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Nostalgia Night: Family Movie Picks

by IMDb-Editors • Created 5 months ago • Modified 4 weeks ago
Check out these these 40+ timeless classics, from heartwarming adventures to laugh-out-loud comedies.
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  • 45 titles
  • Orson Welles, Steve Martin, Mel Brooks, James Coburn, Frank Oz, Milton Berle, Dom DeLuise, Elliott Gould, Jim Henson, Bob Hope, Madeline Kahn, Carol Kane, Cloris Leachman, Richard Pryor, Telly Savalas, Edgar Bergen, and Paul Williams in The Muppet Movie (1979)

    1. The Muppet Movie

    19791h 35mG74Metascore
    7.6 (42K)
    Kermit and his newfound friends trek across America to find success in Hollywood, but a frog legs merchant is after Kermit.
    DirectorJames FrawleyStarsJim HensonFrank OzJerry Nelson
  • Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, and Kenny Baker in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

    2. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

    19772h 1mPG90Metascore
    8.6 (1.5M)
    Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and two droids to save the galaxy from the Empire's world-destroying battle station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the mysterious Darth Vader.
    DirectorGeorge LucasStarsMark HamillHarrison FordCarrie Fisher
  • Gene Wilder, Paris Themmen, Jack Albertson, Rudy Borgstaller, George Claydon, Julie Dawn Cole, Malcolm Dixon, Walker Edmiston, Günter Meisner, Denise Nickerson, and Peter Ostrum in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)

    3. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

    19711h 40mG67Metascore
    7.8 (241K)
    A poor but hopeful boy seeks one of the five coveted golden tickets that will send him on a tour of Willy Wonka's mysterious chocolate factory.
    DirectorMel StuartStarsGene WilderJack AlbertsonPeter Ostrum
  • Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita in The Karate Kid (1984)

    4. The Karate Kid

    19842h 6mPG61Metascore
    7.3 (266K)
    Recently relocated from NJ to LA, Daniel becomes the target of a gang of Cobra Kai dojo students. When Mr. Miyagi saves him with expert Karate skills, Daniel convinces him to teach him to defend himself, and put his bullies in their place.
    DirectorJohn G. AvildsenStarsRalph MacchioPat MoritaElisabeth Shue
  • Henry Thomas and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

    5. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

    19821h 55mPG92Metascore
    7.9 (462K)
    A troubled child summons the courage to help a friendly alien escape from Earth and return to his home planet.
    DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsDee WallaceHenry ThomasPeter Coyote
  • Noah Hathaway, Sydney Bromley, Alan Oppenheimer, Tilo Prückner, and Deep Roy in The NeverEnding Story (1984)

    6. The NeverEnding Story

    19841h 42mPG49Metascore
    7.3 (167K)
    A troubled boy dives into a wondrous fantasy world through the pages of a mysterious book.
    DirectorWolfgang PetersenStarsBarret OliverGerald McRaneyChris Eastman
  • Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, Wolf Kahler, Ronald Lacey, and Terry Richards in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

    7. Raiders of the Lost Ark

    19811h 55mPG86Metascore
    8.4 (1.1M)
    In 1936, archaeologist Indiana Jones is tasked by Army Intelligence to help locate a legendary ancient power, the Ark of Covenant, before the Nazis get it first.
    DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsHarrison FordKaren AllenPaul Freeman
  • Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future (1985)

    8. Back to the Future

    19851h 56mPG87Metascore
    8.5 (1.4M)
    Marty McFly, a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his close friend, the maverick scientist Doc Brown.
    DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsMichael J. FoxChristopher LloydLea Thompson
  • Peter Falk and Fred Savage in The Princess Bride (1987)

    9. The Princess Bride

    19871h 38mPG78Metascore
    8.0 (475K)
    A bedridden boy's grandfather reads him the story of a farmboy-turned-pirate who encounters numerous obstacles, enemies and allies in his quest to be reunited with his true love.
    DirectorRob ReinerStarsCary ElwesMandy PatinkinChris Sarandon
  • Sean Astin, Corey Feldman, Martha Plimpton, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen, Kerri Green, and Ke Huy Quan in The Goonies (1985)

    10. The Goonies

    19851h 54mPG62Metascore
    7.7 (319K)
    A group of young misfits called The Goonies discover an ancient map and set out on an adventure to find a legendary pirate's long-lost treasure.
    DirectorRichard DonnerStarsSean AstinJosh BrolinJeff Cohen
  • Joey Cramer in Flight of the Navigator (1986)

    11. Flight of the Navigator

    19861h 30mPG64Metascore
    6.9 (54K)
    In 1978, a boy travels eight years into the future and has an adventure with an intelligent, wisecracking alien ship.
    DirectorRandal KleiserStarsJoey CramerPaul ReubensCliff De Young
  • Rick Moranis, Thomas Wilson Brown, Amy O'Neill, Robert Oliveri, and Jared Rushton in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)

    12. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids

    19891h 33mPG63Metascore
    6.4 (174K)
    The scientist father of a teenage girl and boy accidentally shrinks his and two other neighborhood teens to the size of insects. Now the teens must fight diminutive dangers as the father searches for them.
    DirectorJoe JohnstonStarsRick MoranisMatt FrewerMarcia Strassman
  • Short Circuit (1986)

    13. Short Circuit

    19861h 38mPG50Metascore
    6.6 (70K)
    Number 5 of a group of experimental robots in a lab is electrocuted, suddenly becomes intelligent, and escapes.
    DirectorJohn BadhamStarsAlly SheedySteve GuttenbergFisher Stevens
  • Frank Oz, Jim Henson, Dave Goelz, Miki Iveria, Hus Levant, Patrick Monckton, Brian Meehl, Kathryn Mullen, and Susan Westerby in The Dark Crystal (1982)

    14. The Dark Crystal

    19821h 33mPG66Metascore
    7.1 (76K)
    On another planet in the distant past, the last of the Gelfling race embarks on a quest to find the missing shard of a magical crystal and to restore order to his world.
    DirectorsJim HensonFrank OzStarsJim HensonKathryn MullenFrank Oz
  • Paul Reubens in Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)

    15. Pee-wee's Big Adventure

    19851h 31mPG47Metascore
    7.1 (63K)
    When eccentric man-child Pee-wee Herman gets his beloved bike stolen in broad daylight, he sets out across the U.S. on the adventure of his life.
    DirectorTim BurtonStarsPaul ReubensElizabeth DailyMark Holton
  • Ghostbusters (1984)

    16. Ghostbusters

    19841h 45mPG71Metascore
    7.8 (478K)
    Three parapsychologists forced out of their university funding set up shop as a unique ghost removal service in New York City, attracting frightened yet skeptical customers.
    DirectorIvan ReitmanStarsBill MurrayDan AykroydSigourney Weaver
  • Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Billy Barty, Warwick Davis, Kevin Pollak, Kate Greenfield, Ruth Greenfield, Jean Marsh, Rick Overton, and Pat Roach in Willow (1988)

    17. Willow

    19882h 6mPG47Metascore
    7.2 (137K)
    A young dwarf farmer is chosen to undertake a perilous journey in order to protect a special baby from an evil queen. Along the way, he teams up with a disgraced swordsman to defeat the evil sorceress.
    DirectorRon HowardStarsVal KilmerJoanne WhalleyWarwick Davis
  • Jodi Benson in The Little Mermaid (1989)

    18. The Little Mermaid

    19891h 23mG88Metascore
    7.6 (307K)
    A mermaid princess makes a Faustian bargain in an attempt to become human and win a prince's love.
    DirectorsRon ClementsJohn MuskerStarsRene AuberjonoisChristopher Daniel BarnesJodi Benson
  • Tom Hanks in Big (1988)

    19. Big

    19881h 44mPG73Metascore
    7.3 (254K)
    After wishing to be made big, a teenage boy wakes the next morning to find himself mysteriously in the body of an adult.
    DirectorPenny MarshallStarsTom HanksElizabeth PerkinsRobert Loggia
  • Aileen Quinn in Annie (1982)

    20. Annie

    19822h 7mPG39Metascore
    6.6 (53K)
    A spunky young orphan is taken in by a rich eccentric, much to the chagrin of the cantankerous woman who runs the orphanage.
    DirectorJohn HustonStarsAlbert FinneyCarol BurnettAnn Reinking
  • Andrew Knott, Kate Maberly, and Heydon Prowse in The Secret Garden (1993)

    21. The Secret Garden

    19931h 41mG74Metascore
    7.3 (48K)
    A young, recently-orphaned girl is sent to England after living in India all of her life. Once there, she begins to explore her new, seemingly-isolated surroundings, and its secrets.
    DirectorAgnieszka HollandStarsKate MaberlyHeydon ProwseAndrew Knott
  • Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, and Daniel Stern in Home Alone (1990)

    22. Home Alone

    19901h 43mPG63Metascore
    7.7 (709K)
    An eight-year-old troublemaker, mistakenly left home alone, must defend his home against a pair of burglars on Christmas Eve.
    DirectorChris ColumbusStarsMacaulay CulkinJoe PesciDaniel Stern
  • Danny DeVito, Embeth Davidtz, Kiami Davael, Pam Ferris, Rhea Perlman, Jacqueline Steiger, Michael Valentine, and Mara Wilson in Matilda (1996)

    23. Matilda

    19961h 38mPG72Metascore
    7.0 (190K)
    A girl gifted with a keen intellect and psychic powers uses both to get even with her callous family and free her kindly schoolteacher from the tyrannical grip of a sadistic headmistress.
    DirectorDanny DeVitoStarsMara WilsonDanny DeVitoRhea Perlman
  • Jumanji (1995)

    24. Jumanji

    19951h 44mPG41Metascore
    7.1 (404K)
    A magic board game summons jungle perils and a missing boy.
    DirectorJoe JohnstonStarsRobin WilliamsJonathan HydeKirsten Dunst
  • Dustin Hoffman, Julia Roberts, Robin Williams, Bob Hoskins, Dante Basco, David Crosby, Robert Amico, Jasen Fisher, Stephanie Furst, Raushan Hammond, James Madio, Regina Russell Banali, Alex Zuckerman, and Paul Babb in Hook (1991)

    25. Hook

    19912h 22mPG52Metascore
    6.8 (286K)
    When Captain James Hook kidnaps his children, an adult Peter Pan must return to Neverland and reclaim his youthful spirit in order to challenge his old enemy.
    DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsDustin HoffmanRobin WilliamsJulia Roberts

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