Films I'd want my children to see (if I had any)
by meplayer | created - 19 Jun 2011 | updated - 19 Jun 2011 | PublicMovies with an inspiring and educating edge that are fun both for kids and adults to watch.
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1. Ballet Shoes (2007 TV Movie)
PG | 85 min | Drama, Family
The story of three orphan girls (Pauline, Petrova, and Posy), adopted by an eccentric explorer, Great Uncle Matthew, and his niece Sylvia, in 1930s London.
Director: Sandra Goldbacher | Stars: Emma Watson, Yasmin Paige, Lucy Boynton, Emilia Fox
Votes: 8,082
Inspiring story of goodness and artistic as well as academic aspirations - a real feel good film for the whole family!
2. Happy Feet (2006)
PG | 108 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Into the world of the Emperor Penguins, who find their soul mates through song, a penguin is born who cannot sing. But he can tap dance something fierce!
Directors: George Miller, Warren Coleman, Judy Morris | Stars: Elijah Wood, Brittany Murphy, Hugh Jackman, Robin Williams
Votes: 161,043 | Gross: $198.00M
Because the story teaches that everyone should be themselves and that sometimes you need to fight for that right, against all odds. And that is important to sing and dance and have fun and find your soul mate.
3. The Dolphin: Story of a Dreamer (2009)
PG | 86 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
The amazing story of Daniel, a dolphin who abandons the safety of his pod to explore the ocean and discover the true purpose of his life.
Director: Eduardo Schuldt | Stars: Robbie Daymond, Giovanni Ciccia, Bruno Ascenzo, Karina Jordán
Votes: 567
The moral of the story is to always believe in your dreams and have faith even if the whole world is against you. The story contrasts the protagonists own dreams with the material values of the community he lives in, and depicts the main characters courage to question and stand up against false authority and find his own way. The style of this film appeals to smaller children.
4. Rio (2011)
G | 96 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
When Blu, a domesticated macaw from small-town Minnesota, meets the fiercely independent Jewel, he takes off on an adventure to Rio de Janeiro with the bird of his dreams.
Director: Carlos Saldanha | Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, George Lopez, Karen Disher
Votes: 195,521 | Gross: $143.62M
Because of the wonderful music and the joyous attitude towards life, as well as the wonderful birdlife and the environmental message of protecting endangered species. And i love the ornithologist character! :)
5. Il était une fois... la vie (1987– )
30 min | Animation, Family
The workings of the human body explained by animated characters.
Stars: Roger Carel, Marie-Laure Beneston, Alain Dorval, Gilles Laurent
Votes: 4,175
A French classic series about the functions and wonders of human body, cells and viruses and organs and everything! I watched this as a kid and LOVED it!
6. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Not Rated | 130 min | Drama, Family, Fantasy
An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.
Director: Frank Capra | Stars: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell
Votes: 368,048
A Christmas time classic full of hope
7. The Snowman (1982 TV Short)
G | 26 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
On Christmas Eve, a young boy builds a snowman that comes to life and takes him to the North Pole to meet Father Christmas.
Directors: Jimmy T. Murakami, Dianne Jackson | Stars: David Bowie, Raymond Briggs, Mel Smith
Votes: 11,443
A beautiful dreamlike story with epic music
8. Zozo (2005)
105 min | Drama, Family, War
A Lebanese boy gets separated from his family during the civil war and ends up in Sweden.
Director: Josef Fares | Stars: Imad Creidi, Antoinette Turk, Elias Gergi, Carmen Lebbos
Votes: 2,956
A touching story of a boy that leaves his war torn country behind for a home in Sweden. Lots of heartwarming humour. A story about being a newcomer and an outsider and overcoming obstacles, and a boys relation to his grandfather and an absent family.
9. Ronja Robbersdaughter (1984)
126 min | Adventure, Drama, Family
Borka and his band and Mattis's band of robbers are rivals. Birk, his parents and their band live in the wild in Mattisforrest. They move in to Metis-stronghold, which belonged to his ... See full summary »
Director: Tage Danielsson | Stars: Hanna Zetterberg, Dan Håfström, Börje Ahlstedt, Lena Nyman
Votes: 9,863
An evergreen story about courage, freedom and friendship
10. Oceans (2009)
G | 84 min | Documentary, Drama
An ecological drama/documentary, filmed throughout the globe. Part thriller, part meditation on the vanishing wonders of the sub-aquatic world.
Directors: Jacques Perrin, Jacques Cluzaud | Stars: Pierce Brosnan, Jacques Perrin, Pedro Armendáriz Jr., Matthias Brandt
Votes: 8,729 | Gross: $19.42M
A beautiful film about the bounty of life in the oceans, the angle on the story being a grandfather introducing the life of the oceans to his grandson before it is too late. Story awakes an awe before the vastness and peculiarity of the life of the oceans and encourages the wish to know it better and preserve it and handle it with respect.
11. Charlotte's Web (2006)
G | 97 min | Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Wilbur the pig is scared of the end of the season, because he knows that come that time, he will end up on the dinner table. He hatches a plan with Charlotte, a spider that lives in his pen, to ensure that this will never happen.
Director: Gary Winick | Stars: Dakota Fanning, Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Buscemi
Votes: 34,525 | Gross: $82.99M
This is a story about understanding differences, about friendship, perseverence, eating animals, and accepting death as a part of life.
12. Astro Boy (2009)
PG | 94 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
When an android replica of a boy is rejected by his aggrieved creator, he goes off to find his own identity in an adventure that would make him the greatest hero of his time.
Director: David Bowers | Stars: Freddie Highmore, Nicolas Cage, Kristen Bell, Charlize Theron
Votes: 31,270 | Gross: $19.55M
Ther battle between good and evil is depicted in this story in a very appealing, straight forward and clear manner.
13. Despicable Me (2010)
PG | 95 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
When a criminal mastermind uses a trio of orphan girls as pawns for a grand scheme, he finds their love is profoundly changing him for the better.
Directors: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud | Stars: Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews
Votes: 474,922 | Gross: $251.51M
A story about the life changing power of love.
14. Christmas Story (2007)
PG | 83 min | Drama, Family, Fantasy
The touching story of how Santa Claus came to be Santa.
Director: Juha Wuolijoki | Stars: Hannu-Pekka Björkman, Otto Gustavsson, Jonas Rinne, Kari Väänänen
Votes: 3,173
How did Santa become Santa? A story of the joy of giving and caring for each other despite the surroundings. A magical story with beautiful scenery.
15. Popular Music (2004)
105 min | Comedy, Drama
Two boys grow up together in the town of Pajala during the 1960s. United by rock'n'roll music.
Director: Reza Bagher | Stars: Max Enderfors, Andreas af Enehielm, Jarmo Mäkinen, Kati Outinen
Votes: 4,934
A story about surviving one's teenage years and belonging to a minority.
16. Charlie St. Cloud (2010)
PG-13 | 99 min | Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Charlie's brother, Sam, dies in a car crash that Charlie survives. Charlie is given the gift of seeing his dead brother and others who he has lost such as his friend who died in the military, but when the girl he falls in love with's life is at risk, he must choose between his girlfriend and his brother.
Director: Burr Steers | Stars: Zac Efron, Kim Basinger, Charlie Tahan, Amanda Crew
Votes: 55,916 | Gross: $31.16M
A movie about dealing with the death of a loved little brother, and the possibility of life after death.
17. Mother of Mine (2005)
Not Rated | 111 min | Drama, War
During World War II, more than 70,000 Finnish children were evacuated to neutral Sweden to avoid the conflict. From the award-winning Klaus Härö (Elina: As If I Wasn't There (2002)), "... See full summary »
Director: Klaus Härö | Stars: Topi Majaniemi, Marjaana Maijala, Maria Lundqvist, Michael Nyqvist
Votes: 4,085
A story of a child sent to a foreign country to be safe from war. A story about learning to trust and to communicate.
18. Captain Planet and the Planeteers (1990–1996)
TV-Y7 | 23 min | Animation, Short, Action
A quintet of teenagers work together to encourage environmentally responsible behaviour and can summon a superhero to deal with ecological disasters.
Stars: David Coburn, Joey Dedio, Kath Soucie, LeVar Burton
Votes: 9,906
Teaches to take care of the environment and that together it is possible! And Whoopi Goldberg as the voice of Gaia, the mother Earth.
19. Nick Knatterton - Der Film (2002)
Comedy
Directors: Niki List, Marcus O. Rosenmüller | Stars: Jens Schäfer, Jeanette Hain, Kordula Kohlschmitt, Wolfram Berger
Votes: 75
The master of logical thinking - detective Nick Knatterton - was one of my favourites as a kid. Humorous and enlightning!
20. Whale Rider (2002)
PG-13 | 101 min | Drama, Family
A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize.
Director: Niki Caro | Stars: Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis
Votes: 38,029 | Gross: $20.78M
Just breathtakingly beautiful and touching!
21. Professor Balthazar (1967–1977)
7 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
Television series for children about an old inventor.
Stars: Erik Schumann, Zlatko Crnkovic, Nada Agbaba
Votes: 657
There is always an answer to a problem if we ask of eachothers help and proceed scientifically! :D
22. Peter-No-Tail (1981)
81 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
Pelle is a cat who was born without a proper tail. He is taken care of by a family living in Uppsala. Without a tail, he becomes the talk of the town among the other cats, and especially ... See full summary »
Directors: Jan Gissberg, Stig Lasseby | Stars: Mats Åhlfeldt, Ewa Fröling, Ernst-Hugo Järegård, Carl Billquist
Votes: 733
A story about coming to terms with being different and dealing with mean bullies. And having fun on the way.
23. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
G | 84 min | Animation, Family, Fantasy
A prince cursed to spend his days as a hideous monster sets out to regain his humanity by earning a young woman's love.
Directors: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise | Stars: Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Jesse Corti, Rex Everhart
Votes: 398,945 | Gross: $218.97M
Love lies deep within, beneath our looks.
24. Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies (2007– )
Animation, Family
Mama Mirabelle helps a zebra, an elephant and a tiger to understand the nature with her Home Videos.
Stars: Phillipa Alexander, Jules de Jongh, Teresa Gallagher, Vanessa Williams
Votes: 45
Short stories about the African animal life for the younger audience.
25. The Fox & the Child (2007)
G | 92 min | Adventure, Drama, Family
It has been described as both a nature documentary and a "fairy tale" look at the story of young girl and her friendship with a fox.
Director: Luc Jacquet | Stars: Bertille Noël-Bruneau, Isabelle Carré, Thomas Laliberté, Camille Lambert
Votes: 3,610
A fairytale of a friendship between a girl and a fox.
26. Up (2009)
PG | 96 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
78-year-old Carl Fredricksen travels to Paradise Falls in his house equipped with balloons, inadvertently taking a young stowaway.
Directors: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson | Stars: Edward Asner, Jordan Nagai, John Ratzenberger, Christopher Plummer
Votes: 872,034 | Gross: $293.00M
An exhilarating adventure for the whole family. Themes are lasting companionship and love, change, courage.
27. Ratatouille (2007)
G | 111 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A rat who can cook makes an unusual alliance with a young kitchen worker at a famous restaurant.
Directors: Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava | Stars: Brad Garrett, Lou Romano, Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm
Votes: 597,288 | Gross: $206.45M
Mmmm, a wonderful movie about the joys of food and cooking!
28. Matilda (1996)
PG | 102 min | Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Story of a wonderful little girl, who happens to be a genius, and her wonderful teacher vs. the worst parents ever and the worst school principal imaginable.
Director: Danny DeVito | Stars: Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Mara Wilson, Embeth Davidtz
Votes: 115,943 | Gross: $33.08M
A witty, super intelligent girl lives with stupid, ignorant parents but finds a teacher to guide her in the academia, and she ends up learning to stand tall and stand up for kids rights against the despotic principal of their school. Origins of "evil" is revealed and everyone is happy in the end! Alongside "Ballet Shoes" the best non-cartoon family film I've seen! No-one will be bored while this film is on.
29. The Twelve Tasks of Asterix (1976)
82 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A group of indomitable Gauls are challenged by Roman Emperor Julius Caesar to accomplish twelve impossible tasks.
Directors: René Goscinny, Henri Gruel, Albert Uderzo, Pierre Watrin | Stars: Roger Carel, Jacques Morel, Pierre Tornade, Henri Labussière
Votes: 13,825
Every Asterix story has something to offer but this has clinged to my mind since my childhood. The tasks Asterix is put through teach something important about life and the whole series teaches about the European history during the roman times.
30. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
PG-13 | 86 min | Comedy
A goofy detective specializing in animals goes in search of the missing mascot of the Miami Dolphins.
Director: Tom Shadyac | Stars: Jim Carrey, Courteney Cox, Sean Young, Tone Loc
Votes: 261,113 | Gross: $72.22M
A comedy classic!
31. Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)
R | 94 min | Comedy
Born on the original Christmas in the stable next door to Jesus, Brian of Nazareth spends his life being mistaken for a messiah.
Director: Terry Jones | Stars: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam
Votes: 343,528 | Gross: $20.05M
This film works on so many levels that both kids and adults alike will laugh all the way through! The theological themes and questions araised here are sound and hopefully help my future Christian kid to put things in perspective and not to believe that any one person owns the truth.
32. The Clan of the Cave Bear (1986)
R | 98 min | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
A young Cro-Magnon woman is raised by Neanderthals.
Director: Michael Chapman | Stars: Daryl Hannah, Pamela Reed, James Remar, Thomas G. Waites
Votes: 5,809 | Gross: $1.95M
A tale of how life in the stone age might have been like, which evokes understanding of our own capabilities as human beings and teases one's imagination.
33. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
PG | 96 min | Comedy
A listless and alienated teenager decides to help his new friend win the class presidency in their small western high school, while he must deal with his bizarre family life back home.
Director: Jared Hess | Stars: Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez, Jon Gries, Aaron Ruell
Votes: 188,419 | Gross: $44.54M
When my (future) kids reach their puberty and start showing attitude I guess I'll show them this. :)
34. Angela's Ashes (1999)
R | 145 min | Drama
Based on the best-selling autobiography by Irish expatriate Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes follows the experiences of young Frankie and his family as they try against all odds to escape the ... See full summary »
Director: Alan Parker | Stars: Emily Watson, Robert Carlyle, Joe Breen, Ciaran Owens
Votes: 19,383 | Gross: $13.04M
Loved the book, haven't seen the movie though. A story of a different childhood in another time and another place.
35. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)
PG-13 | 94 min | Drama, War
Through the innocent eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a German concentration camp, a forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence has startling and unexpected consequences.
Director: Mark Herman | Stars: Asa Butterfield, David Thewlis, Rupert Friend, Zac Mattoon O'Brien
Votes: 176,105 | Gross: $9.03M
A heartbrakingly sad but an important story for all
36. The Fifth Element (1997)
PG-13 | 126 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
In the colorful future, a cab driver unwittingly becomes the central figure in the search for a legendary cosmic weapon to keep Evil and Mr. Zorg at bay.
Director: Luc Besson | Stars: Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm
Votes: 411,904 | Gross: $63.54M
A colourful sci-fi fantasy film with a quest for goodness.
37. Kids (1995)
Unrated | 91 min | Drama
A day in the life of a group of teens as they travel around New York City skating, drinking, smoking and deflowering virgins.
Director: Larry Clark | Stars: Leo Fitzpatrick, Justin Pierce, Chloë Sevigny, Sarah Henderson
Votes: 69,218 | Gross: $7.42M
This film made me understand the importance of safe sex. A tragic, horrible story, but a must see for all teenagers.
38. Poirot (1989–2013)
TV-14 | 100 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The cases of eccentric but sharp Belgian detective Hercule Poirot.
Stars: David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Philip Jackson, Pauline Moran
Votes: 34,375
The classic crime series is suitable for everyone and teaches a thing or two about the world. If not else then at least that arsenic is poisonous. ;)
39. Bob the Builder (1998–2004)
TV-Y | 10 min | Animation, Family
Bob the Builder and his machine team are ready to tackle any project. Bob and the Can-Do Crew demonstrate the power of positive thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and follow-through. The ... See full summary »
Stars: Rob Rackstraw, Kate Harbour, Lorelei King, Neil Morrissey
Votes: 3,446
Teaches the younguns about co-operation and machines of all sorts. A wonderful series!
40. Home (I) (2009)
Not Rated | 120 min | Documentary, Drama, Family
With aerial footage from fifty-four countries, 'Home' is a depiction of how Earth's problems are all interlinked.
Director: Yann Arthus-Bertrand | Stars: Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Glenn Close, Jacques Gamblin
Votes: 20,761
Beautiful documentary about our Earth.
41. Little Buddha (1993)
PG | 123 min | Drama
After the death of Lama Dorje, Tibetan Buddhist monks find three children - one American and two Nepalese - who may be the rebirth of their great teacher.
Director: Bernardo Bertolucci | Stars: Keanu Reeves, Bridget Fonda, Ruocheng Ying, Chris Isaak
Votes: 14,758 | Gross: $4.86M
An insight to the buddhist way of life and to find your true meaning.
42. Amélie (2001)
R | 122 min | Comedy, Romance
Amélie is an innocent and naive girl in Paris with her own sense of justice. She decides to help those around her and, along the way, discovers love.
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet | Stars: Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Rufus, Lorella Cravotta
Votes: 666,975 | Gross: $33.23M
Makes one appreciate the beauty of life and relationships. A story that makes you want to do good.
43. An American Tail (1986)
G | 80 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
While emigrating to the United States, a young Russian mouse gets separated from his family and must relocate them while trying to survive in a new country.
Director: Don Bluth | Stars: Dom DeLuise, Christopher Plummer, Erica Yohn, Nehemiah Persoff
Votes: 46,061 | Gross: $47.48M
The touching story of a Russian mouse emigrating to America
44. Joseph: King of Dreams (2000 Video)
Unrated | 75 min | Animation, Adventure, Biography
A prophet who has the ability to interpret dreams is sold into slavery in Egypt, where people learn of his gifts.
Directors: Rob LaDuca, Robert C. Ramirez | Stars: Ben Affleck, Mark Hamill, Richard Herd, Maureen McGovern
Votes: 10,032
A classic biblical story of Joseph who can interpret the meaning of dreams
45. The Fourth King (2005)
26 min | Animation, Short, Family