Fall is the best. It's the season of apple cider, Halloween, Thanksgiving, pumpkin pie, leaves changing colors, the sun setting at 5 p.m. and most importantly, nostalgia. And what better to invoke those good ole sentimental feelings than some classic but forgotten films from our childhoods, right?
Here are 10 underrated childhood movies that will get you into the fall spirit:
1. "The Secret Garden"
To be honest, I don't think I ever actually finished watching this movie (nor do I even recall the plot), but I do remember thinking the huge house the little girl lived in was super haunted. But that moment where she and the other kids are just smiling and laughing in the garden? That's super wholesome and pure and makes me wish I had a garden to frolic in, too. Plus, Maggie Smith is an icon and maybe we should just rewatch this movie for her.
2. "Sandlot"
This movie might be a little cringey for first-time viewers, but I think the mediocre special effects and secondhand embarrassment adds into the nostalgia factor. And I wish I could forget the scene where one of the boys pretends to drown just so he can make out with the lifeguard. Truthfully, 6-year-old me was kind of disgusted (because cooties!) and also confused because I was pretty sure you couldn't just lie to the lifeguard like that. (Priorities.)
3. "Megamind"
I still can't believe that we, as a society, allowed "Despicable Me" (re: the minions) to get more popular than "Megamind." "Megamind" is amazing. It reverts tropes about superheroes and villains, it tells us to follow our dreams, it has sympathetic characters, what more could you ask for? Do yourself a favor and put this movie on the next time the kids you babysit ask to watch the Minions movie.
4. "Hoodwinked"
For some reason, no one knows what this movie is, so I'm going to change that. It starts out with a baker, a grandma, little red riding hood and a wolf in a room all screaming at each other, and ends up with someone in jail. It's the best retelling of any fairy tale ever. Also, the plot twists in this movie are mind-boggling. It's really just a dumb, fun movie to laugh at on a cold autumn night!
5. "Bolt"
If you don't cry when Bolt gets shipped across the country, you probably have no heart. We truly don't deserve dogs. That's all I have to say about this one.
6. "Three Ninjas"
I have literally watched this movie over a hundred times. It's like "Home Alone" (which, in my opinion, is like "Die Hard" for kids) but with more karate, more villains, and more pranks. And it cracks me up, because the kids look Completely Caucasian even though their grandpa is Vaguely East Asian, yet their mom wasn't adopted (even though she is also completely white). We love representation.
7. "The Iron Giant"
This movie is so heartwarming! It's like the "Big Friendly Giant" but a robot! That scene where the giant's finger is kicking the kid around the bathroom and the family thinks he's having a TERRIBLE bowel movement? That's the pinnacle of comedy!
8. "Atlantis: The Lost Empire"
Wow. "Atlantis" is an awesome movie. The animation is beautiful, the people of Atlantis aren't whitewashed, Milo and crew are actually respectful of their culture, and the moral of the story is that we can't trust corporate greed. What more could a kid ask for?
9. "The Prince of Egypt"
I might be biased because I'm a church kid, but this is actually one of the best movies in the entire world. The soundtrack is bomb, the animation is killer, the character development is strong, there's great production value, it's a good retelling/adaptation of the actual story… it's just iconic. THUS SAITH THE LORD: rewatch this movie (no matter your religious background).
10. "Meet the Robinsons"
"Meet the Robinsons" changed my worldview and taught me the most important lesson of my life: Keep. Moving. Forward. I'm not exaggerating when I say that's what got me to where I am today. This movie makes you question your decisions and your relationships with other people, but at the end of the day reminds you to Keep Moving Forward!!! Never forget it!
If you're still not feeling nostalgic after watching these priceless gems, don't fret. There are countless other movies from our childhoods to choose from. Pull up "Lion King" or "Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses" next, or dig a little deeper and find some beloved box office bombs.
No matter which movie you end up picking, you're sure to feel like a kid again, free from all the stresses of life. Happy fall, and happy watching!
