Movies for a Five Year Old Boy

12/29/25 | Self

[gdzla]

I have a five year old grandson who seems to have very much enjoyed the movie "White Christmas" with Danny Kaye and Bing Crosby a couple of days ago.

I would like to put together a list of age appropriate classic movies to recommend for a weekly afternoon movie with grandpa.

Keep in mind he is only 5 and as yet not polluted with the "common" culture or exposed to a public school. He lives with a stay at home mom and a working dad and goes to a private school. He and his two younger sisters are much loved and cared for.

His screen time (TV or moms phone) is vert limited and only allowed with mom's or dad's permission. We only have a limited time to lay the groundwork to create a strong and stable character so it's important right now to be able to control what he is exposed to. Lord knows the dam will break one day and he will be flooded with the sh*t that is so pervasive now. Hopefully he will be able to navigate it all.

Below are a few of what I would like to have him discover with me.

What others would the Freeper Universe suggest?

Alice In Wonderland 1951

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves 1937

A Charlie Brown Christmas 1965

Blackbeards Ghost 1968

Holiday Inn 1942

Journey to the Center of the Earth 1959

Lilies of the Field 1962

Mysterious Island 1961

On the Town 1949

Spaced Invaders 1990

Swiss Family Robinson 1960

The Court Jester 1956

Mr. Hobbs Takes A Vacation 1962

[Roos_Girl]

Now I have to rethink my entire childhood.

[atc23]

White Christmas? That’s gay - how about . . . “On Any Sunday” (1975)

[Bookshelf]

Fantasia

[teeman8r]

dirty dozen
stalag 17
the great escape

babes in toyland is an excellent one also… laurel and hardy.

[Kharis13]

I’ve always said a child’s first “scary” movie should be Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.

[EvilCapitalist]

Don’t forget all the Dirty Harry movies.

[Chickensoup]

The Miracle of Marcellino.

At ages 7 or 8

If you are religious.

[Mathews]

I didn't get them when I was five either, but Lewis cracked me up every time. The voices, sounds, and facial ticks had me rolling and imitating him around the house.

[xone]

Any of Clint Eastwood’s westerns.

[The Duke]

I'll second "Captains Courageous". Also, one of the pre-1970 versions of "Treasure Island". "Stuart Little" and "Stuart Little 2" might be good candidates.

One to keep in mind for when he's 2-3 years older that was one of the rare movies that really captivated my three sons at that age was was "To Kill a Mockingbird". It's to heavy for a five year old, but time flies ...

[GingisK]

Song of the South

Old Yeller

Bed Knobs and Broomsticks

Mary Poppins

[GingisK]

Thomas the Tank Engine

[Texas resident]

When my wife and I were dating (late 80’s) we used to meet up at my house on Saturday mornings, cook breakfast and watch Bugs Bunny cartoons.

[TBP]

Dare I suggest Wily Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)?

[TBP]

Some of those old Hayley Mills movies. Maybe some Shirley Temple.

[FamiliarFace]

Bugs was the best!

[Bullish]

To think a 5 yr old is going to watch any full length movie is kind of ridiculous anyway.
Another poster on this thread recommended cartoons at that age and I agree with that. 5 year olds have the attention span of, well a 5 year old.

[bankwalker]

foghorn leghorn

[Bullish]

Bluey or Peppa pig at that age. There are plenty of shows appropriate for preschool age kids. Full length movies generally are not.

[Buttons12]

Hold That Ghost, and The Time of Their Lives, were my favorite spooky A&C movies. Put one in front of me and I’d watch right now!