Best Kid Films List

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Last Updated: 4/22/24
Note: It's simple and straightforward: the best of the best in kid cinema history. In order to qualify, the film has received a rating of at least '6' from me and then must also meet one of the following criteria:

1. The main focus is on kids.
2. The primary character is a kid.

They must not be in high school. Films having more kids in middle school or lower than high school is acceptable. Multiple parts (i.e. duology, trilogy, etc.) can be put together as one if there's a continuation in the narrative. Miniseries and telefilms are fair game, but anything made after the year 2000 and documentaries are excluded.

These films have shown brilliance in most, if not all, aspects: acting, characters, screenplay, plot, direction, editing, cinematography, and so on. They must also be "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Then, I think about cultural phenomenon, uniqueness, famous movie moments, iconic scenes and/or lines, cinematic power, and timelessness.

This list is based on what I have seen so far and is limited to the top 12 with some, if any, honorable mentions in that order and some, if any, notable exceptions to the rule. While ranking the films, I am simultaneously thinking about kid before quality and quality before kid.



  1. The Goonies (1985)

    2. In comparison with other children's films, nothing beats The Goonies. Unparalleled are the acting, dialogue, sense of humor, premise, fantasy, creativity, comedy, and action-adventure. Of the child stars, Corey Feldman does an exceptional job. As for the rest of everybody else, they're natural. The Goonies has it all that you can possibly want in a children's film.


  2. The Monster Squad (1987)

    3. The Monster Squad is one of the all-time great children's films with a delicious mix of horror and comedy. Fascinating is how well it bridges the gap, giving something for everybody: horror fans, comedy fans, children, and adults. The best part is putting together the five most famous movie monsters from Universal Studios in one film: Count Dracula, The Wolf Man, The Mummy, Frankenstein's Monster, and The Creature from the Black Lagoon.


  3. The Exorcist (1973)

    4. "What an excellent day for an exorcism." Famous for many reasons, The Exorcist is one of the finest horror films ever made. Linda Blair's transformation is something else to behold. Her character is so scary that she's effective. Who can forget the taxi stop for Father Lankester Merrin in front of the house?


  4. The Miracle Worker (1962)

    5. The Miracle Worker is a powerful, moving story about how Helen Keller was shown the light through language. The Oscar wins for Patty Duke and Anne Bancroft are deserving, and the former's performance is in the top ten of all time. It's impossible not to be moved by all of this.


  5. Empire of the Sun (1987)

    6. There's a lot of David Lean about Empire of the Sun, thanks to the top-notch cinematography. Christian Bale gives a performance that's on par with Peter O'Toole of Lawrence of Arabia. There are a lot of similarities between both films as well. Steven Spielberg is the best director ever because of his ability to create a masterpiece in any genre.


  6. Fresh (1994)

    7. A brilliantly written masterpiece that manages to break the mold of the usual black gang pictures, Fresh has deep Shakespearean elements, most especially the analogy of a chess match that's played out in real life. The characters around Fresh are used as pawns, and Esteban acts as the king and is therefore the objective of the game. Fresh's reward is his sister.


  7. The Sandlot (1993)

    8. The Sandlot was already a classic baseball picture when it first came out in 1993. The story is creative. All of the child actors are natural, and they can play baseball, too. There are nice random moments from time to time to make the film memorable.


  8. Stand by Me (1986)

    9. "I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?" Stand by Me is a classic 80's kid movie with many unforgettable moments. It also has a star-studded cast that went on to do bigger films: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O'Connell.


  9. Vice Versa (1988)

    10. Vice Versa beats the pants off both versions of Freaky Friday. It's due to one reason alone: superior acting. Judge Reinhold and Fred Savage do a great job of playing their ages appropriately after their bodies got switched. Thanks to the strong plot, the film hasn't dated and doesn't involve contrivances.


  10. A Little Romance (1979)

    11. A Little Romance is a nice charming picture that takes place in France and Italy. Although the boy and girl are the main show, it's Laurence Olivier who steals their thunder. Making her screen debut, Diane Lane gives a good performance and is a natural. Thelonious Bernard starred in only two films, A Little Romance and Allons z'enfants, before calling it quits.


  11. Le ballon rouge (1956)

    12. Le ballon rouge is a quirky, innovative French short with no more than twenty-five words (this one won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay if you can believe it) about a boy with a red balloon that acts like a dog. Children will probably like the film, but as for the adults, I'm not sure but guess they'll have to tap their inner child to get into it. The ending is sad, but there's a happy, spiritual moment to erase it away.


  12. Bugsy Malone (1976)

    13. Two gangs are at war with each other for the possession of "splurge guns." To fill in the time, it's about the look and fashion through quick editing with snappy dialogue while making fun of every gangster picture that came out during the 30's and 40's. Along with the cars that can only move by pedals, I'm impressed with the concept of kids acting like adults. There are two who stand out: John Cassisi and Florrie Dugger as Fat Sam and Blousey Brown, respectively.




Honorable Mentions: None

Notable Exceptions: Sound and Fury (2000), Spellbound (2002), and Thirteen (2003)