You don’t have to travel further than your living room to have a kid-friendly adventure this March Break! If you’re planning a staycation this year, get the popcorn ready and curl up on the couch with one of our fave adventure flicks that the whole family will love.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone: Whether your kids are newbie muggles or full-blown wizard fans, J.K. Rowling’s first adventure about “The Boy Who Lived” is pure movie magic. Experience the world of Hogwarts alongside Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they learn magic spells, play Quidditch, and fight deadly enemies. And if the kids love it, you can always watch the next 7 movies in the series next!
The Muppet Movie: In their first full-length feature film, Kermit meets Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzie, and more crazy muppets on a cross-country road trip to find success in Hollywood. But can they out-race a restaurateur who’s looking to add the talking frog to his menu? Like all Muppet movies, this wacky adventure also features a host of hilarious cameos, including Mel Brooks and Steve Martin.
Finding Nemo: Travel across the ocean with Marlin and Dory while they search for missing little clown fish Nemo. Despite his father’s constant warnings about the dangers of the ocean, Nemo is captured by a fishing boat and ends up in a dentist’s office fish tank in Sydney, Australia. Marlin and Dory (voiced by the ever-hilarious Ellen DeGeneres) meet sea creatures of all kinds on their rescue mission, including sharks, sea turtles, jellyfish and more.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe: When four siblings travel through a wardrobe and are transported into the land of Narnia, they learn of their destiny to free the magical world and defeat the evil White Witch (Tilda Swinton). With the help of the mighty lion Aslan (voiced by Liam Neeson), the Pevensie kids explore the snow-covered land, encounter weird and wonderful creatures, and enter into a terrifying battle.
Swiss Family Robinson: If your kids have ever dreamed about living in their tree house, this might be the perfect movie for them. This live-action Disney classic follows a Swiss family who must try to survive after being shipwrecked on a deserted tropical island — and yes, they end up living in a huge tree house. Plenty of adventure ensues while the family explores the island and avoids pirates.
Up: After his wife passes away, 78-year-old Carl ties thousands of balloons to his home and sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America. Little does he know that he has a stowaway: 8-year-old Russell, a boy scout who’s trying to get an “Assisting the Elderly” badge. Together the strange pair embarks on an adventure, encountering talking dogs, an evil villain, and a rare bird named Kevin.
James and the Giant Peach: Author Roald Dahl is a master of children’s literature, and we love the many fantastical adaptations of his novels, including the story of the young orphan James and his magical adventures. When James saves the life of a spider and an enormous peach starts to grow in his garden, the boy befriends the talking bugs who live inside the fruit and joins them on a journey to New York City.
Spy Kids: This one’s for the kids who dream of being the next James Bond! The first of four movies in the Spy Kids series follows the adventures of the two Cortez siblings who have to rescue their secret agent parents when they’re kidnapped by techno-wizard Fegan Floop. Kids will love seeing the wacky and genius ways Carmen and Juni go about their dire mission!
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl: It’s an adventure on the high seas with Captain Jack Sparrow! When the pirate captain (Johnny Depp) pairs up with blacksmith Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) team up to rescue Will’s lover from the feared Captain Barbossa, little do they know that ancient curses are involved! The entire Pirates series is loads of fun for kids and adults alike, but this first flick is definitely the best.
The Neverending Story: Have you ever wished you could disappear into a book? In this classic children’s fantasy movie, young Bastian dives into the mythical land of Fantasia through the pages of a mysterious book. Back home, Bastian’s life is ruled by school bullies, but in Fantasia, he might just be the hero they need to save it from destruction.
What’s your favourite family-friendly adventure movie? Share your picks in the comments below!
Image: The Muppet Movie, Henson Associates, 1979