What to watch with a child besides “Harry Potter”
The Boy Who Lived, the adventures of hobbits, Disney cartoons and feature films based on them—what to do if your child has already seen all of these five times? We’ve compiled our own list of great movies for all ages that not only children and parents will enjoy, but will also be beneficial for them.
Die unendliche Geschichte
1984 / Documentary Film / USA, Germany
Ten-year-old Bastian, whose mother recently passed away, finds a magical book and enters the land of Fantasia to learn how to dream again. This heartwarming tale features the best dragon in the world, who can’t fly but brings good luck, and special effects from before the computer era.
Wonka
2023 / Comedy, Adventure, Musical, Fantasy, Family Film / USA, Canada, United Kingdom
A young man named Willy Wonka returns from distant travels to the city where the best chocolate is made, aiming to impress everyone with his mother’s recipe and magical additions to the sweets. However, the local manufacturers do not welcome a competitor, and a small chocolate bean guardian from the Oompa-Loompa people tries to foil all of Wonka’s plans in order to return to his homeland. This vibrant and heartwarming film starring Timothée Chalamet shows that friendship and dreams always triumph.
Paddington
2014 / Comedy, Adventure, Animation / USA, United Kingdom, France
An orphaned bear cub from Darkest Peru arrives in London and, after many adventures, finds a true family. Both parts of this tale are British cinema at its best: funny, sometimes sad, with wonderful actors and a very charming bear you can’t help but root for. The sequel was released in 2017, and it is also highly recommended!
Beasts of the Southern Wild
2012 / Drama, Adventure, Fantasy / USA
Six-year-old Hushpuppy and her father, Wink, live happily along the Louisiana coast until Wink receives a terminal diagnosis. Now, the girl must survive on her own, find her mother, all while facing melting ice caps and the return of prehistoric aurochs to Earth. One of the best independent American films, it’s great to watch with a child and discuss life and death afterward.
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial
1982 / Family Film / USA
NASA researchers scare off a flying saucer, and the visitors hastily depart, leaving one of their own behind on Earth. The extraterrestrial guest is found by a boy named Elliot, who introduces him to his brother and sister—and now they all together seek a way to help E.T. return home. This touching story from Steven Spielberg must be watched in childhood to understand the value of kindness, which helps even completely different beings understand and love each other.
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
2010 / Adventure, Family Film, Action
For centuries, the sorcerer Balthazar has been searching for a successor to his teacher, the Great Merlin, to defeat the evil sorceress Morgana and free his beloved Veronica. Eventually, in modern-day New York, he discovers a physics student named Dave Stutler, who doesn’t believe in magic at all—but nevertheless, after numerous trials, discovers his own magical gift. A delightful duo of Nicolas Cage and Jay Baruchel, stunning special effects, and the power of science against evil.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
2000 / Comedy, Fantasy, Family Film / USA, Germany
Ron Howard directed a fairy-tale film about the adventures of a green misanthrope who despises holidays the most—because he has no one to celebrate them with. Of course, Christmas annoys the Grinch the most, so he decides to steal all the gifts and the Christmas tree from the neighboring little town. But his friendship with a little girl makes him reconsider his values—by the end of the movie, loneliness is replaced by love and the ability to respond with joy to joy.
Ella Enchanted
2004 / Comedy, Fantasy, Family Film / USA, United Kingdom, Ireland
A charming fairy-tale comedy about a girl named Ella, who is cursed with obedience: she will obey any command, no matter who gives it. Trying to break the spell, Ella sets out to find the fairy who cast it. Along the way, she meets a handsome prince and helps him defeat a terrible usurper. In this beautiful and romantic story starring Anne Hathaway and Hugh Dancy, there is also a deep moral: no one will free you from chains except yourself.
Nanny McPhee
2005 / Comedy, Fantasy, Family film
A handsome middle-aged widower is categorically unable to cope with his family of children. They have already gone through numerous nannies, and then the hero, played by Colin Firth, hires Nanny McPhee. He doesn’t yet know how much this will change his life. In this amusing tale, everything breathes old-fashioned England — costumes, manners, jokes, and the donkey dance, which Nanny McPhee turns into a young lady in need of upbringing.
Jumanji
1995 / Adventure, Family Film, Action / USA
Alan Parrish (Robin Williams) spent twenty years trapped inside a board game until he was accidentally freed by two teenagers. But it’s not as simple as it seems — they must finish the game to return home. A noisy, slightly crazy, and charming film where there are no easy solutions and guaranteed happy endings — just for that reason alone, “Jumanji” is worth showing to a child.
Mia et le lion blanc
2018 / Family Film / France
A girl named Mia moves to South Africa from London with her parents. Mia doesn’t like her new life at all until she finds a helpless white lion cub. Taming him, Mia is willing to do anything to save her friend from danger. This film will not only entertain young viewers but also teach them to love animals.
The Kid Who Would Be King
2019 / Adventure, Fantasy / USA
The teenage loser Alex unexpectedly pulls the sword from the stone, summoning the evil Morgana into the modern world. Now, as the heir to the legendary Arthur, he must join forces with his friends to defend the country. Behind the fairy-tale plot lies a story familiar to many children about school bullying and the challenges of peer relationships — and also about how popularity in class is not everything one can dream of.
Short Circuit
1986 / Comedy, Family Film / USA
A military robot is struck by lightning, gains consciousness, and escapes from a military base into a big city. There, it manages to befriend a young man and his girlfriend. Named Johnny 5, the robot now possesses the intellect of both a genius and a child; he is kind and knows nothing about the world around him. Meanwhile, his former owners want to turn him back into a mindless war machine. “Short Circuit” is a precursor to “Wall-E”, a touching and kind science fiction film that remains enjoyable to watch even today.
Lassie
2005 / Comedy, Drama, Adventure / USA, United Kingdom, France, Ireland
A family from a poor mining town couldn’t afford to feed their collie named Lassie and sold her to a wealthy lord. He transports the dog to his castle, but Lassie, longing for home, escapes along the way to return to her beloved owners. Beautiful landscapes, excellent music, and a story of loyalty that money can’t buy make “Lassie” the perfect children’s film.
Flora & Ulysses
2020 / Comedy, Adventure, Family Film / USA
Little Flora adores comic books about superheroes and feels very disappointed when she realizes they don’t exist in real life. However, one day Flora meets her hero — and it turns out to be… a squirrel. Ulysses, just as small as Flora herself, is capable of incredible things. A non-traditional take on the superhero plot — and a story that emphasizes the importance of friendship over the ability to fly.
Pokémon Detective Pikachu
2019 / Adventure, Fantasy, Family Film, Animated / USA, Japan
Private detective Harry Goodman disappears without a trace, leaving his son to figure out why. To help the young man, detective Pikachu — a yellow monster from a video game wearing a Sherlock Holmes hat — comes to his aid. This mysterious story with impressive special effects is dedicated not so much to mysterious villains as to the relationships between parents and children.
Casper
1995 / Comedy, Fantasy, Family Film / USA
A little friendly ghost named Casper is unlike his peers. He doesn’t want to scare people; he wants to be friends. Finally, an inventor moves into the house with his little daughter, Kat. They and Casper form a great team to figure out why there are so many ghosts in the house. In Brad Silberling’s film, humor and sadness are organically combined, capable of touching any heart.
Gremlins
1984 / Comedy, Fantasy, Horror / USA
The fluffy and intelligent creature called a Mogwai is simply charming. But there are exactly three problems with it: it can die in sunlight, it must not be exposed to water, and it should never be fed after midnight. One day, a Mogwai falls into the hands of young Billy, who breaks the last two rules. As a result, the house is overrun by Gremlins — mischievous creatures that are nearly impossible to get rid of. The film is perfect for teenagers: moderately bloody, funny, and sentimental at the same time.
Slumberland
2022 / Comedy, Adventure, Fantasy, Family Film / USA
The young Nemo grows up on a lighthouse where her father works as a caretaker. He dies in an accident, and Nemo is taken in by her uncle. One day, she finds a map of the mysterious Dreamland and sets off to find her father there. A very simple, lyrical, and colorful film by Francis Lawrence, with Jason Momoa in one of the roles, tells the story of how to reconcile with tragedy, let go of what’s lost forever, and start living again.
Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium
2007 / Comedy, Fantasy, Family Film
When Molly Mahoney inherits a magical toyshop, it quickly turns into the gloomiest place on earth. Molly is depressed, and to save her business, she must rediscover joy in life. The film stars Natalie Portman and Dustin Hoffman and serves as the best illustration that emotional pain cannot be overcome with a snap of the fingers. It requires the help of many people, especially those closest to us.