Contributing Writers: Melanie Dostis and Nancy Ryerson
The summer season is almost at an end (everybody say awww). And we thought this last week could
use a relaxing day or two. And what’s better than a movie? —
We’ve compiled what
we believe to be the best family movies to rent (or buy if you please) with a
bit of guidance. Our digging went as far back as the 1930’s! From classics
to sing-a-longs to modern hits, we’ve got the whole family’s film taste
covered.
All you have to do is grab some popcorn and settle in for one of the hits
below.
AGES 0-5:
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937): It’s the hit
that established Disney as a childhood must-see. We bet you can easily find
seven amazing reasons why it tops our list!
Dumbo (1941): Teach kids the power of uniqueness
with this timeless classic about a baby elephant who is ostracized due to the
size of his ears.
The Red Balloon (1956): A 34-minute music-driven short
that follows a boy through the streets of Paris. An inspiring tale
of friendship and loss.
Flipper (1963): A boy befriends an
injured dolphin and becomes closer to his fisherman father along the way. Great
for tykes who love animals and the ocean.
Mary Poppins (1964): A flying nanny, timeless songs and a
magical ending all add up to thing: a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious flick!
The Jungle Book (1967): A humorous, jazz and swing-
filled film that boasts strong messages of companionship.
Doctor Dolittle (1967): Introduce tots to the classic and
comical telling of a man’s ability to communicate with creatures (check out the
Eddie Murphy remake for a modern twist).
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968): Displaying
some of the best cinematic music, this magical tale of an extraordinary chariot
can’t be beat.
The Love Bug (1968): Little
ones who adore all-things-wheeled will enjoy speeding along with Herbie, the VW
Beetle with heart. (Also check out Herbie
Fully Loaded, the 2005 remake).
The Aristocats (1970): Trouble is sure to ensue and you
won’t want to miss it as upper class cats are chased down by bumbling catnappers.
The Muppet Movie (1979): Jim
Henson’s loveable puppet characters tell the story of how the Muppets joined
forces in this wacky film-within-a-film.
E.T The Extra Terrestrial (1982): The whole
family will root for E.T, the homesick alien, as he tries to make his way home
with the help of his new Earthling buds.
We’re Back! (1993): The
littlest New Yorkers will love watching dinos explore their own digs in this
amusing romp around town.
Toy Story (1995): Any toy-loving child will love this tale
about a bunch of adventurous playthings that come to life—it only it was real! All
three films in the series are sure to please.
Balto (1995): A misunderstood half-wolf,
half-sled dog finds acceptance and saves lives in this exciting animated film.
Afterwards, take the kids to visit the Balto statue in Central
Park.
Pocahontas (1995): Teach
kids about cultural tolerance and environmental protection with the aid of catchy
songs and a cute raccoon sidekick.
Monsters, Inc. (2001): Kids are
afraid of monsters, but we learn in this movie that monsters are even more
afraid of kids! Funny for parents, too.
Spirited Away (2001): A
ten-year-old girl gets caught up in a magical alternate reality in this
Academy-Award winning animated movie, the highest-grossing film in Japanese
history.
Lilo and Stitch (2002): An
orphaned Hawaiian girl meets an adorable (but destructive) alien in this
charmingly odd flick.
Dr. Seuss’s Cat In The Hat (2003): Based on the
classic story, and features the chaos-wreaking Thing 1 & Thing 2. Hilarity
you won’t want to miss!
Madagascar (2005): A gang of
animals escape from the Central Park Zoo and embark on an African adventure.
Urban kids will especially relate to their fish-out-of-water adventures.
Charlotte’s Web (2006): This
irresistible story of a loveable pig escaping the dinner table lives up to the
glorious book it’s based on.
Curious George (2006): Mild
mischief is backed by a gentle soundtrack from Jack Johnson. Perfect for little
monkeys.
WALL-E (2008): Out of this world good! Robots
fall in love in this charming environmentalist tale of the future. This film
takes on some heavy topics (the perils of technology, anyone?) in the most
sweet and simple way.
How to Train Your Dragon (2010): A young
Viking learns to do something much better than fight and befriends the
fire-breathing creatures instead.
AGES 5-10:
The Wizard Of Oz (1939): There’s no
better way to teach youngsters “there’s no place like home” then watching
lovable Dorothy being chased after by the Wicked Witch. Click your heels for
added measure!
National Velvet (1944): Horse
lovers will enjoy this charming tale of a bitter ex-jockey and a girl named
Velvet. Who can pass up stunning shots of the English countryside and a young
Elizabeth Taylor?
101 Dalmatians (1961): The whole family will delight
in the ridiculous antics of Cruella de Vil. And the pups are just so darn cute!
(Also catch the 1996 live action film.)
The Parent Trap (1961): Teenage
twins scheme to get their parents back together in this amusing and
heartwarming family classic. Kids might be more familiar with the 1998 remake—
but check out this one too.
The Sound Of Music (1965): There might be
too much background in this flick for youngsters to grasp but Julie Andrew’s
charm is sure to enchant as her character turns a somber house into a singing
one.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971): The genius of
Roald Dahl comes alive in this original narrative of a chocolate factory that
makes us green with envy…and super hungry. (Though we’re not so sure the Johnny
Depp version in ’05 is up to snuff.)
The Black Stallion (1979): Youngsters will witness an
unbreakable bond between a young castaway and a wild horse; plus it just might
be one the best movie adaptations of a beloved children’s book.
Back to the Future (1985): Marty’s
unhappy life gets interesting when he travels back in time with his scientist pal
and has to help his parents meet. With pitch-perfect wit, this is a hit with
the older kids.
The Princess Bride (1987): Kids of
all ages (and their parents!) love this funny, adventurous romance. Just watch
out for the rodents of unusual size!
Big (1988): Show this one to any kid who’s trying to grow up too fast! Josh makes a
wish “to be big” and wakes up as a young man in his twenties with too many grown-up
problems to deal with.
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989): An
inventor accidentally shrinks his family and his neighbor’s kids in this zany
adventure. The family must work together to figure out how to make it in the
now even bigger world!
The Little Mermaid (1989): Considered to
be the film that revived Disney’s magic, this charming flick show the wonders
about life under the sea.
The Beauty and the Beast (1991): Step aside Prince Charming, Princess Belle is here to teach
tots that inner beauty is what counts.
*PG-13 ALERT* Jurassic Park (1993): A surround sound dream! An amusement park goes prehistoric. Spielberg at
his best.
The Lion King (1994): Brilliant music meets enchanting
animation, this classic teaches kids all about the circle of life.
Babe (1995): Babe is on a mission to beat the odds
of working as a sheepdog and on his way he might just win our hearts.
Matilda (1996): Tykes who love to read
will enjoy watching Matilda take on her mean headmistress with her special
powers.
Mulan (1998): In this great girl power flick,
watch as Mulan defies her culture by dressing up as a boy and fighting
alongside male soldiers. And don’t forget the funny talking dragon!
Chicken Run (2000): A cast of British chickens plot to escape from their farm prison in
this exciting and funny claymation film.
Shrek (2001): Shrek and friends discover
the true meaning of beauty and love—when they’re not telling silly jokes!—in
this mixed-up fairytale.
The Princess Diaries (2001): Awkward
and insecure Mia experiences the dream of every little girl: she finds out
she’s a princess. Well, and that her grandmother is Julie Andrews.
Finding Nemo (2003): Despite being oceans apart, family
sticks together in this Oscar-winning film about a lovable clown fish in search
of his lost son.
Night at the Museum (2006): Perfect
for every little kid who looks inside the dioramas at the American Museum of
Natural History and wonders if they come to life at night. In this fun film,
they totally do!
Where The Wild Things Are (2009): Nothing tugs at
our hearts more than a brilliantly crafted story about leaving the terrain of
boyhood behind; perfect for little ones growing up.
Up (2009): It’s more than just a floating house
and (perhaps) the cutest dog one has ever seen, it’s a heartwarming story about
the ups and downs of life. Be prepared to shed a tear!
