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The Best Family Drama Movies of All Time

Updated September 3, 2020 8.8k votes 828 voters 178.7k views179 items

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.

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E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Drew Barrymore, Erika Eleniak
Released: 1982
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a 1982 American science fiction-family film co-produced and... more on Wikipedia
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Pollyanna
Hayley Mills, Jane Wyman
Released: 1960
Directed by: David Swift
Pollyanna is a 1960 American drama film directed by David Swift, and based on the novel by... more on Wikipedia
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Lassie
Michelle Williams, Helen Slater
Released: 1994
Directed by: Daniel Petrie
Lassie is a 1994 adventure family film directed by Daniel Petrie and featuring the fictional... more on Wikipedia
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Mary Poppins
Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke
Released: 1964
Directed by: Robert Stevenson
Mary Poppins is a 1964 American musical fantasy film directed by Robert Stevenson and produced... more on Wikipedia
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The Karate Kid
Elisabeth Shue, Ralph Macchio
Released: 1984
Directed by: John G. Avildsen
The Karate Kid is a 1984 American martial arts romantic drama film directed by John G.... more on Wikipedia
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Mrs. Doubtfire
Robin Williams, Pierce Brosnan
Released: 1993
Directed by: Chris Columbus, Chuck Jones
Mrs. Doubtfire is a 1993 American comedy-drama film directed by Chris Columbus, based on the... more on Wikipedia
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Bridge to Terabithia
Zooey Deschanel, Josh Hutchersonm
Released: 2007
Directed by: Gábor Csupó
Bridge to Terabithia is a 2007 American-New Zealand fantasy adventure family drama film... more on Wikipedia
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My Girl
Jamie Lee Curtis, Macaulay Culkin
Released: 1991
Directed by: Howard Zieff
My Girl is a 1991 American comedy-drama film directed by Howard Zieff and written by Laurice... more on Wikipedia
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Lassie
Peter O'Toole, Peter Dinklage
Released: 2005
Directed by: Charles Sturridge
Lassie is a 2005 British-American-French-Irish adventure comedy-drama family film based on... more on Wikipedia
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The Secret Garden
Maggie Smith, Irène Jacob
Released: 1993
Directed by: Agnieszka Holland
The Secret Garden is a 1993 British drama fantasy film directed by Agnieszka Holland and... more on Wikipedia
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Rain Man
Tom Cruise, Dustin Hoffman
Released: 1988
Directed by: Barry Levinson
Rain Man is a 1988 American drama film directed by Barry Levinson and written by Barry Morrow... more on Wikipedia
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The Black Stallion
Mickey Rooney, Teri Garr
Released: 1979
Directed by: Carroll Ballard
The Black Stallion is a 1979 American film based on the 1941 classic children's novel The... more on Wikipedia
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A Little Princess
Camilla Belle, Liam Cunningham
Released: 1995
Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
A Little Princess is a 1995 drama film directed by Alfonso Cuarón, starring Liesel Matthews,... more on Wikipedia
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Field of Dreams
Ben Affleck, Matt Damon
Released: 1989
Directed by: Phil Alden Robinson
Field of Dreams is a 1989 American fantasy-drama film directed by Phil Alden Robinson, who... more on Wikipedia
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Big
Tom Hanks, Jon Lovitz
Released: 1988
Directed by: Penny Marshall
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Oliver Twist
Ben Kingsley, Mark Strong
Released: 2005
Directed by: Roman Polanski
Oliver Twist is a 2005 Drama film written by Ronald Harwood and directed by Roman Polanski.
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Finding Neverland
Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet
Released: 2004
Directed by: Marc Forster
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A Christmas Carol
Patrick Stewart, Dominic West
Released: 1999
Directed by: David Hugh Jones
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Stand by Me
Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Feldman
Released: 1986
Directed by: Rob Reiner
Stand by Me is a 1986 American coming of age comedy-drama adventure film directed by Rob... more on Wikipedia
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Lassie Come Home
Elizabeth Taylor, Roddy McDowall
Released: 1943
Directed by: Fred M. Wilcox
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Rebel Without a Cause
Natalie Wood, James Dean
Released: 1955
Directed by: Nicholas Ray
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Fighting with My Family
Florence Pugh, Lena Headey
Released: 2019
Directed by: Stephen Merchant
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Free Willy
Danielle Harris, Michael Madsen
Released: 1993
Directed by: Simon Wincer
Free Willy is a 1993 American family drama film that was released by Warner Bros. under its... more on Wikipedia
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The Blind Side
Sandra Bullock, Lily Collins
Released: 2009
Directed by: John Lee Hancock
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The Pursuit of Happyness
Will Smith, Thandie Newton
Released: 2006
Directed by: Gabriele Muccino
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