Everyone loves family movie night. The family piles up on the couch with tubs of popcorn and cold cans of soda ready. You turn on the television and start scrolling through the countless options. Nothing can frustrate parents more than attempting to spend quality time as a family then being lost when it comes to what to watch together. It’s challenging to find a movie that children of various ages will all like, and even harder to find one that would interest pre-teens or teens and be a movie parents approve of. However, here are some movies to watch this summer that the whole family will love.

"Holes"

Based on the novel of the same name by Louis Sachar, “Holes” is a story about a wrongfully convicted boy who dug his way into a new life at a desert detention center. Starring Sigourney Weaver, Shia LaBeouf, and John Voight, “Holes” gives family entertainment that your teens will love. With themes like justice, destiny, and kindness versus cruelty, “Holes” provides excellent talking points to discuss when the movie ends. There is mild language, so it’s suggested for ages 10 and up.

"Sing 2"

“Sing 2” is the sequel to “Sing,” another great movie, but “Sing 2” is more entertaining. “Sing 2” has the original cast from the first film, but this time, the group is under pressure to develop a show and convince a once-famous singer who gave up his career to start singing again, all to save the life of their beloved Mr. Moon. Voiced by Matthew McConaughey, Tori Kelly, Reese Witherspoon and Scarlett Johansson, this film is a quality, animated musical with songs that will have the whole family singing.

"Jungle Cruise"

“Jungle Cruise” is an action film starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, based on the ride at Disney Parks. It tells the story of a female researcher in the early 1900s who asks for the help of her brother and an iconic boat captain to take her to South America in search of an ancient tree. With a well-orchestrated plot, fantastic acting, and a surprising twist, this film is one you don’t want to miss. It is rated PG-13 for action violence, mild language, and one reference to homosexuality.

"Hotel Transylvania: Transformania"

“Hotel Transylvania: Transformania” is the fourth movie in the “Hotel Transylvania” film series, offering new entertainment voiced by Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg, and Adam Sandler. In this film, the lovable hotel crew navigates the disastrous and comedic results of an invention that accidentally turns Dracula and his friends into humans and Johnny, the only human, into a monster. There are solid family themes of acceptance, identity and the importance of always telling the truth. This movie is rated PG for animated violence and brief nonexplicit cartoon nudity.

"Encanto"

“Encanto” has quickly become a much-talked-about and beloved family film. It tells the story of Mirabel, a young girl who is the first in her family not to have received a special gift. She feels like she doesn’t fit in and attempts to earn herself back into her family’s good graces, which doesn’t go as planned. “Encanto” is a movie the whole family will enjoy, with themes of belonging, identity, working together, and facing issues head-on.

"The Greatest Showman"

“The Greatest Showman” is a musical set in a circus starring Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Zendaya, and Michelle Williams. This film has a lot of quality music, visual interest, and a family-oriented plot. It tells the tale of an impoverished man making something of his life for his wife and children, becoming famous a little faster than he anticipated. Still, this PG film teeters toward PG-13 because of religious exclamations, wardrobe modesty, and implications of adultery, so it may be better to watch with your teenagers.

"Jurassic World"

Tying directly into the original beloved “Jurassic Park” films from the 1990s, the new “Jurassic World” trilogy tackles more prominent themes, scarier dinosaurs, and more significant special effects worth watching. Due to language, violence, sexual innuendos, and jump scenes, these films are best enjoyed by your pre-teens and teens.

Family movie night is a tradition everyone loves, but sometimes, finding a movie for the whole family can be challenging. However, these films are appropriate for most ages, and they can cultivate discussions after watching the film. Try one of these films for your next movie night and see how your family likes them.