Well, now that we've exhausted indoor play and outdoor play, we're here to help guide you through some family-friendly movies! 

Set the Scene : It's more fun to create a "relaxing" environment to either read books or watch movies. Here's a few ways to spice up your living areas before embarking on a movie marathon.

Jumbo Projector

Hang a white sheet on your wall or in your garage. You can rent a projector from the Memphis library or go ahead and buy one on Amazon. Movies are more fun when they're large! Put down pillows or rearrange your couches for a fun, comfy movie night in!

Create drive-in "cars"

Get a big ole box from one of your home delivery services and convert it to a car! Raid that art closet you just created. Cut out wheels, headlights, and make a steering wheel! Park it in front of the TV, put a pillow inside for a comfy tush, and you have your very own drive-in theatre. 

Movies by streaming service:

1. Space Jam- classic 90's movie featuring the last time the NBA season was cancelled due to illness
2. Hook- my kids love Peter Pan, so imagine how excited they were that there was a movie about what happened when he finally grew up!
3. Richie Rich- Poor little rich kid with no friends, until his parents get kidnapped and he sets out to find out who took them.
4. Captain Underpants Epic Choice-o-Rama/Carmen Sandiego: To Steal or Not to Steal- both of these are interactive, choose your own adventure type movies. So fun!
5. Stuart Little- this was one of my favorite books as a kid and the movie is super cute!
6. A Wrinkle in Time- another classic book turned movie! Have your kiddos read this one (or read it to them) then watch the movie. There are LOTS of differences to talk about!
7. Christopher Robin- He's all grown up now and Pooh needs his help to find his friends. Once reunited, they help Christopher rediscover the joy in his life. Great for kids of all ages!
8. Good Burger- it's as silly and ridiculous as you remember.
9. A Series of Unfortunate Events- Three orphans are investigating their parents death. The cast is amazing. The book is amazing. 
10. National Treasure- for all your history loving kiddos, a modern treasure hunt!

 

1. Rango- a chameleon accidentally becomes a hero when he ends up the sheriff in a frontier town called Dirt. Johnny Depp is great in this.
2. Charlotte's Webb- this is the classic, 1973 version aka the best one!
3. Heidi- based on the biggest Swiss bestseller of all time, Heidi is a young orphan girl in the Swiss Alps forced to move into the home of an upper-class, Frankfurt family and struggles to fit in 
4. Leave it to Beavers- this PBS documentary that traces North American beavers from their near extinction to now is surprisingly entertaining!
5. Maya the Bee- Maya is a newly hatched bee that befriends bugs from other species, despite warning from her hive no to
6. The Last Airbender- One boy can control all 4 elements, and may be the only hope to save his war-torn world.
7. The Spy Next Door- Jackie Chan stars as a man who is babysitting his neighbor's kids when one of them accidentally downloads a secret code and he is forced to save the day
8. The Borrowers- a boy discovers a family of tiny people living beneath the floorboards of his home
9. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang- a man invents a self driving, flying car. What could go wrong?
10. The Sound of Music- I mean, what more do I need to say?

1. Wonder Park- The story of an amusement park where the imagination of June comes alive
2. Passport to Paris- the best Mary Kate and Ashely movie
3. The Mighty Ducks- a true classic; watch is ASAP
4. Babe- this movie makes me laugh and cry; love it!
5. George of the Jungle- a baby is raised by gorillas and grows up to be a lovable klutz
6. Free Willy- Jesse is an orphan forced to work at a sea life park, he forms a bond with an orca whale that has been separated from his family
7. Pokemon Detective Pikachu- this one came out last year; my first grader is obsessed
8. How to Train your Dragon: The Hidden World- I'm PRETTY sure this is the last one of the series
9. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers- show your kids YOUR action heroes!

 

I'm going to list these in 2 categories. One is movies that make my 90's heart happy. And one is Disney classics you may have forgotten about.

90's/2000's classics:

1. Honey I Shrunk the Kids- my kids have actually watched this and they LOVE it
2. While You Were Sleeping- See? Disney+ has stuff for big kids too! Your tweens will love this romantic comedy!
3. Freaky Friday- mother/daughter body swap! Classic!
4. Blank Check- An 11-year-old cashed a blank check for a million bucks. What could go wrong?
5. 10 Things I Hate About You- Oh how I miss Heath Ledger (plus, sneaky Shakespeare plot!)
6. Three Men and a Baby- Three bachelors adapt to pseudo-fatherhood after the arrival of the love child of one of them (this may be a plot that is a bit touchy to explain...)
7. Never Been Kissed- frumpy reporter gets a makeover and goes undercover in a high school. And then falls for her teacher.
8. Sister Act- a lounge singer hides out from the mob by pretending to be a nun in a convent; how did these movies get made??
9. Rookie of the Year- a 12 year old boy can throw 100mph fastballs...
10. The Rocketeer- a pilot discovers a top-secret jetpack; there's something about Nazis? 

Classic Disney movies:

1. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
2. The Fox and the Hound
3. The Artistocats
4. Chip and Dale: Rescue Rangers
5. Oliver and Company
6. The Sword and the Stone
7. Pinocchio
8. Sleeping Beauty
9. The Jungle Book
10. Lady and the Tramp (the new remake is pretty good as well)

Bonus: Frozen 2 is out now. Because Disney loves us.