Best Movies for a Family With Kids of Different Ages

While Paddington is kid friendly, the movie has plenty of emotional moments, characters and themes that both parents and teens can relate to. The premise is simple: a bear named Paddington travels to the big city of London, England, to find a place to call home.

If anyone in the house runs high on anxiety, this one has a few tense stretches worth knowing about. Otherwise I highly recommend Paddington as a film for the entire family to enjoy together.

WALL·E is such a great family film because of its compelling story, its science-fiction setting and its genuinely dire stakes. It carries a hopeful message that anyone at any age can appreciate.

The film places us in a dystopian future where Earth has been polluted beyond repair. The only residents left on the planet are a cleanup robot named WALL·E and a cockroach. There is something here for everyone in the room.

Night at the Museum is a fun movie with a unique yet simple premise. The story follows a newly hired security guard who, on his first night of patrol, discovers a mysterious power lurking within the museum's walls that affects the displays in surprising ways.

Along the way the film teaches compromise, understanding and unity — with enough slapstick for the youngest kids and enough wit for the oldest.