Some of the best fictional families feature a baby who rounds out the main cast; Maggie inThe Simpsons, Michelle inFull House, and plenty more. Though they may be young and sometimes, even completely mute, these babies not only add a cute factor but also make for some hysterical storylines and unique plot points that only they can inspire.
Sometimes, filmmakers will decide to play with audience expectations and put the baby center stage, making him or her a member of the main cast. Whether animated or a real-life human, these babies add great value to the stories and families they’re a part of.
Today, we look at some films that feature a baby as one of the main cast members; fromNanny McPheetoHoney, I Blew Up the Kid, these babies certainly stole the show!
10Nanny McPhee (2005)
Nanny McPheetells the story of an outrageous and unruly family who enlist the help of the elusive titular nanny. The story opens with the children attempting to run the nanny out of their house, just as they had with their previous caregivers. However, Nanny McPhee begins to discipline the children using her magical powers. Soon Nanny McPhee is able to unite the family and teach the children a lesson on respect.
The youngest of the seven children is a baby named Agatha Brown; though she has no speaking lines and can hardly walk, her and her siblings still find ways to make her the center of attention. In one scene, the children even pretend to eat the baby in order to scare their nanny away. Agatha is an adorable addition to the cast, however, you won’t want to see her when she’s without her precious rattle!
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9Bobbikins (1959)
As the oldest film on this list,Bobbikinsis ablack and whitetale that follows a genius baby and his excited parents. When a baby named Bobbikins is born to parents Ben and Betty, all seems normal at first. However, as Bobbikins begins to grow up, the family learns that he is super smart and can hold adult conversations, do math, and even understands the stock market!
Soon, Ben begins to use the super-baby to his own advantage in an attempt to further his career and ultimately, earn money. However, problems arise when Bobbikins chooses to keep his skills a secret to the people outside his family.Bobbikinsis a hilarious and heart-warming watch that laid the foundation for some of the future films on this list!
8Baby Geniuses (1999)
Baby Geniusesis a comedy film that shows babies as highly intelligent, using their unintelligible babbles to have sophisticated communicate with one another. When Dr. Elena Kinder and Dr. Heep discover that babies have their own advanced form of communication called babytalk, they begin studying the babies at their company aptly called Babyco. When a baby named Sylvester escapes the firm, he tries to rally the other children around the world.
Baby Geniusesfeatures an adorable cast of youngsters, all of whom speak in an uncharacteristically advanced way; showing babytalk as a legitimate form of communication pushes audiences to examine their own interactions with their small children.Baby Geniusesis perfect for lovers of lighthearted comedy and has just the right amount of drama to keep audiences on their toes.
7Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992)
Honey, I Blew Up the Kidis a sequel to the 1989 original filmHoney, I Shrunk the Kids. Yet this time, the film follows 2-year-old Adam as he is instead made bigger, growing in size by over 14 feet. Soon, Adam becomes the target of speculation, with the government taking interest in his incredible size. Now, it’s up to his concerned father to keep his son out of trouble and protect him from danger, despite being a quarter of his size.
Adam acts as any toddler would, picking up humans he thinks are toys and running rampant without a care for the destruction he may cause. Adam even plays with his favorite toy, a bunny, who also is zapped and grows in enormous size.Honey, I Blew Up the Kidsis a silly and nostalgic watch for any ’90s baby.
6The Rugrats Movie (1998)
Rugrats, which started its television run in the early 1990s, saw its first feature-length film in 1998 withThe Rugrats Movie. The film features babies Tommy, Phil, Lil, Chuckie, and Angelica. When Angelica warns Tommy that his parents will stop caring about him once his baby brother is born, he embarks on a journey to return the infant to the hospital. Along the way, the gang encounters wild animals and dangerous obstacles that threaten tofoil their plans.
Though each baby has a set of parents of their own, the film focuses mainly on the interactions between the young children. Though they are only able to waddle around and communicate with one another, the babies still find themselves on a crazy adventure that most adults couldn’t even handle!
5Storks (2016)
As the rumor goes, storks are responsible for delivering babies safely to the doorstep of their expectant parents. The 2016 film,Storks, sees the baby-deliverers instead as package-deliverers, working for a global internet retail company. Junior, the main character and stork played by Andy Samberg, finds himself in some serious trouble when the Baby Factory produces a little girl.
As Junior races to delivery the new baby, he faces a slew of obstacles, including a disapproving boss named Hunter. The baby in this story is a blue-eyed, pink-haired ball of energy who Junior names Diamond Destiny. Though Diamond rarely speaks, she is the catalyst for each event in the story and helps restore the stork’s former glory by leading to the production and delivery of even more babies at the factory!
4Three Men and a Baby (1987)
Starring names like Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg, and Ted Danson,Three Men and a Babyis a1987 comedy filmthat sees three inexperienced men take on fatherhood. The film follows three roommates who enjoy the single life, without a wife and kids to care for. But when a baby is left on their front doorstep with a note, they are left with no choice but to grow up and care for the small child named Mary.
The baby, Mary, is the catalyst for the film’s main storyline and creates both turmoil and love among the three roommates. At one point, the men even mistakenly hand Mary off to violent drug dealers, thinking she was a package containing heroin. Despite starting off the story as terrible guardians, the men eventually come to connect with the baby and feel a genuine affection toward her.
3Mr. Mom (1983)
Another ’80s movie,Mr. Momfollows a man named Jack, played by Michael Keaton. When Jack unexpectedly loses his job, his wife goes back to work, using her previous experience and college degree to make a living. However, this leaves Jack at home to care for his three young children: a job which was usually handled by his wife, Caroline.
Soon, Jack learns the struggle of maintaining a household and raising children, constantly juggling tasks and attempting to keep his kids safe. The though premise is considered slightly outdated by today’s standard,Mr. Momsees Michael Keaton expertly playing the role of an inexperienced father. The three young babies also steal the show with silly antics and by having a wholesome relationship with their dad.
2Incredibles 2 (2018)
As the sequel to the original hit film,Incredibles 2follows the beloved super-family as they come to embrace their powers. Picking up where the story left off, Helen, aka Elastigirl, is recruited to a large telecommunications firm that promises to improve the reputation of superheroes. Bob, aka Mr. Incredible, is left to raise his three children, one of which being his baby son Jack-Jack.
In the first film, Jack-Jack is believed to be a normal baby, having no powers at all. However, audiences learn in the final scene that Jack-Jack seems to have themost powersand is able to easily defeat the villain (with the help of his super family).Incredibles 2sees the adorable baby exploring his new powers which includes shape-shifting, flying, teleportation, and even superhuman strength.
1The Boss Baby (2017)
The Boss Babyis an outrageous tale that follows a walking, talking, businessman-like infant as he uncovers a secret plot and connects with his brother. When a 7-year-old boy named Tim learns that he will soon have a new baby sibling, jealousy begins to arise. However, Tim soon discovers that his new brother is capable of far more than he ever imagined.
Though the brothers begin the film as rivals, they soon team up to stop a horrible plot involving babies and puppies. The Boss Baby turns out to be an elite spy, using his skills to his advantage. The film is as hysterical as it is clever; despite being a movie for children,The Boss Babycan certainly be enjoyed by audiences of all ages.
