10 Children Movies We Enjoyed in 2022

As a parent, we are always looking for movies that we can watch with our entire family. As much as we love watching superhero movies in our household, sometimes we want to see something that is a little different. We compiled a list of family movies that we enjoyed this year and can be something for you to watch during this holiday season.

Here they are in no particular order.

BELLE

Belle was one of those movies that I kept hearing about but never got the chance to see. Thanks to our friends at Shout! Factory we were sent a copy and this movie was beautiful.

This story will resonant with many families and the music is just amazing!

A high school student becomes a globally beloved singer after entering a fantastic virtual world. She soon embarks on an emotional and epic quest to uncover the identity of a mysterious beast who’s on the run from ruthless vigilantes.

TURNING RED

Turning Red was such a great movie about friendships, mother-daughter relationships, and puberty. Yes, this movie went there and it was refreshing to see something on the screen that has not been covered before.

Lovingly told, this movie gives us an inside look at a young girl going through changes both internally and physically.

A thirteen-year-old girl is torn between staying her mother’s dutiful daughter and the changes of adolescence. And as if the challenges were not enough, whenever she gets overly excited she transforms into a giant red panda.

THE BAD GUYS

What happens when you mix Ocean’s Eleven with animated animals? You get The Bad Guys! This movie is such a great caper movie and all of the voices involved are fantastic. Just the opening scene with Wolf and Snake talking in the diner reminded me of the dialogue in Reservoir Dogs.

Families will enjoy this fun movie and hopefully, we will get more adventures with these characters in the years to come. Read our full review here.

After a lifetime of legendary heists, notorious criminals Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Shark and Ms. Tarantula are finally caught. To avoid a prison sentence, the animal outlaws must pull off their most challenging con yet — becoming model citizens. Under the tutelage of their mentor, Professor Marmalade, the dubious gang sets out to fool the world that they’re turning good.

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON

Who knew a movie about a talking shell would pull us in and make us feel so good after it was over. Marvel the Shell with Shoes on is such a great movie but might be a little slow for younger kids. There are some Youtube shorts that might be their speed if they can’t watch this full movie.

Read our review here along with our interview with Jenny Slate.

Marcel, a 1-inch-tall shell, lives with his grandmother, Connie, the only residents of their town after their neighbors’ sudden, mysterious disappearance. When discovered by a guest amongst the clutter of his Airbnb, the short film he posts online brings Marcel millions of passionate fans and a new hope of reuniting with his long-lost family.

THE SEA BEAST

The Sea Beast is one of those Netflix movies that I wish was released in the theaters. This on an IMAX screen would have been fantastic! I really enjoyed this one. The movie has great themes about breaking traditions, finding family, and some amazing-looking monsters.

A young girl stows away on the ship of a legendary sea monster hunter, turning his life upside down as they venture into uncharted waters.

WENDELL & WILD

This movie should have a lot more hype than it did. You have Jordan Peele, who is hot right now, and Henry Selick, who directed the iconic Coraline and this movie came and went.

This movie was a great ride and the animation in it was top-notch. This could become a Halloween tradition in our household.

The two devious demon brothers Wendell and Wild have to face their arch-enemy with the help of the nun Sister Helly, who is notorious for expelling demons. However, the brothers are not only plagued by her, but also by her altar boys.

A CHRISTMAS STORY CHRISTMAS

Every now and then a sequel/prequel comes out for a movie and you think to yourself, “Do we really need this?” In the case of A Christmas Story Christmas, the answer is yes.

There are a lot of feel-good moments in this and some moments that hit you in the feels. This is definitely a great follow-up and a great movie to watch together with your family.

Read our review and interview with Peter Billingsley

Ralphie returns to give his kids a magical Christmas like the one he had as a child. Long-awaited follow-up to holiday classic A Christmas Story starring Peter Billingsley.

BLUE’S BIG CITY ADVENTURE

If you are a fan of any version of Blue’s Clues then you will love this movie. From the singing to the dancing this movie has it all. Not only do you have great cameos from some of Broadway’s best but you get all 3 hosts from Blue’s Clues in one movie.

It seems that a common theme in a lot of children’s movies is to believe in yourself and this one enforces that theme too. Read our full review here and watch our interviews with the stars of the movie here and the director here.

Josh and Blue travel to New York City to attend an audition, hoping to star in a major Broadway musical while being a part of the cast.

PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH

Puss In Boots; The Last Wish is another one of those sequels that we did not know we needed. This movie looks great and the story about living your life is one that will be relative to anyone.

Read our full review to see why this made the list.

Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for adventure has taken its toll: he has burnt through eight of his nine lives. Puss sets out on an epic journey to find the mythical Last Wish and restore his nine lives.

MY FATHER”S DRAGON

I will not say much about this movie but I want more people to see it and talk about it. Yes, there will be some laughing and some crying while watching this movie. If your children have read the books they will enjoy this movie a lot.

Elmer, who is having trouble adjusting to his new life, decides to set out to find a wild island and rescue a young dragon. His adventures will lead him to encounter ferocious beasts, discover a mysterious place and make a new friendship.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

LIGHTYEAR – This story about the Buzz Lightyear character was an interesting take.

STRANGE WORLD – This movie fell flat in the theaters but it was a fun adventure nonetheless.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 – So many easter eggs and where are we going to go next?

MINIONS: RISE OF GRU – It is always fun to see the adventures of Gru and his minions.

LYLE, LYLE CROCODILE – A great movie about believing in yourself and those around you.

Scroll to Top