30 family-friendly movies due out in 2020

Popcorn at the ready ... kids love a trip to the cinema, so here’s our round-up of the best family films to watch on the big screen this year. From fantasy to animation, there's something coming for all ages. You might even enjoy them, too!

Dr John Dolittle is back on the big screen, but not as you know him. This time he's played by Robert Downey Jr, and lives in solitude in his swanky manor during 19th-century England.

His only company comes from a bunch of animals, but when a young Queen Victoria becomes ill, the eccentric doctor and his animal friends embark on an adventure to a mythical island to find the cure.

The star-studded cast is bound to make this film a hit – Tom Holland, Emma Thompson, Selena Gomez, Ralph Fiennes and Rami Malek to name a few!

Certificate: TBC

Release date: February

Watch the trailer here

The smash hit '90s video game gets its own live-action film, featuring none other than Jim Carey. Sonic the Hedgehog is helped by a police officer to escape from the government, who is trying to capture him. This was due to come out at the end of 2019, but was pushed back to 2020.

Certificate: TBC

Release date: February

Watch the trailer here

This is an animated adaptation of author Jack London's classic novel The Call of the Wild. It features the voices of Harrison Ford and Karen Gillen, to tell a story of a dog stolen from his home in California and sold to freight haulers in the Yukon.

If your older children love dogs, they're bound to be into this film.

Certificate: TBC

Release date: February

Watch the trailer here

9-year-old Sophie catches JJ, a CIA operative, spying on her family during a routine surveillance operation. JJ reluctantly agrees to show Sophie how to become a spy so that she doesn't blow his cover, and it turns out, the young girl is pretty good at it.

Certificate: PG

Release date: March

Watch the trailer here

In the era of live-action Disney films, there's another one on the way. 2020 will see Mulan come to life on the big screen, but the storyline is pretty much the same as the original.

To save her elderly and ill dad from serving in the Imperial Army, Mulan disguises herself as a man so she can fight against the Huns in China.

Certificate: TBC

Release date: March

Watch the trailer here

This Pixar and Disney creation sees Ian and Barley Lightfoot, two teenage elf brothers, who go on a quest to find out if there's still a little magic left out there so they can spend one last day with their dad, who died when they were too young to remember him.

This is set to be a touching yet fun film for the family, starring the likes of Tom Holland, Chris Pratt and Octavia Spencer.

Certificate: TBC

Release date: March

Watch the trailer here

The mischievous rabbit is back for a second instalment in the Peter Rabbit series. Peter adventures out of the garden, but finds himself in a world where his mischief is finally appreciated. His family soon turn up to bring him home, but will he go back with them?

What kids don't love a bit of cheekiness? They'll be desperate to join Peter in the world he's discovered!

Certificate: U or PG, still TBC

Release date: April

Watch the trailer here

Sorry, but Trolls mania is about to come back in a big way. Poppy and Branch discover there are six different troll tribes over six different lands. Each tribe is also devoted to six different kinds of music – funk, country, techno, classical, pop and rock.

When rockers Queen Barb and King Thrash set out to destroy the other music, Poppy and Branch take on the daring mission to unite all the trolls and save the diverse melodies from becoming extinct.

Certificate: U

Release date: April

Watch the trailer here

The classic novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett has got another revamp, this time starring Colin Firth and Julie Walters.

When Mary Lennox's parents suddenly die, she is sent to live with her uncle, Archibald Craven, on his country estate hidden in the Yorkshire moors. To keep herself entertained, she goes exploring and discovers a hidden magical garden ...

Certificate: TBC

Release date: April

Watch the trailer here

This is another one for older kids, as it's likely to have all the usual James Bond stuff – violence, romance and the odd bit of swearing.

No Time To Die marks Daniel Craig’s last time playing secret agent 007. He'll star alongside Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, Rami Malek and Naomie Harris.

We're expecting big things, as Fleabag's creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge is on the writing team, but we don't know much about the plot yet.

Certificate: 12 TBC

Release date: November

Watch the trailer here

SpongeBob is like Marmite – you either love him or hate him. It's more likely your kids love him and you hate him, but you might have to endure it to watch SpongeBob and Patrick travel to the lost city of Atlantic City to solve the mysterious kidnapping of Gary the snail.

The lively pair prove that there's nothing stronger than the power of friendship, as they face danger along the way.

Certificate: PG TBC

Release date: May

Watch the trailer here

Scooby Doo has been around since you were a child, but it's been given a new lease of life in this instalment.

The film will show how lifelong friends Scooby and Shaggy first met and how they teamed up with detectives Fred, Velma and Daphne to form the Mystery Inc. Now, Scooby and the gang face their biggest and most challenging mystery ever: a plot to unleash the ghost dog Cerberus into the world.

While tackling the problem, the gang discover Scooby has a secret legacy and a destiny greater than anyone would've thought.

Certificate: PG TBC

Release date: May

Watch the trailer here

Disney have brought the fantasy novels by Eoin Colfer to the screen for 2020. Artemis Fowl is a 12-year-old genius and descendant of a long line of criminal masterminds.

The young boy finds himself in an epic battle against a race of powerful underground fairies who may be the reason for his dad's disappearance. Strap yourselves in for a gripping watch!

Certificate: TBC

Release date: May

Watch the trailer here

Woo! There's another Legally Blonde coming. While you might enjoy this more than your kids, older children (especially teens) could still find it a fun watch.

The plot is still under wraps, but we do know Reese Witherspoon is returning as lawyer and blonde bombshell Elle Woods after 17 years.

Certificate: PG or 12, TBC

Release date: May

Thought Avengers: Endgame marked the end of the Marvel madness? Ha! Nope.

Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, is getting her own film in 2020. Scarlett Johansson will return as the spy superhero to show what happened between other Marvel films Civil War and Infinity War.

The film will also star The Little Drummer Girl actress Florence Pugh.

Certificate: TBC

Release date: May

Watch the trailer here

Pixar has been busy creating a bunch of films for 2020. Soul will take you on a journey through the streets of New York City all the way to the cosmic realms to discover the answers to life’s most important questions.

It stars Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey.

Certificate: TBC

Release date: June

Watch the trailer here

Going up against Marvel's Black Widow is DC Comics' Wonder Woman. In this superhero's second film, she squares off against the Cheetah, a villainess with superhuman strength and agility.

Gal Gadot will continue to play Wonder Woman, and star alongside Chris Pine and Kristen Wiig.

Certificate: 12 TBC

Release date: June

Watch the trailer here

The loveable yellow Minions are returning for yet another film, but this one will be more centred around them and Gru rather than the 'gurls'.

Steve Carell is back as the criminal-turned-softie mastermind.

Certificate: U

Release date: July

Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson team up in The Jungle Cruise, which is set in the 1930s and based on the Disney theme-park attraction by the same name.

It also stars British comedian Jack Whitehall, so we're expecting some big laughs.

Certificate: TBC

Release date: July

Watch the trailer here

Do your little ones love a bit of wrestling? This might be just the film for them.

Rumble takes place in a world where monster wrestling is a global sport. Terry Crews and Will Arnett star in the film about a girl who dreams of coaching a monster into a serious wrestling contender.

Certificate: TBC

Release date: July

There was a Ghostbusters revamp in 2016, starring an all-female lead cast, but the new film to come out in the franchise isn't related to that one. Rather, it's a direct sequel to the original 1984 film.

Set 30 years after the second film, the story sees a single mum and her kids move to a small town, where they learn more about who they are, the town itself, and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.

It stars Paul Rudd and the original Ghostbuster Bill Murray.

Certificate: TBC

Release date: July

Watch the trailer here

The children's novel by K. A. Applegate has been adapted into a film for 2020. It sees a gorilla named Ivan trying to piece together his past with the help of an elephant, Stella, as they come up with a plan to escape from captivity.

The star-studded cast features Angelina Jolie, Bryan Cranston, Danny DeVito and Helen Mirren.

Certificate: TBC

Release date: August

The title kind of gives the plot of this film away – a family road trip gets interrupted by a robot uprising.

It's produced by the minds behind The LEGO Movie, so we've got high hopes for some entertaining comedy.

Certificate: TBC

Release date: September

Based on Roald Dahl's 1983 book The Witches, Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer and Stanley Tucci are some of the stars who tell the scary, funny and creative story of a 7-year-old boy who encounters some witches.

Certificate: TBC

Release date: October

One for the older kids, for sure. Legendary monsters Godzilla and King Kong have a face off in an epic battle, while humanity hopes to wipe out both creatures and take back the planet. Who will win the fight?

Certificate: TBC

Release date: November

This animated fantasy film is another Disney creation coming out in 2020. It's a fantasy adventure with southeast Asian themes, set in a realm called Lumandra. Five clans form the land of the dragon, and Raya is determined to find the last dragon.

Ocean's 8 and Crazy Rich Asians star Awkwafina plays Sisu, a water dragon who can transform into a human.

Certificate: TBC

Release date: November

Yep, ANOTHER Disney film, but this one is loosely based on Jack and the Beanstalk. Set in Spain during the Age of Exploration, the film follows Jack as he discovers a world of giants hidden within clouds.

He becomes friends with the giant Inma, who's '11 years old, 60 feet tall, fiery, feisty and a lot to control'.

Certificate: TBC

Release date: November

We've probably all seen this children's programme at some point, but now it's time for a full film about a young girl, Emily Elizabeth, who has a lot of love for a tiny puppy named Clifford. You guessed it – he eventually grows into a big red dog ... well, more like enormous red dog.

The film stars Jack Whitehall and John Cleese.

Certificate: TBC

Release date: November

Was your little one a fan of the first Croods film? Then this will be great news! Prehistoric family The Croods are back to their old shenanigans in a dangerous, strange new world.

Characters are voiced by Emma Stone, Nicholas Cage, Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Mann and Peter Dinklage

Certificate: U

Release date: December

A collaboration between Warner Bros. and toy manufacturers Mattel will see Margot Robbie star as real-life Barbie. Can you think of a better fit?

The Australian actress is also a producer on the film, and although the plot hasn't been revealed yet, Margot said she believes the film 'will have a tremendously positive impact on children and audiences worldwide.'

Certificate: TBC

Release date: TBC