7 Family Movies and TV Shows to Watch in June

Michael Foust CrosswalkHeadlines Contributor
Published Jun 07, 2023

The children are out of school for the summer, and mom and dad are looking for activities to fill the time. Camps are a good idea, as are barbecues, bike rides and backyard water slides.

Sometimes, though, it rains. And sometimes, the family just wants to gather around the television for a movie. Thankfully, there are plenty of new selections this month – from new releases on home video to new titles on streaming services.

Here are seven family movies and television shows streaming in June:

Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Monkey Business Images

1. Prehistoric Planet (Apple TV)

Imagine if BBC Studios had filmed its popular Planet Earth series during the time of the dinosaurs. That's what Apple TV's Prehistoric Planet is – an up-close look at the daily lives of the dinosaurs in a five-part series. We watch them swim. We watch them eat. We watch them care for their youngsters. The best part? It's narrated by Sir David Attenborough – the same narrator from Planet Earth. Of course, it's all animation. But you can hardly tell.

2. Going Home (Pureflix)

A team of talented nurses guides patients on the ultimate journey – the journey from this world to the afterlife. Going Home is a faith-based scripted drama that encourages viewers to care more deeply for those who are near death. It also has a strong pro-life message. It is a Sony/Affirm series and stars Cynthia Geary (Northern Exposure, 8 Seconds) and Cozi Zvehsldorff (Dolphin Tale).

3. The Story Behind The Story (TBN)

Host Mike Rowe (Dirty Jobs) re-tells some of history's most unique stories while unpacking the moral truths hidden underneath. It's based on Rowe's popular podcast The Way I Heard It and brings back memories of Paul Harvey's The Rest of the Story. The common thread, he told Crosswalk, is "something you didn't know about somebody you do." The stories, he said, are "morality plays." It's one of the best new series on TV.

Photo courtesy: Apple-TV, used with permission.

The Most Reluctant Convert Movie poster, things you should know about The Most Reluctant Convert

4. The Most Reluctant Convert: The Untold Story of C.S. Lewis (Home Video)

A middle-aged C.S. Lewis looks back on his life, explaining how he was transformed from a hardened atheist to one of the world's most influential Christian apologists. It's a gripping combination of narration and drama and was based on the stage play of the same name. It was filmed at 18 locations in and around Oxford, England. Max McLean stars as Lewis. The Most Reluctant Convert was one of the best films of 2021.

5. Never Again (Home Video)

A man who was raised as a Muslim to hate Jewish people examines the reasons behind and the solutions to anti-semitism. Never Again is a documentary that tells the stories of two men: Kasim Hafeez, who grew up in a Muslim home, and Irving Roth, a 90-something Holocaust survivor. Toward the end of the film, they meet. It's a film that examines world history and explains why the nation of Israel should be defended. Because of the subject, this one is best for older children and teens. Visit NeverAgaintheMovie.com.

Photo courtesy: ©A1 Productions

6. <em>Won't You Be My Neighbor? </em>(Netflix)

6. Won't You Be My Neighbor? (Netflix)

A humble, friendly man from Pennsylvania launches a children's television program that changes society for the better. Won't You Be My Neighbor? is a documentary about Fred Rogers, the ordained minister who viewed his television series – Mister Rogers' Neighborhood – as a ministry. Rogers hated TV, but he wanted to redeem it. Rated PG-13, the documentary includes minor language and a brief discussion about his views on homosexuality.

7. Where Hope Grows (Pureflix)

Calvin, a former professional baseball player who is battling alcoholism, gets his life back on track thanks to a new friendship with "Produce," a young grocery store employee. Produce, who has Down syndrome, helps Calvin see the blessings all around him. It was directed by Chris Dowling and stars Kristoffer Polaha (Wonder Woman 1984, Jurassic World Dominion). It was originally released in 2015. The film has "grown and grown – almost like a cult classic," Polaha told Crosswalk.. "... It's a really wonderful, life-affirming movie." Rated PG-13 for thematic issues involving drinking and teen sexuality, brief language and an accident scene.

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.