List RulesFilms in the family drama genre.
The best family drama movies represent a fun bonding experience for the entire family. What makes a good family drama? Typically they dive deep into the inter-personal relationships of two or more family members. Often there are dysfunctional dynamics in the beginning that get resolved over the course of the movie. So what are the best family drama movies according to film fans? The list below answers that question.
Popular examples include: Little Man Tate, The Namesake, Night Crossing, Oriana, and more. If we missed any family drama movies on this list, please add them to the list yourself, as this is an open list, which means you can add any movies whenever you like (choices are subject to moderation). The films on this list cover the most famous family drama movies of all time and are voted on by people who really care about family drama movie lists. This list of family drama films features details about each of the movies that you can access by clicking on the title. You can also copy the titles on this list start your own ranking of the best family dramas.
If you want to watch some of the best family drama movies ever made on Netflix or Amazon Prime, this list has you covered. To find other popular family movies that are streaming, check out the Best Kids & Family Movies on Amazon Prime and Netflix, as well as these funny family comedy movies. If you're looking for more thinly-sliced movie lists, be sure to take a look at the Best Historical Drama Movies, Best R-Rated Drama Movies, and the Best PG-13 Drama Movies.
list.itemsDescription
1
9513Big
Tom Hanks, Jon LovitzReleased: 1988
Directed by: Penny Marshall
Big is a 1988 American fantasy comedy film directed by Penny Marshall, and stars Tom Hanks as... more2
6645Lassie Come Home
Elizabeth Taylor, Roddy McDowallReleased: 1943
Directed by: Fred M. Wilcox
Lassie Come Home is a 1943 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Technicolor feature film starring Roddy... more3
6846Mrs. Doubtfire
Robin Williams, Pierce BrosnanReleased: 1993
Directed by: Chris Columbus, Chuck Jones
Mrs. Doubtfire is a 1993 American comedy-drama film directed by Chris Columbus, based on the... more4
10094E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Drew Barrymore, Erika EleniakReleased: 1982
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a 1982 American science fiction-family film co-produced and... more5
5738The Black Stallion
Mickey Rooney, Teri GarrReleased: 1979
Directed by: Carroll Ballard
The Black Stallion is a 1979 American film based on the 1941 classic children's novel The... more6
5635Rebel Without a Cause
Natalie Wood, James DeanReleased: 1955
Directed by: Nicholas Ray
Rebel Without a Cause is a 1955 American drama film about emotionally confused suburban,... more7
5031A Christmas Carol
Patrick Stewart, Dominic WestReleased: 1999
Directed by: David Hugh Jones
A Christmas Carol is a 1999 television film adaptation of Charles Dickens' famous novel A... more8
3822Oliver Twist
Ben Kingsley, Mark StrongReleased: 2005
Directed by: Roman Polanski
Oliver Twist is a 2005 Drama film written by Ronald Harwood and directed by Roman Polanski.... more9
5847Mary Poppins
Julie Andrews, Dick Van DykeReleased: 1964
Directed by: Robert Stevenson
Mary Poppins is a 1964 American musical fantasy film directed by Robert Stevenson and produced... more10
7462My Girl
Jamie Lee Curtis, Macaulay CulkinReleased: 1991
Directed by: Howard Zieff
My Girl is a 1991 American comedy-drama film directed by Howard Zieff and written by Laurice... more11
7266The Karate Kid
Elisabeth Shue, Ralph MacchioReleased: 1984
Directed by: John G. Avildsen
The Karate Kid is a 1984 American martial arts romantic drama film directed by John G.... more12
185Stand by Me
Kiefer Sutherland, Corey FeldmanReleased: 1986
Directed by: Rob Reiner
Stand by Me is a 1986 American coming of age comedy-drama adventure film directed by Rob... more13
5956Bridge to Terabithia
Zooey Deschanel, Josh HutchersonmReleased: 2007
Directed by: Gábor Csupó
Bridge to Terabithia is a 2007 American-New Zealand fantasy adventure family drama film... more14
4239The Secret Garden
Maggie Smith, Irène JacobReleased: 1993
Directed by: Agnieszka Holland
The Secret Garden is a 1993 British drama fantasy film directed by Agnieszka Holland and... more15
5755Rain Man
Tom Cruise, Dustin HoffmanReleased: 1988
Directed by: Barry Levinson
Rain Man is a 1988 American drama film directed by Barry Levinson and written by Barry Morrow... more16
157Free Willy
Danielle Harris, Michael MadsenReleased: 1993
Directed by: Simon Wincer
Free Willy is a 1993 American family drama film that was released by Warner Bros. under its... more17
3836Field of Dreams
Ben Affleck, Matt DamonReleased: 1989
Directed by: Phil Alden Robinson
Field of Dreams is a 1989 American fantasy-drama film directed by Phil Alden Robinson, who... more18
3837East of Eden
James Dean, Burl IvesReleased: 1955
Directed by: Elia Kazan
East of Eden is a 1955 film, directed by Elia Kazan, and loosely based on the second half of... more19
2319Finding Neverland
Johnny Depp, Kate WinsletReleased: 2004
Directed by: Marc Forster
Finding Neverland is a 2004 historical fantasy drama film directed by Marc Forster and written... more20
2323Flight of the Navigator
Sarah Jessica Parker, Paul ReubensReleased: 1986
Directed by: Randal Kleiser
Flight of the Navigator is a 1986 comic science fiction film directed by Randal Kleiser and... more21
4153Bicentennial Man
Robin Williams, Sam NeillReleased: 1999
Directed by: Chris Columbus
Bicentennial Man is a 1999 American science fiction family comedy-drama film starring Robin... more22
12427Charlotte's Web
Debbie Reynolds, Danny BonaduceReleased: 1973
Directed by: Charles August Nichols, Iwao Takamoto
Charlotte's Web is a 1973 American animated musical film produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions... more23
4041Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home
Michael Madsen, Joan LundenReleased: 1995
Directed by: Dwight H. Little
Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home is a 1995 family film, directed Dwight H. Little, and... more24
17170The Blind Side
Sandra Bullock, Lily CollinsReleased: 2009
Directed by: John Lee Hancock
The Blind Side is a 2009 American semi-biographical sports drama film. It was written and... more25
12649The Pursuit of Happyness
Will Smith, Thandie NewtonReleased: 2006
Directed by: Gabriele Muccino
The Pursuit of Happyness is a 2006 American biographical drama film based on Chris Gardner's... more