# Movie Recommendations for kids **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 31, 2017, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-recommendations-for-kids/795191 "2017-08-31T19:25:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-recommendations-for-kids/795191/1 "2017-08-31T19:25:21Z")
My kids are getting to the point where we can watch non-animated movies and not only can they sit through them, but they actually like them. I love movies. I want to share the movie watching experience I had with them as they grow but want to keep it somewhat age appropriate. Things we’ve watched that they’ve enjoyed: 1st Mission Impossible movie with Tom Cruise Explorers Innerspace Back to the Future Raiders of the lost Ark (this was borderline because of the plot complexity) Star Wars (all of them) A bunch of the recent Marvel movies Goonies ET They do tend to gravitate towards adventure/action movies. I found that older movies don’t hold up as well without the nostalgia value of course. One of my favorite movies, Aliens, is probably too violent for them right now. I’m considering Terminator but that may be too frightening. A kid protagonist is a bonus. Any other recommendations for adventure type movies that aren’t too violent or sex heavy? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-recommendations-for-kids/795191/2 "2017-08-31T19:50:35Z")
How old are they, abouts? ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-recommendations-for-kids/795191/3 "2017-08-31T19:53:44Z")
Super 8 The Addams Family Spaceballs - they’ll enjoy it if they like Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark! Galaxy Quest? - need to be familiar with the original Star Trek Groundhog Day Jumanji Zathura - similar to Jumanji Anime: Spirited Away Your Name Studio Ghibli movies in general ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-recommendations-for-kids/795191/4 "2017-08-31T20:01:44Z")
_Silver Streak_ _For Your Eyes Only_ ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-recommendations-for-kids/795191/5 "2017-08-31T20:07:01Z")
Jurassic Park Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Home Alone ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-recommendations-for-kids/795191/6 "2017-08-31T20:08:27Z")
Night of the Hunter (1955) > **[The Night of the Hunter (1955) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048424/?ref_=nv_sr_1)** > > The Night of the Hunter: Directed by Charles Laughton. With Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, James Gleason. A religious fanatic marries a gullible widow whose young children are reluctant to tell him where their real daddy hid the... The Magic Serpent (1967) > **[The Magic Serpent (1966) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060579/?ref_=nv_sr_1)** > > The Magic Serpent: Directed by Tetsuya Yamanouchi. With Hiroki Matsukata, Tomoko Ogawa, Ryûtarô Ôtomo, Bin Amatsu. In ancient Japan, a good lord is killed and his throne is taken by the trecherous Yuki Daijo and his wizard friend Oroki-maru. The... Latitude Zero (1969) > **[Latitude Zero (1969) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064470/?ref_=nv_sr_1)** > > Latitude Zero: Directed by Ishirô Honda. With Akira Takarada, Joseph Cotten, Cesar Romero, Richard Jaeckel. A journalist is saved by a giant submarine captained by a 200 year old man who takes him to an underwater paradise city where no one ages.... The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb (1993) > **[The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb (1993) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108069/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1)** > > The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb: Directed by Dave Borthwick. With Nick Upton, Deborah Collard, Frank Passingham, John Schofield. A boy born the size of a small doll is kidnapped by a genetic lab and must find a way back to his father in this... Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004) > **[Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0346156/?ref_=nv_sr_2)** > > Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow: Directed by Kerry Conran. With Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Giovanni Ribisi, Michael Gambon. After New York City receives a series of attacks from giant flying robots, a reporter teams up with a pilot in search of... Karel Zeman films (many have been dubbed in English) > **[Invention for Destruction (1958) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052374/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_19)** > > Invention for Destruction: Directed by Karel Zeman. With Lubor Tokos, Arnost Navrátil, Miroslav Holub, Frantisek Slégr. An evil millionaire named Artigas plans to use a super-explosive device to conquer the world from his headquarters inside an... > **[The Fabulous Baron Munchausen (1962) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054665/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_15)** > > The Fabulous Baron Munchausen: Directed by Karel Zeman. With Milos Kopecký, Rudolf Jelínek, Jana Brejchová, Karel Höger. The outrageous Baron Munchausen tells of his many adventures, from meeting the Man in the Moon to defeating a Turkish army all by... > **[Ukradená vzducholod (1967) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062412/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_13)** > > Ukradená vzducholod: Directed by Karel Zeman. With Hanus Bor, Jan Cizek, Jan Malát, Michal Pospísil. Five young boys take off in a lighter-than-air machine from the Centenary Exposition in Prague. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-recommendations-for-kids/795191/7 "2017-08-31T20:10:24Z")
_The Hunter_ (Steve McQueen, 1980) The first two _Karate Kid_ movies. [Mud](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1935179/combined)? Not really violent until the last few minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Periwinkle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Periwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Periwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-recommendations-for-kids/795191/8 "2017-08-31T20:12:26Z")
Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind Mrs. Doubtfire Forever Young Kindergarten Cop The Kid Ghostbusters ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-recommendations-for-kids/795191/9 "2017-08-31T20:12:48Z")
Older movies, but still worth a shot I think: _20,000 Leagues Under The See Jason And The Argonauts 7th Voyage of Sinbad_ ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-recommendations-for-kids/795191/10 "2017-08-31T20:16:31Z")
Kids are elementary school, the oldest in 5th grade. Thanks for the recommendations, keep them coming. Of the list so far, we did see already: Jumanji and Zarthura - really liked these. They wanted to play more board games after watching each. Jurassic Park, and Jurassic World. They really liked them both Chronicles of Narnia Lion, Witch, Wardrobe was quite enjoyable too. I dont think they liked the voyage of dawntreader as much All the Harry Potter movies - i required they read the books first. Home Alone - I loved this movie as a kid but watching again now I really thought it was terrible. Weird. The kids liked it okay. They did watch Howl’s Moving Castle and liked it, but I asked them what they thought it was about and they couldn’t really articulate it. I think it was more for the spectacle. I do find that I notice things much differently now watching as a parent. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-recommendations-for-kids/795191/11 "2017-08-31T20:18:47Z")
The [Secret Life of Walter Mitty](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HddkucqSzSM) from 2013 is great for a wide range of ages. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-recommendations-for-kids/795191/12 "2017-08-31T20:26:23Z")
_Godzilla_ or any of the kaiju films. **blondbear** ’s list, plus _Voyage To The Center Of The Earth_, _Swiss Family Robinson_, _Around The World In 80 Days_… _The Exorcist_. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-recommendations-for-kids/795191/13 "2017-08-31T20:28:37Z")
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension Avatar Shanghai Knights Crocodile Dundee Kung Fu Hustle Men in Black Mystery Men Pirates of the Caribbean 7 Faces of Dr. Lao Shanghai Knights Silverado Who Framed Roger Rabbit? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-recommendations-for-kids/795191/14 "2017-08-31T20:31:00Z")
_Big Trouble in Little China_ ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-recommendations-for-kids/795191/15 "2017-08-31T20:40:05Z")
The Mark of Zorro (1940) The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-recommendations-for-kids/795191/16 "2017-08-31T20:45:15Z")
If they can sit for nearly three hours: _The Great Race_. Which reminds me of _Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines_ and _Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies_. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-recommendations-for-kids/795191/17 "2017-08-31T20:51:27Z")
Night at the Museum ---
**Author:** ![edwards\_beard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@edwards\_beard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwards_beard)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-recommendations-for-kids/795191/18 "2017-08-31T20:51:37Z")
Top Gun Airplane Clash of the Titans - 1981 version Beastmaster Cloak and Dagger (Henry Thomas, Dabney Coleman) The Neverending Story ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-recommendations-for-kids/795191/19 "2017-08-31T20:52:45Z")
_WarGames_ (1983) If you get Cinemax, I see they have it scheduled for Sunday the 10[sup]th[/sup]. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-recommendations-for-kids/795191/20 "2017-08-31T20:59:59Z")
Speaking of Matthew Broderick movies: _Ferris Bueller’s Day Off_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-recommendations-for-kids/795191.md?page=2)