Kid friendly movies you actually enjoy watching?

[CheerfulYank]

DS is almost 8 and I'm looking for some films that are appropriate for him but not mind numbing. He has a two year old sister and a newborn brother and has to be the "big helper" a lot of the time, so when we can watch something together and it's just his time it's really nice.

We both loved all the Harry Potters and I recently showed him the Princess Bride, which he was reluctant about because of its "girly" title , but he really liked. He liked the Sound of Music, too. And we watched Thor. I found myself bored with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang which is sad as I loved it as a kid.

Obviously if he really wants to watch something with me I will do it whether I like it or not, but it's much more fun when we're both really interested and engaged in it. So, any suggestions?

[HippyChickMama]

My ds is the same age and he's really enjoyed watching all the films dh and I grew up with. The Goonies, ET, Back to the Future, Labyrinth, Flight of the Navigator, The Explorers etc. I've also introduced him to some 90s classics Wayne's World, Bill and Ted.

[KindergartenKop]

I love Paddington but might be a bit babyish for him.

[absolutelynotfabulous]

School of Rock! Perhaps a bit old for an 8 year old, though.

[skylerwhite1]

OMG the Toy Story movies, loved each one, great for a wet/duvet day with the children

[RiverTam]

Star Wars
Possibly hobbit/LOTR, though I'm a stickler for these to be read first
Howls moving castle
Wizard of oz
Fantastic Mr fox

[kaymondo]

The how to train your dragon films, I love those and hoping for a third!

[MadameBabawic]

I also love watching a decent film with DD1 who is 8 - she really enjoyed Mrs Doubtfire at the weekend.

[kaymondo]

Also, from my childhood, I loved the wolves of willoughby chase - perhaps may be perceived as more of a girls film though.

[Newquay]

I find happy feet 2 works

[LoisEinhorn]

Wreck It Ralph

[ThatBloodyWoman]

Where the wild things are.
Reminds me just how good acid was.

[ALittleFaith]

The Emperor's New Groove

[Bogeyface]

Anything with minions in it!

[MsPavlichenko]

Jumanji!

[Tolivebythesea]

The Incredibles
Toy Story
Wizard of Oz
Ice Age
Cheaper by the dozen

[ladygracie]

Bedtime Stories
The Simpsons Movie
Those were the two I was always willing to watch with mine. There was another one but I can't remember what it was.
I quite liked Home recently.

[Poledra]

DH is a sucker for the Princess and the Frog, mostly for the choons


Have you tried any of the Studio Ghibli films (Ponyo, My Neighbour Totoro etc)? We stumbled across them when one of the TV channels did a season of them recently and they were something really quite different. My girls (6 to 11 years old) enjoyed them.

On another note, I hadn't realised you'd had your baby - congratulations!

[CheerfulYank]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! I'll check them out. Keep them coming! Especially old or not so well known ones, I love trying films I haven't heard of before :)

Thank you Poledra. I had a little boy called William about seven weeks ago. We are besotted with him. :)

I forgot about Studio Ghibli! We saw Totoro and really liked it.

[highlandcoo]

Big with Tom Hanks is one my kids really enjoyed and we liked too.

Furry Vengeance is really daft but funny.

[LucilleBluth]

The Diary of a Wimpy kid films actually make me laugh out loud. I love the older brother Roderick. The realtionship between the brothers is pretty spot on if you have boys.

[highlandcoo]

Oh, and Beethoven is good too.

[Bombaybunty]

We liked The Spiderwick Chronicles, right balance of funny and scary. Also enjoyed Zathura and Jumanji.
Mrs Doubtfire is entertaining.

[Scarzo]

To the excellent suggestions above, I'd also add Jurassic Park and Bridge to Terabithia.

[Seeline]

the original Railway Children
the original Charlie and the Chocolate factory
Mary Poppins
Babe

[tabulahrasa]

I loved the lego movie if he hasn't seen that.