Rentals

Family Films

Films for kids have changed dramatically over the last 100 years, as seen in this family-friendly collection.

The early silhouette animations by Lotte Reiniger make the tales of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Thumbelina come alive, offering a traditional and delightful take on the fairy stories. Nostalgic adults and children alike will take to the films from the Children’s Film Foundation, from the hair-raising adventures of Sky Bike to the spookier gothic tales of Out of the Darkness (not suitable for very young children) and Haunters of the Deep.

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Rent for £4.50

Kensuke's KingdomKensuke's Kingdom

Animation & Artists Moving Image202384 minsDirector: Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendry

Michael Morpurgo’s beloved novel is brought to life in this delightful, animated tale of a young castaway who discovers he’s not alone.

Rent for £3.50

PinocchioPinocchio

Fantasy2019125 minsDirector: Matteo Garrone

In this unnerving live action adaptation of the classic tale, wood carver Gepetto (Roberto Benigni) crafts a wooden boy named Pinocchio who magically comes to life.

Rent for £4.50

Robot DreamsRobot Dreams

Animation & Artists Moving Image2023103 minsDirector: Pablo Berger

Spanish director Pablo Berger delivers a rich and emotionally engaging dialogue-free animation about friendship, set in a bustling 1980s New York City.

Rent for £3.50

The Eagle HuntressThe Eagle Huntress

Documentary201688 mins

Daisy Ridley narrates this inspiring documentary about a girl who causes a stir in her tribe in Mongolia by embracing the traditionally male role of Eagle Hunter.

Rent for £3.50

Early ManEarly Man

Animation & Artists Moving Image201889 minsDirector: Nick Park

In Aardman’s latest animated adventure, Caveman Dug and his pet hog, Hognog, must unite their tribe if they're are to survive the threat of pompous tyrant Lord Nooth.

Rent for £3.50

Shaun the Sheep MovieShaun the Sheep Movie

Animation & Artists Moving Image201485 minsDirector: Richard Starzak and Mark Burton

Aardman returns with another delightful animation for young and old, telling the story of Shaun’s adventures in the big city after Farmer is led astray.

Rent for £3.50

Paddington 2Paddington 2

Children's2017103 minsDirector: Paul King

Britain’s favourite bear returns for another adventure. Porridge rather than marmalade looks set to be Paddington's new staple after he's framed for a robbery, unless the Brown family can help solve the mystery.

Rent for £3.50

PaddingtonPaddington

Children's201495 minsDirector: Paul King

Unexpectedly beautiful and bewitching return for the marmalade-loving bear with a sense of adventure.

Rent for £3.50

WonderstruckWonderstruck

Drama2017116 minsDirector: Todd Haynes

Julianne Moore stars in Todd Haynes' playful adaptation of Brian Selznick’s acclaimed young adult novel, which follows two children from different eras as they set out to find people from their pasts.

Rent for £3.50

ZarafaZarafa

Animation & Artists Moving Image201179 minsDirector: Rémi Bezançon and Jean-Christophe Lie

A gorgeously composed French animation following a boy and a giraffe's epic journey from Africa to 19th-century Paris.

Rent for £3.50

Song of the SeaSong of the Sea

Animation & Artists Moving Image201493 minsDirector: Tomm Moore

Tomm Moore’s Oscar-nominated animation follows the magical journey of Ben and his sister Saoirse, the last Seal-child.

Rent for £3.50

Hide and SeekHide and Seek

Children's197261 minsDirector: David Eady

Gary Kemp (The Krays) becomes entangled with a borstal escapee known as the Deptford Dodger in this cracking drama from the Children’s Film Foundation.

Rent for £3.50

Captain StirrickCaptain Stirrick

Children's198295 minsDirector: Colin Finbow

Pickpockets, mad puppets, and murder – all from the 1840 press accounts of a real case that lead to the gallows – conceived as a musical by the Children’s Film Unit.

Rent for £2.50

DoombeachDoombeach

Thriller198976 minsDirector: Colin Finbow

A truant schoolboy sabotages the secretive power station he believes killed his friend. With Glenda Jackson.

Rent for £3.50

Sammy's Super T-shirtSammy's Super T-shirt

Children's197858 minsDirector: Jeremy Summers

Puny young Sammy gets a super-strength makeover when his lucky t-shirt is imbued with special powers, in this classic from Children’s Film Foundation.

Rent for £2.50

The GlitterballThe Glitterball

Children's197756 minsDirector: Harley Cokliss

Somewhere in 1970s England, a UFO crashes in a potting shed. Inside is a strange round visitor from space: the Glitterball. How will it get home?

Rent for £3.50

Flash GordonFlash Gordon

Fantasy1980112 minsDirector: Mike Hodges

Sam J. Jones stars as the quintessential comic strip hero, out to save the Earth from Ming the Merciless, in Mike Hodges’ visually ravishing sci-fi.

Rent for £3.50

Tarka the OtterTarka the Otter

Drama197892 minsDirector: David Cobham

The classic family film, based on Henry Williamson’s beloved book, follows the titular animal’s wild adventures as narrated by Peter Ustinov.

Rent for £3.50

The Belstone FoxThe Belstone Fox

Drama1973103 minsDirector: James Hill

Based on David Rook’s 1970 novel, The Belstone Fox tells the heartwarming and funny story of Tag, a fox saved from the woods and raised by huntsman Asher.

Rent for £3.50

Animal FarmAnimal Farm

Animation & Artists Moving Image195472 minsDirector: Joy Batchelor and John Halas

Sixty years young, this British cartoon of George Orwell’s political ‘fairy story’ is still the most abiding adaptation of this powerful, cautionary tale for all ages.

Rent for £3.50

The Amazing Mr. BlundenThe Amazing Mr. Blunden

Fantasy197284 minsDirector: Lionel Jeffries

Entertaining family ghost movie directed by Lionel Jeffries, based on the novel The Ghosts by Antonia Barber.

Rent for £3.50

Friend or FoeFriend or Foe

Children's198170 minsDirector: John Krish

Two evacuee boys from London sent to live on a farm face a tough decision when a German plane is shot down.

Rent for £1.00

Anoop and the ElephantAnoop and the Elephant

Children's197252 minsDirector: David Eady

Fun-packed comedy for kids, in which a boy befriends a baby elephant – then teams up with his friends to stop it being sold

Rent for £2.50

The Boy Who Turned YellowThe Boy Who Turned Yellow

Children's197254 minsDirector: Michael Powell

A London schoolboy’s surprise transformation marks the final collaboration of great British director Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.

Rent for £1.00

Pop PiratesPop Pirates

Action and Adventure198458 minsDirector: Jack Grossman

Home taping almost kills music as a schoolboy band's dreams of talent show glory may be scuppered by video piracy.

Rent for £3.50

Terry on the FenceTerry on the Fence

Children's198570 minsDirector: Frank Godwin

11-year-old Terry runs away from home and is drawn into a gang of bullies, in a gritty Children's Film Foundation drama.

Rent for £3.50

Night FerryNight Ferry

Children's197660 minsDirector: David Eady

A schoolboy aims to avert a dastardly plan to smuggle antiques out of the country in this rousing kids’ crime yarn.

Rent for £2.50

The Man from NowhereThe Man from Nowhere

Children's197659 minsDirector: James Hill

Victorian orphan Alice Harvey - arriving to live at her great uncle's spooky house - is frightened by a mysterious, dark-clad intruder.

Rent for £3.50

A Hitch in TimeA Hitch in Time

Children's197857 minsDirector: Jan Darnley-Smith

Two curious kids are sent back in time by an eccentric professor, played by former Doctor Who Patrick Troughton.

Rent for £3.50

KadoyngKadoyng

Children's197260 minsDirector: Ian Shand

It looks like the quaint village of Byway will be bulldozed to make way for a motorway – until alien outcast Kadoyng arrives from Outer Space to help.

Rent for £3.50

Out of the DarknessOut of the Darkness

Children's198568 minsDirector: John Krish

A ghostly drama of the Derbyshire plague village of Eyam, as unquiet spirits of the long dead make contact with the living.

Rent for £1.00

Cup FeverCup Fever

Children's196561 minsDirector: David Bracknell

Youth football team Barton Utd triumph against the odds in a Children's Film Foundation classic

Rent for £3.50

Mr. Drake's DuckMr. Drake's Duck

Comedy195181 minsDirector: Val Guest

The Drakes' dream of making an old Sussex farm successful comes to a halt after one of their ducks lays a radioactive egg

Rent for £1.00

Peril for the GuyPeril for the Guy

Children's195656 minsDirector: James Hill

In the run up to November the 5th, kids collecting coins for their living Guy foil a dastardly plot to steal an amazing new oil detection machine.

Rent for £2.50

The Sky-BikeThe Sky-Bike

Children's196759 minsDirector: Charles Frend

Schoolboy Tom Smith flies a man-powered flying machine to win a handsome prize.

Rent for £3.50

Johnny on the RunJohnny on the Run

Children's195368 minsDirector: Lewis Gilbert

A Polish refugee runs into trouble with two scheming thieves in this superb early work from illustrious British director Lewis Gilbert (Alfie, You Only Live Twice).

Rent for £3.50

The Monster of Highgate PondsThe Monster of Highgate Ponds

Children's196159 minsDirector: Alberto Cavalcanti

A boy receives a mysterious egg, but when it hatches a baby monster, mayhem ensues.

Rent for £3.50

Operation Third FormOperation Third Form

Children's196658 minsDirector: David Eady

John Moulder Brown (Deep End) fronts a crack children’s spy unit in this ripping boy's own adventure.

Rent for £1.00

Runaway RailwayRunaway Railway

Children's197055 minsDirector: Jan Darnley-Smith

A pre-Porridge Ronnie Barker plays a dim-witted train robber up to no good in this steam-era comedy adventure for kids

Rent for £3.50

Soapbox DerbySoapbox Derby

Children's195764 minsDirector: D'Arcy Conyers

Children’s Film Foundation adventure that sees a young Michael Crawford scrapping with a rival South London gang in Battersea.

Rent for £2.50

Skid KidsSkid Kids

Action and Adventure195349 minsDirector: Don Chaffey

Young 'Swanky' Clarke, leader of the Burton Bullets Cycle Speedway Club, foils bicycle thieves on the streets of 1950s Bermondsey.

Rent for £2.50

Supersonic SaucerSupersonic Saucer

Children's195651 minsDirector: Guy Fergusson

A baby from Venus saves the day with his superpowers in this charming sci-fi tale produced by the Children's Film Foundation.

Currently unavailable

Child's PlayChild's Play

Comedy195468 minsDirector: Margaret Thomson

Splitting the atom is as easy as ABC in this family-friendly adventure.

Currently unavailable

Tom's RideTom's Ride

Children's194411 minsDirector: Darrel Catling

Temptation on two wheels: should young Tom use the money he's found to buy himself a bike? Or should he do the right thing?

Rent for £3.50

The Salvage GangThe Salvage Gang

Children's195852 minsDirector: John Krish

John Krish directs this beautifully photographed Children’s Film Foundation caper about four children scavenging bomb-damaged London for scrap metal.

More Family Films in our Free collection.