15 Great 2000s Movies You Should Watch With Your Kids
It’s hard to comprehend that films released between 2000 and 2009 are already approaching “vintage” status, but ask your young children how long ago 2000 was and see how that makes them feel. However, the decade brought great family entertainment, with the animated Disney films that defined the ’90s giving way to computer-animated hits from the likes of Pixar and Dreamworks.
If you’re looking to share the “classic” movies of last year, here are 15 movies they’ll love.
Wall-E (2008)
Possibly the only film on this list to be in the esteemed Criterion Collection, and one of the few ever made that can be described as a “post-apocalyptic family film.” This Pixar film about two robots falling in love has all the charm of a silent Chaplin film (the robots apparently don’t talk much when there aren’t humans around), with an optimistic environmental message that isn’t subtle without dominating the plot.
Where to watch: Disney+ , digital rental.
Ponyo (2008)
There’s some debate about where Ponyo ranks among other Studio Ghibli classics, but if your kids like it, does it matter that it’s a slightly lesser artistic triumph than My Neighbor Tortoro ? Like much of Hayao Miyazaki’s work, this film, the director’s take on The Little Mermaid , is filled with vibrant visuals and plenty of strong female characters. It also features a fairy tale filled with a powerful story about the importance of friendship.
Where to watch: Max , Digital rental
Up (2009)
This film boasts the most heartbreaking introduction to a character in a Pixar film (perhaps in film history). This film is about a 78-year-old man who seeks adventure in South America, flying there from his home with the help of thousands of people. the balloons seem to be aimed more at adults than children. However, the real purpose of the film is to make sure that no matter how old we are, we never stop searching for experience and understanding.
Where to watch: Disney+ , digital rental.
Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
In this G-rated tribute to the ’30s horror classic, the master inventor and his much smarter dog that brought Aardman Studios to fame must stop the creature from terrorizing their village’s vegetables. Packed to the brim with sight gags and visual puns, I wish other animation studios would put as much imagination and care into their product as the makers of this film did.
Where to watch: Netflix, digital rental.
Finding Nemo (2003)
We’d be remiss if we forgot to include this classic Pixar film about a clownfish searching for his missing son on the Great Barrier Reef. While Ellen DeGeneres’ Dory is meant to make kids laugh and convey the film’s message of “just keep swimming,” beloved comedian Albert Brooks, who plays the title character’s father, perfectly captures the sense of panic every parent feels when their child is alone in the world. and all he can hear is the sound of his voice.
Where to watch: Disney+ , digital rental.
Coraline (2009)
This stop-motion animated film, based on Neil Gaiman’s book about a teenage girl who discovers a parallel universe in her home where all her dreams come true, was recently re-released in theaters for its 15th anniversary and, to the shock of analysts , managed to collect enough money to make the top five the week it came out. If you’ve seen this movie, you know why it’s still relevant today. It’s ably directed by The Nightmare Before Christmas’s Henry Selick, who gives the film a mix of whimsy and fear without turning it into pure nightmare fuel for young adults.
Where to watch: The Roku Channel, digital rental.
Shrek 2 (2004)
We’ll just say it: This sequel to the 2001 animated film surpasses the original, from the simple message that looks are no substitute for good character to the introduction of Puss in Boots Antonio Banderas. Even the jokes, although harmless, are somehow even sharper than in the previous film, especially when the audience learns about Pinocchio’s preferences in underwear. This sequel is the creative peak of the Shrek franchise.
Where to watch: Peacock , Digital rental
Enchanted (2007)
For further proof of how Shrek has influenced modern family films, look no further than this live-action/animation hybrid from Disney, which finally decided to shake up its fairy-tale princess formula by setting one in a real world without talking animals or dwarfs. . Amy Adams is perfect as Giselle, but James Marsden steals the show as the naive Prince Edward.
Where to watch: Disney+ , digital rental.
Kung Fu Panda (2008)
We’re not entirely sure when the powers that be assigned Jack Black to star in nearly every family movie ever made. This probably has a lot to do with his hilarious vocals in the film about a bumbling panda chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy. Even in the trailer for the upcoming Minecraft movie, Jason Momoa triumphantly shouts the main character’s favorite line, “Skadush,” and Black is in the movie too!
Where to watch: Peacock , Digital rental
The Incredibles (2004)
This Pixar superhero film reflects the dysfunction of The Simpsons with the more family-friendly aspects of the groundbreaking graphic novel Watchmen . (The bit about capes, for example, is a direct lift from Alan Moore’s masterpiece.) However, the theme of keeping loved ones together, even when the world threatens to tear them apart, is what sets this film apart.
Where to watch: Disney+ , digital rental.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)
Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, best known for The Lego Movie and 21 Jump Street , have a knack for taking something that seems like a bad idea to put on screen and somehow manage to use it to exceed everyone’s expectations (see two mentioned films). at the beginning of this sentence). The duo’s first cinematic success was an adaptation of the beloved children’s book, which shares the title of the film but uses almost no source material. Instead, it’s an inventive, kid-friendly disaster movie filled with crazy, quirky gags and mouth-watering visuals.
Where to watch: Paramount+ , digital rental
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
You could say this Pixar film is yet another iteration of the studio’s Toy Story formula, from the fun rivalry between the two plots to its twist on children’s imaginings, this time about creatures hiding in the closet. What sets it apart is the voice acting by John Goodman (Sally) and Billy Crystal (Mike), who have great chemistry, as well as the visual world created by computer artists, from the colorful doors inside the main work area to the architecture within. a city inhabited by monsters.
Where to watch: Disney+ , digital rental.
Corpse Bride (2005)
Tim Burton is currently in the midst of releasing his Beetlejuice sequel. Since you probably won’t want to show this movie to your kids , this family movie about love and death is a perfect substitute. Filled with a far less menacing plot than The Nightmare Before Christmas , this dark and witty film is about a timid groom who doesn’t want a bride and ends up married to someone undead. It’s full of clever gags that make the Great Beyond seem less scary to young people.
Where to watch: digital rental.
The Secret of Kells (2009)
In the race for Best Animated Feature at the 2010 Academy Awards, Pixar’s Up was eclipsed by this delightful film set in medieval Ireland. More than ten years later, it remains undiscovered by a wider audience. The film certainly deserves it. It’s about the abbot’s frightened nephew and a fairy named Ashling, who together search for a crystal in an enchanted forest to complete a magical book. The film is co-directed by Tomm Moore, who animation fans may know as one of the creative forces behind 2020’s brilliant Wolfwalkers .
Where to watch: Kanopy, digital rental.
The Princess and the Frog (2009)
The timeless tale of a cursed prince who must kiss to become human again has been given a Southern twist. The film marked a return to form for Disney, who spent much of the decade trying to move away from the musicals and hand-drawn animation that worked so well for them in the ’90s. This is also a historic moment for The House of Mouse, as it is the first film to feature an African-American princess.
Where to watch: Disney+ , digital rental.