The makeup of cinema’s landscape is constantly changing, a state of affairs that has never been more apparent than in the current age of social media, on-demand content, and streaming platforms. Movies have been largely dominated by blockbuster franchise offerings throughout the 21st century, with box office figures indicating that audiences are more likely to gravitate towards seeing the latest MCU installment, as opposed to sinking their teeth into an older classic film.
It’s a crying shame, because popular culture is littered with classic movies that even today’s kids should see at least once. Whether it’s a hilarious animated movie or one of cinema’s best feel-good stories from the 1980s, there’s an iconic entry that will cater to all ages. These movies’ status as classics is underlined by the fact that they retain the vast majority of their stellar original reputation more than two decades after they were released, rubber-stamping their credentials as timeless hits that everybody needs to experience at least once, irrespective of what generation they hail from.
You are watching: 10 Classic Movies That Even Today’s Kids Should See At Least Once
10
Back To The Future (1985)
Directed By Robert Zemeckis
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Back to the Future
PG
Adventure
Comedy
Sci-Fi
10/10
128
9.3/10
Release Date
July 3, 1985
Runtime
116 minutes
Director
Robert Zemeckis
Writers
Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale
Producers
Bob Gale, Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy, Neil Canton
Cast
See All
-
Michael J. Fox
Marty McFly
-
Christopher Lloyd
Emmett Brown
Back to the Future follows teenager Marty McFly as he is inadvertently sent back to 1955, where he disrupts his parents’ meeting. With the assistance of eccentric inventor Doc Brown, Marty must restore the timeline by ensuring his parents fall in love and find a way back to 1985.
Main Genre
Sci-Fi
Studio(s)
Universal Pictures
Distributor(s)
Universal Pictures
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Widely regarded as one of the greatest sci-fi movies ever made, 1985’s Back to the Future is one of cinema’s all-time classics. The movie follows Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly, a teenager who is accidentally sent back to 1955 in a time-traveling contraption devised by Christopher Lloyd’s colorful mad scientist, Dr. Emmett Brown, and his desperate attempts to return to the future before he is wiped from existence.
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10 Things That Happen In Every Back To The Future Movie
Back to the Future is one of cinema”s most iconic trilogies, because its movies hang together so well. Here are 10 things they all have in common.
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One of the most influential and widely imitated films of all time, Back to the Future’s crowd-pleasing blend of action and humor makes for a timeless offering that appeals to audiences of all ages. Boasting a Rotten Tomato Tomatometer Score of 93%, the success of Zemeckis’ original outing spawned a further two films. However, while both sequels represent fine movies in their own right, the original still remains the trilogy’s golden standard, and an indispensable piece of cinema for even today’s youth.
9
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Directed By John Hughes
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Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
PG-13
Comedy
9/10
8/10
Release Date
June 11, 1986
Runtime
103 minutes
Director
John Hughes
Writers
John Hughes
Cast
See All
-
Jennifer Grey
-
Matthew Broderick
John Hughes’ comedy classic Ferris Bueler’s Day off follows the titular high schooler, a self-assured, charming young man who wants a day off. Going to unheard-of lengths to secure that day for himself, his girlfriend, and his best friend, he conjures up the ultimate scheme to get them out of school. However, his sister and principal are confident he’s up to no good, and his principal will embark on an equally overblown quest to expose Ferris’ truancy.
Studio(s)
Paramount Pictures
Distributor(s)
Paramount Pictures
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While it might give today’s kids some ill-conceived notions about the benefits of skipping school, 1986’s Ferris Bueller’s Day Off still holds up today and makes for absolutely essential cinematic viewing. As life-affirming as it is lightheartedly whimsical, John Hughes’ timeless teen comedy has lost none of the inherent entertainment factor that garnered the movie classic status in the first instance.
A quality teen outing without the R-rating, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off isn’t Bambi, but doesn’t feature anything so outrageous that it couldn’t be deemed suitable for kids. The type of comfort viewing you whack on when you’ve had a bad day and need something to cheer you up, every movie fan should see Ferris Bueller’s Day Off at least once in their lifetime. It’s not a perfect piece of cinema, but Hughes’ film is such an irrepressibly upbeat outing that its more prevalent shortcomings are easy to gloss over.
8
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Directed By Steven Spielberg
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E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
pg
Sci-Fi
Adventure
10/10
8.7/10
Release Date
June 11, 1982
Runtime
1h 55m
Director
Steven Spielberg
Writers
Melissa Mathison
Franchise(s)
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Cast
See All
-
Drew Barrymore
-
Henry Thomas
Steven Spielberg’s 1982 sci-fi classic E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial tells the story of Elliott Taylor (Henry Thomas), who befriends a small alien left stranded on Earth. When government forces come to take the benevolent creature away, Elliott does everything he can to protect his new friend, risking his own safety in the process in order to help E.T. return home.
Studio(s)
Universal Pictures
Distributor(s)
Universal Pictures
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Touted by many critics as a front-runner for Steven Spielberg’s best movie, 1982’s E.T. the Extraterrestrial is widely regarded as one of the greatest movies of all time. Boasting a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score of 99%, this uplifting tale follows Henry Thomas’ Elliot Taylor, a young boy who befriends the titular alien after he is marooned on Earth. Despite rapidly approaching the fiftieth anniversary of its release, Spielberg’s iconic sci-fi entry has aged like a fine wine, a family-favorite outing that never fails to evoke smiles and tears from all generations in equal measure.
Underlining why the movie is considered by many to be Spielberg’s magnum opus, the director’s beloved entry is loaded with many of cinema’s most stirring and iconic scenes, from the epic bike-ride through the sky to the heartbreaking farewell when E.T. returns to his people. A deeply moving tale capable of melting even the stoniest of hearts, E.T. the Extraterrestrial represents must-see viewing.
7
Spirited Away (2001)
Directed By Hayao Miyazaki
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Spirited Away
PG
Animation
Family
Fantasy
10/10
15
9.7/10
Release Date
July 20, 2001
Runtime
125 minutes
Director
Hayao Miyazaki
Writers
Hayao Miyazaki
Cast
See All
-
Rumi Hiiragi
-
Miyu Irino
Spirited Away, a masterpiece by Hayao Miyazaki, is an animated fantasy film that follows the enchanting journey of a young girl named Chihiro. Trapped in a mystical world after her parents are transformed into pigs, Chihiro must navigate a realm filled with spirits and peculiar creatures to save her family.
Main Genre
Animation
Studio
Studio Ghibli
Studio(s)
Studio Ghibli
Distributor(s)
Toho
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Viewed by many as legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki’s best movie, 2001’s Spirited Away blends beauty with fantasy to produce a timeless fairytale for the ages. One of the most visually arresting movies of all time, the gorgeously animated and hand-drawn Studio Ghibli production follows Chihiro, a young girl trapped in a mysterious realm who is attempting to return her parents to human form after they are turned into pigs.
A triumphant tour de force from one of the most talented filmmakers of all time, Spirited Away’s array of fantastical locations and ethereal characters are arguably tailor-made for younger audiences.
A triumphant tour de force from one of the most talented filmmakers of all time, Spirited Away’s array of fantastical locations and ethereal characters are arguably tailor-made for younger audiences. Miyazaki keeps the story’s stakes just low enough for this to be a universally suitable movie, without ever removing them to the point that proceedings become dull. The end result is a movie of such brilliance that audiences of all ages have been blown away by its overarching quality for more than two decades.
6
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)
Directed By Duwayne Dunham
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Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
G
Adventure
Comedy
Drama
Release Date
February 3, 1993
Runtime
84 Minutes
Director
Duwayne Dunham
Writers
Caroline Thompson, Linda Woolverton, Jonathan Roberts
Cast
See All
-
Michael J. Fox
-
Sally Field
-
Don Ameche
-
Robert Hays
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey follows the adventure of three pets—a wise old Golden Retriever, a feisty American Bulldog, and a cautious Siamese cat—as they embark on a perilous journey across the wilderness to reunite with their owners. The 1993 family film captures their enduring friendship and determination amidst various challenges.
Main Genre
Adventure
Studio(s)
Walt Disney Pictures
Distributor(s)
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
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A remake of 1963’s The Incredible Journey and a number that has consistently been tugging on audience’s heartstrings since debuting in 1993, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey is the type of movie to elicit laughter and tears in equal measure. Chronicling three pets’ epic journey to reunite with their owners after mistakenly believing they have been abandoned, Duwayne Dunham’s adventure comedy features the all-star trio of Michael J. Fox, Sally Fields, and the late Don Ameche as the animals’ voices.
…even fully grown adults will find it difficult to stop themselves bawling their eyes out by the time that Chance, Sassy, and Shadow have reunited with their owners.
An outing that strikes a tender chord with anybody who has ever found themselves contemplating separation from a beloved pet, Homeward Bound’s blend of innocent charm and uplifting optimism makes for relentlessly cheering viewing. While this is an offering that will primarily resonate best with younger children, even fully grown adults will find it difficult to stop themselves from bawling their eyes out by the time that Chance, Sassy, and Shadow have reunited with their owners.
5
The Goonies (1985)
Directed By Richard Donner
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The Goonies
PG
Family
Adventure
Comedy
9/10
23
9.2/10
Release Date
June 7, 1985
Runtime
114 minutes
Director
Richard Donner
Writers
Chris Columbus, Steven Spielberg
Sequel(s)
The Goonies 2
Cast
See All
-
Josh Brolin
-
Jeff Cohen
When a small Oregon community is threatened by the foreclosure of their homes, a group of young misfits who called themselves the Goonies set out to find an ancient treasure in order to save the town. From a story by Steven Spielberg and a screenplay by Chris Columbus, Richard Donner’s The Goonies is one of the most iconic adventure movies of the 1980s, with a cast comprising the talents of Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman, Ke Huy Quan, Jeff Cohen, Robert Davi, and Joe Pantoliano.
Studio(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Distributor(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
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Chronicling the hunt for One-Eyed Willy’s trove of pirate gold, 1985’s The Goonies is one of cinema’s most widely adored adventure comedies. Richard Donner’s offering channels Steven Spielberg’s heavy influence to knockout results onscreen. While this an outing that is tailor-made for young audiences, The Goonies’ relentless pacing and adventurous central premise still make for thoroughly entertaining viewing for viewers who are older than the film’s target demographic.
In addition to holding a rating of 7.7 on IMDb, The Goonies incidentally has a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score of 77%.
Featuring baby-faced future A-Listers in the vein of Sean Astin and Josh Brolin among The Goonies’ cast, this high-energy adventure brings every child’s favorite imaginary treasure hunt to life onscreen in thoroughly crowd-pleasing fashion. Donner’s film is one of those numbers that you’ll rarely find a person saying a bad thing about, a status quo that points to the movie’s timeless overall quality and universal appeal.
4
Home Alone (1990)
Directed By Chris Columbus
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Home Alone
PG
Comedy
Family
8/10
27
8.4/10
Release Date
November 16, 1990
Runtime
103 minutes
Director
Chris Columbus
Writers
John Hughes
Sequel(s)
Home Alone 3, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Home Alone 4
Cast
See All
-
Macaulay Culkin
-
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Joe Pesci
Home Alone tells the story of Kevin McAllister, an eight-year-old who is left behind in his Chicago home when his family flies to Paris for the holidays. Not only must Kevin keep himself safe while his mother flies back across the world, but he must protect his home from the Wet Bandits – serial burglars who are targeting the McAllister House. Kevin must use every trick in the book to keep the Wet Bandits from stealing Christmas before his mother returns.
Studio(s)
20th Century
Distributor(s)
20th Century
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One of the greatest Christmas movies of all time, 1990’s Home Alone is an absolutely indispensable entry for the holiday season. The iconic comedy stars ten-year-old Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McAllister, a young boy forced to stave off a home invasion from Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern’s buffoonish burglars, after he is accidentally left behind by his family when they leave the country on vacation.
Home Alone features Macaulay Culkin’s brother, Academy Award-winning actor Kieran Culkin, in a cameo as his youngest cousin, Fuller.
An absolutely shriek-worthy entry, Home Alone’s distinctly 1990s aura arguably isn’t the most relatable kids’ vibe as of 2025. However, the film’s legendary array of homemade booby traps make for absolutely sidesplitting viewing, no matter how many times one has seen an iron land on Marv’s head or witnessed Harry take a paint-can to the chops. On paper, Home Alone should make for an absolutely brutal watch, but the movie’s slapstick is so flawlessly executed that viewers are usually too busy howling with laughter to consider the actual consequences of Kevin’s brutality.
3
Shrek (2001)
Directed By Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jenson
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Shrek
PG
Animation
Comedy
Fantasy
Adventure
Family
8/10
10
8.4/10
Release Date
May 18, 2001
Runtime
90 minutes
Director
Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson
Writers
J.M. Barrie, Carlo Collodi, William Steig, Terry Rossio, Joe Stillman, Ted Elliott, Roger S.H. Schulman
Producers
Aron Warner, David Lipman, Jeffrey Katzenberg, John H. Williams, Penney Finkelman Cox
Cast
See All
-
Mike Myers
Shrek / Blind Mouse (voice)
-
Eddie Murphy
Donkey (voice)
Shrek is a 2001 animated film featuring a solitary ogre named Shrek, voiced by Mike Myers, who embarks on a quest to rescue Princess Fiona, voiced by Cameron Diaz, from a dragon-guarded castle. Accompanied by Donkey, voiced by Eddie Murphy, Shrek sets out to fulfill a bargain with Lord Farquaad.
Main Genre
Animation
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Featuring a killer soundtrack to back up one of the greatest animated movies of all time, 2001’s Shrek gleefully subverts every fairytale in the book in subtly adult fashion against the backdrop of a movie that you can still take kids of all ages to see. Chronicling the eponymous ogre’s attempts to rescue a princess from a fire-breathing dragon in exchange for the return of his beloved swamp, Shrek received universal acclaim from fans and critics alike.
This classic entry was literally tailor-made to cater to viewers of all ages, with carefully selected winks at the more mature sections of the audience dotted throughout the movie’s kid-friendly wider backdrop. As self-aware as it is sidesplitting, the original entry represents the golden standard for the long-running and wildly successful franchise. The closest thing to a universally beloved entry that cinema has to offer for audiences of all ages, no budding movie connoisseur’s repertoire would be complete without at least one Shrek viewing.
2
Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971)
Directed By Mel Stuart
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Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
G
Family
Musical
Fantasy
8/10
7.8/10
Release Date
June 30, 1971
Runtime
100 minutes
Director
Mel Stuart
Writers
Roald Dahl
Cast
See All
-
Jack Albertson
-
Gene Wilder
Based on Roald Dahl’s 1964 novel, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory stars Gene Wilder as the titular eccentric candymaker who invites five children into his mysterious factory to show them how he creates his popular candies. The film mostly follows Charlie Bucket, a young boy from a poor family who miraculously wins one of the five Golden Tickets that allows him access to Wonka’s factory tour.
Studio(s)
Paramount Pictures
Distributor(s)
Paramount Pictures
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The finest live-action version of Roald Dahl’s classic children’s novel, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is the best Willy Wonka movie by a considerable stretch. Mel Stuart’s beloved original adaptation still makes for good old-fashioned family fun more than half a century after its initial release, even if there is a slight chance that the movie’s notorious borderline-hallucinogenic boat sequence might scare your kids silly in the process.
|
Willy Wonka Movies by Year |
Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score |
|---|---|
|
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) |
92% |
|
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory (2006) |
83% |
|
Wonka (2023) |
82% |
However, fear not; much like the array of darkly comical fates that befall the movie’s ghastly ticket winners, it’s only temporary. Rounding out Stuart’s visually arresting depiction of the chocolate factory with a number of memorable, sing-along musical numbers, this classic number has influenced a horde of imitations and parodies. Even the kids of today will likely be familiar with the iconic enduring meme, Condescending Wonka, depicting Gene Wilder’s charge with a patronizing smirk and caption.
1
Toy Story (1995)
Directed By John Lasseter
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Toy Story
G
Animation
Adventure
Family
Comedy
10/10
12
9.3/10
Release Date
October 30, 1995
Runtime
81 minutes
Director
John Lasseter
Writers
John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Joss Whedon, Alec Sokolow, Joel Cohen, Joe Ranft, Pete Docter
Producers
Bonnie Arnold, Edwin Catmull, Ralph Guggenheim
Cast
See All
-
Tom Hanks
Woody (Voice)
-
Tim Allen
Buzz Lightyear (voice)
Toy Story is a 1995 animated feature from Pixar Animation Studios. It follows Woody, a cowboy doll, as he faces rivalry with new toy Buzz Lightyear. The film explores the dynamics between the toys as Woody and Buzz are inadvertently separated from their owner, embarking on a journey to return home.
Main Genre
Animation
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Spawning a wildly successful animated franchise that appears set to continue with the announcement of the upcoming Toy Story 5, 1995’s Toy Story still remains the best entry in the long-running series to introduce young fans to. Depicting a world where toys come to life when humans aren’t present, the beloved adventure comedy is perhaps the quintessential example of a movie that is suitable for all ages, but is still capable of making grown adults weep profusely.
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Toy Story’s superb animation has stood the test of time, holding up to this day with barely a hitch, while featuring knockout voice-over performances from Tom Hanks and Tim Allen as the iconic pairing of Woody and Buzz Lightyear, respectively. Boasting a stellar score from Randy Newman, John Lasseter’s movie also holds the prestigious accolade of a flawless 100% Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score, highlighting this heartwarming entry’s status as a classic that everybody should watch at least once.
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Category: Entertainment