DVD Movies for 8-Year-old Boy and 5-Year-old Girl

Updated on May 03, 2011
M.J. asks from Sacramento, CA
18 answers

We're taking a long car trip next month and I need some movie ideas that would appeal to both of our kids -- an 8-year-old boy who's into Pokemon (in other words, nothing cutesy) and a 5-year-old girly girl. Our minivan's DVD system shows only one show at a time, so they'd both be watching.

We've already got the Pixar movies, so I'm hoping for some fresh ideas. Any DVDs come to mind that might appeal to both of our kids?

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C.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

Spongebob? Both my kids (one girl, one boy) love Spongebob. I know a lot of adults think it's annoying, but even my husband and I crack up when we watch it.

2 moms found this helpful

K.I.

answers from Los Angeles on

~Scooby Doo always worked well for all the kids in my family.

~Any old Bugs Bunny or Wyle E. Coyote and The Roadrunner cartoons always brings BIG laughs too...it is so strange?! :)

~What about Ben 10? Have you seen this one? It has a boy main character (Ben) and a girl main character (Gwen) who are cousins...and it is actually very good! *Warning this cartoon has superpowers and magic and aliens in it, for those of you Moms who do not agree with such things*

1 mom found this helpful

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J.S.

answers from Jacksonville on

How about Tangled? Heck, my HUSBAND even loves that one!!!

3 moms found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

We like:

Yes, Avatar
CJ-7
Nim's Island
Totoro
Mr. Bean's Holiday
Pink Panther
Tom & Jerry
The Last Airbender
Little Bear (by Maurice Sendak)

2 moms found this helpful
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B.M.

answers from Chicago on

Shark Boy & Lava Girl.
The Spy Kids series - I think there are 3 (and it's with Antonio Banderas - yummy!)

Both of these are "action" and have "dual" leads of both a boy and girl so to me they are the perfect movies for kids that age of both genders.

Also - Snow Dogs - your son might get into it cuz it's Cuba Gooding Jr. I love that movie.

Have fun!

2 moms found this helpful
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J.H.

answers from Sacramento on

How about thinking older classics? The only one that comes right to mind is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the movie about the flying car. I'm sure there's lots more. My son loves to go to his grandma's house and watch those movies with her.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.B.

answers from Springfield on

How about the Air Bud bunch of movies? They have all sorts of them. Snow buddies, Space Buddies, etc with all the dogs on crazy adventures.
Have a safe trip!

2 moms found this helpful
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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Some favorites in our house:

- Avatar the Last Airbender (has male & female leads with *very* different personalities, which is awesome, funny/sweet/serious/fighting/dance/good friends/***smart adults***/character growth and development) CARTOON series (the movie was pretty awful... they made it all dark and melodramatic..., the cartoons *I* got hooked on along with my son). There are 10 or 15 DVDs in the series, and it's a "story" series... so start off with the first and go in order.

- Wallace & Grommit

- The Pink Panther

- Looney Tunes

- The Muppet Show

1 mom found this helpful
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L.V.

answers from Sacramento on

The Princess Bride. Boys and Girls both love it ... once you get past the title. It has fighting, lots of humor, pirates ... and of course the princess. More male characters than female actually.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.B.

answers from Sacramento on

What about some of the older kids movies. The ones that come to mind are ET, Free Willy, Waterhorse and the like. We've learned to be careful of any PG movies made before there was the PG-13 option.

We also purchased a season of Funniest Home Videos on DVD. The kids watched those over and over.

Have a great trip!

1 mom found this helpful
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C.O.

answers from Minneapolis on

I have an almost 7 year old boy (also into Pokemon) and a 4 year old girl. They both like:
How to Train Your Dragon
Shrek Movies
Pokemon (my daughter will watch it too)
My Neighbor Totoro

1 mom found this helpful
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J.E.

answers from San Francisco on

My kids love the Full House tv series, also Home Improvement and The Cosby Show. You can pick up full seasons on DVD and have hours of fun.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.R.

answers from New York on

my kids are the same ages:
despicable me
up
finding nemo
sharktales
coraline (though a couple of parts scare my daughter, she leaves the room then comes back:)

1 mom found this helpful
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E.C.

answers from San Francisco on

Cats and Dogs - the revenge of Kitty Galore (cute animals and spy gadgetry ought to appeal to both kids)
the BBC versions of the Narnia stories (might find them at your local library)
Shaun the Sheep
I'd also check your library for other ideas - maybe some nonfiction stuff like National Geographic Kids' "Really Wild Animals" series or the BBC "Eyewitness" series

1 mom found this helpful
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K.D.

answers from San Francisco on

How about Matilda? It's a Roald Dahl book about a smart girl, her quirky family and the mean head master at the school. A great book turned into a funny movie.
I would also suggest The Brady Bunch tv series from the 70s is on DVD. About a blended family with 3 boys, 3 girls, mom, dad and a housekeeper. I loved that show as a kid and my kids like it now. It is good wholesome fun with a message in each show. Good family values!
Of course be sure to enjoy the scenery on your trip as well and look out the windows. Talk as a family. I am a first grade teacher and would also recommend books on cd to check out from the library to listen to as you ride along. Have s great trip. Enjoy your time together - they grow up so fast!!

1 mom found this helpful
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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

What about some Charlie Brown movies?
Gnomeo & Juliet?
Scooby Doo?
Sandlot?

1 mom found this helpful
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C.A.

answers from Sacramento on

Cars & Tangled. I think they are both
Disney. Adorable movies for
Boys and girls.

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C.H.

answers from San Francisco on

My Neighbor Totoro, Ponyo and Castle in the sky and Kiki's Delivery Service are all great! My 5 yo girl likes them, they can get a little "dark" at times but so can Bambi and Dumbo. Totoro is my all time fav! Ponyo a close second. Just look up Hayao Miyazaki on Amazon or the web.

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