It’s never too early to groom the next generation of movie buffs! Well, that and it’s nice to find common ground with your kids, something you enjoy doing together that you can turn into a fun family tradition. Enter: movie night.
But thanks to streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and the list goes on and on, the sheer magnitude of movie titles at our fingertips today can make picking something to watch overwhelming. Let’s be honest: we’ve all scrolled through the available choices until we’re too tired and decide to just give up. You don’t want family movie night to be a bust, though, so you should go into the evening armed with an arsenal of ideas.
And we’ve got you covered. Admittedly, it’s partially for our own selfish purposes, because not being able to leave the house for the foreseeable future has got us thinking about everything and anything to watch these days — while we’re working from home the idea of snuggling up on the couch with our families, laughing (or crying, or laugh-crying) over a solid pick has us daydreaming.
So, stock up on popcorn. The following family-friendly movies should fill your movie night marquee for a while.
A version of this article was published in October 2017.
‘Akeelah and the Bee’ (2006)
It’s impossible not to be inspired when you watch the story of 11-year-old Akeelah Anderson. A bright girl, she has an aptitude for spelling. However, she doesn’t have the best home life — her father is dead, her mother is distracted, one brother is in the military and the other runs with the wrong crowd. But with a little help and encouragement, Akeelah realizes her dream to make it to the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
‘Big Hero 6’ (2014)
You may not hear as much about Big Hero 6 as you do about other Disney movies, but you should. Because it’s amazing, and we’d watch it even if our kids didn’t want to (spoiler alert: they love it).
The gist? When 14-year-old robotics whiz Hiro Hamada suffers a tragic loss, he loses his sense of purpose. But when he bonds with a nurse robot named Baymax, his life takes an exciting — and sometimes dangerous — turn.
‘Moana’ (2016)
One of the more recent additions to the Disney lineup, ‘Moana’ takes you on a Hawaiian journey no one will want to miss. This flick is vibrant, funny and teaches kids that it’s OK to want more.
‘Black Panther’ (2018)
Wakanda forever! Considering this is one of, if not the, biggest movies of the last decade, we’d be remiss to leave it off the list. Just a warning, though: your kids will want to dress up like T’Challa (aka Black Panther) and the other incredible characters for a solid month after watching it.
Be mindful that there is some violence in the film, so it’s probably better suited for kids over 10 or more mature children.
‘The Boss Baby’ (2017)
As a parent, you’ll appreciate the imaginative way The Boss Baby explains the story of a new baby joining the family. As for kids, they’ll find everything about 7-year-old Tim and Boss Baby absolutely hilarious. And rightly so, because there are admittedly many laugh-out-loud moments.
‘Coco’ (2017)
The music, the colors, the message… Coco checks all the right boxes. Desperate to emulate his idol, his musician Ernesto de la Cruz, Miguel winds up in the vibrant Land of the Dead. He soon meets a skeleton scoundrel by the name of Héctor, and the two undertake quite a journey.
‘Duma’ (2005)
In this heartwarming movie, a boy named Xan who lives in Africa comes across a baby cheetah and takes the cub in. The pair’s bond grows the longer they’re together, but Xan has to face the fact that “Duma” may feel more at home in the wild.
It’s a bit of a tearjerker, but it’ll give you feel-good goosies too.
‘The Adventures of Milo and Otis’ (1986)
Y’all. Do you remember this movie? An unlikely friendship between a kitten and puppy turns into one great adventure that is irresistible. It’s not as flashy as modern movies, but we’re banking on kids loving it anyway.
‘Matilda’ (1996)
This sweet story follows a precocious young girl whose parents don’t realize what a gift she is. Her teacher, Miss Honey, does — but there’s one big thing standing in the way of them having a happy life, and that thing’s name is Miss Trunchbull. There are tons of reasons for the entire family to love this film, but the chocolate cake scene alone will hook you.
‘Jumanji’ (1995)
You can’t really go wrong with ‘Jumanji’, whether it’s this 1995 original starring the late, great Robin Williams or it’s the 2017 version with Dwayne Johnson at the helm. Still, we’re partial to the original.
‘Hugo’ (2011)
There are movies, and then there are beautiful movies. ‘Hugo’ definitely qualifies as the latter. Not just aesthetically, either. The story of an orphan named Hugo Cabret, this movie will tug on your heartstrings.
‘Hidden Figures’ (2016)
Hidden Figures may not be a hit with the super-young set. But if your kids are a little older, consider it a must-watch. It tells the inspiring story of three brilliant but, at the time, under-recognized African-American women at NASA who were basically the brains behind a space launch that made history and made America the leader in space exploration.
‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ (2001)
Don’t miss the magic of introducing your family to this bewitching series of movies. Start at the beginning, naturally, but feel free to keep going. And bonus points if you read the books together before you watch! Harry Potter and his friends at Hogwarts are fun for all ages.
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