School Holiday Cinema Guide
Jess on Oct. 2, 2024
Planning a trip to the cinema with your whānau these school holidays? Here’s a list of all the tamariki-friendly films showing over the break. We’ve included ratings and content breakdowns for each of them so that you can make informed decisions about what you choose to go and see on the big screen.
If you’re taking younger tamariki to a movie, once it’s finished you can have a conversation with them and ask questions like:
- Who was your favourite character in the movie?
- What was the funniest joke?
- Was anything really scary or sad?
- Did anyone do something wrong?
- What did this character learn?
Not only is this a fun way to debrief about the movie, but it also encourages critical thinking for young ones about what they’ve just seen.
The Wild Robot
In cinemas now
PG | Violence
Following a shipwreck, Roz, an advanced robot, ends up alone on a remote island. To adapt to the wild surroundings, she forms connections with the local animals and takes in an orphaned baby goose, caring for it as her own.
Harold and the Purple Crayon
In cinemas now
PG | Parental guidance recommended for younger viewers
In his book, adventurous Harold can bring anything to life just by drawing it. As an adult, he draws himself out of the pages and into the real world, quickly discovering that his trusty crayon can create more hilarious chaos than he ever imagined. But when the power of unlimited imagination ends up in the wrong hands, Harold must use all his creativity to save both the real world and his own.
Runt
In cinemas October 3rd
PG | Coarse language
Annie and her adopted stray dog, Runt, compete in the Krumpets Dog Show - Agility Course Championships in London, hoping to win and save their family farm.
Transformers One
In cinemas now
PG | Violence & scary scenes
Transformers One follows the transformation of two low-class miners from brothers-in-arms to sworn enemies, the heroic Optimus Prime and the evil Megatron. Set entirely on the planet Cybertron, the film centres on the history of the Transformers and origins of the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons.
Enjoy your holiday viewing!
Further reading:
- Check out our find a rating tool for more ratings and content warnings
- Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?
- The ‘Bluey’ parenting hack: How to start those tricky conversations when your kids are young – Blog
- You're in control with parental controls – Resource
- Brain development – how it works, why it matters – Resource
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