Now that fall is approaching, it’s the perfect time to snuggle up on the couch with your family, a cozy blanket, and a bucket of popcorn. If you’re not familiar with HBO Max, you’re about to be! This streaming service offers thousands of movies and shows that are perfectly family-friendly and entertaining, so you’ll never be at a loss for what to watch this season.
In the mood for a comedy? Drama? Something to make you cry? The kid’s section of HBO Max offers a variety of live-action and animated content that the whole family can enjoy:
1. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
- Release Year: 1990
- Rating: TV-PG
- Stars: 9.9/10 stars on IMDB
- # of Seasons: 6
Even if you weren’t around in the ‘90s, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is a classic that we’re sure you’ll quickly fall in love with. The sitcom follows Will (played by Will Smith) who is sent to live with his wealthy aunt and uncle in Bel-Air, away from the rough streets of Philadelphia where he grew up. If you’re in the mood for something fun, feel-good and with just the right amount of cheesiness, add this show to your list.
Fun facts about The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air:
- Tyra Banks made her television debut in a season four episode, playing Will’s girlfriend, Jackie.
- The house in the title sequence isn’t actually in Bel-Air. Rather, you can find this home in Brentwood, about 5 miles away.
- Will Smith met his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith when she auditioned for the role of Jackie. While she didn’t land the role, she did eventually marry Smith in 1997!
2. Tom and Jerry
- Release Year: 1940
- Rating: TV-PG or TV-Y7, depending on the episode
- Stars: N/A
- # of Seasons: 4
Talk about a classic! Tom and Jerry has been around for over 80 years, which probably means that your grandparents enjoyed this show as children. Tom Cat and Jerry Mouse are age-old rivals who find themselves in various humorous altercations in the 161 theatrical shorts (77 of which you can enjoy on HBO Max). Check it out — you won’t regret it!
- The show has won seven Oscars! 13 of the cartoons earned an Oscar nomination in the Short Subject, Cartoon category.
- How were Tom and Jerry named? A contest! The winner took home $50 — that’s more than $800 today.
- Tom and Jerry was actually a popular drink made of eggnog with brandy. The recipe dates back to the 1820s. Also, in the early 19th century, the term “Tom and Jerry” was used by the British to describe a rambunctious youth.
3. The Flintstones
- Release Year: 1960
- Rating: TV-G
- Stars: 7.5/10 on IMDB
- # of Seasons: 6
Another oldie but goodie, The Flintstones follows the misadventures of two modern-day Stone Age families, the Flintstones and the Rubbles. We couldn’t not include this show on our list — it’s the first primetime animated show on television, after all! 166 episodes aired between 1960 and 1966.
Fun facts about The Flintstones:
- The Flintstones was originally called the Flagstones until creator Joe Barbera realized that there was a comic strip with the same name.
- Cigarettes were advertised on the show — a sign of the times! Winston cigarettes was a Flintstones sponsor, and at the end of each episode, Fred and Barney smoked. In 1970, the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act put a stop to this, banning cigarette ads on TV and radio.
- Mel Blanc, the voice of Barney Rubble, continued working on the show despite a terrible car accident in 1961. After Barney was released from his 70-day hospital stay, the cast and crew traveled to Mel’s home to record episodes.
4. Elf
- Release Year: 2003
- Rating: PG
- Stars: 7.0/10 on IMDB
- # of Seasons: N/A
It’s never too early to get into the holiday spirit! When Buddy the Elf, played by Will Ferrell, discovers that he is a human — not an elf — he embarks on a journey to NYC from the North Pole to meet his biological father who doesn’t know he exists and could use a dose of the Christmas spirit. Other notable characters include James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Bob Newhart, and Edward Asner.
- Before Will Ferrell was widely known as Buddy the Elf, he worked as a mall Santa in Pasadena, California.
- Director Jon Favreau was inspired by the Christmas specials he watched growing up to include special effects in the film, including stop-motion animation and forced perspective to make Buddy appear much larger than his elf peers.
- The scenes in Gimbal’s, the department store in the movie, were shot in Macy’s. In real life, the two were rivals, and Gimbal’s actually closed in 1987.
5. My Girl
- Release Year: 1991
- Rating: PG
- Stars: 6.9/10 on IMDB
- # of Seasons: N/A
A real tear-jerker, My Girl is set in 1972 and follows the story of an 11-year old daughter of a widowed funeral homeowner. Vada, played by Anna Chlumsky, befriends Thomas, played by widely-known Macaulay Culkin. The two become fast buddies, despite being an unlikely pair.
- Following the success of Home Alone, Macaulay Culkin was paid $1 million dollars for his role in My Girl. The slogan “Mack is back” was used by Culkin’s team.
- More scenes were added in for Culkin after director Howard Zieff noticed the chemistry between him and Anna Chlumsky.
- Culkin and Chlumsky were both 10 years old at the time of shooting and were each other’s first on-screen kiss. 15 takes were needed to get the perfect shot.
HBO Max, is the best option for family movies. This streaming service offers thousands of options to stream easily. This season, you’ll never be at a loss for options of family movies and tv shows!
