Favourite Childhood Movies
I thought I would share a nostalgic post today, all about my favourite childhood movies. Everyone has those memories about films as kids, usually about Disney films. My memories and favourites are less inclined towards Disney and more toward traditional classics.
Favourite Childhood Movies
A Little Princess
I loved the 1995 version of A Little Princess. It was melodramatic, with a mix of horrible sadness and uplifting endings, and the movie score always sets me off. Being a dramatic child myself, it’s no wonder this was one of my favourites growing up.
The Secret Garden
Another Frances Hodgson Burnett classic adaptation. I can’t remember when I first saw the movie of The Secret Garden but I remember I used to watch it over and over again a lot of the time. It was also the first classic novel I ever read so it holds a special place in my heart.
Mrs Doubtfire
Who didn’t love Robin Williams in the 1990s. He appeared in many of my favourites, not included on this list, like Flubber, Aladdin, Hook etc. But Mrs Doubtfire was always my ultimate favourite. From the ridiculous make-up scene with his brother where Daniel becomes Mrs Doubtfire for the first time, to the stupid scene where he smashes his face into a cake during a social worker’s visit. Hilarious.
Matilda
I’m bookish, introverted and a girl. Of course, I loved Matilda growing up. It gets better as you get older as more of the jokes come through. Danny DeVito did an incredible job of acting and directing and you can tell the kids had a blast too. Such a comfort watch, even now.
Peter Pan
From 2003 until probably 2007 I think I was in love with Peter Pan. And I’m pretty sure a lot of the girls and guys in my primary and early secondary school years were in love with him too. Growing up I always thought of Tinkerbell as my spirit animal and Peter Pan has always been a favourite story, so this movie ticked all of the boxes.
Little Women
Not a ‘childs’ movie per se, but I adored Little Women (1994) with Winona Ryder and Claire Danes. Having always wanted to be a writer, Jo was a character very close to my heart, and yet I could find qualities in all of the sisters that I had and could relate to. It’s a great novel and a great film, and the recent adaptation by Greta Gerwig is also fantastic.
Sense and Sensibility
My parents, particularly my mother, loved to introduce me to classics. One of the earliest I remember watching with her was Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet. The fact that the main character was called Elinor (a variant of Eleanor, my name) was enough for me to be interested, but I totally LOVED it. My mum loves to remind me that I ended watching the movie by being very angry at Willoughby and shouting ‘Naughty Willoughby’ at the screen. Fond memories.
Nanny McPhee
We went to see Nanny McPhee as a family in the cinema and I think we all found something that made it a household favourite. From Colin Firth’s struggle as a dad to Emma Thompson’s sarcasm and Imelda Staunton’s kitchen dramas. Lots of fun.
Eragon
This was a pre-teen movie for me and for about 6 months I pretty much watched it every day after school on my portable DVD player. Eragon was probably my next crush after Peter Pan. But I also loved the CGI on the Dragon and Eragon and Saphira’s story. Over the years I devoured the books and I can understand why the film wasn’t widely beloved, but to me, it was a personal favourite.
Spy Kids
My sister and I must have watched Spy Kids dozens of times as children. This was one that definitely connected us. It hasn’t aged well, but still a good hangover movie.
Shrek 2
I like Shrek, but there’s something about the sequel that just makes me smile from ear to ear. This was another family favourite, after-dinner type film. There’s something for everyone, be it child or adult, not to mention a singalong at the end!
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
I had grown up reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as a child, and then the producer of the movie came to my school before the film was released and showed us some never before seen blooper reel featuring a new actor called James McAvoy as Mr Tumnus. I loved it from that moment before I even saw the full movie because Mr Tumnus was brought to life.
The Parent Trap
Another favourite of mine and my sisters was The Parent Trap. It’s completely problematic, and growing up I’ve discovered I have more sympathy with Meredith who I used to think was the worst human being on the planet! The camp scenes at the beginning are my absolute favourite, and I’ll admit to having attempted to learn the secret dance – I never managed it.
The Mighty Ducks
And finally, the best sports movies of all time: The Mighty Ducks Triology. I will die on this hill. My sister and I devoured these movies and still have regular re-watches. When they released the recent series on Disney+ I’ll admit I cried when they did a reunion of the OG ducks. Love, love, love.
What were your favourite childhood movies growing up? Let me know in the comments below.
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