Good Movies to Rent for Kids

Finding good movies to rent for kids can often be a difficult prospect. While you’d like to find a film that mixes action and laughs with a sense of wonder, finding something appropriate can take up a lot of time. But worry no more, dear reader, as I’ve sat down and compiled a list of great movies for kids. Not only will the films listed below have your children on the edge of their seats, but they’ll also learn important moral lessons along the way.

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• Where is My Friend’s House (1987) – When an Iranian schoolboy’s pal loses his notebook, it’s up to the other to return it to his village. And so begins an adventure filled with important messages such as being true to your friends. Rural life in Iran is also examined in great detail, and any kid looking to broaden his or her horizons should be delighted.
• My Life as a Dog (1985) – A 12-year-old Swedish boy is sent to live with his uncle after his mother is diagnosed with a terminal illness. As he deals with life in the rural town, he befriends a local tomboy and interacts with an array of eccentric characters. The film was nominated for two Oscars and also won the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film. If you know a child who’s coping with the loss of a loved one or pet, this would be appropriate viewing.
• Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002) – Based on a true story, this Australian film deals with three young half-Aboriginal girls who are taken from their village and sent to a re-education center to learn how to be servants for whites. Wishing to be reunited with their families, they escape and begin the long trek back home by following a rabbit -proof fence for over 1,500 miles. Meanwhile, two men are sent to track them down.

• Jason and the Argonauts (1963) – The Greek hero Jason quests for the fabled Golden Fleece in order to help the citizens of Thessaly. Along with his brave crew known as the Argonauts, Jason must face menaces such as a massive bronze statue come to life, a many-headed hydra, and plenty of sword-wielding skeletons. The film follows Greek myth closer than most, and the stop-motion work by special effects whiz Ray Harryhausen still manages to thrill kids of all ages.
• The Secret Garden (1993) – After her parents are killed in an earthquake, the spoiled Mary Lennox (Kate Maberly) travels to live with her uncle in his hundred-room home. Along with her sickly cousin and a couple of spirited servant children, Mary learns to overcome her grief and grow as a person. A magical tale with important lessons for kids, it holds a freshness rating of 100% from the Rotten Tomatoes website. Maggie Smith co-stars.

• A Day at the Races (1937) – Ranked by the American Film Institute as the 59th funniest movie in U.S. motion picture history, A Day at the Races features the Marx Brothers at their madcap best. If your kid has never experienced the antics of Groucho, Harpo and Chico, then this is a perfect way to introduce them.
• Spirited Away (2001) – When 10-year-old Chihiro and her family move to a new town, the unhappy girl gets involved in a magical world of monsters and spirits. While she begins the tale as a selfish kid, Chihiro soon learns the merits of hard work and courage. An animated film from Japan, Spirited Away is directed by legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki (Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle). Released to widespread acclaim from critics, it made over $200 million at the international box office before it was even released in the United States.
• Beauty and the Beast (1991) – When a young prince refuses to help an old beggar woman, a curse turns him into a terrifying beast. If he doesn’t find true love before the petals fall from a magical rose, he’ll be forced to stay in this form forever. Luckily, he encounters Belle (voiced by Paige O‘Hara), a beautiful young woman who lives in the nearby woods with her inventor father. An enjoyable retelling of the French fairy-tale, this Disney film became the first animated motion picture to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. A Broadway adaptation of the film ran for over a decade.
• Play Time (1967) – Jacques Tati both directs and stars in this French film featuring subtle comedy and a complex set that depicts a futuristic Paris filled with maze-like buildings and endless glass structures. Tati revives his popular befuddled Frenchman, Monsieur Hulot, for the film, and he constantly crosses paths with Barbara, a young tourist from America. Subtle sight gags abound, and you’ll need to watch it more than once to fully appreciate the artistry contained within (not that your kids will mind one bit).
• Star Wars (1977) – A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, a band of rebels fought to overthrow the evil Empire. Thrill to their adventures as Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) take on the sinister Darth Vader and legions of Imperial Stormtroopers. Filled with lightsabre battles, space dogfights and talking droids, this George Lucas classic still manages to thrill audiences. 

If you’re interested in good movies to rent for kids, you’ll also like the following articles:

• Top-Rated Family Films
• Good Rated G Movies
• Good Family Movies
• 15 Creepiest Movie Kids

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