5 Movies from Your Childhood Worth a Re-watch

Feeling nostalgic for the ’80s and ’90’s? Below you’ll find a roundup of five classic selections you may remember from your younger years, all of which are now available on DVD for your viewing pleasure. Make your kiddos and yourself happy by picking up one of these oldies-but-goodies for your next family movie night.

• Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird (1985) – Provide your Sesame Street fans with a glimpse of what their favorite show looked like during the pre-Elmo era. This feature-length film follows Big Bird in his efforts to return to Sesame Street after being uprooted and rehomed by an overzealous social worker. After hearing of Big Bird’s escape, a diverse group of Sesame Street residents that includes Gordon, Maria and Cookie Monster joins forces to find their friend and bring him home. Follow That Bird provides pretty much everything one could ask for from a kid’s movie: wacky Muppet hijinks, a memorable soundtrack and celebrity cameos by everyone from Chevy Chase to Sandra Bernhard. (Rated G)

• The Mighty Ducks (1992) – Who could forget the “Flying V”? Emilio Estevez stars as Gordon Bombay, a cynical lawyer in legal trouble. As punishment for a drunk-driving episode, Bombay is required to coach a lovable band of hockey-playing misfits, and thus our underdog story begins. As the Mighty Ducks improve their hockey skills, Gordon improves his people skills and forms a particularly close friendship with a young player named Charlie (a pre-Dawson’s Creek Joshua Jackson). The Mighty Ducks manages to be comfortingly formulaic while still offering some real excitement during the on-ice scenes. (Rated PG)

• The Secret of NIMH (1982) – While seeking medical help for her son, field mouse Mrs. Brisby sets in motion a series of events that lead to a series of revelations about her late husband and a secretive colony of rats who reside nearby. “NIMH” feels a bit grittier and more intense than the average animated film, at least by today’s standards, but the movie’s memorable cast of characters and unique plot boost it into my personal top five animated movies of all time. Parents looking for a literary tie-in can preface or follow a viewing of this film with a reading of the very excellent novel Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, by Robert C. O’Brien, on which the movie is based. (Rated G)

• Newsies (1992) – Feel like adding some singing, dancing and a dose of history to your family movie night? Introduce your kids to this musical retelling of the 1899 New York City newsboy strike. The charismatic Jack (a young Christian Bale) and well-spoken David organize a ragtag band of paper sellers to fight for improved working conditions. It’s kind of like Les Mis with kids. While the Newsies story will probably be over the heads of very young viewers, it makes a serious subject–child labor–accessible to older children via its stirring collection of song-and-dance numbers. (Rated PG)

• The NeverEnding Story (1984) – If you grew up in the ’80s, you’re likely no stranger to this creepy but cool quest movie. Its plot follows the separate but intertwined struggles of bullied bookworm Bastian and Fantasia warrior Atreyu. A strong sense of atmosphere and cast of fascinating mythical creatures, including a rock-eating giant, flying dragon and scary wolf-like monster puppet, help The NeverEnding Story stand out from other films in its genre. This movie does have some pretty intense moments–most notably its Swamps of Sadness sequence and Atreyu’s eventual confrontation with its villain–so definitely prescreen this classic before sharing it with younger or more sensitive children. (Rated PG)

Source: I MDB.com.

Michelle Shirk is an attorney, freelance writer and proud mother of one. She writes about family, travel and seasonal events for many different parenting publications.