As my child starts to get older I’m looking forward to when I get to start sharing the things I’m most interested in. Since it might be quite a few years before I can get him out in the wood shop, I’m going to have to start with some of my favorite movies.

Movies can be special for a lot of reasons and whether that’s because you saw them as a kid, they remind you of a moment in your life, or just touched a special place in your heart, it’s important to pass on those special films.

Here are the 5 movies I’m excited to show my son (each film will require a different age)

1) The Great Escape

I remember as a kid watching this with my dad and loving it from frame one. I was too young to understand the idea of war or that this was based on a true story, but that was of little importance to me. As I’ve gotten older I’ve found I like the film just as much as when I first watched it.

 

2) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

Every child has a favorite childhood action hero and for me that was the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. While I understand that showing my son the movie won’t make him run out and acquire a Leonardo action figure, I can’t help but hope he might start singing the theme song.

 

3) Star Wars 4, 5, 6

I’m just going to put the three “original” Star Wars films into one slot since I can’t have three of the five films on this list star Darth Vador. I’m not the first, nor the last, dad excited about the idea of showing his son Star Wars but that doesn’t mean it’s not going to be a special moment for me. Getting to watch my son’s face light up as he sees his first light saber or hear him repeating lines from Yoda are the moments that make guys want to be dads in the first place.

Related content: Why Darth Vader is secretly a great dad

4) The Usual Suspects

It might be a few years before I end up showing this movie to my child but that doesn’t make it any less important. Usual Suspects is the classic “twist ending” movie and the perfect thing to spring on my kid before it’s spoiled for him.

 

5) Shawshank Redemption

I’m not exactly sure what I’m looking for when I end up showing my son this movie but I know it made a big impact on me. I watched Shawshank Redemption for the first time my freshman year of college and as the credits started to roll I remember immediately watching it again. Whether the life lesson of this movie is fight adversity or just knowing how to dig through a prison wall with a little hammer I think it provides a powerful message.

 

Leave a comment below listing what movies you’re excited to watch with your children.

 

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