[Trains123]

There were so many great family movies (non-animation) made in the 80s and early 90s with really good storylines. I will mention a few that I can think of right now - Home Alone; Karate Kid; Short Circuit; Gremlins; Cocoon; Three Men and a Baby; and a host of others. I am not saying these are necessarily classic films, but they were great fun to watch when I first saw them in the mid and latter part of the nineties. I was born in the 80s myself so first caught them in the nineties.

But watching them now they do seem a little dated but still enjoyable. I was wondering what similar films have been made in the last decade or so (2000 till now) that you would rate highly.

[thomasDrooney]

Both Nanny McPhee films

[Dombo]

spy kids?

[fmradiotuner1]

Some from my list

Aliens in the Attic
Beverly Hills Chihuahua
Bridge to Terabithia but might be sad for kids
City of Ember
Night at the Museum 1 and 2
Race to Witch Mountain remake
Hotel for Dogs
Marley & Me
My Dog Skip
Mostly Ghostly
The Spiderwick Chronicles
The Golden Compass
Mr. Bean's Holiday
The Chronicles of Narnia The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Films
Elf
Harry Potter Films
Super 8

[Tech Lover]

Little Miss Sunshine

[leaby]

I think the OP has a point actually... the only live action family film that comes close to the examples mentioned, I think, is Pirates of the Carribean. Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings might also be worthy examples, but they just don't have the same level of "fun" as the likes of Short Circuit and Gremlins.

[soundstory]

Have you seen Holes??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holes_%28film%29

It pops up on BBC1 from time to time

[dmuk]

Gremlins wasn't a family film.

[GOGO2]

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid films are as good as anything from when I was a kid.
Reminds me a bit of The Wonder Years.

Oh and Super 8, is pretty great too. I can't think of many though to be fair...

[GOGO2]

Originally Posted by dmuk

Gremlins wasn't a family film.

Ofcourse it was!!

[GOGO2]

Originally Posted by Tech Lover

Little Miss Sunshine

Now thats NOT a family film!!
Great film though, one of my faves.

[soundstory]

Originally Posted by GOGO2

Now thats NOT a family film!!
Great film though, one of my faves.

Yes I wouldn't have classed it as a family film either !

[3PS]

Originally Posted by GOGO2

Ofcourse it was!!

I use to watch that as a kid. Critters was like the non kiddy version

[GOGO2]

Originally Posted by 3PS

I use to watch that as a kid. Critters was like the non kiddy version

I seem to remember the PG certificate caused a bit of controversy at the time but it was undoubtedly a family film imo. My son loves it and has done since he was little, my daughter's not so keen but she's a big wuss. I saw it when i was 7 and loved every second of it!

[Scubamonkey]

high school musical (1-3) are huge 00's family films

[dmuk]

Gremlins was/is a comedy horror, it forced them to change the ratings system in the US. It was given a 15 certificate here (even 12 which is probably what it would have got if the 12 was around at the time, is not a family film). It may involve a family adopting a creature, you may have even watched it with your family (you have/had a cooler family than me), but it is definitely not a family film.

Hook, The Addams Family, North, those are all family films I remember. Gremlins was twisted to the point where a couple more gorey parts and it would have been rated 18.

To clarify, family films must be U or PG (uk ratings), anything 12+ is not a family film. (IMO).

[3PS]

Originally Posted by dmuk

Gremlins was/is a comedy horror, it forced them to change the ratings system in the US. It was given a 15 certificate here (even 12 which is probably what it would have got if the 12 was around at the time, is not a family film). It may involve a family adopting a creature, you may have even watched it with your family (you have/had a cooler family than me), but it is definitely not a family film.

Hook, The Addams Family, North, those are all family films I remember. Gremlins was twisted to the point where a couple more gorey parts and it would have been rated 18.

To clarify, family films must be U or PG (uk ratings), anything 12+ is not a family film. (IMO).

We had a video day at junior school where we all took in a video and we chose one to watch. We all chose gremlins.

If you compare gremlins to some of the "kiddies" films of today it seems tame.

[dmuk]

DVD day?
Junior school?
Gremlins?

Really? With all the amazing films that kids are into like harry potter and pixar, you all chose a film that was released about 15 years before DVD became popular and is rated 15? I'm not buying that story and even if it's true, it will take more than an irresponsible primary school teacher to convince me Gremlins is a family film.

[3PS]

Originally Posted by dmuk

DVD day?
Junior school?
Gremlins?

Really? With all the amazing films that kids are into like harry potter and pixar, you all chose a film that was released abou15 years before DVD became popular and is rated 15? I'm not buying that story and even if it's true, it will take more than an irresponsible primary school teacher to convince me Gremlins is a family film.

You don't have to buy it as i know it's true. And i am not trying to convice you it's a family film. Just giving my experience

[Croctacus]

Simon Birch

[GOGO2]

Originally Posted by dmuk

Gremlins was/is a comedy horror, it forced them to change the ratings system in the US. It was given a 15 certificate here (even 12 which is probably what it would have got if the 12 was around at the time, is not a family film). It may involve a family adopting a creature, you may have even watched it with your family (you have/had a cooler family than me), but it is definitely not a family film.

Hook, The Addams Family, North, those are all family films I remember. Gremlins was twisted to the point where a couple more gorey parts and it would have been rated 18.

To clarify, family films must be U or PG (uk ratings), anything 12+ is not a family film. (IMO).

It's no more a comedy horror than Ghost Busters, and I'm pretty sure it was a PG.

Apparently their making Ghost Busters 3!

[JCR]

Originally Posted by GOGO2

It's no more a comedy horror than Ghost Busters, and I'm pretty sure it was a PG.

Ghostbusters was PG from 1984-2011, then they raised it to 12A saying it would have been 12 the whole time had 12 been available in 1984, the 12 being for 'moderate sex references' rather than horror elements though:

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/BFF032537/

Though in fairness to Gremlins, I'm not sure it is any worse than Jaws or Raiders of the Lost Ark, both of which are still PG

[leaby]

Channel 4's 100 Greatest Family Films:

http://www.listsofbests.com/list/779...t-family-films

Gremlins is right there at #34.

I think it's important to note that "family" films are different to "kids" films - I think it's a great type of film in that can simply be enjoyed by anyone. Kids films are specifically aimed at kids and should therefore be suitable for all children to watch, at the cost of (possibly) less enjoyment in the adult audience (though many of my favourite films are rated U ).

Gremlins has some very scary elements, which is why the Parental Guidance certificate is there - i.e. it's not for very sensitive children. Same with the likes of Jurassic Park (I saw bits of that when I was smaller and I was scared shitless, but I still agree that it's what you'd call a "family" film).

[Trains123]

I seriously think the 80s and early part of 90s was a golden period for films. So many really good films made during that time (family movies or otherwise). I am just not into the new films.

The only thing better (in my opinion) nowawadys is picture quality and sound scores in films (both to be expected), but films from that period seem to be more enjoyable because they focussed primarily on making a good story because they didn't have all the fancy armoury filmakers have at their disposal today which take away from telling a good story. Of course, its also true that you need really really good scriptwriters to come up with original material.