Movies for family movie night
January 8, 2016 6:20 PM Subscribe
The kids are 10, 8, and 5. Can you suggest some movies we'd all enjoy watching for family movie night? We've enjoyed Bednobs and Broomsticks, Mary Poppins, Elf, Willow (though some parts were too scary). and various Disney animated movies.
The Princess Bride.
posted by bigZLiLk at 6:30 PM on January 8, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by bigZLiLk at 6:30 PM on January 8, 2016 [6 favorites]
Fantastic Mr. Fox
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 6:34 PM on January 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 6:34 PM on January 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
Bedtime Stories
Possibly the last good Adam Sandler movie made.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 6:35 PM on January 8, 2016
Possibly the last good Adam Sandler movie made.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 6:35 PM on January 8, 2016
Commonsensemedia.org had good suggestions and you can search by age range. Their reviews are also very comprehensive regarding scarinesd, consumerism, sexy stuff, etc. Definitely my first stop when we watch new movies.
posted by aetg at 6:38 PM on January 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by aetg at 6:38 PM on January 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
Inside Out
posted by sanka at 6:44 PM on January 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by sanka at 6:44 PM on January 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
Emperor's New Groove
posted by poffin boffin at 6:45 PM on January 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by poffin boffin at 6:45 PM on January 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Miazaki films are great. My Neighbor Totoro is a great place to start. Spirited Away is another good one, but might be a little much for a younger 5yo.
What about the first Aadams family movie (the second one with Joan Cusack might get a little creepy).
posted by dancinglamb at 6:46 PM on January 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
What about the first Aadams family movie (the second one with Joan Cusack might get a little creepy).
posted by dancinglamb at 6:46 PM on January 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
Any Myasaki movie. Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Ponyo...
posted by teamnap at 6:46 PM on January 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by teamnap at 6:46 PM on January 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oddball.
Recent movie from Australia, based on a true story about penguin conservation (not at all preachy). Has penguins, lots of stunning scenery, and is well acted and hilarious. Plenty for adults to enjoy though ostensibly a kids' movie. In my part of the world, it's already available to stream though it just finished at the cinema.
posted by Stephanie_Says at 6:49 PM on January 8, 2016
Recent movie from Australia, based on a true story about penguin conservation (not at all preachy). Has penguins, lots of stunning scenery, and is well acted and hilarious. Plenty for adults to enjoy though ostensibly a kids' movie. In my part of the world, it's already available to stream though it just finished at the cinema.
posted by Stephanie_Says at 6:49 PM on January 8, 2016
My 4.5 and 9.5 year olds recently thoroughly enjoyed The Trouble with Tribbles.
posted by alms at 6:49 PM on January 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by alms at 6:49 PM on January 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
Movies that have kept my 4-9 year olds interested:
All the Pixar stuff.
Shrek.
Brave.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Spy Kids.
Pirates (Band of Misfits)
Wallace and Gromit (shorts and Curse of the Were-Rabbit)
Earth to Echo
Megamind
Wreck-it Ralph
The Triplets of Belleville
A League of Their Own
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 6:52 PM on January 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
All the Pixar stuff.
Shrek.
Brave.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Spy Kids.
Pirates (Band of Misfits)
Wallace and Gromit (shorts and Curse of the Were-Rabbit)
Earth to Echo
Megamind
Wreck-it Ralph
The Triplets of Belleville
A League of Their Own
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 6:52 PM on January 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (THERE BE WHALES HERE!)
The Goonies (natch)
The Wizard (if they like video games)
posted by RonButNotStupid at 7:02 PM on January 8, 2016
The Goonies (natch)
The Wizard (if they like video games)
posted by RonButNotStupid at 7:02 PM on January 8, 2016
Holes.
posted by walkinginsunshine at 7:10 PM on January 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by walkinginsunshine at 7:10 PM on January 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Miyazaki films for sure. My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Ponyo should all be fine for the 5 year old.
posted by Redstart at 7:21 PM on January 8, 2016
posted by Redstart at 7:21 PM on January 8, 2016
It's Irish rather than Japanese, but if you like Miyazaki, you owe it to yourself to see Song of the Sea; beautifully animated, rich in mythology and emotion, good music and a great dog. It's up there with the best Miyazaki films in my pantheon of great children's movies.
posted by Jeanne at 7:25 PM on January 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Jeanne at 7:25 PM on January 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
CATS-the musical, Singing in the Rain. Pinky and the Brain may not be a movie but there's at least one collection that you can treat like a movie.
posted by beaning at 8:01 PM on January 8, 2016
posted by beaning at 8:01 PM on January 8, 2016
Back to the Future.
posted by jeffamaphone at 8:11 PM on January 8, 2016
posted by jeffamaphone at 8:11 PM on January 8, 2016
Flight of the Navigator was a big hit in our household when we were kids. My sisters and I would respond "Compliance!" whenever our mother asked us to do something then run away giggling.
posted by msali at 8:35 PM on January 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by msali at 8:35 PM on January 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
YMWV, but some randomly found on the library shelf movies that hit the spot for 33 year old me and my 6 year old daughter include Escape to Witch Mountain and Child of Glass. Song of the Sea (mentioned above) was also well received and its creator's predecessor Secret of Kells was asked for and viewed multiple times.
posted by eelgrassman at 8:45 PM on January 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by eelgrassman at 8:45 PM on January 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
Troop Beverly Hills was a classic in my house.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 10:53 PM on January 8, 2016
posted by CrazyLemonade at 10:53 PM on January 8, 2016
Seconding Song of the Sea. I was as mesmerized as my kids were. The animation is gorgeous.
posted by katie at 11:55 PM on January 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by katie at 11:55 PM on January 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
The Phantom Tollbooth.
Treasure Island (the one with Robert Newton).
posted by boilermonster at 12:24 AM on January 9, 2016
Treasure Island (the one with Robert Newton).
posted by boilermonster at 12:24 AM on January 9, 2016
WAit the phantom tollbooth is a MOVIE?! i loved that book.
On topic, anything by miyazaki, but start with spirited away.
posted by Sebmojo at 3:23 AM on January 9, 2016
On topic, anything by miyazaki, but start with spirited away.
posted by Sebmojo at 3:23 AM on January 9, 2016
The Sound of Music
Akeelah and the Bee
Singin' in the Rain
The Music Man
Oliver!
An American in Paris
Guys and Dolls
Anne of Green Gables
Top Hat
Babe
Misty of Chincoteague
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 5:11 AM on January 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
Akeelah and the Bee
Singin' in the Rain
The Music Man
Oliver!
An American in Paris
Guys and Dolls
Anne of Green Gables
Top Hat
Babe
Misty of Chincoteague
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 5:11 AM on January 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's a bit past the holiday season but Nativity! is absolutely fantastic and the songs are really good.
School of Rock
On Netflix there's Scooby Doo Mystery Incorporated, which is hilarious for adults and fun for kids.
I also really like Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. I like how the kids band together and take care of business and succeed.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:26 AM on January 9, 2016
School of Rock
On Netflix there's Scooby Doo Mystery Incorporated, which is hilarious for adults and fun for kids.
I also really like Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. I like how the kids band together and take care of business and succeed.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:26 AM on January 9, 2016
Swallows and Amazons! I loved the independence of the kids in that film when I was little.
posted by girlpublisher at 5:28 AM on January 9, 2016
posted by girlpublisher at 5:28 AM on January 9, 2016
You could try this little independent film from the 70s called "A New Hope". I hear it's part of a series.
posted by jozxyqk at 5:55 AM on January 9, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by jozxyqk at 5:55 AM on January 9, 2016 [2 favorites]
Hayley Mills movies: The Parent Trap, In Search of the Castaways, Summer Magic, The Moon-Spinners, That Darn Cat, The Trouble with Angels. Also, all three seasons of H2O: Just Add Water was WELL loved.
posted by jabah at 6:38 AM on January 9, 2016
posted by jabah at 6:38 AM on January 9, 2016
E.T.
The Point
Also, when my kids were that age, a fav family night activity was listening to "Hank, the Cow Dog" books-on-tape.
posted by at at 7:50 AM on January 9, 2016
The Point
Also, when my kids were that age, a fav family night activity was listening to "Hank, the Cow Dog" books-on-tape.
posted by at at 7:50 AM on January 9, 2016
Matilda. Secret Garden. Hugo. Wizard of Oz. Epic. Emperor's New Groove. Mr. Peabody and Sherman.
The Secret World of Arrietty was a hit, Spirited Away was a bit of a tougher sell.
For the not-a-movie suggestion: old Muppet Show. (we haven't watched the new one, so I can't say).
Also, I'm not sure we watched the first Harry Potter movie before the youngest turned 6, and she's a bit adventurous in her media tastes, but something to consider.
posted by dawg-proud at 12:49 PM on January 9, 2016
The Secret World of Arrietty was a hit, Spirited Away was a bit of a tougher sell.
For the not-a-movie suggestion: old Muppet Show. (we haven't watched the new one, so I can't say).
Also, I'm not sure we watched the first Harry Potter movie before the youngest turned 6, and she's a bit adventurous in her media tastes, but something to consider.
posted by dawg-proud at 12:49 PM on January 9, 2016
I loved classic films when I was a kid: Casablanca, The Wizard of Oz, It Happened One Night, The Great Race, anything Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy, The Marx Brothers, Harold Lloyd...
The Muppet Movie (1979 version)
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 12:59 PM on January 9, 2016
The Muppet Movie (1979 version)
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 12:59 PM on January 9, 2016
"Night at the Museum 1-3" should work. Also seconding Aardman Animations stuff, like "Wallace & Gromit" and "Shaun the Sheep Movie".
posted by Petersondub at 1:17 PM on January 9, 2016
posted by Petersondub at 1:17 PM on January 9, 2016
The Black Hole
...and +1 for Singing in the Rain and The Muppet Movie.
posted by jeffamaphone at 10:32 PM on January 9, 2016
...and +1 for Singing in the Rain and The Muppet Movie.
posted by jeffamaphone at 10:32 PM on January 9, 2016
Bear with me for this recommendation (ha!):
The Cinnamon Bear radio series. It is insanely good.
"The story focused on Judy and Jimmy Barton who go to the enchanted world of Maybeland to recover their missing Silver Star that belongs on their Christmas tree. Helping on the search is the Cinnamon Bear, a stuffed bear with shoe-button eyes and a green ribbon around his neck. They meet other memorable characters during their quest, including the Crazy Quilt Dragon (who repeatedly tries to take the star for himself), the Wintergreen Witch, Fe Fo the Giant and Santa Claus."
Over this recent holiday my 23 year old was talking about the Crazy Quilt Dragon and how much she loved the show. I had completely forgotten it.
The series is on YouTube.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 6:04 AM on January 10, 2016
The Cinnamon Bear radio series. It is insanely good.
"The story focused on Judy and Jimmy Barton who go to the enchanted world of Maybeland to recover their missing Silver Star that belongs on their Christmas tree. Helping on the search is the Cinnamon Bear, a stuffed bear with shoe-button eyes and a green ribbon around his neck. They meet other memorable characters during their quest, including the Crazy Quilt Dragon (who repeatedly tries to take the star for himself), the Wintergreen Witch, Fe Fo the Giant and Santa Claus."
Over this recent holiday my 23 year old was talking about the Crazy Quilt Dragon and how much she loved the show. I had completely forgotten it.
The series is on YouTube.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 6:04 AM on January 10, 2016
Labrynth (trailer
Not a movie, but Avatar: The Last Airbender is so, so, good, enjoyed by both children and adults, and has excellent reviews. There is a movie, but it's horrible so let's pretend it doesn't exist. You want the animated TV series. (intro
I will also lend my support to the recommendations for Curse of the Were-Rabbit and Shaun the Sheep up above.
posted by haunted_pomegranate at 8:56 AM on January 10, 2016
Not a movie, but Avatar: The Last Airbender is so, so, good, enjoyed by both children and adults, and has excellent reviews. There is a movie, but it's horrible so let's pretend it doesn't exist. You want the animated TV series. (intro
I will also lend my support to the recommendations for Curse of the Were-Rabbit and Shaun the Sheep up above.
posted by haunted_pomegranate at 8:56 AM on January 10, 2016
I neglected to mention it in my first reply, but Flight of the Doves also came to mind today as something we stumbled upon and really kept us engaged.
posted by eelgrassman at 7:47 PM on January 11, 2016
posted by eelgrassman at 7:47 PM on January 11, 2016
Response by poster: Thanks you all! I've never heard of some of these, which is exciting, and others are movies I should have though of myself (including some I watched with my family as a kid).
posted by Area Man at 8:06 AM on January 12, 2016
posted by Area Man at 8:06 AM on January 12, 2016
I've been working through this list too. Thanks AskMe for great recs!
posted by k8t at 7:32 PM on January 23, 2016
posted by k8t at 7:32 PM on January 23, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by aetg at 6:30 PM on January 8, 2016 [2 favorites]