The best family films of 2016

Disney had a quite run in 2016. November's "Moana" has been hailed as a throwback to the studio's 1990s' formula, setting its tale of a plucky heroine and her quest in ancient Polynesia and blending spirited musical numbers and rich character development in a fresh, original story.

Disney's March release "Zootopia" uses the buddy-cop formula (with anthropomorphic animals) to tell a tale of a city of mammals who have shed their former predator-prey relationships for inter-species harmony. It may sound a bit on the weighty side, but the movie's not-so-sly subtext conveys a powerful message for young and old, and doesn't skimp on the humor, either.

"Finding Dory" is about as worthy a sequel as one could hope for, particularly as it relates to "Finding Nemo," considered among Pixar's all-time greats. Despite the similarities in title and plot, "Finding Dory" finds considerable charm in Ellen DeGeneres' performance as the forgetful Dory, along with an all-star supporting voice cast and its poignant tale of a fish in search of long-lost parents.

Roald Dahl's classic tale of a land of giants received its second (but first live-action) film adaptation from Steven Spielberg this year. The titular BFG, or Big Friendly Giant, finds himself an outcast among his fellow giants for refusing to eat humans, and becomes the friend and protector of a young girl named Sophie. Though generally well-received by critics, the movie only grossed just above its $140 million budget.

We'll cheat a bit here, since "Rogue One" won't see release until December 16, but as another entry in the series, it's undoubtedly one of the most-anticipated movies of the year.

Despite a relatively disappointing box office showing, "Ghostbusters" was honestly one of the year's funniest family movies. You already know that the film has a star-studded cast, so I don't need to go over that for you. What does bear mentioning is the fact that the new "Ghostbusters" movie pays tribute to its past without staying beholden to it. I hope that this isn't the last we see of the new "Ghostbusters."

You could be forgiven for forgetting for a moment that the Dreamworks film "Trolls" is based on those toys from the '80s. It does more than enough to stand on its own as a fun, family friendly kids' movie. And great voice acting performances from Justin Timberlake and others further drive home the point that this wasn't just a cash-in on a license, but a project that people put their heart and souls into.

We've all wondered what our pets are up to when we're not around, even when we don't come home to find the house in tatters.

"The Secret Life Of Pets" could have been a cookie-cutter cute animal movie, but thanks to a clever script and solid voice acting, it stands as one of the year's best family films.

A CGI marvel, Disney's latest adaptation of the classic Kipling tale features impressively lush visuals and a killer voice cast (Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Scarlett Johansson, and Lupita Nyong'o are just part of it) among its young star Neel Seti. It's been hailed as an improvement upon all its predecessors, which is saying something for the generations who grew up on the 1967 version.

"Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them" is not a Harry Potter movie, and it's better for it. It's refreshing to see a completely new story set in the wizarding world, and it's especially nice to see Rowling and Yates' take on what New York would look like with wizards and witches running about.

A frontrunner for the Best Animated Film Oscar already, "Kubo and the Two Strings" is beautiful, and should not be missed. If you passed it over when it was released earlier this year, do yourself a favor and see it over the holiday. And yes, bring your kids. They'll love it too.

"Sing" might have the most stacked cast of 2016 -- there are too many stars to list, from Matthew McConaughey to Leslie Jones to Nick Kroll to Scarlett Johansson, there are tons. And they all come together to create a movie that is, in a word, fun. And after the year we've had, that's sometimes all that's needed.

It's fitting that "Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children" sounds like a sister site to Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters, given the special powers of the people who live there. Tim Burton's newest movie is whimsical, dark, and engaging in all the ways you would expect.

The "Kung Fu Panda" movies have long been great family movies, full of colorful characters and antics for the kids, but also featuring some honestly-really-solid fight choreography and subtle jokes that only the adults will get. The third movie in the franchise is no different, and the addition of Bryan Cranston to the voice cast makes it even better.

A re-imagining of the 1977 movie of the same name, Disney's "Pete's Dragon" uses beautiful CGI and a cast that includes Bryce Dallas Howard and Robert Redford to elevate the old story, and introduce it to a new audience.

Originally a French film, "Ballerina" debuted in America early in November, and instantly established itself as an unique and joyful family film. Featuring the voice talents of Elle Fanning, Dane DeHann, Maddie Ziegler, and Carly Rae Jepsen (yes, that Carly Rae Jepsen), the movie is perfect for any kids who have even a passing interest in dance.

Justin Lin did a great job with this one. If you only knew him for his work on the "Fast and the Furious" series, "Star Trek: Beyond" shows that he's not just a one-trick pony, and that he has some sci-fi chops as well. In a year full of strong action movies, "Star Trek: Beyond" stands out. 

David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong'o, and Madina Nalwanga lead an amazing cast in this kid-friendly Disney film. Taking place in Uganda, the story is ostensibly about chess, but it is also a wonderful story of growing up and maturing as your world changes around you.

Based on the James Patterson series of the same name, and featuring a cast including Griffen Gluck and Andy Daly, "Middle School: The Worst Years Of My Life" should be on your list of movies to see with the family this holiday. A unique and imaginative visual style and strong performances elevates it past similar movies about how terrible it is to be in middle school

Assuming Johnny Depp doesn't give your kids (or you) the creeps, you could do a whole lot worse that to take the family to see "Alice: Through The Looking Glass." Featuring a stacked cast that includes Sacha Baron Cohen as the film's villain, it's a bright and imaginative movie that is well worth your time.