25 Best Spring Movies For Families To Stream

Few family movies are developed with springtime specifically in mind, but these are sure to put you in the mood for the season.

While there are a few more seasons to change before springtime rolls around again, it is never too early to start considering the best spring movies around. There are movies that can be enjoyed all year round, but there are some special examples of movies that just seem to fit a particular season. In the spring, the types of movies that seem to fit the seasonal feel are those colorful, light-hearted stories that have audiences looking ahead at all the possibilities to come. Luckily, with all the streaming options out there, it is not too difficult to find the best spring movies.

From Netflix to Max to Paramount Plus, there are a lot of places the whole family can tune into and watch some spring movies for all ages. Some of these movies are beautiful animated movies. Other springtime gems tell love stories that capture the vibe of the time of year. Of course, there are even a few baseball movies the family can watch together. The best spring movies are out there just waiting for the calendar to turn.

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A mischievous rabbit hopping through a colorful garden is a pretty solid image for a spring movie. Peter Rabbit is the live-action and animated hybrid adaptation of the classic children's story from Beatrix Potter. James Corden provides the voice of Peter as he spends his time sneaking into the garden of an annoyed farmer (Domhnall Gleeson). The voice cast also includes Daisy Ridley and Margot Robbie while the colorful and light-hearted fun should please viewers of all ages. It was a big enough success to earn a sequel though fans are still waiting for the planned Peter Rabbit 3.

When dreaming of spring, many families will probably think of fields of flowers and maybe even a picnic on a sunny day, all images which are evoked in the animated oddity by DreamWorks Animation, Bee Movie. Starring Jerry Seinfeld, this movie has a unique sense of humor that both children and parents will enjoy. Bee Movie follows Barry B. Benson, a bee who longs for more out of life after he spends some time outside of his hive and falls in love with a human woman. Although the movie makes some strange turns through rom-com and courtroom drama territory, it never loses its spring vibrancy and idiosyncratic sense of humor.

Like Peter Rabbit, Hop hits those springtime vibes with the CGI rabbit bouncing around on a live-action adventure. Hop also has the added bonus of being one of the few Easter-themed movies as it stars Russell Brand as the son of the Easter bunny who rejects his path of taking over the position to pursue his dreams of being a rock drummer. The movie may be more appealing to the younger members of the family, but its animated hero and James Marsden as the human who befriends him do provide enough charm.

Springtime is the perfect opportunity to appreciate the beauty of nature and the outdoors. That is the message behind the fun and thoughtful children's animated movie The Lorax. An adaptation of the classic Dr. Seuss story, Danny DeVito stars as the titular creature, a grump critter who nonetheless fights against the oblivious and greedy destruction of the trees and plants of the world. Young viewers can appreciate the message without being weighed down by it and also enjoy the vibrant Seuss world where it takes place.

The sequel to Shaun The Sheep Movie and the latest from British stop-motion production company Aardman Animations, A Shaun The Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is a sci-fi adventure perfect for spring. The Oscar-nominated movie follows Shaun and friends as they try to help a wayward alien find her way home. The E.T.-inspired plot is charming, as is the indelible stop-motion animation, which is done in the classic Aardman claymation style. The fact that the film is set on a farm and stars several fluffy animals certainly makes it feel like spring, but families and kids will enjoy the fun hijinks of these characters regardless of the season.

As both producers and directors, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are behind some of the most prolific comedy films—many of which are animated—of recent years. Their directorial debut, however, was the bright and fast-paced children's book adaptation Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs. This food-themed romp is an exciting adventure centered on an inventor's quest to bring a variety of food to his hometown with a machine that makes the sky rain delicious meals. With a plot that spans a heartwarming father-son story arc to an adorable talking monkey, this film is a great springtime watch for families, especially on a rainy day.

One of the most underrated Pixar movies, A Bug's Life is a surprisingly thrilling new take on Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai. The movie follows a community of ants who are forced to collect food for an intimidating group of grasshoppers. When they are unable to fulfill their requirements, one brave ant ventures out to find powerful bugs to help defend their home, only to accidentally recruit a gang of circus bugs. The colorful and fun world of these insects makes for a great outdoor adventure that should not be overlooked. The film was positively reviewed though it is a forgotten classic of sorts.

The 1993 adaptation of The Secret Garden is one of many takes on the classic 1911 novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It tells the story of a young orphan who is sent to her uncle's estate in England. While exploring the estate, she discovers a beautiful and isolated space where she can escape to. The image of the flower-filled garden of the title is enough to evoke the feeling of spring for audiences. The movie was seen as one of the best adaptations of the story by embracing the darker themes but also exploring its beauty as well.

There are a number of great romantic comedies that seem to fit the bill of a springtime movie. (500) Days of Summer is one such movie, and despite the title, spring is the most appropriate season for the story. Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as a hopeless romantic who falls for a free-spirited girl named Summer (Zooey Deschanel) with the movie bouncing back and forth in time, exploring the timeline of their romance. The movie has a brightness to it but it is also about the changing of the seasons with Gordon-Levitt's character heading towards a peaceful place where he is ready for a new start, much like the springtime itself.

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A fish-out-of-water story like no other, Rango is a visually stunning story of a pampered pet lizard named Rango who is lost and thrust into a Wild West-themed world of animals barely surviving in the wild. As Rango uses his acting skills to blend in, he meets an eclectic cast of characters and goes on some unforgettable adventures. This film might be better suited for the older kids, but families will be captivated by Rango's adventures and misadventures in the town of Dirt nonetheless. Although the film's scorching desert locales may suggest summer more than spring, the blooming of the main character from fake sheriff into an actual hero is a springtime story for the ages.

Another winner from Sony Pictures Animation, the studio behind Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse and Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, The Mitchells Vs. The Machines has made a big splash on Netflix already. The film's vibrant aesthetic and heartwarming sense of humor make it a perfect spring watch. In this movie, Katie Mitchell's trip to film school is interrupted by her father's attempts to bond with her by taking a family road trip, which is further interrupted by a robot uprising that threatens the whole world. Some families may see themselves in the Mitchells, but the film's emotional core has a mass appeal to kids and parents, regardless.

Families can add a classic musical to their spring watchlist with Easter Parade celebrating the holiday as well as the colorful spirit of the season. When a nightclub performer is looking to make his former partner jealous, he hires an innocent young chorus girl to be his dance partner. The movie is a terrific collaboration between two icons of the musical genre, Fred Astair, and Judy Garland, and features a fine collection of famous songs from the duo. The result is a spirited and fun musical from the golden age of the genre.

While Jane Austen novels make for perfect summer movies, it turns out that modern adaptations of Austen stories are also fitting for the season. Clueless is a new take on Emma and stars Alicia Silverstone as a high school student with an eye for matchmaking who doesn't spend any time finding romance of her own. The Clueless cast is a wonderful collection of young stars from the era, including Paul Rudd and Brittany Murphy, but Silverstone steals the show as the bubbly and colorfully-outfitted lead in this quintessential 90s movie.

Baseball is another subject that seems unanimous with springtime and A League of Their Own is a wonderful period baseball story based on inspiring true events. It details the time during World War II when male players in professional baseball were fighting overseas and a professional women's league was organized to take their place. Tom Hanks has a great supporting role as the reluctant coach of the team, but the real thrill is this story of women finally getting the chance to play the game they love on a national stage, winning the country over as they went.

There have been plenty of iterations of these famous puppets, but the 2011 film The Muppets is a relatively recent revival of the performers that both delights longtime fans and has the potential to introduce new fans to Kermit and Co. The Muppets is filled with celebrity cameos and metafictional nods to the franchise, as the plot revolves around the titular puppets having one last chance to save their historic theater despite being told that they aren't popular anymore. Families will love sharing the Muppets world together, and the film's bright colors and musical numbers bring the spring vibes.

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The Disney take on the fairy tale of Rapunzel takes a familiar story and creates one of their best movies of the 2010s with Tangled. The story finds Rapunzel blessed with magical hair as a baby only to be taken by a witch who seeks to use the hair to remain young. Rapunzel grows up in isolation, protected from the world by the lying witch only to meet a dashing thief and go on her first adventure outside her tower. The flower-filled with of Rapunzel's kingdom makes for a beautiful spring story filled with fun characters, wonderful songs, and a clever story.

Once again, the magic of Jane Austen works its way into the springtime feel. Pride & Prejudice is one of make takes on the classic love story but packs an emotional punch even with its familiar tale. Keira Knightley stars as Elizabeth Bennet, one of many daughters of a humble English family being pressured to find love and a husband who can support her, but fighting to maintain her independence. That is all complicated by the arrival of Mr. Darcy (Succession's Matthew MacFayden). The rainy and lush English scenery gives a beautiful spring vibe as the backdrop to a romance that will make any viewer swoon.

Whether viewers are of the school age now or a fully grown adult, they can all relate to the feeling of being in class on a beautiful spring day and wishing they were out on an adventure. Ferris Bueller is just the hero to make such a fantasy a reality as this classic teen movie simply follows the free-spirit and fun-loving protagonist as he takes his best friend and girlfriend on an elaborate day of skipping school. The Ferris Bueller's Day Off quotes that still stay with people highlight that life-affirming vibe the movie has that feels like a perfect spring day.

This Disney classic is mostly remembered for that one heartbreaking moment that dramatized many kids, but there is a beauty and fun to the story as well. Bambi follows the titular young deer from his first moments in the world, learning to walk and meeting friends, as he grows and learns about life in the forest. It is one of the most beautifully-animated Disney movies and the outdoor world of Bambi and his friends feel like that perfect spring day viewing experience with the whole family - so long as they are prepared to cry as well.

Another movie that puts a talking animal front and center to charm audiences, Babe is one of those movies that people will think they remember only to rewatch it and be blown away by its subtle brilliance. It is the story of a young pig who is taken to a farm and adopted by a family of sheepherder dogs. Under the watchful eye of the stoic but caring farmer, Babe decides to try his hand at being a sheepherder as well. The images of this cute little pig frolicking in the flowers and meadows carry that spring feel. But more importantly, it is a funny and clever story about how people can be anything they want.

Colin McCormick is a Senior Writer with Screen Rant and has been a proud member of the team since 2019. In addition to his work as Screen Rant, Colin is also a writer of News, Feature and Review pieces at Game Rant. Colin has had a long passion and obsession with movies going back to the first time he saw The Lion King in theaters. Along with movies, Colin stays up-to-date on the latest must-see TV shows. While he loves to find interesting projects in any kind of genre, he has a special movie of crime stories that are infused with a little dark humor much like the work of his favorite author, Elmore Leonard.

Jason Mecchi is a list writer at Screen Rant. His passions in writing are film and popular culture. He has also written for Midstory. He loves animals, watching movies, reading, and playing video games.