Pretty soon, your little-- or not so little-- ones will be saying, “schooool’s out for su-mmer!” (The Alice Cooper hit song lives rent-free in my head every year around this time). As a teacher and a mom, the entire household is ready for school to be out!
If you’re like us, you can’t wait for that quality family time. I can’t help but reminisce on how it felt to grow up in the '90s around so many blockbuster classics. In between trips to relatives, going camping, or heading to the beach, my siblings and I were always looking for the next movie to watch.
Here are five fun throwback movies to watch with your kids before that final bell rings, signaling the end of another school year.
1. The Little Rascals
The Little Rascals is a great pick for your youngest kids, but all ages will enjoy it. My kids watched it for the first time a few months ago and wanted to watch it again the next day! The Little Rascals is the perfect combination of hilarious and cutesy, and it has some nicely embedded lessons about teamwork, creativity, and learning to be accepting of others. It’s rated PG, so you won’t have to worry about anything inappropriate for little eyes and ears. You can't help but fall in love with the little faces and personalities that made this classic so popular. The Little Rascals is available for streaming on Netflix and Prime Video.
2. The Goonies
Moving up a tad on the age spectrum, The Goonies is a great match for your middle-schooler. It’s also rated PG, but there are some moments that younger kids may not appreciate. The violence factor is ever so slightly amped up with some weapons and piracy, and there are also some crude jokes and references to drugs. Nevertheless, The Goonies is adventurous and a staple for bravery and bonding with friends. Let’s face it—we know middle schoolers are all about their friends! Tweens today will certainly appreciate seeing that kids in the 80s aren’t too different when it comes to experiencing life, controlling impulses, and trying to figure out who they are. You can find the Goonies for free on Tubi, or watch with a subscription on Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube, Apple TV, and Prime Video.
3. High School Musical 2
The fact that we can now consider this franchise a throwback is astounding. If you were a middle or high schooler when the first movie came out, you responded one of two ways: you knew every song word for word, or you felt utterly embarrassed to admit you watched it. There is so much to love about this trilogy, even if it has some corny—or what the kids would now call cringy—moments.
High School Musical 2 is all about summer break, which is why it made this fun list of throwbacks. If you have a graduating senior, they might also like to watch High School Musical 3, because it’s where the stars of the franchise finish up their senior year and graduate from high school. The movies are rated G, so your little ones can join your older ones to create memories before your senior’s next steps. There will be many moments for lessons on fitting in, surviving high school, and chasing your dreams. You can watch all three movies on Disney+
4. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
If you’re looking for a throwback for your more mature teen, or someone not into musicals, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off will not disappoint. Watching this almost feels like a rite of passage for teens of every generation.
This one is rated PG-13 and takes place just two months before Bueller’s high school graduation. Your teen will enjoy the rebellious aspect of the movie, but just watch out, because they might want to take a day off themselves! This film might also inspire you to take a day off with your graduating senior to make some memories before they enter the world of adulting. If you have a younger child watching, be aware of some mild profanity or suggestive content, although there is nothing super concerning. Drinking and drugs may make a brief appearance, but nothing out of the ordinary for a movie geared toward older teens. You can stream Ferris Bueller’s Day Off on various platforms, such as Pluto TV, Paramount+, Prime, and Apple TV.
5. The Breakfast Club
Here’s our last fan favorite and classic throwback. This pick is a little more on the serious side than the others on the list, which makes it a great choice for your older teen. The Breakfast Club has an R rating for language and some drug use, but again, nothing out of the ordinary for a film starring teens in the 80s. There are so many themes that we could dive into with this one, but if you haven’t seen it, you must watch for yourself to get the full effect and avoid spoilers. For now, I’ll say that each character has so much more to their story than meets the eye, which makes them all so relatable to many of the pressing issues your teen is facing today.
Although teenagers are a generation or more apart from their caregivers, the issues with identity, self-worth, relationships, and family trauma are still ever present. It’s so important to have an open line of communication with the emotions and mental strain your teen may be feeling. This movie could help break some barriers as your teen tries to navigate who they want to be. The Breakfast Club is now streaming on Netflix, Prime, and Apple TV.