Classic Family Movies

Older films can feel different from today’s, with slower stories and simpler effects, but many still charm families. Here are some classics to try.

Table of Contents

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

A girl from Kansas travels to a magical land and meets new friends along the way. Its leap from black-and-white to color still delights viewers.

A joyful musical comedy about Hollywood’s move from silent films to sound, packed with dance and humor.

A magical nanny changes the lives of a London family. It blends live action and animation.

A musical about a young woman and a family of singing children, set in the Austrian countryside.

A heartfelt adventure about a boy who befriends a gentle visitor from space.

A fairy-tale adventure with humor, sword fights, and romance, told as a story within a story.

Explain beforehand that effects and pacing were different then.
Pause to chat about what you notice.
Check the age rating, as standards for what suited children have changed over time.
Try one classic per month and let children choose a favorite scene to describe afterwards.

Watching classics together gives every generation something to talk about.