As a dad to two young, energetic movie lovers, one of the most exciting things about 2015 is just how many great family movies are on the way. Yes, they give mom and dad a chance to get the kids out of the house – and our hair – for a little while, but they also provide tremendous opportunities to bond with our children over the imaginative worlds and fantastical characters these movies bring into our lives.
Let’s take a closer look at the five most anticipated family movies of 2015, according to Fandango’s recently released Hot List. Find out what they’re about and why kids and adults alike will find plenty of enjoyment out of each one.
Minions
The Skinny:
Those devilishly lovable super villain sidekicks from the Despicable Me franchise return to the big screen for their first solo adventure, in which we learn all about their origins as they search far and wide for the next bad guy to happily assist.
Why Kids Will Love It:
It’s an entire movie that’s all about characters your kids probably already adore. The minions were the highlight of the first two Despicable Me movies, and now the new film invites them to explore more of the minions universe. Just don’t be surprised when your kids begin talking to each other in minion-speak.
Why Parents Will Love It:
Most of the film is set in 1960s New York, a time and place that is sure to serve mom and dad plenty of funny, familiar references. Also, Sandra Bullock and Jon Hamm voice our two main super villains this time around (Steve Carell starred as the big, snuggable baddie in the first two films). The cast list also promises appearances from Michael Keaton, Steve Coogan and Allison Janney. Plus… I mean, c’mon – how can you resist these guys?
Watch the Trailer:
Cinderella
The Skinny:
Director Kenneth Branagh (Thor) sprinkles a dose of colorful, imaginative fairy dust on the classic fairytale about a servant step-daughter whose chance encounter with a prince changes her life forever.
Why Kids Will Love It
Have you heard there’s a new Frozen short debuting before the movie featuring all the same characters and actors from the original film...PLUS a new song? Commence kid freak-out! (No, seriously, my kids are freaking out in the background as I type this.)
As for Cinderella itself, the film – which looks to stick fairly closely to the story most kids know by heart -- will give your little ones a chance to see one of Disney’s most iconic princesses in live-action form. Did they love Alice in Wonderland and Maleficent? Then they’ll definitely enjoy this.
Why Parents Will Love It:
It’s big, bold and beautiful, and it stars some of today’s most exciting up-and-coming actresses (Lily James) matched with two scenery-chewing veterans (Cate Blanchett and Helena Bonham Carter). Come for the Disney movie, but stay for the scene-stealing costume designs.
Watch the Trailer:
Pixar’s Inside Out
The Skinny:
Pixar’s first movie since 2013’s Monsters University and first original story since 2012’s Brave, Inside Out is a movie about our emotions – literally. It’s those emotions (Joy, Anger, Fear, Disgust, Sadness) that act as the film’s main characters in a story about what really goes on inside the mind of a little girl.
Why Kids Will Love It:
You want the easy answer? Because it’s Pixar, and they’ve made some of your kids’ favorite films -- seriously, how many times have they watched Finding Nemo… this week?
Inside Out is also colorful and imaginative, and kids will love seeing the way all these weird things they feel actually become real characters you care about and wanna snuggle with.
Why Parents Will Love It:
Mom and dad will dig it because Pixar is a pro at making animated movies that work just as much for children as they do adults. So don’t worry, many of the jokes are there for you, too. But Inside Out also seems like a great opportunity to talk about feelings and emotions with your child. Next time they’re angry or sad, you’ll have a character you can turn to and use as a way to spark fun discussions.
Watch the Trailer:
Peanuts
The Skinny:
Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the entire Peanuts gang receive a fresh CGI’d look for this holiday movie that follows Charlie and Snoopy on separate epic adventures.
Why Kids Will Love It:
There’s a reason the Peanuts characters have remained popular for decades and much of that has to do with how gosh-darn adorable they are, but they’re also incredibly relatable.
Much of the day-to-day embarrassments Charlie Brown faces (like Lucy forever yanking the football away just as he’s meant to kick it) are situations all kids have found themselves in at one point or another – and because of that they’ll feel secure and comfortable hanging with Charlie and his crew for a couple of hours. Plus, what kid wouldn’t want an awesome dog like Snoopy?
Why Parents Will Love It:
The moms and dads who grew up addicted to reading the Peanuts comic strips and watching all those holiday specials (oh we know you watched It’s a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown a bazillion times as a kid) will get a real kick out of seeing the beloved characters make their triumphant return to the pop-culture universe – not to mention they’ll dig their new, updated look.
Watch the Trailer:
Pan
The Skinny:
Long before he became the heroic Peter Pan, there was just a little lost orphan boy who found himself magically transported to a mysterious place called Neverland. This is that story.
Why Kids Will Love It:
Most kids know about Peter Pan’s adventures battling Captain Hook, but they’ve never seen how Peter Pan became, well, Peter Pan. Much in the same way 1991’s Hook played with a variation of the Pan legend by introducing us to a much older Peter (Robin Williams), this new version will reveal a much younger Pan who’s – get this – actually friends with Hook, long before he becomes the evil one-handed Captain.
Why Parents Will Love It:
Pan boasts an all-star cast featuring Hugh Jackman (Blackbeard), Garrett Hedlund (Hook), Rooney Mara (Tiger Lilly) and Amanda Seyfried (Mary), but it’s also directed by Joe Wright, whose known for delivering these magnificently beautiful visuals in films like Atonement, Anna Karenina and Pride & Prejudice. But don’t take our word for it – watch this trailer and see for yourself.
Watch the Trailer:
What 2015 family movie is your family most excited about?
