MUST SEE MOVIES BEFORE YOU GROW UP

According to a new list compiled by Into Film, a cultural and educational charity based in the UK, there are about 50 films every child should see before they grow up. Some of the films showcased on this list include The BFG, The Lion King, and ET, with each film being measured against a series of metrics, from the impact a movie can have on a child’s intellectual, educational, and emotional development, through to suitability for family viewing plus overall entertainment and nostalgia factor.





The judging panel, led by Into Film’s education and programming teams who specialize in curating film content and developing teaching resources, narrowed down the selection of films to a shortlist of 250 from a catalog of over 3,000 family movies. This shortlist then led to the final 50 films in the selection, which feature a range of past and current films that have been deemed to benefit child development and creativity. So in alphabetical order, here are the '50 Must See Movies Before You Grow Up':

• 101 Dalmatians / A Little Princess / Annie / Babe: The Gallant Pig
• Beauty and the Beast / Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 
• Coraline / Diary of a Wimpy Kid / Dumbo / E.T. The Extra Terrestrial
• Fantastic Mr Fox / Free Willy / Frozen / Home / Hook
• Hotel Transylvania / How To Train Your Dragon / Jumanji
• Kubo and the Two Strings / Mary Poppins / Matilda / Nanny McPhee
• Night at the Museum / Oliver! / Paddington / Secret Life of Pets
• Shaun The Sheep Movie / Shrek / Space Jam / Spirited Away
• Star Wars: A New Hope / Swallows and Amazons
• The Adventures of TinTin / The BFG / The Gruffalo / The Iron Giant
• The Jungle Book / The LEGO Movie / The Lion King
• The Lorax / The Never-Ending Story / The Princess Bride
• The Secret Garden / The Witches / Toy Story / Trolls / Up!
• Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
• Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory / Zootropolis

Each of these films sits within a specific theme and enables the ideas and issues they present to be fully explored and discussed. These include topics such as diversity, bullying, adjusting to change, tackling moral complexities, bereavement, friendship, embracing being different, growing up, and facing adversity.

The popular television presenter, Denise Van Outen, is an ambassador for this campaign, and recently she has endorsed it by saying, “Nothing beats a movie night in with my family. I love watching my daughter Betsy become totally absorbed in a story-line. It’s always fun showing her films that I used to watch as a little girl and then sharing our favorite scenes and characters. I’m certain that film has the ability to take us to far off places and other worlds, while helping our children develop empathy and imagination”.

The ‘Must See Movies Before You Grow Up’ campaign is led by the UK video industry, and alongside it, Into Film has also developed a series of curriculum based educational resources to be used in primary schools throughout the UK. This includes:

Thrills & Chills: This is a collection of family oriented films which will make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. This ranges from hidden dangers and magical creatures brought to life, all the way up to fantastical journeys that force our heroes to confront terrifying truths and monsters which bar their travels.

Adventure: Expand your horizons and dare to explore places you've only ever dreamed about with this selection of brave adventures. From crossing boundaries, facing up to new threats, to using escapism and fantasy as a way of helping to process real-life issues, this selection embraces mystery, magic, and of course, a pioneering spirit. 

Heroes & Villains: These films provide a platform to showcase that our heroes, and our villains, can come in all shapes and sizes, regardless of age, background, or ethnicity. Weather they are working alone or as part of a team, one way or another these character driven tales can inspire us with their feats of grandeur or their relatively lofty pursuits. 

Kids Rule: Children are the main focus in this collection of films in which small people make a big difference. By creating their own rules, the children in these films are able to stand up to injustice and dare to take on forces bigger than themselves. 

Classics: Some films have a timeless, enduring quality, and are handed down from generation to generation for a whole new audience to fall in love with. These films have the power to make us laugh, cry, think, and learn a little more about ourselves and the world we live in. 

Into Film is a film and education charity, supported by the BFI through National Lottery Funding, which aims to put film at the heart of young people's education, contributing to their cultural, creative, academic, and personal development. They are available to schools, colleges, and youth groups across the UK and gives children and young people the chance to experience film creatively and critically, as well as learn about the film industry and careers within it. For more information please check them out on their website, facebook, and twitter pages.