Let’s be honest, when it comes to the winter season, there is nothing like cuddling up with your family, spending a night in (and away from the cold outside), and watching a film. It is a great way to spend time together, and especially after running around all day, it gives everyone a chance to put their feet up and just relax. Going to the cinema, particularly if you have a larger family, can be costly (especially if your kids persuade you to get some treats…) and it requires you braving the cold outside to go do something you can do perfectly well in the comfort of your own home. Nowadays, thanks to streaming services,there are many at home budget-friendly options one can resort to. CHILI, for example, is a pay-as-you-go entertainment platform that has plenty of family movies available so you can choose something all together (with no rolling subscription to keep up every month!).
If your family is similar to mine, choosing a movie can take almost as much time as the movie takes itself. So, I thought I’d share 5 great movies to watch as a family, from me and mine to you & yours:
Paddington 2
Paddington 2. LOVED Paddington, and unusually we LOVED Paddington 2 just as much. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has even been declared the best ever reviewed film and from the critics alone, it has 164 consecutive positive reviews. In “Paddington 2”, Paddington is settled with the Brown family and for his Aunt’s birthday, he tries his best to give her the best gift ever, only for it not end the way he imagined. Paddington is this character that spreads joy and happiness everywhere he goes, a touching aspect of the film that people of all ages will surely love.
Sherlock Gnomes
“Sherlock Gnomes” is the sequal to “Gnomeo & Juliet” and a creative, kid-friendly, animated spin on well-known Sherlock Holmes. In the film, garden gnomes work to solve cases and find themselves plenty of adventure along the way. The story is light and cute, mixed in with communication lessons and is an easy watch for some family entertainment.
My Pet Dinosaur
If your kids are early-pre teens and up, “My Pet Dinosaur” is a sci-fi film packed with adventure. The film stars a young boy named Jake who has a new pet, but it’s not your typical pet. Jake befriends a new girl Abbie and the film follows them along their adventures learning about Jake’s new pet dinosaur.
My Life as a Courgette
Oscar nominee, “My Life as a Courgette”, was adapted from the 2002 novel ‘Autobiography of a Courgette’ by Gilles Paris. It is a 66 minute animated feature film that leaves an impact. The film follows the journey of a little boy with the nickname, Courgette, who after an accident, is taken to a home for orphaned kids. Courgette meets other children, makes friends, and impacts the cop who managed his case. With big, expressive faces, the characters make their way into your heart.
Jungle Book
It’s not often that I’m happy to let go of an original, but the newest live-action version of the classic Jungle Story is just… breathtakingly fabulous. Telling the same tale of Mowgli, with enough of the original to keep an old person like me happy, but different enough to not be constantly harking back, it’s a joy to the eye, the ear and the heart.
It’s a crime to not watch it together at least twice.
Whether it is animated films, adventure films or just classic kid-friendly entertainment, family movies are a favorite of mine. I know we’re not alone in choosing movie night by theme either. December has its own rules of Christmas themed movies. October is Halloween movies. Summer is High School romcoms. It’s a fun way to learn what types of movies everyone enjoys and who knows, you may get another family tradition out of it!
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