Now that we’re all stuck at home practising social distancing, here is a list of family-friendly movie marathons you can watch with the kids.
Here at HoneyKids HQ, we’re big fans of cuddling up on the sofa with a good movie. And now that the Covid-19 situation has rendered us homebound, there’s no better time than now to get the kids interested in these films with a movie marathon! Whether you’re looking to go on an epic space opera or keen to join an archaeologist on his adventures abroad, escape reality by starting one of these movie marathons with the kids. The best part? Some of these movies were adapted from bestselling books that you could add to the kiddos’ reading list. Happy watching!
1. Harry Potter
Potterheads will definitely love watching the journey of Harry, Ron and Hermoine brought to life in this epic eight-part movie. Of course, having watched the films and read the books, we find the books to be much better. Not only are there missing characters, but the omission of classes and other differences in the film means we lose depth to each character’s development in the story. So, we definitely recommend getting the kids to read the books before starting the movie marathon!
2. Star Wars
This epic space opera saga just concluded its final run in December 2019 with the release of The Rise of Skywalker, which means it is the perfect time to let the kids watch these nine films. Several Star Wars fans (like ourselves) will argue that you should watch the films in order of release, but if you’re introducing it to the kids for the first time, watching it chronologically will make more sense.
Psst, beside the three trilogies (prequel, original and sequel), we recommend adding the standalone films Solo and Rogue One to the mix: they provides you with more context in this expanding universe. Heck, you could even include the live-action series The Mandalorian and the animated The Clone Wars TV series if you wanted to! Hours of guaranteed fun.
3. Hunger Games
Did your tweens and teens read this dystopian young adult series when it was first released in 2008? If not, now’s the best time to do so before the fourth instalment of the series is released later this year. And after, you can pop on the book-to-film adaptations that are chock full of action to watch, too. Our favourite parts of the films? Seeing the gorgeous costumes and designs come to life. May the odds be ever in your favour!
4. Jurassic Park
This classic trilogy (and its two modern sequels) have been one of our favourite movie franchises since the first movie came out in 1993. And, we’re not going to lie – when we heard Universal was going to do new Jurassic Park movies in the modern era, we weren’t so sure about it. After all, nothing can live up to the original…
The young ‘uns who are obsessed with dinosaurs might be freaked out after hearing the roar of the T-Rex in the film, so it’s probably best to keep the volume down on low. And for the older kids, grab a copy of Michael Crichton’s novel to read before starting the movie marathon. They’ll thank you for it!
5. Lord of the Rings
You might not know this, but J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy adventure was first written as a sequel to The Hobbit. After developing it further, he released these epic fantasy novels that have been popular with young and adult fans everywhere… including us! Numerous TV, radio and film adaptations of the novels have been made over the years, but the most famous adaptation that you should watch with the kids is Peter Jackson’s trilogy. They’ll be transported to a world of elves, hobbits and more.
Each film is about two and a half hours long, so be sure to stock up on plenty of popcorn before starting your epic movie marathon!
6. Indiana Jones
Who knew archaeological expeditions were that exciting? If the kids are seeking adventure and thrill, pop on the Indiana Jones film series. Follow this fictional professor as he searches for artefacts around the world, and prepare for plenty of swashbuckling.
There are currently four films in the franchise, and a fifth film is set to be released in 2021. But if the kids are looking to join Indy on more adventures, you’ll be glad to know that there are children’s novels, comic books, theme park attractions and more to explore. Have fun!
7. Marvel’s Cinematic Universe
Perhaps the most well-known movie franchise among the young ‘uns is definitely the Marvel Cinematic Universe. What’s not to love about cool superheroes like Iron Man, Captain America and the rest of the Avengers saving humanity from evil tyrants? Its action-packed movies are not only humorous but are known for the after-credits scenes, which always include a cameo from a character in the following movie. Best watching order? Either by superhero, or in release order. Either way, the kids will be glued to the TV for days…
8. Pirates of the Caribbean
Yo-ho, yo-ho, a pirate’s life for me! Arr mateys, if yer looking for another swashbuckling adventure as you sail the high seas, pop on the Pirates of the Caribbean! You might not know, but this Disney film franchise was first inspired by the ride of the same name in Disneyland, and its films have been praised for its visual and practical effects. It’s full of fun and hilarious moments, interlaced with some colourful pirate language… garrrr! The kids will certainly enjoy this one.
Top photo: Shutterstock
All photos: IMDb
