Netflix adds the ideal family movie with 93% RT audience score to keep the kids entertained as summer holidays begin

Lyle Lyle Crocodile: the titular crocodile riding in a New York cab
(Image credit: Sony Pictures)

If you're stressing how to keep the kids entertained over the neverending summer holidays, then Netflix has just helped a little by adding a great family movie.

Lyle Lyle Crocodile, a musical movie exploring the unconventional friendship between a schoolboy and his singing crocodile friend, has just dropped on Netflix UK (it's also available on Netflix in the US, although it leaves on August 3 in the US so be quick).

The family-friendly 2022 film, which runs for a snappy one hour and 46 minutes, has a 93% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, while its critical rating is a respectable 71%.

Lyle taking a bath

(Image credit: Sony Pictures)

Based on the children's story of the same name, the cast is led by Shawn Mendes as Lyle, while Skyfall's Javier Bardem, plays Hector P. Valenti, Lyle's charismatic owner.

Teasing the plot, the makers say: "When the Primm family moves to New York City, their young son, Josh, struggles to adapt to his new surroundings. All of that changes when he discovers Lyle, a singing saltwater crocodile living in the attic of his new home. 

"The two become fast friends, but when Lyle's existence is threatened by evil neighbor Mr. Grumps, the Primms must band together with Lyle's charismatic owner, Hector P. Valenti, to show the world that family can come from the most unexpected places.”

The Primm family is made up of Constance Wu (Crazy Rich Asians), Scoot McNairy (Killing Them Softly) as parents Katie and Joseph with Winslow Fegley (Nightbooks) as their son Josh, who befriends Lyle after finding him in the attic of their new home.

Daniel Radcliffe in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

The Harry Potter movies are currently on Netflix (Image credit: WARNER BROS. PICTURES/Album/Alamy Stock Photo)

Netflix is a good place to go for family movies as you try to entertain the children over the incredibly long summer holidays. Other highlights include the whole Harry Potter movie collection, Matilda, both Paddington films and Minions: The Rise of Gru. If you want to get more adventurous and go to the cinema, Despicable Me 4 and Inside Out 2 are currently out. We gave Inside Out 2 a very good review, saying: "Pixar delivers fun, adventure and touching psychological insights with this clever sequel to the animation studio's brilliant 2015 film."

David Hollingsworth
Editor

David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.

Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough. 

David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.

Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!