A good era for the classic portrayals of youth ( The 400 Blows), face-melting action ( Raiders of the Lost Ark), and romance ( Romeo & Juliet). Don’t miss out on epic quests ( Star Wars), wish fulfillment ( Home Alone), and dazzling fantasies ( Spirited Away).Īges 10-12: The magic window, the time in life when movies can move and change tweens, and stick for the rest of time. Here we feature colorful classics ( The Wizard of Oz), fun adventures ( Chicken Run), and tales as old as time ( Beauty and the Beast).Īges 6-9: As more time is devoted to school and outside life, movies become more of an escape, and their power to transport starts to become apparent. So, we separated the movies in suggested age categories:Īges 1-5: Kids may not actively recall everything from this age, but a good baseline is fundamental in developing a healthy appetite for movies. While all these movies are classics and can be seen at any age, some have stronger themes than others that would play better during upper years. These are not just great children’s movies, but movies that play well for the curious and growing mind. Looking to enrich your kid’s viewing habits? Or if you’re under 13 yourself, love movies, and you want to watch some of the best ever made, take it from us when we list 50 Essential Movies For Kids! By preaching acceptance and questioning gender, the companys kids films offer a queer-studies crash course.
(Many of the 2 to 4 percent of people who identify as LGBT report knowing that they were as children. Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection MGM.) 50 Essential Movies For Kids The Curiosity of Chance (2006) 98 min Comedy 6.5 Rate A confident, out-of-the-closet gay teenager has the support of an eclectic range of friends while dealing with a homophobic bully during his first year at an international high school. Its Not Just Frozen: Most Disney Movies Are Pro-Gay. That pain may partly explain why gay youth try to take their own lives four times as often as their heterosexual peers, according to The Trevor Project, an organization that runs a 24-hour helpline and an online community for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) kids.
Thumbnail image: 20th Century Fox Film Corp. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Ilze Kitshoff / Netflix. (Photo by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection. The 5 Best Family-Friendly Movies for Kids on Netflix Right Now.