I tracked with @bstormcrow and his love for Return to Oz and Secret of NIMH. I was just fascinated with those movies as a kid. Also for his choice of Castle in the Sky as his Ghibli pick.
Yes, Swiss Family Robinson has always been a favorite of mine. Love it. I’m taking our kids through a unit studying the basics, like how to make a fire, how to collect water, some basic survival stuff that no one wants to know anymore.
Appreciated the list, and had my own Top 10 to pitch, in chronological order:
The Sign of Zorro (1958) - great adventure, muted violence
Swiss Family Robinson (1960) - Couldn’t leave this off
Babes in Toyland (1961) - wacky and wonderful
Pollyanna (2003) - way better than the Disney version
Winnie the Pooh (2011) - maybe the best of the Pooh movies (or was it “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh”?)
Minuscule: valley of the lost ants (2014) - parents and kids can really enjoy different aspects
Beyond the Mask (2015) - one of the best Christian family films made
The Peanuts movie (2015) - genius
Swallows and Amazons (2016) - departs from the book to add more action but still good
Sgt. Stubby: an unlikely hero (2018) - Great World War I dog story
I bet half of my family’s movie rentals was this, mostly on videodisc. I didn’t realize it was that old. My dad probably watched it at the same age as me.
RESOURCE: All parents should be aware of this. If you google imdb parents guide and then the movie, it will give you rankings of different objectionable material in the movie and then tell you exactly what it is. It is the best that @ummelheather and I have found for checking to see if movies are safe to watch. It has saved me from several “I watched this as a kid and loved it and you are going to lo…!!!..I forgot about that part” moments. Especially as I have older boys now that are wanting to watch “grown up” movies.
As for great family movies, I’ll toss Togo out there. I would say 8 year olds plus just due to the intensity of imminent death. I don’t have time to make a list right now. Maybe later.
Not a movie, but my wife and I recently watched an Israeli TV show called Shtisel — about ultra Orthodox Jews. It’s a drama, so not my cup of tea but it was well done, the acting great. It also gives a glimpse into their day to day life.
Great list, it’s good to have suggestions. I know it’s a cliche thing to do, but it really is a service – I have not seen most of these, and don’t have time to discover them.
Not sure why, but my kids can’t abide the muppets. I don’t get it.
Also, my kids were put off by the effeminacy of Danny Kaye.
I thought my kids should see Superman, The Movie, but it wore us all out. Super slow, non-compelling villian, unlikable Lois Lane. Reeves does the best Superman / Clark Kent ever, but I’m never watching that again.
. But seriously I do love that movie. I’m not sure is my 5 year old is ready for it though.