Everyone loves to watch a classic. However, what we consider "classic movies" may be a very different kettle of fish to our children.
For us, the likes of The Sound of Music and The Wizard of Oz were considered our parent's generation of family movies. Nowadays, however, as much as we hate to admit it, movies from the '80s and '90s are now considered classics. Times are a-changing, and we've all gotten older.
So, if you've had to sit through hours of Peppa Pig, Frozen, and Paw Patrol, then here are some family movies from before their time that they'll wholeheartedly enjoy. And you'll get to introduce them to classics more in-tune to your own childhood too.
Matilda (Netflix & Amazon Prime)
Nothing says family movie night more than Matilda. Based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name, the story follows a young girl who discovers a magical ability that comes in handy when dealing with her dastardly family and her horrifying headmaster, Trunchbull. Oh, and when she wants to make pancakes too.
Jumanji (Sky Cinema & NOW TV)
A classic starring the late, great Robin Williams. Jumanji sees the actor play Alan, a young boy who is sucked into a board game, only to be released years later after the game is discovered by two children. But in order to rid the world of swarms of monkeys, giant spiders, and all manner of anarchy, he and his fellow players must finish the board game once and for all.
Richie Rich (Netflix)
Ah, the '90s were a great decade for family comedies. And one young actor who stole our hearts throughout the decade was Macaulay Culkin. In Richie Rich, he plays a young son to wealthy parents but struggles to make any friends due to his status. The movie teaches the valuable lesson of not judging people by how they look (and that there's always someone out there who wants to steal your well-earned cash!).
The Mighty Ducks (Disney+)
Quack, quack, quack! The Mighty Ducks follows that age-old recipe for success in a movie based on sport; a coach gets assigned to a sports team, who are doing terribly, they go through lots of ups and downs (and training montages), before finally being at the top of their game by the very end. A heartwarming franchise, all three of The Mighty Ducks movies are available on Disney+.
Madeline (Netflix)
Another film adaptation from a children's book, this time written by Ludwig Bemelmans. In the movie which is based in Paris, we meet a young orphan girl named Madeline, who has a positive outlook on life and a tendency to wander off on her own. The late '90s hit is the perfect afternoon watch for you and your little ones on a cold, winters day.
The Muppets Take Manhattan (Sky Cinema & NOW TV)
If you haven't introduced your children to the likes of Kermit the Frog, Gonzo, Fozzie Bear, and of course Miss Piggy, then The Muppets Take Manhattan is the perfect jumping-off point. In this movie, the mad-cap puppets plan on making it big on Broadway, only to find out that things don't often turn out as they had planned...
Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (Netflix)
Definitely the oldest title on our list by a good few years, this is based on Roald Dahl's classic tale from 1964. Prepare for them to gasp as Wonka leads the families into the chocolate mixing room as their first stop. The little ones will love the madness of it all.
Homeward Bound (Disney+)
And finally, our list wouldn't be the same if we didn't include this trio of talking animals, which your children will adore. Homeward Bound follows the hectic lives of two dogs and a cat (Chance, Shadow, and Sassy) who believe that they've been left abandoned by their owners. And so, they embark on a perilous voyage home which is full of jokes, gags, and unexpected mountain lions!
