What Should My Kids and I Watch on Netflix?

I need a movie to watch on Netflix
What to watch on Netflix tonight?
I need a movie to watch on Netflix.
What’s good to watch on Netflix?

Search “Netflix” on Twitter (The Google of Conversation™) on any given night and you’ll find that one out of 10 tweets (my non-scientific assessment) is basically a call for recommendations on Netflix.

But first, let’s look at what current programming (for both kids and adults) we would recommend on Netflix. My son is twelve going on 16, so cartoons don’t appeal to him anymore. So I asked for help from other Alpha Mom team members.  Below are our collective picks given what we and our kids have all enjoyed in the past and what we think looks fantastic in terms of television programming and movies for kids and adults.

Recommendations of Fun Kids TV programs on Netflix Streaming

Sofia the First
Jake & the Never Land Pirates
WordWorld
Curious George
Super Why
My Little Pony (I have never watched, but Rebecca, who I trust, tells me it’s fantastic and she’s raising her own Brony).
The Magic School Bus
Spiderman
Scaredy Squirrel
Octonauts
FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman
Scooby Doo
Phineas and Ferb
Jessie
A.N.T. Farm
Life with Boys
Good Luck Charlie
Liv & Maddie
Dragons: Race to the Edge
Doctor Who (for older kids)
Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse
Kickin’ It (for older kids)
The Cleveland Show (for teens)
My Name is Earl (for tweens and teens)
Bob’s Burgers (for teens)

 

Netflix Kids Movies I think are/look awesome

Hugo
The Boxtrolls
The Secret of Kells
Spy Kids
Hook
Daddy Day Care
The Nightmare Before ChristmasLemonade Mouth
Mr. Peabody and Sherman
Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure
Frenemies
Good Luck Charlie Christmas
Tinker Bell
Zapped
Princess Protection Program
Teen Beach Movie
How To Build A Better Boy
High School Musical
First Position (documentary— not in kids section. For older kids)
Mad Hot Ballroom (documentary—not in kids section. For older kids)
The Short Game (documentary—not in kids section. Rated PG. I think it’s great for ages 8+)
Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (I hear this a compelling documentary for kids and adults alike)
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (for tweens)
30 For 30: You Don’t Know Bo (for tweens)
30 For 30: The U, Part 1 &  Part 2 (for tweens)
30 For 30: Bad Boys (for tween)
30 For 30: Sole Man (for tweens)
30 For 30: I Hate Christian Laettner (for tweens)
13 Going on 30 (for teens)
Legally Blonde (for teens)
Clueless (for teens)
Benny & Joon (for older kids)
War Games (for older kids)
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (for teens)
Sarafina! (for teens)

I think I understand why folks say that they “don’t know what to watch on Netflix.” Overwhelmed by choices? Not only is my recommendation list of TV shows and movies on Netflix (below) super long, my Netflix queue (also below) is out of control. (all I want to do right now is watch “House of Cards“.) Anyway, for those grown-ups seeking recommendations for movies and TV shows on Netflix, hope these lists are helpful. Please to enjoy:

 

TV Shows on Netflix You Should See

Bloodline
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
House of Cards (Original programming by and exclusively for Netflix)
Arrested Development
Mad Men
The Walking Dead
Damages
Luther
Breaking Bad
American Horror Story (don’t watch alone. so scary. so great.)
Black Mirror (so good, but very dark and highly disturbing)
Lost
Friday Night Lights
Parenthood
Broadchurch
Sons of Anarchy
Alias
Chopped (good to watch with tweens)
Nature’s Weirdest Events (fun to watch as a family)
Chef’s Table (good to watch with older kids)
Iron Chef (fun to watch as a family)
Cutthroat Kitchen (fun to watch as a family)
Food Network Star (fun to watch as a family)
Good Eats (fun to watch as a family)
House Hunters (fun to watch as a family)
The Mind of a Chef (fun to watch as a family)
Flip or Flop (fun to watch as a family)
 X-Files
Freaks and Geeks
Wet Hot American Summer
Top of the Lake
Orange Is the New Black
Grace & Frankie
Parks & Recreation
The Blacklist
Portlandia
Scrotal Recall
The Killing
Louie
Gilmore Girls
Friends
New Girl
Hart of Dixie
Bad Ink
Velvet  (with the subtitles on)
Rita (with the subtitles on)
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
Top Gear

Movies on Netflix You (adults) Should See

Chef
Exit Through the Gift Shop
20 Feet From Stardom
Ballet 422
Bill Cunningham New York
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
Witness
Pulp Fiction
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Happy
Almost Famous
Heathers
Zoolander (fun to watch with teens)
30 For 30: You Don’t Know Bo (good to watch with tweens)
30 For 30: The U, Part 1 &  Part 2 (good to watch with tweens)
30 For 30: Bad Boys (good to watch with tweens)
30 For 30: Sole Man (good to watch with tweens)
30 For 30: I Hate Christian Laettner
Tig
The Kids Are Alright
Amelie
Hector and a Search for Happiness
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio
Hurt Locker
The Virgin Suicides
Ask Me Anything 

 

TV Shows & Movies on Netflix that I’m Excited to Watch (for adults)

Sense8
Call The Midwife
Doctor Who
The West Wing
Firefly
Fringe
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Tiny Furniture
Farewell My Concubine
Chasing Amy
Russell Brand: From Addiction to Recovery
Muscle Shoals
Blackfish
Fruitvale Station

Yes, these recommendation lists skew more to TV programs than movies. Every night, my husband and I prefer to stay home in bed and binge-watch our latest TV show crush than the vast majority of movies in the theaters. It’s no secret that TV programming has been kicking movies’ butts for the past dozen years in terms of creativity and originality. Netflix’s programming library reflects that reality and for $8 per month (coupled with the fact that every internet-ready device in my home can stream Netflix) it’s a compelling service for our family.

Now it’s time to tell me here what programming (particularly kids) that you think should be on Netflix.