Now TV, Netflix, Disney + and Apple TV+ are home to the new releases and classic golden-oldies that the whole family can watch and enjoy together over the (potentially very rainy) Easter Break. Find the eggs quick and then get cosy…
Wonka
On Apple TV: Tee this one up for a big movie night at home. Nominated for a BAFTA for Outstanding British Film of the Year – Wonka with Timothée Chalamet is available to buy or rent on Apple TV now and it is a real crowd pleaser for all age groups. Based on the the extraordinary character at the centre of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Wonka tells the story of how the world’s greatest inventor and chocolatier became the Willy Wonka we know today. Full of style, dancing, humour and fun, Timothée thrives as Wonka alongside his co-stars, Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa (hilarious), Gustave Die, Olivia Colman, Matt Lucas, Downton Abbey’s Jim Carter and other familiar faces. Everyone will enjoy this and learn something from it too. Photograph Courtesy of Warner Bros, IMDB.
Elemental
On Disney+: Elemental is full of heart, adventure, humour and incredible animation. These Disney Pixar films always manage to get a few tears out of you at various points along the way. The genius basis of Elemental is a world in which everyone is an element, ie fire, water, air and earth – Disney really do think of everything. The story takes place in a city in which fire, water, earth, and air residents live together, and a young boy Wade (water) and a young girl Ember (fire) meet and form a very unlikely friendship. Notice Catherine O’Hara’s voice as she is genius as ever, as well as Leah Lewis as Ember, Mamoudou Athie as Wade and other great actors in this magical film. Enjoy it over the Easter break. Photograph via Disney+.
Paddington 2
On Netflix: One of the most popular family films this year is still Paddington 2. The first one is also available on Netflix, so not to worry if you need to catch up. Starring the voices of Ben Whishaw as Paddington, Hugh Grant, Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters, Sally Hawkins and Imelda Staunton, plus Brendan Gleeson and many more, this star-studded cast tell the story of Paddington the bear. In this second film he is happily settled with the Brown family and a popular member of the local community, picking up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy’s 100th birthday, only for the gift to be stolen. Adventure ensues. This will bring everyone together for a relaxing (potentially rainy) afternoon. Photograph via IMDB.
Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie
Coming to Now TV: On Friday March 29, the newest Paw Patrol adventure, Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie will be available to watch at home on Now TV. This family favourite is destined to be a big hit on a rainy afternoon, as the familiar team of animated search and rescue pups face their next adventure – as mighty pups. In the film, Ryder and the patrol embark on a new challenge which sees a magical meteor crash-land in Adventure City, giving all of the Paw Patrol crew superpowers. With the fate of Adventure City hanging in the balance, everyone’s favourite pups will learn that even the smallest pup can make the biggest difference. There is a lesson in it for everyone – add it to the family watch list. Photograph via Now TV.
Matilda
On Now TV: A cosy classic and one that you can never go wrong with is the 1996 adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Matilda. Starring Mara Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Embeth Davidtz and Pam Ferris as the fabulously outrageous and terrifying, Miss Trunchbull. If you haven’t watched it with the family yet, this is certainly the time to step into the world of the Wormwoods and see all of the mischief and magic that Matilda gets up to. It is a true classic to share with everyone at home. Photograph courtesy of Columbia Tristar.
Wish
Coming soon to Disney+: The 2023 animation Wish, will be coming to Disney+ on April 3 – so stay tuned. This animated musical-comedy welcomes audiences to the new, unexplored land of the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force. This cosmic force, Star and Asha together confront a formidable foe, the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen. Starring Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, Evan Peters, Victor Garber and others, it is sure to be a magical one for everyone. Watch it on Disney+ on April 3. Photograph via Disney+.
The Little Mermaid
On Disney+: The live-action production of The Little Mermaid is available to watch on Disney+, and if you have a mini-marine biologist, princess, deep-sea diver or all of the above at home there is no doubt they will love this. Halle Bailey stars as Ariel and has wowed audiences since its release with her incredible singing voice. Follow the familiar story of Ariel with Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Javier Bardem as King Triton, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Noma Dumezweni as The Queen and Jacob Tremblay as the voice of Flounder – plus many more familiar faces. Photograph via Disney+.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
On Now TV: How about a catch-up with Mario and Luigi with an Easter egg in tow? Sounds like a pretty great trip down memory lane for us all, and a special experience for the little ones. The whole family will enjoy the animated flick which follows the origin story of the pair of plumbers. It’s voiced by some favourites Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black and Chris Pratt. Based on the original video game franchise, Mario and Luigi travel to an underground labyrinth to save a captured Princess Peach from Bowser. An ever-entertaining tale of rescue – queue it up for rainy-day watching. Photograph via IMDB.
Fantastic Mr. Fox
On Netflix: We are staying on course for the Roald Dahl movie marathon it would seem, but the combination of the genius author and Wes Anderson make the stop-motion film Fantastic Mr. Fox a forever favourite in our eyes. You truly believe George Clooney has stepped into a fox costume and is prancing around your screen. The familiar voices of Clooney as Mr. Fox, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, Poor Things’ Willem Dafoe, Jason Schwartzman and the late Micheal Gambon certainly bring the characters to life with the combination of the incredible stop-motion effect. The story is full of action, mischief, heart and humour for everyone and it is a film that the whole family will love this Easter break. Photograph via IMDB.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
On Now TV: This is the full feature-length adventure packed with everything we love about the original series. The story follows the four turtles-come-ninjitsu-fighting-band-of-brothers, Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Mikey, who are fighting to earn back the love of New Yorkers, whilst trying to take down an army of evil mutants. With the voice talents of Loot’s Maya Rudolph, Seth Rogan, The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri, Rose Byrne, The Gentlemen’s Giancarlo Esposito, John Cena, Jackie Chan and Paul Rudd – you will be listening carefully for your favourites. The Ninja Turtles will provide guaranteed feelgood viewing this weekend. Photograph Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
The LEGO Movie
On Now TV: We are all familiar with the building-block toys that we all played with at some point or other and now the film version is available to watch at home over the break! The voices of Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks and Will Ferrell tell the story of an ordinary LEGO construction worker who finds himself responsible for stopping an evil tyrant from destroying the world. A wonderful average-guy-to-hero trope that is always entertaining. The LEGO film is packed with daft and delightful characters who will get the whole family giggling. Photograph courtesy of Warner Bros.
The Parent Trap
On Disney+: The ultimate family flick is the 1998, The Parent Trap. Lindsay Lohan shines in the film as she plays both identical twins Hallie and Annie who are separated after their parents’ divorce and meet at a summer camp quite by chance when they are eleven years old. They attempt to bring their family back together by swapping places. Also starring the gorgeous late Natasha Richardson and Dennis Quaid, with the hilarious Elaine Hendrix. It is a fabulous flick, with so many iconic moments, and it will entertain the lot this Easter. Photograph via Walt Disney Pictures.
