A trip to the movies is one of the traditional ways to keep the littlies quiet and occupied for a couple of hours or so and give mum or dad a bit of a break.

There's plenty of family fare on offer these holidays but not all films are equal. Check out our quick cheatsheet to decide where you're going to put your cinema dollars.

FINDING DORY

One more time: Marlin and Dory reunite for the sequel Finding Dory.

Rating: G
Rotten Tomatoes: 95pc
Stars: Ellen De Generes, Ed O'Neill, Diane Keaton
In this follow-up to the blockbuster Finding Nemo, forgetful Dory sets off to find her parents in a journey that turns out to be both physical and metaphorical.
"While not as visually dazzling as its predecessor, the film is still colourful and immersive; the script, while predictable, puts an engaging spin on the issues of home and identity."
Bruce Diones, New Yorker

BFG

BFG tells the Roald Dahl's classic story of a friendly giant who befriends a young girl. Spielberg's film has been greeted warmly by critics.

Rating: PG
Rotten Tomatoes: 71pc
Stars: Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill
A faithful adaptation of Roald Dahl's timeless classic about a 10-year-old girl who is kidnapped by an amiable giant.
"The special effects are spectacular. And there's no faulting Mark Rylance as the giant. But things get 'a bit grumbly' when the worlds of Spielberg and Dahl collide."
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

THE LEGEND OF TARZAN

Alexander Skarsgard as Tarzan in The Legend of Tarzan. Photo: Warners

Rating: M
Rotten Tomatoes: 35pc
Stars: Alexander Skarsgard, Margot Robbie
Tarzan is lured to The Congo from his comfortable adopted home in Victorian England. Vine-swinging mayhem ensues.
"Plays as if a dog ate part of the script."
David Edelstein, New York magazine

ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE

They're back: Manny the Mammoth and his extended family return for the family film Ice Age: Collision Course.

Rating: G
Rotten Tomatoes: 10pc
Stars: Ray Romano, John Leguizamo
Manny the mammoth and Sid sloth save the world from destruction in the fifth in the franchise in 14 years.
"The main storyline combines pointlessly glossy animation with dialogue from a mediocre sitcom about the woes of middle age."
Jake Wilson, Fairfax

HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE

Top critics' pick ... Julian Dennison plays a boy who becomes the subject of a manhunt with his foster uncle in Hunt for the Wilderpeople.

Rating: PG
Rotten Tomatoes: 100pc
Stars: Sam Neill, Julian Dennison
An inner-city orphan teams up with a grumpy old backwoodsman for a comedic journey of discovery.
"Wilderpeople is ultimately winning, like all buddy comedies, because of the chemistry of its leads."
Jake Coyle, Associated Press

NOW YOU SEE ME 2

Now, watch this: Danielle Radcliffe holds court in the sequel Now You See Me: The Second Act.

Rotten Tomatoes: 34pc
Stars: Woody Harrelson, Daniel Radcliffe
A group of uber magicians known as The Four Horseman employ their talents to expose an unethical tech giant.
"It's an impressively starry cast, but sadly, this lacks the charm, wit and, yes, magic of the original."
Chris Hewitt, Empire Magazine