This Disney animation movie triumphs because of its empowering storyline. There is a refreshingly student-and-mentor-like chemistry between Moana and Maui. Unlike any other “Disney princess” movie, Moana is completely romance free, never once bringing up its main character’s marriage prospects. As Maui points out, she’s a princess because she wears a dress and has an animal sidekick, but Moana strives to save her island, not find a prince.

With the catchy music thrown in, this movie is a must see for kids and adults who like animation movies.

Rating: ★★★★

Recommended Viewers: Kids/Everyone

This movie series is up there as one of my favourite series. It is similar to Hunger Games and Maze Runner. It is the first adaptation of author Veronica Roth’s best selling dystopian trilogy. Set in a future Chicago, the movie is slightly less violent than the book but still depicts the brutal world of a post-apocalyptic society divided into factions or groups.

In the distant future, Chicago is cut off from the rest of America in a society strictly divided into five factions based on character traits — Abnegation (the selfless), Amity (the kind), Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave), and Erudite (the intelligent). Divergents are those who do not fit into one category, but many instead.

There are strong main characters and having a female lead is great as well and inspiring for younger women.

Rating: ★★★★★

Recommended Viewers: Teenagers/Adults

Colourful, beautifully animated, and culturally sensitive, Coco is an affecting, multilayered coming-of-age drama. Miguel just wants to make music, even though it’s forbidden to him because his family believes that music cursed them. Coco boasts an authentic soundtrack and a memorable score.

The movie will be especially moving for anyone who’s had to separate from their family, whether because of death or another reason. But of all the movie’s relationships, it’s really Miguel’s with Hector that’s the most fascinating. Hector is so much more than he seems, and whether he’s pretending to be Frida Kahlo, playing the guitar, or pleading his case to be remembered, he’s the film’s second hero. Like the best Pixar movies, Coco is a story about the power of relationships and why family is so important.

Rating: ★★★★★

Recommended Viewers: Everyone

Crazy Rich Asians is a book-based romcom. The storyline is very original and romcoms have a tendency to portray their heroines as, not quite having their act together. But that’s not the heroine of this romcom: She’s capable, clever, and in control. She may be temporarily thrown off by the unfriendlies in her partners life, but she never loses her footing. She’s a well-drawn, down-to-earth character who isn’t so much relatable as aspirational.

It’s impossible not to notice the movie’s shots of men’s bare chests, but this reverse objectification is subversively intentional: Asian men are rarely portrayed as sexy or appealing in the media, and the drooling cinematography is intended to challenge the idea that Asian men are undesirable. And amid all the humour and attempts to overthrow the anti-Asian bias in Hollywood movies, the director still delivers a lovely love story.

During a preposterously over-the-top wedding, the audience is brought to tears by a touching affirmation that, no matter the pain and pleasure that money brings, it’s still love that makes the world go round.

Rating: ★★★★★

Recommended Viewers: Adults

The start to the Harry Potter film series is filled with visual greatness, valiant heroes, excellent special effects, and irresistible characters. It’s only fair to say that it’s truly magical. The whole movie manages to be sensationally imaginative and yet at the same time so clearly believable and lived-in that you’ll think you could be there yourself.

This is another of my eldest’s favourite movie series and can never get enough of it, he truly loves the fantasy of these films. I am also a HUGE Harry Potter fan and love the series and the spin offs.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is a terrific book and a terrific movie. Every family should enjoy them both.

Rating: ★★★★★

Recommended Viewers: Mostly Mature Audiences (Younger children can if you know they are okay with some scary scenes)

Based on the hit Broadway musical of the same name, this movie is amazing! I know not everyone agrees and some people find this movie quite cheesy etc. but I love it! It’s such great fun and the ABBA songs are an added bonus to the fun.

This strong filled cast makes the movie what it is, with Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgard and Dominic Cooper. 

If you don’t like musicals that are full blown song after song, then this is not the movie for you! 

Rating: ★★★★

Recommended Viewers: Everyone

This movie came out in 2008 and I think Pitch Perfect hits lots of the right notes and will leave you laughing and singing long after the credits roll. The mash up’s used and the songs are done so well that it really suits the movie. 

The actors really make this movie what it is, especially Rebel Wilson. The acapella part of this movie as well is amazing as its refreshing compared to people just singing to music (the acapella version is them making the background music and singing all with their own vocals)

This movie is definitely for more mature audiences with some of the content and references.

Rating: ★★★★

Recommended Viewers: Mature Audiences

My eldest and I were lucky enough to see this movie in an advanced screening, before it hits cinemas here in Australia on Boxing Day. 

My eldest loved the first Wreck It Ralph movie, so it was only fitting we had to see this one too. This sequel did not disappoint! This movie may have Ralph as the billing character but Vanellope really does take the spotlight in this sequel.

This movie tells a strong friendship story within its concept of video game characters, popular websites, and social media platforms. This new adventure thrusts Ralph and Vanellope into the wilds of the web; adults, even more than kids, will enjoy the movie’s jokes and references to sites and internet phenomena that are all too relatable.

Without spoiling too much of the movie, my favourite part would be when Vanellope meets the Disney Princess (which are voiced mostly by their original actors). Since Vanellope is also a princess, the ladies have a hilarious conversation about what it means to be a princess (magical abilities, dead parent(s), important water, curses, and big, strong men). The sequence is very funny and well layered, and the princesses all end up changing into loungewear to follow Vanellope’s comfortable hoodie chic (if you see this movie look at what is on each of the princesses shirts as they all reference something to their character/movie)

Also stay for the end credits as there is a mid-credit video, which most people tend to miss.

Rating: ★★★★★

Recommended Viewers: Everyone

This movie by Dreamworks and based on the book by Cressida Cowell, is a great animation. The animation is quite advanced (especially when it came out in 2010) compared to other animations. 
This is easily up there as one of my eldest’s favourite movie series. 

This movies storyline starts off a bit slow but once it gets going it is a touching story of a boy (Hiccup) who makes an amazing connection with dragons in particular Toothless (Nightfury Dragon) and has an ongoing battle to change the minds of his community (especially his father “The Chief”) to not hunt dragons but befriend them instead.

All in all it’s a great family movie and will have the kids intrigued within the fantasy.

Rating: ★★★★★

Recommended Audience: Everyone 

Glee ran for 6 Season between 2009 – 2015. It is a Golden Globe-winning musical comedy show. I remember watching this when I was in high school and really related to the show and some of the topics that they covered. 

The cover songs they do are pretty good as well, there are some hit and misses but majority I loved; especially the mash ups. The dance routines are awesome and some complex. Some of the topics that they bring up in the show are controversial e.g. bullying, homosexuality, transgenders, sex, drugs etc

In the early seasons, they put a lot of effort into their storylines but I felt after Season 4, it just went downhill. Unfortunately one of the main actors Cory Monteith (Finn Hudson) died in real life, so his character was obviously cut from the show as well, but it added a lot of tension and messiness in the storylines from there onwards. Their goodbye episode to Finn was very touching and sweet.

Rating: ★★★★

Recommended Viewers: Teenagers/Adults