Children’s Day, celebrated this Thursday (12), falls, as every year, on the national holiday of Our Lady of Aparecida, the country’s patron saint. And what to do with the little ones — besides that gift promised every year — who are at home? Choosing good movies can be the perfect program to enjoy with your children.
From the oldest to the newest works, there is a wide variety of incredible titles for children. Live-actions, animations, comedy and lots of production for the whole family make up the list of 15 film options that we have separated for you to choose what you want to play this holiday.
Check it out below.
1. “ET The Extra-Terrestrial” (1982)
Release date of: December 25, 1982
A true cinema classic, “ET The Extra-Terrestrial” is a science fiction film directed by none other than Steven Spielberg. Marked by a child’s protagonism, the film explores the strong friendship that emerged between a boy and a being who came from another planet, protected from becoming a guinea pig for scientific experiments at all costs by his new friend.
The cast stars seven-year-old Drew Barrymore, as well as Henry Thomas, Robert MacNaughton, Dee Wallace and Peter Coyote.
Where to watch? Amazon Prime Video
2. “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” (1989)
Release date of: June 23, 1989
Another children’s classic, “Honey, I Shrunk the Children” is a mix of science fiction and comedy. It all revolves around scientist Wayne Szalinski, who one day ends up shrinking his two teenage sons and two neighborhood boys by accident. The children become the size of insects.
From then on, the teenagers will have to face several problems due to their size, while their father searches for them, and also for a solution.
The cast is made up of Rick Moranis, Amy O’Neil, Robert Oliveri, Thomas Wilson Brown, Jared Rushton and Marcia Strassman.
Where to watch? Disney+
3. “The Crazy Boy” (1995)
Release date of: July 7, 1995
Responsible for marking generations, “O Menino Maluquinho” can still be quite influential on the current generation. In the late 1960s, Menino Maluquinho is a normal boy, happy and well looked after by his family who, while enjoying his childhood playing in the street with the gang, observes the world around him and learns to deal with life.
The cast is made up of Samuel Costa, Luís Carlos Arutin, Patrícia Pillar, Samuel Brandão and Othon Bastos.
Where to watch? Globoplay
4. “Shrek” (2001)
Release date of: June 22, 2001
Almost an obligatory work for children, “Shrek” is an animation that shows an ogre whose life is invaded by fairytale characters who destroy the tranquility of his home. With them, he ends up making a deal to rescue a princess in a castle in a land “so far away”.
Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Chris Miller, Conrad Vernon, John LithGow and Christopher Nights are some of the names that voice the iconic enchanted characters.
Where to watch? Netflix
5. “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (2001)
Release date of: November 23, 2001
What better saga to marathon with children than the eight “Harry Potter” films? The world’s most beloved wizard is an orphaned boy who lives unhappily with his aunt and uncle, the Dursleys. In the first film in the saga (and also the most magical for kids), Harry receives a letter with an invitation to join Hogwarts, a famous school specializing in training young wizards.
This is how Harry enters a magical world he never imagined existed, living different adventures with his new friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.
The saga’s remarkable cast is made up of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grin, Emma Watson, Tom Felton and Alan Rickman.
Where to watch? All films in the “Harry Potter” franchise are available on HBO Max.
6. “Madagascar” (2005)
Release date of: June 24, 2005
Comedy and animals make up this plot ideal for children. Alex the lion is the king of the urban jungle, the main attraction at the New York Zoo. He and his best friends – Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the female hippopotamus – have always lived in captivity, happily, with regular meals and an adoring public.
However, Marty wants to explore the world and ends up fleeing the place, taking all his friends on an adventure around the world.
The voice of this animation is none other than Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith and Sacha Baron Cohen.
Where to watch? Netflix
7. “Despicable Me” (2010)
Release date of: August 6, 2010
A man who loves all things devilish, the supervillain Gru, hatches a plan to simply steal the moon. Surrounded by an army of little yellow helpers and his arsenal of weapons and war machines, he prepares to destroy anyone who crosses his path.
However, he didn’t expect his biggest and most unusual challenge on the path of this journey: three adorable orphans who want to have Gru as a father.
Where to watch? Amazon Prime Video
8. “Frankenweenie” (2012)
Release date of: November 2, 2012
“Frankenweenie” is the perfect film combination for children to also enjoy the month of Halloween, a little darker and with a hint of the supernatural. The character Victor loves making homemade horror movies, almost always starring his dog Sparky.
When the dog dies after being run over, the boy is sad and unhappy. Inspired by a science class he had at school, where a teacher shows that it is possible to stimulate movement through electricity, he builds a machine that allows him to revive Sparky. The experiment works, but what Victor didn’t expect was that his best friend would return with slightly different habits.
The cast includes Martin Short, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Landau and Atticus Shaffer.
Where to watch: Disney+
9. “Turma da Mônica: Laços” (2019)
Release date of: June 27, 2019
Opening the live-action options, we have nothing less than the film adaptation of the Turma da Mônica comic books. In “Turma da Mônica: Laços”, Floquinho disappears. To find her pet dog, Cebolinha relies on her friends Cascão, Mônica and Magali and, of course, an infallible plan.
The cast includes Giulia Benite, Kevin Vechiatto, Laura Rauseo, Gabriel Moreira and Rodrigo Santoro. In 2021, the actors also participated in “Turma da Mônica: Lições”. How about a marathon?
Where to watch? Amazon Prime Video.
10. “The Lion King” (2019)
Release date of: July 18, 2019
Simply a live-action version of a great Disney classic. In “The Lion King”, Simba is a young lion whose destiny is to become king of the jungle. However, a trap created by his uncle Scar causes Mufasa, the current king, to die trying to save the cub.
Consumed by guilt, Simba leaves the kingdom for a distant place, where he meets friends who teach him to once again enjoy life. A new live-action film from the Kings of the Jungle universe is scheduled to premiere in 2024.
The characters’ voices are composed by a strong cast, which includes Beyoncé, Donald Glover, Seth Rogen and James Earl Jones.
Where to watch? Disney+
11. “Paw Patrol: The Movie” (2021)
Release date of: September 9, 2021
Cuteness and fun make up the film version of the cartoon “Paw Patrol”. In this adventure, the puppy Ryder and his friends have a big challenge: stop the city’s new mayor, Humdinger, from causing too much trouble. Together and equipped with lots of technology, the Paw Patrol fights to save the residents of Adventure City.
A new film in the universe was released on October 3 in theaters. For those who also want to go to the cinema with their children, you already know what to choose. The voice cast consists of Kim Kardashian, Iain Armitage, Lilly Bartlam and Marsai Martin.
Where to watch? Netflix
12. “The Sea Beast” (2022)
Release date of: June 15, 2022
“The Sea Beast” is a Netflix original animation. In the film, a charming sailor leaves the comfortable world of the continent to sail into unknown waters. During the adventure, he comes across an intriguing sea monster who, surprisingly, ends up becoming an essential ally in facing the storms.
The cast includes Karl Urban, Zaris Angel-Hator, Jared Harris and Marianne Jean-Baptiste.
Where to watch? Netflix
13. “Pinocchio” (2022)
Release date of: September 8, 2022
New version of Pinocchio’s story in live-action! In the film directed by Robert Zemeckis, Geppetto is a carpenter who builds a wooden doll called Pinocchio. He treats him as if he were his real son and due to his genuine love for the doll, the Blue Fairy grants his wish to make the doll talk.
After coming to life, Pinocchio is instructed by Jiminy Cricket on a great adventure.
The strong cast consists of Tom Hanks, Cynthia Irivo, Benjamin Evan, Luke Evans and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Where to watch? Disney+
14. The Little Mermaid (2023)
Release date of: May 25, 2023
Disney’s live-action bet for 2023 is the story of the little mermaid Ariel – and is now available on streaming. Very faithful to the studio’s original animation, a young mermaid makes a deal with a sea witch to exchange her beautiful voice for human legs so she can discover the world above the water and impress a prince.
The great cast includes Halle Bailey, Javier Bardem, Jonah Hauer-King and Melissa McCarthy.
Where to watch? Disney+
15. “Elements” (2023)
Release date of: June 15, 2023
Fresh out of the cinema, “Elementos” is one of those animated partnerships between Disney and Pixar — which has already produced films such as “Inside Out” and “Soul”.
In a city where inhabitants of fire, water, earth and air coexist, a young fiery woman and an aquatic boy discover something surprising, yet elementary: how much they have in common.
The voice cast consists of Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Catherine O’Hara and Wendi McLendon.
Where to watch? Disney+
Source: CNN Brasil
I’m Robert Neff, a professional writer and editor. I specialize in the entertainment section, providing up-to-date coverage on the latest developments in film, television and music. My work has been featured on World Stock Market and other prominent publications.
