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Values Movies
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Movies for children and teens that show values in action

The best way of learning is always by experiencing something, rather than by being told it, and watching movies can give us learning experiences in a powerful and concentrated form.  If we choose the right movies, values can come alive in a way that is difficult to match even in real life. 

They can show us so clearly why values really matter, what it means to act out our values, and what happens to us when we act against them. 

What’s more, learning this way is easy and enjoyable. There are some great movies out there that not only show values in action, but are also beautifully made and acted. 

We have put together a list of some of the best ones – some of them will be old friends, but some others you may not have heard of.

Click here to download a pdf of the values movies list below >>
Untitled Document

Children & Teens Values Movies

 

Movie & Trailer

Values

Description

Year /
Length

Type

Rating /
Suitable for

A Little Princess

https://youtu.be/Q3WJrWZ_npg

Friendship, humility,  respect, tolerance

Girl moves from exotic life in India to serving at New York boarding school

1995

97 mins

U

Older children / teens

An Angel for May

https://youtu.be/37eziM4Yu5o

Caring, responsibilty

Boy learns responsibility and caring for others after travelling back in time

2002

103 mins

PG

Anne of Green Gables

https://youtu.be/vSEFeKZw-sw

Love, happiness

Orphan wins over elderly brother and sister who she is mistakenly sent to

1985

199 mins

Excellent made for TV version

None

Older children/teens

Anne of Green Gables

https://youtu.be/CxBOwhANpcw

Love, happiness

Orphan wins over elderly brother and sister who she is mistakenly sent to

2016

130 mins

Good movie version

PG

Older children/teens

Boys Town*

https://youtu.be/aoofjH022pU

Compassion, respect, teamwork, responsibility

Dramatisation of Father Edward Flanagan's remarkable home for needy boys

1938

93 mins

Based on true story.

None

Teens

Brave

https://youtu.be/TEHWDA_6e3M

Responsibility, courage

Impetuous princess heroically faces danger and learns to take responsibility

2012

93 mins

Animation

PG

Younger children

Buddha's Lost Children

https://youtu.be/CN3HUqfkIi0

Compassion, respect, determination

Documentary of amazing kick-boxing monk saving children in Thailand

2006

97 mins

Documentary

None

Teens

Cars

https://youtu.be/SbXIj2T-_uk

Humility, respect

Ambitious race-car discovers true values when forced to stay in a small town

2006

117 mins

Animation

PG

Younger children

Charlotte's Web

https://youtu.be/vCHDS_a_4Ms

Compassion, friendship

Kindly spider helps piglet escape ending up on the dinner table

2006

97 mins

Animation

U

Young children

Children of Heaven 

https://youtu.be/dqxvZeQsVzY

Love, determination

Uplifting story of poor boy and sister getting in a tangle over lost pair of shoes

1997

84 mins

12

Older children / teens

Despicable Me

https://youtu.be/sUkZFetWYY0

Love

Evil criminal mastermind transformed by love of 3 little girls

2010

95 mins

Animation

U

All children

Dumbo

https://youtu.be/4hlowTTSyXo

Fulfilling your potential, determination

Young elephant is made fun of by all but mouse helps him realise his potential

1941

64 mins

Animation

U

Younger children

Ever After: A Cinderalla Story

https://youtu.be/I3qTDGawWD4

Love, courage, confidence

Re-telling of the old story with strong independent-minded Cinderella

1998

121 mins

PG

Teens

Fluke

https://youtu.be/4iQp5RXzvwk

Love, loyalty, perseverence

Perseverance and love of a dog in search of his identity

1995

91 mins

PG All children and teens

Frozen 

https://youtu.be/TbQm5doF_Uc

Love, courage

Sister's courageous mission to save Queen from herself and her power to freeze

2013

102 mins

Animation

PG

Younger children

Gods Must Be Crazy

https://youtu.be/GorHLQ-jLRQ

Determination, tolerance, courage, reslience, humour

Sympathetic comedy of bushman encountering Western life and values

1980

109 mins

Comedy

A

Older children / teens

Gods Must Be Crazy II

https://youtu.be/XMlTZHg9Z6o

Determination, courage, resiliance, humour

Bushman children confronted with unexpected challenges react resourcefully 

1989

98 mins

Comedy

A

older children/ teens

Good Morning Miss Dove

https://youtu.be/4tdyoVrkO6A

Respect, encouragement, inspiration

Critically ill teacher is reminded by former pupils of how she shaped their lives

1955

107 mins

PG

Goodnight Mister Tom

https://youtu.be/1ugNGFsaKWc

Compassion, respect

Boy evacuated from London during WW2 billetted on unwilling older man

1998

101 mins

PG

Older children / teens

Heidi

https://youtu.be/uSBAokV_bw8

Love

Classic Shirley Temple as little Swiss girl whose pure love reforms grandfather

1937

88 mins

U

Older children

How To Train Your Dragon

https://youtu.be/oKiYuIsPxYk

Curiosity, courage, tolerance

Viking boy becomes  friends with dragon but family doesn't understand

2010

98 mins

Animation

PG

Younger children

Ice Age

https://youtu.be/cMfeWyVBidk

Compassion, respect, selflessness

Mammoth, tiger and sloth return a little human baby human to its parents

2002

81 mins

Animation

U
Younger children

Iron Giant
https://youtu.be/JgjmFBX34zc

Love, tolerance, peace

Boy befriends extra-terrestrial metal-eating robot and teaches him peace and love

1999

96 mins

Animation

U

All children

Journey from Zanskar

https://youtu.be/ylBBre-y8m4

Compassion, respect, courage

Documentary of monks and children trekking to school across high Himalyas

2010

90 mins

Documentary

None

Teens

Kirikou and the Sorceress

https://youtu.be/9WhXsSCZsbs

Courage, determination

Determined little boy tracks down the evil sorceress that is bewitching his village

1998

74 mins

Animation

U

Younger children

Lassie Come Home

https://youtu.be/xLzaCJc4Tuo

Courage, loyalty, determination

Courage and determination of collie on her epic journey to find her way home

1943

89 mins

U

Younger and older children

Like Stars on Earth

https://youtu.be/NyHpHF2AZuU

Patience, compassion, respect

Troubled little boy's misbehaviour finally identified as resulting from dyslexia

2007

156 mins

PG

Musical interludes can irritate

Little Women

https://youtu.be/Aw1s4okHcsE

Self-respect, tolerance, love

Coming of age of four sisters in New England as father away fighting Civil War

1994

115 mins

1949 and 1933 versions also v good.

U 

Older children/teens

Marley and Me 

https://youtu.be/0UMMGNxg1Lg

Kindness, patience, love

Family learn to deal with disruptive dog and learn to love it and other life lessons

2008

155 mins

PG

Teens

Mary Poppins

https://youtu.be/nOfH7uEojKk

Truth, love

Magical nanny sorts out family and teaches children what right and wrong

1964

139 mins

Musical based on true story

U
All children

Men of Boys Town*

https://youtu.be/3OT95lapdKs

Compassion, respect, teamwork, responsibility

Sequel showing struggles and growth of Boys Town 

1941

106 mins

Based on true story.

None 

Teens

Miracle on 34th Street

https://youtu.be/-ce_op2qG24

Love, friendship, happiness

Christmas classic which ends with judge declaring there really is a Santa Claus

1947

96  mins

U

Older children

Monsters University

https://youtu.be/QxrQ6BaijAY

Teamwork, friendship

Two monsters learn to overcome their differences and become best of friends

2013

104 mins

Animation

U

Young children

Music of the Heart

https://youtu.be/Qz78YTyOTmA

Determination, Perserverance, Love

Single mother faces internal/external obstacles teaching violin to inner-city kids 

1999

124 mins

PG

Based on true story (see Small Wonders)

Nanny McPhee

https://youtu.be/YFcsn70hlHQ

Respect, discipline, perseverance

Unruly family of 7 children learn life lessons from nanny with magical powers

2005

97 mins

Humourous

U

Older children

Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

https://youtu.be/hrJQDPpIK6I

Love, courage, endurance

Part 3 sees the children adventurously sail the ocean to the end of the earth

2010

113 mins

PG

Older children

Narnia:Prince Caspian

https://youtu.be/9Q0Da4jlxBk

Love, courage, endurance

Part 2 sees the children return and deliver Narnia from an evil king

2008

150 mins

PG

Older children

Narnia:The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe

https://youtu.be/lWKj41HZBzM

Love, courage, endurance

Part 1 of CS Lewis' trilogy about children who discover a fantastic country

2005

137 mins

PG
Older children

Pinocchio

https://youtu.be/TLkPTYzazCU

Courage, truth

Classic story of puppet learning about right and wrong and life's challenges

1940

98 mins

Animation with music

U

Younger children

Pride and Prejudice

https://youtu.be/1dYv5u6v55Y

Humility, tolerance, love

Young couple overcome the pride and prejudice that blinds them to the other

2005

129 mins

U

Teens

Reach for the Sky

https://youtu.be/bzWUt2xrFBo

Courage, perseverence

True story of courage of famous WWII ace fighter pilot with artificial legs

1956

136 mins

U

Teens

Shrek

https://youtu.be/W37DlG1i61s

Tolerance; acceptance; friendship; kindness; love

The ogre Shrek is hired to rescue princess from a dragon; many values shown

2001

90 mins

Animation

U
All children and even maybe teens

Shrek 2

https://youtu.be/V6X5ti4YlG8

Tolerance; acceptance; friendship; kindness; love

Shrek and the princess face usual and some unusual problems of married life

2004

93 mins

Animation

U
All children and even maybe teens

Small Wonders

https://youtube.com/watch?v=1kqS21jakfo

Inspiration

Uplifting documentary of Harlem violin programme (inspired Music of the Heart)

1995

77 mins

 Documentary

Soul Surfer

https://youtu.be/isjY34VD5jE

Courage, resilience

Teenage surfer returns to surf despite having arm bitten off by shark

2011

106 mins

PG

Older children/teenagers

Tangled

https://youtu.be/wCxuxrLNrsw

Love, courage

Princess with magic hair courageously adventures towards light and love

2010

100 mins

Animation with music

PG

Younger children.

The Cave of the Yellow Dog

https://youtu.be/Xlan8eCU-sE

Courage, Love, Compassion

Mongol nomad family's life and relationship with seasons, land and animals

2006

93 mins

G

All children

The Education of Little Tree

https://youtu.be/J4uY88PcTZY

Love, endurance, respect

Boy learns Cherokee traditions and beliefs in Tennessee's Smoky mountains

1997

111 mins

PG

Teens

The Karate Kid

https://youtu.be/n7JhKCQnEqQ

Courage, respect, discipline, perseverance

Bullied teenager learns from old janitor to face the bullies and much more too

1984

126 mins

15

Teens

The King and I 

https://youtu.be/HvbZNxZFn-g

Respect, truth, love

English governess and her son at the court of the King of Siam

1956

133 mins

Musical based on true story

U

Older children / teens

The Last Brickmaker in America

https://youtu.be/ErOHuzHgAvM

Love, respect, dedication

Disturbed boy mentored by old craftsman and helps him renew his love for life

2010

85 mins

U

Teens

The Letter Writer

https://youtu.be/ALSuZ2Sg0W0

Respect, compassion, confidence

Teenage girl losing her way gets unexpected guidance from mysterious source

2012

86 mins

15

Teens

The Lion King

https://youtu.be/f0fReuRs890

Courage, self-respect

The lion prince learns to stand up for himself and face his evil uncle.

1994

99 mins

Animation with music

U

All children

The Secret Garden 

https://youtu.be/cl6ihoF8Hrg

Compassion, curiosity, determination

Orphaned girl  helps sick little boy discover secret garden inside himself

1993

101 mins

U

Older children

The Secret Garden 

https://youtu.be/MvwD83M0QPQ

Compassion, cuiosity, determination

Earlier and maybe even better version

1949

92 mins

None

Older children

The Secret of Nimh

https://youtu.be/cISmv0IGoQQ

Initiative, courage, tolerance

Widowed mouse has to seek help from mysterious rat colony to save son

1982

82 mins

Animation

U

All children

The Sound of Music

https://youtu.be/lEcKXr3mJ_o

Love, respect, integrity

Musical of the governess and singing family is full of love and other good values

1965

174 mins

Musical based on true story

U

Older children and teens

The Way Home

https://youtu.be/nLRIcbRaE_o

Patience, love, respect

Spoiled city child responds to simple unconditional love of mute grandmother

2002

80 mins

PG

Older children

Toy Story 

https://youtu.be/4KPTXpQehio

Friendship, courage, tolerance

Friendship and courage of toys as they cope with newcomer and being lost

1995

81 mins

Animation

PG

Younger children

Up

https://youtu.be/qas5lWp7_R0

Curiosity, courage, tolerance

Magical adventure of old man and boy flying in house atached to 500 balloons

2009

96 mins

Animation

U

All children

Wadjda

https://youtu.be/3koigluYOH0

Determination, tolerance, courage, humour

Girl's pursues her aim to buy a bike despite restrictions of Saudi Arabian society

2012

98 mins

PG

Older children /teens

WALL-E

https://youtu.be/alIq_wG9FNk

Love, courage

Waste-gathering robot finds love and helps mankind regain the world

2008

98 mins

Animation

U

All children

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