Top 10 Childhood Films

by Helen Earnshaw | 17 November 2013

Ahead of her supercalifragilistic renaissance in the motion picture, Saving Mr Banks, Disney proudly announces the world’s most famous nanny Mary Poppins is making her long anticipated, high definition Blu Ray debut on 18th November 2013.

The Lion King

As one of the most beloved films from our childhood, Mary Poppins - marks its 50th anniversary, here we take a look at other movies that have stood the test of time to become a childhood movie milestone for all.

1. The Lion King (1994)

Undoubtedly one of the most popular Disney animated musicals; The Lion King entertains with its colourful characters, unforgettable songs and important life lessons.

Influenced by the biblical tales of Joseph and Moses, and the Shakespeare plays Hamlet and Macbeth, the film presents the story of a lion cub’s journey to adulthood and acceptance of his royal destiny. The Lion King songs were written by composer Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice, with an original score by Hans Zimmer.

Earning $961 million worldwide in 2011, the film is the highest grossing hand-drawn film in history and received a multitude of awards, including the Academy Award for Best Original Score and the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture.

Not only has it become a classic childhood film, but it has also left a legacy in theatre and film. A Broadway adaption of the film opened in 1997, only to become the highest grossing Broadway musical of all time.

Disney followed the film with two sequels and a prequel. The Lion King is a heart-warming classic film that teaches children imperative lessons with excellent songs and a great story.

2. The Wizard Of Oz (1939)

Despite being the oldest film on this list, The Wizard of Oz is a timeless classic movie. Distinguished for its use of Technicolor, fantasy storytelling, music score, and unusual characters, over the years it has become one of the most popular movies and a part of Western pop culture.

Stuck in a dull farm in sepia-toned Kansas, Dorothy dreams of a more exciting life. Her wish comes true when a tornado hurls her and her little dog, Toto, into a Technicolor wonderland.

The Wizard of Oz has important life lessons ingrained in the story, such as the importance of friendship, finding courage within yourself, overcoming obstacles and facing your fears, with the principle characters in the film serving as an important reminder that we all have flaws.

The Wizard of Oz was nominated for six Academy Awards and won two including Best Original Song and Best Original Score.

3. Toy Story (1995)

The Toy Story films are not only fantastic children’s films; they’re serious contenders for the best films of all time. The film follows the adventures of toys that come to life when they’re away from a human gaze and focuses on the relationship between Woody, a boy’s favourite cowboy doll, and the new toy on the block, a Buzz Lightyear astronaut action figure. Toy Story has life lessons such as the importance on teamwork and friendship, loyalty and rivalry.

Toy Story was the first feature-length computer animated film to be made by Pixar. As an interesting fact, the films executive producer was Steve Jobs, the Apple Inc founder. The top-grossing film on its opening weekend, Top Story went on to earn over $361 million worldwide. It was nominated for four Academy Awards and won the Special Achievement Award.

Toy Story has inspired theme park attractions, spin-offs, merchandise, and two sequels. All three films have grossed more than $1.9 billion worldwide. Today, Toy Story is considered one of the best animated films ever made and a classic children’s movie.

4. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

E.T. is a rite of passage, it is absolutely essential that every child watches this movie before they hit their teen years. This Steven Spielberg film tells a story of a lost alien far from home discovered by a lonely young boy looking for a friend.

When the alien has to go home it causes uncontrollable tears from everyone in the audience. The story itself was based on an imaginary friend Spielberg created after his parents’ divorce as a child.

The film teaches the audience the importance of friendship, family support, and more importantly, the movie portrays what happens when a child of divorce finally grows up and accepts that love will eventually involve letting go.

E.T. was a blockbuster surpassing Star Wars and became the highest-grossing film of all time. It held that record for 10 years until Jurassic Park, another Spielberg-directed film surpassed it. Worldwide, E.T grossed $757 million.

5. The Sound of Music (1965)

Derived from the Broadway musical, Julie Andrews stars as singing and dancing Maria in the classic film The Sound of Music.

The story focuses on Maria, a free spirited Austrian woman studying to become a nun, and her journey as she leaves a convent to become a governess to the children of a naval officer widower and her efforts to transform a dismal military family into a smiling, singing and dancing happy family.

The elements of World War II fly over youngsters heads as children enjoy the music from Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. The themes throughout the movie include the importance of family, sticking together in times of hardship, love can be everywhere if you’re open to it, and that confidence is a necessity.

The Sound of Music was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won five including Best Director, Best Music Scoring of Music, Adaption or Treatment, Best Picture, and Best Film Editing.

The film grossed over $286 million worldwide, which displaced Gone with the Wind as the highest-grossing film of all time. In 2011, the United States Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry as it was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.

6. The Jungle Book (1967)

Based on Rudyard Kipling’s story, Mowgli, The Jungle Book depicts the story of an orphan boy who has been raised by wolves in the Indian jungle and his struggle to leave his animal friends to rejoin human civilization. Positive messages such as finding friendship in unexpected places and the importance of different cultures and traditions are found in the film.

The film contains a number of classic songs, including 'The Bare Necessities' and 'I Wanna Be Like You'. Most of the songs were written by the Oscar winning songwriter brothers, Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman who also penned the score for Mary Poppins, The Aristocats, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and the iconic Disney song 'It’s a Small World (after all)'.

The Jungle Book was the 19th Disney animated feature film and the last film supervised by Walt Disney himself before his death.

7. Home Alone (1980)

The young, adorable Macaulay Culkin takes centre stage as he stars in the classic film, Home Alone. Kevin (Culkin) is a mischievous 8 year old middle child who feels largely ignored by his family.

Wishing his family would just disappear, Kevin wakes up in the morning only to discover that his wish was granted his family has left on their Christmas vacation without him. It’s up to him to fend off two bumbling burglars and keep his home safe. Home Alone, exemplifies the essence of childhood.

At first excited about his families disappearance and his freedom to do as he pleases, Kevin soon realizes he has taken his family for granted and begins to miss everything about his family, even his bully brother.

In 2009, Home Alone was the highest-grossing comedy of all time with a box office that reaches nearly $477 million the film received critical acclaim, including two Academy Award nominations.

8. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Based on the novel of the same name, director Mel Stuart brings the classic story to life in the 1971 musical film, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The film depicts an eccentric reclusive candy industrialist, Willy Wonka, who comes out of hiding to announce a contest: golden tickets will be enclosed in his candy bars to be sold worldwide.

Those finding the tickets will receive a lifetime supply of chocolate and will be invited to take a tour of his mysterious candy factory led by Willy Wonka himself. One of the golden tickets finds itself in the hands of an impoverished young boy, Charlie.

As the tour progresses, the four other golden ticket winners suffer awful fates due to their spoilt nature and Charlie finds himself the only child remaining, winning the grand prize of the factory itself.

The film embodies positive messages about being thankful for what you have, integrity never growing old, accepting responsibility for your mistakes, and importance of love. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory received positive critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score.

Thanks to its repeated television airing and home video sales, the film has acquired a cult following.

9. The Goonies (1985)

The Goonies is the adventure movie of adventure movies. After watching the film, every child finds him or herself wanting to go on an epic adventure seeking hidden treasures.

The Spielberg written story depicts a group of friends (Goonies) that discover an old Spanish pirate treasure map and embark on a wild adventure to discover the long lost fortune of One-Eyed Willie, a legendary pirate.

The heroic journey encourages everyone in the audience, regardless of their age, to dream. The film produced $9 million in its opening weekend in the US and grossed over $61 million, placing it in the highest-grossing films of 1985 and acquiring a cult following.

10. Mary Poppins (1964)

Mary Poppins is a without doubt a cornerstone of childhood film watching that transcends the three generations since its release. Winning an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance, Julie Andrews plays Mary Poppins, a nanny who uses magical powers to assist the Banks family.

Set in London, the film portrays the transformation of the family while simultaneously encouraging the audience to remember to enjoy every moment; in work or play, laughing as much as possible and sharing with those less fortunate.

While the film is visible on essentially every Top 10 childhood films, Julie Andrews sings and dances her way straight into your heart. Mary Poppins won Oscars for Best Film Editing, Original Music Score, Best Song for 'Chim Chim Cher-ee', and Best Visual Effects, receiving a total of 13 nominations, an unsurpassed record for any other film released by Walt Disney Studios.