Top Boxing Day movies for families revealed
Looking for ways to keep the children entertained? Check out the best new releases that are sure to delight viewers of all ages.
Movies
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With a long hot summer now upon us, the cinema will often prove the coolest place to be.
But how to best choose from the many family-friendly titles on offer, when you must cater to the tastes and whims of multiple age groups?
Don’t panic. This guide will break down for you which movies best fit the bill for every discerning young viewer in your entourage.
AQUAMAN & THE LOST KINGDOM (PG, 124 min)
Now showing in cinemas
Who?: Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson
What?: Superhero adventure. Aquaman’s longtime enemy Black Manta re-emerges to avenge his father’s death. To defeat him, Aquaman must turn to his imprisoned brother Orm, the former King of Atlantis.
Well ... ?: You’re not doing your kids a favour letting ‘em anywhere near this bloated, dull and below-par blockbuster. It’s far too violent for primary schoolers (who will also find the long running time challenging), and falls far short of what everyone loved about the original. Poor value all round. Much better options elsewhere.
Which age group?:
under 5yo *
5yo - 8yo: *
9yo - 12yo: *
13yo+: **
TROLLS BAND TOGETHER (G, 91 min)
Now showing in cinemas
Who?: voices of Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake
What?: Animated action comedy. Poppy discovers that her great pal Branch was once part of the boy band ‘BroZone’ with his brothers, Floyd, John Dory, Spruce and Clay.
Well …?: The third movie outing for the Trolls (imagine the Smurfs, but in a wider range of colours, and with more musical talent) is undoubtedly the best so far. Sure, it didn’t have to beat much. However, for young children who love bright hues, catchy songs and wacky jokes, this will be their Oppenheimer.
Which age group?:
under 5yo: ***
5yo – 8yo: ***
9yo – 12yo: **
13yo+: *1/2
WONKA (PG, 115 min) *** TOP PICK ***
Now showing in cinemas
Who?: Timothee Chalamet, Olivia Colman
What?: Musical adventure. With dreams of opening his first ever shop, the young and poor aspiring confectioner Willy Wonka discovers that the lolly business is run by a cartel of greedy chocolatiers.
Well …?: Consider this the safest bet for entertaining kids of all ages (your inner child included) this summer. The makers of those exquisite Paddington movies continue their great work here, with dazzling creative flair, winningly whimsical good humour, and insanely catchy songs that kids will want to hear over and over again. The must-see family flick of the season.
Which age group?
under 5yo: **1/2
5yo – 8yo: ****
9yo – 12yo: *****
13yo+ : ****1/2
THE BOY AND THE HERON (PG, 125 min)
Now showing in cinemas
Who?: voices of Christian Bale, Robert Pattinson
What?: Animated fantasy. A young boy named Mahito yearning for his mother ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead. There, death comes to an end, and life finds a new beginning.
Well …?: Things have been quiet on the Studio Ghibli front for years, but the global fanbase for the Japanese company’s sublime animation is as large as ever. This slow-burning, captivating tale marks the creative swan song of Ghibli overseer Hayao Miyazaki, and it is top-notch stuff for those of a certain age and maturity. Track down the more accessible English-language version if you can.
Which age group?:
under 5yo: *
5yo – 8yo: **
9yo – 12yo: ***1/2
13yo+: ****
CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET (PG, 100 min) *** TOP PICK ***
Opens January 5
Who?: voices of Thandiwe Newton, Zachary Levi
What?: Animated comedy. After leading a legendary farm-wide breakout, Ginger and Rocky discover a new threat to chickens everywhere that demands they plan a daring break-in.
Well …?: Original movie content for children on Netflix is generally quite bland, so a surprise sequel to the kids’ claymation classic Chicken Run is genuine cause for celebration. While not in the same league as the original, it is still a wildly enjoyable fun in its own right. Primary schoolers may want to watch it more than once.
Which age group?:
under 5yo: ***
5yo – 8yo: ***1/2
9yo – 12yo: ***1/2
13yo+: ***
THE FAMILY PLAN (PG, 117 min)
Now streaming on Apple TV+.
Who?: Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Monaghan
What?: Action comedy. A former top assassin living incognito as a suburban dad must take his unsuspecting family on the run when his past catches up to him.
Well …?: While Apple TV+ are pushing this hard as their Xmas present to families everywhere, its true appeal to children is fairly limited. Only high schoolers with a growing thirst for mindless action and sort-of-clever, sort-of-adult humour might get the buzz they’re looking for here.
Which age group?:
under 5yo: *
5yo – 8yo: *1/2
9yo – 12yo: **
13yo+: ***
WISH (PG, 95 min)
Now showing in cinemas
Who?: voices of Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine
What?: Animated fantasy. A young girl named Asha wishes on a star, and gets a more direct answer than she bargained for when a mischievous talking star comes down from the sky to join her.
Well …?: Any fairytale affair where wishes are granted and things start going haywire will always be given the time of day by inquisitive kids. This one arguably overcomplicates an endearing enough tale, and risks losing the interest of some viewers along the way. Visuals, however, are very alluring, and the song sequences are solid.
Which age group?:
under 5yo: **
5yo – 8yo: ***
9yo – 12yo: ***
13yo+: **
MIGRATION (G, 92 min) *** TOP PICK ***
Now showing in cinemas.
Who?: voices of Elizabeth Banks, Danny DeVito
What?: Animated adventure. A family of Mallard ducks try to convince their overprotective father to go on the vacation of a lifetime, flying all the way from New York City to Jamaica.
Well …?: This is the pick of the crop for that oft-neglected age band spanning kindergarten and early-primary school. Beautifully animated, stacked with relatable characters and telling a story that is easily to follow and nimbly paced, there isn’t really a box that goes unticked here. The aerial sequences high in the sky are a true delight.
Which age group?:
under 5yo: ***
5yo – 8yo: ***1/2
9yo – 12yo: ***
13yo+: *1/2
NEXT GOAL WINS (PG, 104 min)
Opens New Year’s Day.
Who?: Michael Fassbender, Elisabeth Moss
What?: Sports comedy. The true story of the American Samoa soccer team, who had already fielded some of the worst line-ups in World Cup qualification history when they appointed a new coach for the 2014 event.
Well …?: While this latest from top Kiwi filmmaker Taika Waititi (Hunt For the Wilderpeople) is being marketed as a feel-good comedy for the whole family, its appeal is highly selective. The problem here are the jokes – there’s way too many, and few are better than funny-ish. All of which obscures a fascinating story.
Which age group?:
under 5yo: *
5yo – 8yo: *1/2
9yo – 12yo: **
13yo+: **1/2
TAYLOR SWIFT: THE ERAS TOUR (PG, 168 min) *** TOP PICK ***
Now available to rent at home.
Who?: Taylor Swift
What?: Concert doco. A movie chronicle of the mega-popular Taylor Swift’s acclaimed The Eras tour, a song, dance and storytelling spectacle spanning ten distinct ‘acts’ or movements.
Well …?: This dazzling production plonking you in the front row of a Taylor Swift show smashed box-office records while in cinemas, and has now landed on all rental platforms (at a premium price). Younger fans of the pre-eminent solo musical force on the planet right now will pore over every exquisitely designed production number in forensic detail. Even non-fans will come to understand the might of this one-woman phenom.
Which age group?:
under 5yo: **
5yo – 8yo: ***
9yo – 12yo: ****
13yo+ : ****1/2
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