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It’s hard to comprehend that movies released from 2000 to 2009 are already approaching “vintage” status, but ask your young kids how long ago the year 2000 was and see how they feel. Nevertheless, the decade produced some great family entertainment, with the hand-animated Disney fare that defined the ’90s giving way to computer-animated hits from the likes of Pixar and Dreamworks.
If you want to share some “classic” cinema from the aughts, here are 15 films they’ll love.
Wall-E (2008)
Perhaps the only film on this list to make it into the esteemed Criterion Collection, and one of the few ever made that can be described as a “post-apocalyptic family film,” this Pixar movie about two robots in love has all the charm of a Chaplin silent movie (robots don’t talk much once humans aren’t around, apparently), with an optimistic environmental message that isn’t subtle but doesn’t dominate the plot.
Where to stream: Disney+, Digital rental
Ponyo (2008)
There is some debate about how Ponyo ranks among other Studio Ghibli classics, but if your kids like it, does it matter if its slightly less an artistic triumph than My Neighbor Tortoro? Like much of Hayao Miyazaki’s output, this film, the director’s variation on The Little Mermaid, is filled with striking visuals and an array of strong female characters. It also has a fairy tale, vibe with a powerful story about the importance of friendship.
Where to stream: Max, Digital rental
Up (2009)
Boasting the most heartbreaking introduction to a character in a Pixar film (perhaps in film history), this movie about a 78-year-old searching for his sense of adventure in South America by flying there in his home with with the aid of thousands of balloons seems to be aimed more toward adults than kids. However, the real point of the movie is to make sure that no matter how old we are, we never stop our search for experience and understanding in the first place.
Where to stream: Disney+, Digital rental
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
In this G-rated tribute to ’30s horror classics, the titular inventor and his far more intelligent dog that brought the studio Aardman to prominence must stop a creature from terrorizing their village’s vegetables. Packed to the brim with sight gags and visual puns, you’d wish other animation houses put as much imagination and care into their product as the creators of this film did.
Where to stream: Netflix, Digital rental
Finding Nemo (2003)
We’d be negligent if we had forgotten to include this classic Pixar film about a clownfish looking for his lost son in the Great Barrier Reef on this list. While Ellen Degeneres’ Dory is there to make the kids laugh and to drive home the film’s message to “just keep swimming,” beloved comedian Albert Brooks, who plays the father of the titular character, perfectly captures the sense of panic every parent feels when their child is alone in the world with just the sound of his voice.
Where to stream: Disney+, Digital rental
Coraline (2009)
This stop-motion animated film, which is based on the book by Neil Gaiman about a pre-teen who discovers a parallel universe in her house where all her dreams come true, was recently rereleased into theaters for its 15th anniversary and, to the shock of analysts, managed to gross enough money to crack the top five the week it came out. If you’ve seen the film, then you know why it still holds up. It’s directed with flair by The Nightmare Before Christmas’ Henry Selick, who gives the movie a combination of whimsey and dread without making it pure nightmare fuel for young ones.
Where to stream: The Roku Channel, Digital rental
Shrek 2 (2004)
We’re just going to say it: this sequel to the 2001 animated film is superior to the original, from its simple message about how appearance isn’t a substitute for good character to the introduction of Antonio Banderas’ Puss in Boots. Even the jokes, while harmless, are somehow even edgier than the previous movie, especially when the audience discovers Pinocchio’s preference in underwear. This sequel is the Shrek franchise’s creative peak.
Where to stream: Peacock, Digital rental
Enchanted (2007)
For further proof of how Shrek has influenced the modern family film, look no further than this live-action/animated hybrid from Disney, who finally decided to shake up its fairy tale princess formula by putting one in the real world sans talking animals or dwarves. Amy Adams is perfectly cast as Giselle, but James Marsden steals the show as the naive Prince Edward.
Where to stream: Disney+, Digital rental
Kung Fu Panda (2008)
We’re not exactly sure when the powers that be mandated that Jack Black must star in nearly every family film ever made. It probably has a lot to do with his hilarious vocal performance in this film about a clumsy panda chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy. Even the trailer for the upcoming Minecraft movie has Jason Momoa triumphantly screaming the titular character’s favorite phrase, “Skadoosh,” and Black is in that film, too!
Where to stream: Peacock, Digital rental
The Incredibles (2004)
This Pixar superhero film captures the dysfunction of The Simpsons with the more family-friendly aspects of the ground-breaking graphic novel Watchmen. (For example, the bit about capes is a direct lift from Alan Moore’s masterpiece.) However, its theme of keep loved ones together even when the world threatens to break them apart makes this film stand out.
Where to stream: Disney+, Digital rental
Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs (2009)
Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, known for The Lego Movie and 21 Jump Street, have a knack for taking a property that seems like a bad idea to bring to the screen and somehow manage to exceed everyone’s expectations with it (see the two films mentioned at the beginning of this sentence). The duo’s first taste of cinematic success was their adaptation of the beloved kids’ book, which shares its title with the movie but barely uses the source material. Instead, it’s an inventive, kid-friendly disaster movie filled with zany, bizarre jokes and appetizing visuals.
Where to stream: Paramount+, Digital rental
Monsters Inc. (2001)
You could say this Pixar film is another retread of the studio’s Toy Story formula, from the fun rivalry between its two leads to its twist on childhood notions, this one being that creatures are hiding in the closet. What sets it apart is the voice work of John Goodman (Sully) and Billy Crystal (Mike), who have magnificent chemistry, as well as the visual world the computer artists have created, from the colorful doors inside the titular workplace to the architecture in the city where the monsters reside.
Where to stream: Disney+, Digital rental
Corpse Bride (2005)
Tim Burton is having a moment right now with the release of his Beetlejuice sequel. Since you probably don’t want to show that movie to your kids, this family-friendly film about love and death is the perfect substitute. Filled with much less menacing designs than The Nightmare Before Christmas, this dark, witty flick is about a timid groom who doesn’t want a bride and finds himself wed to someone undead. It’s filled with clever sight gags that make the Great Beyond seem less intimidating to young ones.
Where to stream: Digital rental
The Secret of Kells (2009)
In the race for Best Animated Film at the 2010 Academy Awards, Pixar’s Up overshadowed this delightful film set in medieval Ireland. Over a decade later, it remains undiscovered by a wider audience. The movie certainly deserves one. It concerns the fearful nephew of an Abbot and a fairy named Aisling, who work together to find a crystal in an enchanted forest to finish a magical book. The film is co-directed by Tomm Moore, who animation fans may know as one of the creative forces behind 2020’s brilliant Wolfwalkers.
Where to stream: Kanopy, Digital rental
The Princess and the Frog (2009)
The timeless fairytale about a cursed prince who needs a smooch to become human again is given a Southern twist. The film marked a return to form for Disney, who had spent most of the decade trying to move away from musicals and hand-drawn animation that worked so well for them in the ’90s. It’s also a historic moment for the Mouse House, as it’s the first film to feature an African-American princess.
Where to stream: Disney+, Digital rental
