Biplab Mazumder
How old were you when you watched your first film? Well, many parents want to introduce this wonderful medium of art to their children as fast as possible. There’s no age appropriate enough to start watching movies, and everyone wants to start on a good note. So, let’s look at the list of really good films for 3-year-olds to watch.
26. Tinker Bell (2008)
Now we are moving to the fairyland. A Disney classic, ‘Tinker Bell’ finds its story from J. M. Barrie’s famous play ‘Peter Pan or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up’. Tinkerbell is a fairy in that play who gets her spinoff in this movie. She is born from a baby’s first laugh and brought to the Pixie Hollow. Tinkerbell finds her true potential as one of the tinkerers of things. She befriends four more fairies, and the adventure begins. The film is a faithful continuation of the legendary Peter Pan universe and will surely attract babies with its innocent charm. You can stream it here.
25. Mary Poppins (1964)
One of the most famous films in this list, ‘Mary Poppins’ is a Disney classic in its true sense. It’s a musical fantasy film which is based on P. L. Travers’ Mary Poppins series of books. In the movie, Mary Poppins is a quirky nanny who is tasked to oversee the children of Mr. Banks, Jane, and Michael. It’s a fantasy film, and Mary Poppins is magical. She uses her magic to solve many obstacles while making the children tidy up. She’s a fairy in disguise as she not only creates a cheery atmosphere in the household and for the children but also manages to find solutions for Mr. Banks’ professional crisis. The movie can be streamed here.
24. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ is a British musical fantasy film based on James Bond’s creator Ian Fleming’s book. Caractacus Potts is an eccentric inventor who accidentally invents a weird new car and names it Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Along with his children, Jeremy and Jemima, he journeys to the fantasy land of Vulgaria, where a tyrant named Baron Bomburst threatens to steal the car. The film is full of joyful children singing together, and going on adventures with a magical car where goodness is virtuous and baddies are not entirely bad. You can stream ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ here.
23. Babe (1995)
This beautiful film is custom-made for 3-year-olds and centers on an orphaned pig named Babe who dreams of becoming a sheepdog. He lives at a farm surrounded by other animals, including sheep, a Border Collie, her husband Rex and their puppies, and a duck, among others. However, the farm has its hierarchy, and Rex finds Babe to be a misfit. Can Babe prove himself worthy and become a sheepdog? With a voice cast that includes Christine Cavanaugh, Miriam Margolyes, Hugo Weaving, Miriam Flynn, and Russi Taylor, ‘Babe’ is a must-watch. It can be streamed right here.
22. Zootopia (2016)
This movie gets its title from the city the story takes place in, Zootopia, a metropolis for animals. All kinds of animals live here in peace and harmony. In the middle of this, we have rookie Officer Judy Hopps, the first rabbit officer of the Zootopia Police Department, who reluctantly teams up with a cunning fox named Nick Wilde to prove her worth by solving the mysterious case of the disappearance of 14 predators. What follows is how the duo finds out the truth and, in the endeavor, develops a strong friendship. Directed by Rich Moore and Byron Howard, ‘Zootopia’ can be streamed here.
21. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)
Another Disney classic, ‘The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh’ is a film that is a must-watch for first-timers. It’s the classic tale of honey-loving bear Winnie the Pooh, who is full of heart and less of honey. Pooh has his friends who help him to find more honey as they battle vicious bees and a deadly tiger named Tigger. It’s a combination of short featurettes that bring together the famous characters Pooh, Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, and Tigger. ‘The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh’ can be streamed here.
20. Clifford the Big Red Dog (2021)
Directed by Walt Becker, ‘Clifford the Big Red Dog’ is a live-action/computer-animated movie that tells the story of Emily Elizabeth (Darby Camp), a middle-school misfit, who brings home a red Vizsla puppy whom she names Clifford. Giving Clifford all the love she can conjure, Emily realizes that he is growing faster than usual. What she doesn’t know is that Clifford’s size is directly proportional to the love he receives. Soon, he becomes as big as the house and pops up on the radar of a scientific facility that decides to bring it in for experiments. How Emily manages to keep Clifford safe while the latter turns the neighborhood upside down, being all naughty but adorable, is what we see in this beautiful drama. Alongside Darby Camp, the cast includes Jack Whitehall, Tony Hale, and John Cleese. ‘Clifford the Big Red Dog’ is bound to be a fun-filled ride for toddlers and young kids as a big red dog stands out at all times, something that is true even for adults. You can stream the movie here.
19. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (2022)
A live-action/computer-animated comedy musical directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck, the film follows the titular character, Lyle, a crocodile who can sing (voiced by Shawn Mendes). He ends up in the attic of young Josh Primm and his family after his master/owner/friend Hector, a magician, goes away in search of work. Josh befriends Lyle but has to make sure that their grumpy neighbor, Mr. Grumps, doesn’t get to find out about Lyle. Meanwhile, Josh helps him cope with his stage fright so that when the time comes for his performance, whenever that is, he can nail it. A wonderfully executed movie underscored by Mendes’ magical voice, ‘Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile’ is a must-watch. It can be streamed here.
18. Bolt (2008)
Directed by Chris Williams and Byron Howard, ‘Bolt’ is an animated film that centers on Bolt, a White Swiss Shepherd puppy, who stars as a super-powered dog in a television series along with her best friend/owner, 7-year-old Penny. But when he is inadvertently shipped to New York, which is far away from the set, he realizes that his powers are useless (he doesn’t have powers). How his new friends, Mittens, a cat, and Rhino, a hamster, help him cope with his new environment as a stray and get back to Penny are what we get to see in this adorable movie. You can stream it here.
17. The Peanuts Movie (2015)
This movie is based on Charles M. Schulz’s comic strip ‘Peanuts’ and features Charlie Brown (main character), his dog Snoopy, his friends, and Snoopy’s best friend Woodstock, a yellow canary. On the one hand, we have Charlie who develops a crush on his new neighbor, the Little Red-Haired Girl. On the other hand, we have Snoopy whose fantasy lands him in the middle of World War I as an ace aviator as he tries to rescue his love interest, Fifi. The experiences of both these characters during their respective endeavors are what we get to see in this sweet movie. Directed by Steve Martino, ‘The Peanuts Movie’ can be streamed right here.
16. Miffy the Movie (2013)
Directed by Hans Perk, ‘Miffy the Movie’ is a stop-motion animated movie based on the character Miffy, a fictional rabbit in Dutch author/artist Dick Bruna’s picture books. It follows Miffy, who, accompanied by her friends Melanie the rabbit, Grunty the pig, and Snuffy the dog, embark on a treasure hunt inside a zoo. Interesting, adventurous, and most importantly educational, ‘Miffy the Movie’ is custom-made for 3-Year-Old and the likes. You can stream it here.
15. Cars (2006)
Directed by John Lasseter, this animated sports comedy is based in a world of anthropomorphic vehicles (cars that can speak). We have rookie and self-centered Lightning McQueen, a contender for the Piston Cup, who gets stranded in the desert town of Radiator Springs on the way to the race. He is then forced to repair a road that he ruined in the town. While he finds the cars of the town to be odd at first and feels wretched due to being stuck in the middle of nowhere, he slowly starts to like the place and the cars, especially Sally, a Porsche 911, who wants to revive Radiator Springs’ former glory. The way they treat McQueen slowly makes him realize that there is more to his life than just winning and that there is no joy in winning if he doesn’t have anyone to celebrate it with. A film that is equally heartfelt and humorous, ‘Cars’ is the first recipient of the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film (2006). You can stream it here.
14. The Incredibles (2004)
‘The Incredibles’ is one incredible film. It’s a Pixar animated film with a lot of fun elements. The story follows the life of the Parr family. Bob and Helen Parr are two veteran superheroes in an alternate world where the sups or superheroes are resented because of their collateral damages in combat. They have children with equally fascinating superpowers. The family struggles to hide their identity, posing as a mundane middle-class American family. However, when a fanboy goes haywire, they must mend their familial bonding. The film is fascinating, beautiful, action-packed, and has a nice moral ring to it. You can stream it here.
13. Madagascar (2005)
Talking wild animals? Babies love them! Animation films are going to appear in this list quite frequently and ‘Madagascar’ is no different. Marty the zebra and Alex the lion are best of friends. Alex is the star of Central Park Zoo and is the ‘king of New York.’ Marty longs for a bit of wildness in life and attempts to break free from zoo shackles. Melman the giraffe, Gloria the hippopotamus, and Alex try to persuade him otherwise, but in vain. With a crazy chain of events, they land in wild Madagascar, where they have the ride of a lifetime. You can stream ‘Madagascar’ here.
12. The Little Mermaid (1989)
Back in simpler times, Disney made some delightful films based on fairy tales and legends. ‘The Little Mermaid’ is one such greatly satisfying tale of Hans Christian Andersen’s story. Ariel is a young mermaid who’s not content with her life underwater. She wants to experience human life but has to content herself with just collecting human artifacts. Ariel disregards her father King Triton’s warning as she moves closer to humans. She witnesses Prince Eric during his birthday celebration and is instantly enamored by him. A violent storm follows, and Eric is saved by Ariel. Complications arise as Ariel’s identity is disclosed. The film is sweet and delightful for a 3-year-old kid. You can stream it here.
11. Dumbo (1941)
We are turning back the clock as this timeless classic still manages to capture the imagination of children all over the world. After the debacle of ‘Fantasia,’ Disney went back to its roots to find a simple story that is also full of heart. And in came ‘Dumbo’! Mrs. Jumbo, one of the circus animals, receives her baby. Because of the baby’s large wing-like ears, he’s made fun of and is nicknamed Dumbo. Dumbo possesses flying ability as he faces social stigma from other animals. The film is very short in duration and exudes warmth and genial entertainment. You can stream ‘Dumbo’ here.
10. The Adventures of Milo and Otis (1986)
This is one film that any 3-year-old will love. This is a story of two animals, a cat and a dog, and their adventures. Milo the cat and Otis the dog are two happy souls who grew up together on a farm. Suddenly, one day, these two are separated after an incident. And these two’s adventure to reunite with each other begins. They travel through various landscapes, including mountains and rivers, culminating in one of the most feel-good endings. The film is full of heart, warmth, and cuteness, overcharged with sweet emotions. You can stream ‘The Adventures of Milo and Otis’ here.
9. Despicable Me (2010)
Who doesn’t love Minions?! Supervillain Gru’s pride is hurt when a new villain in town stumps him. Gru, with his sidekick-cum-scientist Dr. Nefario and his army of Minions, decides to shrink and steal the moon. He decides to steal the shrink ray from arch-nemesis Vector’s base through three little orphans dressed as cookie sellers. Things take a serious turn when the plan doesn’t go the way it should have. Gru, with the help of Minions, tries to save the girls whom he had adopted previously. From being a supervillain, he becomes superdad as mad actions ensue between Gru and Vector. The film is inherently warm; the children are cute as good triumphs over evil. You can watch it here.
8. Kung Fu Panda (2008)
‘Kung Fu Panda’ is a franchise that is full of entertainment. It has comedic sequences overloaded with the protagonist’s quest to find his place among the greats. Po is destined for greatness and has an incredible sense of humor. He’s bestowed with the duty to bring peace to Dragon Valley as the dragon warrior. He goes from being undeserving to greatly stoic about his powers as he completes his cycle of education. Voiced by an incredible Jack Black, the film is superbly energetic, good-looking, and full of slapstick humor. ‘Kung Fu Panda’ can be streamed here.
7. Ratatouille (2007)
Immerse yourself in delectable food, gorgeous locations, and an indomitable spirit. ‘Ratatouille’ is a film directed by Pixar’s own Brad Bird that tells the story of one ambitious rat, Remy. After the death of his idol, famous chef Auguste Gusteau, Remy attempts to become a superior chef just like his idol. After a tragic encounter, he finds himself in Gusteau’s restaurant, where he corrects an amateur boy-chef, Linguini, for his mistakes. The sauce becomes a hit and they both strike a clandestine partnership to produce mouthwatering foods. The new owner of Gusteau’s restaurant acts as an antagonist to find the secret thereby endangering the life of Remy. The film is exquisite, with a general narrative about the virtues of not giving up. You can stream ‘Ratatouille’ here.
6. Toy Story (1995)
‘Toy Story’ is the film that started the top-rated Toy Story franchise for Disney-Pixar studio. In the film, the toys are living things as they converse and move just like any other beings, yet they maintain their lifelessness as toys in front of human beings. Woody, molded as a western horse rider, is little Andy’s favorite toy until he gets Buzz Lightyear as a birthday gift. Buzz is a transformer-ish space robot and is quite simple. Woody feels insecure as he creates a plan with other toys to replace Buzz. The film is a wild ride of toys doing impossible things and being toys. Now, we are not suggesting that the first film of the series is the only suitable film for kids; instead, we are recommending the whole franchise. You can stream it here.
5. Finding Nemo (2003)
Another feel-good movie that’s one of the favorites among children of all ages. Nemo is a clownfish with an overprotective father, Merlin. On a field day trip, Nemo is accidentally lost, and his father goes on a journey to find his lost son. On his journey, he meets Dory, a quirky blue tang suffering from short-term memory loss. Together, they undergo many obstacles and adventures to find Nemo, who they find out is in Sydney. Throughout the journey, the nature of each character evolves as they face their biggest fears while growing out of them as better living things. The film is a kid favorite as the underwater world is painted with the utmost importance, and the characters of Dory, Marlin, and Nemo capture a place in the hearts of children. ‘Finding Nemo’ can be streamed here.
4. Monsters, Inc. (2001)
This animated feature from director Pete Docter showcases a society of monsters and follows James P. “Sulley” Sullivan and Mike Wazowski, two monsters/best friends who work at the Monsters, Inc. factory. The workers here are responsible for scaring children in the human world and harnessing the screams that are then used to power the city of Monstropolis. But when a little human girl Boo breaches Monstropolis, it is upto Sulley and Mike to hide her from being noticed by any other monster until they can send her back to her world. How Boo changes their perception regarding children, thereby causing them to develop affection for her, is shown in a heartwarming manner in this classic. You can stream ‘Monsters, Inc.’ right here.
3. Aladdin (1992)
Based on the story “Aladdin” from the Middle Eastern folktale collection ‘One Thousand and One Nights aka ‘Arabian Nights,’ the movie follows a young street urchin Aladdin ends up with a magic lamp and it brings him face to face with Genie, a genie. This friendly magical entity helps him get close to Princess Jasmine, daughter of the Sultan of Agrabah, by turning him into a prince. As Aladdin and Jasmine fall for each other, their love is attacked by the villainous vizier Jafar, who wants Genie himself. Aladdin also risks losing Jasmine if the truth comes out that he lied to her about being a prince. Another timeless classic, ‘Aladdin’ features the voice of the legendary Robin Williams, who voiced Genie, a character he made immortal with his impressions and expressions. Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, ‘Aladdin’ can be streamed right here.
2. Lion King (1994)
This animated timeless classic is based on William Shakespeare’s tragic play ‘Hamlet.’ The story takes place in the jungle where we have a young cub, Simba, whose uncle, Scar, kills Simba’s father, King Mufasa, who banishes Simba from Pride Rock and usurps the throne. Lost, hopeless, and almost on the verge of death due to starvation, he is found by a warthog Pumbaa and a meerkat Timon, who save him, befriend him, and bring him to the jungle. The journey of Simba’s coming-of-age, his realization of his calling as the true King, and his return to Pride Rock to avenge his father’s death make ‘Lion King’ a spectacle. Moreover, talking animals, brilliant animation, and an exciting and fun-filled adventure are sure to adhere to small children. Directed by Rob Minkoff and Roger Allers, ‘Lion King’ can be streamed right here.
1. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
We are moving towards Japan to find one of the best films for 3-year-old kids. ‘My Neighbor Totoro’ is a legendary anime by the legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. It has everything to entice and engage little children. Satsuki and her little sister Mei move to a pastoral countryside with their father to stay close to their ailing mother. They start living in an old, uninhabited large house at a far corner of the village. Things take a turn when they discover the presence of enchanting creatures living in the forest behind them. They befriend a fantastic creature named Totoro and experience many otherworldly adventures as they face crisis and, eventually, reconciliation. The film showcases many fantasy-filled narratives, weird creatures, and exaggeration in Japanese eerie premise. You can watch the film here.
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