day.  It's the mashup between Hamlet and animals that you never knew you needed. 

It's arguable whether this is the best installment in the franchise, but it will definitely get your kids hooked on the world of wizards, spells and castles. Harry Potter and his pals will be on your kids' minds for weeks.

Another Pixar hit that is perfect for all ages, Wall-E follows a robot who is in charge of cleaning up trash on Earth. He's the last remaining thing on this planet, since all the humans have left for space. That is, until another robot comes along to rock his world. What ensues is a space waltz between two robots who will do anything to stay together, even if it means saving the human race. 

Your children will be kids in a candy store while watching this adaptation of Roald Dahl's novel, while you will be questioning this guy Wonka's motives. Luring kids in with chocolate, really? And what's with the candy? There's no way that stuff isn't laced with drugs. It's best to just drop the questions and enjoy the tour. 

Just keep swimming through our list and you'll find all sorts of animated classics. Nemo is a Pixar hit about a fish who swims off from his family, forcing dad to go on a quest to find him. It's one of those movies that will make you appreciate your dad even more once it's over. 

Anyone with a daughter should put on the Traveling Pants, about four besties who set off on their first summer vacations. Connected by a pair of jeans that fit them all perfectly, they use these pants to get them through hard times. It sounds like a total chick-flick, but don't worry, guys: there's tons of tropical scenery for dad and Blake Lively for the boys. There's a reason your son is going to stay through the whole thing — and she's playing soccer. 

Okay, so this one's a little on the nose for our list, but it's hard to beat The Incredibles when it comes to family entertainment. When the family gets to butt-kicking, everyone on the couch will be entertained. 

Hey, you guuuys! We've got the perfect movie for the whole family. Kids will love this story of four friends on a treasure hunt while parents will admire the set-pieces that bring their world to life. 

The ultimate family movie. The Princess Bride has everything you want in a family film: fencing, fighting, adventure, imagination, comedy, romance, true love. It's all here in this story of a kidnapped princess and it's all wonderful.