Kids movie night - ideas please!

[SkankingWombat]

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?

Stardust, Bridge to Terebithia, Karate Kid, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Space Jam, Cool Runnings, Mighty Ducks, Steel Magnolias, Free Willy, My Girl…

Just thinking of movies I liked growing up, I can’t think what sort of age I was though, some of them a bit younger and some a lot older but I think that’s mainly based on when they came out (like Stardust didn’t see until I was a teenager but I reckon that’s child appropriate).

You have some great suggestions already but I would add The Descendants (brilliant premise - all the baddies from the Disney movies have been rounded up and live on an island and their children get a chance to go to the mainland and mix with the “good” characters). Also the recent Aladdin with Will Smith. Very funny. Back to the Future (might be a bit slow to get started and potentially confusing??), Parent Trap, Freaky Friday (both of these the remakes with Lindsay Lohan). A huge hit in our house - The 3 Amigos.

Old school suggestions

Splash
Big
Doubtfire

Rons Gone Wrong is the best film ever..... closely followed by Princess Bride

Drop dead Fred or California man for older films, both my absolute favourite when I was younger!

Cheaper by the dozen (plus sequel)
parent trap
princess bride
never ending story

Who framed roger rabbit is bloody scary 🤣

The Goonies is, um... of its time. Really quite problematic in a modern context?

What about The Princess Bride?

Thank you all!

Galaxy Quest is definitely being pitched to DD (who is picking what goes on the voting shortlist). I had forgotten about this film.
I will check out Gulliver's Travels too - I haven't seen that myself, but know it has Jack Black so should be pretty entertaining?

Jurassic Park has been a huge hit. My DCs have seen them all, but I suspect a couple of the party goers may find it a bit scary - the original is one of my favourite childhood films (and books) however I strongly suspect would be a 12 if released in today's market 😬

The very typically 'girly' films are definitely out unfortunately. The boys will be very quick to shoot those down!

The Roald Dahl films (old and new) they are all very familiar with, save the new Witches, as he was the subject of a class topic a couple of years ago.
Lemony Snicket was also a popular playground topic a while back, so guessing they'll have seen that.

There are a few more mentioned here I am not familiar with, so will do a little Googling!

My kids love jim Carrey, so Ace ventura (the second one is funnier) or the mask. My 10yo even enjoyed the truman show recently, but it's not very "partyish". George of the jungle is also a favourite. 90s Addams family, or Casper?

I would steer clear of my girl or bridge to terabithia unless you want a roomful of sobbing children on your hands!

Amazing suggestions.

All I can add is SING.

Not an old one but one mine always love.

We have watched a good number of these, as many have also been films I'd previously enjoyed, but they haven't seen Cool Runnings - that is also going into my pitch!

To the PP who said The Goonies is no longer appropriate to modern sensitivities - which parts? (I haven't seen it in at least 20 years)
There are so many 'classics' that haven't dated well, unfortunately. Big definitely comes into that category for me, and I'm still getting over how stuffing someone's head in the flames qualifies for a U rating in The Black Stallion, even if they are a baddie (another childhood favourite, but had utterly forgotten that part until it was happening with my 3 and 5yos sat next to me!). I'm fine with the laxer attitude to swearing/smoking/violence in old PGs generally, but there can sometimes be a slight iffiness about stereotypes, values, and relationships etc.

Newer ones they might not have seen:

Wish Dragon (2021; U; Netflix; 7.2 IMDB)
Abominable (2019; U; Prime; 7.0 IMDB)

Though possibly a bit young? My DS5 and DD7 both enjoyed them.

Or how about the Chronicles of Narnia?

Just what I was going to say. Showed it to ten year old DS who loved it.

Also possibly Labyrinth?

Agreed! My Girl is awesome, but I won't be picking it for exactly that reason. It is one of the few films that made me cry as a child. i haven't seen BtT, but will take your advice and avoid on this occasion.

Addams family is a good shout. Casper got abandoned when we tried watching it...

I loved Labyrinth. Then DCs discovered it, and loved it too. A brief moment existed when I was very happy we shared in the same joy. Now, if I ever see that film again, it will be too soon... It turns out it is only good the first 100 times you watch it! 😂😭

My niece and nephew, 21 and 23 picked the films last night and went for ice age, Madagascar and shriek. My girls have watched all on repeat today. I actually forget about those ones. Sort of nice and nephew childhood ones.

The Mighty Ducks!

Labyrinth

Oops, sorry x-posted!

Fly Away Home
Homeward Bound
101 Dalmatains from the 1990s

I second The Kid who would be King, great film for HP loving children, really good quality but didn't do very well on release so many children haven't seen.

School of Rock is great fun, my DD has also recently really got into studio ghibli films - spirited away, ponyo, my cousin Totoro etc (you can have them dubbed in English).

Willow (such a great movie, really stands up), any of the Back to the future films, Labyrinth, Indiana Jones, ET, Jurassic Park or even Jurassic Park 2, Karate Kid, Top Gun was a PG and might be fun as imagine some will have seen the newer version.

Holes. It's on YouTube

@BlueThursday this has just taken me straight back to my childhood!!! I had forgotten all about this film!!

Secret life of pets