# Greatest family film ever? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 1, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-family-film-ever/662360 "2013-07-01T15:54:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-family-film-ever/662360/21 "2013-07-01T20:10:57Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I think I would lean toward “Finding Nemo.” Beautiful message, beautiful animation, funny for kids and adults. > > It suffers from Disney Dead Mom Syndrome, but otherwise, I think it’s wonderful. Pixar is NOT DISNEY!!! DAMN IT!!! Just because Disney bought them is irrelevant. I am also pissed off that I saw Finding Nemo and Disney laid their claim to it. FInding Nemo was made before Disney even bought Pixar! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Time to make an effigy of Disney and burn it. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-family-film-ever/662360/22 "2013-07-01T20:26:52Z")
> [@BlinkingDuck](#): > > Pixar is NOT DISNEY!!! DAMN IT!!! > > Just because Disney bought them is irrelevant. I am also pissed off that I saw Finding Nemo and Disney laid their claim to it. FInding Nemo was made before Disney even bought Pixar! > > Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr > > Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr > > Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr > Time to make an effigy of Disney and burn it. It suffers from Disney Dead Mom Syndrome. That isn’t a comment on whether it is by Disney, just that it uses the same overused trope. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-family-film-ever/662360/23 "2013-07-01T20:30:15Z")
While I like a lot of these, my vote goes to _[Babe](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112431/)_. Good message, good acting, great effects, funny and moving, the obligatory scary scenes that aren’t so scary they give nightmares, and just enough surreal touches to cut the saccharine to a palatable level. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-family-film-ever/662360/24 "2013-07-01T20:57:42Z")
> [@BlinkingDuck](#): > > Pixar is NOT DISNEY!!! DAMN IT!!! > > Just because Disney bought them is irrelevant. I am also pissed off that I saw Finding Nemo and Disney laid their claim to it. FInding Nemo was made before Disney even bought Pixar! Err… every Pixar full-length movie was distributed by Disney. Every one of them has a Disney logo on the cover. Every one starts with a shot of a CG version of Cinderella’s castle. All their characters appeared at Disney parks even before Disney bought Pixar. That Pixar used to be an independent company doesn’t make Finding Nemo, et al, “Not Disney.” ---
**Author:** ![LinusK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@LinusK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinusK)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-family-film-ever/662360/25 "2013-07-01T21:06:59Z")
> [@h.sapiens](#): > > Although it can be hard to get a pre-teen boy to watch a movie called “The Princess Bride”, even if you tell him it’s full of pirates and sword fighting and rodents of unusual size, etc. You can always fast-forward past the kissing parts. (Great movie though.) ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-family-film-ever/662360/26 "2013-07-01T21:24:10Z")
I’ve been reading that EW “Greatest 100” list, and although I think they include a couple of clunkers, and have a couple rated too low, it has inspired me to “fill in the gaps” in my movie watching experience. For example I’ve only seen 12 of their top 20 films and a little over half of their top 60. I’ve decided over the next year to work my way through the list, re-watching movies I’ve seen before and finally getting around to the great ones I’ve never gotten around to like “Some Like it Hot” and “Bonnie and Clyde” and a couple of the foreign ones I missed in film school. Maybe this should be a different thread, but why “Mean Streets” and not “Raging Bull”? Why Murnau’s “Sunrise” but not “Nosferatu”? Some of their choices are weird. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-family-film-ever/662360/27 "2013-07-01T21:26:10Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > While I like a lot of these, my vote goes to _[Babe](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112431/)_. Good message, good acting, great effects, funny and moving, the obligatory scary scenes that aren’t so scary they give nightmares, and just enough surreal touches to cut the saccharine to a palatable level. I like _Babe: Pig in the City_ even better, although it might be a little scarier for very young kids who fear abandonment. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-family-film-ever/662360/28 "2013-07-01T21:40:57Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > _The Sound of Music_- great story, great songs, and you can either use it to introduce WW2/Hitler with kids or just enjoy the music and scenery and puppet show. (Aside: That movie is 48 years old; its [poster](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c6/Sound_of_music.jpg) pictures 9 cast members and all 9 are still alive- that’s pretty amazing.) Seconding this, probably because it was a fixture on New Zealand TV over Christmas when I was a kid and we always watched it at Nana’s. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-family-film-ever/662360/29 "2013-07-01T22:28:36Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > I like _Babe: Pig in the City_ even better, although it might be a little scarier for very young kids who fear abandonment. Absolutely. That one has just enough saccharine to cut the surreal! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-family-film-ever/662360/30 "2013-07-01T23:09:49Z")
An oldie. Don’t know if kids would relate to it today: _The Great Race_, with Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, and Jack Lemmon in several roles. I liked it as a 10-year-old, and I like it as an adult. I like Pixar’s _Up_ as well. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-family-film-ever/662360/31 "2013-07-01T23:13:25Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > An oldie. Don’t know if kids would relate to it today: _The Great Race_, with Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, and Jack Lemmon in several roles. I liked it as a 10-year-old, and I like it as an adult. > > I like Pixar’s _Up_ as well. My 12-year old grandson saw The Great Race, but, alas, was bored to tears (except for Peter Falk as Max: him, he liked). ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-family-film-ever/662360/32 "2013-07-01T23:50:57Z")
Any other fans of The Sand Lot? ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-family-film-ever/662360/33 "2013-07-02T00:22:25Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > My 12-year old grandson saw The Great Race, but, alas, was bored to tears (except for Peter Falk as Max: him, he liked). Yeah,the pacing was different in those days. Pity. ISTR it was a longish movie. They’d probably hack it up and bring it in at 90 minutes if they remade it. I think I might have to re-watch it now. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-family-film-ever/662360/34 "2013-07-02T00:40:57Z")
_Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory_. Okay, yeah, the chocolate river scene was nightmare-fuel creepy (I personally loved it even when it freaked me right the hell out as a wee one), but other than that it was a good family film and aged pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc8723/32.png) [@Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Levolor_the_Blind)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-family-film-ever/662360/35 "2013-07-02T01:15:39Z")
My Neighbor Totoro has been our family favorite since the kid was 5. We get it out at least once a year. Kiki’s Delivery Service is a close second. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-family-film-ever/662360/36 "2013-07-02T02:05:13Z")
Clearly the perfect family film is _Watership Down_, a sweet countryside tale of rabbits dying a horrifying heart-wrenching death. Or _The Secret of Nimh_, a magical adventure story surrounding the madcap world of animal testing for scientific experiments. Or _Radio Flyer_, a heartwarming drama of two brothers who have to deal with violent child abuse. In all seriousness if I was a parent I’d list _Labyrinth_ and _The Neverending Story_ as my favourite family films. ---
**Author:** ![zoog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7ea924/32.png) [@zoog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoog)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-family-film-ever/662360/37 "2013-07-02T02:27:23Z")
_The Godfather._ Oh, wait, not that kind of family movie? Oh, OK. How about _The Rookie_ as a dark horse candidate? ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-family-film-ever/662360/38 "2013-07-02T10:37:28Z")
I’m inordinately fond of _WALL-E_ and _How To Train Your Dragon_. I love _The Princess Bride_, and quite like _Stardust_. ---
**Author:** ![ASanders](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asanders/32/3367_2.png) [@ASanders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASanders)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-family-film-ever/662360/39 "2013-07-02T10:45:39Z")
Our family favorite is The Emperor’s New Groove. We can’t under why it never gets any love. And another vote for Kiki’s Delivery Service, too. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-family-film-ever/662360/40 "2013-07-02T12:24:52Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Clearly the perfect family film is _Watership Down_, a sweet countryside tale of rabbits dying a horrifying heart-wrenching death. > > Or _The Secret of Nimh_, a magical adventure story surrounding the madcap world of animal testing for scientific experiments. > > Or _Radio Flyer_, a heartwarming drama of two brothers who have to deal with violent child abuse. > > In all seriousness if I was a parent I’d list _Labyrinth_ and _The Neverending Story_ as my favourite family films. My family loves all things Froud and Muppets, and L_abyrinth_ is definitely on our Top10 List. My grandson’s middle name is Jareth, after the Goblin King. It was my daughter’s idea, but he loves it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-family-film-ever/662360.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-family-film-ever/662360.md?page=3)