Favorite movies?

Not related to anything in particular, but I’ve been observing my 2 yr old and he actually loves the older movies. Like I’m talking “White Christmas” and “Calamity Jane” and pretty much all Elvis movies.

Now he does appreciate kids movies now as well, like “Frozen” and “Toy Story” and cant forget “Moana” lol. But I find myself actually enjoying the older movies. It’s amazing to see how times have changed in the past 40-50 years. Yes I’m still a “Youngin” 😁 but still. I prefer older movies vs what kids watch today.

So, what kind of movies do your kiddos watch, or what kind of older movies should we try and watch? Cause watching the same stuff over and over.... well it gets kinda old lol.

My kids grew up on Star Wars, Indian Jones, The Matrix, and other classics!

My favorite comedy.

Mine too! Used to be my dads favorite movie as well, we watch it every year on Christmas Day, I’ve made that a tradition

Sadly I am not a Star Wars fan... or Indiana Jones fan. But I can do matrix and several other classics as well!

When my kids were that age I banned loads of movies and tv shows.
In fact I bought one of my sons a Harry Potter book because he'd been going on about it and the author was signing copies. I had a quick look at it, intending to read him a few chapters at bed time, and confiscated it immediately !
I didn't let them watch the movies and I've never seen them myself.

You mention Star Wars and Indianna Jones, and I let them watch those, so I'm not that miserable, but I think you've got to be very careful what you expose them to.

When I look at the films and tv shows going around at the moment, it's
hard to find anything to watch myself, and for anyone with young kids I don't know what you could let them watch

We don’t watch a lot of “tv” shows cause we don’t have cable, and with our internet service we can stream more than we could keep track of tv show wise. So we stick to Mr. Rodgers on YouTube, and PBS kids shows, and the Disney and Pixar movies. And believe it or not, my 2 yr old even likes watching Dr. Who when me and the hubs have “adult” tv time. He actually enjoys watching that series with us.

The only real thing I’m keeping him away from is scary stuff, and horror movies. Gonna wait quite awhile before we introduce him to that kind of stuff.

You don't think Dr Who is a bit dodgy ?
I used to let the kids watch it years ago, but that was before it was selling an atheist agenda. I've never specially liked it myself anyway.

Changing the subject to your other question , try "The Third man" with Orson Wells and Joseph Cotton. Also"Night train to Munich", which I think is Rex Harrison - but I might be wrong.
Hard to beat "Zulu" with Stanley Baker and a young Michael Caine.
Finally, "The Spy who came in from the Cold " with Richard Burton.

I mean he’s only 2. What fascinates him is the different colors and creatures they come up with on that show. Not like he actually understands the show lol. But my hubby is the one who got me hooked on that show. I didn’t even know it existed till he watched it one day and the opening theme song caught my attention.

You'll love the Harry Lyme theme, which is the music on the Third Man then.
Once you hear it you keep humming it

2 years old? Who remembers anything they watched at 2 years old?!

Sorry when I was 2 I probably wasnt aware of much except I wanted my mum to watch ME

Older movies are the BESSST. I grew up on Singin in the Rain, Funny Face, Holiday In, The Quiet Man, and lots of Doris Day.

If I could think about it I’d recommend some super obscure ones it would be Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Inspector General, the Court Jester, maybe the Thin Man series

top 5
Chariots of Fire
The Mission
Rocky 1
Taxi Driver
12 Angry Men

12 Angry Men is a great old movie.
Also
In the Heat of the Night with Sidney Poitier
Lilies of the Field with Poitier

Rocky 1 is such a motivational movie. Its a reminder to not let ourselves settle for less.
God knows our potential is much higher than we think.
Gotta love the run up the steps.
Miracles can occur!

Ha! Funny thing is my son already watched Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, in fact that movie alone is what got him to sleep when he was very little, like infant little. He loves Calamity Jane, so we always watch that as well, and he seems to like any older movie that has a lot of singing in it. I guess you could thank me cause while I was pregnant with him I did nothing but listen to music all the time... even after he was born I was all about music till he wanted to watch something lol.

I think we will try the Thin Man series soon and see how he likes that. And thank you all for the great recommendations!

For a boy..not a movie but I remember my brothers used to love watching Thomas the Tank engine.

Anything to do with trains or boats. titanic (the older version ' a Night to Remember' was a favourite. They would watch that and over and over.

For children old movie musicals are the best

Charlie and the chocolate factory the version with Gene Wilder

The Sound of Music
Annie

Singin in the rain, anything with Gene Kelly, Fred astaire or Judy Garland (although I would caution wizard of oz, flying monkeys and wicked witches can be frightening)
Many of the musicals produced in the 30s 40s and 50s are quite fun to watch. And sometimes sing along to.

Even the older disney, not the pixar ones but the animated Aladdin, Lion King etc.

If its rated G its generally OK for children to watch. Anything PG you sit with them. Thats what the ratings are for. I know some people, dont even pay attention to the ratings but thats what they are there for to guide you. Unfortunately thers no B rating for boring.

When we issued dvds at the library I would always check to see if it was age appropriate and that nobody was getting out R13 or R16 who was underage. The same with video games people these days dont even check. Thankfully some places have stopped selling R movies because nobody was even checking.

Im just watching some roald Dahl movies at the moment as at school the children are into this books. If they are aged 7-12 roald Dahl is the author that most of them like.

The other favourite is Diary of a Wimpy Kid which has been made into a movie. Movie adaptations of childrens books can be a good if they are also reading the books or you are reading to them. Why is disney so popular its because most of their movies are adaptations of tradtional fairy tales. Thomas the tank engine was originally childrens books.

Dont discount christian movies either, like the Ten commandments and Prince of Egypt that are adaptations of the Bible. The Jesus movie.

Some classic childrens books
Charlottes Web
Where the wild things are
The very Hungry Caterpillar
The Gruffalo
Winnie the Pooh
mary Poppins

Another that I liked for children not a book but try Shaun the Sheep. The claymation. Wallace and Gromit. Very funny and cute.

I was raised on old films.

Arsenic and Old Lace is my favorite. Almost anything done by Hitchcock when the kiddo is older. Some of his older movies are more kid-friendly.

Judging by her tastes, she'll probably enjoy Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Annie Get Your Gun, and Yankee Doodle Dandy.

For dancing flicks, try anything with Fred Astaire. Shall We Dance and Swing Time are a couple of greats.


Movies back then were true works of art. It's sad to see what Hollywood has become.