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Among other descriptors, 2020 is the summer of NOT going to the movies, which means many of us are looking for at-home suggestions.  Couple that with the truth that much of what is out there to consume is less than desirable, figuring out movie night can be nothing less than a pain!

In recent years, I have kept a list of titles that we found to be good-to-exceptional for one reason or another, and I have included this current list below.  I say "current" since this list is always in the process of being edited, but at least it's a place to start in building your own family's list that even includes some "theme" notes for each one. 

​Not all movies are appropriate for all ages, so be sure to research each suggestion and use other review sources like Common Sense Media or Christian Spotlight on Entertainment for more insight when making your personal selections.  If you wish to filter certain content, consider using a service like VidAngel.  I have not included popular blockbuster movies or miniseries formats; I also (for the most part) do not mention the older classic movies or musicals, which are too numerous to list!

Now it's time to pop that popcorn and get ready to enjoy some awesome movies this summer!

23 Blast (Sports, Friendship, Perseverance)
Akeelah and the Bee (Perseverance, Spelling Bee Competition)
Alone Yet Not Alone: (True Story of Survival of Barbara & Regina Leininger during the French & Indian War, Faith)
Amazing Grace (William Wilberforce, Slavery)
August Rush (Music, Perseverance, Family, Forgiveness)
A Beautiful Mind (Genius John Nash’s struggle with mental illness, Loyalty, Perseverance)
The Blind Side (Family, Loyalty, Perseverance)
The Book Thief (WWII, Overcoming Adversity)
Breakthrough (Faith, Healing, Family)
Breathe (Perseverance, Loyalty, Love, Ethics, Special Needs, Polio)
Case for Christ (Christianity, Apologetics; Evangelism)
Chasing Mavericks (True Story, Friendship, Courage)
Cinderella Man (The Depression, Perseverance, Family, Dedication)
Confessions of a Shopaholic (Money, Friendship, Honesty, Responsibility)
Courageous (Faith, Family, Death, Fatherhood)
The Current War (Technology Battle Between Westinghouse & Edison, Perseverance, Ethics)
Dead Poets Society (Love of Literature, Friendship, Loyalty)
Dear Frankie (Father/Son, Healing)
Eddie the Eagle (Quirky true story re: the Olympics, Friendship, Perseverance)
The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain (Community, Loyalty)
Evan Almighty (Much better than "Bruce Almighty", Unlikely "Prophet" Chosen to Clean Up D.C., Family, Loyalty)
Finding Neverland (J.M. Barrie's Inspiration for Peter Pan, Friendship)
The Finest Hours (Integrity, Perseverance, Sacrificial Love)
Fireproof (Marriage, Fidelity, Faith)
The Giver (Conformance, Sanctity of Life, Ethics)
God’s Not Dead (Christianity, Evangelism, Principles)
God’s Not Dead 2 (Christianity, Free Speech)
Good Night, and Good Luck (McCarthy Trials, 1950's Broadcast Journalism)
The Great Debaters – (Racism, Perseverance, Debating Process)
The Greatest Showman (loosely inspired by P.T. Barnum’s Life, Family)
Heaven is for Real (Christianity, Family, Life After Death)
Here Comes the Boom (Sacrifice, Transformation, Friendship, Patriotism)
The Hundred-Foot Journey (Racism; Family, Loyalty)
Kit Kittredge (The Depression, Family, Sacrifice)
I Can Only Imagine (Bart Millard Biography, Loyalty, Christianity, Family, Friendship)
I Still Believe (Jeremy Camp Biography, Friendship, Sacrificial Love, Grief, Hope)
The Importance of Being Earnest (Oscar Wilde Play, Friendship, Social Status)
The Investigator (Sports, Evangelism)
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (Hilarious, All-Star Cast Race for Buried Money, Greed, Ethics, Loyalty)
Ladies in Black (1950’s, Multi-Generational Female Friendships)
Let There Be Light (Christianity, Evangelism)
The Little Mermaid (2018, non-Disney fantasy version, Friendship, Kindness, Ethics)
Love Different (Faith, Racism, Parenting, Friendship)
The Man Who Invented Christmas (Charles Dickens’ Process for Writing a Christmas Carol)
The Majestic (Perseverance, McCarthy Trials)
The Man Who Invented Christmas (A View of Charles Dickens and his Process to Write "A Christmas Carol")
Mao’s Last Dancer (Dance, Dedication, Defection from China)
McFarland USA (Sports, Racism, Perseverance)
Midnight in Paris (1920's Artistic Life, Authenticity)
Midway  (Battle of the Midway, Perseverance, Patriotism, Friendship, Leadership)
Miracle (1984 Olympics, Perseverance)
Pride & Prejudice (1995 BBC version is the most accurate version)
Queen of Katwe (Chess Prodigy, Sacrifice)
Paper Clips (Documentary, WWII, Holocaust Survivors, Anti-Semitism)
Paper Planes (Competition, Perseverance, Friendship, Family)
Princess Kaiulani (Family, Loyalty, History of Hawaii)
Race (Olympics, Jesse Owen’s Biography, Racism)
Roman Holiday (Top notch Audrey Hepburn film, Friendship, Loyalty)
A Royal Night Out (Teen princesses Elizabeth and Margaret celebrating V-E Day in 1945)
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (Perseverance, Friendship)
Searching for Bobby Fisher (Chess Prodigy, Friendship, Family)
Secretariat (Underdog (or is it "Underhorse"?) story, Perseverance)
Secret Life of Walter Mitty (Overcoming Mediocrity, Friendship, Loyalty)
Singing in the Rain (Birth of the "Talkies", Friendship, Delightful Musical!)
Soul Surfer (Overcoming adversity, Faith)
Stranger Than Fiction (Quirky Novel Production Process Comedy)
Tea With Mussolini (Italy in WWII, Anti-Semitism)
Temple Grandin (Biographic, Autism, Family, Perseverance)
Tommy’s Honor (History of Modern Golf, Innovation, Family)
The Truman Show (Perception vs. Reality)
Waking Ned Devine (Legacy, Friendship)
The Water Horse (Loyalty, Family, WWII)
Wonder (Special Needs, Acceptance)
Wonderstruck (Family, Perseverance, Death, Special Needs)
Woodlawn (Sports, Loyalty, Perseverance) 
Zoom (Fun, Super-Hero Story of Misfits Becoming a Family)