Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Activities
  3. Evergreens

NewFolks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

8 best Valentine’s Day movies for families

By
Add as a preferred source on Google

Valentines have been exchanged. The candy hearts are in a bowl. Valentine’s Day dinner has been served. What sweeter way to end the day and bring the family even closer together than with a beloved movie to keep the loving mood going. These eight titles are suitable for most ages and are sure to get the heart pumping.

Best Valentine’s Day movies on Netflix

Beauty and the Beast

A tale as old as time, as Belle, one of Disney’s most beloved heroines, finds “new and a bit alarming” love with a cursed prince who was transformed by a witch into a hideous beast. The Oscar-winning musical score includes the show-stopping “Be Our Guest” and the romantic title tune. The character of Gaston, who vies for Belle’s affections, is a good discussion starter about toxic masculinity.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Best Valentine’s Day movies on Hulu

The Princess Bride

The love story between Buttercup and farm boy Wesley has something for everyone: fighting. Torture. Revenge. Giants. Monsters. Chases. Escapes. True love. Miracles. What’s not to love? But the heart of Rob Reiner’s rollicking film based on William Goldman’s book is the bond formed between a young boy and his grandfather over a shared story… even if it is “a kissing book.”

Recommended Videos

Best Valentine’s Day movies on Amazon

Lady and the Tramp

A streetwise “footloose and leash-free” mutt and a pampered cocker spaniel who feels displaced by the arrival in her household of a baby make for a screen couple that’s a breed apart. This beloved Disney animated feature boasts one of the movies’ most romantic scenes: the couple’s back alley spaghetti dinner while being serenaded (although, one has to wonder how many other dogs Tramp has brought back to this restaurant if the owner automatically sets up a table and grabs his accordion).

Singin’ in the Rain

Gene Kelly stars as Don Lockwood, a silent film star upended by the arrival of talking pictures. Debbie Reynolds costars as Kathy Selden, an aspiring actress. Can they survive the machinations of Don’s clinging and clueless costar, Lina Lamont (Jean Hagan in her Oscar-nominated role)? If not the best movie musical ever, then it’s certainly the most fun and entertaining. All the songs are great, with two iconic dance numbers, Donald O’Connor’s aptly titled “Make ‘Em Laugh” and Gene Kelly’s solo splash, “Singin’ in the Rain.”

Best Valentine’s Day movies on Disney+

Enchanted

Suppose a Disney-esque animated princess found herself transported to modern-day, live-action New York? That’s the hilarious conceit of this, well, enchanting musical starring a winsome Amy Adams as Giselle, who works her magic not only on New York’s wildlife (ever seen an army of mice clean a bathroom?) but on a single father (Patrick Dempsey) and his young daughter. Her former betrothed Prince Edward (James Marsden) and his girlfriend (Indena Manzel), not to mention a wicked queen (Susan Sarandon) threaten their happily-ever-after.

More Valentine’s Day movies to watch

Shrek

In this Oscar-winning fractured fairy tale, a fearsome ogre, repulsive, but with a good heart, sets out on a quest to rescue a beautiful  princess who eagerly awaits “true love’s kiss.” Eddie Murphy as the talking Donkey (“It’s getting him to shut up, that’s the trick”) does for Shrek what Robin Williams did for Aladdin. The clever script has cross-generational appeal: for parents, the nudge-nudge-wink-wink double-entendres, for older kids mildly rude jokes and gross-out humor, and for younger kids, the subversively funny takes on familiar fairy tale characters that are anything but Grimm.

The General

Action speaks louder than words. Love drives the engine of Buster Keaton’s rousing black and white, silent stunt-acular masterpiece. It’s actually two love stories. The first is between Keaton, a Civil War-era engineer, and his train, which is stolen by Union soldiers. The second is between Keaton and Annabelle, who is on the train when it is taken. Now, Keaton will stop at nothing to get them both back.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

What’s Up, Doc?

May the farce be with you! Several identical valises wind up in the wrong hands, creating hilarious confusion and chaos. Barbra Streisand stars as a free-spirited kook who sets her sights on buttoned-up and very much engaged Ryan O’Neal and will do and say anything to keep him near her, much to his embarrassment. Peter Bogdanovich’s valentine to 1940s screwball comedy is a breathlessly-paced G-rated romp.

Sure, love isn’t always a many splendored thing, but in these eight movies for Valentine’s Day, you can rest assured that despite some ups and downs, love, sweet love, will prevail. And isn’t that what the world needs now?

Topics

Editors’ Recommendations

Is CoComelon ‘Good’ for Kids? Experts Cite Research Pointing to ‘Yes’
Dad brushing teeth with daughter and looking in the mirror with CoComelon

Parents navigating the landscape of kids’ media often question which content genuinely benefits their little ones. Among the most popular kids’ shows today, educational programming like CoComelon has captivated young audiences worldwide, but many caregivers wonder: beyond its ability to entertain, does this musical series offer real developmental value?

Research and child development experts have revealed many details about the educational framework behind the animated series, its potential benefits, and how caregivers can maximize positive outcomes when incorporating such content into their kids’ routines.

Read more
Experts weigh in: Why YouTube isn’t great for kids
You may rethink screen time after you know what experts say about kids watching YouTube
Young boy on an iPad

It's a parenting tale as old as time. You have things to get done around the house, but a small person who says they're bored is competing with your to-do list. And so, you do what many parents do in this stretched-thin situation. You turn on the television, hand over a cellphone, or put on YouTube. But when it comes to kids watching YouTube, is it doing more harm than good?

Screens can be "addictive," as noted by Dr. David Greenfield, founder and clinical director of The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction. He explains that they have a dopamine-producing effect, and many realistic pediatric experts agree that, while screens are a part of our modern lifestyle, moderation should be enforced, and limitations be set. Parents need to learn why they should be mindful of children watching YouTube and how to lay down the screen time law at home. We'll share some tips and words of wisdom from experts in the know.
Why screen time could be negative

Read more
When should your baby be able to stack blocks? Here’s what to know
Know when babies can nest cups and balance blocks by themselves
A child playing with stacking blocks

When you’re a new parent, the moment someone gifts your child their first set of blocks, you become obsessed with baby learning and when they should be able to turn the blocks into beautiful creations of their imagination. While stacking blocks are an important developmental milestone for babies, it’s also one of those things that evolves with time and practice. Sitting down to play blocks with your little one is an open-ended game that teaches children physics, resilience, and fun. When can a baby stack blocks and nest cups on their own without your help? Here are some general guidelines so you know how to measure your child’s development with their gift of stacking blocks and how to help your child get the hang of it on their own.
When can a baby stack blocks and nest cups? By age

By 6 months old
At this age, your baby might not be ready to stack blocks the way you want them to, and that's okay. This doesn't mean you can't play blocks with your child or that you shouldn't let your child have fun figuring out what the blocks are. It’s perfectly normal for your 6-month-old to gnaw on blocks or simply hold one, just don't expect them to build the Eiffel Tower just yet.
By 12 months old
This is the stage of banging items against each other and blocks or cups are no the exception. If you offer your child blocks, there may still not be a lot of creativity yet. But keep in mind that knocking things down is a favorite activity of 1-year-olds, so your child is right on track if that's all they do. More likely than not, they’ll be happy to destroy any block tower you build. If your little one can’t get enough of knocking down a stack of blocks, rest assured that they’re right on schedule.
By 18 months old
When can babies nest cups? By a year and a half, stacking is the name of the game. After all, your little one is now officially a toddler and proud of it. If you haven’t done so already, this is a great time to introduce baby blocks. At this point, most kiddos are able to stack two or three blocks on top of each other with ease.
By 2 years old
Don’t be surprised if your baby’s block masterpieces start to get taller by age 2. With improved coordination, your child shows better stacking skills and may be able to balance up to seven blocks on top of each other. This is the beginning of sorting for many young children. If they’re now stacking masters, go ahead and challenge your budding genius to sort their blocks by color or separate them in groups.
By 3 years old
Free play takes a life of its own by age 3. At this point, blocks are much more than meets the adult eye. Your child’s imagination is flourishing, and they’ll start to build tunnels, bridges, or forts with just a few blocks. This is the perfect moment to introduce your toddler to teamwork. If the two of you work together, it’s easier to build tall towers and solve construction problems. Get your child's imagination to full speed and see what they create with blocks of all colors and shapes.
The benefits of stacking blocks

Read more