International family movies are as diverse and varied as the world itself. Some films focus on real-life journeys and historic time periods. Others transport the viewer to magical realms and faraway places. While Hollywood is known for its dynamic work in the genre of children’s and family films, some truly amazing works have come from other countries.
From stunning animation to real-life documentaries, nations around the globe have presented some of the very best in family-centric cinema. With such a rich kaleidoscope to choose from, there is something for everyone when it comes to international family films. From heartwarming animal-actor classics like Babe to new fantasy epics like Klek’s Academy, here are 10 of the best international family films that are amazing, start to finish.
10
‘Landfill Harmonic’ (2015)
Paraguay
“The world sends us garbage. We send back music.” When Favio Chávez went to the town of Cateura, Paraguay, his initial intent was to help the residents with recycling and garbage management systems. Cateura is the location of a large landfill that dominates not only the landscape, but the socioeconomic climate of the surrounding community. As Chávez lived and worked in the area, he realized that many of the children wanted to learn music, but they could not afford instruments. With the help of a kind-hearted and resourceful man named Nicolás Gómez or “Cola,” they began to make the children musical instruments out of materials collected at the landfill.
Landfill Harmonic is a documentary that the whole family will want to watch together. It is encouraging to see the triumph of the human spirit and stirring to see the impact that garbage waste has on the environment. Viewers will feel connected to this moving and inspiring journey and want to follow along with all the highs and the lows.
9
‘Bride and Prejudice’ (2004)
India
From all seriousness to comedy, this next entry packs humor, gorgeous costumes, and fun dance numbers that will have you and your family dancing along. An inspired reimagining of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Bride and Prejudice is a visually stunning and highly entertaining glimpse of Bollywood. The infectious humor and catchy music might make Bride and Prejudice one of your family’s new favorite movies.
The story follows Lalita Bakshi (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) as she tries to balance her own spirit of independence against her parents’ more traditional values. Complicating the matter is the handsome William Darcy (Martin Henderson), who arrives and irritates Lalita from the start. Opposites definitely attract in this lively romantic comedy, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who is one of the biggest stars in Bollywood, is phenomenal as Lalita. Game of Thrones and Obi-Wan Kenobi viewers will enjoy seeing Indira Varma as Kiran, and fans of Lost will recognize Naveen Andrews as he plays Balraj. If you want a good laugh and a good soundtrack, don’t skip this one.
France
From French filmmaker Luc Besson, the same genius behind titles like The Fifth Element and Leon: The Professional, comes the adventure film The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec. Louise Bourgoin stars as the title character, an aspiring novelist in the later Victorian era who encounters monsters and mysteries on her many adventures. The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec feels like a combination of Enola Holmes, Indiana Jones, and The Mummy. It has fast-paced action and thrilling scenes with good special effects.
Film critics and audiences are divided over this one, with an 88% Tomatometer rating on Rotten Tomatoes and only a 54% audience rating. So, you may either love or hate this movie, but it is for sure a fun one to watch. Fans of action movies and period pieces will want to check out The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec.
7
‘Life is Beautiful’ (1997)
Italy
As a parent, you want to protect your child from everything. But when everything you know crumbles around you, what do you do? For one father forced to experience the horror of a Nazi concentration camp with his young son, he chooses to not only protect his son from the physical dangers, but from the psychological and emotional trauma as well.
Roberto Benigni shines in the Italian masterpiece Life Is Beautiful. Benigni plays Guido, a father who goes to great efforts to make his young son Giosué (Giorgio Cantarini) believe that the concentration camp they are enduring is part of a game. Benigni won a much-deserved Oscar for his role, and Life is Beautiful is as touching and uplifting as it is heart-wrenching and tragic. It is considered one of the greatest Italian films of all time and it is an important film for families with tweens and teens.
6
‘Kleks Academy’ (2023)
Poland
Fans of magical movies like Harry Potter, The School for Good and Evil, or Wednesday, will love Kleks Academy. This visually stunning Polish film follows the main character, Ada (Antonina Litwiniak), as she discovers her father played a key role in a magical world that exists just outside of the normal one. As Ada journeys to the mystical Kleks Academy, she makes friends, faces enemies, and experiences some truly amazing things.
Kleks Academy is brimming with fanciful settings, visually rich special effects, and fun characters. The pacing of the film is different from most of the movies produced by Hollywood so it can seem a little long towards the end, but the story never stops delivering surprises. Families that love fantasy films should definitely add Kleks Academy to their watchlist. A sequel was released earlier this year, but it is not available in the US yet.
5
‘The Legend of La Llorona’ (2011)
Mexico
The ghost story of La Llorona is a famous one about a woman who is responsible for the death of her children, so her apparition goes searching for other children to abduct. The details vary a bit throughout its many tellings, and the haunting tale takes on the form of a kids’ animation in Ánima Estudios’ 2011 film The Legend of La Llorona.
The Legend of La Llorona is part of a legends series by the studio, and any one of them would make a fun watch for a spooky movie night. La Llorona is one of the most well-known ghost stories, and it is definitely a good one to start with. Although there is some scary imagery, there is also plenty of humor and charming characters. The Legend of La Llorona is a movie that animation and horror fans of all ages can appreciate.
4
‘My Neighbor Totoro’ (1988)
Japan
The massively successful and prolific Studio Ghibli has produced over 20 feature films. Movies like Howl’s Moving Castle, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Spirited Away inspire the imaginations of young and old audiences around the world. One of Studio Ghibli’s most essential pieces is the 1988 classic My Neighbor Totoro.
This charming tale follows a family that relocates when an illness strikes close to home. As luck would have it, one of their new neighbors is the magical creature Totoro (Hitoshi Takagi/Frank Welker). With its relaxed pace and gentle animation, My Neighbor Totoro is a good pick for families with younger children. It is a timeless and beloved movie and is one of renowned film critic Roger Ebert’s favorites.
3
‘The Secret of Kells’ (2009)
Ireland
The Secret of Kells is a gorgeously animated film from Ireland that was nominated for the prestigious Best Animated Feature Film of the Year Oscar in 2010. It is based on the true story of The Book of Kells, an incredibly intricate and ornately illuminated manuscript of the four Gospels of the Bible that was almost a complete casualty of Viking raiders in 806 A.D. The movie follows the young monk Brendan (Evan McGuire), and viewers experience the events through his perspective.
The Secret of Kells is part of the Folklore Trilogy by Irish animation giant Cartoon Saloon. Most of the films contain a spirit or creature that can shapeshift and highlight the impact nature and conflict have on human life. It is a terrific accomplishment in storytelling and animation and speaks for itself that it was nominated alongside the Disney giants and was the only foreign animated film nominated in 2010.
2
‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ (2016)
United Kingdom
One of the greatest British family films of the last 30 years, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them takes a creature feature detour in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Fantastic Beasts has everything fans love about the Harry Potter series, plus more. It has more locations, more animals, and more dynamic characters. It was directed by David Yates, who also directed four of the eight Harry Potter films.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them centers around Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), a Magizoologist endeavoring to discover and document magical creatures around the globe. Things start to take unexpected turns when his journey takes him to America, specifically New York City, during the Roaring Twenties. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them has something for everyone. It is a great mix of period drama, horror, mystery, fantasy, and adorable animals. The acting in the film is stellar, and all of the characters are complex, layered, and captivating. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a great urban fantasy film that both fans and non-fans of Harry Potter can appreciate.
1
‘Babe’ (1995)
Australia
Nominated for seven Oscars and winning the Academy Award for Best Effects, Visual Effects in 1996 is the beloved animal movie, Babe. Australian filmmaker Chris Noonan’s vision for the humble tale of a pig on a farm is a masterpiece in the art of movie-making. The charming practical effects still hold up to this day, and new audiences, as well as those who grew up loving the film, can enjoy this poignant and heartwarming tale.
Babe (Christine Cavanaugh) is no ordinary piglet. After he is pseudo-adopted by the loving sheepdog Fly (Miriam Margolyes), he begins to have aspirations of being a sheep herder, instead of being destined to end up on the dinner table. James Cromwell is iconic as Farmer Hoggett, the silent, gentle man whose curiosity gives him the gumption to let a piglet herd his flock. Babe is full of adorable creatures and fun character performances. Whether you’re a fan of animals, storytelling, or cinema, Babe is a great choice to watch with the whole family.
Babe
- Release Date
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July 18, 1995
- Runtime
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89 minutes
- Director
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Chris Noonan
- Writers
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Dick King-Smith, George Miller, Chris Noonan
