7 New Family-Friendly Streaming Movies for Rainy April Nights
Movie Features
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By Michael Foust, Crosswalk.com
It’s April, the time for open windows, fresh blooms, and longer evenings.
It’s also the season of school projects, spring concerts, packed calendars, and – for some – nights that seem to end at the ballfield or playground.
Of course, it’s also the month for April showers. When those roll in, kids often run inside, filled with energy and looking for something to do. That sounds like the perfect time for a family movie night, doesn’t it?
April offers plenty of choices on the major streaming platforms.
Here are seven new titles for families of all ages:
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Master1305
Sarah’s Oil (Prime Video)
A young African-American girl inherits 160 acres of Oklahoma land in the Jim Crow era with the belief it’s a God-given blessing that will one day gush with oil – even as others dismiss her because of her age and race. As powerful forces scheme to steal what is hers, she leans on her faith, family, and determination. It was inspired by the true story of Sarah Rector, who became one of America’s first Black millionaires. Sarah’s Oil is rated PG for thematic content, some violence, language including racial slurs, a suggestive reference, and brief smoking.
Madagascar franchise (Netflix)
A group of zoo animals is unexpectedly thrust into the wild, where their hilarious misadventures test their friendship and teach them countless life lessons. All four Madagascar movies landed on Netflix this month: Madagascar (2005), Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008), Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012), and Penguins of Madagascar: The Movie (2014). Animated. They are rated PG.
Photo Credit: Kingdom Story
Fox’s The Faithful (Wonder Project)
The stories of the biblical matriarchs of Genesis are retold in this dramatic series, which follows Sarah, Hagar, Rebekah, Leah, and Rachel as they navigate faith and family – and God’s unfolding covenant across generations. It's a three-part series that originally aired on Fox and concluded Easter weekend. Showrunner Rene Echevarria told Crosswalk he hopes the project draws viewers back to Scripture.
The Lorax (Prime Video)
A 12-year-old boy living in a city with only artificial trees sets out to find something real, uncovering the story of a mysterious past shaped by greed, loss, and the fight to restore nature. Based on the classic book by Dr. Seuss, it follows Theodore “Ted” Wiggins as he discovers the last remaining tree seed and risks everything to bring real trees back to his world. It’s not faith-based – but nevertheless offers a powerful lesson on stewardship. Animated. Rated PG for brief mild language.
Photo Credit: ©YouTube/Universal Pictures
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (Wonder Project – for older children/teens)
A lonely German boy, isolated after his family relocates during World War II, forms a friendship with a Jewish child beyond a barbed-wire fence. That fence, of course, is the barrier of a concentration camp that separates them and imprisons countless Jewish victims during the Holocaust. Though historical fiction, it is a powerful tale of racism, innocence, friendship, and the Imago Dei – the shared humanity and God-given dignity found in every person. Rated PG-13 for some mature thematic material involving the Holocaust.
I Can Only Imagine 2 (Home Video)
A well-known Christian singer battling personal issues is transformed when he meets a rising CCM artist who has cancer – yet overflows with the joy and peace that the more famous star has long forgotten. It tells the true story of the friendship between MercyMe’s Bart Millard and fellow artist Tim Timmons, and is set several years after the events of the first film. Even so, newcomers can jump in easily, as the sequel stands on its own. It’s rated PG for thematic material and some language – yet contains no coarse words. (Unless you count “suck” and “freakin”.)
Gorilla Story, Told by David Attenborough (Netflix)
Legendary naturalist David Attenborough reflects on his unforgettable bond with mountain gorillas decades ago and returns to see how the descendants of a silverback named Pablo, whom he once encountered, are faring today. Gorilla Story is but the latest nature documentary on Netflix featuring Attenborough, who is 99. Others include Life in Color and Secret World of Sounds. TV-PG.
Photo Credit: ©KingdomStory
