“How about Shrek?” I asked my eleven-year-old son. I held up the DVD case splashed with the picture of the lovable green ogre.
“Mom,” he replied. “NO.”
“What’s wrong with Shrek?” I queried. We were going through our DVDs, trying to pick G- or PG-rated movies that his class could watch on the bus during their sixth grade field trip to Ontario.
He rolled his eyes.
Okay. So clearly I was NOT up-to-date on what today’s tweens consider “cool” movies to watch. But after spending 12 hours on a humongous bus watching PG movies that middle schoolers themselves picked out–and that kids and chaperones all enjoyed–I’m sharing their selections with you.
Here’s to making your next PG-rated movie night with tweens, school-age kids, or the not-yet-teens but definitely-not-preschoolers age group a “cool” success!
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
I admit I missed a good hour of this movie since it was shown at **5:30 am** on the bus. However, I’ve seen it before and can vouch for its quality!
One year after Home Alone, Kevin McAllister gets separated from his family yet again while traveling for the holidays. He ends up in New York, the family in Florida. Using his charm, he checks into a hotel and has a grand time until he runs across the Wet Bandits once more and has to save a toy store from their evil plans. There is plenty of physical humor to enjoy in this sequel as Kevin battles the bandits, plus another heart-warming ending.
Big Hero 6
Disney’s Big Hero 6 is the only full-length animated movie to make the list. My son loves this movie about a young robotics prodigy, Hiro Hamada, and the special bond he develops with Baymax the inflatable robot. Since it is a Disney movie, it should come as no surprise that a major character dies. The death becomes an emotional impetus for Hiro, and his band of friends, who harness their high-tech smarts into super hero-like powers to fight evil.
As a bonus, boys seem to dig the soundtrack with songs from the likes of Fall Out Boy.
The Pacifier
Vin Diesel stars as a Navy SEAL in this action comedy from 2005. He’s assigned to protect the five kids in the Plummer family, ranging in age from infancy to 16, after their genius father was killed and their mom is taken to government headquarters to help recover her late husband’s password. Hilarity ensues as the Navy SEAL babysits the clan. Plus, there is a lot of clean, entertaining action as Vin’s character and the kids fight the bad guys in the climatic ending.
The Princess Bride
I will forever remember every boy on the bus who had not yet seen this movie WHINING when it came on. However, their tune soon changed as boys and girls alike got caught up in this funny and sweet tale of Princess Buttercup and Wesley. The duo find “love, true love” and engage in spectacular verbal jousts and death-defying feats, all sprinkled with humor, to be together. This one’s a classic and a must-see!
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
I don’t usually watch fantasy films, but I realized I was into The Sorcerer’s Apprentice when I told some kid standing up on the bus to sit down because he was blocking the movie!
Nicolas Cage plays Balthazar, a sorcerer fighting evil sorcerers in modern day Manhattan. The only way to defeat his foes is to find and train an apprentice, a descendent of Merlin. It turns out the apprentice is an unlikely hero, a nerdy young man named Dave. Balthazar and Dave train and fight the good fight, winning both the battle against evil and the girl.
So the next time you want to watch a movie with your kids, one of these selections might be a great pick. I have a younger daughter, age 8, and find these suitable for her as well. (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice might be scary for some youngsters under 10 depending on their temperament.)
Did your favorite make this list of five flicks to watch with tweens or school-age kids? What flicks do you and your kids enjoy watching?
Now that’s a task. Getting a movie that both tween girls and guys will like. Well done my American pal! Oh that dilemma of what to watch on movie night! I remember it well. Heck am still going through it with my 19 year-old home from college son. We’re currently watching the Harry Potter movies for what, the 14th time? Love ’em. But I digress. You made me grin with the “down in front” and the instant focus of everyone to The Princess Bride. Both are brilliant responses to good movies. Haven’t seen the Disney one or Sorcer’s Apprentice but will add them to the list. Off to share. Moms and Dads of Tweens need to be armed!
Kelly l m kenzie recently posted…Dreadful News Revealed
Yes, that’s me. Telling wayward tweens to sit down so I can watch the kiddie Disney flick! That movie by the way, if you and your son like Harry Potter, may appeal to you. Have your young man google it first, though. I don’t want to take the blame if he thinks it’s for babies vs. 19yo’s!
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…Five Fun Family Flicks to Watch with Tweens
What a great list! We love Big Hero 6! And when I say ‘we’ I mean my husband and I. Grandma bought it for my 3-year-old for Easter not realizing it was for older kids, and it was a little too scary for him. 🙂 Everyone keeps telling me I need to see The Princess Bride; I need to just rent it! Thank for sharing your list with us! 🙂
Kelsey Ferguson recently posted…5 Tips to Turn Around a Bad Day
If you have a library nearby, too, they probably have Princess Bride. Warning: it gets better the more you watch it! Lots of great quotes. Thanks for commenting and let me just say my son *loved* the Disney movie “Cars” when he was 3. That’s a great one for boys that age, if you haven’t seen it. 🙂
We saw Big Hero 6 in the theater and really enjoyed it. My husband liked it too, which is a bonus for Disney!
Rabia @TheLiebers recently posted…Open Boxes {Book Review}
Now I’m interested in hearing why it’s a bonus that Ken liked a Disney movie?! Is there a blog post in there somewhere? What did I miss? 🙂
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…Five Fun Family Flicks to Watch with Tweens
Those are some great picks! I just watched The Sound of Music with m y kiddos last night… got it from the library! I am going to get some of the old classics this summer and watch them with my kids. The need to see them!!
Chris Carter recently posted…How To Make It Through Middle School
Yes! My kids don’t know The Wizard of OZ or Sound of Music. It would be fun to watch these with them. If I can get my 11yo away from his video games. The 8yo will probably like them and start singing them around the house. 🙂
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…Five Fun Family Flicks to Watch with Tweens
Great choices! Home Alone 2, Princess Bride, Big Hero 6, and the Pacifier are very enjoyable movies. I’ve never seen The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Thanks for linking up to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party. I have pinned your post to the Bloggers Brags Broad.
Brandi @ penguinsinpink.com recently posted…Bloggers Brags Weekly Pinterest Party Wk 81
Thanks, Brandi! Love the Bloggers Brag party. 🙂
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…Five Fun Family Flicks to Watch with Tweens
Haha, oh gosh, The Pacifier is classic. I would add Ferris Bueller’s Day Off…but maybe the edited for tv version!
Jessica @ Absurd, She Wrote recently posted…The Selfie Project: Staying in the Picture
Ooo, I love Ferris Bueller. I wonder if it would hold up today or if my tween would be asleep/bored wondering why I love it so much!
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…Five Fun Family Flicks to Watch with Tweens
Great picks. I love Princess Bride, and my boys love Big Hero 6. Thanks for sharing on Small Victories Sunday link up.
Rachel recently posted…What My 6-year-old Taught Me about Kindergarten
Seeing the list it is clear that the tweens have a great taste of movies and we adults are still stuck with the old cartoon characters. LOL A good collection of must watch movies.