Films For The Ages: 15 All-Time Family Classics

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Films For The Ages: 15 All-Time Family Classics
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This November, just in time for the season of cosy evenings and holiday togetherness, a new family film comes to our screens, with Paddington in Peru marking another chapter in the beloved bear’s many adventures – and misadventures. The movie also adds to the rich genre of family films which, from generation to generation, has never lost its appeal. Whether they teach us about friendship, kindness and community, or simply offer a wild ride, we put forth our picks of the family-friendly movies that have never gotten old!

By Victoria Luxford

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Films For The Ages: 15 All-Time Family Classics.
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Jumanji (1995) – One of the most beloved films of the late Robin Williams, board game night will never be the same after you watch this exciting action-comedy about two children who unlock the power of an enchanted game called Jumanji. With each roll of the dice, a new uncanny event occurs that melds game play with reality and sets wild animals loose, rampaging through the city. A modern version has been made starring Dwayne Johnson, but for us, the true magic will always lie in the original. Just stay clear of the stampede!

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Films For The Ages: 15 All-Time Family Classics.
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Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) – While we love the 2003 Tim Burton film, this adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic book – about a young boy who visits the wonderful factory of a mysterious chocolate maker – remains the version par excellence more than 50 years on. Employing ample humour, psychedelic 1970s visuals, and a wonderful performance by Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, generations have marvelled at the sweet world of fun and laughter this film brings to the screen. Wilder himself called it his favourite role, saying that whenever he was recognised as Wonka by excited children, he would always play the part for them.

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Films For The Ages: 15 All-Time Family Classics.
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Paddington (2014) – Quite simply one of the best family films of the last 20 years, the treasured British character of Paddington is brought to life through the voice of Ben Whishaw. Paddington is a lovably innocent bear from Peru who arrives in London, all alone and knowing no one, and is taken in by the kindly Brown family. Despite his tendency for chaos, Paddington teaches them – and us – the value of being kind. There are few more wholesome film series than this, with a third instalment adding to the legacy in November 2024.

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Films For The Ages: 15 All-Time Family Classics.
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Wolfwalkers (2020) – Based on traditional folklore, this captivating Irish animation is a mixture of history and fantasy. Set in 17th-century Ireland, it follows a young girl named Robyn who befriends Mebh, a girl belonging to a magic tribe that has the ability to turn into wolves. Despite being born to different sides of a divide, the pair must soon band together to fight for what’s right. The film’s profound messaging and wonderful visuals are nothing short of enthralling.

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Films For The Ages: 15 All-Time Family Classics.
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The Goonies (1985) – “Goonies never say die!” The paradigm of childhood adventure on screen, The Goonies centres on a ragtag group of youngsters who embark upon a mission to find pirate treasure in order to save their homes from foreclosure. Featuring early performances from Lord of the Rings star Sean Astin, Marvel actor Josh Brolin, and Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan, this classic adventure film never fails to thrill audiences young and old. It’s also one of the most enduring movies of the 1980s, and it’s easy to see why The Goonies’ fanbase consistently demands a long-delayed sequel.

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Films For The Ages: 15 All-Time Family Classics.
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The Addams Family (1991) – There have been a few different versions of this creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky family over the years, but the 1991 live-action version of Charles Addams’ cartoon strip is simply the best. Raul Julia, Anjelica Huston, Christina Ricci and Christopher Lloyd leap from the screen as the loving family who revel in all things macabre. You feel like part of the clan as we meet eccentric relatives and explore a house that literally comes to life! Hilariously funny, Julia and Huston’s portrayal of parents Gomez and Morticia has gone viral in recent years, with their quirky passion for each other depicted as the epitome of modern-day ‘couple goals’.

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Films For The Ages: 15 All-Time Family Classics.
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My Neighbour Totoro (1988) – A classic from Studio Ghibli, and a film that gave the studio its mascot: Totoro is a round, sleepy magical spirit who protects two young girls during an uncertain moment in their lives. Not every family film has to be wall-to-wall action, and this perennial favourite shows that a quieter tone can still reveal much wonder beneath the surface. The famous bus stop scene may be one of the most beautiful sequences ever committed to film, and everyone who has seen the film will agree they would love a ride on the magical cat bus that Totoro summons!

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Films For The Ages: 15 All-Time Family Classics.
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E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (1982) – This Steven Spielberg masterpiece became the template for the family blockbuster. Wearing for many years the mantle as the ‘highest-grossing film of all time’, it tells the story of a loveable alien who finds himself stranded and befriends a young boy named Elliott (Henry Thomas), as he attempts to find his way home. With amazing special effects and a gorgeous soundtrack, the film will fill your heart with joy as you meet the movie legend who always promises to “be right here.” The character is based on an imaginary friend Spielberg created during childhood, and we’re all grateful he decided to share him with the world.

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Films For The Ages: 15 All-Time Family Classics.
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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) – Many films have captured our imagination with a magical flying car, whether it’s sci-fi greats like Back to the Future or the magic of Harry Potter. One of the first movie flying cars to really make its mark on pop culture, however, came in this British-American production starring Dick Van Dyke as an inventor who creates a wondrous flying car that takes him and his family on a journey to a mysterious kingdom. Famed for having one of the silver-screen’s scariest villains in the Child Catcher (Robert Helpmann), the film is nonetheless a delightful celebration of creativity.

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Films For The Ages: 15 All-Time Family Classics.
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Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) – A high-concept family science-fiction comedy that will warm the heart. Rick Moranis stars as an inventor who creates a shrinking ray and accidentally shrinks his children! Viewers’ imaginations open up as the backyard becomes an obstacle course, and household insects become terrifying monsters. Funny and filled with adventure, few movies are able to make such an everyday setting so wondrous!

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Films For The Ages: 15 All-Time Family Classics.
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Home Alone (1990) – One of the biggest films of the 1990s, the house once again becomes a battleground as Kevin McAllister (Macaulay Culkin) defends his family home from burglars after he’s left all alone at Christmas by his vacationing parents. A masterpiece of slapstick comedy, paint cans and marbles become the scourge of the hapless villains, while the charm of 10-year-old Culkin makes this a holiday favourite that can be enjoyed any time of the year.

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Films For The Ages: 15 All-Time Family Classics.
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Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) – Another hit from Studio Ghibli, this time focusing on a young witch named Kiki. Using her skills with flying and talking to animals to start up her own delivery service, she one day finds both talents allude her – and she must work out what has gone wrong. As with all Ghibli films, a deeper message about discovering your place in the world underpins the beautiful animation, and the fun derives from glimpsing a world where ordinary events mix with magic.

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Films For The Ages: 15 All-Time Family Classics.
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The Lego Movie (2014) – A gigantic hit based on the universally beloved building bricks, The Lego Movie imagines a world made of Legos, where a relentlessly optimistic character (voiced by Chris Evans) finds he is the only hope against an evil overlord (Will Ferrell). What makes this movie special is its celebration of play, centring on the idea that creating something purely from our own imaginations is what makes us human. That’s as wholesome a message as you can get, combined with some of the catchiest songs you’ll ever hear!

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Films For The Ages: 15 All-Time Family Classics.
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Where the Wild Things Are (2009) – Have you ever wanted to escape the world around you and slip into a place of wonder? That’s what Max (Max Records) finds himself doing in Spike Jonze’s adaptation of a unique children’s book. Max runs away from home and finds himself in a marvellous world inhabited by Wild Things, giant creatures who declare him their king. It’s a heartfelt journey into what we all need from life: to be recognised, appreciated and loved.

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Films For The Ages: 15 All-Time Family Classics.
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Mary Poppins (1964) – We end with an all-time feel-good classic. British stage legend Julie Andrews had never appeared on film before flying into our hearts as Mary Poppins, a magic nanny who arrives to rescue a dysfunctional family from themselves. She won an Oscar for her debut – rightly so, given that the warmth she exudes in this all-singing, all-dancing spectacular is a true joy to behold. The film also brings to life a world of colour, creating a nostalgic vision of London that became part of the real city’s identity. A family classic that teaches the importance of togetherness, imagination and keeping your bedroom tidy!

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Films For The Ages: 15 All-Time Family Classics

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Films For The Ages: 15 All-Time Family Classics.

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