The Best Easter Films for a Family Afternoon
Six films for the long weekend: bunnies and egg hunts for the children, and two great epics for the evening.
Easter weekend has a rhythm of its own. There is an egg hunt in the morning, a big lunch, and then a long afternoon when everyone has eaten too much chocolate to do anything else.
That afternoon is what this list is for. The first four films are for children and the adults watching with them. The last two are the kind of grand, old-fashioned epics that many families save for the evening.
Six films for Easter weekend
Rise of the Guardians (2012)
Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Sandman and a tough-talking Easter Bunny recruit Jack Frost to protect the world’s children from the Boogeyman. Much of the story takes place in the days before Easter, with an egg hunt at stake.
Best for: children who like action and adventure.
More about this film on TMDB
Peter Rabbit (2018)
Peter and his family have the run of Mr. McGregor’s vegetable garden until a tidy-minded young relative inherits the house. A lively update of the Beatrix Potter stories with plenty of slapstick.
Best for: younger children with energy to burn.
More about this film on TMDB
Hop (2011)
The Easter Bunny’s teenage son runs away from Easter Island to Hollywood to become a drummer, and moves in with a young man who can’t hold down a job. Bright, silly and aimed squarely at small children.
Best for: the under-eights.
More about this film on TMDB
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
With the village’s Giant Vegetable Competition only days away, an inventor and his far smarter dog run a humane pest-control business, until something enormous starts eating the vegetables at night. Rabbits everywhere, and jokes for all ages.
Best for: the whole family, grandparents included.
More about this film on TMDB
The Prince of Egypt (1998)
Raised as a prince of Egypt, Moses discovers who he really is and returns to demand freedom for his people. The story of the Exodus, told with stunning animation and an Oscar-winning song.
Best for: older children, and families who want a film with meaning.
More about this film on TMDB
Ben-Hur (1959)
A Jewish prince in Jerusalem is betrayed by his Roman friend, sold into slavery and returns years later seeking revenge, in a story that crosses paths with the life of Jesus. The chariot race is still one of the greatest action scenes ever filmed, and the film won eleven Oscars.
Best for: the evening, once the children are in bed. It runs about three and a half hours.
More about this film on TMDBScores are TMDB user ratings recorded on October 8, 2026, and can change over time.
Planning an Easter afternoon
- Do the egg hunt first. Children watch much better once the chocolate has been found and counted.
- Choose something short after lunch. Wallace & Gromit and Hop both run under an hour and a half.
- Split Ben-Hur in two. It was made with an intermission. Watch the first half on Saturday night and the rest on Sunday.
Need more ideas for a mixed-age room? Our family movie night list has eight films that work all year round.
Questions and answers
What is a good Easter film for young children?
Hop and Peter Rabbit are made for the youngest viewers, and Rise of the Guardians suits children who want more adventure. Check the age rating in your country.
Are there classic films traditionally watched at Easter?
Yes. Biblical epics such as Ben-Hur have long been an Easter tradition, and The Prince of Egypt is a popular animated choice for families.
How long is Ben-Hur?
About three and a half hours. It was made with an intermission, so it divides neatly into two evenings.
