7 Classic Hollywood Movies To Watch With Your Kids This Summer
Looking for a way to keep your kids occupied indoors? Here are some classic Hollywood movies to create wonderful memories with your kids this summer.
After trying out some indoor games for kids you’ve probably tried finding new creative kids activities to keep them happy and having fun.
And which parent can avoid the lure of educational websites, online games, and inspirational movies to play our guilt-free babysitters. At least they’re safe indoors, right?
If you have kids below 10, it’s even harder to keep them from getting bored indoors because they have such short attention spans.
Of course, there are many delightful and charming stories to read to them over and over again, especially if you have a nice collection of hardcover or board books for kids.
Watching brand new movies are great, too, especially now that people are getting vaccinated and starting to go back to the theatre.
Most of us have missed breathing in the buttery popcorn smell and are giddy with anticipation when a new movie is released.
Children love watching the latest movies, but it’s even more fun when you hear them singing the songs we used to sing as kids.
Hearing their little off-key renditions to tunes like Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious or Tomorrow is music to our ears.
Have you introduced your children to the movies you enjoyed when you were younger? If not, here are some you should definitely watch with them.
1. The Wizard Of Oz (1939)
Who can forget Judy Garland’s much-loved rendition of Over The Rainbow in this classic musical fantasy about Dorothy Gale, a young Kansas farm girl who dreams of a land “somewhere over the rainbow.”
Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are carried away by a tornado that takes them and their family house to a bright and magical world unlike any she’s seen before.
Among her many adventures, she makes an enemy of a wicked witch, is befriended by a Scarecrow without a brain, a Tin Man with no heart, and a Cowardly Lion.
On their journey along the Yellow Brick Road, they meet the Munchkins and reach the Emerald City where they beseech the all-powerful Wizard of Oz to help Dorothy return home and grant them other gifts.
They get captured by the Witch’s evil flying monkeys who carry them off to her lair. Many surprises are in store for them as Dorothy finally realises the value of her enchanted ruby slippers and that “there’s no place like home.”
2. The Sound of Music (1965)
The hills are alive with the sound of music, as the title song says. Your home will resound with the sound of music too once your kids watch this Academy award-winning musical based on the 1949 memoir The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp.
Who can fail to be charmed by the delightful songs like Do, Re, Me and My Favourite Things in this American musical drama film starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer?
This unforgettable musical tells the story of a young Austrian postulant in pre-WW2 Salzburg, Austria, who is sent to the villa of a retired naval officer and widower to be governess to his seven children.
After bringing much love and music into the lives of the family, she marries the officer and, together with the children, finds a way to survive the loss of their homeland to the Nazis.
3. Mary Poppins (1964)
Despite the wonderful remake with Emily Blunt, the 1964 version of this musical will always be my favourite.
It stars Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in the story of a magical nanny, Mary Poppins, who enters the lives of Mr and Mrs Banks and their kids, Jane and Michael, who are despondent as their parents are preoccupied with their own interests.
When Mary Poppins enters their lives, she brings the family closer. Between the animated penguin scene, the chimney sweep dance, and Mary Poppins’ magical songs, your children will be entranced.
4. Oliver (1968)
Based on the 1960 stage musical, an adaptation of Charles Dickens’s 1838 novel Oliver Twist, this charming British musical drama film stars Mark Lester as the orphan with the angelic voice and countenance.
Co-starring Ron Moody as the very entertaining Fagin and Jack Wild as the Artful Dodger, this Academy award-winning musical includes unforgettable numbers such as Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two, and Where Is Love?
5. Annie (1982)
Oh, how we love Annie! The music, the dancing, the wealthy Daddy Warbucks, and a happy ending — it doesn’t get much better than that!
This Academy award-winning American musical comedy-drama is based on the 1977 Broadway musical, which in turn is based on the Little Orphan Annie comic strip.
The film is set during the Great Depression in 1933 and stars Aileen Quinn as orphan Annie, the hilarious Carol Burnett as Miss Hannigan, and Albert Finney as Daddy Warbucks. It tells the story of Annie, an orphan from New York City who is adopted by America’s richest millionaire, Oliver Warbucks.
6. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Let’s just pretend that the awful, terrible, no-good remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Johnny Depp never existed (even though it was closer to the novel by Roald Dahl).
The movie, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, starring Gene Wilder is an adaptation of the 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
It tells the story of a poor child named Charlie Bucket who, after finding a Golden Ticket in a chocolate bar, visits Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory along with four other children from around the world.
Although Roald Dahl disowned the 1971 version, with memorable songs like The Candyman, which went on to become a popular hit, you can’t deny its lasting charm and appeal.
7. The Star Wars Saga (1977 to present)
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away, this saga began on the desert planet of Tatooine with a young orphan called Luke Skywalker.
This ongoing movie saga is not just for nerds and, though the jury’s still out on whether you should start out with Episode One or Episode Four, your kids will love it.
With the original trilogy, the prequels, sequels, spinoffs, and the must-watch ongoing animated series, this is one movie saga that will keep your kids hooked for a long, long time, with plenty of lightsaber action and Jedi mind tricks.
These movies are a must in every family library. Share the memories, sing the tunes, and may the Force be with you. Always!
