For parents, it’s pretty easy to spot a good kids movie. They’re usually on fairly constant repeat in your house. Whenever you ask your little boy or girl what movie they want to watch, their response is generally one of the favorite movies, again and again and again. Perhaps during the 2000s, you were a kid and one of these movies was constantly on repeat. Nowadays, you can’t help but want to show them to your own kids. Or stay on the channel whenever you catch them on TV.
Whether you watch them as a family, or just put them on for your kids, here are 10 of the best kids movies from the 2000s.
Spy Kids
…And the award for least likely to create a kids’ film franchise that actually did create a kids’ film franchise goes to Robert Rodriguez. The director broke into Hollywood and made his name with the ultra–violent El Mariachi and Desperado films.
In 2001, he introduced the world to the Spy Kids. The movie featured Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara as a brother and sister duo who have to save their parents, former spies long retired.
Shrek
In a world where Disney churns out all sorts of animated hits, DreamWorks decided to do their own fairy tale. Based on the children’s book, Shrek, several of the fairytale creatures find themselves banished to the titular Ogre’s home.
He strikes up a deal with Lord Farquaad to save the princess and he’ll remove them from his bog. But the big green guy falls for her instead and a new fantasy hero was born. Between the voice cast, the unconventional hero and popular songs of the time, Shrek became an instant hit.
Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone
After the release of JK Rowling’s groundbreaking Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone in 1997, it didn’t take Hollywood long to come running, make the writer an offer, and get to adapting.
It took four years but when The Sorcerer’s Stone was released in theaters, just about every kid ever not only voraciously gobbled up all they could see about Harry Potter, but the films also helped to influence even more fans to turn their attentions to the book series as well.
Enchanted
If any actress can make kids and adults alike believe that a Disney Princess could exist, it could be Amy Adams. In Enchanted, she plays a lady betrothed to a prince, until his stepmom concocts a plan to keep the kingdom forever by banishing Giselle to the real world when Unhappily Ever After reigns supreme: New York City.
Giselle is a little too saccharine to let the real world get her down, as she just keeps singing her happy songs and trying find her way home.
Finding Nemo
For several of their early films, every new Pixar movie brought tons of hype for both adults and children. Finding Nemo was no different in that regard. The film was a big hit and struck a chord with children worldwide.
Thankfully, the movie is amazing at any age so even if your kid wants to watch it every day for a few months or even years, it’s not the worst way to spend time with them. After all, it’s sort of what the movie is all about.
The Incredibles
One year after Finding Nemo, Pixar did it again with The Incredibles. It was the first-time humans took front and center in a Pixar movie and it was all about an entire family of superheroes trying to adjust to life in a world where it’s illegal to be one.
But that doesn’t stop them from uncovering a plot from a jilted ex-fan who wants to make sure that no one is ever super again. Maybe Marvel will get the Fantastic Four right one day, but until then The Incredibles is the next best thing.
The Bridge To Terabithia
Warning to anyone who have never seen The Bridge To Terabithia before - watch with tissues, probably might need the full box. Jess and Leslie are next-door neighbors and become fast friends when they discover and an abandoned treehouse. They use their imaginations and build an entire world around it: Terabithia.
Not only does their world help them to get to another, but it helps them escape the real world and bullies and bad families; until the real world comes to their make-believe one.
Happy Feet
It’s a simple law of nature: if you don’t like penguins, you don’t have a soul. It’s just a fact. By extension, if you don’t like Happy Feet, you might need to get to a doctor and have your soul checked out. While just about every penguin has a special heart song that they can sing to attract a mate, Mumble doesn’t have one. Instead, he can tap dance as good as Jimmy Slyde.
Unfortunately, the elders of his community are not fond of dancers and Mumble gets sent away. It’s the old “everyone needs to and should be accepted for who they are” story, told with cuddly, fuzzy penguins.
The Muppets’ Wizard Of Oz
Since its debut way back in 1939, Victor Fleming’s The Wizard Of Oz has captivated children from all walks of life. The same can be said for Jim Henson’s Muppets. In 2005, the two combined forces for The Muppets’ Wizard Of Oz.
Singer Ashanti takes the helm of Dorothy as the Muppets (and a tornado) role through Kansas. While you’re never going to come close to the original, it is always fun watching the Muppets and their brand of lunacy to just about any property.
Charlotte’s Web
Author EB White created an indelible and timeless story when he wrote Charlotte’s Web. The story is about the friendship of a pig, Wilbur and the titular character, Charlotte. But with Wilbur targeted for slaughter, it’s up to Charlotte to come up with a way to save her friend and tries to get Wilbur to try to win a blue ribbon at the fair.
The beloved children’s story was adapted to the big screen in 2006 and featured Dakota Fanning as Fern, Steve Buscemi as Templeton, and Julia Roberts as the voice of Charlotte.
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