12 Childhood Classics You Should Re-Watch With Your Kids

Who Doesn’t Love a Good Movie?

There’s something so comforting about watching a great movie. Is there anything better than curling up on the couch with popcorn and a blanket and zoning out for 2 hours? It’s a chance to get lost in another time and place, check out of the real world for a bit, laugh, cry, sing along or … all of the above. As much as most of us enjoy watching a new flick, especially when it’s good, I think there’s a reason our kids had Frozen on repeat for 2 years. It’s the same reason Moana turned into an instant classic and that the Beauty and the Beast remake did so well. Predictability and familiarity are good for the soul.

As our own kids have gotten older, sometimes we crave a change of pace. There’s only so many times I can listen to Maui bellowing “what can I say except you’re welcome.” Bear in mind that some of our own childhood classics may have language or antiquated thinking that may be eye-opening, so depending on your children’s ages and your own parenting philosophies and preferences, you may want to binge these alone before exposing your kids.

Either way, whether you invite your kids to go back in time with you or host a movie marathon for yourself, there are some movies from our childhood that are absolutely worth re-watching time and time again. What would you add to the list?

12 Childhood Classics You Should Re-Watch With Your Kids

Home Alone (PG) :: you knew this would make the list, right? It’s with good reason. My kids ADORE this movie at the holidays, so much so that this past year they even asked to watch Home Alone 2 (which does not make the list in my opinion). This is one that just doesn’t get old, although I tend to think it’s more special when reserved only for December.

Troop Beverly Hills (PG) :: it just wasn’t a slumber party in the 90s without watching this, am I right? Break out Girl Talk and the VCR and life is good. The movieswardrobes are spectacular, and I imagine any little girl who’s slinging cookies right now would enjoy this throwback.

Mrs. Doubtfire (PG-13) :: likely more appropriate for older kids, Mrs. Doubtfire still gives me all the feels. This may be one to revisit as adults only, but you gotta give it up to the dad for his effort. Plus his ability to trick the kids and his ex-wife was impressive.

Harry and the Hendersons (PG) :: my own children actually stumbled upon this one by accident on Netflix, and my own excitement and enthusiasm got the better of me so I allowed them to watch. I loved this one as a kid, but I will warn you that there is indeed some language.

The Parent Trap (G) :: I myself am partial to the 1960s original, but the remake is solid as well. Even though you’ve watched it 75 times, you still find yourself cheering along with these adorable twins.

The Sandlot (PG) :: when I asked a group of friends what movies they grew up on, this one was cited again and again and again. Our kids routinely ask to watch it, and for the most part it’s a “safe” family movie for school-aged children.

Honey I Shrunk The Kids (PG) :: as an adult this one gives me anxiety, but yet I still watch. I remember vividly being a little girl and thinking “wow it would be so cool to ride down a blade of grass waterslide style.”

Wizard of Oz (PG) :: once you get past the oddness of monkeys and such, this is another that we revisit in our house fairly often. I was actually fairly skeptical about allowing my kids to see it (I for sure thought we were headed to nightmare central), but … they love it? They’ve never been spooked? They ask to watch it? So we go with it. I thought the tornado or Oz’s voice would be too much, but they enjoy it … and it does have a way of sucking you in.

Father of the Bride (PG) :: I haven’t introduced this to my kids yet, but it’s PG so I’m thinking in a few years they’ll love it as much as I do. Who didn’t want to grow up in that gorgeous white house and shoot basketball in that driveway? I find this one a tear-jerker now that I’m a mom, but it’s still so, so good.

Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead (PG-13) :: so I’ll admit this is one that I’m shocked my parents allowed, but goodness gracious is it a classic. I am not sure I’d introduce this to my kids BUT if you haven’t watched it in a minute, put it on your list. I can personally recite the entire movie, which I’m certain is wasting a lot of brain space, but you’re just not gonna be my friend if you don’t throw “I’m right on top of that, Rose!” into conversation at least once a week.

The Sound of Music (G) :: I grew up on this thanks to my own mom, and it’s a movie that I genuinely love. It does get a tad long for kids at close to 3 hours, and my little boy is not amused in the least at this flick, but there’s nothing I love more than the gazebo scene! Sing it with me, “I am 16, going on 17…” The music is classic, and the scenery is beautiful. This one gets me every time it’s on TV. Let’s pretend the live remake never happened, as THAT was a disaster.

Summer Rental (PG) :: I may out myself as a weirdo with this one, as my own husband had never seen it either, but I loved this movie as a kid (and still do)! I don’t know why I liked watching this family’s summer vacation unravel, but there’s just something about John Candy and his mishaps that makes me giggle to this day.

Honorable Mention ::

When you start going back in time, there are honestly SO many great movies we watched as kids. There was no way to summarize them all, so I focused on my own personal favorites, but below are almost 30 more titles you could revisit in your own home.

The Goonies  ||  Problem Child  ||  Dennis The Menace  ||  Babes In Toyland  ||  Little Rascals  ||  Cheaper By The Dozen  ||  Beetlejuice  ||  Back to the Future  ||  Annie  ||  Bedknobs and Broomsticks  ||  Ghostbusters  ||  Mr. Mom  ||  Adventures In Babysitting  ||  Big  ||  Ferris Bueller’s Day Off  ||  The Great Outdoors  ||  Mary Poppins  ||  Little Giants  ||  ET  ||  Cool Runnings  ||  Richie Rich  ||  Sister Act  ||  Mighty Ducks  ||  The Worst Witch  ||  Hook  ||  The Princess Bride  ||  Pippi Longstocking  ||  Flubber  ||  Jumanji  ||  Spaceballs

What else would you add to your “must re-watch” list?

Ashley Angelico
Ashley is the Co-Owner of New Orleans Mom, Red Stick Mom and Lafayette Mom, now the largest network of parenting websites in South Louisiana. Proud graduates of the University of Virginia, she and her husband Blaise spent time in Tampa and Scottsdale prior to settling down back home in New Orleans, something they both said "would never happen." An avid runner, she'll try any workout at least once and is always up for sweating with friends. When she’s not shuttling her 3 very active kids to school, gymnastics or baseball, you can find her cheering for the Saints, trying new restaurants or spending time with family and friends. She's also not afraid to return mediocre books to the library before finishing them because life is too short for bad books. A native New Orleanian, Ashley loves exploring and discovering the beauty of South Louisiana through her growing children's eyes.

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