Movies I'm Excited To Show My Kids One Day

One day. Hopefully not soon. But one day.

When I talk about movies with my friends and an older film comes up, we usually mention how our dads showed us the movie. For me, my dad introduced me to the James Bond movies starting with the Sean Connery era. He showed me old classics that I grew to love like Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner, Cool Hand Luke, and To Sir With Love. Then there were the comedies he showed me that are some of my all time favorites; Step Brothers, Old School, and Bend It Beckham.

Eventually when I have kids (hopefully a son) I want to show him some of my favorite movies and I hope he grows to appreciate them the same way that I appreciate some of my dads favorite movies.

Whiplash (2014): Whiplash could be to my kids like how To Sir With Love was with me. I initially hated it, but grew to love it. The first time my kids and I watch it, they’ll probably hate it and find it boring because it’s jazz music and there isn’t any action. Down the line when we rewatch it though, I hope it’s one that grows on them because it’s my all time favorite.

Inglorious Basterds (2009): I might just lie to my kids and show them Inglorious Basterds and tell them that this was how Hitler died. Yeah, they might be screwed for history class, but it’d be pretty funny. I’d most likely refrain from showing this until they’re in high school because I wouldn’t want them watching Brad Pitt carve a swastika into the forehead of Christoph Waltz.

This Is The End (2013): My dad showed me Old School, I’m showing my kids This Is The End. It’s one of the funniest movies of the 2010’s and I distinctly remember going to see this for my twelfth birthday. I can’t wait to explain how all of the actors are just playing themselves. “That’s Jonah Hill. He’s one of the best actors of this time period. He was in Money Ball, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Superbad. Crazy right?”

McFarland, USA (2015): McFarland, USA is a movie I’ve watched probably fifty times with my dad and I’d have to say it’s my second or third favorite sports movie ever (Vision Quest still holds the one spot). It’s an awesome underdog story that brings a smile right to your face. The film teaches the importance of community and resilience in the most perfect way possibly.

American History X (1998): Here’s the million dollar question, do I want to traumatize my kid? I obviously wouldn’t show him this before he’s in high school, but even when I watched this in college, the curb stomp scene was tough. And when Ed Norton gets raped, that’s a tough one to watch. Overall, it’s an important movie about race that I think people should see.

The Perks of Being A Wallflower (2012): Mental health is something I’ve always taken very seriously and The Perks of Being A Wallflower addresses the subject beautifully. At times, the movie can be very intense, but it takes on many serious topics that high school and college aged kids go through on a daily basis. While the film is shocking at times, the most shocking aspect of it is that Ezra Miller’s in it.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018): Let me paint a picture. It’s a snow day. My kids are home from school and I make some popcorn and hot chocolate. We sit down on the couch and I throw Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse on the T.V. This is one of my comfort movies; something I watch when I feel down and it immediately makes me feel better. It’s fun, vibrant, and one of the best superhero movies ever made.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994): I feel like I won’t even have to go out of my way to show my kids this one. One afternoon we’ll just be flipping around channels and this’ll be on and I’ll say “son, take a seat.” Shawshank is one of the undeniable great movies that is universally loved by all. I don’t know what lesson to pull from this for my kid, but regardless, I want them to see this and really enjoy it.

Se7en (1995): Much like American History X, how much do I want to traumatize my kid? Do I want them seeing Gwyneth Paltrows dome in a box? Probably not. But, the movies unreal and one of my all time favorites. I guess we’ll wait until high school to watch it; that’s when I first watched Se7en.