Everybody loves a good, wholesome family movie. You can laugh, cry, and enjoy a movie without waiting for the kids to go to bed, or covering their ears or eyes when something inappropriate for them shows up on the screen. Kids can enjoy the movie and understand it, while the parents can be pleasantly surprised at how much they like it, too. As summer is finishing up, you might still have a few opportunities to watch a handful of movies with the family. So, here are the Top 10 Family Movie Sequels of all time!
10. Despicable Me 2
The highly anticipated sequel to Despicable Me was a huge success. It’s truly a movie that transcends age. For proof: My grandmother laughed and enjoyed it as much as my soon-to-be sisters in law, who are both under the age of 12. Now that is has been out for a while, everyone is anticipating a third one!
9. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
A beloved children’s story series, penned by the even more beloved C.S Lewis, first hit the big screen in 2005 with The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. It was, of course, an instant success. Many parents have read the books to their children, and loved the opportunity to then watch the movie with them. Fortunately, the first film followed the book very closely! Although the sequel strayed a bit, along with the third film, it has been rumored that the films will start following the books closely again. All of the books are great reads, so read Prince Caspian before watching it with the family!
8. Rio 2
A more recent release, Rio 2 provides ample fun for the whole family. With musical star Bruno Mars providing voice-over and musical talent, the movie becomes a film that you can’t help but dance to. It’s funny, yet provides a great family message, too.
7. Toy Story 3
Although not technically a sequel to the first film, it is nonetheless part of the famous trilogy and really tugged on people’s heartstrings. Adults cried, children cried, and then everyone was pleasantly warmed by the ending. It’s a story about growing up, about love, and about commitment to one another. Certainly, all of the makes for a great family movie!
6. Shrek 2
With the addition of Puss N’ Boots, the Shrek series continued strong. People quickly fell in love with Shrek, and instantly became a family favorite. Adults love the satire and humor hidden within, while children love the thought of a big, green ogre acting as a hero. More than that, however, I recommend Shrek 2 (and all the other ones, really) due to the values it promotes.
5. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Madagascar is a profoundly funny movie. From King Julian’s rendition of “I like to move it, move it,” down to the penguin’s knack for military operations, the movie provides ample amounts of humor and laughter. Overall, it is a movie that families can really enjoy watching and laughing together.
4. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (PG-13)
So long as your kids are age appropriate for this movie (rated PG-13), then this makes as an excellent film. The Hunger Games series is, in fact, a trilogy of Young Adult bestselling books. Before casting it off as evil, I implore you to look into how the author came up with the idea, and the possible messages that are being taught in the books/movies. Believe it or not, there is a very important message behind it all—and one that kids should learn! It’s a well-made sequel, and completely crushed in the box office. The third movie is coming out shortly, so be sure to watch it before then!
3. Planes: Fire and Rescue
Without a doubt, Planes does not measure up to the Cars series, but it’s still good nonetheless. Fire and Rescue is an entertaining movie, but it also provides a lot of teachable moments for your children, much like Cars. Believe it or not, parents, movies can be used to help you teach your children valuable lessons! When watching this movie, pay careful attention to Dusty Crophopper and you will find ample amounts of solid values.
2. Cars 2
Disney’s Cars is one of the most wholesome children’s movies out there, and parents often enjoy it as well. It’s wildly imaginative, and often, very humorous. How can it not be with voice-overs from Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy? The animation is amazing, and the film has a fairly decent plotline. Nothing beats the original, but it’s still pretty goo
1. Dr. Doolittle 2
Funny-man Eddie Murphy stars as Dr. Doolittle, who has a mysterious power, so to speak, to speak and understand animals. It’s very wholesome and for the whole family. In fact, the movie even stresses family values within Dr. Doolittle’s own family. Plus, Eddie Murphy often has a way of making people of all ages laugh. It’s worth a watch, especially if you have never watched it before!
Conclusion
There are so many great family movie sequels out there, so feel free to leave a comment with your own list! Movies are so popular today, so it’s important to utilize them well instead of shunning them altogether. Yes, children should read, play outside, and socialize, but there is also a time to watch movies. When balanced properly, you can even use the movies your family and kids watch to provide insightful teaching moments. It can be educational—you just have to make it that way.
Resources- Youtube, photo credit: Alan / Falcon via photopin cc
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