The 15 Best Family Movies of the 21st Century: A Commentary
- Spirited Away (Toho)
Hayao Miyazaki's masterpiece transcends its home market, becoming a paragon of thoughtful family entertainment. It's a dreamlike, galvanic fantasy that won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, underscoring its impact. The film's improvisational quality and imaginative creature designs allow young audiences to immerse themselves in a strange, potentially dangerous world, fostering their own uncanny imagination.
- Fantastic Mr. Fox (20th Century Fox)
Wes Anderson's stop-motion adaptation of Roald Dahl's novel is a pure distillation of his unique style. With meticulous dioramas, deadpan line readings, and a focus on domesticated wildness, it serves as one of Anderson's best works. The film explores themes of midlife restlessness and the tension between wildness and taming, making it a contender for the greatest family film ever made.
- Coraline (Focus Features)
Henry Selick's stop-motion adaptation of Neil Gaiman's novella is a kid-friendly dark fantasy horror. The film's hand-sewn costumes, miniature sets, and imaginative character designs create a tactile, macabre world. It treats real fear with respect, appealing to both children and horror fans, and has gained a devoted following.
- Ratatouille (Buena Vista Pictures Distribution)
Brad Bird's rescue of the troubled project resulted in one of Pixar's best. The film's food animation is strikingly tactile and mouthwatering, pushing the envelope in animated craft. It explores the idea that talent can come from anywhere, delivered through charming voice performances.
- Paddington 2 (StudioCanal)
Paul King's sequel to the 2014 adaptation is a genuinely imaginative and kind film. It focuses on hospitality and decency, with a story of an immigrant bear finding refuge. The film's formal control and sight gags, including a marmalade-hued prison kitchen, create a unique and memorable experience.
- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (Buena Vista Pictures Distribution)
Gore Verbinski's film transcends its theme park origins, delivering thrilling swashbuckling entertainment. Johnny Depp's eccentric performance as Captain Jack Sparrow is a gamble that paid off, making it a four-quadrant Hollywood success. The film's ensemble cast and pitch-perfect tone contribute to its enduring appeal.
- WALL-E (Walt Disney Pictures)
Pixar's gamble with a mute protagonist and silent-film influences paid off, creating a family movie with a childlike sense of wonder. It explores themes of romance and environmental responsibility, making it one of Pixar's biggest successes.
- Lilo & Stitch (Buena Vista Pictures Distribution)
Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois' film felt like a rebellion against Disney's settled style. The hand-painted watercolor backgrounds and CG elements composited into hand-drawn environs give it a unique texture. The story of an outcast girl and a destructive alien has emotional weight and a lasting legacy.
- The Incredibles (Buena Vista Pictures Distribution)
Brad Bird's superhero film holds up as one of the genre's best. It critiques suburban conformity and midlife stagnation through a family's rediscovering of purpose. The film's set pieces and emotional center, anchored by Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter, contribute to its enduring appeal.
- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Sony Pictures Releasing)
This film broke new ground for the superhero genre with mind-bending visuals and a multiverse-hopping story. It gives Miles Morales his definitive screen introduction, offering a unique blend of expressiveness and authenticity. The film's success led to its win for Best Animated Feature.
- Finding Nemo (Buena Vista Pictures Distribution)
Pixar's technical ambitions and emotional depth in 'Finding Nemo' pushed the studio's boundaries. Director Andrew Stanton's use of his own anxieties as a father and the film's blunt prologue create a powerful impact. The film's comedic and emotional center, with Ellen DeGeneres as Dory, further enhances its appeal.
- Monsters, Inc. (Buena Vista Pictures Distribution)
Pete Docter's venture into the world of children's imagination is a clever and sentimental success. The film's humorous and heartfelt narrative, along with meticulous design, showcases Pixar's ability to create engaging and memorable family entertainment.
- Hugo (Paramount Pictures)
Martin Scorsese's family film is a 3D tribute to cinema's infancy. The plot about an orphaned clockmaker's son serves as scaffolding for Scorsese's exploration of purpose, obsolescence, and film preservation. The film's 3D and production design create a unique cinematic experience.
- School of Rock (Paramount Pictures)
Richard Linklater's adaptation of Mike White's script is a loose, breezy family romp. Jack Black's performance as Dewey Finn showcases his unwavering commitment to rock music, mirroring his own persona. The film's charm and authenticity have led to a Broadway musical and a Nickelodeon series.
- Shrek (DreamWorks Pictures)
'Shrek' deserves recognition for its cultural impact and box-office success. The film's humor, engaging voice cast, and cultural references have stood the test of time, despite some garish imagery. It kick-started a franchise that has had a lasting influence on animation and children's entertainment.
