Show Your Children Older Films
“Singin’ in the Rain” is one of the greatest films of all time and can be a great first musical for younger viewers.
As more people that I know have kids, I think there’s one thing that needs to be made clear: you need to show your children older films. This is because my generation couldn’t care less about the popular culture that predates them. Generation Z seems to have this notion that “if it didn’t exist before me then it’s not important.”
In many respects, this mentality is their parents' fault for not sharing the culture of the past. So, here are a few reasons why this generation of parents should share the art of the past with their children.
First, children need to gain an appreciation for the popular culture of the past generation because it can connect them to older people. To this day, when talking to people older than me, they are astounded that I’ve seen older films and shows. I’m proud of my library of my popular culture that I’ve stored in my head because it's just another thing to talk about to generations that have had different experiences than me.
Growing up, I remember watching old films with my parents and grandparents and really enjoying them. When my parents showed me “Dazed and Confused” during my pre-teen years, it felt like they were extending a branch to something they loved when they were young. This kind of connection continues to this day because, while it’s older, many past films still have relevance and can speak to younger generations.
I also think children need the challenge of seeing something different or even more adult. When I see “more adult,” I’m not referring to sex, drugs or violence. I’m instead referring to adult themes and conversations like identity, racism, self-discovery, conflict and mortality. While I didn’t completely understand “The Searchers” or “Lawrence of Arabia,” I loved watching these films because they were unlike anything that was being marketed towards me.
If you have the choice between showing a child something that is popular or that is good, always choose good. Many times, popular and good overlap but you should always choose the latter. Just because children can watch anything doesn’t mean they should. I saw a bunch of films when I was a kid and the good ones always stayed with me. I was entertained by the “Alvin and the Chipmunks” films, but they left my mind pretty quickly. However, I never forgot “Up.”
More importantly, to all of the older people who complain about how “they don’t make them like they used to,” there’s a reason for that. For decades, the art that the youth love is what dominates popular culture. If you don’t show them the classics, then they won’t want to see anything that resembles them.
So, I have devised three lists for different age groups for the best films to show younger people. I will try to steer away from Disney or other films that are traditionally shown to children. That’s fine because many of those films, like “The Wizard of Oz” and “The Secret of NIMH,” are classics. These are films that are older and might not occur to you to show to children but can be very enriching.
Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck’s chemistry in “Roman Holiday” is delightful for all ages.
8-years-old and younger:
Yellow Submarine – Beautiful animation, bright colors and music by The Beatles can captivate the youngest viewer.
Raiders of the Lost Ark – Growing up, this was a film I highly enjoyed because of the fun adventures, exciting action and intense moments that drew me into the story rather than frightened me.
The Searchers – If you want to introduce your kids to John Wayne, might as well start with the best.
Fantasia – Some of the greatest music ever composed alongside beautiful animation from Disney’s Golden Age makes for one of the greatest animated films ever made.
Singin’ in the Rain – If you want to introduce your children to the musical, this catchy musical from the Golden Age of Hollywood will excite everyone.
The Gold Rush – It may seem odd to market a silent film from the 20s, but really young children love visual storytelling. The film is a comedy and still cracks me up with The Tramp’s antics. The Tramp himself is as iconic a character as Bugs Bunny or Mickey Mouse.
Dracula/Frankenstein – If you want to introduce your children to horror without really scaring them, these are two films worth showing.
Roman Holiday – This black-and-white romance is full of the charm and grace of Audrey Hepburn. It’s just a beautiful, entertaining film.
King Kong – This 1930s monster film is a thrill-ride with a fantastic story, imaginative effects and an iconic finale.
To Kill A Mockingbird – Talking about Racism is a tough conversation. What makes “To Kill A Mockingbird” interesting is that, while the film doesn’t go into the complexities of racism, it addresses the subject through the eyes of children. So many young children will definitely identify with Scout as she sees her father defend a wrongfully accused black man.
Clint Eastwood stars as an anonymous gun-slinger in “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” which is one of the greatest films of all time.
10 to 14-year-olds:
Dazed and Confused – Definitely for the teenage crowd, this film should be one of the first R-rated films you show your kids. When they go into high school, it’s important that they watch the film to understand that there’s going to be a lot of crap in there that they can either swallow or just ignore.
Jaws – This massive blockbuster is capable of both scaring the hell out of you and also drawing you into its engaging characters.
Casablanca – One of the most quotable films of all time, this film has something for everyone: anti-heroic characters, romance, shootouts and it all is set during WWII.
The Good, The Band and the Ugly – This Italian western is far more realistic than a lot of American ones and also gave us one of the greatest characters of all time: Clint Eastwood’s Man With No Name. It’s got one of the greatest scores of all time, one of the greatest shootouts of all time and it’s one of the greatest films ever made.
Poltergeist – This PG-rated horror classic combines the wonder of Spielberg with the darkness of Tobe Hooper. It’s definitely a good film for kids to watch, albeit older kids. It’s got an incredible atmosphere and just manages to entertain while having that 1980s edge.
North by Northwest – This Alfred Hitchcock classic manages to be a better spy film than some James Bond pictures. It’s romantic, it’s got murder, the climax is on Mount Rushmore, it’s just a fantastic film starring legends like Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint.
Rebel Without a Cause – James Dean brings his a-game to one of the few films he starred in before his tragic death. The themes of this film still connect with young people and Dean’s performance is nothing short of remarkable.
On the Waterfront – One of the best dramas, the Marlon Brando film talks about the dark side of the American Dream and does so in an engaging manner.
The Big Chill – This film is all about friendship and how important it is. It’s got a wonderful soundtrack, amazing actors and a charming sense of humor.
Lawrence of Arabia – There are a few films that are truly epic in character, action and scale. This is one of them.
Spike Lee’s “Do The Right Thing” is easily one of the most complex films dealing with race because it doesn’t stereotype or sugar-coat anything.
15 to 18-year-olds:
The Godfather – It’s one of the most iconic films ever made and deservedly so.
Alien – A really scary and really engaging science fiction film, the effects and Sigourney Weaver’s performance make this a worthwhile experience.
Seven Samurai – This film may be subtitled, but it’s also got some of the most intense and realistic action and all with incredible performances from the samurai.
The Graduate – Any teenager who’s about to graduate should see this film for the sake of their own character. They need to see that there’s a film that understands how they feel.
Psycho – This horror classic is iconic in every way but still manages to surprise.
Do The Right Thing – This film is one of the best that deals with race and how racism affects a community. Spike Lee’s direction results in an unforgettable film.
The Big Lebowski – This is easily one of the funniest films ever made. It always elicits laughter from everyone who watches it.
American Graffiti – This film about cruising teenagers can still manage to connect to today while also giving George Lucas time to shine as an amazing director.
Taxi Driver – One of the most iconic films ever made, Robert DeNiro’s deeply distrurbed Travis Bickle is one of cinema’s greatest characters.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s – This romance film acknowledges the complex nature of love and that’s apparently in Audrey Hepburn’s mesmerizing portrayal of Holly Golightly.
