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This list is for family movies that came out in 2012. For the latest family movie releases, go to our new family movie listings.

2012 FAMILY MOVIES

The Hobbit

Release date: December 14, 2012
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage

The Hobbit Bilbo Baggins goes on a quest to win back treasure now guarded by the dragon Smaug.

Rise of the Guardians

Release date: November 21, 2012
Rating: PG
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Family
Starring: Chris Pine, Jude Law, Hugh Jackman, Alec Baldwin, Isla Fisher

Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, and others join to protect children from Pitch, the Nightmare King.

Wreck-It Ralph

Release date: November 2, 2012
Rating: PG
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family
Starring: John C. Reilly, Jane Lynch, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer

An arcade game character decides to change his ways. Cameos from Sonic and Bowser.

Frankenweenie

Release date: October 5, 2012
Rating: PG
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Horror
Starring: Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, Martine Landau, Martin Short

A boy brings his dog back to life in this black and white animated film by Tim Burton.

Hotel Transylvania

Release date: September 28, 2012
Rating: PG
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family
Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg

Dracula is the manager at a luxury hotel for monsters, and his daughter becomes the object of affection for an errant human boy.

Finding Nemo 3D

Release date: September 14, 2012
Rating: G
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family
Starring: Geoffrey Rush, Ellen DeGeneres, Willem Dafoe, Albert Brooks

Widely considered one of the top animated films of all time, Finding Nemo is coming back to the big screen in 3D.

ParaNorman

Release date: August 17, 2012
Rating: PG
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Starring: Casey Affleck, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Tempestt Bledsoe, Anna Kendrick

From the team who created Coraline, this is the story of Norman, a boy who can speak with the dead.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

Release date: August 15, 2012
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Starring: Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgerton, CJ Adams

A fairy tale about a couple eager to start a family, and the unexpected arrival of Timothy.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days

Release date: August 3, 2012
Rating: PG
Genre: Family, Comedy
Starring: Steve Zahn, Rachael Harris, Devon Bostick, Zachary Gordon

Based on stories from the third and fourth books in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

Ice Age: Continental Drift

Release date: July 13, 2012
Rating: PG
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Starring: Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Peter Dinklage

The next adventure for Manny, Diego, and Sid.

The Amazing Spider-Man

Release date: July 3, 2012
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Adventure
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary

A new chapter in the Spider-man story driven by the disappearance of Peter Parker's parents.

Brave

Release date: June 22, 2012
Rating: PG
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Starring: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson

Young archer Merida discovers what bravery means in this latest release by Pixar.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

Release date: June 8, 2012
Rating: PG
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Starring: Ben Stiller, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jada Pinkett Smith, Chris Rock

The third film in the Madagascar series takes the gang through Europe in a traveling circus.

The Avengers

Release date: May 4, 2012
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson

Nick Fury assembles an all-star team of superheroes to protect the world.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Release date: February 10, 2012
Rating: PG
Genre: Action, Adventure, Family, Fantasy, 3D
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Michael Caine, Josh Hutcherson, Luis Guzman, Venessa Hudgens

3D family adventure and sequel to the 2008 hit, Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Star Wars Episode I in 3D

Release date: February 10, 2012
Rating: PG
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Starring: Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd

The first chapter of the Star Wars saga, released in 3D.

The Secret World of Arrietty

Release date: February 17, 2012
Rating: G
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Drama, Family
Starring: Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Carol Burnett, Will Arnett

A tiny family lives beneath the floorboards in this film from the creators of Spirited Away.

Dr. Seuss' The Lorax

Release date: March 2, 2012
Rating: PG
Genre: Animation, Family
Starring: Danny DeVito, Zac Efron, Ed Helms, Taylor Swift, Rob Riggle, Betty White

A vivid adaptation of the classic story about greed, protecting our world, and hope for the future.

John Carter

Release date: March 9, 2012
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Bryan Cranston, Mark Strong, Willem Dafoe

Epic film about a former captain who ends up on Mars and is involved in a universal conflict.

The Hunger Games

Release date: March 23, 2012
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks, Liam Hemsworth

Based on the popular novel about a future where boys and girls are pitted against each other.

Mirror, Mirror

Release date: March 30, 2012
Rating: PG
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Starring: Julia Roberts, Armie Hammer, Lily Collins, Nathan Lane, Robert Emms

A new comedic take on the fairy tale Snow White.

The Pirates! Band of Misfits

Release date: April 27
Rating: PG
Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
Starring: Hugh Grant, Salma Hayek, Jeremy Piven

The latest animated pirated adventure movie, starring Hugh Grant.