5 kids’ movies every adult must watch

They say you never stop being a child, not age-wise, not responsibilities-wise but on a heart-and-soul level. Do you hit the swimming pool and wish to just goof around with a ball, climb on a flamingo float and pretend there isn’t a long-due report to be submitted at work? When adulting gets harder than it already is, we wish to reconnect with our inner child. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a simple game of Ludo kept us going. An episode of Tom & Jerry can make you laugh at the end of a rough day and as Westlife puts it, scraped knees seem so much better than broken hearts.

With Children’s Day around the corner, how about we have a sleepover with our friends, slurp on sugar-loaded beverages and devour our favourite candies—all while binge-watching kids’ movies that even adults can love! Here’s an assortment for you to pick from.

Minions: The Rise of Gru

If you love the Despicable Me franchise, you will love this one, which is the fifth and latest addition. The animated movie revolves around Gru, who desperately wants to arrive as a supervillain with the help of his minions. However, in the process of achieving his rather odd goals, he ends up having a showdown with a bunch of supervillains, a gang called the Vicious 6. 

An audition for rapscallions, an acupuncturist, who turns out to be Kung Fu maven and a bit of hilarious magical realism thrown in make this movie a must-watch.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Little Women 

I read this book as a child and watched the 1994 adaptation of the same. I watched the 2019 adaptation as a grown-up and it still resonates with me. The story revolves around the lives of the March sisters and explores the themes of feminism, sisterhood, and ambitions (professional and personal). Irrespective of the adaptation you opt for, this one’s going to leave you with a lot to think about.

Where to watch: Netflix

Turning Red 

Directed by Domee Shi, it is the first Pixar film to be helmed solely by a woman. The film revolves around Mei, who turns into a big red panda every time she feels a strong emotion. It all starts with a nightmare about giant red pandas and when she wakes up, she realises she has become one. Eventually, Mei understands that it happens only when she is feeling emotionally charged. The film beautifully, with a bit of humour, exhibits the need for emotional intelligence, something we can all take note of.

Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar

The Cat Returns 

If you love cats, this one’s going to make you wish the magical realism in it was real. The story revolves around Haru Yoshioka, who can talk to cats. She ends up saving a cat, who turns out to be the prince of the Cat Kingdom. Things escalate way too quickly after that as she is being roped into marrying the prince and turning into a cat herself. The rollercoaster of madness aside, the movie emphasises discovering who you are and self-love.

Where to watch: Netflix

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Even though the last two movies in this franchise weren’t widely appreciated, the first one, which was released in 2010, remains a crowd favourite. The story chronicles Greg, who is starting middle school. He has to brace himself for all the school politics and bullies he will experience, while also wanting to people-please and make it to the list of favourites by the year-end. How he braves up, forges friendships, and learns to stand up for himself, are things we can all learn from. Adult struggles are not all that different!

Where to watch: Apple TV