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Kids movie night - ideas please!

65 replies

SkankingWombat · 04/06/2023 19:52

My daughter is having a movie night for her birthday this Friday. Has anyone got a suggestion for a film they are unlikely to have seen? They will all be 9yo, there is a mix of boys and girls, and it needs to be rated PG. We have Netflix, Prime, and Disney+ subscriptions, but I have time to get a DVD if needed. In a perfect world, I would have a shortlist of 3 the DCs could vote on on the night.
I'm thinking going Old School might be the way to go to ensure it is something all/most won't have seen? My DC has already seen a number of 80s & 90s classics, and it wouldn't be the end of the world if she has to rewatch a film, but I've noticed a good number from that era are slow-starters (compared with recent films) which can cause restlessness if you aren't used to the format. To add to my indecision, I suspect a good number of 'U' and 'PG' films of yore would be rated higher now - I don't want angry parents or DCs with nightmares!

The birthday girl (who is allowed to watch a number of '12' films, depending on why they are a 12) has already seen and enjoyed all of the HPs, Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, Marvel films (not any rated over 12), Night at the Museum, Home Alone, Indiana Jones, and Mighty Ducks films. She's seen a number of others too such as Beethoven and Batteries Not Included.

Any ideas? Would The Goonies be OK as one of the picks?

OP posts:
SophieHope7 · 04/06/2023 19:54

School of Rock?

Thesunwillcomeoutverysoon · 04/06/2023 19:56

Omg Paddington 1 and 2 are fab!
Prob do watch them more than ds 8 tbh...
Peter Rabbit 1 and 2 are good too!

BlueThursday · 04/06/2023 19:59

Mac and me?

SkankingWombat · 04/06/2023 20:00

SophieHope7 Good suggestion! DD has seen it, but I suspect a good number of the others won't have! I will pop it onto the my ideas list, thank you 🙂

We have weekly family movie nights, with a few extra ones during school hols, so it feels a bit like we've already played a number of ace cards 😩 I suspect it will be impossible to find something no one has seen.

OP posts:
Indiaplain · 04/06/2023 20:07

The Wimpy Kid films are funny and easy to get into if there are lots of excitable kids ?

The goonies is great but there's some swearing if that's an issue.

SkankingWombat · 04/06/2023 20:13

BlueThursday · 04/06/2023 19:59

Mac and me?

Ooo, I'm not familiar with this: shall research!

We've seen both Paddingtons & PRs, but thinking they might be classed as a bit 'young' with DCs who are quite heavily into HP and similar?

OP posts:
angelopal · 04/06/2023 20:16

Percy Jackson and the lightening thief. Though if you have read the book they change quite a few things.

BlueThursday · 04/06/2023 20:19

SkankingWombat · 04/06/2023 20:13

Ooo, I'm not familiar with this: shall research!

We've seen both Paddingtons & PRs, but thinking they might be classed as a bit 'young' with DCs who are quite heavily into HP and similar?

It’s like a rip off ET and from what I remember it was so bad it was good 🤣

loveisstrange · 04/06/2023 20:21

Lemony snicket a series of unfortunate events
Gullivers travels (jack black one)
The railway children return

WeKnowFrogsGoShaLaLaLaLa · 04/06/2023 20:24

Whenever I show a film at school, (which is very rarely these days) I always go with something older - Honey I shrunk the kids/blew up the baby. Space camp. Neverending story. Flight of the navigator. Who framed Roger rabbit. Hook.

There is never a single kid who's seen it, and they always love it!

Cathpot · 04/06/2023 20:25

Galaxy quest always went down well when our kids were that age and most haven’t seen it. Also Zathura which is a similar plot to jumanji and very well done, again it’s older so might be new to them. Finally offering would be Treasure Planet which is animated - really good film, based loosely on treasure island story, really enjoyable.

ghostbusters · 04/06/2023 20:31

Recent suggestions : Mitchell Versus the Machines. Ron's Gone Wrong. Dr Doo little work Robert Downy Jr (though might include a few swears).

What about the original Willy Wonka with Gene Wilder? Or animated films like Dumbo, 101 Dalmatians, Snow White etc?

honeyy123 · 04/06/2023 20:35

Daddy day care lots of laughs

NuffSaidSam · 04/06/2023 20:36

Jumanji (the original one)

Jurassic Park (probably too scary!)

Matilda (the original one)

Nim's Island

Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Annie

MinnieEgg · 04/06/2023 20:39

WeKnowFrogsGoShaLaLaLaLa · 04/06/2023 20:24

Whenever I show a film at school, (which is very rarely these days) I always go with something older - Honey I shrunk the kids/blew up the baby. Space camp. Neverending story. Flight of the navigator. Who framed Roger rabbit. Hook.

There is never a single kid who's seen it, and they always love it!

I agree. You need something that's just been released that day or something old. I once had Bugsy Malone.

lavagal · 04/06/2023 20:40

The goonies!

runforyourdog · 04/06/2023 20:42

Jurassic Park is a PG and a classic!! My 6 year old has seen it but 8 year old is terrified.. but she is also scared of bambi!

HooolaHoop · 04/06/2023 20:42

My kids loved the original Adventures in Babysitting, mainly because of the line ‘don’t fuck with the babysitter’. Hadn’t realised that was in there! 🤣 There is also a remake which they also enjoyed and no bad language.

Daisy95 · 04/06/2023 20:44

What about films like princess diaries 1&2? Or classics like high school musicals? or ella enchanted?

HamstersAreMyLife · 04/06/2023 20:46

Hook was a huge success recently for us with 10 and 8 year olds, it is a slower start though and, frankly, the fame of the actors is wasted on the kids mostly

kikisparks · 04/06/2023 20:47

Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers on Disney plus is really good! It sounds childish from the title but it’s a bit like who framed roger rabbit.

At a similar age I loved Dracula: Dead and Loving It but apparently it’s a really bad film 🤣 I didn’t notice! I also like Robin Hood Men in Tights.

School of Rock also popped into my head. Night at the Museum, Cheaper by the Dozen.

Princess Diaries and Ella Enchanted are good but might not appeal to the boys.

ReeseWitherfork · 04/06/2023 20:48

Princess Bride?

Baboutheocelot · 04/06/2023 20:52

The BFG (the most recent one not the old cartoon one)
The kid who would be king

HomeB · 04/06/2023 20:52

Simpsons movie

KissKissMollysLips · 04/06/2023 20:54

My two loved Uncle Buck (7 and 8), but there is a fair amount of swearing 😬 if you’re chilled, it might be one for the family as an aside to the party 😂

Someone recommended Nacho Libre to us recently when we made a request for family friendly films