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!).
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.
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+
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