Movies for School Age

05 Oct Movies for School Age

Here is a list of recommended movies suggested by a number of families I know and respect. It is offered as a starting point for your family’s movie selection. I cannot guarantee that you will like every single one and I personally have not seen all of them, but list them on the advice of dear friends. Although we all are concerned about our family, we are different in our viewing preferences, tastes and tolerance levels. As a result, I encourage you to check out a review on the following movies to determine their suitability for your particular family.

Good movies, like good books, are even better when you talk about them.  Take advantage maybe the day after to ask your children, “What did you like about it?” “Your favorite part?”  “A character you admired?” “A line that sticks with you?”  “Any part you didn’t like or thought was a flaw in the film?” “Did the movie have a message?” In this way, you help your children articulate and develop a critical eye, sound judgement and clear principles. Have fun with movies!

Abbott and Costello movies – comedy/slapstick

Adventures of Sherlock Hound – cartoon take off on Sherlock Holmes stories

Adventures of Tin Tin – PG – 2011 action adventure based on the comic books by Herge

Akeelah and the Bee – PG – family drama

Andy Griffith Show – 1960’s TV series about Sheriff Andy and his son Opie

Apple Dumpling Gang with Don Knotts – humor, cowboy story

Around the World In 80 Days (1956) – comedy

Babe – animation

Because of Winn Dixie – PG – animal adventure

Bells of St Mary’s – drama/musical with Bing Crosby

Bug’s Life – animation

Call of the Wild 3D – PG – animal adventure with Christopher Lloyd

Chicken Run – animation

Child Star: The Shirley Temple Story – G – 2001 family drama/biography

Chronicles of Narnia – PG – fantasy/adventure– a classic that is well-done by Walden Media

Cinderella – 2015 – animation

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs – 2009 – PG

The Court Jester – with Danny Kaye

Davy Crockett – adventure/western

The Day the Earth Stood Still (B&W) – drama/science fiction

Despicable Me – 2010 – PG – animation

Doctor Doolittle with Rex Harrison – fantasy adventure

Dreamer – G – horse drama based on a true story

Encanto – 2021 – animation

Fantasia – 1940 animation

Finding Dory – 2016 animation (sequel to Finding Nemo)

Finding Nemo – animation

Going My Way – a great Bing Crosby movie

The Gods Must Be Crazy (first and second movies) – comedy

Hans Christian Anderson – 1952 musical for children with Danny Kaye

Heidi with Shirley Temple – drama

Herbie series – old comedy about a Volkswagen

Hoodwinked – animation

How To Train Your Dragon – 2010 – animation

Incredibles – animation

Inspector General – 1949 comedy with Danny Kaye

Iron Will – PG- action/adventure of a boy in a dog sled race

Jump In – G – about a jump roping competition

Knut and Friends – G – the story of some polar bears and brown bears over a course of a year

Leave it to Beaver – 1950’s TV series about the Cleaver family

Little House on the Prairie series – about a pioneer family growing up

Madagascar – animation

March of the Penguins – 2006 documentary

Mars Need Moms – 2011 animation, pro-family

Mary Poppins with Julie Andrews – musical

Milo and Otis – G – adventure of a puppy and kitten (great for the very young)

Miracle of the White Stallions  – 1963 – G – adventure drama of the rescue of Lipizzaner horses during WWII

Monsters Inc. – animation

Mr. Bean’s Holiday – comedy

Mr. Fantastic Fox – 2009 – PG

Music Man with Robert Preston – musical

My Fair Lady – musical with Audrey Hepburn

The Nativity Story – PG – the story of Christ’s birth

Night at the Museum – comedy adventure with Ben Stiller

Old Yeller – animal drama

Osmosis Jones – PG – action/fantasy animation about body cells fighting off a virus.

Pete’s Dragon – fantasy adventure

Planet Earth – BBC 2007 DVD series – the beauty of nature and animal life

Pollyanna – made by Walt Disney, featuring Mary Grace

Pride of the Yankees (B&W) – baseball movie

Prince of Egypt – animation

Ratatouille – animation comedy Robin Hood with Errol Flynn – adventure

Robots – animation

Samantha: An American Girl Holiday – 2004 – family/drama/coming of age

Savage Sam – animal drama, sequel to Old Yeller

The Shaggy Dog (B&W) – comedy

Shaun the Sheep series – PG – animation comedy

Shrek – animation comedy

Singing in the Rain – musical

Sound of Music – family/musical – classic enjoyed by all ages

Star Wars Movies (A New Hope; Empire Strikes Back; Return of the Jedi) – scifi/adventure

Swiss Family Robinson – family adventure

Tangled – 2010 animation

Three Musketeers with the Ritz Brothers – adventure/comedy

Twelve Dancing Princesses – a Barbie movie with good family values

UP – PG – animation

Veggie Tale Movies – all of them

Wallace and Grommit (movie and short films) – comedy clay animation

Wall-E – animation

The Waltons – 1970’s TV series about the Walton family

Where The Red Fern Grows – animal drama

White Christmas – drama/musical with Bing Crosby

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory – 1971 – family fantasy

Winds of the Kitty Hawk – docu-drama about the first air flight

Wizard of Oz – fantasy adventure with Judy Garland

Wonder – 2017 – PG – inspiring family drama about a boy with facial differences

Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm – 1962 with Buddy Hackett

Yours, Mine and Ours – comedy with Lucille Ball