Top 33 Awesome Kids’ Movies You Miss!

Avatar of Ciaran Connolly
Updated on: Educator Review By: Michelle Connolly

Movies are a way to express yourself and have fun. Movies are loved by people everywhere. Kids and young adults also love going to the movies. The plots of most movies come from books, comic books, or other media. Some movies are made in theatres and on different media platforms, like T.V. and the internet. Movies let people tell stories and have fun at the same time.

First of all, movies are fun and exciting because they have a lot of different parts. Most movies have drama, comedy, action, romance, and other scenes. Movies are realistic and easy to understand because of the sounds, camera movements, and editing. 

People like to watch movies because they make them feel curious and excited. They make people happy and let them show how they feel. Movies are a compelling form of media that has changed how people worldwide live and communicate.

Action, adventure, animation, biopic, comedy, crime, drama, documentary, fantasy, family, film noir, period piece, science fiction, thriller, and western are all types of movies. There are also international movie genres like kung fu, martial arts, war movies, and horror movies. 

The types of movies people choose can change what the film is about. For example, if you select a crime-action movie genre, gangsters and police will probably be in it. Each genre has its own set of characters, settings, and props that you can use to give the audience a unique movie experience. 

Most of us probably had many such unique experiences. So Learning Mole drilled the internet and different movie theatre visitors’ reviews in coming up with the following! Here are 33 movies you might have seen as a child but can’t help but rewatch.

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

It’s the story of a strange-looking alien with telekinetic powers. It’s about a shy, lonely boy whose home life is a mess, and he has to face the unknown. It’s a story about single parents, broken marriages, small-town suburbia, and losing and regaining innocence. 

It’s the perfect Steven Spielberg movie: joyfully cinematic, heartfelt, and unapologetically hopeful. It’s a 20th-century fairy tale with starry-eyed kids. It also has the classic John Williams score that gives you goosebumps and makes your heart swell. It’s well-known, it never gets old, and pretty much perfect. This is number one.

My Neighbour Totoro (1988)

Schoolgirl Satsuki and her younger sister Mei move into an old country house with their father. While waiting for their mother to recover from an illness in a nearby hospital in this acclaimed animated tale from director Hayao Miyazaki. The sisters meet and become friends with various playful spirits throughout the house and the surrounding forest as they explore their new environment.

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Dorothy (Judy Garland) and her dog, Toto, are swept away in their home by a tornado that hits Kansas and ends up in the beautiful land of Oz. On their way to see the Wizard, they encounter three characters; 

  • The first one is Brainless Scarecrow (Ray Bolger)
  • The second character is the Heartless Tin Man (Jack Haley)
  • The third character is the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr)

All along the Yellow Brick Road. The Wizard demands that they bring him the Wicked Witch of the West’s (Margaret Hamilton) broom in exchange for his assistance.

The Lion King (1994)

Simba (Jonathan Taylor Thomas), the lion cub heir to King Mufasa, stars in this animated feature from Disney (James Earl Jones). Scar (Jeremy Irons), Simba’s evil uncle, schemes to take over the kingdom by leading Mufasa and his son, Simba, into a herd of stampeding wildebeests. 

But Simba manages to flee, and Mufasa is the only one who pays the ultimate price. With the help of his friends Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumbaa, Simba (Matthew Broderick) returns as an adult to Pride Rock to reclaim his kingdom from Scar (Ernie Sabella).

The Lego Movie (2014)

Despite being a rule-abiding regular guy, Emmet (Chris Pratt) is mistaken for the Special, a supernatural being who holds the secret to saving the world. 

To thwart the global takeover plotted by an evil tyrant (Will Ferrell), he is forced to join a fellowship of random strangers. Emmet is completely and hilariously unprepared for this task but intends to give it his all anyway.

Monsters, Inc. (2001)

James P. Sullivan is a top producer at Monsters Incorporated, the largest scare factory in the monster universe. Sullivan is a terrifying monster with blue fur, large purple spots, and horns. 

Mike Wazowski, a green, opinionated, and feisty little one-eyed monster, is his scare assistant, best friend, and roommate. Boo, a little girl from Earth, is on a visit. She is small, but she has gone to places no one her size has before.

The Iron Giant (1999)

A giant alien robot (Vin Diesel) crashes near Rockwell, Maine, in 1957 in this animated adaptation of Ted Hughes’ Cold War fable. Hogarth, a local boy of nine, goes exploring and stumbles upon the robot; the two strike up an unlikely friendship. 

Hogarth and beatnik Dean McCoppin (Harry Connick Jr.) must do what they can to save the misunderstood robot from the hands of paranoid government agent Kent Mansley.

Toy Story 3 (2010)

Woody (Kim Seung-jun), Buzz Lightyear (Park Il), Jessie (Ham Soo-Jeong), and the rest of the toys are on their way to the attic as Andy prepares to leave for college but end up on the curb with the trash instead. Toy Story’s gang is saved by Woody, but afterwards, everyone but Woody is given to a daycare. The kids are out of control and won’t play nice, so Woody and the gang plot their great escape.

Paddington 2 (2017)

Paddington, the bear who has made a home with the Browns, is well-liked after he began spreading cheer and marmalade wherever he went. One day, while browsing an antique store, he finds the perfect present for his centenarian aunt: a pop-up book. A thief steals Aunt Lucy’s prized book, prompting Paddington to set out on a heroic mission to find the crook before the party.

Babe (1995)

A piglet named Babe (Christine Cavanaugh) is won by the kind farmer Arthur Hoggett (James Cromwell) at the county fair. Farmer Hoggett decides to show him at the next fair instead of roasting him for Christmas dinner. 

Babe forms a close bond with Fly, a motherly border collie played by Miriam Margolyes, and learns that he, too, can herd sheep. Will the other animals, including Fly’s jealous husband Rex, accept a pig who doesn’t follow the farm’s established social order?

Spirited Away (2001)

Ten-year-old Chihiro (Rumi Hiiragi) and her parents (Takashi Naitô and Yasuko Sawaguchi) discover a deserted amusement park in this animated feature from acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. 

Chihiro meets the mysterious Haku (Miyu Irino) after her parents have been transformed into giant pigs. Chihiro learns that the park is a retreat for supernatural beings who need a break. A break from their time spent in the earthly realm and that she must work there to free herself and her parents.

Pinocchio (1940)

After finishing his latest puppet, Geppetto (Christian Rub) wishes upon a falling star that Pinocchio (Dickie Jones) could be a real boy. In the middle of the night, the Blue Fairy (Evelyn Venable) grants Geppetto’s wish. It recruits Jiminy Cricket (Cliff Edwards) as the wooden boy’s conscience. To make a long story short, Pinocchio is tricked by the evil Honest John (Walter Catlett) and taken to the sinful Pleasure Island.

The Secret Of Kells (2009)

Cellach (Brendan Gleeson) is preparing a fortress in the Irish woods for an impending attack by a Viking war party. Brendan (Evan McGuire), Cellach’s young nephew, has no interest in fighting and is instead learning the ancient art of calligraphy as an apprentice in the monastery’s secret scriptorium. 

Reputed illuminator Aidan (Mick Lally) shows up at the monastery just as the Vikings are about to attack. He enlists Brendan to perform a series of complex, magical tasks.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

It chronicles the misadventures of Jack Skellington, the king of Halloweentown’s pumpkins. He grows tired of his annual ritual of scaring people in the “real world” and sets out to find something new to do. 

Jack gets a new lease on life after stumbling upon Christmastown, with its bright colours and warm spirits. He immediately hatches a plan to kidnap Santa Claus and assume the role himself. Jack soon learns that even mice and skeleton men can’t always count on their projects going according to schedule.

Coco (2018)

Miguel (Gonzalez), a 12-year-old boy, is accidentally transported to the Land of the Dead. He meets his deceased musician, great-great-grandfather and begs him to help him get back to his living family and undo their ban on music.

Home Alone (1990)

When Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin), age 8, acts out the night before he and his family leave for Paris, his mother (Catherine O’Hara) sends him to the attic. When Kevin McCallister wakes up to find his family has left for the airport without him, he thinks his wish that they wouldn’t love him has come true. 

But his joy quickly fades when he learns that the McCallister home is being targeted by two con artists (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) and that he must stand guard alone.

The Red Balloon (1956)

The adventures of a young boy who befriends a seemingly sentient balloon and follows it through the streets of Paris are beautifully captured in this award-winning short film by Albert Lamorisse.

WALL-E (2008)

WALL-E, which stands for “Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-class,” is the last surviving robot on the planet. Every day, he spends his time picking up trash and making the world a better place. 

However, WALL-E has grown a personality over the past 700 years and is feeling more than a little lonely. Then he sees the beautiful EVE (Elissa Knight), a probe sent back to Earth to conduct a scan. WALL-E, wholly smitten with EVE, leaves Earth to travel the galaxy in search of her.

Oliver! (1968)

This Tony Award-winning stage musical is based on the novel by Charles Dickens. It follows Oliver Twist (Mark Lester), a young orphan, as he joins a gang of petty thieves. That gang is led by the Artful Dodger (Jack Wild) and masterminded by Fagin (Alfred Molina) (Ron Moody). 

Mr Brownlow (Joseph O’Conor) takes pity on Oliver and offers him a home. Still, Fagin’s henchman Bill Sikes (Oliver Reed), plans to kidnap Oliver to silence him.

Beauty And The Beast (1991)

A young, arrogant prince (Robby Benson) and the servants in his castle fall prey to a wicked enchantress. She transforms him into the hideous Beast until he learns to love and be loved in return. 

Belle (Paige O’Hara), a feisty, independent villager, enters the Beast’s castle after he has imprisoned her father, Maurice (Rex Everhart). Belle, aided by the enchanted servants, including the stern Mrs Potts (Angela Lansbury), succeeds in bringing the ice-cold Beast out of his solitary retreat.

Finding Nemo (2003)

Clownfish father Marlin (Albert Brooks) is too careful around his son Nemo (Alexander Gould) because of the latter’s shortened dorsal fin. Nemo is caught by a diver when he swims too close to the surface while trying to prove himself, prompting Marlin to search for him. 

After meeting with sharks, jellyfish, and other ocean dangers, Marlin is joined by a blue reef fish named Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), who has a concise memory. But in the meantime, Nemo plans his escape from the dentist’s fish tank.

The Incredible Journey (1963)

The bull terrier Bodger, the Labrador retriever Luath, and the Siamese cat Tao all start to miss their owners. Because their owners drop them off with a family friend who lives across the country for the summer.

However, their isolation becomes intolerable when John goes on a lengthy camping trip. The three animals are determined to return home, no matter how long it takes them, and have already covered more than 250 miles on their journey.

How To Train Your Dragon (2010)

Norse adolescent Hiccup (Twain Yavapolkul) lives on the island of Berk, where fighting dragons is a way of life. Although his father (Kongkrapunt Sangsuriya) is the clan chief, he is an outcast due to his progressive views and offbeat sense of humour. He tries to prove himself as a Viking by enrolling in a dragon-fighting academy. Still, his chance to chart a new course for his people comes when he befriends an injured dragon he names Toothless.

The Muppet Movie (1979)

Kermit, the Frog, embarks on his cross-country journey from Florida to California after deciding to become an actor. He becomes fast friends with Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, and the members of the rock band Dr Teeth and the Electric Mayhem along the way. 

Although Doc Hopper (Charles Durning) offers Kermit a job promoting the fried frog legs at his restaurant chain, Kermit declines the offer. Hopper, however, is unyielding, and he follows Kermit and his friends to a climactic showdown.

Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

Emily Mortimer’s Sophie leads a routine existence at her late father’s hat shop. Until she meets and befriends the wizard Howl (Christian Bale), who resides in a magical flying castle. 

But the wicked Witch of Waste (Lauren Bacall) disapproves of their blossoming romance, so she puts a spell on young Sophie that makes her look years older than she is. To restore Sophie’s youth and beauty, Howl must use his magical abilities to defeat the jealous hag.

The Kid Who Would Be King (2019)

When Alex, a young man, discovers Excalibur, the legendary sword, he brings ancient magic into the modern age. He quickly brings allies and foes together to form a band of knights and team up with the legendary wizard Merlin. They must unite to defeat Morgana, an evil sorceress backed by an army of supernatural warriors, and save humanity.

Shrek 2 (2004)

Shrek and Fiona return from their honeymoon and start showing home movies to their friends. They find out that Fiona’s parents have heard that she married her true love and want to invite him to their kingdom, Far, Far Away. 

The catch is that Fiona’s parents have no idea that their daughter is married to a 700-pound ogre with horrible hygiene and a talking donkey friend. They think she married Prince Charming.

Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005)

Walter (Josh Hutcherson) and Danny (Jonah Bobo) are two young boys. Their father (Tim Robbins) is called into work, leaving them to care for their older sister, Lisa (Kristen Stewart). 

When Walter and Danny start playing Zathura, a space-themed board game, they are taken aback when their house is suddenly launched into orbit. With the help of an astronaut (Dax Shepard), the boys attempt to get back to Earth.

The Black Cauldron (1985)

Taran (Grant Bardsley), a pig herder in the fictional land of Prydain, has grand ambitions of one day becoming a brave knight. When Taran’s prophetic pig, Hen-Wren, is stolen by the evil Horned King (John Hurt), Taran realises he must become a hero. 

Before the Horned King can use its mystical powers to raise an army of the undead, Taran, with the aid of his furry sidekick Gurgi and Princess Eilonwy, must find the magical black cauldron.

George Of The Jungle (1997)

A plane crash as an infant left George (Brendan Fraser) alone in the African jungle, where he has lived ever since. When he saves explorer Ursula Stanhope (Leslie Mann) from a lion, George, now an adult, interacts with another human for the first time in years. 

After reuniting with George, Ursula breaks off her engagement to Lyle (Thomas Haden Church) and returns to San Francisco with him. When George discovers that his gorilla friend has been captured, he and Ursula set out to free him.

Treasure Planet (2002)

‘Treasure Planet,’ a thrilling animated space adventure from Walt Disney Pictures. It follows 15-year-old Jim Hawkins as he embarks on a galactic treasure hunt after discovering a map to the most extraordinary pirate trove in the universe, the legendary ‘loot of a thousand worlds.’ 

This film is based on one of the best adventure stories ever written, “Treasure Island,” by Robert Louis Stevenson. It chronicles Jim’s incredible journey across a parallel universe while serving as a cabin boy aboard a glittering space galleon.

Monster House (2006)

Adults don’t believe three kids (Mitchell Musso, Spencer Locke, and Sam Lerner) who say their next-door neighbour is a monster. As Halloween draws near, the trio must devise a plan to bring down the building to prevent any unwary trick-or-treaters from meeting gruesome ends.

Anastasia (1997)

When the palace of the Romanovs is attacked, the young princess Anastasia (Meg Ryan) goes missing after the evil Wizard Rasputin (Christopher Lloyd) casts a hex on them. The Grand Duchess (Angela Lansbury) incentivises Anastasia’s return many years later.

Two Russian con artists (John Cusack and Kelsey Grammer) are looking to pass off a fake princess, so they hold auditions and select an orphan girl resembling the missing royal. They take her to Paris, thinking she’s the honest Anastasia, to collect the reward.

Adios!

Movies are fun for everyone. Movies are a compelling way to express and relate to yourself. Movies have changed and affected cultures worldwide. When you watch movies, it’s easy to lose track of time.

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