Good child friendly films

[penfold]

I have a 4 & 7 year old who I've made the suggestion of going to the "cinema" as my 4 year old has never been. So we have promised them we will watch some kind of film complete with cinema experience at home. As such I am looking for something new to watch rather than watching a number of episodes of some kids TV.

 

They have watched Shrek, Frozen, Cars (youngest one didn't stay to watch it all). Also the lion king(cartoon one - although again the youngest one got scared at 1 part). So my question is, do you have any recommendations for something suitable for a 4 year old and would still be interesting enough for 7 year old? I do have some old DVD's but since becoming a parent I realise not all of them are 4 year old friendly.

 

I do have Netflix so if there is something on there you can recommend that would be good.

 

Thanks in advance

[Brimstone]

Inside Out

Soul

Moana

[Garacesh]

Into the Spider-Verse and How to Train your Dragon are both family-friendly films on Netflix.

 

They do both contain short death scenes, though, so whether that's appropriate for your 4 your old is your call. (Cut to little Gara watching The Lion King when I was younger.. RIP Mufasa!)

 

Edit: If you want something a bit more playful, I'm pretty sure the first Despicable Me is on Netflix, too, which is sans death scenes..

Edited January 19, 2021 by Garacesh

[bushby]

toy story

land before time

sword in the stone (disney)

maybe Casper

[LeMarchand]

Don't know what's on Netflix, but:

 

Kubo and the Two Strings

Both Paddingtons

[Pink_Panda]

Bolt was the first film I took my two to see in the cinema at the kids club on a Sunday morning, I think my youngest might have been 5? They also liked Mr Peabody and Sherman at that age.

[a_masters]

Moana

Sing

Zootropolis

Paddington

[chazzy2501]

where the wind blows, plague dogs, Watership down, tarka the otter, the ringing bell, barefoot gen, grave of the fireflys, the animals of farthing wood.

 

 

First Cinema movie for me was Ghostbusters. (1984 version)

[psydii]

Wolfwalkers

[ICTDirect_Dave]

Into the Spider-Verse and How to Train your Dragon are both family-friendly films on Netflix.

 

They do both contain short death scenes, though, so whether that's appropriate for your 4 your old is your call. (Cut to little Gara watching The Lion King when I was younger.. RIP Mufasa!)

 

Edit: If you want something a bit more playful, I'm pretty sure the first Despicable Me is on Netflix, too, which is sans death scenes..

 

How to Train your Dragon is ideal! my kids are a similar age gap and they both love these films.

 

Into the Spider Verse, though gorgeous and genuinely the best spider man film there is, should come with a warning for the younger child. There's a rather brutal death at the beginning.

 

It put my youngest off immediately..

[DalekSec]

My favourite films when i was that age were Star Wars (Original, all there was back then!) and the Italian Job!

[Dos_Box]

Hmm, that later Pixar stuff can be quite challenging for a 4 year old, I generally find the ealier stuff is better.

So, my suggestions:

 

Monsters Inc.

Spirited Away

Ghostbusters

Star Wars (original)

 

ETA: My Neighbour Totoro!

[BKGarry]

land before time

 

Not the first Land Before Time, they will be an emotional wreck when that scene happens.

 

Personally anything from the Disney Renassiance (1989 - 1999, Little Mermaid through to Tarzan) is usually a good shout.

[Ditto]

Lot's of good suggestions for films, so nothing to add on that front. What we found most powerful for staying the course with our two, was to ensure a good supply of popcorn was maintained throughout, adding to the authenticate cinema feel. They even managed to make the floor look like a cinema popcorn explosion by the end, so we had to play the usher part too! Also, have a couple of intermissions for 'comfort breaks' and drink refreshes. I did draw a line at arriving with a tray of ice-creams!

[3s-gtech]

Little ones seem to love the Cars films. The Star Wars prequels, despite or possibly because of their foibles, are usually well received!

[elsiegee40]

Some of the musicals are great for kids. My son was totally addicted to Grease from a very young age. If he was under the weather, he’d be on the sofa with his Winnie the Pooh and watching the video. I did remind him of this when he got Covid before Christmas.

 

My daughter loved, and still does, anything with good dance numbers... Grease, Seven brides for seven brothers, cats (original)...

[witch]

NOT Watership Down

 

The poor bunnies

[hardtailstar]

Madagascar!

 

Films are great. My niece and nephew love them.

 

I do too. So much so I quote too much from them!

[XiJ]

Madagascar is a good shout. In fact most stuff mentioned is great.

 

We love The Croods and the kids have from that age and still do now.

 

I still can’t watch when Darth Vader dies in the Lion King tho. Too upsetting.

[Pink_Panda]

Lot's of good suggestions for films, so nothing to add on that front. What we found most powerful for staying the course with our two, was to ensure a good supply of popcorn was maintained throughout, adding to the authenticate cinema feel. They even managed to make the floor look like a cinema popcorn explosion by the end, so we had to play the usher part too! Also, have a couple of intermissions for 'comfort breaks' and drink refreshes. I did draw a line at arriving with a tray of ice-creams!

 

LOL that did reminded me, first time in the cinema we actually must have spent more time in the toilets! They seemed very appealing for some reason.

[simpsonj]

grave of the fireflys,

 

Not sure I would recommend this for a 4 year old, whilst an absolutely beautiful film, it is also utterly morose and fairly depressing. As mentioned before, My Neighbour Totoro would be a better Studio Ghibli pick

 

Otherwise the Winnie the Pooh films are good for kids, as is the Minion movie which is on Netflix.

[elsiegee40]

Otherwise the Winnie the Pooh films are good for kids,

 

My claim to fame is falling asleep during The Tigger Movie at the cinema. It is not the most riveting plot going.

[penfold]

Thanks all. I think I saw how to train your dragon on netflix at some point so I'm going to look for that. In fact I told them last night I was going to get a cinema listing and times so they could pick what they want to watch I also have Paddington which was a present from a year ago but I read it could be a little scary for a young child as it has someone chasing paddington and stuff him?

 

Anyway, lots of good suggestions and I do have some of those films on DVD so they can have a choice Thanks

[psydii]

where the wind blows, plague dogs, Watership down, tarka the otter, the ringing bell, barefoot gen, grave of the fireflys, the animals of farthing wood.

 

 

First Cinema movie for me was Ghostbusters. (1984 version)

 

Ghostbusters is terrifying to most <10 years olds. As for the others! You sir, have emotional fortitude that I lack. I'm traumatised just reading that list.

[LeMarchand]

I also have Paddington which was a present from a year ago but I read it could be a little scary for a young child as it has someone chasing paddington and stuff him?

 

That is the villain's intent (Nicole Kidman), but it's nothing compared to all of @chazzy2501's suggestions! Though now you mention it, one upset child had to be escorted out of the cinema when Paddington is sent to prison in the second film.