7 Fun Family Films to Stream this July and Escape the Summer Heat

Movies

Audio By Carbonatix

10:20 AM on Wednesday, July 23

By Michael Foust, Movies

1. Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (Netflix)

A hapless canine is unexpectedly made samurai of a feline village as part of a cunning plan by a corrupt leader who's counting on him to fail. The dog, Hank, suddenly must learn the art of the samurai while winning the affection of the cats who naturally question his every move. This animated spoof film includes solid lessons on selflessness and loving those who look different. Rated PG for action, violence, rude and suggestive humor, and some language. Clearplay offers a filter.

Photo Credit: ©YouTube Screengrab/Paramount Pictures

2. Miracles From Heaven (Netflix)

An ill girl's dangerous fall from a tree turns miraculous when she not only survives but is inexplicably cured of a rare digestive condition she had battled for years. Her story takes an even more extraordinary turn when she tells her family she visited heaven while clinging to life in the hospital. This 2016 faith-based film is based on a real-life story and stars Jennifer Garner as the mother. Rated PG for thematic material, including accident and medical images.

Photo Credit: © Sony Entertainment

3. How to Train Your Dragon, 2025 (Home Video)

A teenage Viking named Hiccup shocks his village when he befriends a dangerous Night Fury -- a dragon -- instead of killing it. As their bond deepens, Hiccup uncovers a truth that could upend his entire world: Dragons aren't enemies -- they're misunderstood. This 2025 live-action remake includes everything that made the 2010 film a family classic, including the lessons on friendship, family, and the eye-opening truth about prejudice.

Photo Credit: ©Universal

4. Green and Gold (Angel)

A Wisconsin farmer facing foreclosure strikes a last-ditch deal with his banker, vowing to surrender his beloved farm only if the Green Bay Packers fall short of winning the Super Bowl. Inspired by true events, it's a film that celebrates farming and small-town communities with a solid focus on family and faith. Craig T. Nelson stars in the lead role. This unrated film falls in the PG/PG-13 realm, with minor language and one brief scene involving a potential suicide. (The farmer's neighbor threatens to shoot himself, but changes his mind.)

Photo Credit: ©Fathom

5. Hidden Figures (Prime Video)

Three African American women in the early 1960s overcame racial and gender barriers at NASA to become the brains behind one of the greatest space missions in history. The film was based on a book of the same name and tells the inspiring true story of the perseverance and quiet heroism that helped launch John Glenn into orbit. Rated PG for thematic elements and some language. Clearplay offers a filter.

6. Lilo and Stitch, 2025 (Home Video)

A young Hawaiian girl named Lilo, struggling with grief and loneliness, adopts a mysterious blue "dog" from the shelter, sparking an unexpected adventure filled with heart, chaos, and a few government agents in hot pursuit. It's a 2025 remake of the 2002 animated film that was nominated for an Oscar and was the year's 14th-highest-grossing film. It includes powerful messages about friendship and familial love. Rated PG for action, peril, and thematic elements.

7. Christmas in July (Great American Family/Pure Flix)

The annual summer event returns as Great American Family and Great American Pure Flix feature heartwarming holiday films to lift your spirits -- right in the middle of sweltering days and summertime heat. The company's Christmas library includes nearly 100 original holiday films -- all produced since Great American Family launched in 2021.