Movies I wish I had as a Kid
These are movies that I think would've positively impacted my life growing up and thus should be shown to kids (according to my own parental discretion)
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- DirectorJoel CrawfordJanuel MercadoStarsAntonio BanderasSalma HayekHarvey GuillénWhen Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for adventure has taken its toll and he has burned through eight of his nine lives, he launches an epic journey to restore them by finding the mythical Last Wish.A lesson in understanding what it means to value your life
- DirectorDomee ShiStarsRosalie ChiangSandra OhAva MorseA thirteen-year-old girl named Mei Lee is torn between staying her mother's dutiful daughter and the changes of adolescence. And as if the challenges were not enough, whenever she gets overly excited she transforms into a giant red panda.A lesson in acceptance of your reality.
- DirectorMike NawrockiStarsMike NawrockiPhil VischerHenry HaggardA long time ago, in a land flowing with beards and kilts, there lived two clans who were locked in a longstanding feud! The tribes plotted against each other with various pranks, including water balloon ambushes, bad haircuts, and a host of other hijinks! When a stinky cheese caper goes afoul, the two clans must learn to work together and resolve their differences for good.
- DirectorWes AndersonStarsGeorge ClooneyMeryl StreepBill MurrayAn urbane fox cannot resist returning to his farm raiding ways and then must help his community survive the farmers' retaliation.
- DirectorChris WilliamsStarsKarl UrbanZaris-Angel HatorJared HarrisWhen a young girl stows away on the ship of a legendary sea monster hunter, they launch an epic journey into uncharted waters - and make history to boot.A lesson in admitting when you're wrong.
- DirectorAdam ShankmanStarsAdam SandlerKeri RussellCourteney CoxA hotel handyman's life changes when the lavish bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew start to magically come true.
- DirectorJohn HamburgStarsBen StillerJennifer AnistonDebra MessingA buttoned-up newlywed finds his strictly organized life descend into chaos when he falls in love with an old classmate.
- DirectorRob LettermanStarsJack BlackEmily BluntJason SegelTravel writer Lemuel Gulliver takes an assignment in Bermuda but ends up on the island of Lilliput, where he towers over its tiny citizens.
- DirectorPeter CattaneoStarsRainn WilsonJosh GadChristina ApplegateIn the 1980s, a drummer is abandoned by his band just before they become rock superstars. Twenty years later, the drummer sees his second chance at stardom arise when he is asked to perform with his teenage nephew's high school rock band.A lesson in letting go of grudges.
- DirectorGuillermo del ToroMark GustafsonStarsEwan McGregorDavid BradleyGregory MannA father's wish magically brings a wooden boy to life in Italy, giving him a chance to care for the child.
- DirectorDuwayne DunhamStarsDebbie ReynoldsKimberly J. BrownJudith HoagWhen a young girl living with her secret witch mother learns she too is a witch, she must help her witch grandmother save Halloweentown from evil forces.
- CreatorKatie KrentzPatrick McHaleStarsElijah WoodCollin DeanMelanie LynskeyTwo brothers find themselves lost in a mysterious land and try to find their way home.
- DirectorKenny OrtegaStarsBette MidlerSarah Jessica ParkerKathy NajimyA teenage boy named Max and his little sister move to Salem, where he struggles to fit in before awakening a trio of diabolical witches that were executed in the 17th century.
- DirectorBrian LevantStarsJackie ChanAmber VallettaBilly Ray CyrusFormer C.I.A. spy Bob Ho takes on his toughest assignment to date: looking after his girlfriend's three kids, who haven't exactly warmed to their mom's beau.
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsJohnny DeppFreddie HighmoreDavid KellyCharlie, a young boy from an impoverished family, and four other kids win a tour of an amazing chocolate factory run by an imaginative chocolatier, Willy Wonka, and his staff of Oompa-Loompas.
- DirectorWes AndersonStarsJared GilmanKara HaywardBruce WillisTwo 12-year-olds, who live on an island, fall in love with each other and elope into the wilderness. While people set out on a search mission, a violent storm approaching them catches their attention.
- DirectorMark OsborneJohn StevensonStarsJack BlackIan McShaneAngelina JolieTo everyone's surprise, including his own, Po, an overweight, clumsy panda, is chosen as protector of the Valley of Peace. His suitability will soon be tested as the valley's arch-enemy is on his way.The best lesson in over-coming self doubt ever!
- DirectorJared BushByron HowardCharise Castro SmithStarsStephanie BeatrizMaría Cecilia BoteroJohn LeguizamoA Colombian teenage girl has to face the frustration of being the only member of her family without magical powers.
- DirectorPeyton ReedStarsJim CarreyZooey DeschanelBradley CooperA man challenges himself to say "yes" to everything.
- DirectorMel BrooksStarsGene WilderMadeline KahnMarty FeldmanAn American grandson of the infamous scientist, struggling to prove that his grandfather was not as insane as people believe, is invited to Transylvania, where he discovers the process that reanimates a dead body.
- DirectorRalph BakshiStarsBob HoltJesse WellesRichard RomanusOn a post-apocalyptic Earth, a wizard and his faire folk comrades fight an evil wizard who's using technology in his bid for conquest.
- DirectorEnrico CasarosaStarsJacob TremblayJack Dylan GrazerEmma BermanOn the Italian Riviera, an unlikely but strong friendship grows between a human being and a sea monster disguised as a human.Dont be afraid to be different
- DirectorMichael RiandaJeff RoweStarsAbbi JacobsonDanny McBrideMaya RudolphA quirky, dysfunctional family's road trip is upended when they find themselves in the middle of the robot apocalypse and suddenly become humanity's unlikeliest last hope.A wonderful tale of getting along with your disjointed family.
- DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsHitoshi TakagiNoriko HidakaChika SakamotoWhen two girls move to the country to be near their ailing mother, they have adventures with the wondrous forest spirits who live nearby.
- DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsDaveigh ChaseSuzanne PleshetteMiyu IrinoDuring her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches and spirits, and where humans are changed into beasts.
- DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsCate BlanchettMatt DamonLiam NeesonA five-year-old boy develops a relationship with Ponyo, a young goldfish princess who longs to become a human after falling in love with him.
- DirectorPete DocterKemp PowersStarsJamie FoxxTina FeyGraham NortonJoe is a middle-school band teacher whose life hasn't quite gone the way he expected. His true passion is jazz. But when he travels to another realm to help someone find their passion, he soon discovers what it means to have soul.I think I would be less afraid of death, and more excited to live my life if I had this as a kid.
- DirectorRobert RodriguezStarsYaYa GosselinPedro PascalPriyanka Chopra JonasWhen alien invaders capture the Earth's superheroes, their kids must learn to work together to save their parents and the planet.Maybe the most inspirational out of the Robert Rodriguez kids movies.
- DirectorGlen KeaneJohn KahrsStarsGlen KeaneBrycen HallRuthie Ann MilesIn this animated musical, a girl builds a rocket ship and blasts off, hoping to meet a mythical moon goddess.I rarely if ever saw good chinese mythology representation in my childhood, this would've changed that.
- DirectorStephen ChboskyStarsJacob TremblayOwen WilsonIzabela VidovicBased on the New York Times bestseller, this movie tells the incredibly inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman, a boy with facial differences who enters the fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time.
- DirectorBob PersichettiPeter RamseyRodney RothmanStarsShameik MooreJake JohnsonHailee SteinfeldTeen Miles Morales becomes the Spider-Man of his universe and must join with five spider-powered individuals from other dimensions to stop a threat for all realities.
- DirectorPeter HowittStarsRowan AtkinsonJohn MalkovichNatalie ImbrugliaAfter a sudden attack on MI5, Johnny English, Britain's most confident, yet unintelligent spy, becomes Britain's only spy.
- DirectorOliver ParkerStarsRowan AtkinsonRosamund PikeDominic WestJohnny English goes up against international assassins hunting down Chinese Premier Xiang Ping.
- DirectorDavid KerrStarsRowan AtkinsonBen MillerOlga KurylenkoAfter a cyber-attack reveals the identity of all of the active undercover agents in Britain, Johnny English is forced to come out of retirement to find the mastermind hacker.
- DirectorKarey KirkpatrickJason ReisigStarsChanning TatumJames CordenZendayaHigh up on a mountain peak surrounded by clouds, a secret Yeti society lives in peace and harmony. One day, a Yeti witnesses an airplane crash; Inside lies "Smallfoot", a legendary creature that will rock the society to its core.
- DirectorWes AndersonStarsBryan CranstonKoyu RankinEdward NortonSet in Japan, Isle of Dogs follows a boy's odyssey in search of his lost dog.
- DirectorWill GluckStarsJames CordenFayssal BazziDomhnall GleesonA rabbit sneaks into a garden to steal food, and they get a new challenge with a new owner.
- DirectorDavid Mickey EvansStarsTom GuiryMike VitarArt LaFleurIn the summer of 1962, a new kid in town is taken under the wing of a young baseball prodigy and his rowdy team, resulting in many adventures.
- DirectorTom ShadyacStarsJim CarreyJennifer AnistonMorgan FreemanA whiny news reporter is given the chance to step into God's shoes.
- DirectorTom ShadyacStarsSteve CarellMorgan FreemanLauren GrahamGod contacts Congressman Evan Baxter and tells him to build an ark in preparation for a great flood.
- DirectorBrad BirdJan PinkavaStarsBrad GarrettLou RomanoPatton OswaltA rat who can cook makes an unusual alliance with a young kitchen worker at a famous Paris restaurant.
- DirectorAndrew AdamsonVicky JensonStarsMike MyersEddie MurphyCameron DiazA mean lord exiles fairytale creatures to the swamp of a grumpy ogre, who must go on a quest and rescue a princess for the lord in order to get his land back.
- DirectorDon HallChris WilliamsStarsRyan PotterScott AdsitJamie ChungA special bond develops between plus-sized inflatable robot Baymax and prodigy Hiro Hamada, who together team up with a group of friends to form a band of high-tech heroes.
- DirectorPhil LordChristopher MillerStarsChris PrattWill FerrellElizabeth BanksAn ordinary LEGO construction worker, thought to be the prophesied as "special", is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil tyrant from gluing the LEGO universe into eternal stasis.
- DirectorRawson Marshall ThurberStarsBen StillerChristine TaylorVince VaughnA group of misfits enter a Las Vegas dodgeball tournament in order to save their cherished local gym from the onslaught of a corporate health fitness chain.
- DirectorTom ShadyacStarsJim CarreyCourteney CoxSean YoungA goofy detective specializing in animals goes in search of the missing mascot of the Miami Dolphins.
- DirectorSteve OedekerkStarsJim CarreyIan McNeiceSimon CallowAce Ventura, Pet Detective, returns from a spiritual quest to investigate the disappearance of a rare white bat, the sacred animal of a tribe in Africa.
- DirectorAndrew StantonStarsBen BurttElissa KnightJeff GarlinIn the distant future, a small waste-collecting robot inadvertently embarks on a space journey that will ultimately decide the fate of mankind.
- DirectorLee UnkrichAdrian MolinaStarsAnthony GonzalezGael García BernalBenjamin BrattAspiring musician Miguel, confronted with his family's ancestral ban on music, enters the Land of the Dead to find his great-great-grandfather, a legendary singer.
- DirectorRon ClementsJohn MuskerDon HallStarsAuli'i CravalhoDwayne JohnsonRachel HouseIn ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by the demigod Maui reaches Moana's island, she answers the Ocean's call to seek out Maui to set things right.
- DirectorTravis KnightStarsCharlize TheronArt ParkinsonMatthew McConaugheyA young boy named Kubo must locate a magical suit of armour worn by his late father in order to defeat a vengeful spirit from the past.
- DirectorPete DocterRonnie Del CarmenStarsAmy PoehlerBill HaderLewis BlackAfter young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions - Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness - conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school.
- DirectorByron HowardRich MooreJared BushStarsGinnifer GoodwinJason BatemanIdris ElbaIn a city of anthropomorphic animals, a rookie bunny cop and a cynical con artist fox must work together to uncover a conspiracy.
- DirectorDennis DuganStarsAdam SandlerSalma HayekKevin JamesAfter their high school basketball coach passes away, five good friends and former teammates reunite for a Fourth of July holiday weekend.
- DirectorPeter SegalStarsAdam SandlerDrew BarrymoreRob SchneiderHenry Roth is a man afraid of commitment until he meets the beautiful Lucy. They hit it off and Henry think he's finally found the girl of his dreams until discovering she has short-term memory loss and forgets him the next day.A Lesson in not taking advantage of others.
- DirectorDennis DuganStarsDavid SpadeJon HederRob SchneiderA trio of guys try and make up for missed opportunities in childhood by forming a three-player baseball team to compete against standard children's Little League squads.A Lesson in right-ing wrongs.
- DirectorRichard ThorpeStarsElvis PresleyJudy TylerMickey ShaughnessyAfter serving time for manslaughter, young Vince Everett becomes a teenage rock star.
- DirectorNicholas StollerStarsKristen BellJason SegelPaul RuddDevastated Peter takes a Hawaiian vacation in order to deal with the recent break-up with his TV star girlfriend, Sarah. Little does he know, Sarah's traveling to the same resort as her ex - and she's bringing along her new boyfriend.Underrated breakup movie! Would've helped me through the long, depressive state of high school
- DirectorDaniel KwanDaniel ScheinertStarsMichelle YeohStephanie HsuJamie Lee CurtisA middle-aged Chinese immigrant is swept up into an insane adventure in which she alone can save existence by exploring other universes and connecting with the lives she could have led.
- DirectorWill GluckStarsEmma StoneAmanda BynesPenn BadgleyWhen Olive lies to her best friend about losing her virginity to one of the college boys, a girl overhears their conversation. Soon, her story spreads across the entire school like wildfire.
- DirectorJohn HamburgStarsPaul RuddJason SegelRashida JonesFriendless Peter Klaven goes on a series of man-dates to find a Best Man for his wedding. But, when his insta-bond with his new B.F.F. puts a strain on his relationship with his fiancée, can the trio learn to live happily ever after?A Lesson on the importance of plutonic relationships. Even more adults should see this.
- DirectorPeter HedgesStarsSteve CarellJuliette BinocheDane CookA widower finds out the woman he fell in love with is his brother's girlfriend.
- DirectorSara DosaStarsMiranda JulyKatia KrafftMaurice KrafftIntrepid scientists and lovers Katia and Maurice Krafft died in a volcanic explosion doing the very thing that brought them together: unraveling the mysteries of volcanoes by capturing the most explosive imagery ever recorded.Visually super interesting! Great for showing youth some of the possibilites of our world.
- DirectorLiz GarbusStarsVincent CasselCarol BurnettLouis MalleA look at the life, passions, achievements and tragedies surrounding the famous explorer and environmentalist Jacques Cousteau, featuring an archive of his newly restored footage.Very informative and engaging way to learn about ocean life and preservation efforts.
- DirectorMarc WebbStarsZooey DeschanelJoseph Gordon-LevittGeoffrey ArendAfter being dumped by the girl he believes to be his soulmate, hopeless romantic Tom Hansen reflects on their relationship to try and figure out where things went wrong and how he can win her back.Relationships would've been 10x easier if I saw this growing up.
- DirectorPeter BillingsleyStarsVince VaughnMalin AkermanJon FavreauA comedy centered around four couples who settle into a tropical-island resort for a vacation. While one of the couples is there to work on the marriage, the others fail to realize that participation in the resort's therapy sessions is not optional.
- DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsKirsten DunstMinami TakayamaRei SakumaA young witch, on her mandatory year of independent life, finds fitting into a new community difficult while she supports herself by running an air courier service.
- DirectorMiguel ArtetaStarsSteve CarellJennifer GarnerEd OxenbouldAlexander's day begins with gum stuck in his hair, followed by more calamities. However, he finds little sympathy from his family and begins to wonder if bad things only happen to him, his mom, dad, brother and sister - who all find themselves living through their own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
- DirectorFrank CoraciStarsAdam SandlerDrew BarrymoreChristine TaylorRobbie, a singer, and Julia, a waitress, are both engaged, but to the wrong people. Fortune intervenes to help them discover each other.
- DirectorBen StillerStarsBen StillerKristen WiigJon DalyWhen both he and a colleague are about to lose their job, Walter takes action by embarking on an adventure more extraordinary than anything he ever imagined.
- DirectorKaren MaineStarsKaitlyn DeverIsabela MercedSean TealeA comedic retelling of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," told from the point of view of Romeo's jilted ex, Rosaline, the woman Romeo first claims to love before he falls for Juliet.
- DirectorPhil TraillStarsSandra BullockBradley CooperThomas Haden ChurchConvinced that a CCN cameraman is her true love, an eccentric crossword puzzler trails him as he travels all over the country, hoping to convince him that they belong together.Way underrated! A beautiful lesson in self-love (for ADHD, quirky, high-energy, and positive people)
- DirectorDennis DuganStarsAdam SandlerJennifer AnistonBrooklyn DeckerOn a weekend trip to Hawaii, a plastic surgeon convinces his loyal assistant to pose as his soon-to-be-divorced wife in order to cover up a careless lie he told to his much-younger girlfriend.
- DirectorBen PalmerStarsLake BellRory KinnearKen StottA single woman takes the place of a stranger's blind date and finds the perfect man for her.
- DirectorFrank CoraciStarsAdam SandlerDrew BarrymoreWendi McLendon-CoveyAfter a bad blind date, a man and woman find themselves stuck together at a resort for families, where their attraction grows as their respective kids benefit from the burgeoning relationship.A lesson in accepting love, even when you don't want to.
- DirectorGlenn FicarraJohn RequaStarsSteve CarellRyan GoslingJulianne MooreA middle-aged husband's life changes dramatically when his wife asks him for a divorce. He seeks to rediscover his manhood with the help of a newfound friend, Jacob, learning to pick up girls at bars.This movie was marketed to the wrong audience. This is a wonderful story in standing up for love.
- DirectorSean AndersStarsAdam SandlerAndy SambergLeighton MeesterWhile in his teens, Donny fathered a son, Todd, and raised him as a single parent until Todd's 18th birthday. Now Donny resurfaces just before Todd's wedding after years apart, sending the groom-to-be's world crashing down.Sure, it's crude and not traditionally for youth, but this movie is a a realistic story of rebuilding relationships that matter.
- DirectorAnna KerriganStarsSteve ZahnJillian BellSasha KnightA troubled but well-intentioned father who has recently separated from his wife runs off with his trans son into the Montana wilderness after his ex-wife's refusal to let their son live as his authentic self.great story to learn parents aren't perfect, but as long as they're trying their best, you'll be okay.
- DirectorTony BancroftBarry CookStarsMing-Na WenEddie MurphyBD WongTo save her father from death in the army, a young maiden secretly goes in his place and becomes one of China's greatest heroines in the process.
- DirectorJon FavreauStarsJosh HutchersonJonah BoboDax ShepardTwo young brothers are drawn into an intergalactic adventure when their house is hurled through the depths of space by the magical board game they are playing.A lesson in working together with your siblings.
- DirectorJay RoachStarsSteve CarellPaul RuddStephanie SzostakAfter he finds out that his work superiors host a dinner celebrating the idiocy of their special guests, a rising executive questions the merits of his invitation just as he befriends a man who would be the perfect guest.
- DirectorBrandon TrostStarsSeth RogenSarah SnookMolly EvensenAn immigrant worker at a pickle factory is accidentally preserved for 100 years and wakes up in modern-day Brooklyn.
- DirectorChris RenaudKyle BaldaStarsZac EfronTaylor SwiftDanny DeVitoA 12-year-old boy searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.everyone should speak for the trees
- DirectorMatthew VaughnStarsAaron Taylor-JohnsonNicolas CageChloë Grace MoretzDave Lizewski is an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan who one day decides to become a superhero, even though he has no powers, training or meaningful reason to do so.I would've been very inspired at like 10-15 seeing this. A Lesson in confidence.
- DirectorPhil VischerMike NawrockiStarsPhil VischerMike NawrockiChris OlsenThe Biblical story of David and Goliath, with a cast of vegetables.Stand Up for what you believe in!
- DirectorDavid FrankelStarsOwen WilsonJack BlackSteve MartinTwo bird enthusiasts try to defeat the cocky, cutthroat world record holder in a year-long bird-spotting competition.A great tale about getting out and finding what truly makes you happy
- DirectorSteve BoyumStarsCourtnee DraperTamara HopeLance GuestA teenager's life is disrupted when her mother falls in love with an alien.
- DirectorAndrew FlemingStarsEvan Rachel WoodScott SpeedmanJ.K. SimmonsThe "black sheep" son of a wealthy family meets a young psychiatric patient who's been raised in isolation her entire life; he takes this naive young woman home for his brother's wedding.
- DirectorJoshua TickellRebecca Harrell TickellStarsWoody HarrelsonRay ArchuletaJohn WickA revolutionary group of activists, scientists, farmers, and politicians band together in a global movement of "Regenerative Agriculture" that could balance our climate, replenish our vast water supplies, and feed the world.
- DirectorRoger AllersRob MinkoffStarsMatthew BroderickJeremy IronsJames Earl JonesLion prince Simba and his father are targeted by his bitter uncle, who wants to ascend the throne himself.
- DirectorFrank CoraciStarsAdam SandlerKate BeckinsaleChristopher WalkenA workaholic architect finds a universal remote that allows him to fast-forward and rewind to different parts of his life. Complications arise when the remote starts to overrule his choices.