As given to moments of profound personal revelation as to bold, bright Busby Berkeley-esque musical numbers, Warchus’ all-singing, all-dancing ode to childhood and found family - set to Tim Minchin’s playful, poignant music and lyrics - feels destined to be as formative a feature for today’s kids as Danny DeVito’s 1996 classic was for the generation before them. Newcomer Alisha Weir shines here as the precocious child genius who leads a pint-sized rebellion against Crunchem Hall’s fearsome Miss Trunchbull (an unrecognisable Emma Thompson), whilst the likes of Lashana Lynch’s lovely Miss Honey and Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough as Matilda’s wretched parents help vividly colour what is already an eye-popping picture. Wickedly cruel when the moment takes it (Phys-Ed landmines anyone?), knowingly cheeky in that quintessential Dahl way, and shot through with all the heart and mischief of its page, stage and screen forebears, Matthew Warchus’ spectacular Matilda the Musical brilliantly adapts Roald Dahl’s classic children’s story for a new generation.

But it’s The Monkey King’s dynamic animation (the Chinese brushwork training sequence is stunning!) and simple yet crucially not simplistic storytelling that’ll keep you and your kiddos hooked. Produced by Stephen Chow ( Kung Fu Hustle, Shaolin Soccer), it’s unsurprising that this is a high-energy, kinetic romp from start to finish. However, a chance meeting with peasant daughter Lin (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) soon sets Monkey on an altogether more important journey – one to becoming his best self. Determined to prove himself and become an immortal king, Monkey sets out on a perilous journey to vanquish all the demons in the land. Yang ( Crazy Rich Asians) stars here as Monkey, a magical monkey (who’d have thunk?) with superpowers and attitude problems living in 7th century China. Inspired by Wu Cheng’en’s epic 16th-century Chinese novel Journey To The West, The Monkey King, helmed by The Boxtrolls’ Anthony Stacchi, is an action-packed martial arts animation that’s ultimately about what it truly means to belong. Perhaps most importantly however, Nimona’s story refused to go unheard, sending a powerful message to kids everywhere never be afraid to speak up and stand out. Gorgeously rendered in eye-popping 2.5D animation, Nimona offers a progressive, stereotype-challenging, family friendly parable on self-acceptance, the perils of xenophobia, and the complicated nature of truth that’s all wrapped up in a riotous fantasy adventure.

A sort-of revisionist fairytale, the film stars Riz Ahmed and Chloë Grace Moretz as outlawed knight Ballister “Bal” Blackheart and shapeshifting agent of chaos Nimona, misunderstood malcontents who form an unlikely bond as they try to prove Bal’s innocence. Nick Bruno and Troy Quane’s adaptation of ND Stevenson’s beloved graphic novel is a visually inventive, caustically witty, subversive and diverse animation. But then Netflix resurrected Nimona - and boy are we glad they did.

It was canceled, left in cinematic limbo for a while. So whether you are young, have younglings in your life, or are simply young at heart, read on and get ready to fill your watchlist with wall-to-wall bangers. From modern classics to timeless family film favourites, stop-motion masterpieces to horizon-expanding anime, and stories that range from the supremely silly to the poignant and profound, we’d like to think there’s something here for everyone. We’ve got down with the kids, reconnected with the child within, and spent A LOT of time on Netflix to bring you our hand-picked list of the 25 best kids' movies on the streamer. Thankfully, your cool aunt/uncle Empire is here to help. But in an age where you don’t have to leave the house - or even the sofa - to lose yourself in the magic of moving pictures, it can be hard deciding where to start when tasked with finding the films that will truly connect with the next generation of budding young film buffs. The best of them can play a pivotal role in shaping who we are and how we see the world we live in. Whether it’s a fantastical voyage to a magical realm, an animated adventure that sparks the imagination, a treasured first encounter with a favourite fearless hero, or a poignant coming-of-age tale that helps prepare us to take our first steps into a wider world, the movies we see when we’re kids stay with us for life. There’s something uniquely magical about the films you discover as a child.

Top 10 family movies on netflix