Gathering around the television for a movie night, or to catch up on the latest episode of your favourite show, might sound like the dream evening in, but add the whole family to the mix and finding something to please everyone can be the source of a few arguments. Thankfully, family members of all ages will find something to love and enjoy together in this wholesome collection now streaming .
Binti
Twelve-year-old aspiring vlogger Binti has big dreams for her future, but first there are obstacles she will need to overcome. Born in the Congo, and now living with her father Jovial (Baloji) in Belgium, Binti (Bebel Tshiani Baloji) refuses to give up on her plan to follow in her idol Tatyana Beloy’s footsteps and take the internet by storm. When a police raid of their home forces Jovial and Binti to go on the run or risk exposing their immigration status, it isn’t long before they cross paths with eleven-year-old Elias (Mo Bakker) and Binti hatches a plan: if she can get her father to marry Elias’ recently divorced mother, they will be able to stay in Belgium. But can she make it happen? Tweens, teens, and parents alike will be hooked on this Dutch language film that celebrates the power of never giving up.
Binti is available to stream at SBS On Demand.
Fantastic Mr Fox
Wes Anderson might be best known for his visually vibrant films, but not all of them are entirely family friendly. Thankfully, Fantastic Mr. Fox brings a little of the director’s signature aesthetic to an animation for all ages, as he puts a fresh spin on Roald Dahl’s children’s novel. Mr. Fox (George Clooney) now lives in a tree with his wife Felicity (Meryl Streep) and their son Ash (Jason Schwartzman) and, after a close call with a local farmer, promised to curtail his thieving ways. Though he has been somewhat successful in keeping his promise, the temptation to give into animal instincts puts him in the firing line of Boggis, Bruce, and Bean, three local farmers who set out to hunt down the crafty fox. Can Mr. Fox save his family and friends from the farmer’s revenge? Brought to life by a phenomenal cast, this stop motion reimagining of a Dahl classic is pure joy from start to finish.
Fantastic Mr. Fox is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Amazonia
If you are a family of nature lovers, or fancy a film that needs no dialogue, then Brazilian film Amazonia is for you. When a plane crashes deep in the Amazon rainforest, capuchin monkey Sai, born and raised in captivity, must now navigate life in the wilderness of the jungle. The unique construction of the film, using incredible on location footage captured over two years, interwoven with Sai’s journey, brings the Amazon to life. Though there are a few tense moments that may scare younger viewers, it’s impossible not to fall in love with the little monkey as he learns to forage, shelter, and make his own connections along the way. The whole family will be fascinated by the world of wildlife uncovered throughout the film, and alongside Sai’s story, will not only be entertained, but will learn something about this unique and ancient place.
Amazonia is now available to stream at SBS On Demand.
Barrumbi Kids
Any children’s series that also manages to be entertaining for parents is a win in our book. Barrumbi Kids is a ten-episode story of two best friends, Tomias and Dahlia, who are growing up together on Country in the remote Northern Territory community of Mandjakkorl. Together, the pair share friendship, culture, and adventure, and face the challenges that come with their final year of primary school and becoming teenagers. Based on the series of novels by Leonie Norrington, who draws on her own experiences of her childhood in a Barunga Aboriginal community south of Katherine, and with each episode coming in around 25 minutes, it’s a series that holds important messages for all ages.
Season 1 of Barrumbi Kids is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
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Barrumbi Kids
series • adventure
PG
series • adventure
PG
Oliver!
It’s a musical, a childhood classic film, and a dose of nostalgia all rolled into one, so it’s no wonder Oliver! remains a firm favourite for watching with family. The 1968 adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist is a well-loved story with an iconic soundtrack, following the kindhearted nine-year-old orphan and his group of friends in the workhouse north of London where they live. When a chance to escape the harsh realities of daily life inside the orphanage presents itself, Oliver (Mark Lester) finds himself entangled with a gang of street urchins operated by criminal mastermind Fagin (Ron Moody). A wealthy bachelor’s offer to take Oliver in could mean his luck is changing for the better, but a plan to kidnap the orphan could send him right back to the world he is desperate to leave behind.
Oliver! is now available to stream at SBS On Demand.
Steamboy
If Japanese anime is more your family’s cup of tea, then add steampunk action anime Steamboy to the lineup for your next movie night. Directed and co-created by Akira creator Katsuhiro Otomo, this takes a wild ride back to an alternative 19th century universe, where 13-year-old inventor James Ray Steam’s life is about to turn upside down. A mysterious package from his grandfather, Lloyd Steam, containing the powerful ‘Steam Ball’, could be devastating in the wrong hands, and Ray must do whatever it takes to ensure the O’Hara Foundation’s plan to sell weapons of war is stopped in its tracks. With his grandfather’s technology being used to create O’Hara’s ‘Steam Castle’, and his father caught up in their plan, Ray must figure out the foundation’s true intentions before it is too late. Available in an English-dubbed version, featuring well-known names including Anna Paquin, Patrick Stewart, and Alfred Molina, it’s sure to be a hit with sci-fi fans of any age.
Steamboy is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Heidi
This German-language (streaming with English subtitles) remake of Heidi, the tale of a young girl living with her grandfather amidst the beauty of the Swiss Alps, will fast become a family favourite. Based on the novel by Johanna Spyri, Swiss actress Anuk Steffen is a stand out as the orphan who is forced to leave the idyllic home she has come to love to become a companion for Clara, a wheelchair-bound girl from the city. As Heidi is immersed in this unfamiliar world, she is exposed to the value of education and connection with children her own age, but also reminded of the importance of home. Over the course of the film, she struggles to balance her new friendship with Clara and her yearning to return to her grandfather in the Alps. With the film shot on location, prepare to be blown away by the breathtaking scenery and this reimagining of a centuries-beloved story about family and friendship.
Heidi is now available to stream at SBS On Demand.
Bye Bye Birdie
Sometimes the best movies to enjoy as a family are those that have stood the test of time, and 1963 classic Bye Bye Birdie has done just that. When rock idol and teen heartthrob Conrad Birdie (Jesse Pearson) is selected for military service, his fans are devastated, and songwriter Albert Peterson (Dick Van Dyke) is facing the possibility that his dream of Birdie recording his song is over. That is until Peterson’s girlfriend Rosie DeLeon (Janet Leigh) suggests that Birdie performs his composition on the Ed Sullivan Show as a last ‘hurrah’ before leaving for the army. So begins a musical romantic comedy that sees relationships tested and stars rise. Forget modern day high school flicks, your teens will wish they were rocking out in 1960s Ohio instead!
Bye Bye Birdie is now available to stream at SBS On Demand.
