That’s especially true among live-action comedy movies, which are frequently littered with coarse language, suggestive dialogue and other non-kid-friendly stuff. 

Still, it’s not too hard to find family-friendly comedy movies if you know where to look. Some are even live-action.

Of course, no film is perfect, so if something on our list has content you don’t like, then try a filtering service such as ClearPlay, VidAngel or Vudu. 

Here are 15 family-friendly movies that will always cheer you up:

1. Paddington (2014) / Paddington 2 (2017)

A British family raises a talking Peruvian bear, who teaches them (and everyone he meets) how to be kinder. This hilarious series is a favorite in my home. Both films are rated PG for mild action and (a little) rude humor. Live-action.

2. The Herbie Movies (1968-1980)

A Volkswagen Beetle with a mind of its own, wins multiple racecar championships – and even falls in love. This Disney live-action series from yesteryear includes four titles: The Love Bug (1968), Herbie Rides Again (1974), Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977) and Herbie Goes Bananas (1980). All are rated G. Live-action.

3. Toy Story Series (1995-2019)

A pull-string ragdoll (Sheriff Woody) and a space ranger superhero (Buzz Lightyear) go on multiple adventures with their toy friends in this Pixar franchise. Toy Story was the first fully computer-animated movie. The series is a cut above most children’s movies: It’s funny and contains important lessons about life. The series includes Toy Story (1995), Toy Story 2(1999), Toy Story 3 (2010) and Toy Story 4 (2019). All are rated G. Animated.

4. Incredibles (2004) / Incredibles 2 (2018)

A superhero family is forced to navigate the real world while keeping their superhero powers secret. Of course, they fight the bad guys, too. Incredibles is rated PG for action violence. Incredibles 2 is rated PG for action sequences and some brief mild language. Animated.

5. Mom’s Night Out (2014)

Two men volunteer to babysit the children so their wives can enjoy an evening at a nice restaurant. Nothing, though, goes as planned. It’s one of my favorite live-action funny movies of all time – and it has a family-centric message, too. It stars Patricia Heaton and Sarah Drew and was directed by Jon and Andrew Erwin, the filmmakers behind I Can Only Imagine and I Still Believe. Rated PG for mild thematic elements and some action. Live-action.

Photo courtesy: ©Provident

6. Cars Series (2006-2017)

A human-like race car named Lightning McQueen learns about perseverance and life with his best friend, Mater. The Cars series follows every step of Lightning’s career, from his rookie years to his retirement. Like every Pixar film, it includes great messages for parents and children. This series includes Cars (2005), Cars 2 (2011) and Cars 3 (2017). All are rated G. Animated.

7. Father of the Bride (1991) / Father of the Bride 2 (1995)

A father (played by Steve Martin) battles his emotions and his tight-wallet ways when his 20-year-old daughter gets married. In the second movie, his middle-aged wife and daughter become pregnant at the same time. Father of the Bride(1991) is rated PG. Father of the Bride 2 (1995) is rated PG for some mild language and thematic elements. Because of brief sexually suggestive content, these may be best for older family members. Live-action.

8. The Parent Trap (1961)

Two teenage girls set out to reunite their divorced parents. The 1961 version starred Hayley Mills in a dual role as the twin sisters and was nominated for two Oscars, including for best film editing. It’s slightly more kid-friendly than the 1998 version. Rated G. Live-action.

9. The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975) / The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979)

In the first film, two bumbling outlaws (played by Don Knotts and Tim Conway) try to steal a pile of gold. In the sequel, they go straight but still get caught up with the law. Nearly anything with Knotts and Conway is hilarious. This pair of films is no different. Both films are rated G. Live-action.

10. Gus (1976)

A Yugoslavian farm boy rises to stardom when it’s learned his mule, named “Gus,” can kick a football 100-plus yards. The duo join the fictional California Atoms and help lead the team to a championship. Don Knotts plays the coach. Rated G. Live-action.  

11. Zootopia (2016)

A rabbit rookie cop pairs up with a sly fox to solve a major crime and prove her worth on the police force. The sloth scene alone makes this one worth watching. Due to a few intense moments, Zootopia may not be suitable for young children. Rated PG for some thematic elements, rude humor and action. Animated.

12. Finding Nemo (2003) / Finding Dory (2016)

They’re two of the most family-centric films in the Pixar lineup. In Finding Nemo, a clownfish father, Marlin, searches for his missing son, Nemo. In Finding Dory, Marlin and Nemo help a blue tang fish named Dory find her parents. Finding Nemo is rated G. Finding Dory is rated PG for mild thematic elements. Animated.

13. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

An awkward high school boy, surrounded by awkward family members and friends, tries to find his place in the world. It’s a quirky, hilarious comedy with little plot but lots of laughs. Due to a few mature situations, this one may be best for older children. Rated PG for thematic elements and language. Live-action.

14. Despicable Me (2010-2017)

A supervillain named Gru sees his view of the world transformed after adopting three little girls. Eventually, he even gets married. The Despicable Me series mixes a great message – bad people can change – with a hilarious family plot. The first two movies are rated PG for rude humor and mild action. Despicable Me 3 is rated PG for action and rude humor. Animated.

15. Up (2009)

A cantankerous widower and a young “Wilderness Explorer” named Scout go on a cross-country adventure under a canopy of helium balloons. Up is one of the best films in the Pixar catalogue. It’s also a tear-jerker. Rated PG for some peril and action. Animated

Other good ones: Madagascar series, Elf, Spy Kids movies, The Secret Life of Pets films, The Strongest Man in the World, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes and the Ice Age series.

Credit: crosswalk.com

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That includes Chrissy Metz.

And, the “This Is Us” star said, that’s what drew her to the role of Joyce Smith in the new movie “Breakthrough,” releasing Wednesday (April 17) in time for Easter weekend.

“Breakthrough” dramatizes the true story of Smith, whose 14-year-old son, John, fell through the ice on a frozen Missouri lake in 2015. John spent more than 15 minutes underwater and another 43 minutes with no signs of life — until his mother began to pray over him in the emergency room.

Three weeks later, John walked out of the hospital on his own and without brain damage — something his doctor described to NBC News at the time as a “bonafide miracle.”

The movie depicts how the Smiths’ Assemblies of God church and their community joined in an outpouring of support and prayer for John and how his recovery prompted questions about why some people recover from medical crises and others do not.

Metz said that when she was approached about the film she already was familiar with the Smith family’s story from the headlines — and, to some degree, what they had been through.

About a year ago, she said, her own mother experienced a medical emergency.

The actress was raised Catholic and, “more importantly,” she said, with a connection to a higher power instilled in her from the very beginning by her grandfather. She remembered saying things to her mother’s doctors that she read in the script “literally almost verbatim.”

“I believe that everything happens as it should,” she said. “And for me to even be approached about the movie, I was like, ‘Oh, yeah, I definitely need to do this.'”

Producer DeVon Franklin was “blown away” by the Smiths’ story several years ago when he met Joyce and John Smith and their pastor, Jason Noble, while promoting his film “Miracles From Heaven.”

“It was just so captivating,” Franklin said. “I just knew that I had to bring it to the big screen.”

The producer said “Breakthrough” builds on the success of the other films he has produced with explicitly Christian messages: “Miracles From Heaven,” which also is based on the true story of a mother holding on to faith as her child faces a health crisis, and “The Star,” an animated film telling the story of Jesus’ birth from the viewpoint of the animals.

And it’s well positioned to reach even more people, he said.

Trailers for the film first appeared in theaters before showings of “Mary Poppins” in December, he said, and have racked up millions of views online.

Franklin said he was surprised how many movies the trailer has accompanied in theaters since then and by the positive response they have received. He’s seen “unprecedented interest in this type of content,” he said.

“People are really responding to it,” he said. “It is very different than traditional films within this genre, which is great, and we’re all hoping that all these things will contribute to an incredible opening weekend and great success with the movie.”

Mike Partida, a Catholic deacon at the Church of the Resurrection in Escondido, Calif., is planning to see “Breakthrough” with an unofficial movie ministry he and his wife lead at the church to see Christian films on or around opening night. It’s a time of fellowship for the parishioners who attend, and it builds up their faith, Partida said. He also hopes it shows Hollywood that “we need more of these types of movies in a hurting world.”

“Breakthrough is a fit for us because it is based on a true story which is about hope, prayer, faith and the power of God,” he said. “These types of movies preach the gospel message in a different way other than a church setting and I believe they are powerful tools in evangelization.”

Franklin, who was raised Seventh-day Adventist, told reporters at the Religion News Association conference in September in Columbus, Ohio, that he’s committed to telling inspirational true stories. Inspiration is what gets people up every morning and keeps them going through difficult times, he said.

He hopes it also can unify audiences in dark times, he said.

But he said he recognizes that not every true story has a happy ending — that the miracle doesn’t always come. His own grandmother died of cancer 10 years ago, he said, and he had prayed for her healing, too.

He wanted “Breakthrough” to wrestle with that, he said.

“We can still pray for each other,” Franklin said.

Credit: Religion News Service

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