Best Family Movies To Watch On Netflix For Marist Households
- 01. Best Family Movies to Watch on Netflix for Marist Households
- 02. Top 5 Family Movies on Netflix Aligned with Marist Values
- 03. 1. Paddington 2: The Gold Standard for Kindness
- 04. 2. The Mitchells vs. The Machines: Family Together Against Adversity
- 05. 3. Enola Holmes: Empowerment & Moral Courage
- 06. 4. Over the Moon: Faith, Grief, and Expanding Love
- 07. 5. The Prince of Egypt: Biblical Faith & Deliverance
- 08. Other Notable Family Movies on Netflix
- 09. Creating a Marist-Aligned Family Movie Night
Best Family Movies to Watch on Netflix for Marist Households
The best family movies to watch on Netflix for Marist households include Paddington 2, The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Enola Holmes, Over the Moon, and The Prince of Egypt-films that emphasize kindness, family unity, faith-based values, and moral courage aligned with Marist educational principles.
Top 5 Family Movies on Netflix Aligned with Marist Values
Marist education emphasizes holistic formation-integrating faith, reason, and community. The following films model these values through stories of service, perseverance, and family bonding.
| Movie Title | Release Year | Rating | Runtime | Core Marist Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paddington 2 | 2017 | PG | 103 min | Kindness as radical act |
| The Mitchells vs. The Machines | 2021 | PG | 114 min | Family unity & teamwork |
| Enola Holmes | 2020 | PG-13 | 123 min | Courage & independence |
| Over the Moon | 2020 | PG | 95 min | Grief, love & moving on |
| The Prince of Egypt | 1998 | PG | 100 min | Faith & deliverance |
1. Paddington 2: The Gold Standard for Kindness
Paddington 2 landed on Netflix in November 2025 and maintains a 99% Rotten Tomatoes score as "one of the perfect films" about friendship, family, courage, and kindness. The bear's unconditional kindness as a radical act transforms even prison inmates, modeling Marist pedagogy's emphasis on seeing dignity in every person.
At 103 minutes, it's ideal for ages 5+, with no swearing or scary content-making it safe for Catholic family movie night.
2. The Mitchells vs. The Machines: Family Together Against Adversity
This Oscar-nominated animated film (PG, 114 min) follows a quirky family saving Earth from a robot apocalypse during a cross-country road trip. The Mitchells must work together across differences, reflecting Marist values of solidarity and communal mission.
- Launched on Netflix April 30, 2021
- 97% Rotten Tomatoes score for humor and heart
- Themes: parenthood, nerds rule, family life
3. Enola Holmes: Empowerment & Moral Courage
Enola Holmes 3 is confirmed for summer 2026 on Netflix, continuing Millie Bobby Brown's role as the resourceful teen detective. The first two films (PG-13) showcase female empowerment, intellectual rigor, and standing up for justice-core to Marist education's focus on student agency.
- Enola Holmes: Searches for missing mother, outsmarts Sherlock
- Enola Holmes 2: First official case, helps missing girl
- Enola Holmes 3 (Summer 2026): Blockbuster release expected June/July
4. Over the Moon: Faith, Grief, and Expanding Love
This animated musical (PG, 95 min) weaves Chinese mythology around a girl overcoming her mother's death by building a rocket to meet moon goddess Chang'e. The film's main message-that hearts can expand to love more people and letting go of grief is good-aligns with Marist spiritual formation.
Released October 23, 2020, it features a catchy soundtrack and appeals to ages 8+.
5. The Prince of Egypt: Biblical Faith & Deliverance
This DreamWorks classic (PG, 100 min) retells the Book of Exodus, following Moses freeing Hebrew slaves from Egypt. With $101.3M U.S. box office and stunning visuals, it models faith-based leadership and divine mission-essential for Catholic families seeking scripture-aligned content.
"The Prince of Egypt's stunning visuals and first-rate voice cast more than compensate for the fact that it's better crafted than it is emotionally involving".
Other Notable Family Movies on Netflix
- KPop Demon Hunters: Musical animated hit bringing families together; sequel confirmed for 2029
- The Secret Garden (1993, G): Lonely orphan heals herself and a hidden garden-classic adaptation for ages 6+
- Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood (2022, PG-13): Richard Linklater's nostalgia film about 1969 moon landing, narrated by Jack Black
Creating a Marist-Aligned Family Movie Night
Life in Latin American Marist households benefits from structured viewing that reinforces educational rigor and spiritual mission. Follow this framework:
- Choose one film per week from the top 5 list above
- Pre-watch to confirm age-appropriateness for your children
- Discuss 3 questions afterward: What value did the character show? How does this connect to our faith? How can we live this tomorrow?
- Create a comfortable viewing space with popcorn and minimal distractions
- Rotate between animated and live-action for variety
Everything you need to know about Best Family Movies To Watch On Netflix For Marist Households
What makes a movie "Marist-aligned" for family viewing?
A Marist-aligned film emphasizes community, service, moral courage, and faith-showing characters who overcome adversity through solidarity and dignity for all people, reflecting Marist pedagogy's focus on holistic formation.
Are these movies safe for young Catholic children?
Yes-Paddington 2 (PG, ages 5+), The Mitchells vs. The Machines (PG), Over the Moon (PG), and The Prince of Egypt (PG) are all age-appropriate with no swearing, minimal violence, and strong moral messages.
When does Enola Holmes 3 release on Netflix?
Enola Holmes 3 is confirmed for summer 2026, expected around June or July, marking Millie Bobby Brown's return as the teenage detective.
How often should families watch movies together?
Marist educators recommend one family movie night per week to build bonding rituals while maintaining academic focus-selecting films that reinforce values discussed at school and home.
Where can I find more Catholic-friendly streaming recommendations?
America Magazine's guide lists Catholic movies on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon-including documentaries about holy people and animated films for children.
