Moms and dads, how many times have you seen these movies? Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best movies that will be enjoyed by the whole family, but will probably appeal to the youngins most.
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00:00 Hey, Uncle Scar, guess what?
00:02 I despise guessing games.
00:05 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best movies that will be enjoyed by the whole family, but will probably appeal to the youngins most.
00:14 Never give up, and good luck will find you.
00:18 Number 10, Elf.
00:21 The holidays are always a great time to gather the family and watch a wholesomely hilarious film.
00:26 Elf perfectly fits the bill.
00:27 Okay, people, tomorrow morning, 10am, Santa's coming to town.
00:31 Santa! Oh my God!
00:34 As Buddy the Elf, a human that has been raised by Santa's elves,
00:37 Will Ferrell brings cheer and love back into the lives of the jaded adults he encounters, all with his trademark brand of humor.
00:43 I'm here with my dad, and we never met, and he wants me to sing him a song.
00:50 And, um, I was adopted.
00:53 This character is sure to bring a smile to any kid seeing it for the first time, as well as adults returning to it each year.
00:59 By juxtaposing the grungy streets of New York with the iconic stop-motion animated world of the North Pole, both become somehow more magical than before.
01:07 Bye, Buddy. Hope you find your dad.
01:09 Thanks, Mr. Narwhal.
01:11 Number 9, How to Train Your Dragon.
01:13 Following the bond formed between a rather unlikely pair, Hiccup, the young Viking, and Toothless, the dragon, this movie is a beautiful tale about acceptance and compassion.
01:22 After becoming the first Viking to show mercy to a dragon, Hiccup discovers that there is so much more to the creatures than anyone expected.
01:29 In a beautifully animated story that may just be one of the most impressive 3D feats ever, Hiccup and Toothless form an unbreakable friendship and, with it, challenge harmful societal conventions.
01:48 Everything we know about you guys is wrong.
01:52 Its message is an important one for children who will surely enjoy the ride.
01:56 The tear-inducing ending shows that both physically and metaphorically, Toothless and Hiccup are incomplete without each other.
02:02 Okay. Thanks, bud.
02:09 Number 8, The Princess Bride.
02:11 You seem a decent fellow. I hate to kill you.
02:14 You seem a decent fellow. I hate to die.
02:17 The Princess Bride was actually underwhelming at the box office upon initial release, despite its positive reception from critics.
02:23 Over the years, however, it perpetually grew in esteem, with children and adults discovering it on VHS.
02:28 It's no wonder why this became such a cult classic.
02:31 I need you. I need you to guide my sword. Please.
02:38 With swashbuckling adventure, beautiful romance, sinister villains, and, of course, revenge, there's something for everyone.
02:45 You can die too, for all I care.
02:48 As you wish.
02:52 The farcical fairy tale is brimming with great characters, like the dashing Wesley, the beautiful Buttercup, Fezzik, Inigo, and Vizzini,
03:00 as well as the dastardly six-fingered Count Rugen.
03:03 It may also have the movie line most frequently quoted by children.
03:06 Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya.
03:11 You killed my father. Prepare to die.
03:15 You're a wizard, Harry.
03:21 I'm a what?
03:23 If one thing grabs the attention of kids, it's magic.
03:26 While both the books and movies take a darker and more mature tone later on, the first two installments were squarely childhood fair.
03:32 It was locked, and for good reason.
03:37 [Growling]
03:40 [Roaring]
03:43 [Roaring]
03:46 [Screaming]
03:49 Imagination comes to life in the screen adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
03:54 As for the very first time, we get to see Hogwarts outside of the confines of our heads.
03:58 It sets up the twists, turns, and tragedies that would come to pass later on in the series,
04:03 but for now, we get to enjoy a story that's full of opportunity and excitement.
04:07 He's got the snitch! Harry Potter receives 150 points for catching the snitch.
04:13 Gryffindor wins!
04:17 You think the word you're searching for is Space Ranger?
04:22 The word I'm searching for, I can't say, because there's preschool toys present.
04:26 In 1995, Pixar broke new ground with its technically innovative debut, Toy Story.
04:32 As the very first computer-animated feature film,
04:35 much of the modern landscape of animated children's films can trace their roots back to this original.
04:39 Hey, Buzz! You're flying!
04:42 This isn't flying, this is falling with style!
04:45 But being the first isn't the reason it's made its way onto our list.
04:49 Actually, much of the film looks dated by today's standards.
04:52 However, its story and heart have stood the test of time.
04:55 You can do it, Woody!
05:00 Woody and Buzz, both likable yet flawed characters,
05:03 start at odds, but over the course of their adventure,
05:06 become inseparable friends as they make their way back to their owner, Andy.
05:09 The whole cast of toys have become icons,
05:12 spawning three sequels, TV spin-offs, shorts, and even theme park lands.
05:16 I have been chosen! Farewell, my friends. I go on to a better place.
05:22 Number 5. Wallace and Gromit, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.
05:26 In the early '90s, Wallace and Gromit helped put Ardman animation on the map
05:30 with their unique claymation style and dry British humor.
05:33 We'll be with you in an hour.
05:36 In an hour? I can't wait an hour.
05:39 With Ardman beginning to produce features in the 2000s,
05:42 the time had finally come for the duo to receive a fully fleshed-out adventure,
05:45 and it was well worth the wait.
05:47 It's working, Gromit! It's working!
05:50 Curse of the Were-Rabbit sees the zany, affable inventor
05:53 and silent but loyal beagle working as pest inspectors
05:56 when a town's vegetable competition is besieged by rabbits.
05:59 The film uses classic horror tropes, subverting them for kids,
06:10 ensuring that the lovable pair get into all sorts of delightful antics.
06:13 Number 4. Mary Poppins.
06:16 In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun.
06:19 You find the fun, and snap!
06:22 The job's a game.
06:24 Mary Poppins' magical realism brought a sense of whimsy to the screen,
06:27 as the charismatic nanny drifted into the lives of a family that desperately needed her.
06:32 Packed to the brim with songs by the Sherman Brothers,
06:34 its music, even for those who haven't seen the film,
06:37 has become part of the cultural lexicon.
06:39 I did a glorious guy, right as a-moanin' in my...
06:42 I feel like I could fly.
06:46 With Walt Disney himself producing and overseeing much of the movie,
06:49 childlike wonder is fully on display,
06:51 including scenes where live-action actors enter cartoon worlds
06:54 and interact with real-life actors.
06:56 Unusual at the time for media directed at children,
06:59 this film was nominated for a whopping 13 Oscars, including Best Picture,
07:03 and took home five of these nominations,
07:05 with the wonderful Julie Andrews taking home Best Actress
07:08 for her performance as the titular Mary Poppins.
07:11 I have no intention of making a spectacle of myself, thank you.
07:14 Number 3, The Lion King.
07:16 Coming at the height of Disney's renaissance in the 1990s,
07:19 The Lion King was a sweeping epic tale based on Shakespeare's Hamlet.
07:23 Hey, Uncle Scar, when I'm king, what'll that make you?
07:27 A monkey's uncle.
07:29 You're so weird.
07:31 Of course, the film swabbed Denmark for the plains and savannas of Africa,
07:34 brought to life by the masterful animators at Disney.
07:37 Those visuals were perfectly paired with songs penned by Elton John and Tim Rice,
07:41 and supported by a rousing score from the legendary Hans Zimmer.
07:44 # Means no worries for the rest of your days
07:50 # It's our problem-free philosophy
07:55 # A gun of a tone... #
07:57 Right from its opening shot, accompanied by the now iconic chant,
08:01 audiences knew they were in for something special.
08:04 # I'm a gun of a tone
08:06 # I'm a gun of a tone
08:08 # I'm a gun of a tone
08:12 Lion King impressed critics,
08:14 taking home a slew of awards, including the Golden Globe for Best Picture.
08:17 It impressed audiences, too,
08:19 becoming the second-highest-grossing film of all time when it was released.
08:22 Pouncing. Pouncing?!
08:24 Oh, no, sir, you can't be serious.
08:27 Number 2, Spirited Away.
08:29 Really, any number of films from master director and animator Hayao Miyazaki
08:33 could be on this list.
08:35 My Neighbor Totoro follows two young girls who encounter the beauty of nature
08:38 and a lovable troll.
08:40 Meanwhile, Kiki's Delivery Service is a magical coming-of-age story.
08:43 - They're looking at us. - I know.
08:45 They smile, so we make a good impression.
08:47 However, it's difficult to top the astounding triumph that is Spirited Away.
08:52 - You shouldn't be here. Get out of here, now! - What?
08:55 It's almost night. Leave before it gets dark.
08:58 They're lighting the lamps.
09:02 Get out of here. You've got to get across the river. Go! I'll distract them.
09:05 The film follows the young Chihiro as she makes her way through a fantasy world
09:09 full of spirits influenced by Shinto Buddhist folklore.
09:12 This makes for some of the most stunningly beautiful animated sequences ever made,
09:16 showing a world that combines childlike wonder and elemental terror.
09:19 The film's themes are far-reaching.
09:21 It touches on environmentalism, anti-consumerism,
09:24 and a connection to the natural world.
09:26 Try this. It's delicious.
09:31 Want some gold? I'm not giving it to anybody else.
09:35 Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
09:38 E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, a touching story of a boy and his alien.
09:43 Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse, a superhero spectacle like no other.
10:00 Nope. Sorry. That's cheating.
10:03 The Iron Giant, Brad Bird's brilliant parable.
10:06 Hooker, you stay. I go.
10:15 The Muppet Movie, the Muppets take the show on the road.
10:28 The NeverEnding Story, a fantasy epic that makes us cry.
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10:56 Number 1, The Wizard of Oz.
10:59 Generations of children have grown up watching this masterpiece
11:02 based on the classic book by L. Frank Baum.
11:04 Kids are enjoying it today just as their older siblings, parents, grandparents
11:12 and maybe even great-grandparents did.
11:14 In fact, it's been said to be the most watched movie ever.
11:17 Whether or not that's true, it's certainly up there with the greats.
11:24 That popularity is no accident as Oz is filled with stunning visuals,
11:28 clever storytelling, fantastical world-building and memorable characters.
11:32 The moment the film transitions from the dull, sepia-toned plains of Kansas
11:44 to the miraculous technicolor world of Oz is just as breathtaking today as it was in the 1930s.
11:50 Did we mention the movie that made your childhood magical?
11:52 Let us know in the comments below.
11:54 "Ryan, here comes an airplane."
11:56 "Oh, airplane. We got an airplane, everybody."
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12:09 [music]