Darn, I was hoping to be first with this one. I remember passionately loving this movie.
I love “The Black Stallion,” and I think it’s gorgeous, but I know a lot of people find it extremely slow.
“The Secret Garden” from the 90s is one of the most beautifully filmed movies I’ve ever seen.
Let’s see: The Wallace and Gromit shorts and feature are brilliant. Also “Chicken Run.” “The Emperor’s New Groove” is one of my favorite underrated animated movies. “How to Train Your Dragon,” is fun. “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” is great (the sequel not as good). I remember liking “Newsies,” though I honestly don’t remember it. “Spy Kids.” “Rango” is really weird, but I liked it a lot. Very surreal.
Some other early live-action Disney might work. “The Shaggy Dog/DA,” “The Cat From Outer Space,” (actually, I was trying to remember “That Darn Cat”), “The Ugly Dachshund,” etc. Very silly, but they can be enjoyable.
I remember loving “The Apple Dumpling Gang,” “No Deposit, No Return,” and “Escape to Witch Mountain” as a kid. The first two might still be fine, but boy is the last one awful.
I was obsessed by the character of the Scarlet Pimpernel when I was about the OP’s daughter’s age. There are at least three movies, though all of them talk about the guillotine which did give me nightmares.
She might be old enough to be amused by something like “Bringing Up Baby,” too. Or the Marx Brothers, or Charlie Chaplin. It greatly depends on the kid!
Buster Keaton, Harold LLoyd et al, the side benefit of which might be that she wouldn’t automatically dismiss old flicks just because they’re b&w and silent, thereby opening up a whole alternate universe of movies.
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events
Short Circuit
My Fair Lady
You may want to try The Hobbit. A better adaption then the Peter Jackson films. (the poster art for that is nothing like the film animation)
I don’t think Lupin the III, “Princess Mononoke” or “Nausicaä Valley of the Wind” are good choices for a young girl, unless maybe they really love humungous bugs taking over the world.
And be careful not to to lump in another Studio Ghibli film “Grave of the Fireflies” with with the likes of Totoro or “Spirited Away.” Although “Grave” in the title should be enough of a hint.
Ooh, I’m loving these suggestions and adding them to my own pile.
In the meantime, here’s my “Family Movie Night” Pinterest page. Obviously lots of stuff already mentioned here, but a few others too. I think Galaxy Quest is a fun family movie - the kids won’t get all the jokes, but it’s still fun. For what it’s worth, I also have an Introduction to Horrorpage (yes, it’s actually important to me for my kids to like dark fantasy and horror!). But my kid is 10, and medium-to-strong on resistance to terror. YMMV.
Howl’s Moving Castle The Mark of Zorro (the one from the 1940’s starring Tyrone Power is better than the modern-day versions, and it’s no more violent than The Princess Bride)
How about musicals? Singing in the Rain and The Bandwagon are ones I think you all might enjoy.
