Those who know me well know that I’m very selective when it comes to the media/entertainment I allow for my family. I view my God-given role of “protector” seriously in this regard. The father is a shield, protecting his family from the influences of the world. He is the arbiter of reality and truth, a bulwark against the corrupt culture that would otherwise devour his children.
This takes constant vigilance and some tough decisions. My daughter has had to “suffer” in the sense of not being able to watch things that many of her friends have, but I am concerned with the finished product and make no apologies. I have of course sometimes changed my mind with regard to a particular work, especially as Alice has grown up.
Jill and I grew up on absolute swill, with a few exceptions. Movies that we watched many times normalize all kinds of sinful behaviors. The Boomers, as a whole, allowed their kids to watch anything marketed as a “family” movie, and blindly trusted new technologies. In many ways subsequent generations are still putting out the fires.
Movies and media in our family are all “blacklisted” by default. This means all books, movies, shows, and websites must be approved. Even then, some movies/shows are only watched once as a family. The best ones make the “whitelist” and are given to freely enjoy. The criteria for approval is not going to look the same for everyone, but here are mine:
- Little to no sexual content, innocence is priceless. I don’t allow kissing unless it’s a married couple or a wedding. Also no “romance” that propagates our culture’s insane “dating” norms.
- No language I do not want repeated. I’ve allowed occasional exceptions for “light” profanity or rude words, but these never make the whitelist.
- Overall, must have a neutral or positive worldview, even if sad. Always ask, “What are the authors trying to communicate/teach? Are they pushing an agenda? What will my child learn from this?”
- TV shows often get worse with every subsequent season
- Given their track record, Hollywood is distrusted by default
- Disney (aka Devil Mouse) is even worse and often blacklisted merely for the name. There are a few exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
- Older content is often just as bad as today, I try not to glorify the past as such
- Slower is better. Modern “kid” movies are obnoxiously fast-paced for a reason.
- I usually avoid movies labelled “Christian”
Some websites that have helped me research or even just find movies I didn’t know existed:
Finally, this list only contains movies that the whole family has enjoyed, that I would recommend. Favor given to movies that are less well-known, because you’ve probably seen all the “mainstream” ones.
THE LIST
12 Angry Men (1957)
Our whole family enjoyed it despite the total lack of action. Good springboard to talk about the justice system.
A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969), Snoopy Come Home (1972)
If you like the Charlie Brown Christmas movie, you’ll love these adorable movies. I even love the music.
A Man For All Seasons (1966)
Wonderful film about Thomas More.
Addams Family (1964)
One of the very few TV shows we all enjoy in its entirety. Good marriages in cinema are rare.
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends (1959 – 1964)
Satirical wit, puns, dry humor! The bad animation means it had to be well-written. Fun for all ages because of the cute flying squirrel!
Babette’s Feast (1987)
Touching movie depicting life in a quieter time & place, and some good examples of duty and holy living.
Benji the Hunted (1987)
I watched it over and over growing up. If your kid likes cute (but real) animals, they will enjoy it. Sad in places.
The Black Stallion (1979)
An island survival –> horse racing movie, it’s great for kids who love horses, or just a good choice for an evening classic with the fam.
Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
It’s a war movie about Americans in a Japanese POW camp, but surprisingly entertaining for the family, with an overall message of the futility of war. I’d avoid for younger children.
Cromwell (1970)
A movie about Oliver Cromwell. Quite a few historical inaccuracies, but an enjoyable family movie.
Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939)
A charming old movie about a schoolteacher. Not historical, but loosely based on a book that was loosely based on a real man.
Harvey (1950)
A cute old movie about a rabbit. Occasional mild innuendo.
Hoosiers (1986)
Movie about an Indiana basketball team. Low-key romance, one kiss.
Hugo (2011)
Decently entertaining adventure movie, nothing questionable. Not one of my favorite movies, have only seen once, but certainly not bad.
How Green was My Valley (1941)
A dramatic “life in a small town” kind of movie. Good family values and some sad moments.
Invader Zim (2001)
A hilarious show with a cult following. A lot of rudeness and cartoon violence, probably best for older kids.
Jeeves and Wooster (1990 – 1993)
A great show about a foolish British dandy and his intelligent butler. Improves vocabulary if you look up words you don’t know! Some romantic elements, but generally in a silly way. Sticks remarkably close to the books from the early 1900s.
Lassie Come Home (1943)
An old movie about a boy and his dog. A very different culture from today, interesting from this vantage point alone. Sad in places.
Mr Bean (1990 – 1995)
A hilarious British show with very little dialog, but brilliant acting. Occasional innuendo, and a lot of awkward situations with the main character often ending up running around in underwear. I always avoided the hotel episode (ep 8) for kids. Most skits are benign and funny for all ages.
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
To be fair, I have not seen this movie, but the girls recommend it for almost any family. They prefer the original Japanese version with subtitles, not the dubbed version. Avoid the 2005 Disney version.
The Chronicles of Narnia (1988 – 1990)
Not to be confused with the horrible modern movies that do not do the books justice, this older BBC series is very well done. The costumes are a bit silly and low-budget, but there is no fakey CGI either. Loyal to Lewis’ intentions, ideas, and stories. Alice loved these growing up.
Prince of Egypt (1998)
For a Bible story movie done by a mainstream studio, it’s extremely well done, and manages to be entertaining for the whole family.
The Red Balloon (1956)
If nothing else, a beautiful scenic tour of 1950’s Paris, warts and all. Our whole family likes it. If you’ve never been emotionally attached to a balloon, you will be.
The Secret Garden (1993)
If you like the book, you’ll like this movie which stays pretty close to it!
The Secret of Roan Inish (1994)
Kind of a weird, slow movie, but idyllic and funny at times. Set in 1946 so it’s “old-fashioned” in a good way. It’s an inside family joke to yell “JIIIIIMMY” and if you see this movie you will know why.
Tagebuch Einer Biene (2021)
Mostly an educational film about bees, but extremely well-done, even has a bit of a plot as it follows a single bee around. The camera work is amazing and almost unbelievable, yet real.
Tora Tora Tora (1970)
A slowish war movie that has nevertheless been praised for its attention to detail and accuracy. Very popular in both the US and Japan, which is hard to do considering it’s about Pearl Harbor! It attempts to be fair to both sides, and accurately describes both cultures. Great for older kids and parents, even just for the history lesson.
The Tree of Wooden Clogs (1978)
A movie about poor Italian peasants, set in the late 1800s. Kind of like a famous, but older book – hard to get through, but generally worth it.
Treasures of the Snow (1980)
I read the book (1950) many times growing up. It attempts to teach Christian charity through story, and does a pretty good job. The movie is not a cinematic masterpiece at all, but it does stick fairly close to the book and is generally “wholesome”.
Veggie Tales (1993 – 2002)
The show goes way beyond 2002, but for me this is the last year I’d recommend it. Up until this, it’s a great family show with a lot of memorable songs, great Bible lessons, and funny moments. Alice and I agree that like many shows, it doesn’t know when to quit, and gets worse with the years.
Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005), A Grand Day Out (1989), The Wrong Trousers (1993), A Close Shave (1995)
All entertaining family movies, with the possible exception of some mild innuendo and scary elements (yes, they manage to make clay seem frightening at times). I’m not recommending all their movies/shows, just the ones above.
Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)
A charming “Tom Sawyer” kind of movie about a boy growing up in the south with his dogs. Very sad in places, and one kid is killed in a tragic accident. Based on the book, which made all of us cry.
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
A very oddball movie, but overall a good family one. Some scary parts for younger kids, like the trippy tunnel scene. Does not stick to the book, and the author (Dahl) hated the movie.
The Wind in the Willows (1988)
Quite possibly my favorite movie of all time. Perfect blend of whimsy, nature, action, humor, and nostalgic English culture. The book, which is brilliant in its own right, is carefully adhered to. I can’t explain why I love it so much, but it’s the kind of wholesome fun that makes the family laugh together without guilt.
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