I’ve been wanting to ask about your favorite family movies for a while, but the subject just became much more pressing.
Every family movie night, Aron and I would find ourselves dual-scrolling through reviews on Common Sense Media for opinions on whether that movie we loved as kids was actually full of problematic gender roles or racial stereotypes. Our ’80s nostalgia is strong, but man—there are some land mines! On the other hand, sometimes the reviews skew conservative on the age suggestions for reasons less bothersome to us—like a history lesson that might be a little over their head.
The other day I showed off my So-Cal surfer-speak chops to Hudson and he was so impressed. It really made me want to show him Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. But is it actually any good? I can’t remember. And then that made me think of how much I used to love movies like Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. (Would they love the dance offs?) I feel like this fits into that genre of movie where it’s fun for kids, but it’s really for me. Back to the Future is on this spectrum, too—if a bit more skewed toward the “for kids” end.
But at Hudson’s age, I went to the theaters with my parents and watched all of these: Top Gun, Aliens, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Platoon, Stand By Me, The Fly, Crocodile Dundee, Pretty in Pink, and The Karate Kid Part 2. I loved Chevy Chase in Spies Like Us and thought Eddie Murphy was the coolest after watching Down & Out in Beverly Hills. So I just can’t tell sometimes!
I recently asked for your favorites on Instagram. Here are the answers (so many recs for Parent Trap). I’ve broken up by the age ranges for which Common Sense Media recommends them, but that’s just for one point of reference. I’d love to hear more in the comments—including for documentaries…
Ages 5+
Farmageddon (Shaun the Sheep)
Ponyo
My Neighbor Totoro
Kiki’s Delivery Service
Ages 6+
Paddington (series)
Inside Out
Up
Parent Trap (1961)
Parent Trap (1999)
Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins Returns
Homeward Bound
Sword & The Stone
Free Willy
Madagascar (series)
Annie
Sound of Music
The Incredible Story of the Giant Pear
Love Bug
Ages 7+
Fantastic Mr Fox
Big Hero 6
Song of the Sea
The BFG
The Secret World of Arrietty
Elf
Harry Potter (1st movie)
Secret Life of Pets 2
Night at the Museum
Pete’s Dragon
E.T.
The Book of Life
Lego Batman
Star Wars (Episode IV)
Ages 8+
Sandlot
Zootopia
Incredibles 2
Abominable
Cool Runnings
Harry Potter (2nd movie)
The Croods
Swiss Family Robinson
Lassie
Fly Away Home
The Secret of Roan Inish
Benji
The Odd Life of Timothy Green
Willow
The Princess Bride
The NeverEnding Story
Ages 9+
Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse
Spirited Away
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Ages 10+
Goonies
A Dog’s Way Home
Dan in Real Life
Hook
Harry Potter (3rd movie and beyond)
Father of the Bride
Cheaper by the Dozen
Kindergarten Cop
So We Bought a Zoo
Mrs Doubtfire
Mighty Ducks
The Kid Who Would Be King
Clue
Troop Beverly Hills
School of Rock
The Greatest Showman
The 100 Foot Journey
Groundhog Day
Jumanji (original)
The Chronicles of Narnia
Pitch Perfect
Robin Hood Men in Tights
What would you add?
I would add Shaun the Sheep, The Wizard of Oz, Little Women, Enchanted, and Peter Rabbit. The Paddington movies have been some of my favorite. We also just watched A League of Their Own.
P.S. Tips for first TV picks during the preschool years.
[Lead photo from The Red Balloon]
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