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Your favorite childhood movies will be your kid’s favorite, too

Want to rewatch your beloved childhood movies? Grab your kid and revisit these nostalgic films

By
Family watching a movie together for a family fun night
Evgeny Atamanenko / Shutterstock

We all have a soft spot in our hearts for the movies we were raised on. We grew up on those films and they helped shape the adult version of ourselves more than we might want to admit. These are the childhood movies that you have to watch with your little human that will show them the value of family and friendship and that kindness is always the right choice.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
100m
Genre
Family, Fantasy, Comedy
Stars
Gene Wilder, Peter Ostrum, Jack Albertson
Directed by
Mel Stuart
Watch on amazon-prime-video
No pure imagination needed to learn to stick together as a family in hard times or to stand up for what is right when no one else will. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is full of life lessons that are perfect for kids of various ages.
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The Brave Little Toaster (1987)

The Brave Little Toaster
90m
Genre
Fantasy, Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family, Music
Stars
Jon Lovitz, Timothy Stack, Phil Hartman
Directed by
Jerry Rees
Watch on amazon-prime-video
The Brave Little Toaster helps us embrace change when it seems scary and lets us know that our loved ones will always find a way to be in our lives, while letting us know there’s always a place where we belong.

My Girl (1991)

My Girl
103m
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Macaulay Culkin, Anna Chlumsky, Dan Aykroyd
Directed by
Howard Zieff
Watch on amazon-prime-video

My Girl made us all cry when it came out, but it touches on topics that still hold up today. The loss of a loved one and the relationship between a child and parent are beautifully told.

And, if you have a preteen or young teen in the house, it’s a good movie to open up a dialogue about romantic relationships in an age-appropriate way.

Hocus Pocus (1993)

Hocus Pocus
96m
Genre
Fantasy, Comedy, Family
Stars
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy
Directed by
Kenny Ortega
Watch on amazon-prime-video
The most famed witches of all time might not have always been in the right when running amok, but they did always have each other’s backs. Hocus Pocus shows how siblings stand up for each other in all kinds of ways. It’s also filled with great one-liners to use year-around.

Jumanji (1995)

Jumanji
104m
Genre
Adventure, Fantasy, Family
Stars
Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, Bradley Pierce
Directed by
Joe Johnston
Watch on amazon-prime-video
Kids wonder what it would be like to live in a board game or have a game come to life. Not only does Jumanji let children see that happen, but there’s a sibling bond story that comes through nicely. It’s a good story about second chances and that it’s never too late to do the right thing.

The Sandlot (1993)

The Sandlot
101m
Genre
Family, Comedy
Stars
Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Patrick Renna
Directed by
David Mickey Evans
Watch on amazon-prime-video
Not only one of the best movies about childhood friendships and how easy life was in those old summer days, The Sandlot shows your children that your tribe is out there and will help you get through life for-ev-er.

The Iron Giant (1999)

The Iron Giant
86m
Genre
Family, Animation, Science Fiction, Drama
Stars
Vin Diesel, Eli Marienthal, Jennifer Aniston
Directed by
Brad Bird
Watch on amazon-prime-video
Animated movies really know how to emotionally punch you in the gut. The Iron Giant shows us that friends come in all shapes, sizes, and species, and every one of them is worth standing up for. It tells the tale that we shouldn’t judge someone by how they look.

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
90m
Genre
Adventure, Comedy, Science Fiction
Stars
Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, George Carlin
Directed by
Stephen Herek
Watch on amazon-prime-video
No movie taught us to be excellent to each other like Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. The film shows us that life gets difficult, but we’ll get through it if we have the right friends there to support us while we party on.

No matter what season it is or what age your kiddo is, these films will make everyone feel good by the time the end credits roll. They go straight for the heart and show friends and family coming together to get you through life. Take a stroll down memory lane with these nostalgic movies that your offspring should watch at least once.

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