In our house, we love to read but we also have a tradition of Friday night family movie night. But the big question each week is – what to watch? We have learned that some of our favorite films for family movie night are screen adaptations of best-selling children’s literature.
Reading the books first and then watching the films leads naturally to great discussions comparing and contrasting. We also can’t resist a juicy conversation about if the characters on-screen line up with our own imaginations. Not to mention, which is better – the book or the movie?
Plus, if you have a reluctant reader in your house, the promise of watching the movie after reading the book makes a great motivator!
Children’s books turned into films make for a fun family movie night and we know the movies will be age-appropriate for the kids and good enough quality to keep everyone’s attention. That’s a win! Here are some of our family picks:
30 Fantastic Kids’ Books Turned into Movies for Family Movie Night
1. Bridge to Terabithia (2007)
BOOK: Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (1977)
2. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)
BOOK series: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis (1950)
Other books in the Chronicles of Narnia series have also been made into films perfect for Family Movie Night: Prince Caspian (2008) and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010).
3. Wonder (2017)
BOOK: Wonder by R.J. Palacio (2012)
4. Charlotte’s Web (1973 and 2006)
BOOK: Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White (1952)
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5. Ramona and Beezus (2010)
BOOK: Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary (1955)
6. The New Adentures of Pippi Longstocking (1969, 1988, 1997)
BOOK: Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren (1945)
7. Ferdinand (2017)
BOOK: The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf (1936)
8. The Tale of Despereaux (2008)
BOOK: The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (2003)
9. Matilda (1996)
BOOK: Matilda by Roald Dahl (1988)
10. How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
BOOK series: How to Train Your Dragon (2003). There are three other films in this series that also make for great pics for family movie night.
11. The Polar Express (2004)
BOOK: The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg (1985)
12. Because of Winn-Dixie (2005)
BOOK: Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate Dicamillo (2000)
13. Little Women (1994, 2019)
BOOK: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1869)
14. The Hobbit (2012)
BOOK: The Hobbit by J.R. Tolkein (1937)
15. The BFG (1989, 2016)
BOOK: The BFG by Roald Dahl (1982)
16. The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
BOOK series: The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide by Tony DiTerlizzi
17. Anne of Green Gables (1985, 2016)
BOOK: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (1908)
18. Ruby Bridges (1998)
BOOK: The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles (1995)
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19. Where the Red Fern Grows (1974, 2003)
BOOK: Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls (1961)
20. Tuck Everlasting (1981, 2002)
BOOK: Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt (1975)
21. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1971, 2005)
BOOK: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl (1964)
22. Harry Potter (from 2001-2011)
BOOK series: Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling (from 1997 – 2007)
The Harry Potter series includes seven books and eight films adaptations.
23. Keeping the Promise: A Family Frontier Adventure (1997)
BOOK: The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare (1983)
24. The Call of the Wild (1972, 2020)
BOOK: The Call of the Wild by Jack London (1903)
25. The Indian in the Cupboard (1995)
BOOK: The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks (1980)
26. A Little Princess (1995)
BOOK: A Little Princess by by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1905)
27. The Secret Garden (1993 and 2020)
BOOK: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1911)
28. Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
BOOK: Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss (1812)
29. The Giver (2014)
BOOK: The Giver by Lois Lowry (1993)
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30. Mary Poppins (1964)
BOOK: Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers (1934)
If you love Mary Poppins, two other fun, related options for Family Movie Night are Mary Poppins Returns (2018) and Saving Mr. Banks (2013).
The Chronicles of Narina, the most favorite movie of all in our family, everyone loves to watch it over and over again.
We love to watch that one, too! I think my kids might even love more the 3rd movie in the Narnia series, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Have you seen that one?
Not yet, soon i will
thank you for suggestion 🙂