Momo Productions / Getty Images
With just one TV in the house, we have to be strategic about what we watch. Disney+ and Hulu have become our go-to streaming hubs, and after years of trial and error, I’ve narrowed it down to our 10 favorite shows and movies that both kids and adults can actually enjoy during these long holiday breaks.
Monkeybusinessimages / Getty Images
Related: Millennials Are Having Kids And Starting To Realize…Our Parents Actually Kinda Sucked??
Disney
Set a few years after Return of the Jedi, The Skeleton Crew was my kids’ introduction to the Star Wars television universe. While the best comparison I can make is “The Goonies, but make it Star Wars,” it’s got everything: plucky kids, parent-free adventures, pirates, a one-eyed droid, and quite possibly my favorite character to come out of any Star Wars series: Neel.
The thrills are fairly low-stakes and even my 4-year-old was WAY into it. Both of my kids are sensitive to scary things, so their investment in something I loved just as much as they did was impressive. I honestly don’t know why this didn’t catch on more than it did and I’m still waiting hopefully that Disney will suddenly decide to do a season 2.
The series follows a group of kids on the hidden planet of At Attin, who accidentally find themselves lost in space with no way home. With the help of a pirate droid and Jude Law’s mysterious Jod Na Nawood, they set out on an adventure throughout the galaxy to find their way back home. Literally every episode leaves on a cliffhanger, making it an exciting show to go back to.
Stream it here.
Disney
We’re a baking show family, but there is something so uniquely special about Kids Baking Championship. My kids — 5 and 8 — love seeing kids just a bit older than them doing something that’s truly impressive and I can imagine older kids will feel a bit of inspiration, too. The show itself is fun to watch as a family and helps kids see a little resiliency in action.
Duff Goldman is the perfect host and ultimate cheerleader and unlike some competition shows, the environment is 100 percent supportive. Each week, another baker is eliminated until the final champion is crowned and regular kids show off just how much a kid can really do if they put their minds to it. Their creations and teamwork are equally inspiring to watch.
Every time we watch a season, my kids get inspired to help in the kitchen and my oldest was even inspired to successfully make some cookies on her own. A no-lose situation when you feel like you’re surrounded by either the migraine-inducing Cocomelon or cut-throat competition shows.
Stream it here.
Disney
Finding movies to watch as a family can be a real issue — so help me if I have to sit through Beverly Hills Chihuahua against my will. Night at the Museum — and both sequels — have genuinely held up over the years even if my kids are too young to know who any of the actual historical characters are. For us, it’s literal perfection as far as a movie goes.
While a few parts were a little intense, there are enough kid gags and adult jokes to keep us all satisfied — and it impressively piqued my kids’ interest in historical figures and museums. Ben Stiller is excellent as Larry Daley, a regular guy just trying to find a job. When he takes the night guard position at the New York history museum, he’s caught *off-guard* when the displays come to life. With an all-star cast including Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, and Dick Van Dyke, it’s the perfect mix of excitement and fun.
Stream it here.
Disney
Let me start by saying that my kids are EXTREMELY sensitive to anything scary — we even had to turn off the live action Beauty and the Beast BEFORE he was even transformed into the Beast. So when I recommend something with even a little bit of a spook-factor, I guarantee it’s been tested.
Eddie Murphy stars as a work-obsessed real estate agent who is called to the mysterious Gracey mansion — spookiness ensues. There are a couple of creepy moments and a few light-hearted scares, but all of the references to the ride are really fun. Jennifer Tilly shines as a Madam Leota just trying to do her job. Eddie Murphy’s classic self-banter always makes me laugh and my kids enjoy it nightmare-free — a must for our spooky season or really any day of the week.
Stream it here.
Disney
This is about as grown up of a movie as my kids will manage, but is also the best introduction to Nicolas Cage a family could ask for. It’s full of adventure and while it might not be perfect for every sensitive young kid, it still has a PG rating — relatively mild as far as family adventure flicks go.
Cage is brilliant as Benjamin Franklin Gates — who’s trying to find and protect a treasure that’s been hidden for generations. The adventure is easy-to-follow even if they haven’t reached US history in school and there’s enough light-hearted humor mixed in with the action. Plus we get the gem “I’m gonna steal the Declaration of Independence,” which is always a reason to watch in and of itself.
Stream it here.
Disney
From the early days of Bob Saget through today, America’s Funniest Home Videos’ premise hasn’t changed a bit — and neither has its appeal. Sure, it’s your typical slapstick humor, but all of the reasons it’s been around for close to 40 years are all of the reasons it’s still funny.
This is one of those shows that wouldn’t be something I’d necessarily choose on a Saturday night after the kids have gone to bed, but their infectious giggles and literal rolling on the ground laughing make it an easy choice when we’re looking for something to watch as a family.
Stream it here.
Disney
With all of the same charm as Kids Baking Championship, Chopped, Junior is another show to watch impressive kids doing impressive things in a supportive environment. The format is the same as Chopped — kids are given a mystery basket of ingredients to make something new and excellent with.
If you have a picky eater at home, it’s also a great way to introduce kids eating — and enjoying — unique foods in a low-pressure environment. If you’ve ever hoped and dreamed of hearing your youngster say “wow that beet looks good” — this is the show for your family.
Stream it here.
Disney / Hulu / National Geographic
My family loves a good nature documentary series and this one delivers. America’s National Parks is extra fun because it explores all of a the nature right in our ~relative~ backyard. It’s such a cool way to explore the best our country has to offer even if a trip to Yellowstone isn’t in the budget this year.
And with so much diversity from park to park — it’s such a cool way to see different parts of the American landscape. Each episode covers a national park — from Yosemite to Hawaii volcanos — where viewers can see the wildlife and scenery unique to each park. It’s entertaining enough for even younger kids to enjoy and it’s everything I have loved about nature documentaries since I was a kid.
Stream it here.
Disney
We watched this as a family not too long ago and my kids were HOOKED. Whitney Houston shines as Fairy Godmother and the music is absolute perfection. I love watching it with my kids and reliving my own love for it as a child and while my kids love it on their own accord, they LOVED seeing Brandy show up in Descendants: Rise of Red.
I love how diverse the cast is and the song “Impossible” lives in the inner workings of my brain forever. Since it’s that classic story of Cinderella — a favorite for generations — the story is evergreen for all ages. If you haven’t watched this one since you were a kid, here’s your sign to grab your kids and some popcorn and bring yourself back to The Wonderful World of Disney in the 90s.
Stream it here.
Disney
I will die on this hill: 2015’s Cinderella is hands down the best of any and all of any Disney remakes, now and to come. Not only is it visually stunning, the story feels fresh — even with plenty of nods to the animated version. Cate Blanchett somehow manages to make the Evil Stepmother both deplorable and sympathetic and Lily James is the perfect cast for a character that focuses on kindness rather than taking an attitude of “this is just how things are.”
As far as a moral goes, “have courage and be kind” really stuck with my kids — it’s a simple, accessible message for any age and James’ Ella personifies both, even when things seem so far stacked against her. My entire family loves watching this when we’re in a fairytale kind of a mood and we often give each other the reminder to “have courage and be kind.”
Stream it here.
What is your family watching and loving right now? Tell me in the comments below! And stream all of the titles above on Disney+ and Hulu.
Also in Parents: These 16 Thanksgiving Family Meltdowns Might Actually Make Your Own Family Seem Positively Quaint