Favorite Family Drama Movies

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This Super Page contains a growing list of our favorite Family Drama Movies!

We love watching movies and especially dramatic ones that provide strong life messages. On this page, we will review our favorite, family-safe dramas. If we think a movie is less appropriate for younger viewers we will mention it.


The Ten Commandments

Starring Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner. Released in 1956

The Ten Commandments is a classic movie that depicts the life of Moses from infancy to his departure from earth.

The Story Line

The story starts with his birth and his rescue from the Nile river by Pharaoh’s daughter. Then it shows Moses in young adulthood living in the palace and accomplishing great works and victories for Pharaoh. When he learns that he is of Jewish descent and that his people are suffering under oppressive Egyptian taskmasters, he uses his position and influence to try to help. His drive to relieve the suffering of the Israelites results in his exile from Egypt and a 40-year trek in the wilderness.

There he is welcomed into the family of a Midianite priest named Jethro. He marries Zipporah and has two sons. Many years later he comes face-to-face with the Hebrew God who calls and empowers him to return to Egypt on a mission. His mission is to be a mouthpiece for God to free his people from oppression, which he does by means of God’s powerful miracles.

Why We Love this Movie

We love the story of Moses – a man who was destined to lead a multitude to freedom. He was a man who learned humility while attempting to do a great thing in his own strength.

A cast of thousands was employed to create this epic production of Cecil B DeMille’s. Charlton Heston plays a believable Moses and stands convincingly against the mean-spirited Yul Brynner who eventually becomes the oppressive Pharaoh of Egypt.

Although this movie was made more than 60 years ago, the story is still relevant today. The special effects aren’t as convincing as a modern day movie, but the emotions, acting, costumes and large sets will draw you into the story and leave you in awe of what God did to rescue an oppressed people.

When we Watch The 10 Commandments

This is a move that we watch at least once a year and truly love. During the Spring and Lenten season leading up to Easter is the time that we love to pull out our Bible movies to be reminded of how God has intervened in our history.


Driving Miss Daisy

Driving Miss Daisy is a touching classic movie, starring Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy. It chronicles a friendship that goes beyond race and age, and it stands the test of time.

Daisy Werthan (Tandy) is an elderly Jewish Widow. She lives in a large home in Atlanta with one servant. Her son, Boolie, decides that she needs to surrender her car keys after she has an accident on her driveway.

Boolie hires Hoke (Freeman), a black man in the south, to be his mother’s chauffeur. Miss Daisy refuses to allow Hoke to drive her anywhere.  There is one hilarious scene where Hoke is driving the car slowly as Miss Daisy walks to the store.

Eventually, she relents and allows Hoke to drive her around, but he has to drive according to her preferences.

Hoke is incredibly patient and respectful, in spite of her demanding requests.

The rest of the movie covers more than 20 years of Miss Daisy and Hoke working together.

In the end, Miss Daisy starts to experience dementia and is admitted to a care facility. Hoke, now in his 80’s visits her there. This movie won 4 Oscars and is worth owning and watching once a year.


High Society

High Society is a hilarious musical starring Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong.

C.K. Dexter-Haven (Dex – played by Bing Crosby) lives next door to his ex-wife and wealthy heiress Tracy Lord (Grace Kelly).

Tracy Lord is engaged to be married, but Dex wants to win back her heart. The wedding plans are moving swiftly along and a reporter, Mike Connors (Sinatra) is assigned to write a story about the heiress and her soon-to-be new husband.

To complicated matters, Connors finds himself attracted to Tracy Lord also. The three men vie for her attention through all sorts of shenanigans. It’s hilarious fun with some awesome songs woven into the story.

The musical score was written by Cole Porter. The song True Love was nominated for an Oscar. Louis Armstrong makes a couple of appearances and adds a jazzy touch to the movie.

This is an entertaining movie to watch several times.

Other Great Movies

The Rookie — Dennis Quaid

Ben Hur — Charlton Heston

The Robe — Richard Burton and Victor Mature

 Regarding Henry — Harrison Ford-

Roman Holiday — Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn

 Meet John Doe — Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck

Blossoms in the Dust — Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon

Mr. Smith goes to Washington — Jimmy Stewart, Jean Arthur

War Movies

In Harms Way — John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Henry Fonda, WWII

Patton — George C. Scott, WWII

Sahara — Humphrey Bogart, WWII Africa

The Best Years of Our Lives — Myrna Loy and Fredric March, WWII. A great story that captures a true sense of what it’s like to return from war. Complete with laughter, tears, and intense emotional trials.

The Sea Wolves — Gregory Peck and David Niven, WWII (Retired military men help uncover radio signals to fight German U-Boats)

Tora, Tora, Tora — Martin Balsam, WWII ( History of Pearl Harbor)

 Final Countdown  Kirk Douglas, Martin Sheen

Wake Island — Robert Preston, Brian Donlevy

 Thirty Seconds over Tokyo — Van Johnson, Spencer Tracy

 They were Expendable — John Wayne, Robert Montgomery

The Battle of the Bulge — Van Johnson

The Great Escape — Steve McQueen, James Garner

Western Movies

They Died with their Boots On — Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland

The Man who Shot Liberty Valance — John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, Lee Marvin

 Cat Ballou — Jane Fonda, Lee Marvin, Nat ‘King’ Cole

 North to Alaska  — John Wayne, Fabian

The Electric Horseman  Jane Fonda,  Robert Redford

The Magnificent Seven — Yul Brenner, Steve McQueen


If you have a favorite PG or PG13 Dramatic Movie that isn’t listed, please mention it in the comment section below and we’ll consider it for this page.

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