When you’re planning to enjoy a movie with the whole family on Saturday night, HBO Max got you covered. It features countless hours of family-friendly content that is ideal to stop by and enjoy both as an adult and children – All time favorite Harry Potter franchise, animation films from Studio Ghibli, or those irreplaceable flicks from your youth like Space Jam.
HBO Max is not just a platform for adults. Yes! There are programs like Game of Thrones or Euphoria, as well as the box office hit The Batman or The Matrix. But that’s not just it! It can be the best platform for kids since it has the greatest kid movies like Sesame Street and Dexter’s Laboratory. Additionally, there is a fair selection for young children to watch, including some of the oldies we adored as children. Below are the 10 best kid movies available on HBO Max.
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Scooby-Doo (2002)
Director: Raja Gosnell
Writer: James Gunn, Craig Titley, William Hannah
Cast: Mathew Lillard, Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar
IMDb Rating: 5.2
Runtime: 1hr. 26mins
It’s an American adventure, comedy, and live-action fantasy movie inspired by the longest-running Hannah-Barbara TV series with the same name. It is the first movie in the Scooby-Doo franchise. Scooby-Doo was financially successful, bringing in $275.7 million worldwide, becoming the fifteenth most successful movie of 2002.
Its story focuses on a group of 4 young adults and a talking dog who solve mysteries. They all reunite after two years to solve the case on a famous horror-themed island.
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Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
Director: Tim Hill
Writer: Jon Vitti, Will McRobb, Chris Viscardi
Cast: Jason Lee, Ross Baghdasarian, Janice Karman
IMDb Rating: 5.2
Runtime: 1hr. 32mins
It’s a live-action animated comedy movie modeled on the character with the same titles by Ross Baghdasarian. The film received unfavorable reviews but was a box office success grossing over $361 million worldwide. In addition, it became the seventh best-selling DVD in 2008.
A hopeful musician discovers three musical chipmunks with amazing singing abilities. He hopes to harness their incredible singing powers to gain fame.
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Real Steel (2011)
Director: Shawn Levy
Writer: John Gatins, Dan Gilroy, Jeremy Leven
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly, Dakota Goyo
IMDb Rating: 7.0
Runtime: 2hrs. 7mins
Real steel is a Sci-fi sports film inspired by the short story “Steel” written by Richard Matheson. It achieved a first-place debut appearance in 11 nations, including Australia, and earned $299.3 million globally. Additionally, at the 84th Academy Awards, it was nominated for Best Visual Effects.
A future-set film where robot boxing is a popular sport. It’s a story that revolves around a desperate promoter who believes he has discovered a champion in a broken robot.
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Harry Potter Saga (2001-2011)
Director: Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Newell, David Yates
Writer: J.K Rowling
Cast: Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint
IMDb Rating: 7.4 – 8.1
The Harry Potter series is an adaptation of the J.K Rowling novel consisting of eight fantasy adventure films. The story’s main characters are Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. With 7.7 billion in global earnings, it is the fourth highest-grossing film series.
The story focuses on a boy named Harry. He is continuously on a quest to deal with his prime nemesis, Lord Voldemort.
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Shrek the third
Director: Chris Miller, Raman Hul
Writer: Jeffrey Price, Peter S. Seaman, Chris Miller
Cast: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy
IMDb Rating: 6.1
Runtime: 1hr. 33mins
Shrek the Third or Shrek 3 is an action-adventure, animated comedy film inspired by the 1990 book Shrek. It is the third part in the Shrek series and a sequel to Shrek 2. It grossed around $121.6 million in its opening weekend, becoming the fourth highest-grossing film globally.
It starts with Prince Charming (Orge) aiming to dethrone Shrek and Fiona, who have taken the crown after King Harold’s passing. Shrek tries to persuade Fiona’s unprepared, 16-year-old cousin Artie to take the throne in place of him. Because Shrek does not want to rule and doesn’t think Ogre is a good fit.
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Kung Fu Panda
Director: Mark Osborne, John Stevenson
Writer: Jonathan Aibel, Glen Berger, Ethan Reiff
Cast: Jack Black, Ian McShane, Angelina Jolie
IMDb Rating: 7.6
Runtime: 1hr. 32mins
The franchise launched in the US in 2008. It consists of three animated films Kung Fu Panda (2008), Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011), and Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016). While the fourth part is set to be released in 2024. Amazingly, its first two films were nominated for the Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature.
The story follows the exploits of the protagonist Po Ping. A chubby panda who is unexpectedly selected as the foretold Dragon Warrior and develops into a kung fu expert. Despite the early doubts about his standing, Po displays his worth as he works to achieve his destiny.
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Dr. Dolittle
Director: Stephen Gaghan
Writer: Dan Gregor, Doug Mand, Stephen Gaghan
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen
IMDb Rating: 5.6
Runtime: 1hr. 44mins
Dolittle, also called The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle, is a 2020 fantasy-adventure film modeled on the story of Thomas Shepherd. Dr. Dolittle was released in the US on January 17 and grossed $250 million worldwide, becoming the seventh highest-grossing film of 2020.
A doctor who has the ability to communicate with animals sets off on a quest to find a fabled island. In order to save the dying Queen, who has been poisoned, he takes his crew on a mission to find a cure.
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Ella Enchanted
Director: Tommy O’Haver
Writer: Laurie Craig, Karen McCullah, Khristen Smith
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Hugh Dancy, Carey Elwes
IMDb Rating: 6.3
Runtime: 1hr. 36mins
It’s an American fantasy and comedy movie inspired by Gail Carson Levine’s 1997 novel. It was a financial success, and critics were happy with the film.
Ella is a young lady under a spell of obedience from Lucinda, a fairy. Any instructions were given to her by anybody she would follow. After her mother dies, her selfish and callous father remarries a repulsive lady with two devious daughters. They all just give orders and make Ellas’ life a living hell.
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Catch that Kid
Director: Bart Freundich
Writer: Nikolaj Arcel, Fabian Wullenweber, Erlend Loe
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Sam Robards, Jennifer Beals
IMDb Rating: 5.2
Runtime: 1hr. 31mins
It’s an action comedy film and a remake of the Danish film Klatretøsen (2002). Catch the Kid received a mixed response from the critics and made $16.9 million against its $12 million budget.
It revolves around a girl and her two friends. With her friends, she robs a bank for the cash required to pay for the treatment of her father’s terminal illness.
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Bee Movie
Director: Simon J. Smith, Steve Hickner
Writer: Jerry Seinfeld, Spike Feresten, Barry Marder
Cast: Jerry Seinfeld, Renee Zellweger, Mathew Broderick
IMDb Rating: 6.1
Runtime: 1hr. 31mins
Bee is a 2007 animated comedy film. It was a success and grossed over $293 million worldwide. In addition, it received a nomination for Best Animated Feature Film at the 65th Golden Globe Awards.
The Bee movie plot revolves around a Honey Bee that decides to sue humans for stealing from bees. When she learns from his friend Vanessa Bloome that humans sell and consume honey, she is furious and wants to protest against humans.
