Holidays create the perfect atmosphere for quality family time, and there’s no better way to spend time together than gathering for family movie night. During family movie nights, family members gather and experience the same story as their loved ones, then talk about it together for years to come. While movies can teach life lessons, they can sometimes be purely watched for entertainment value. Here are a few family-friendly movies we recommend watching together during this holiday season.
Klaus
This animated journey follows Jesper, who is given a remote assignment beyond the Arctic circle by his father, the Postmaster General. As a punishment, he is told he must process 6,000 pieces of mail a year in this remote location. While there, he accidentally delivers a child’s letter to Klaus, a hermit and toymaker, and he asks Jesper to deliver a toy to the child. This spawns an idea for every child who writes a letter to receive a toy from Klaus so that Jesper can meet his quota. While it’s a unique Santa Claus origin story, this movie, at its core, is about the power of friendship and the impact of language.
Elf
This Christmas classic tells the story of a very tall “elf” named Buddy who, at the age of 30, journeys into the real world to meet his real father. Since he is a human who was raised as an elf, he goes to New York City with all the skills an elf would have but none of the perspective expected of a 30-year-old man. This leads to funny, sometimes sad, circumstances and events. There’s a little bit of foul language and a couple mildly suggestive scenes, along with adults debating on Santa’s realness. This might be best for slightly older children.
A Christmas Story
This 1983 movie takes you on a journey with Ralphie Parker, a child who wants nothing more than a BB gun for Christmas. Set in the 40s, this movie places everyone in the family into funny situations. You get to see every part of the Christmas experience from the perspective of a kid who just wants a darn BB gun. Despite being from the child’s perspective, you see a comical outlook on kids being kids, adults being adults and even pets being pets. This is another one that older children may appreciate more than younger ones.
The Wizard of Oz
At some point, you and the family will feel like you’ve seen enough Christmas movies for a few holiday seasons. The Wizard of Oz has all the whimsy of a Christmas movie with none of the holiday sentiment. The main character Dorothy gets swept up by a tornado, and enlists the help of a lion, a tin man, and a scarecrow to help her locate the Wizard of Oz and find her way home. This is a great movie for all ages, one that has withstood the test of time for a few generations.
Inside Out
This one is another film that doesn’t take place at Christmas but keeps the family-friendly fun. While nearly any Pixar movie would be fun to watch with the whole family, Inside Out appeals to children in a unique way. The colorful characters each represent a specific emotion within an 11-year-old girl named Riley. The emotions need to work together to guide her through a life-changing move from the midwest to San Francisco. The movie is equal parts adventurous and reflective, making it a perfect way for children to learn about the complex world of emotions.
Our Orlando Catholic school believes family time is important, especially during the holiday season, and that movie night is a great way to come together. St. Charles Borromeo is more than a place to learn; it’s a diverse community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.
