Family-Friendly Movies In Theaters This Christmas Break

The presents have been opened and the cookies have been devoured—but the kids are still home until the New Year. That means it’s time to take them to the movies. Luckily, there are a few family-friendly options in theaters this week.

Rated PG

“Spies In Disguise” — Will Smith and Tom Holland star in the animated movie. A smooth spy (Smith) gets turned into a pigeon and must rely on a nerdy scientist (Holland) to help him. It’s a comedy with lots of action and silly moments. Ben Mendelsohn, Karen Gillan, DJ Khaled, Rashida Jones and Masi Oka.

“Frozen II” — Plenty of kids will head back to the theater for this Disney movie (even if they already saw it when it released in November). Elsa (Idina Menzel) and Anna (Kristen Bell) return for another adventure. It’s a bit darker than the last film, but it still has the positive messages and catchy songs that fans love.

“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” — This holiday movie is rated PG, but it’s probably not for the really little kids. It’s about Fred Rogers’ (Tom Hanks) unlikely friendship with a cynical journalist. It’s on the serious side, dealing with death and estranged family relationships, and it has tons of awards buzz.

“Little Women” — Louisa May Alcott’s novel, set in Civil War-era Massachusetts, has another adaptation starring Emma Watson, Saorise Ronan, Florence Pugh and Meryl Streep. The four very different March sisters are coming of age while they help their mother hold down the homestead while their father fights in the Civil War. They deal with independence, romance and loss throughout this classic coming-of-age story.

Rated PG-13

“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” — The latest “Star Wars” trilogy wraps up the Skywalker Saga. It’s a must-see for families who love watching the intergalactic adventures, but as a PG-13 flick, parents should expect the usual action and violence.

Knives Out — If your kids are teenagers or adults, this is the family flick to watch. The murder mystery follows a wealthy family whose patriarch, a famous mystery writer, is killed at his birthday party. His family is immediately suspected, and they have quite a complicated dynamic. Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Daniel Craig, Toni Collette and Ana de Armas lead the ensemble cast.

“Jumanji: The Next Level” — This sequel brings back Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan while adding new cast members Danny DeVito, Danny Glover and Awkwafina. The kids return to the world of the video game with Spencer’s grandpa and his friend Milo. However, the world of Jumanji has changed since their last visit. Expect the same silly humor, swearing and action from the 2017 movie.