5 Older Movies I Still Love and so do My Kids

Movies From the 70s-90s that live up for both Adults and Kids

By Jess Latterman

The movies we loved as children can have a permanent cherished status in our memory. Once we’re adults we want our kids to love these movies too. Of course they will! But to our horror, some movies are painful to sit through again, even if the kids enjoy them (I’m looking at you The Lion King). And some are so dated or cringey, the kids sit silently through the scenes we always laughed at decades ago (Goonies). These experiences somewhat inspired the idea behind the Live UP podcast where we revisit the movies from our youth to see if they live up. Some have to, right? 

I was happy to discover that my memory is not altogether faulty. Some movies still delight and entertain the whole family (thank God). Below are five movies I still love and so do my kids. I was bracing myself for the cringe, but it mercifully never came. To be fair, there are some very dated lines of dialogue but on the whole these are still winners at all ages. 

1. Aladdin (1991)

This one wasn’t necessarily my favorite growing up, but I remember seeing it in the theater and being mesmerized by the cutting edge animation and the fast-paced song lyrics. Not to mention how much I adored Robin Williams as the genie. As I sat down with the kids to watch it for the first time in 30 years I was ready for the cringe. How was a vaguely middle eastern kingdom depicted? Is the music not so cutting edge anymore in the age of Hamilton? Is Robin Williams still funny? And how much of the story was just one big road to marriage, like so many other older Disney movies? How unmodern. 

Dear reader, I’m happy to report Aladdin is in fact a story for the modern age, and the music still thrills. Jasmine is not a helpless princess - she has agency. She fights for what she wants and ultimately gets it. Aladdin is not a dashing humorless (fake) perfect prince who saves the day like so many of the other prince love interests. He’s flawed. He makes mistakes. He fights, but in a scrappy adorable way. And the music. THE MUSIC. It’s still wonderful 30ish years later and my kids were asking Alexa to play it for weeks after we saw it. It’s in my head right now as I’m writing this and I kind of like it there keeping me company. Robin Williams’ humor is also as fresh as if the dialogue was written just last week. The kids laughed during the moments I remember laughing at their age, which enhanced my warm and fuzzy feeling about the movie even more. 

As an adult, I also found other new things to appreciate while watching. When Aladdin initially breaks his promise to free the genie, the disappointment and (brief) sadness the genie has is even more relatable as an adult viewer. He’s less angry at Aladdin than just resigned to his fate. What nuance for a cartoon. And who hasn’t experienced broken promises by middle-age? It of course all works out in the end. Hard work and pluck are rewarded. Aladdin remains truly one jump ahead of the breadline. 

2. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (Episode 6, 1983)

I know, I know. Of course Star Wars is on the list. Yes, Disney keeps producing more iterations of the Jedi universe to fit our modern movie and TV expectations, but that doesn’t make the “original” movies a sure thing when it comes to living up. Like many other kids of the 80s, I watched the original three movies endlessly with my sibling. I have them practically memorized, or should I say, know the lines I must. Like many parents who identify as Star Wars people, I was a mix of excited and nervous to introduce the franchise to my kids. I hadn’t seen the original movies in decades and wondered whether the grand world of the original Star Wars universe would seem dated compared to the recently produced trilogy. 

Of the three original movies (episode’s 4-6), Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (Episode 6) has lived up the most for both kids and adults alike. You have adorable Ewoks, Princess Leia saving the day multiple times (despite that uncomfortable looking gold bikini), the chase through the Redwoods which is just as exciting as I remembered, and some vulnerability mixed into the timeless charm of Hans Solo. By the time you get to this movie the personalities C-3PO and R2-D2 elicit laughter whenever they’re on screen. Their banter is still fresh and understood by kids as if it’s in actual English. (To me R2-D2 still reigns as the best naughty character of all time. I don’t even want to debate that solid fact). There is a happy ending both on a grand scale (death star goes boom) and a small scale with Luke convincing his father, Darth Vader, that it’s never too late to come back to the light. My kids have come back to this movie as much as the newer ones. I mean, those Ewoks! 

3. Honey I Shrunk the Kids (1989)

The dark horse of the group, Honey I Shrunk the Kids has less glitz and fanfare than the other movies on this list, despite reaching trilogy status. The latter two movies are forgettable and as far as I know there are no reboots or decades-later sequels planned for this franchise, so it may not be top of mind to rewatch with your kiddos. On a whim My wife and I picked this for a movie night with our kids when we were too tired to go on searching for the perfect title. I was skeptical that the premise of a failed scientist shrinking his children who then go on an epic quest through the backyard was going to live up to our now adult sensibilities.

I truly enjoyed being proved wrong. Yes, the neighbor's dad is textbook toxic masculinity when he bullies his teenage son about being too small for football. Yes, there’s still a cheesy love story between said teenage son and the pretty girl next door. But the suburban lawn-turned-jungle-quest is a thrill for the kids and still impressively well done for us grownups. Who wouldn’t want to ride on a giant grass waterslide, or stick your arm into an oversized cream filled cookie? I was still emotional when Antie the ant died saving the kids from the scorpion and the whole family was engrossed in the adventure together. Watch out for that lawn mower!  

4. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)

What is it about the 1970s where something can be mildly creepy, camp, and charming all at the same time? 

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory has much to like for both kids and adults. For kids, there is no greater thrill than to wish for a golden ticket. It’s also a classic formula of an underdog who bests their greedy and undeserving peers. The storyline is both delightful (because candy) and an easy-to-follow story for all ages. When my daughter was 7 we had already read the book and then watched the movie. A couple years later my son at around 4 was just along for a fun re-watch with us and his older sister. As a parenting bonus, after watching the movie my son got really into the book, which was the first chapter-length one we read with him. *self-pat on the parenting back for that one*

For adult viewers, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory retains its weird charm. Gene Wilder as Wonka is just out-there enough to be compelling, but not too weird to be cringey. This 40-something was still immersed in the joys of the chocolate factory and as we’ve sometimes established on our podcast, it never gets old to make fun of rich (or spoiled) people. 

I have seen the remake and as much as I’m a fan of Johnny Depp, he goes full on creep-with-a-white-van vibe as Wonka which is just one reason why it’s a forgettable watch. If you want to introduce Roaldl Dahl stories or perhaps have already introduced his work to your kids, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is a must-view.   

Princess Bride(1987)

I have saved the best for last. The Princess Bride is the gold standard. On the Live UP podcast when we score whether a movie has lived up, the scale is 1 -10 with one being garbage and ten being Princess Bride. It’s not just a movie to sit through for nostalgia’s sake. It’s a fine 1987 vintage wine of movies. Iñigo Montoya still charms with his famous mantra, you killed my father, prepare to die. Both my kids (ages 9 and 4 at the time of the first viewing) were happy to play sword fight while repeating this over and over. The sword fight between Wesley as the Dread Pirate Roberts and Iñigo Montoya is almost more impressive in modern times without the help of fast-paced editing and crazy sound effects. The rest of the chase sequence with Wesley fighting Andre-the-Giant, then besting Vizzini’s in a battle of wits is the most comforting of joy rides. Every line sticks the landing whether it's your first time watching or the 100th. 

As an adult you’ll also be happy to know that the rodents of unusual size, the pit of despair, Prince Humperdinck’s haughtiness and the cliffs of insanity haven’t aged a day. Even better, these pieces of the movie become memorable moments for your kids. What truly sets this movie apart 30+ years later is that everything that could be dumb or stale remains firmly entertaining. Inconceivable! If I have a quibble, Princess Buttercup doesn’t have much agency save pushing the Dread Pirate Roberts down the hill. Overall though, re-watching this movie as an adult is a complete delight, even if you do end up relating to Fred Savage’s grandpa this time around.

Do not hesitate to watch this one with your kids and enjoy them experiencing it for the first time. It won’t be their last viewing (or yours). 

Listen to the Live UP podcast wherever you get your podcasts.