25 April Fool’s Day Movies to Watch as a Family

If there’s one holiday tailor-made for little tricksters, it’s April Fool’s Day. April 1 is the perfect time for joke-telling enthusiasts and aspiring Kevin McAllisters to put their skills to the test.

But rather than waking up to marbles scattered all over your floor or a mysteriously green dog, why not channel that mischievous energy into a family-friendly April Fool’s Day movie marathon?

From prank wars and mistaken identities to mischievous green slime and snoopy spies, there’s a film for every little prankster, but don’t worry! Everything works out in the end and the kids (usually) learn an important lesson. And if you’re a millennial parent, consider this your sign to relive your favorite childhood comedies with your kids.

‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’

Watching Ferris Bueller’s Day Off for the first time is a rite of passage. Older kids will love watching the charming and clever Ferris fake sick, convince his best friend Cameron to skip school, and take over Chicago, even making a scene on a parade float. Don’t blame us if your kids try to follow his lead—blame Ferris!

• Appropriate for: Ages 12+
• Perfect for: Kids and parents who love throwback movies and ‘80s nostalgia

‘The Parent Trap’

When Hallie and Annie meet at summer camp, they’re shocked by how much they look alike—because they’re long-lost twins! The two swap places to reunite their divorced parents while also attempting to derail Annie’s dad’s engagement to his soon-to-be wicked fiancee, Meredith. This Lindsay Lohan classic is as delightful for grown-ups as it is for kids, and the Nancy Meyers aesthetic is a bonus for parents watching.

• Appropriate for: Ages 7+
• Perfect for: Moms who love the Nancy Meyers aesthetic and kids who go to sleepaway camp

‘Blank Check’

When a young boy gets handed a blank check for $1 million, he does what any kid would do: he spends it! Of course, Preston quickly learns there’s no such thing as free money, as he lands in serious trouble. While kids will love dreaming up how they’d spend a fortune, they’ll also walk away with a lesson on responsibility—and the consequences of getting in over your head.

• Appropriate for: Ages 10+
• Perfect for: Kids who spend their allowance money instead of saving it

‘The Pacifier’

Shane (Vin Diesel) may be a tough Navy SEAL, but he’s completely out of his depth for the Plummer kids! Tasked with protecting them after their father’s kidnapping, he quickly learns that wrangling a house full of rebellious kids of various ages—from babies to teens—is harder than any military mission. 

• Appropriate for: 10+
• Perfect for: Big families with kids of varying ages who love a little chaos

‘Freaky Friday’

What if you woke up in your mom’s body? That’s exactly what happens in this 2003 comedy starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis. Anna and Tess are constantly at odds—until they magically swap places and get a firsthand look at each other’s struggles. With a sequel on the way, now’s the perfect time to introduce your kids to the original for April Fool’s Day! 

• Appropriate for: 8+
• Perfect for: Mothers and daughters who often find themselves at odds

‘Honey, I Shrunk the Kids’

In this 1989 classic, a group of kids accidentally shrink themselves while snooping in their dad’s lab. Can they get back to regular size before disaster happens? The franchise grew (pun intended) to include a few sequels so if your family enjoys the first one, there’s more fun in store.

• Appropriate for: Ages 7+
• Perfect for: Parents who grew up watching the series and want to share the nostalgia

‘Dennis the Menace’

No one pulls off pranks quite like Dennis! This ‘90s film adaptation of the beloved comic strip follows Dennis as he turns his neighbor, Mr. Wilson’s, life upside down with a series of well-intended but disastrous antics.

• Appropriate for: Ages 6+
• Perfect for: Kids who take “harmless pranks” a little too far

‘Matilda’

In this beloved adaptation of Roald Dahl’s novel, young Matilda feels like an outsider both at home and at school—until she discovers her telekinetic powers. While she’s not exactly a prankster, she certainly finds creative ways to get back at the awful adults in her life, including her neglectful parents and the terrifying Miss Trunchbull. With a mix of humor, heart, and just the right amount of rebellion, Matilda is an all-time family favorite.

• Appropriate for: Ages 7+
• Perfect for: Kids who love to read and dream up imaginative new worlds

‘Harriet the Spy’

If your child is has an ear for gossip and never misses a tidbit of information, they’ll love Harriet the Spy. This Nickelodeon adaptation of the classic novel follows Harriet, an aspiring journalist with a habit of writing down everything she observes. The late Michelle Tractenberg is perfect as the heroine, who learns that secrets are powerful, but sometimes they’re not worth sharing with the world. 

• Appropriate for: Ages 9+
• Perfect for: Aspiring reporters, secret-keepers, and kids who always one step ahead of the adults in their lives

‘The Little Rascals’

As the name suggests, the kids at the center of this ‘90s re-imagining of the classic TV series are a bit mischievous. Alfalfa, Spanky, and the rest of the He-Man Woman Haters Club are trying to win a special car race, but Alfalfa gets distracted by the adorable Darla, leading his friends to turn their backs on him. After their car is stolen, the group of rascals must resort to some hilarious hijinks to get past the finish line.

• Appropriate for: Ages 7+
• Perfect for: Throwback family movie nights or kids who love a little friendly competition

‘It Takes Two’

This 1995 The Parent Trap-style comedy stars Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen as look-alike strangers who switch places to—you guessed it!—stop Alyssa’s rich father from marrying his mean, snobby girlfriend. It’s not a remake of The Parent Trap; the twins play a rich girl and a spunky orphan versus posh twins like the Lindsay Lohan version. You’ll never pronounce the word “Chopin” the same way again after watching this one.

• Appropriate for: Ages 6+
• Perfect for: Parents who grew up on Olsen twins movies and kids who love a good twin switcheroo

‘The War on Grandpa’

In this 2020 film, a little boy reluctantly gives up his bedroom when his grandfather (Robert De Niro) moves in—but not without a fight! Will his elaborate pranks force Grandpa to surrender the room, or will they make peace? The pranks are funny, but the real heart of the story is about learning to adapt and embrace life’s changes can be especially meaningful for children who are hesitant about big transitions.

‘She’s the Man’

In this modern retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Amanda Bynes disguises herself as a boy to play soccer at a prep school. The plot gets complicated when she starts crushing on Duke, played by Channing Tatum. Can Viola pull off her elaborate scheme and continue playing soccer, or will her plan fall apart 

• Appropriate for: Ages 12+
• Perfect for: Tweens and teens who enjoy a romantic subplot

‘Big Fat Liar’

In this 2002 film, Amanda Bynes stars opposite another ‘00s teen star, Frankie Muniz. Muniz’s character Jason believes a Hollywood producer stole his idea and turned it into a movie, and he’s not super thrilled about it. Determined to get his story back, he teams up with his pal Kaylee to play pranks on the producer, from dyeing his skin blue to messing with his extravagant Hollywood life.

• Appropriate for: Ages 8+
• Perfect for: Kids who dream of being a movie star someday

‘Home Alone’

Sure, it’s set during the holidays, but that doesn’t mean Home Alone can’t be enjoyed year-round! It might just be the ultimate prank movie of all time, with the extremely clever Kevin McAllister outsmarting two bumbling burglars to protect his home. Admit it—you probably tried recreating some of his booby traps when you were a kid, didn’t you?

• Appropriate for: Ages 7+
• Perfect for: Families who wish it was Christmas all year long

‘Are We There Yet?’

In this 2005 comedy, Ice Cube plays Nick, a bachelor trying to impress his crush by volunteering to drive her two kids on a road trip. As you can imagine, it does not go according to plan. The kids aren’t exactly fond of the new man in their mom’s life—and vice versa. But as the disastrous road trip goes on, complete with car crashes and all sorts of hijinks, they realize that families can grow where you least expect them.

• Appropriate for: Ages 8+
• Perfect for: Blended families, kids and parents who are dealing with divorce and new partners

‘Yours, Mine & Ours’

He’s got eight kids. She’s got ten. When Frank and Helen meet again after high school, sparks fly and they fall in love. Unsurprisingly, the kids are less than thrilled about their new living arrangements, step-parents, and step-siblings. Determined to break up the newlyweds, the kids decide to take matters into their own hands and pull a series of pranks. Whether you go with the 1968 original or the 2005 remake, this chaotic comedy reminds us that blending families takes patience, love, and maybe just a little bit of trickery.

• Appropriate for: Ages 8+
• Perfect for: Blended families

‘Daddy Day Care’

After losing their marketing jobs, Charlie (Eddie Murphy) and Phil (Jeff Garlin) decide to start their own daycare. Are they qualified? Not exactly. It takes some time for the duo to find their footing, and the kids occasionally end up running the show—making Charlie and Phil question everything they thought they knew about childcare. But once they figure things out, they realize spending time with children is just as rewarding as a high-paying corporate role. 

• Appropriate for: Ages 7+ 
• Perfect for: Dads and their little ones to watch together

‘Agent Cody Banks’

Cody Banks may seem like your average high schooler, but he’s also a CIA agent. In this 2003 adventure, Frankie Muniz plays Cody Banks, who enrolls in a special CIA program and is sent on a special mission—all while trying to juggle his schoolwork and impress his crush, Natalie, played by Hilary Duff.

• Appropriate for: Ages 9+
• Perfect for: Aspiring spies, secret agents, and kids who are excited (or nervous) about high school

‘Flubber’

Throw it back to the ‘90s with Flubber, a sci-fi movie starring Robin Williams as a professor who creates a bouncy, mischievous green slime he calls—you guessed it!—Flubber. Flubber can do anything, which is both a blessing and a curse for Professor Brainard. Is it the greatest movie ever made? No, but kids will love the bouncy, silly Flubber slime and parents will have fun taking a trip down memory lane with Williams.

• Appropriate for: Ages 7+
• Perfect for: Families who love wacky science experiments

‘Muppets Most Wanted’ 

Any Muppet movie is a great pick for April Fool’s Day, but this 2014 film is a standout. When Kermit’s evil doppelgänger, Constantine, steals his identity and sends Kermit to a gulag while he goes on a crime spree, the rest of the Muppet crew has to work together to save their friend and stop Constantine. In true Muppet movie fashion, it’s a film about friendship and teamwork hidden under a ton of jokes and clever songs. Once you’ve finished this one, move on to the rest of the Muppet franchise! 

• Appropriate for: Ages 6+
• Perfect for: Longtime Muppet fans

‘The Emperor’s New Groove’

The Emperor’s New Groove doesn’t get as much love as some of its Disney counterparts, but it deserves a moment—especially on April Fool’s Day! When Emperor Kuzco is turned into a llama, he has to figure out how to reverse the spell and go back to human form. But first, he’s got to reckon with his selfish, spoiled, uncaring nature or he may be doomed to llama life forever. 

• Appropriate for: Ages 5+
• Perfect for: Those days when your kids need a reminder to be kind (IYKYK)

‘Big’

When Josh wishes to be big at the carnival, he doesn’t actually expect it’ll come true. But the next morning, he wakes up in the body of a 30-year-old man and lands a job at a toy company in New York City. His boss loves his childlike nature, but little does he know that Josh is actually a child. Is adulthood everything it’s cracked up to be? That’s what Josh has to figure out.

• Appropriate for: Ages 10+
• Perfect for: Kids who dream about what life will be like when they grow up

‘Uncle Buck’

Siblings Tia, Miles, and Maizy haven’t spent a ton of time with their bachelor uncle Buck…until now. Buck, a carefree guy who refuses to grow up, suddenly finds himself in charge when the kids’ parents go out of town. The younger kids are a fan of his laissez-faire attitude, but the eldest daughter, Tia, isn’t so sure—and she’s determined to make Uncle Buck grow up fast.

• Appropriate for: Ages 11+
• Perfect for: Kids who enjoy watching “old school” movies

‘Mrs. Doubtfire’

You didn’t think we’d make a list of April Fool’s Day movies and not include Mrs. Doubtfire, did you? In what is probably the ultimate “secret identity” family film, Robin Williams plays Daniel, a devoted dad who disguises himself as a housekeeper in order to stay close to his kids after a divorce. As you can imagine, there’s a whole lot of scrambling to stay in character as Mrs. Doubtfire (not to mention the prosthetics!) and not reveal the secret to the children. 

• Appropriate for: Ages 13+
• Perfect for: Families going through divorce