The 7 Best Family Movies Streaming in July

Michael Foust CrosswalkHeadlines Contributor
Published Jul 26, 2023

Let’s be honest. Swimming during the summer months is fun, but you can’t stay in the pool 24/7. The same goes with food: watermelons, tomatoes and grilled burgers are delicious in the shade, but every now and then, you need an indoor break.

Here’s the good news: The major streaming services have plenty to offer during July. Netflix is releasing a faith-based hit. Great American Family and Pure Flix are launching several new titles. And Disney Plus is releasing Season 3 of a popular children’s series.

Here are the seven best movies and television series streaming in July:

Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Vadimguzhva

1. Jesus Revolution (Netflix)

A group of hippies trade their drugs for Jesus, sparking a nationwide revival. This 2023 hit film is based on the true story of the Jesus Movement of the 1960s/70s and stars Jonathan Roumie, Kelsey Grammer, Joel Courtney, Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Anna Grace Barlow. It was produced by the same company that made I Can Only Imagine and I Still Believe and is one of the year’s best films. Jesus Revolution lands on Netflix on July 31. Rated PG-13 for strong drug content involving teens and some thematic elements.

2. The Huntsman: Winter's War (Netflix)

Wicked Queen Freya (Emily Blunt) attempts to rid her dark kingdom of love, only to fail when two people in her army – a man and a woman – develop a close bond. The film is a prequel to the Snow White story and is a solid morality tale – “Do not love. It is a sin. And I will not forgive it,” Freya says – even if it is at times dull. Rated PG-13 for fantasy action violence and some sensuality. It also contains mild language. Clearplay and VidAngel offer a filter.

Photo courtesy: ©Lionsgate

3. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (Netflix)

A legendary outlaw cat who has lost eight of his nine lives seeks shelter and peace at a woman’s rural house, only to be lured out of retirement. This 2022 animated film is a sequel to 2011’s Puss in Boots and is a spinoff from the Shrek franchise. (Puss in Boots himself was a friend of Shrek.) It features the voices of Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek and was nominated for an Oscar (Best Animated Film). Rated PG for action/violence, rude humor/language and some scary moments.

4. Eleanor's Bench (Pure Flix)

A high-profile judge tries to make a difference in her community by saving at-risk youth from a cycle of hopelessness. This redemptive series features a trio of well-known names: Karen Abercrombie (War Room, Guardian of the Galaxy 3), Cameron Arnett (Vindication, Overcomer) and T.C. Stallings (War Room, No Vacancy). It even comes with a downloadable Bible study.

Photo courtesy: ©Dreamworks, used with permission.

5. Bluey, Season 3 (Disney Plus)

It’s an Australian animated television series about the anthropomorphic life of a dog family: Dad, “Mum,” six-year-old Bluey and four-year-old Bingo. It’s the best animated series on television, not only because it’s hilarious and kid-friendly but also because of what it represents: the ideal family. The parents display patient, unconditional love. The kids learn from their mistakes. Everyone is a useful member of a team. Unlike so many other modern-day cartoons, sarcasm and name-calling are minimal. Season 3 debuted on Disney Plus in July.

6. A Belgian Chocolate Christmas (Great American Family/Pure Flix)

A food photographer impersonates a close friend/chef in order to visit Belgium and attend a food school. It is there that she falls in love with the owner. An original film, A Belgian Chocolate Christmas, is part of the annual “Christmas in July” event on Great American Family and Pure Flix, which recently merged.

7. Jonah: A Brickfilm (Pure Flix)

The story of Jonah is told in this one-of-a-kind short film using … Legos. It’s a unique concept, yes, but the end result is entertaining and inspiring. Jonah is one of five Brickfilm titles on Pure Flix, joining those about Jesus and Moses. (There also is a Brickfilm titled The Bible: Part 1, which takes viewers on a journey through the first few major stories of the Old Testament.) Josh Carroll directed them. They’re produced by Bricktime Studios.

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.