Best Family Movies on Netflix Instant Play

What makes a good family movie? It depends on the family. But some movies appeal to almost everyone at any age, and with Netflix Instant Play, your family can sample some of the best family movies available anytime.

Even if you have a Netflix subscription, you may not have tried the Instant Play feature. Initially, the Instant Play selections were limited to poorly-rated or obscure movies and television series. But the Netflix Instant Play selection has come a long way in the past year or so, thanks in large part to Netflix deal with Starz to play more recent and highly-rated movies.

Now, with a Netflix subscription, you can watch these family movies on your computer anytime. With certain Netflix-ready devices like a Wii, TiVo, or certain HDTV televisions, you can stream movies instantly to your TV.

Visit the Netflix website for more information and in no time, your family could be watching these 10 Best Family Movies.

March of the Penguins (2004) G
Narrated by Morgan Freeman, this documentary about emperor penguins in Antarctica as they journey between their breeding grounds and ocean feeding sites while caring for their chicks won the 2005 Academy Award for Documentary Feature.

The Princess and the Frog (2009) G
Disney's modern version of Grimm's fairy tale, "The Frog Prince" is set in New Orleans in the 1920s. The music is fantastic, with two songs nominated for Academy Awards.

Alice in Wonderland (2010) PG
Tim Burton's take on Lewis Carroll's classic tale of a girl's adventures after falling down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world. Although the tale has been adapted into multiple film versions, Burton's mixture of live-action and animation gives the story the surreal atmosphere it deserves. Johnny Depp stars as the Mad Hatter.

A River Runs Through It (1992) PG
Another Academy Award winner (for Best Cinematography), this film following two brothers, sons of a stern Presbyterian minister, as they come of age during the Prohibition and Depression eras. The movie was directed by Robert Redford and based on the semi-autobiographical stories of author Norman Maclean.

Into the Woods (1990) NR
The original Broadway musical production starring Bernadette Peters and Joanna Gleason weaves together the continuing stories of popular fairy tales characters beyond their original tales such as "Little Red Riding Hood," "Jack and the Beanstalk," "Cinderella," and "Rapunzel."

Up (2009) PG
Another computer-animated blockbuster by the Pixar (the company behind numerous hits like Toy Story and Wall-E), Up is the adventure of a cranky old man who, on the eve of losing his house to real estate developers, finally decides to embark on the adventure he always planned with his wife.

Stomp Live (2008) NR
A filmed performance of the British dance troupe Stomp at England's Brighton Dome with performers from all over the world, as well as interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. Stomp is a percussion and visual arts performance that is stunning to watch.

Groundhog Day (1993) PG
This often-overlooked comedy directed by Harold Ramis is a fantastic telling of redemption and choices one makes in life. In fact, in a New York Times article in 2009 , Stanley Fish named Groundhog Day one of the 10 Best American Movies, along such classics as Vertigo and Meet me in St. Louis.

Little Shop of Horrors (1986) PG-13
A film based on a musical that was based on a 1960s film, this version stars Rick Moranis as the flower shop clerk who discovers a plant from outer space that craves human blood. This version also stars Steve Martin as the dentist and features a new "happier" ending after test audiences gave the first ending negative reviews. The songs are so catchy, you'll be singing them for days.

Rudy (1994) PG
What family movie list would be complete without a beating-the-odds story set in the sports world? In Rudy, based on a true story, Sean Astin portrays a man who succeeds in his dream of playing football for Notre Dame. The film was ranked by ESPN as one of The 25 Best Sports Movies.

Netflix is always adding new movies to Instant Play, and some are only available for a limited time, so check back often for new family movies to come available.

Resources:

Fish, Stanley. "The 10 Best American Movies." The New York Times. http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/the-10-best-american-movies/

"The 25 Best Sports Movies" ESPN.com
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/espn25/story?page=listranker/bestmoviesresult