IMDB TV offers its movies up for free. Not surprisingly, the available titles are the biggest, most recently released films, but there is a solid lineup of family movies. I found the film library difficult to search through, and had more success typing movie titles into the general IMDB search engine and going from there.
Megamind: When you think of a 2010 animated comedy about a criminal genius too smart for his own good, “Despicable Me” probably comes to mind. But don’t forget about “Megamind,” a fun supervillain flick that unfortunately came out after “Despicable Me” and was overshadowed by that film’s success. Its mega-star cast includes Will Farrell, Tina Fay, Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill. Ages 6 and older.
Little Giants: There aren’t many football movies for kids. This 1994 film stands out in its field, with Rick Moranis and Ed O’Neill playing battling brothers who coach rival youth football teams in a small Ohio town. Ages 10 and older.
Early Man: If there are few kids’ football films, there are even fewer about soccer set in the Stone Age. Happily, Nick Park and his Aardman Animation team did their part to remedy this situation. It didn’t score big at the box office, but when it comes to being a sweet, quirky prehistoric comedy, it’s a winner. Ages 6 and older.
Daddy Day Care: Hopefully, this film won’t hit too close to home during these stuck-at-home days. This 2004 comedy is about a day care started by two dads. Because the dads are Eddie Murphy and Jeff Garlin (The Goldbergs), expect goofy humor and dad jokes. Ages 8 and older.
Whale Rider: An art house hit, this 2002 award-winning New Zealand film earned its star, 13-year-old Keisha Castle-Hughes, a Best Actress nomination. The inspiring story about a Maori girl who dreams of being her tribe’s chief is powerfully moving and wonderfully shot, although the movie can be too mature for little ones. Ages 11 and older.
Muppets Take Manhattan: Make it a Muppets day with a double feature of “Muppets Take Manhattan” (1984) and “Muppets From Space” (1999). And if this isn’t enough for your kids, add “The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland.” Ages 3-6 and up.
Nut Job: If the kids are going a bit nuts inside the house, it might be time for this 2014 release, which follows in the footsteps of animated comedies about woodland animals such as “Over The Hedge” and “Open Season.” Ages 6 and older.
Stuart Little 1 & 2: Enjoy big fun following the exploits of this extraordinary little mouse. While inspired by E.B. White’s classic book, these films should not be thought of as strict adaptations of the novel. Still, these CGI animated/live-action motion pictures are charming efforts for families to enjoy. Ages 6-7 and older.
Shrek Forever After: While Shrek seems to have never gone away, the most-recent Shrek theatrical release actually came out in 2010. Featuring Shrek, Fiona and their friends, the series’ fourth installment has an interesting alternative-universe twist where Rumpelstiltskin rules and Shrek has to makes things right. Ages 6 and older.
Smurfs 1 & 2: Although the characters first appeared in 1958, it took until the early 2010s for Hollywood to make full-length Smurfs movies. These live-action/computer-animatedhybrids find the Smurfs battling their arch enemy, Gargamel (played by Hank Azaria), with Azaria and Neil Patrick Harris, whose character is befriended by the Smurfs, also part of the live action. Ages 6 and older.
