While Walt Disney Studios had some questionable releases in the 1990’s , they definitely ramped it up in the 2000’s with Cars, Up and Ratatouille. We were also introduced to Harry Potter and Shrek, we spent the night in a museum and we found Nemo!  The 2000’s were a great decade for quality kids/family movies.

PS – Be sure to check out my other related posts The Best 70’s Movies for Kids, The Best 80’s Movies for Kids and The Best 90’s Movies for Kids

Unless otherwise noted, all are available on Netflix via DVD or streaming

My Favorites:

1. Because of Winn Dixie  – The story of 10-year-old Opal and a stray dog she finds in the supermarket.
2. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – In our family we prefer this version of Roald Dahl’s book starring Johnny Depp as the eccentric candy factory owner.
3. Charlotte’s Web (2006) – Starring Dakota Fanning as Fern, this movie is a great adaptation of the beloved book.
4. Enchanted – When Princess Giselle ends up in Manhattan, she’s shocked to find “happily ever after” doesn’t exist in this bustling city.
5. Finding Nemo – When Nemo goes missing, his father tries frantically to find him.  With the help of memory challenged Dory, this adventure proves you just have to keep swimming.
6. Harry Potter {and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and the Chamber of Secrets, and the Prisoner of Azkaban} – The first three movies in the beloved book series are just as interesting as the books.
7. Hey Arnold: The Movie – This full length feature of the Nickelodeon show about Arnold and his Brooklyn neighborhood friends.
8. Kicking and Screaming – Starring Will Ferrell and Robert Duvall as father and son soccer coaches.
9. Millions – When 9-year-old Damian finds a bag of money in his backyard, he enlists the help of his brother to help him try to spend it all without telling their father.
10. Monster’s Inc. – Lovable monsters Sully and Mike Wozowski get into trouble when little girl unknowingly Boo enters the monster world.
11. My Dog Skip– This one is a tear jerker, but it’s worth it!  The story of little boy Willie and his best friend, dog Skip, and the adventures the two share.
12. The Princess Diaries – Anne Hathaway stars as Princess in training Mia Thermopolis.
13. Up -The heart warming tale of grumpy retired balloon salesman Mr. Fredricksen and Wilderness Explorer Russell.
14. Wall-E – An adorable robot named Wall-E is the last robot left on an abandoned Earth.  When robot EVE is sent to Earth on a scanning mission, Wall-E’s life is turned upside down.

The Classics

1. Akeelah and the Bee – 11-year-old Akeelah lives in South Central Los Angeles and she has a chance to participate in the national spelling bee, with the help of her Principal and Laurence Fishburn who plays her spelling coach.
2. Alvin and the Chipmunks – This live action version of the children’s cartoon will have your kids in stitches.
3. Cars – The unlikely friendship between a race car and a rusty tow truck in the sleepy town of Radiator Springs.
4. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe- It’s the Chronic, what, cles of Narnia.  You won’t need to sneak candy into the theater when you watch from home, but you can still sip Dr. Pepper through Red Vines.
5. Curious George – A full length cartoon about the curious monkey, the man in the yellow hat, and a great Jack Johnson theme song.
6. The Emperor’s New Groove – Emporer Kuzco needs an attitude adjustment, so he’s turned into a llama.
7. Holes – While spending time in a detention camp, boys are forced to dig holes as part of their punishment.  But why?
8. The Incredibles – When Mr. Incredible is summoned from super hero retirement, his wife and kids must use their super hero powers to save him.
9. Lilo and Stich – When lonely island girl, Lilo, adopts what she thinks is a dog at the local shelter, she learns he’s anything but.
10. Ice Age – Scrat chases the ever elusive acorn which has world changing consequences when the continents split apart.
11. Night at the Museum – Night guard, Larry, discovers the museum doesn’t sleep at night.
12. Ratatouille – Gourmet chef Remy is an actual rat working in a Paris restaurant, unbeknownst to his co-workers.

Not to be Forgotten:

1. Chicken Little – Chicken Little has a knack for over reacting, until one day his over reacting turns out to be true.
2. Fantastic Mr. Fox – Story by Roald Dahl, directed by Wes Anderson and starring George Clooney and Meryl Streep.  Do you need another reason to watch this groundbreaking movie.
3. Herbie: Fully Loaded – This beloved franchise with Herby the Love Bug, gets a reboot starring Lindsay Lohan.
4. Lizzie McGuire Movie – Hilary Duff stars in the full length adaptation of the Disney Channel show.
5. Miss Potter – Renee Zellweger stars as the children’s book writer and the film depicts how her characters came to life on the page.
6. Nancy Drew – Another reboot, this film stars Emma Roberts as the teen detective.
7. Nanny McPhee – When a widower hires Nanny McPhee to take care of his seven miss behaved children, the magical nanny somehow instills discipline.
8. Piglet’s Big Movie – The adorable Piglet gets his own feature film.
9. The Princess and the Frog – New Orleans resident Tiana has big dreams of owning her own restaurant one day.  Until she kisses a frog and turns into her herself.
10. Race to Witch Mountain – Don’t miss Escape to Witch Mountain and Return From Witch Mountain.
11. Robots – Inventor Rodney Copperbottom is a young robot who wants to work at Bigweld Industries.
12. Shrek – The first one in a series, Shrek is an ogre living in a fairy tale world.
13. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron – Wild mustang Spirit encounters man for the first time.
14. Yours, Mine and Ours – This remake of the 1968 original stars Dennis Quaid and Rene Russo as a recently married couple who combines their two families.

For Older/Mature Kids

1. Finding Neverland – Johnny Depp stars as J.M. Barrie author of Peter Pan and the film centers on the family which was inspiration for the classic tale.
2. Liar Liar – Jim Carrey stars as attorney Fletcher Reede who is forced to tell nothing but the truth.
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – May be a little scary for younger ones, but this series featuring Captain Jack Sparrow and his conniving ways.
4. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest 
5. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End