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WW2 films for ten year old

10 replies

Thirtysomething123 · 14/09/2025 12:58

Dd(10) is learning about works war two at school and is fascinated! We planned to watch a film this afternoon and I was thinking I could show her a war themed one.
What films are good for this age that are related to World War Two? Thank you

*edited to add: she has seen Goodnight mr Tom, railway children and Nanny McPhee x

OP posts:
CrownCoats · 14/09/2025 12:59

Goodnight Mr Tom.

KnickerlessFlannel · 14/09/2025 13:00

Goodnight Mr Tom

Needmorelego · 14/09/2025 13:11

Definitely Goodnight Mr Tom.
Definitely NOT Boy in the Striped Pyjamas because it's a terrible film.

Needmorelego · 14/09/2025 13:13

Hope and Glory is good.
There's one brief sex scene where you don't see anything but probably ok for a 10 year old.

Tutorpuzzle · 14/09/2025 13:40

I absolutely love the book ‘The Machine Gunners’ by Robert Westall, and think it should be required reading for KS2. A series of the book, filmed in the 80’s, is on YouTube. I’ve not seen it, so can’t say how good (or not!) it might be..but might be worth a go.

WateringCans · 14/09/2025 13:41

Tutorpuzzle · 14/09/2025 13:40

I absolutely love the book ‘The Machine Gunners’ by Robert Westall, and think it should be required reading for KS2. A series of the book, filmed in the 80’s, is on YouTube. I’ve not seen it, so can’t say how good (or not!) it might be..but might be worth a go.

My son loved that book. Def recommend

DisplayPurposesOnly · 14/09/2025 13:42

You've got two threads on this:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/films/5410395-ww2-films-for-10-year-old-dd?reply=147134519

MargaretThursday · 14/09/2025 14:00

Are you looking for "family life in WWII" or films made about the war?

For family life, there's quite a few that touch on the war but don't make it the focus:

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe obviously starts with a war.
Bedknobs and Broomsticks the children have been evacuated
And there's also the 1940s house which I think you can get on You-Tube which was one of those BBC following a modern family trying out 1940s life, ditto I think there's a WWII version of the farming one too.
The Sound of Music
Hope and Glory
The Book Thief
Or you could look at Dad's Army

Ds was majorly into WWII and watched a lot of war films by 10yo. It depends on whether she'll be a sensitive to the fighting side.
Great Escape
Sink the Bismark
Dambusters
The Wooden Horse
Reach for the Skies (Douglas Bader story)
Biggles Film (Ds said it was pretty rubbish, but that may be just it wasn't like the books)
Eagle has landed (don't think this is suitable for a 10yo though)
The Longest Day

Or if you're more looking for a documentary, ds found the History Channel did loads that he found fascinating.
They're done in a breathy voice with lots of repetition "and the 4.1 lb missile speeds towards the deck of the Prince of Wales, armed only with 1.2 calibre..." <ad break> "and the 4.1 lb missile speeds towards the deck of the Prince of Wales, armed only with 1.2 calibre..." so very accessible. Ds watched the Bismark one on repeat pretty much when he was 5 or 6yo.

mumofoneAloneandwell · 14/09/2025 14:01

CrownCoats · 14/09/2025 12:59

Goodnight Mr Tom.

My all-time fave book

And the film was just as good

Yellowview · 14/09/2025 14:43

The railway children return is good.

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