Sure, the calendar tells us that the standard year runs from January through December. But practically speaking, parents and kids know better: A new year begins when school does. And that means that many families are now, ahem, celebrating a new year.
‘Course, whether you send your kids off to public or private school, or whether you teach them at home, not every child is celebrating. Diving back into reading and math, chemistry and gym, can be a daunting, dispiriting and even scary experience. And, with most kids back in school by mid-August, even those who liked the first day of school might be sick of homework by now.
So why not watch a movie as a family? Better yet, watch a movie that celebrates education, too?
We’ve got a few suggestions—even if they’re not full-on endorsements. Most of the flicks below have their own sets of issues, so don’t watch these films without checking out our full reviews on them. Still, you might just find an A+ movie for your family here.
Akeelah and the Bee (PG, 2006):
Not a lot of spelling prodigies come from the rough streets of south Los Angeles. And honestly, Akeelah Anderson sometimes worries that she’s too smart for her own good. But her teachers see her potential and encourage her to train for the prestigious Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee, and she’s taken under the wing of the brilliant, reclusive Dr. Joshua Larabee. Plugged In’s Christopher Lyon enjoyed this inspirational charmer: “The story had me, and it kept working right up to the end.” And while it does have a bit of profanity, Akeelah and the Bee reminds us that it’s OK to be smart, that it’s OK to work hard. And the spells we see here are just the right kind. (Available on Hulu for free.)
Little Women (PG, 2019):
A quartet of closer-than-close sisters (Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy) grow up together in an 1860s home filled with not just love, but learning. Jo especially has been a hero of many a young bookish girl, but all the sisters find and hone their own talents and skills—with, of course, a few bumps along the way. Hollywood has churned out many adaptations of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved book, but many would say that director Greta Gerwig’s Oscar-winning take is the best. Plugged In’s Emily Clark says that it’s more than just a good take on a classic book: It offers important life lessons, too. “Little Women doesn’t offer a formulaic path to love and success and wisdom and happiness. It shows the pain that must be experienced, the losses that must be endured, the struggles that must be faced.” And given that struggles are not uncommon in the classroom, that’s a good lesson indeed. (Not streaming for free anywhere currently, but you can buy it digitally at Amazon for $14.99.)
Monsters University (G, 2013):
What do monsters do? They scare people, that’s what. And Sully’s one of the best natural scarers Monster U. has ever seen. But there’s a problem: The furry beast doesn’t study. He feels like he doesn’t need to. And that means he’s sometimes overshadowed by his not-so-scary but very studious rival, Mike. Obviously, the two monsters eventually join forces to compete in the annual Scare Games, and Sully learns a valuable lesson that most kids need to internalize at some point: All your skills and talents won’t take you where you want to go without good, hard work—and maybe some help from your friends, too. (Streaming for free on Disney+.)
Mr. Holland’s Opus (PG, 1995):
In the world of education, a good teacher can make all the difference. And Mr. Holland is a very good teacher, even though he didn’t want to be a teacher at all. The fledgling composer takes on a musical teaching gig for the basest of reasons: He needed the job. But he stuck with that job for 30 years, inspiring generations of students and propelling them to their own successes—even as his own ambitions languish. As his career winds down, though, Holland realizes that perhaps what he achieved as a teacher was far more important than writing some dumb ol’ symphony. “The movie promotes a solid work ethic, the importance of the arts in education and balance in life—between passions and priorities, talent and effort, knowledge and vision,” wrote Plugged In’s Bob Smithouser. And even as it gives young viewers a better appreciation of their own teachers, it reminds them that success comes in all forms. (Streaming for free on Disney+.)
October Sky (PG, 1999):
Knowledge can take you anywhere you want to go—even to the stars themselves. That’s the ambition of Homer Hickam and a few of his high school classmates. They have a love of rocketry, and they believe that love just might rocket them out of their sleepy West Virginia coal-mining town. Bob Smithouser cautioned readers in our Plugged In review that both language and attitudes here are a bit more harsh than you might expect from a PG film. But anchored by a strong performance by a very young Jake Gyllenhaal, October Sky blasts off into rarified air. (Streaming on Prime Video, Hulu and a number of other services for free.)
Pinocchio (G, 1940):
Yeah, school can be hard. But for a young little wooden boy, just getting there can be the biggest challenge. In Disney’s classic animated film, Pinocchio is led away from school twice by the dastardly Honest John and his goofy sidekick Gideon. And while the movie never actually sees Pinocchio get to school, the story still shows us the perils of skipping it altogether. I mean, no one wants to turn into a donkey, right? (Streaming for free on Disney+.)
Sky High (PG, 2005):
Classes may be tough. But algebra’s nothing compared to the crushing difficulties of high school’s social scene. Will Stronghold, the son of two prominent superheroes and a freshman at the hero-centric Sky High, could tell you all about that. In his first year there, he went from zero to hero after an unexpected cafeteria confrontation. And while he didn’t like not being liked, he’s not really sure whether he wants to be one of the cool kids, either. While Sky High won’t show you how to be better at algebra, it just might illustrate how to be a better person. And in the long term, that might be even more important than a semester’s worth of straight A’s. (Streaming for free on Disney+.)
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