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Inspirational Sports Movies Your Whole Family Will Enjoy!

I created a post with movie recommendations back in early 2020. Someone in my family was home with the the flu and/or colds from December through February! We were home so much and had a hard time finding good movies that appealed to all of us—ages 2, 8, 10, 45, and 46.

I asked my FaceBook friends for suggestions and they had so many good ones! In February 2020, I pulled the list together for myself and shared it as a post on this page.

Once we all got better in early March, we were healthy for a week. Ha! What a tease! We went back into quarantine along with the rest of the world. The movie list was more helpful than I could have imagined!

I finally found the time recently to update the list but it was just too long. I pulled out the inspirational-sports movies and created a new post! There are so many good ones!

Disclaimers:
* I haven’t vetted all of them and only you know what will be appropriate for your family.
* The descriptions are all come from IMBD. If you click on an image, it will take you to IMBD where you can see where it’s available to watch. IMBD also has an option to save to your watchlist!
* I’ve also included the recommended age according to CommonSenseMedia.org (but I would take the ages with a grain of salt!).

Do you have any other recs? Any that shouldn’t be on this list? Please comment below and I’ll try to update the list periodically! I would also love help with updates and corrections if you see any!

The Black Stallion
After being shipwrecked with a magnificent horse off the coast of Africa in the 1940s, a boy bonds with the stallion, and trains him to race after their rescue.
1979, age 8+
FAMILY FAVORITE!!!

Cool Runnings
When a Jamaican sprinter is disqualified from the Olympic Games, he enlists the help of a dishonored coach to start the first Jamaican Bobsled Team.
1993, age 8+

Eddie the Eagle
The story of Eddie Edwards, the notoriously tenacious British underdog ski jumper who charmed the world at the 1988 Winter Olympics.
2015, age 12+

Eight Below
Brutal cold forces two Antarctic explorers to leave their team of sled dogs behind as they fend for their survival.
2006, age 8+

Free Solo
Alex Honnold attempts to become the first person to ever free solo climb El Capitan.
2018, age 11+
FAMILY FAVORITE!!!

I Am Bolt
The legacy of the fastest man in history, Usain Bolt.
2016, age 10+

Karate Kid
A martial arts master agrees to teach karate to a bullied teenager. (First movie in the series!)
1984, age 11+

Kicking & Screaming
Phil Weston, a lifelong victim of his father’s competitive nature, takes on the coaching duties of a kids’ soccer team, also taking on his father’s dysfunctional way of relating.
2005, age 9+

A League of Their Own
Two sisters join the first female professional baseball league and struggle to help it succeed amid their own growing rivalry.
1992, age 10+

McFarland
Jim moves his family after losing his job as a football coach, and at his new school he turns seven disappointing students into one of the best cross-country teams in the region.
2015, age 10+

The Mighty Ducks
A self-centered Minnesota lawyer is sentenced to community service coaching a rag tag youth hockey team.
1992, age 12+

Million Dollar Arm
A sports agent stages an unconventional recruitment strategy to get talented Indian cricket players to play Major League Baseball.
2014, age 10+

Miracle
The true story of Herb Brooks, the player-turned-coach who led the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team to victory over the seemingly invincible Soviet squad.
2004, age 8+

Pele
Looks back at the extraordinary 12-year period in which Pelé, the only man to win three World Cup titles, went from young superstar in 1958 to national hero in 1970.
2021, age 10+

Queen of Katwe
A Ugandan girl sees her world rapidly change after being introduced to the game of chess.
2016, age 10+

Remember the Titans
The true story of a newly appointed African-American coach and his high school team on their first season as a racially integrated unit.
2000, age 10+

The Sandlot
In the summer of 1962, a new kid in town is taken under the wing of a young baseball prodigy and his rowdy team, resulting in many adventures.
1993, age 8+

Seabiscuit
True story of the undersized Depression-era racehorse whose victories lifted not only the spirits of the team behind it but also those of their nation.
2003, age 13+

Togo
The story of Togo, the sled dog who led the 1925 serum run despite being considered too small and weak to lead such an intense race.
2019, age 10+
FAMILY FAVORITE!!!

The Waterboy
A waterboy for a college football team discovers he has a unique tackling ability and becomes a member of the team.
1998, age 14+

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Live-Action Movies Your Whole Family Will Enjoy!

Warning: This has nothing to do with books!

I first created this list back in February of 2020. It had already been a very long winter. At least one person (including me!) in our family seemed to have been sick from late December until early March. It was a long few months stuck at home with three kids. Then we all got better in early March—just in time for one long ski weekend away with my husband’s family. Only to come home to be quarantined again. You know the rest. . . .

On those long sick days, my two boys (8 and 10 at the time) typically bounced between naps, playing Minecraft, watching other people play Minecraft (any parents know Stampy Cat?), and watching bad TV/movie programs. My kiddos didn’t get screen time during the week—except when they’re sick. But I let them take advantage of screens when they’re not feeling good so I can salvage a bit of my day. In between snuggles, of course.

So in a bit of desperation for normal screen time that I could also enjoy (something we struggle with for Friday night movie choices, too), I turned to Facebook. My amazing friends and family came through in a big way! My specific request was for favorite live-action movies that an 8 year old, a 10 year old, and a 46 year old would enjoy watching together.

Fast forward a few years, we have a (determined, opinionated, stubborn) 5-year-old girl in the mix. Finding something we all like is certainly a challenge! This list has been helpful to us, for sure, and I hope it is for you as well!

Disclaimers:

I haven’t vetted all of them and only you know what will be appropriate for your family.
The descriptions are all come from IMBD. If you click on an image, it will take you to IMBD where you can see where it’s available to watch. IMBD also has an option to save to your watchlist!
I’ve also included the recommended age according to CommonSenseMedia.org (but I would take the ages with a grain of salt!).

Stay tuned for a similar post next week: Inspirational Sports Movies! There were so many good ones that they deserved their own list!

The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D
A young boy is recruited by his imaginary friends Sharkboy and Lavagirl to help save their planet.
2005, age 7+

Akeelah and the Bee
A young girl from South Los Angeles tries to make it to the National Spelling Bee.
2006, age 8+

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Alexander’s day begins with gum stuck in his hair, followed by more calamities. He family also finds themselves living through their own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
2014, age 9+

Benji
A stray dog saves two kidnapped children.
1974, age 7+

Big
After wishing to be made big, a teenage boy wakes the next morning to find himself mysteriously in the body of an adult.
1988, age 13+

Big Daddy
A lazy law-school grad adopts a kid to impress his girlfriend, but everything doesn’t go as planned and he becomes the unlikely foster father.
1999, age 14+

Big Miracle
In small-town Alaska, a news reporter recruits his Greenpeace-volunteer ex-girlfriend to save a family of gray whales trapped by rapidly-forming ice in the Arctic Circle.
2012, age 8+

Bridge to Terabithia
A preteen’s life turns upside down when he befriends the new girl in school and they imagine a whole new fantasy world to escape reality.
2007, age 9+

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
A young boy wins a tour through the most magnificent chocolate factory in the world, led by the world’s most unusual candy maker.
2005, age 8+

Empire of the Sun
A young English boy struggles to survive under Japanese occupation of China during World War II.
1987, age 14+

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
A troubled child summons the courage to help a friendly alien escape from Earth and return to his home planet.
1982, age 7+

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
A high school wise guy is determined to have a day off from school, despite what the Principal thinks of that.
1986, age 11+

Flubber
An absent-minded professor discovers “flubber,” a rubber-like super-bouncy substance.
1997, age 9+
FAMILY FAVORITE!!!

Free Willy
When a boy learns that a beloved killer whale is to be killed by the aquarium owners, the boy risks everything to free the whale.
1993, age 6+

The Goonies
A group of young misfits called The Goonies discover an ancient map and set out on an adventure to find a legendary pirate’s long-lost treasure.
1985, age 10+

Groundhog Day
A narcissistic, self-centered weatherman finds himself in a time loop on Groundhog Day, and the day keeps repeating until he gets it right.
1993, age 11+

Hamilton
The real life of one of America’s foremost founding fathers and first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. Captured live on Broadway with the original cast.
2020, age 11+
FAMILY FAVORITE!!!

Harry and the Hendersons
The Henderson family adopt a friendly Sasquatch but have a hard time trying to keep the legend of ‘Bigfoot’ a secret.
1987, age 7+

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
An orphaned boy enrolls in a school of wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world. (First in the series!)
2001, age 7+

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
A reluctant Hobbit, Bilbo, sets out to the Lonely Mountain with a spirited group of dwarves to reclaim their mountain home, and the gold within it. (First in the series!)
2012, age 11+

Holes
A wrongfully convicted boy is sent to a brutal desert detention camp where he joins the job of digging holes for some mysterious reason.
2003, age 10+

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
The scientist father of two teenagers accidentally shrinks his and two other teens to the size of insects. Now the teens must fight dangers as the father searches for them.
1989, age 6+

Hook
When Captain James Hook kidnaps his children, an adult Peter Pan must return to Neverland and reclaim his youthful spirit in order to challenge his old enemy.
1991, age 10+

Hoot
A young man (Lerman) moves from Montana to Florida with his family, where he’s compelled to engage in a fight to protect a population of endangered owls.
2006, age 8+

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
Archaeology professor Indiana Jones ventures to seize a biblical artefact known as the Ark of the Covenant. While doing so, encounters Renee and a troop of Nazis.
1981, age 11+

It Takes Two
Alyssa and Amanda are two little girls who are identical, but complete strangers, that accidentally meet one day.
1995, age 5+

The Journey of Natty Gann
In the 1930s, a tomboy runs away from her guardian to join her single father who is 2,000 miles away, where he has found work.
1985, age 9+

Labyrinth
Sixteen-year-old Sarah is given thirteen hours to solve a labyrinth and rescue her baby brother Toby when her wish for him to be taken away is granted by a Goblin.
1986, age 15+

Little Shop of Horrors
A nerdy florist finds his chance for success and romance with the help of a giant man-eating plant who demands to be fed.
1986, age 12+

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
A meek Hobbit from the Shire and eight companions set out on a journey to destroy the powerful One Ring and save Middle-earth from the Dark Lord Sauron.
2001, age 12+

Maleficent
A vengeful fairy is driven to curse an infant princess, only to discover that the child may be the one person who can restore peace to their troubled land.
2014, age 8+

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
Maleficent and her goddaughter Aurora begin to question the complex family ties that bind them as they are pulled in different directions.
2019, age 10+

Mary Poppins
In turn of the century London, a magical nanny employs music and adventure to help two neglected children become closer to their father.
1964, age 5+

Mary Poppins Returns
A few decades after her original visit, Mary Poppins, the magical nanny, returns to help the Banks siblings and Michael’s children through a difficult time in their lives.
2018, age 6+
FAMILY FAVORITE!!!

Matilda
A girl gifted with a keen intellect and psychic powers uses both to deal with her crude, distant family and free her kind teacher from their sadistic headmistress.
1996, age 9+

Mission: Impossible
An American agent, under false suspicion of disloyalty, must discover and expose the real spy without the help of his organization.
1996, age 13+

Monty Python and the Holy Grail
King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table embark on a surreal, low-budget search for the Holy Grail, encountering many, very silly obstacles.
1975, age 13+

Mrs. Doubtfire
After a bitter divorce, an actor disguises himself as a female housekeeper to spend time with his children held in custody by his former wife.
1993, age 12+

Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Four kids travel through a wardrobe to the land of Narnia and learn of their destiny to free it with the guidance of a mystical lion.
2005, age 9+

Night At the Museum
A new night security guard at the Museum of Natural History discovers that an ancient curse causes the animals and exhibits on display to come to life and wreak havoc.
2006, age 7+
FAMILY FAVORITE!!!

Nim’s Island
A young girl inhabits an isolated island with her scientist father and communicates with a reclusive author of the novel she’s reading.
2008, age 7+

Ocean’s Eleven
Danny Ocean and his ten accomplices plan to rob three Las Vegas casinos simultaneously.
2001, age 13+

October Sky
The true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner’s son who was inspired by the first Sputnik launch to take up rocketry against his father’s wishes.
1999, age 10+

Paddington
A young Peruvian bear travels to London in search of a home. Finding himself lost and alone at Paddington Station, he meets the kindly Brown family.
2014, age 6+

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)
Demigod Percy Jackson leads a quest across America to prevent a war among the Olympian gods.
2010, age 10+

Pete’s Dragon
An orphan boy and his magical dragon come to town with his abusive adoptive parents in pursuit.
1977, age 7+

Pinocchio
A puppet is brought to life by a fairy, who assigns him to lead a virtuous life in order to become a real boy.
2022, age 8+

Planes, Trains & Automobiles
A Chicago advertising man must struggle to travel home from New York for Thanksgiving, with a lovable oaf of a shower-curtain-ring salesman as his only companion.
1987, age 15+

The Princess Bride
The story of a farmboy-turned-pirate who encounters numerous obstacles, enemies and allies in his quest to be reunited with his true love.
1987, age 8+
FAMILY FAVORITE!!!

Ramona and Beezus
An adventurous young girl uses her imagination to escape her reality, that is quickly spinning out of reach.
2010, age 6+

Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical
Matilda tells the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a sharp mind and a vivid imagination, dares to take a stand to change her story with miraculous results.
2022, age 8+
FAMILY FAVORITE!!!

Secondhand Lions
A coming-of-age story about a shy, young boy sent by his irresponsible mother to spend the summer with his wealthy, eccentric uncles in Texas.
2003, age 10+

Sister Act
When a nightclub singer is forced to take refuge from the mob in a convent, she ends up turning the convent choir into a soulful chorus complete with a Motown repertoire.
1992, age 10+

Splash
A young man is reunited with a mermaid who saved him from drowning as a boy. He falls in love with her, not knowing who or what she is.
1984, age 12+

Star Wars: Episode IV—A New Hope
Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a Wookiee, and two droids to save the galaxy while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from Darth Vader.
1977, age 7+

The Three Stooges
While trying to save their childhood orphanage, Moe, Larry and Curly inadvertently stumble into a murder plot and wind up starring in a reality television show.
2012, age 9+

Uncle Buck
Bachelor and all-round slob Buck babysits his brother’s rebellious teenage daughter and her cute younger brother and sister.
1989, age 13+

What About Bob?
A successful psychotherapist loses his mind after one of his most dependent patients, an obsessive-compulsive neurotic, tracks him down during his family vacation.
1991, age 12+

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
A poor but hopeful boy seeks one of the five coveted golden tickets that will send him on a tour of Willy Wonka’s mysterious chocolate factory.
1971, age 8+

Wonder
This movie tells the incredibly inspiring and heartwarming story of August, a boy with facial differences who enters the fifth grade, attending a mainstream school for the first time.
2017, age 10+

Yes Man
A man challenges himself to say “yes” to everything.
2008, age 14+

12 Books About Extraordinary Little Girls Your Little Boys Will Love!

My favorite part of the day is story time with my little loves. They can’t get enough of a good book. Their minds are like sponges—you can see them absorbing every detail. It fills my heart with infinite joy as each book feeds their endless imaginations.

But they’re typical boys. They’re drawn to books with vehicles, super heroes, and mischievous characters. This was not my intention; they’re just hardwired that way.

Over the years, books by Dr. Suess, Richard Scarry, and anything Curious George have been repeat favorites for my two sons. I’m sure you know the repeat I’m talking about. Over and over and over again. I know it’s good for their brains to have that repetition. But at this moment in my life, I feel that reading about how lumber is made every other night for the last year is too frequent. Thank you, What Do People Do All Day? But I digress…

When we got to the library, I let them bring home any book of their choice. For the last year or so, they’ve taken advantage of my open mind to borrow every iteration of Chima and Ninjago. While I don’t particularly enjoy Lego-themed books, they’re books and I never question their choices. Lucky for me, they’re also big fans of amazing new books (for us) like the Elephant and Piggie and the Magic Tree House series.

Enter our latest library visit. For the first time, I chose every single book we borrowed! As research for a client’s new children’s book a few months ago, I had looked through their playroom bookcase and found very few books with strong female characters. I’m a mom doing my best to rear boys that are sensitive and respectful to girls, so I was appalled at our selection!

I decided to reach out to my best source of intel: my fellow Facebook mommas! They came through in a huge way and provided me with the most amazing book recommendations about little girls with big brains and big hearts.

I immediately bought some of them for baby-girl showers. But I still hadn’t read any of them to my boys! So I put my list together, went to our local library’s website, and put them all on hold. Voila! They were ready and waiting for me the next time we went in.

Once I got them home, I was thrilled to see my little loves go to that huge pile of books for their bedtime stories—night after nigh! They’re excited for each new story and they’ve truly enjoyed every single one. They have all been requested as a repeat! At our house, that’s a huge win for a book.

In full disclosure, the fact that the main characters in these books are girls seems to be irrelevant to my little guys. They are attracted to strong characters with heart. And the messages in these stories certainly transcend gender and age. But as their mom, I know it’s important for them to be exposed to inspiring women in their life in whatever way possible. So I know these books are good for their soul.

So what does a book-loving mom and her two boys (ages 4 and 6) have to say when reading books about little girls with big brains and big hearts? We love them! Each one of these gems are worthy of a young boy’s heart.

1. Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming and illustrated by Stacey Dressen-McQueen

During this holiday season of giving, this book earns its right as the top of this list. In post-WWII Holland, Katje receives a package of modest gifts from Rosie in the U.S. Through a series of genuine and humble thank you letters from Katje, Rosie begins to understand the needs of Katje’s family and friends. Over time, Rosie and her U.S. community fulfills the simple but real needs of warm clothing and food for Katje’s Dutch community. The extraordinary gifts from one girl to another show the capacity of human kindness and generosity in a very real way for any small child. My voice chokes up every time I read it!

2. Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts

The story of little Rosie with the big-engineer mind immediately captured the attention of my invention-inclined boys. A delightful rhyming story and very appealing illustrations tells the story of Rosie bringing her imagination to life as she builds big machines. Rosie’s airplane-building aunt inspires her to learn from her failures and always keep reaching for the stars. This might be my boys favorite. IMHO, a girl who builds gadgets and gismos is a good role model for any child!

3. The Gardener (Caldecott Honor Award) by Sarah Stewart and illustrated by David Small

Three nights in a row, as selected by my four-year-old son! He has told me multiple times that he loves this very simple but very charming story. A bright, determined young girl makes the most of her otherwise bleak situation and brings joy to the lives of those around her with her green thumb. Lydia Grace’s spirit is captured through a series of letters. The beautiful illustrations bring this sweet story to life in a perfect way.

4. The Library by Sarah Stewart and illustrated by David Small

Elizabeth Brown’s love of books is exquisitely portrayed in this touching story. After a lifetime of passionate book love, Elizabeth Brown makes a very simple decision to pass along her prized possessions to her community. During this holiday season, this tale of selfless generosity is a blessing to any reader. Sweet illustrations in this story with quirky details made my boys laugh at times. The gentle nature of the story and a very happy ending made them smile.

5. Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio and illustrated by LeUyen Phamz

Appropriately appalled that there have been no female U.S. presidents, Grace declares that she’ll be the first. She starts small and forges a successful presidential campaign at her own school. She consistently demonstrates hard work, perseverance, and a commitment to doing the right thing in the face of a healthy challenge. This book will teach any child a bit about the electoral college and political campaigning. Most importantly, it will teach impressionable children how gender assumptions can be shattered. Boys don’t always deserve to be leaders! The best girl or boy should win J

6. The Paper Bag Princess (Classic Munsch) by Robert N. Munsch and illustrated by Michael Martchenko

The tables are turned in this modern fairy tale after a fire-breathing dragon destroys all of Princess Elizabeth’s earthly possessions and kidnaps her prince. She outwits the dragon to save her betrothed, only to find that he’s a shallow and ungrateful bum. There’s no happy ending for the princess and prince together, but Elizabeth dances off into the sunset. Elizabeth displays immense bravery and independence in this charming fairy tale that sends the right message for any boy or girl—believe in yourself.

7. Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser

I’ll admit that I wasn’t totally on board with the idea of this book. Friends gave it mixed reviews. Interestingly, the moms with older children gave it a thumbs up. I get it. It uses big words. But what we liked most about this book (and I can’t speak for the series) is the love and support shown by Nancy’s family. We all appreciated her family rallying behind her. My boys especially liked Nancy’s little brother dressing up in girl clothes. When I finally pointed out that it was her little sister, they seemed a bit disappointed but still love the story about a very imaginative little girl. And the big words seem to be working—my littlest used the word “accessories” appropriately today!

8. Princess Pigsty by Cornelia Funke and illustrated by Kerstin Meyer

I’ll admit that my six-year-old son chose a Chima book one night, but it was the same night that my four-year-old chose Princess Pigsty for the second night in a row! Rejecting all things princess, Princess Isabella wants to be her own person and won’t let anything stop her. She ultimately finds acceptance and love for staying true to what makes her happy. A pigsty scene is sure to appeal to any child who loves dirt! My six-year-old says he doesn’t love it, but was happy to sit and listen to the story.

9. Madam President by Lane Smith

It’s a short book and easy to read with cool illustrations. But the pages on their own didn’t make sense to my kids at all. I couldn’t just read it to them without explanation, nor would they let me. So I explained each page in context of the real U.S. president. And you know what? They loved it! The book prompted conversation (and some laughs—read it to find out about “secretaries” under the president) about the role of our U.S. president in a very simple way. As tiring as it is to require parents to explain a book’s content the entire way through, it encouraged me to connect with my boys in a way that most books don’t require. It was a huge hit with my oldest! And even though my youngest says he’s not thrilled with the book, he is absorbed every time we read it. J

10. A Bad Case Of Stripes by David Shannon

In this sweet story, Camilla learns a valuable lesson about the importance of being true to herself. Filled with beautiful illustrations and rich, vibrant colors, Camilla demonstrates the importance of self-confidence and self-love for any young girl or boy.

11. Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

An absolutely perfect little girl struggles with her identify in this delightful tale. Crystanthemum’s love for her very unique name wavers when she begins school. Teacher Mrs. Twinkle restores her confidence. Very pretty but very girly illustrations didn’t alter the high opinion of this story by the boys—they loved it.

12. The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

Vashti’s teacher quietly encourages her to express herself artistically in a way she never thought she could. A simple dot and her signature make all the difference for Vashti’s confidence. She passes along the wisdom she learns to a young boy who lacks confidence just as she did. Very simple and sweet illustrations with an inspiring storyline kept my little loves engaged through the end.