A look at some of the very best films for girls and boys to watch on a rainy afternoon. The old, the new, the famous and the overlooked - dvds to entertain everyone.

Here's a range of great films for children in need of some rainy day holiday entertainment. From the best Disney classics to modern day blockbusters, with a few gems you might have missed along the way.

Horton Hears a Who/The Cat in the Hat

The latest adaptation of a Dr. Seuss classic, Horton Hears a Who is an animated feature with widespread appeal. Featuring the voice talents of Jim Carrey and Steve Carell, Horton Hears a Who admirably fleshes out Seuss' short story to movie length with creativity and humor.

Fans of Dr. Seuss may also enjoy Mike Myers' foray into a madcap Seuss inspired world in the 2003 live action comedy The Cat in the Hat. Despite mixed reviews, The Cat in The Hat is a film which actually improves on repeat viewings, with something new to spot every time. Myers' over the top antics may not be to everyone's taste, but all the gunk and cheeky mayhem make it extremely appealing to children.

Toy Story, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille

Disney/Pixar changed the world of children's animated films for the better with their innovative Toy Story films. Although stories about toys coming to life have flourished in many films before, never has it been done with such charm and style as in Toy Story. Woody and Buzz are wonderful, complex, phenomenally great characters.

Pixar built on the success of Toy Story with many other fantastic films. Top picks include Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles and the latest Oscar winning release Ratatouille.

Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Chicken Run

Nick Park's wonderful stop frame animations are an absolute pleasure, appreciated by children and grown ups alike. Curse of the Were-Rabbit is the feature length debut of Wallace and Gromit, the lovable duo from A Grand Day Out, A Very Close Shave and The Wrong Trousers. It's an hilarious, child friendly send up of films such as Dracula and An American Werewolf in London.

Chicken Run, on the other hand, is an animated homage to The Great Escape, with Mel Gibson's Rocky the Rooster in the iconic Steve McQueen role.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie

Far fetched absurd nonsense though it may be, there is no denying the pleasure kids derive from the Power Rangers. The clean cut superheroes are rarely in any real danger, and easily manage to save the world simply by working together. The clearly defined baddies/goodies are great for kids and although it might seem an overly boyish film, the Power Rangers are a non-discriminatory bunch who embrace all genders, creeds and colors.

Superman

Sometimes the oldies are the best. Re-watch the original Superman with your kids and you'll remember why Christopher Reeves shot to global stardom. A classic action film for kids big and small.

101 Dalmatians, Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast, Robin Hood, The Little Mermaid

Let's face it, the folks at Disney are the masters of children's animated films. Everyone has a personal favorite, but the five above are definitely worthy runners. The adorable little puppies in 101 Dalmatians can melt hearts, then there's the fantastic songs in Jungle Book, the strong moral values of Beauty and the Beast, the rip-roaring adventure of Robin Hood and the emotional roller-coaster ride of The Little Mermaid.

Shrek, Flushed Away

The wonderfully irreverent Shrek films and the hilarious rodent adventure Flushed Away are the best films from Pixar's biggest rival Dreamworks. Mike Myers (that man again!) brings the grouchy ogre with a heart of gold to life in Shrek, with Eddie Murphy as Donkey and Antonio Banderras as Puss in Boots (Shrek II) providing admirably hilarious support.

Flushed Away may not have achieved quite the same success as Shrek, but it is a wonderfully entertaining romp which put a lovable rat center stage a year before Ratatouille came along and did the same thing.

James and the Giant Peach

Based on Roald Dahl's incredible book, James and the Giant Peach starts off as an ordinary film, but changes into a fantastically imaginative stop frame animation as soon as James takes a bite of the peach. This suits the feel of the story, and makes James' encounter with his insect friends into something rather sweet and not at all scary. The film is a magical journey whereby a poor, put upon, miserable child is transformed into a strong, brave, deservedly happy individual. Heart warming and beautiful.

You may also be interested in these lists of festive holiday films: 10 Contemporary Christmas Movies and 10 Classic Christmas Films.