The Billboard Family Hits of the Week compiles what’s new and worth your family’s time in music, movies, TV, books, games and more. Forget the mind-numbing scrolling and searching “what to watch for family movie night” … again. The best in family entertainment each week is all in one place, in this handy guide. Isn’t it satisfying to cross something off your list?
Selena Gomez fans who have been busy streaming her new track “Call Me When You Break Up,” with Benny Blanco and Gracie Abrams — and cheering on her first SAG Award win, with the cast of Only Murders in the Building — might have missed that they can also see the singer-actress this week in the season one finale of Disney’s Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. Gomez returns to the show, the revival of the original Wizards of Waverly Place, for another episode, out Friday (Feb. 28). Gather the kids and tune on the Disney Channel or Disney+.
For families in search of a new movie that kids and grown-ups of all ages might enjoy (and, from one parent to another, aren’t we always searching for one?), there’s the upcoming release of Night of the Zoopocalypse, an animated feature from Viva Pictures that stars Strangers Things star David Harbour as one of its lead characters, Dan the mountain lion. It’ll be in theaters within a week, on March 7.
In new children’s album releases, the Wiggles return, with some special guests that should catch the eye of moms and dads, especially those who have a place in their heart for country music. Dolly Parton, Lainey Wilson, Orville Peck and more take part in the fun of Wiggle Up, Giddy Up!, set for a March 7 release.
Find out more about this week’s top picks in the Billboard Family Hits of the Week:
Catch Selena Gomez in ‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’ Season Finale
This week Disney released a sneak peek of the Feb. 28, season one finale of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place — featuring another cameo from original Wizards star Selena Gomez as Alex Russo. In the clip, seen above, Alex pays a surprise visit to her brother Justin (David Henrie) and his wife Giada (Mimi Gianopulos) to check in on wizard-in-training Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown). Gomez also appeared in the season premiere, but has been absent from the show since.
Now that the full season of the Wizards of Waverly Place reboot is available to watch on the Disney Channel and Disney+, it’s the perfect time for fans of the original (and their young kids) to give the sequel a spin. If you love it, you can binge-watch the entire season without wondering when the next episode is coming.
See ‘Night of the Zoopocalypse’ in Movie Theaters
While the first trailer for the upcoming animated film Night of the Zoopocalypse was unveiled a few months ago, additional teaser clips were released on Feb. 28 via ComingSoon, Moviefone and Rotten Tomatoes, just ahead of the movie’s March 7 opening in theaters. The rated PG release, directed by Ricardo Curtis, tells the story of a meteor unleashing a virus that turns zoo animals into zombies — with a mountain lion and a wolf leading the team of survivors to save the day.
David Harbour voices Dan, the mountain lion, in the film from Viva Pictures, which also features voice talent including Gabriella Kosmidis, Paul Sun-hyung Lee and Scott Thompson. Watch the new clips below to get a feel for the film before deciding to buy tickets for your next family movie night outing.
Get Ready for The Wiggles’ New ‘Wiggle Up, Giddy Up!’ Album
Also on March 7, there will be new music to listen to for the Wiggles and country fans in your house. A few songs from the upcoming Wiggle Up, Giddy Up! album have already been released, one of them being the Dolly Parton-assisted “Friends!” — a feel-good ditty that the country icon joyously takes lead on. Parton has another track coming up on the collection for children, a song titled “We Will Always Be Friends.”
Wiggle Up, Giddy Up! can be pre-saved here so you’ll remember to stream the album upon its release. Families will hear several country voices singing with the Wiggles on the made-for-kids collection: Parton, plus Lainey Wilson, Orville Peck, Dasha, Morgan Evans, Jackson Dean, Kaylee Bell, MacKenzie Porter, Troy Cassar-Daley, The Wolfe Brothers, Travis Collins, Lucky Oceans and Slim Dusty.
