There are a lot of children's books being adapted into movies this year. Some look true to their source material, such as DreamWorks' Robotech . Others, like the live-action Harold and the Purple Crayon movie, have made me wonder why Hollywood would screw up a good thing.
When compiling this list of movies based on children's books, I wasn't concerned with how closely they followed the books. I just care that they are good. Here are 13 of my favorite movies that you can share with your kids and maybe inspire them to pick up the corresponding books.
Ghost Tollbooth (1970)
Author Norman Just wasn't a fan of this live-action/animated adaptation of his beloved book. However, the film has many fans, telling the story of an aloof child and his "watchdog" Tok (who has a large pocket watch) on a journey in a toy car to an exotic kingdom of wisdom. It also features beautiful animation by Chuck Jones, the artist who animated numerous Looney Tunes cartoons, as well as the original Grinch Christmas TV special.
Where to stream: Digital rentals, YouTube
Bad Guys(2022)
Aaron Blabey's graphic novel series has been picked up by DreamWorks. Academy Award winner Sam Rockwell stars as the smooth-talking Big Bad Wolf, who believes society isn't giving him and his criminal team a chance to do good. Taking cues from heist movie Ocean's Eleven and neo-noir Pulp Fiction , there's plenty here for kids and parents to love.
Where to stream: Digital rentals, Prime Video
Freaky Friday (1976, 2003)
There are many adaptations of Marie Rodger's novel, which tells the story of a mother and daughter who one day switch places. If you had to choose one, go with the 2003 version, whose unhinged performance by Jamie Lee Curtis should have earned her an Oscar nomination before she won last year. The original, starring Jodie Foster and the hilarious Barbara Harris, was also full of laughs.
Where to stream: Digital rentals, Disney+
"Ghost Mom" (2009)
Some parts of this stop-motion animated film, based on the book by fantasy and horror author Neil Gaiman, may be a little unnerving for younger viewers. However, if your kids can handle it, they'll love this story: A girl discovers a parallel universe in her house where all her dreams come true, but her fulfilled wishes come at a price .
Where to Stream: Digital Rental
101 Dalmatians(1961)
With all due respect to Glenn Close and Emma Stone, Dodie Smith's original animated version of the tale of a puppy in danger is one of the best of the many remakes and adaptations. Walt Disney's classic film also features its most despicable villain: Cruella Deville, voiced by the talented Betty Lou Gerson.
Where to stream: Digital rentals, Disney+
The Neverending Story(1984)
Despite its misleading title, this fantasy film adaptation of Michael Ende's novel ends around the 90-minute mark, as the producers chose to adapt the first half of the original novel. Perhaps this is one of the many reasons why End hates this movie. Still, the film delighted many Gen-Xers as well as those who discovered it via the title song from Stranger Things .
Where to stream: Digital Rentals, Hoopla
Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017)
Dav Pilkey's book series about a pair of elementary school comic book writers who transform their tyrannical principals into the titular Wedgie Warriors has a lot of things parents might not like, Like crude humor and a plot in which almost no one learns a moral lesson. Maybe that's why kids love it so much.
Where to stream: Digital rentals, Netflix
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)
Not to be confused with the recent spate of horror films that have been made since the silly old bear has entered the public domain, this animated film is actually a collection of short films produced by Walt Disney based on AA Milne's stories about the inhabitants. Hundred Acre Wood. Imaginative and whimsical, this is a movie that just about every kid (and adult) will enjoy.
Where to stream: Digital rentals, Disney+
How to Train Your Dragon(2010)
While this computer-animated classic may not bear much resemblance to Cressida Cowell's book series, it's still a jaw-dropping adventure about a young Viking who befriends a dragon, and realizes that his village's war against the species is completely wrong. The film was so popular that it inspired a series of films, including two sequels, an upcoming live-action remake, and numerous television shows.
Where to stream: Digital rentals, Prime Video
Mary Poppins (1964)
Walt Disney attempted to acquire the rights to PL Travers' beloved book and turn it into his own movie. Although she was ultimately dissatisfied with the end result, the live-action/animated hybrid about a nanny who changes the lives of a British family became the highest-grossing film of 1964 and was nominated for 13 Oscars, including Best Picture. I can also confirm that both of my sons loved it, which is proof that this 60-year-old musical is still going strong.
Where to stream: Digital rentals, Disney+
Charlotte's Web(1973)
Rumor has it that EB White, author of the beloved novel on which the animated film is based, turned down Walt Disney when he tried to adapt the story of a spider rescuing a pig from a slaughterhouse. White wasn't a fan of this version either, but the fan base has grown since its release, prompting a live-action remake in 2006.
Where to stream: Digital Rentals, Hoopla
Hole(2003)
If Louis Sachar doesn't like Disney's adaptation of his YA novel, he has only himself to blame—he wrote the script. He can relax, though, because there's a lot for families to dig into in this story about a kid sent to an internment camp for a crime he didn't commit, with a plot that touches on themes of racism, masculinity, and child labor. It's also fun for adults and teens.
Where to stream: Digital rentals, Disney+
Orion and the Dark (2024)
Kudos to screenwriter Charlie Kaufman for adapting Emma Arlett's 40-page picture book about an overly timid child overcoming her fear of the dark into a delightful feature-length film that DreamWorks shamefully For your first foray into the existential territory occupied by Pixar, head straight to Netflix. This is a bold, hilarious film that deserves to be seen on the big screen.
Where to stream: Netflix
