We are a family of movie lovers. There are few activities we like more than curling up on the sofa with some popcorn to watch our favourite family flicks. So I asked the family to join me in picking our top 5 family movies. It wasn't easy, because there are plenty of great family movies, but we narrowed our selections by choosing movies that all four of us enjoy (ie. they are entertaining for both boys and girls as well as Mom and Dad). So no Barbie movies (although my guilty confession is that I love those Barbie movies!) Read on for the list.
But first, a snack. When the January blues hit, you need to take advantage of life's small pleasures - like hot cocoa, warm blankets and cuddly dogs. On a recent movie night, we enjoyed treats courtesy of Popcorn, Indiana - Popcorn, Indiana popcorn is made from non-GMO corn, without added preservatives, colourings or artificial flavours.
Popcorn, Indiana's fit popcorn is all natural, whole grain, gluten free and 40 calories or less per cup. The sea salt and olive oil varieties are vegan-friendly and NON-GMO Project Verified. We sampled the sea salt flavour on our recent popcorn-and-a-movie night. I confess I was a bit worried that the children would find it too plain (in comparison to decadent movie theatre popcorn), but I needn't have worried. My son kept saying, "This is soooo good!" I'll definitely get this again, since it makes a healthy yet appealing snack choice for the kids (and me!).
My favourite type of popcorn is caramel corn. I was happy to learn that Popcorn, Indiana has an all natural caramel popcorn that's vegan-friendly (not made with butter like so many other caramel popcorns). And it's delicious! In fact, I am inclined to eat the whole bag myself. Like, I have to ask my husband to take the bag away from me. Seriously. It's that tasty. It's also fat-free (which is not to say there are no calories).
Check out the other varieties (some vegan, some not) of Popcorn, Indiana popcorn on their website. (Not all varieties are available in Canada.) The company uses special kettles, filled by hand by real people, to produce their tasty popcorn.
The puppies like to cuddle in and watch movies too (and grab as much dropped popcorn as possible). Dogs make great foot-warmers too! You don't hear that benefit of having dogs mentioned often enough as far as I'm concerned.
Without further ado, here are our fave family movies. (I'll just bet the anticipation was killing you.)
Our Top 5 Family Movies
1. Kicking and Screaming (2005)
I adore this movie. It's meant for kids, but I request it more than my children do. It stars funnyman Will Ferrell as Phil, a gentle soul raised by an overbearing and competitive father named Buck (played by Robert Duvall). When Buck, coach of a successful little-league soccer team, benches Phil's son Sam, Phil decides to coach his son on an underdog team, with the help of football player Mike Ditka (playing himself). It's funny and cute and very family-friendly. Trust me on this one.
2. Despicable Me (2010)
This is my son's first choice of family movie. The only animated movie on our list, this sweet film stars the voice of Steve Carell as Gru, a supervillain who becomes the unlikely adoptive parent of three little orphan girls. Gru is initially on a quest to become known as the greatest thief who ever lived. There is lots of action and some very cute yellow minions, but ultimately it's the beauty of Gru's growing bond with the three little girls that draws me to this film.
3. School of Rock (2003)
My husband (the guitar player and school teacher) chimed in with this one. But we all love Jack Black as Dewey Finn, a ne'er-do-well metal guitarist and unqualified supply teacher determined to win a regional battle-of-the-bands competition. I love the great Joan Cusack as Principal Mullins too.
4. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
A favourite of my little girl (and also of my sister). Dorothy. Toto. A yellow brick road. You know the drill. A classic.
5. Bedtime Stories (2008)
This had to be on the list simply because we have watched it sooo many times! Apparently it didn't go over well with critics, but my family enjoys this story about Skeeter Bronson, a hotel handyman trying to win back management of the hotel that is his father's legacy. The film follows Skeeter as he discovers that the bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew begin to come true. It's pure fantasy and fun.
My husband and my son also wanted me to put Nacho Libre on the list, but I just couldn't. Sorry.
What's your favourite family movie? What flavour of popcorn would you eat while watching it?
Popcorn, Indiana Giveaway!
Residents of Canada may enter to win 6 assorted flavours of Popcorn, Indiana! Yum. Enter using the rafflecopter below until February 9th.
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*This post is sponsored by Popcorn, Indiana. All opinions are authentic. Thank you for supporting the awesome companies that partner with Woman in Real Life!
The Princess Bride
ReplyDeleteLove that one too!
DeleteThe Wizard of Oz is MY all time favourite, but as a family, Benchwarmers always has all of us laughing our butts off...and would love to try the sea salt and olive oil flavour.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite is Monsters Inc.
ReplyDeleteI would try the Fit Sea Salt flavour popcorn
We like all Toy Story movies, and our favorite is caramel popcorn.
ReplyDeleteToy Story is great too!
DeleteKids movie that adults would also appreciate. The Incredibles, Monsters Inc, etc.. Fav popcorn would be something cheezy!
ReplyDeletewe really like to watch Finding Nemo and like plain old butter popcorn
ReplyDeleteI love most James Bond movies, and the vegan caramel sounds wonderful for movie munching!
ReplyDeleteAll the Harry Potter movies and we love caramel popcorn !
ReplyDeleteThis is an oldie but so good! We love Angels in the Outfield! I'd be eating Caramel Popcorn!
ReplyDeleteRAFFLECOPTER NAME is Anne Taylor
I love all Pixar movies. My favourite popcorn is extra butter with some ranch powder!
ReplyDeleteWe love watching all the Toy Story movies. We love buttery popcorn, but my husband and I like to sneak in junior mints and gummy bears into our bowl.
ReplyDeleteWe love Despicable me and we would eat caramel popcorn watching it.
ReplyDeleteThanks
the hobbit and lord of the rings series does well in this house. comedy and adventure! i love the fresh idea of sea salt - but i will admit to mixing a bowl with cheesy party mix so the flavours work together.
ReplyDeleteMy family enjoys watching the old TV series "Hazel". We would eat regular buttered popcorn while watching these shows.
ReplyDeleteET is an oldie that our family enjoys. Think I'd be munching the Sea Salt & Olive Oil flavor.
ReplyDeleteMy rafflecopter name is Julie G
We like The Notebook and we usually eat buttered/salted popcorn but caramel corn sounds good too! (Judy Cowan)
ReplyDeleteOur favourite family movie is Home Alone and we would eat the caramel.
ReplyDeleteAll the Harry Potter movies and we love caramel popcorn !
ReplyDeleteWe were fans of Nanny McPhee when the kids were younger! And it would be a toss up between sea salt and caramel. Actually, I'd eat 'em both at the same time!
ReplyDeleteI looooove the Nanny McPhee movies! Actually I want to watch one now... And mixing the two popcorns sounds like a plan. :)
DeleteOur favourite movie is Despicable Me and I will be eating caramel popcorn.
ReplyDeleteOur all-time favourite is Shrek - along with caramel popcorn
ReplyDeleteFav family movie would be Lord of the Rings, and we like white chedder popcorn.
ReplyDeleteWe love to watch Toy Story and munch on cheese popcorn
ReplyDeleteWe like watching comedy movies the kids are at the age now lol we like butter popcorn
ReplyDeleteToy Story; butter popcorn in the winner here. thanks
ReplyDeleteFavourite family movie: Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Popcorn: plain old popcorn, lots of butter!
ReplyDeleteLeslie:
ReplyDeleteMY DOG SKIP with plain popcorn.
leslieannstevenson@yahoo.com
We love cheddar popcorn (plain with cheddar seasoning is good also!) . My kids are young so we watch cartoons, they love Ben 10.
ReplyDeleteThe Sound of Music. I use to watch it over and over with my daughter when she was little.
ReplyDeleteFlorence C
Any Pixar Movie - Fave is popcorn with cheddar seasoning
ReplyDeleteRight now "Frozen" is the current fave movie and popcorn with sea salt seasoning.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite family movie is Elf.
ReplyDeleteOur favourite movie is Ratatouille! We eat regular popcorn when watching it!
ReplyDeleteMy fave family movie is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and I love caramel popcorn!
ReplyDeleteToy Story, my son loves it! My brother likes to watch The Hobbit and Pirates of Caribbean. Despicable Me is another favorite. Probably salt or caramel.
ReplyDeleteBabe has to be one of my most favorite movies and for me vegan caramel corn is the best. =)
ReplyDeleteWe love Finding Nemo and enjoy caramel popcorn best!
ReplyDeleteWe love Toy Story, even as we get older it is still one of our faves. We would like to eat the cinnamon sugar if it is available in Canada.
ReplyDeleteThere are so much nice to watch :) but Shrek is a classic that doesn't get old! Probably Caramel flavour, love it!
ReplyDeleteNeverending Story is a classic we re-watch. This goes well with caramel popcorn.
ReplyDeleteWe love Fantastic Mr. Fox (although some might find it too harsh for kids... mine aren't easily spooked!). Personally, I can watch any Woody Allen on repeat anytime anywhere... but no one in my family shares this love :)
ReplyDeleteOne of our favorites is Bee Movie! It's so funny. And we would love to watch it while eating Aged White Cheddar popcorn!
ReplyDeleteCloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and with the Chicago Mix!
ReplyDeleteOur favorite family movie right now is Parental Guidance. My kids like to have salt and vinegar on their popcorn.
ReplyDeleteOur favourite movie is UP. We eat regular popcorn.
ReplyDeleteright now its big hero ad cars lynnbeaniethethird@yahoo.ca lynn c
ReplyDeleteJo, you already mentioned my all time fav The Wizard of Oz but my question to you is how did you get my niece and nephew look like they liked each other and share a blanket?
ReplyDeletePrincess diaries with caramel :)
ReplyDeleteMarla
My favourite popcorn is caramel and we don't have a favourite family movie although the kids really love watching the Air Bud and the Air Buddies movies (Andrea Amy)
ReplyDeleteI love the good ol' movie theatre flavour. I'm a traditionalist ;)
ReplyDeleteAlso, I love Ella Enchanted! :)
a favorite movie? hrm, so many good ones, lately we cannot get enough of watching harry potter movies over and over.. and popcorn, love butter, mmmm
ReplyDeleteBack to the Future is one of our family favourites. We love real buttered popcorn or salt and vinegar seasoned popcorn.
ReplyDeleteFinding Nemo ,regular popcorn
ReplyDeleteWe love caramel corn!
ReplyDeleteKellyPC
We like to watch Despicable Me together. ANd We like Caramel Poporn.
ReplyDeleteWe like the Lego Movie and just buttered popcorn.
ReplyDeleteI love Lego movie and spiced ketchup popcorn
ReplyDeleteFinding Nemo ,regular popcorn
ReplyDeleteFinding Nemo with caramel popcorn
ReplyDeleteTransformers,,white cheddar popcorn,,yum!
ReplyDeleteTransformers and Despicable Me! Reg popcorn with tons of real butter or caramel
ReplyDeleteWe watch Tangled, Frozen or Monster's University (our 3.5 yr old daughters favourite movies) always with some regular popcorn with butter and salt
ReplyDeleteWe love watching Rio with just plain old buttered popcorn :)
ReplyDeletehow to train your dragon and caaramel
ReplyDeletewe would be watching Happy feet 2 and eating Caramel popcorn
ReplyDeleteA favourite family movie is Up! I think Black & White Drizzlecorn would be an extra special treat, yum! http://www.popcornindiana.com/product_type/drizzlecorn-popcorn
ReplyDeleteWe love to watch Dumb & Dumber while we eat caramel corn!
ReplyDeleteWe watch Frozen with caramel popcorn
ReplyDeleteWe love cheese popcorn with anything Disney!
ReplyDeleteThe Goonies is my fave! Buttered popcorn!
ReplyDeleteLike to watch Disney movies.
ReplyDeleteand eat a tasty bag of buttered pop corn.
we love to watch all kinds of animated movies and eat lightly buttered popcorn
ReplyDeleteWe enjoy the Back To The Future movies and would eat caramel popcorn while watching!
ReplyDeleteAny Pixar movie and eating ketchup flavoured popcorn! or Caramel popcorn!
ReplyDeleteSo many movies but on the top of the list would have to be the die hard movies. We like buttered popcorn
ReplyDeleteWe love Beetlejuice! Hot buttered popcorn rules!
ReplyDeleteDespicable Me with buttered popcorn!
ReplyDeleteCaramel popcorn while watching Big Hero 6
ReplyDeleteThe Wedding Singer is my family friendly movie - and I am a classic salted popcorn gal :)
ReplyDeleteWe're back into Harry Potter. We started win The Philosopher's Stone a few weeks back and have watched one per weekend since then! I most enjoy Caramel Corn myself so that would be my pick. Thanks for a great read and giveaway!
ReplyDeletei love salt and vinegar popcorn
ReplyDeleteand we just watched the shelock movies
My favorite family movie is The Nightmare Before Christmas. Butter popcorn.
ReplyDeletewatching Frozen eating butter popcorn
ReplyDeleteI love E.T and carmel corn!
ReplyDeleteWe like Finding Nemo. Favourite is kettlecorn.
ReplyDeleteHome alone with buttered popcorn
ReplyDeleteWe are a movie only household here, no TV of any kind so movies movies. We absolutely love the Minions . Any kind of popcorn . My toddler loves Caramel corn and a homemade cinnamon brown sugar popcorn. This would be awesome thanks for giveaway.
ReplyDeleteWe Love Dispicable me and would love caramel popcorn with it.
ReplyDeleteWe love watching War of the Roses while eating buttery popcrn
ReplyDeleteI love buttered popcorn, and my favorite movie is the lion king
ReplyDeleteI would love to try the Fit Popcorn with Sea Salt. I make my own oil popped popcorn, with only salt added as a topping. I absolutely love the movie, Tommy Boy...so funny but I'm not sure that would be my son's favourite...he loves The Iron Giant at the moment. Name: Margaret MacKenzie
ReplyDeleteMadagascar is my favourite family movie. I love to have cheese popcorn while I watch it.
ReplyDeleteShrek is our favorite movie and caramel popcorn is a family favorite
ReplyDelete