Must-watch! The best family films coming out in 2015

Following the trend to remake classic Disney animated fairytales into live action movies (Maleficent, Snow White and the Huntsmen), there are a number coming in 2015. Cinderella, directed by Kenneth Brannagh, is the first (others to come include The Jungle Book and Beauty & The Beast).

Cinderella features performances from Downton Abbey's Lily James as the rags-to-riches princess (a part turned down by Emma Watson) and Game of Thrones' Richard Madden as Prince Charming. It's also got Hollywood stars Cate Blanchett as the wicked stepmother and Helena Bonham Carter as the fairy godmother. Bring on the glass slippers!

Watch the trailer here

Minions

Cinema: 26 June 2015
DVD: 16 November 2015

For us it was the minions that were the stars of the Despicable Me films, and it's no surprise that they now have their own spin-off film. The set-up is that Minions have been on Earth since the dawn of time, and have always had the same goal – to serve the most despicable master around. Of course, before Gru was around, the Minions had lots of other masters – including a T-Rex, a pharaoh and even Count Dracula.

But finally as time went on they ran out of masters and 3 minions – Stuart, Kevin and Bob – set out on a journey to find their tribe the biggest, baddest villain to serve.

Watch the trailer here

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water

Cinema: 27 March 2015
DVD: 3 August 2015

It's been 11 years since the last SpongeBob movie, so will the yellow sponge feel a bit tired and deflated? Not according to US critics - who've called it "a film of rare ambition" and "psychedelic and in-your-face". One even suggested its makers might be "outlaws and lunatics" - so it looks like Bob's on usual goofy form. You either love it or hate it but one critic probably summed it all up with the comment: "Ask a 5 year old: Q: 'What was your favorite part?' A: 'When SpongeBob pulled down Patrick's pants.'"

Watch the SpongeBob trailer here

Home

Cinema: 20 March 2015
DVD: 20 July 2015

Home is the latest animation from DreamWorks – the studio behind How to Train Your Dragon, Madagascar, and Shrek. It's about an alien race named Boov who, after accidentally destroying their home planet, invade Earth. The only characters who can stop humanity from being relocated are a teenage girl voiced by Rihanna and a banished Boov voiced by Jim Parsons, aka Sheldon Cooper in the Big Bang Theory.

Watch the trailer here

Pan

Cinema: 16 October 2015

Peter Pan gets a live-action blockbuster remake with big names including Hugh Jackman and Amanda Seyfriend. The film is described as "a new take on the origin of the classic characters created by JM Barrie" - it's certainly a new take on a story that has been the basis of a long list of films, from Disney's Peter Pan animation, to a live action Peter Pan in 2003, to Hook, Return to Never Land and Finding Neverland. In Pan, we get to meet Captain James Hook before he turned bad and Peter Pan before he became a hero.

Watch the trailer here

The Good Dinosaur

Cinema: 25 November 2015

This film brings together Pixar and dinosaurs? What's not to like? The Good Dinosaur answers the question: What if giant dinosaurs never became extinct? The studio behind Toy Story and Finding Nemo says the film is "a humorous and exciting original story about Arlo, a lively Apatosaurus with a big heart". We just hope it doesn't make us cry. We still haven't quite recovered from Up *sob*.

Big Hero 6

Cinema: 30 Jan 2015
DVD: 25 May 2015

It was the 10th biggest grossing film in 2014 in the States, where it was released at the beginning of November, and proved a big hit here (although not quite such a big success as in the US). It's been called by some Frozen for boys and stars a lovable white inflatable robot called Baymax, whose purpose is to take care of people,and a robotics genius called Hiro Hamada.

Read our Big Hero 6 review

And finally, Toy Story 4 but...

Not released until 2017

Yes, that's not next year, but the year after next! Woody, Buzz and the Toy Story crew will be back for another instalment following the success of Toy Story 3 in 2010 (can you believe it was so long ago). John Lasseter, the director of the first Toy Story film said, “Toy Story 3 ended Woody and Buzz’s story with Andy so perfectly that for a long time, we never even talked about doing another ‘Toy Story’ movie. But when Andrew, Pete, Lee and I came up with this new idea, I just could not stop thinking about it. It was so exciting to me, I knew we had to make this movie—and I wanted to direct it myself.” So John’s back, and we just know it’s going to be good…

Read more:

• 7 Robin Williams' films your children should see

• Best family films from 2014

• 7 cutest kids dressed as film characters