Part of being a parent is saying no – but that often means you might miss out on some pretty fun experiences! As Allison (Jennifer Garner [1]) and Carlos (Édgar Ramírez) learn in Yes Day [2], giving in to your kids whims might just be the best time. As they embark on their "yes day [3]", they learn that they may have grown a little too accustomed to their knee-jerk no-fun, disciplinarian life. Hilarity ensues as the day unfolds, equal parts adventurous and disastrous, and the whole family learns that letting loose and simply having fun can be the best way to bond.
If you're looking for similar titles for your next family movie night, we've got you covered! Read ahead to find 10 movies that capture the same essence as Yes Day – and get ready for a good time.
Instant Family
Drawing from his real-life experience adopting three siblings [5], director and co-writer Sean Anders' Instant Family packs the perfect confection of comedy and heart that'll have you sobbing one minute and erupting in laughter the next. A married couple, Pete and Ellie, decide to expand their family through adoption. They set their heart on fostering a teenager named Lizzy, but end up taking in her two younger siblings, too. Their journey takes the family through an emotional rollercoaster as they struggle to connect. Much like Yes Day, Instant Family makes for a heartwarming tale with similar comical styles.
Watch Instant Family on Netflix. [6]
How to Train Your Dragon
Hiccup is a young Viking who defies his tribal initiation rite by refusing to kill a dragon. Instead, he winds up befriending and forging a connection with a Night Fury, the supposedly most dangerous dragon. With two successive instalments in the franchise, How to Train Your Dragon [7] is apt for a family weekend binge session.
Watch How to Train Your Dragon on Amazon Prime. [8]
Daddy's Home
When Mark Wahlberg [9] and Will Ferrell [10] join forces, you know it's going to be boisterous fun — and Daddy's Home is no exception. Brad (Ferrell) is wracked with insecurities when his stepchildren's biological father (Wahlberg) comes back into their lives. Vying for their kids' attention, the two become entangled in a hysterical competition of one-upmanship. While this family affair is a little predictable, you can't help but enjoy it.
Watch Daddy's Home on Amazon. [11]
Klaus
Klaus follows the story of a somewhat inept postman who is posted to a freezing Northern town, only to discover where Santa Claus has been hibernating. Backed with impressive animation and emotive vocal performances, the movie managed to land an Oscar nomination in the Best Animated Film category, and for all the right reasons.
Watch Klaus on Netflix. [12]
Home Alone
Kevin, an 8-year-old, is accidentally left behind when his family leaves for a holiday in France. Bursting at the seams with the joy of this unexpected taste of freedom, his happiness is short-lived when thieves try to break into his home and he must fend them off. Yes, it's slightly unrealistic, but Home Alone [13] is a certifiable Christmas staple that promises a fun time. What's more? You can binge on the four other movies in the series.
Watch Home Alone on Disney+. [14]
The Incredibles
The Incredibles [15] may be an animated movie, but make no mistake – its vivid and endearing characters are more than enough to move you to a puddle of tears. Packed with mind-blowing action sequences and an equally-bewitching soundtrack, the movie tells the story of a superhero family that will stop at nothing to keep the danger at bay for humanity.
Watch The Incredibles on Disney+. [16]
The Odd Life of Timothy Green
Granted The Odd Life of Timothy Green is a tad predictable, but it has its shining moments that underline the significance of familial bliss. Cindy and Jim are heartbroken to learn that they can't biologically conceive a child. However, things begin to look up when Timothy, an orphaned boy, comes into their lives – rather magically, might I add.
Watch The Odd Life of Timothy Green on Disney+. [17]
The Willoughbys
Four siblings with parents who've never given them the time of day, not for their whole lives, decide to leave their parents behind and start anew. While the premise of this animated movie seems gloomy, it handles it with warmth and humour, all while highlighting the importance of having a good family.
Watch The Willoughbys on Netflix. [18]
Blended
Jim and Lauren are two single parents who strike out, rather spectacularly, on their blind date, but a series of coincidences lands them on a resort in the African savanah along with their respective children. As the two start spending some time together, their enmity slowly morphs into friendship, and eventually, into love. The adventures, hurdles, and detours they take throughout the movie are without a doubt worth exploring.
Watch Blended on Amazon. [19]
The Little Prince
Based on the eponymous 1943 novella by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince centres on a young girl who, upon meeting the Aviator, learns the significance of intangible human bonds. The movie is shrewd, visually arresting, and emotionally raw – one that serves the most important life lessons in such a creatively simplistic yet riveting manner.
Watch The Little Prince on Netflix. [20]
