It’s Friday night movie night and everyone’s excited! But you all will need to get to bed in decent time for activities tomorrow, so you have to pick a movie now.
And . . . uuuhummmm . . . one person wants this movie, someone else wants this move, and before you know it, you’ve scrolled streaming services for 30 minutes and still don’t have a show (and now everyone will for sure be going to bed late).
*Sigh.*
Sound familiar?
I hope it does for at least some of you, because otherwise our family would be the only one with that problem . . . which is just embarrassing.
But anywho, whether you struggle with picking shows on movie nights or not, it’s fun to ramp up the nostalgia by watching 1990s movies with your family.
So, here’s a list of some of the best ones to make picking quick and easy!
(I give age recommendations for a lot of these, but if you want more guidance, you can also use the website “Kids in Mind” to search for movies and check them for content. This is THE BEST movie-checker tool out there, in my opinion; we used it all growing up and it’s still more thorough than most any other site!)
A Kid in King Arthur’s Court
This is such an obscure (nowadays) but fun movie!
The plot follows a modern teenager who magically gets transported back to Camelot and must defend the King from a nefarious plot.
It’s cute, there’s some romance, and the ending makes you smile extra.
Also, though there is some light language, you don’t really notice it (it’s super minimal).
Ever After
This historical-fiction movie is a beautiful twist on the story of Cinderella. If you haven’t seen it, you’re missing out!
I’d recommend it for slightly older children (like 7 or 8 and up) and teens, because there is a little bit of language and younger kids might not follow along with the story as well.
But anyone old enough to be into romance and history will likely think it’s great (It has an excellent 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes!).
The Iron Giant
I remember getting this movie as a kid and having my mom insist that we all watch it. Which was odd for her (she didn’t typically encourage us to watch movies).
But she had her reasons. The movie teaches an important lesson (one my mom didn’t want us to miss): we all have the ability to choose whether we hurt or help others.
And honestly, what could be more relevant in the turmoil of today?
I will note that I haven’t watched this with my littles yet—there’s a character that takes the Lord’s name in vain and swears a good bit, and the story line is a bit scary for young kids. I’ll probably watch it with my oldest when she’s 7 or 8.
The Sandlot
This one is a favorite of my husband, though I confess I haven’t watched all of it (Somehow something always happens and I don’t make it through).
But I know many people would agree that it deserves a place of honor on a 90s movie list, so here it is.
Note that there is some language, sexism, and some tobacco use by kids (it makes them sick).
Because of that, I’d recommend it as a coming-of-age movie for children 8 and up.
Hook
This is another classic movie about what happens to Peter Pan when he grows up, forgets who he was, and then has to return to Neverland to save his children.
It’s a great plot (I almost feel bad explaining it, because I feel like everyone should just know it). And of course it’s entertaining, because hello—it has Robin Williams AND Dustin Hoffman in it.
The one downside to this movie is that there’s a good bit of language, some sexual innuendos, and a lot of comedic violence. For the sake of the language and innuendos, though, I probably would recommend saving this one for older kids (like 10 and up) and teens.
The Swan Princess
What childhood is complete without a watching of The Swan Princess?
This is such a fun one. It’s a twist on the classic Swan Lake story that Tchaikovsky made famous (though the movie includes no references to the ballet other than the basic concept of the plot).
It’s totally clean, and I’d be willing to show it to my kids at any age.
Of course, it is possible that some kids might be scared by the antagonist (He’s a sorcerer). But I usually address slightly scary parts in movies for my littles with a phrase like “The next part will be a little scary, but everyone will be okay.” That’s usually enough to get us through to the happy ending.
Cool Runnings
This is another that I haven’t seen, but that both my husband and the internet would agree need to be on here.
It follows a Jamaican Bobsled team who train for the Olympics even though they’ve never seen snow. Humor and heart ensue!
From what I can find out, this movie is totally clean other than a couple of swear words. I would be fine with anyone watching it at my house.
Homeward Bound
As a child, I went through a short, obsessive phase with the story “Homeward Bound.”
I think it was because of the dogs. I loved learning about them and my favorite game at the time was to be my mom’s pet dog (bless my mother for her patience).
Basically, real-looking dogs that could talk were just amazing to me.
And all that aside, I’d say this is a fun, cute movie for anyone. It’s based on a book, and it’s about two dogs and a cat that accidentally get lost by their family and travel cross-country to make it home.
It’s totally clean, and I’d happily watch it with kids of any age.
A Little Princess
Ah, this one is a classic!
It’s about a little girl named Sara whose father goes off to war in WWI. She’s left at a school for girls with a headmistress who can’t understand her belief that every girl is a princess—regardless of her race, age, or station.
This movie is 100% clean, and a great family film. Though, boys may or may not be as interested in the storyline, since it’s mainly about girls (I think the story is entertaining for anyone, though).
Home Alone
I didn’t watch Home Alone until I was an adult, but my inner child loved it. What kid wouldn’t love setting up a bunch of traps to catch robbers while home by themselves?
The catch with this one is that there is a lot of language. I probably wouldn’t recommend watching it with kids until they’re 7 or 8.
But I think this is an awesome holiday show for families that have children above that age mark!
Toy Story
I feel like this just has to be on here . . . I mean, 30+ years later they’re still making sequels of it. It’s that good!
I’m not going to explain the plot on this one because if you haven’t seen it, there’s nothing I can do for you. And, you have my condolences for your childhood.
(Just kidding . . . but seriously, what happened?)
It’s worth noting that some littles might need reassurance once or twice that everything will be okay (the toys in Sid’s room are a little scary). However, I would be fine watching this with anyone at any time.
The Secret Garden
This is another childhood movie that gives you all the feels. It’s about a little girl named Mary Lennox who’s spoiled (but lonely) until her parents die and she gets shipped off to her uncle’s estate in northern England. There, she learns about the joys of friendship, family, and tending plants outside.
(Okay, I know that sounds funny, but it actually is a really sweet film).
There are a couple of moderately scary parts that younger kids might need some reassurance for, but otherwise this is totally clean and family-friendly.
The Truman Show
This is a more mature movie, but I love the philosophical aspect of it: is it better to live in a perfect world without agency, or an imperfect one where you have the right to choose?
Due to the thought-provoking nature of the film, young kids probably wouldn’t find this one very interesting. But it’s a great movie for teenagers if you want to open the door to some good discussions about control, life, and our ability to choose.
Anastasia
Oh, Anastasia! I love the music from this film. If any of you haven’t seen it, it’s basically the story of an orphan setting off to forge her own path and getting swept up in a plot to pass her off as the missing princess Anastasia.
Romance, humor, and the feels ensue (of course).
Some people might have a problem with the villain (a cartoon-ified version of Rasputin) who uses clearly black magic and makes a deal with “dark powers” to destroy the Romanov family. It’s a little scary, and I probably wouldn’t watch it with a kid under 5 or so.
But other than that, it’s a clean and fun movie.
Matilda
Many people are familiar with the premise of this movie, but if you aren’t, let me explain. Basically, it’s about a girl who discovers she has magical powers and uses them to get back at unkind adults and change her life for the better.
It’s a very fun show, though the behavior of the adults (neglect and outright abuse) and a couple of swear words make it a better movie for kids aged 7 or 8 and up.
Father of the Bride
Lots of people know this one, but if you don’t, here’s the quick synopsis: It’s a hilarious (and touching) comedy about a father coming to terms with his daughter getting married.
Because of some innuendos and a little bit of language, Common Sense Media doesn’t recommend it for kids under 10.
But, I think it would make a great show for a family movie night with pre-teens and teens!
The Lion King
Whaaaaaaaat’s dab-een-det-in-yah, ba-ba-BEETZ-ee-wah-wah!
Or something like that. Anyways.
We all know the Lion King, so I’m not going to explain the plot (this is another one where I would just feel terrible for you if you hadn’t seen it).
But it’s a classic that’s great for everyone. Though, you may want to consider if your littles would be bothered by the death of Simba’s father before you start.
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There, we finished! I hope you found some great ideas on that list.
Remember to save this for reference later and to check out my other post with family-friendly 1980s film ideas.
I wish you the happiest of watch parties!
