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?

For old school I'd definitely recommend Jumanji...absolutely a huge hit with my 3 DC when we watched it last year. (9 yo twins and an 11 yo)

Home? It's on Netflix. A group of 11yo boys wanted to watch this at a recent sleepover here. Female protagonist though, cute cat and weird alien race.

@skanking wombat
I watched The Goonies a couple of years ago when mine were a similar age and was shocked, it wasn't how I remembered it! Loads of swearing from the kids in the film and an episode of upskirting... definitely avoid.

Sorry, @SkankingWombat I meant! ⬆️

You can’t go wrong with Shrek- appeals to all ages.
Descendants is good.

how about the zombies films on Disney plus- I really enjoyed them. Perfect for that age too.

A 90s classic for me is Quest for Camelot- knights, dragons and awesome songs.

As others have said, they're likely to have seen many of the recent hits already, and if their parents are of a similar age to you, they've probably seen a lot of 80s/90s classics too. I think your best bet is the sweet spot of the 00s - their parents likely won't have seen the kids' films from that decade, and the party guests themselves weren't even born then.

Otherwise, how about Ferris Bueller, Life of Pi, Stormboy, Wonder, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Edward Scissorhands, Napoleon Dynamite or Forrest Gump?

Don't choose Watership Down, despite its PG certificate - it's quite disturbing!

Commonsense Media has comprehensive film reviews. They tend to be fairly conservative, but that's probably a good thing when you're choosing for other people's kids who you don't know very well.

Yes! This is a great film (and an even better book)

Home alone movies usually go down really well you could see if there are any they haven’t seen?

wimpy kid movies or home

I've not heard of The Kid Who Would Be King, but that also sounds like it would appeal to all if it's Potter-esque. I will research!

OK, Goonies is out then!

DD is currently reading Watership Down, so that film is on ice until she's finished it 😬 I have it sitting in a pile of DVDs ready and waiting to traumatise the next generation 😂 (the film is far more upsetting than the book IMO!)

Yes, we often use Common Sense Media as a loose guide, but do find it a bit inconsistent, ultra conservative in some parts and not always particularly helpful/accurate.

Big
Turner and hooch
Lyle Lyle Crocodile
Clifford the big red dog

Second

Mega mind and school or rock

School of Rock?