We’ve looked at the blockbuster movies and the book-based movies, so today we’re focusing on the family movies. These are the ones that are aimed for everyone- hopefully written to engage not only the younger kids but adults as well, so that there’s something for everyone and they become timeless in their own right. Some of the best examples of these are The Muppet Movie and Despicable Me; there’s humor and action enough to keep the youngest viewers engaged and involved, and enough adult jokes, humor, and plot to keep the adults laughing. Yet for every family movie that we can watch again and again, there are those that are complete bombs: those are the ones that teens avoid like the plague.
I’ve put below a list of family movies coming out this summer, along with some programming ideas to tie them into the library world, and whether or not I think they’re going to be attractive for teens.
MOVIE TITLE: INSIDE OUT
RELEASE DATE: JUNE 19
MOVIE SYNOPSIS: Riley, your average 13-year-old girl, moves to a new home, and her emotions plunge into chaos as they via for control of her mind. Starring Amy Poehler and Mindy Kaling.
TEEN APPEAL: Coming from Disney/Pixar, it’s guaranteed to have a big number draw at the box office, but the age range and appeal for this movie seems to be more skewed toward tweens and younger. Adult will be drawn to the name and the safety of the Disney/Pixar brand, but the overall theme isn’t going to attract the older teens.
Programming tie-ins: Biology, chemistry, emotions, feelings, journaling.
MOVIE TITLE: MINIONS
RELEASE DATE: JULY 10
MOVIE SYNOPSIS: Minions Kevin, Stuart, and Bob are back- this time at the beginning of their story of how Minions began, and their quest for working for super-villains. Finding Scarlet Overkill, they are recruited to help her take over the World. Starring Sandra Bullock and Chris Renaud.
TEEN APPEAL: Teen have grown up with the Minions from the Despicable Me movies, and learning their origin story and their time before Dru will only draw them in closer. Considering Universal has rides in their theme parks and two other hit films under their belts, along with Minion merchandise in box stores and pop retailers, teens will definitely be willing to see this one at least once, tweens multiple times.
Programming tie-ins: science, spy work, secret codes, villainy workshops, create your own Minion crafts
MOVIE TITLE: UNDERDOGS (THE UNBEATABLES when released in the UK in 2013)
RELEASE DATE (US): AUGUST 14
MOVIE SYNOPSIS: When the players from his beloved Foosball game come to life, Amedeo recruits them to enter the biggest underdog match of his life- to save his city and win back the love of his life.
TEEN APPEAL: Originally released overseas in 2013, this animated movie captures the growing love of soccer in America, tying along with it an underdog story and magic. Reviews have it filled with Latino humor and excellent animation quality, so hopefully it will find an audience.
Programming tie-in: soccer, magic, bullying, hero stories