Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Activities

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

8 best Valentine’s Day movies for families

Donald Liebenson
By

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.

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.”

Related

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).

Recommended Videos

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.

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?

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Donald Liebenson
Donald Liebenson
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Family fun: Your kids will love these springtime activities
Get ready to rock spring with these family fun activities
Family out for a bike ride in the woods

Spring is in full swing, but just because the school breaks are over doesn't mean the family fun has to stop. Weekends in April and May are earmarked for family fun activities. Sure, Mother Nature does tend to rain on the parade sometimes, especially in April. Don't worry. That's why there's not a shortage of cool indoor and outdoor activities to get the family together and enjoy one another this season, regardless of the weather.
Family fun indoor activities
When those April showers hit, don't waste a weekend on the couch. There are always indoor family fun activities that are a great way to spend quality time together. Looking for spring places to enjoy? Try these.
Public library
Libraries aren't extinct and chances are your local library has a lot going on, especially during spring. A rainy day is a perfect pick to head to the library and see what programs are available. From crafts to family yoga and STEAM activities, public libraries are full of fun things to do for all. Even better is the price. The programs are free for library card holders. Don't have a library card? Sign up for one now.
Museums
A rainy spring day is an ideal time to check out one of the local museums in your area. Usually, you don't have to travel far to a historic or art museum. Nearby college campuses are also great places to find museums to explore.
Theater
A Broadway ticket can put a dent in the family budget, but local theaters don't have quite as high ticket prices. If you are looking for something different this spring, try checking out a local family-friendly theater production.

Family fun outdoor activities
When those spring temperatures start heating up and flowers begin to bloom, everyone gets an itch to be outside. Here are some family fun activities to enjoy outdoors this spring.
Bike paths
Bike riding around the neighborhood is always a blast, but spring is a wonderful time to explore an area bike path. Spring temperatures are just right for the kiddos to pedal a longer distance. Look for family-friendly bike paths or trails that aren't too long or hilly if you have younger riders. For tweens and teens, get them out there peddling in nature -- the longer the better. Tweens and teens will be proud of completing a path and will have great pictures to post. Just remember the snacks and plenty of water.
Tulip farm
Tulips are one of those wonders of spring that just make you smile. If you've never visited a tulip farm, make it a point to do it this spring before the petals fade away. Tulip farms are a stunning place to spend a sunny spring Saturday or Sunday. Some even allow visitors to cut their own, which the kiddos will love.
Hit the beach
If you live near the ocean or a lake, you know how crowded these destinations get in the summer. A warm spring day can be a lot of fun on the beach. Pack a lunch and sand toys, and don't forget the sunblock. April and May can be some of the best beach days for making sandcastles and playing with your dog without people getting in the way.
Hiking
Just like bike paths, spring is one of the best times of the year to do hikes. Flowers and trees are starting to bloom again, which makes for beautiful scenery during a family hike. Kids will enjoy a hike more without the higher temperatures and the insects that summer unusually brings.
April showers, May flowers
Spring is a wonderful time of year to plan some family fun activities. Just because breaks are over, and the kiddos are back in school, doesn't mean springtime fun has to stop. There are plenty of fun family indoor and outdoor activities to enjoy this spring, from tiptoeing through the tulips and getting a head start on those sandcastle designs to exploring new museums.

Read more
Tickle the funny bone with these kids’ knock-knock jokes
Knock, knock! Who's there? The top kids knock-knock jokes
Grandpa and grandson laughing at a knock-knock joke

Knock-knock jokes have been a staple of American humor since the late 1930s. Despite the eye rolls, the knock-knock jokes have most certainly stood the test of time. Bob Dunn is thought to be the creator of knock-knock jokes since the cartoonist penned the first book containing them. The book was a huge smash and Americans became obsessed with them in the late 30s.

Turns out, though, the knock-knock setup actually appears in William Shakespeare's Macbeth, though not in the form of a joke. So, did the Bard invent knock-knock jokes? No one really knows for sure, but the knock-knock joke remains popular, especially among kids.

Read more
Funny science jokes kids will love – and you might just enjoy them, too!
Why can't you trust atoms? They make everything up! Gotta love science jokes
Smiling girl with chemistry set

Why is it so hard to get kids up in the morning? Sir Isaac Newton knows! Newton's first law says it all: "A body at rest wants to stay at rest." Getting kids to love science is a tough sell as children get older. Younger kids typically enjoy science because the subject is a fun hands-on one. Around middle and high school, though, the interest in science tends to wane.

Science jokes are a wonderful icebreaker that works to get kids thinking and make them laugh. Don't confuse science jokes with dad jokes. They're similar since both rely a bit on puns, but science jokes have a purpose, too, and are rooted in subjects like biology, physics, and chemistry. Sure, science jokes make kids smile and giggle, which is always a plus; science jokes for kids are a great way to ignite an interest in science. When the kids are done chuckling, you can talk about why the joke is funny.
Science jokes for kids
Whether you're a teacher looking for science jokes to start off a lesson or anyone who just loves the subject and making the kiddos laugh, here are the top science jokes to put under the microscope.

Read more