Family Films for the Holiday Season

As you probably know, the holiday season means family is coming to visit, and oftentimes family means small children. It can be very difficult to find films which will appeal to everyone in the room, with movies such as Ice Age: The Meltdown being unbearable for adults, but a great deal of films being too boring or too intense for children to follow. This list is intended to help you during this holiday season, it will provide you with five family films which are appealing to children and adults alike, and which will hopefully help change your perspective on family films. Many family films are terrible, but there are exceptions to the rule. For the sake of my own sanity, I will not be including any animated movies in this list, because then that would be all that this list consisted of.

1. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Gene Wilder's incredible portrayal of the titular Willy Wonka is so believable that one can't help but wonder if he truly did have a secret chocolate factory. He conveys a simple character with such mystery and depth that the audience is always left feeling as though he knows something we don't, and possibly never will. His mystery extends throughout the entire film, because the audience is never given glimpses into who he truly is, but instead gets to watch in awe over his magnificent factory (when they're not laughing at the way he carelessly discards the children who can't seem to obey his rather simple instructions).

Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory is bright, colorful, charming, and truly will be enjoyed by the entire family. Its soundtrack alone is catchy and magnificient in a way that many musicals wish they were, sonically elaborating on the wonder and mystery behind the chocolate factory.

2. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

I'll be the first to admit, that I may be a bit biased when it comes to my enjoyment of this film. Tilda Swinton is my favorite actress, and she is absolutely magnificient as the White Witch. She portrays her with such charm and grace that one can't help but want to join her, despite the fact that she's essentially meant to be a representation of Satan.

Aside from that, this film is a solid family movie. While it's not particularly different from most action-oriented fantasy family movies, it offers a bit more charm then many others due to the exceptional acting of the four main children and the absolutely beautiful soundtrack. The religious undertones which often make potential viewers wary can easily be ignored by families who do not wish to delve into deep conversations about Christianity with their child, and instead it can easily be watched as an all-around decent movie. 

3. Holes

Holes (2003)

Holes is probably my personal favorite from this list. The humor comes across as biting and genuine, its cast is the most diverse I saw in a movie while I was growing up, and its music is catchy in a unique way which sets aside the traditional orchestra in favor of something which sounds more modern and strikingly southern.

It's a film which possibly isn't as well-known as others on this list, so I'll provide a simple description of the plot. Protagonist Stanley Yelnats as wrongfully accused of stealing a pair of expensive shoes, and he's forced to pick between juvenile hall or a lengthy stay at a camp which promises to set him straight. Of course, the camp isn't as nice as it sounds, and it turns out to be out in the middle of the desert, where the boys are forced to dig holes day and night.

Holes depicts friendship in a genuine and uplifting manner, and every character in its cast is so witty and endearing you'll find yourself wishing you could befriend all of them.

4. Matilda

Matilda (1996)

On the other end of the spectrum is Matilda, a dark little movie about a young girl who discovers she has the power to move objects with her mind while living in an emotionally abusive household where reading books is frowned upon when you could be watching television instead. Matilda befriends a teacher, and through that teacher's encouragement she carries on reading and learning anyway.

This film is remarkably dark, but it is because of how dark it gets that the light and joyous scenes feel amplified in their cheer because of what Matilda has just endured. Like Holes it has a diverse cast and portrays friendship in a positive and realistic light, it also encourages young girls to work hard and excel in school regardless of how hard things may be. Though many parents may find themselves worried that this film could be a bit too unpleasant (and perhaps realistic when it comes to the strife in Matilda's home-life), I insist that this isn't the case, because it makes the light peaking through the darkness even brighter.

5. Because of Winn-Dixie

Because of Winn-Dixie (2005)

Because of Winn-Dixie is another children's book adaptation which is potentially not as well known. It centers around a lonely girl who befriends a dog, which helps her adapt to the new town which she has moved into. This film is another one of my favorite family films, it's beautifully shot, fantastically acted, and has so much genuine heart to it that I can't imagine anyone watching it and hating the film from beginning to end. Like other movies on this list, it has a diverse cast, and this diverse cast paints a realistic depiction of life in the south and teaches children not to believe what they initially see in others.

It also touches on some darker subject matter, such as coping with living in a single-parent household, though these moments are brief and paired with enough cute scenes of the movie's dog to keep children from slipping into boredom. This film goes deep, and doesn't treat children as though they are unintelligent, instead opting to teach them about the world around them and the people within it.

I hope that you have a wonderful holiday season, and that this list has informed you of at least one movie to seek out so that you might keep your smaller company comfortable and pleased.