Three days into summer break and I’m all, “Wait, why was this cool again?”
Can we swim? Can you make me a sandwich? I’m thirsty. Can you tie this? Can you fix this? I’m hungry. Sophie peed. I need a towel. I need a cup. I need a napkin. I’m bored.
I forgot how quickly it escalates.
I’m happy to report summer enthusiasm still measures in the upper quartile though. I figured we simply could not move forward with summer festivities though without a good list of summer family movies, and Friday’s a perfectly good day to get it done. One of my favorite summer rituals is watching movies when we’re trapped in the cabin on a rainy day up north, and up there we do it old school style–not pulled from Netflix or streamed from Amazon, but…wait for it…we insert a DVD into a player. Gasp. And half the fun is rifling through the stack of DVDS–summer favorites that have been collected for rainy days and quiet nights.
With no further ado…
And why yes, I do have a thing for old Lindsay Lohan movies.
Wanna make your summer movie night even better? Try these:
1. Move all the furniture in the family room and throw pillows, couch cushions and sleeping bags on the floor. Make a movie fort.
2. Lead up to movie night. Make “Movie Night” flyers and hang them around the house before the event and pass out homemade tickets (kids love these jobs!)
3. Make individual popcorn bags (cute little red and white stripe bags seen in above photo, perfectly sized for toddler portions, available in the dollar section at Target currently)
4. Pajama prerequisite.
5. Make S’mores sundaes. Chocolate ice cream, drizzled with chocolate sauce, sprinkled with graham cracker crumbs and those freeze-dried marshmallows (you can buy them in the hot cocoa aisle).
6. Drag movie setup outside, hang twinkle lights, invite neighbors and throw a big outdoor movie party. This one’s a lot, I know. So, also okay if you think about it, pretend you did it and then don’t.
Did I miss an amazing summer movie on my list? Have a summer movie ritual that we just have to try? Tell me, tell me!
Sarah says
Many gems you are missing!
The Apple Dumpling Gang
The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again
Hot Lead and Cold Feet
The Ugly Dachshund ( Dean Jones — so many wonderful family movies!)
Support Your Local Sheriff!
Swiss Family Robinson
Homeward Bound
Pollyanna
Honey I Shrunk the Kids
And many more — old movies are the best for family movie night!
Becky says
The Sandlot!!! 🙂
dallimomma says
This would be for when your kids are a little older but my kids watched the heck out of “Wild Hears Can’t be Broken”. So good.
Carolina says
I second Wild Hearts Can’t be Broken!! My girls and I watch it every year and it never gets old!
Lisa says
Yes! That one- still love it. 🙂
Nicole says
Yes! My kids are 6 and 5 and we just watched that one last month and they loved it! 🙂 A favorite of mine since I was a kid…
Amanda says
Great list! I would add Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer 🙂 it’s a favorite around here with my four and inspires Big Foot hunts and art shows! Also, all of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies are a hit 😉
I love the idea of hanging flyers and having tickets! Totally doing this, thank you! I think I’ll also add a concession stand and give the kids fake money to buy their snacks and drinks!
Amanda says
Oh oh two more! I forgot The Sandlot and Angels in the Outfield! Holy childhood crushes, haha!
corey says
Sandlot!! Goonies, Night at the Museum….love them all!
Alisa says
Love this list. We do family movie night every Saturday night, but these are great ideas to ramp it up for summer. I’d also add: Annie (the original), Goonies, Wizard of Oz, and The Princess Bride.
Rosemary Sullivan says
Meet me in St. Louis
Pippilongstocking
Hello Dolly
Stephanie says
City of Ember is a good one, too. Snowball Express, Spirit, Jump In, Akeelah and the Bee, Curious George, Hannah Montana the Movie, Eight Below, The Tale of Despereaux…
Becky says
I think this sounds like one of the easier events you have ever shared. I have introduced my grandkids to the Shirley Temple, Mary Poppins movies. You make it much more a time of anticipation and I’m going to do that for the next time they are coming
Sarah says
I noticed you forgot Sandlot. Honest mistake I’m sure. 🙂
The last few summers our athletic department has done a summer movie night the beginning of August before football starts. Families are invited to bring blankets, and they have popcorn, and we watch a movie on the jumbotron. It’s pretty amazing. Last summer was Sandlot and it was a perfect summer night.
Ramona says
I don’t have small children anymore (29 & 26! My 29 year old has Down Syndrome.), but I’m ready to pull these movies out to watch myself! Your list is great. We liked Dunston Checks In and for an old movie, The Music Man.
cindy cole says
More movie favorites from the archives: Harriet the Spy!!! Matilda…..It’s a little scary but my 3 littles watched (I can’t believe I let them–haha) it and we still talk about that movie–they are grown now….It’s just crazy good.
Dennis the Menis!!
James and the Giant peach!
The Borrowers
All great movies!!
Jen Czupek says
At ages 18 and 16, our kids still look forward to Family Movie Night. I agree on Matilda – both kids loved that one. Don’t forget Camp Rock – decent little Disney one – and Uncle Buck. Might as well introduce them to John Hughes at an early age! 😉
Nellie says
bedknobs and broomsticks!
shawn says
second Sandlot – lovely great movie –
and who don’t have the GOONIES listed?? That is classic!!
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? Dick Van Dyke hysterical!!
Sound of MUSIC – long movie can split over naps
Heidi ??
Anne of Green Gables???
ya gots to add some sista!!
Heather says
My nieces are 11 and 13. They spend some time with me after school once or twice a week and a day here or there during the summer. My house is strictly veg out in front of the tv time for them as their parents are really active folks. They are developing a love for musicals so I try to record classical old musicals for them to watch. Last Summer I gave them nightmares over Little Shop of Horrors. I had costumed the musical on stage so I didn’t think about how graphic the movie version was. Oops. For the past six months though, they mostly want to watch Hey Jessie… I think it’s a Disney show. I just roll with it.
Jenny L. says
You make everything so fun. I wish I still had little ones to entertain with your great ideas. And totally off subject – Lainey is starting to look at lot like her big brothers and Nella is the image of you. Dash has to grow a little before you get my opinion on who he looks like (because my opinion is so important, ha!). Always love your blog and beautiful family!
NancyG says
Matilda. We can watch it over and over.
Carolyn says
Harry and the hendersons❤️
Stacey Muller says
ALL of the American Girl movies! May not keep Dash’s attention, but I am sure Lainey will love them!!
Karol Holmes says
If you can get your hands on the Anne of Green Gables movies, do it. Lainey is perfect age for the first two in the series. My kids are now in their 20’s and we still watch them every year. “Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it. “
Isabelle says
Some Like it Hot (skip the first part in Chicago, and skip the shooting in Florida – other than that, totally child-proof!). My 9 and 10 year old girls LOVE it and can watch it over and overa again.
Tee says
Throw in The Long Long Trailer with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz and you’ll be great. Pretend, if you need to, that you are camping in the longest trailer in the USA…..never been camping that we have not watched it. My now 13 year old grandson loves to scream TRAILER BRAKES! TRAILER BRAKES!!!!
You will be blessed.
JoAnn says
My grandkids 7,9 and 11 have discovered Dennis the Menace (kind of old with grumpy old men actor) and they love it. It’s hilarious. Also I would recommend the little princess, even the boys like it. (Though they first complained). Then, Now and Then (a girlfriend sweet movie), Monkey Trouble, (all would love), Uncle Buck, Camp Nowwhere, Adventures in Babysitting, Homeward Bound, Old Yeller, but my grandson kind of cried a bit over that, Pollyanna, and for Lainey… Maybe in a year or? My Father the Hero is hilarious. Something about the old 80-90s movie. My older children who are 36 and 38 have 5&6 children. They are having so much fun resurrecting their old favourite which they found they still love. Oh another fabulous, Fly Away where girl find saves and teaches orphaned geese to fly… Home Alone and Prancer (who doesn’t like a reindeer movie in July!)
Terra says
Haha! We still do it the “old fashioned” way all year long….we frequent the public library at least two times a week and you can find all the DVD’s listed above and many more, and the selection of books is amazing….can find just about anything you want there, plus new releases. We always have stacks of books, books on CD and DVD’s walking out of the library…and it’s FREE. We don’t have cable, Netflix,or any of those. Our wifi is not strong enough for streaming (on purpose). We are a homeschooling family, so this is us all year. 🙂
sue fleming says
High School Musical!!!! 1 and 2!!! Your kids are soooooooo ready for it and it will change your world, like Shopkins! You’ll be rocking out the songs in no time!!!
sue fleming says
p.s We are another Lindsay Lohan household with love for Shopkins so trust me on this one!!
bopper says
The ultimate family movie: The Princess Bride
Kat says
All the Herbie movies are great, especially for boys. Herbie Fully Loaded with Lindsay Lohan is great.
Susan says
Don’t forget Ghostbusters and Nim’s Island.
Ronda says
Gidget is always fun with the surfing and good time. If not the movie than the tv show with sally field is just adorable and totally age appropriate.
One of my favorites growing up was all the Disney movies with Kurt Russell – The computer who wore tennis shoes, etc as well as Uncle Buck and the Great Outdoors, though some of those more entertaining for slightly older kids than toddlers. So much fun on a rainy day.
Jennyroo says
My favourites from when I was a kid? Candleshoe starring a very young Jodie Foster and the original Parent Trap (starring Hayley Mills and Hayley Mills). Classics!
Katie says
One of my childhood favs is Bugsy Malone. (Jodie Foster is in it as a teenager!) Think of it as a gangster movie/musical starting kids with adult dubbed singing voices. It has great songs, tommy guns that shoot whipped cream, funny lines, and dancing.
an appointment says
Northeastern District – Barbershop Harmony Society
m'liss says
A few of my grandkids favorites:
A Little Princess
Fly Away Home
Anne of Green Gables
The Princess Bride
The Secret Garden
The Neverending Story
Milo & Otis
Babe
Catherine says
So many great movies but so many I don’t have. Where is the best place to find them now that rental places are few and far between? Sadly Red Box did not survive where I live. 🙁
Jenny says
Great Suggestions! A few more I thought of. 🙂
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Labyrinth
The Never-ending Story (when they are a bit older)
All the Buddy Movies (Treasure Buddies, Snow Buddies, etc.)
m'liss says
Some of my kids favorites:
The Princess Bride
The Neverending Story
Fly Away Home
A Little Princess
Milo & Otis
Babe
Nanny McFee
And Anne of Green Gables could
Jess says
My family’s summer must-have list…
The Goonies!!
The Sandlot!
E.T.
The Princess Bride
Honey I Shrunk the Kids
Hook
Ramona and Beezus
Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer
Back to the Future
Maria says
Willy Wonka
Babe
Charlotte’s Webb
Princess Bride
All the Shreks
Shark Tale
A dolphin tale
Annie!!!!!
Mrs Doubtfire
ET
Toy Story (all of them! 🙂 )
Katie says
What about a fall list????