8 Most Heartwarming Movies to Watch With Your Kids, Ranked by IMDb

In our fast-paced, gadget-filled age of endless hustle and bustle, it can be difficult to find time for simple, sincere communication with kids.

One of the best ways to reconnect and create a special atmosphere is to watch a good movie together.

To help you choose the perfect movie for a family night, we've compiled a list of eight heartwarming films that will leave a lasting impression on viewers of all ages.

8. 'Casper', 1995

IMDb Score: 6.2/10

Kat Harvey is a young girl who faces many challenges in her life. Her mother has passed away, and her father is a paranormal investigator.

In hopes of contacting his deceased wife's ghost, James travels across the country with Kat, leaving her unable to make friends. Everything changes when the family moves to the mysterious estate, which is haunted by four ghosts.

While James tries to drive away the evil spirits, Kat befriends Casper, a kind and lonely ghost.

7. 'Honey, I Shrunk the Kids', 1989

IMDb Score: 6.4/10

The eccentric scientist Wayne Szalinski invents a device that can shrink objects to minuscule sizes.

While Professor Wayne dreams of the unprecedented profits his miracle machine will bring, his children, Amy and Nick, and their neighbors, Russ and Ron, accidentally become victims of the device.

The four children find themselves in a wondrous world where ordinary grass turns into impenetrable jungles and insects become gigantic monsters.

6. 'Aladdin', 2019

IMDb Score: 6.9/10

Aladdin, a street thief, leads a carefree life, sleeping rough and swindling the honest merchants of Agrabah every day.

One day at the market, he falls in love with Jasmine, a beautiful princess who has escaped the palace and is posing as a servant. To win her heart, Aladdin needs the help of the all-powerful Genie, who can transform him into a prestigious suitor.

However, the young man's plans are constantly thwarted by Jafar, the evil vizier who is obsessed with marrying Jasmine and seizing the Sultan's throne.

5. 'Wonka', 2023

IMDb Score: 6.9/10

The young chocolatier Willy Wonka arrives in a small European town, captivating the locals with his unusual sweets.

Unfortunately, he immediately faces two major problems: first, he is taken hostage by a wicked laundress, and then he clashes with the local candy mafia.

With the help of his loyal friends, Wonka overcomes these challenges, helps an orphaned girl named Noodle, and opens the chocolate factory of his dreams.

4. 'We Bought a Zoo', 2011

IMDb Score: 7.0/10

British man Benjamin Mee recently lost his wife. Wanting a fresh start, he decides to move to a new home with his two children, 14-year-old Dylan and 7-year-old Rosie.

After a long search, he finds what seems like the perfect home for his family. However, he soon realizes that the property he fell in love with is actually an abandoned zoo.

Benjamin decides to restore the zoo, saving the more than two hundred exotic animals and his family in the process.

3. 'Mrs. Doubtfire', 1993

IMDb Score: 7.1/10

Freelance actor Daniel Hillard is going through a rough patch: he loses his job, and then his wife files for divorce, separating him from his beloved children.

The resourceful man devises a brilliant plan. Donning a gray wig and an old-fashioned dress, Daniel gets a job as a governess in his own home.

Now, the happy father can see his children every day. However, he must master a few recipes, learn how to run a household, and get used to his fake belly.

2. 'Christopher Robin', 2018

IMDb Score: 7.2/10

Christopher Robin is an adult who runs a department at a large company that produces travel bags and suitcases.

He stopped believing in fairy tales long ago, and is so immersed in his work that he barely finds time to spend with his wife and nine-year-old daughter.

Everything changes when Winnie the Pooh returns to Christopher's life. Pooh asks Christopher for help but ultimately saves him from the routine that has consumed him, reminding him of life's most important values.

1. 'Big', 1988

IMDb Score: 7.3/10

The main character of this family comedy is 12-year-old Joshua. He lives with his parents and younger sister, Rachel, and dreams of becoming an adult.

One day, his wish comes true when he wakes up in the body of a 30-year-old man. Now, Joshua must find a job and navigate the challenges of adulthood – a life for which he's completely unprepared.

Tom Hanks won a Golden Globe for his role as the grown-up Joshua and was nominated for an Oscar.