Family Movies at Grandma's House — Kids Movies & Film Analysis

Family Movie Reviews And Film Analysis | LADX Media
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Family Movies at Grandma's House is a family friendly movie review podcast where we revisit the children's films, family movies and family friendly blockbusters we grew up with to see if they still hold up. Each week, we consider family films & kids movies with real film analysis that also meets nostalgia as we break down the story, the film scores, and whether a favorite deserves to be taken home, watched at grandma's, or hidden in the attic. Honest, family friendly movie reviews for kids movies fans and nostalgic adults alike.

  1. 18h ago ·  Bonus

    Top 30 Family Movies Ranked | #17: Despicable Me (2010) | Animated Family Film Review & Letterboxd Rating

    The Movies at Grandma’s House Top 30 Family Movie Countdown is on Day 14 — and today makes history: both Despicable Me AND Despicable Me 2 have now officially cracked the top 30. 30 days, 30 family films, one episode every day through November. Coming in at #17 is Despicable Me (2010) — the original film that introduced the minions to the world, launched one of animation’s biggest franchises, and somehow made a story about a villain stealing the moon feel like one of the most heartwarming kids movies ever made. 🎬 Film Facts: Released: July 9, 2010Budget: $69 million | Box Office: $544.2 millionLetterboxd Community Rating: 3.7MAGH Rating: ⭐ 4.5🍌 Why It Made the Top 20: A villain. Three orphan girls. A shrink ray. A plan to steal the moon. It sounds ridiculous — and it works completely. The minions steal every scene they are in, the children’s chemistry with Gru is genuinely sweet, and the film is endlessly quotable from start to finish. Isaac and Seth both agree: sixteen years and four sequels later, there is still nothing quite like the original. One of the most fun episode recordings in MAGH history. Full family film review at Episode 70. Day 15 is coming tomorrow! 📬 Connect With Us: 🎬 Follow our Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/grandmashouse/ 🎥 Get 15% off at MoviePosters.com — use code: grandmashouse 📧 Newsletter: https://moviesatgrandmashouse.beehiiv.com/ ❤️ Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MoviesatGrandmasHousePodcast Find us on YouTube, Threads, Facebook, Instagram | TikTok: LADXMedia Email: moviesatgrandmashouse@gmail.com 🎥 Remember to be kind and rewind. Hello hello! We'd love to hear your thoughts, send us a voice note!

    Top 30 Family Movies Ranked | #17: Despicable Me (2010) | Animated Family Film Review & Letterboxd Rating

  2. 1d ago ·  Bonus

    Top 30 Family Movies Ranked | #18: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024) | Family Movie Review & Letterboxd Rating

    The Movies at Grandma’s House Top 30 Family Movie Countdown is on Day 13 — and today’s pick carries the highest MAGH rating in the entire countdown so far. 30 days, 30 family films, one episode every day through November as Isaac and Seth count down from #30 to #1. Coming in at #18 is Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024) — the film both Isaac and Seth now consider the best entry in the franchise, delivering a darker and more emotionally layered story than its predecessors while still delivering the action and comedy fans love. 🎬 Film Facts: Released: December 20, 2024Budget: $122 million | Box Office: $492.2 millionLetterboxd Community Rating: 3.5MAGH Rating: ⭐ 4.5 — highest of the countdown so far🦔 Why It Made the Top 20: Isaac and Seth attended an early Paramount screening for this one and ranked it among the best kids movies they have covered across five seasons. Loosely inspired by Sonic Adventure 2, the film adds genuine emotional depth through Shadow’s relationship with Maria and Robotnik’s bond with his grandfather — balancing those heavier themes with sharp comedy, great action, and two Jim Carreys. Isaac’s kids skip Sonic 1 and 2 at family movie night and go straight to this one every time. That says everything. For the full spoiler-free family film review go back to Episode 34. Drop a comment if you want Isaac and Seth to return for a full spoilers breakdown — they are seriously considering it! Day 14 is coming tomorrow — what lands at #17? 📬 Connect With Us: 🎬 Follow our Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/grandmashouse/ 🎥 Get 15% off at MoviePosters.com — use code: grandmashouse 📧 Newsletter: https://moviesatgrandmashouse.beehiiv.com/ ❤️ Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MoviesatGrandmasHousePodcast Find us on YouTube, Threads, Facebook, Instagram | TikTok: LADXMedia Email: moviesatgrandmashouse@gmail.com 🎥 Remember to be kind and rewind. Hello hello! We'd love to hear your thoughts, send us a voice note!

    Top 30 Family Movies Ranked | #18: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024) | Family Movie Review & Letterboxd Rating

  3. 2d ago ·  Bonus

    Top 30 Family Movies Ranked | #19: The Iron Giant (1999) | Animated Classic Film Review & Letterboxd Rating

    The Movies at Grandma’s House Top 30 Family Movie Countdown is on Day 12 — and today’s pick is one of the greatest animated films ever made that almost nobody saw in theaters. 30 days, 30 nostalgic family films, one episode every single day through November as Isaac and Seth count down from #30 to #1 across all five seasons of the podcast. A box office flop that became a timeless classic. The Iron Giant has arrived. Coming in at #19 is The Iron Giant (1999) — the Brad Bird animated masterpiece that lost money at the box office in 1999 and has spent the decades since earning every bit of the legendary reputation it deserved all along. 🎬 Film Facts: Released: August 6, 1999Budget: $48–50 million | Box Office: $31.7 million (a loss at release)Letterboxd Community Rating: 4.3 ⭐ (highest community rating in the countdown so far)MAGH Rating: ⭐ 4.0🤖 Why It Made the Top 20: The Iron Giant is one of cinema’s great comeback stories. Released in the summer of 1999 against stiff competition, it came and went at the box office without the audience it deserved. But the film itself never aged. The animation — a beautiful blend of traditional hand-drawn style with CGI that integrates so naturally it never pulls you out of the story — looks as fresh today as it did at release. Seth puts it plainly: watching it now, it does not feel dated for a single frame. Director Brad Bird — who would later go on to make The Incredibles — brings the same distinct visual identity and emotional intelligence to this film that would define his entire career. If you know Brad Bird’s work, you see his fingerprint everywhere in The Iron Giant. Isaac notes the CGI used for the giant himself blends seamlessly with the hand-drawn animation in a way that is increasingly rare and increasingly appreciated the older the film gets. The story is deceptively simple and deeply moving — a boy, a robot, and the question of what it truly means to choose who you are. The voice performances are spot on throughout and the emotional payoff the film builds toward is the kind that stays with you long after the credits roll. Both Isaac and Seth agree: if it is sitting at #19 on this list, that alone tells you something significant about the films still to come. This episode also featured a special guest — John from All the Right Movies — whose insights on The Iron Giant left Seth openly admitting he could barely follow up after some of John’s observations. High praise and well earned. Day 13 is coming tomorrow — what lands at #18? Stay tuned! 📬 Connect With Us: 🎬 Follow our Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/grandmashouse/ 🎥 Get 15% off at MoviePosters.com — use code: grandmashouse 📧 Newsletter: https://moviesatgrandmashouse.beehiiv.com/ ❤️ Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MoviesatGrandmasHousePodcast Find us on YouTube, Threads, Facebook, Instagram | TikTok: LADXMedia Email: moviesatgrandmashouse@gmail.com 🎥 Remember to be kind and rewind. Hello hello! We'd love to hear your thoughts, send us a voice note!

    Top 30 Family Movies Ranked | #19: The Iron Giant (1999) | Animated Classic Film Review & Letterboxd Rating

  4. 3d ago ·  Bonus

    Top 30 Family Movies Ranked | #20: Inside Out (2015) | Pixar Family Film Review & Letterboxd Rating

    The Movies at Grandma’s House Top 30 Family Movie Countdown has officially entered the Top 20 — and Day 11 opens it with one of Pixar’s most emotionally ambitious films ever made. 30 days, 30 nostalgic family films, one episode every single day through November as Isaac and Seth count down from #30 to #1 across all five seasons of the podcast. Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust have made the list. Coming in at #20 is Inside Out (2015) — the Pixar masterpiece that takes you inside the mind of an eleven-year-old girl navigating one of the hardest transitions of childhood and somehow makes you feel every single emotion right along with her. 🎬 Film Facts: Released: June 19, 2015Budget: $175 million | Box Office: $859.1 millionLetterboxd Community Rating: 3.8IMDB Rating: 8.1 | Rotten Tomatoes: 98%MAGH Rating: ⭐ 4.0🧠 Why It Made the Top 20: Inside Out arrives at a premise so original it is hard to believe it had not been done before — the personified emotions inside a young girl’s head, each with their own personality, each competing to guide her through a seismic life change. It is funny, heartfelt, clever, and at times genuinely devastating. Pixar has always known how to tug at the heartstrings, but Inside Out does it with a level of psychological depth that is almost unheard of in animated children’s films. Isaac watched it as a date night with his wife before they had kids and was completely blown away. Revisiting it with his own children confirmed what he already suspected — this one hits differently at every stage of life. The humor is layered enough that kids laugh at the physical comedy and the quick jokes while adults catch the quieter moments of reflection underneath. Lewis Black voicing Anger is arguably the most perfectly cast animated role in Pixar history. Amy Poehler brings an infectious warmth to Joy that carries the entire film. And the supporting cast of Mindy Kaling, Bill Hader, and Phyllis Smith round out an ensemble that simply works on every level. For the full family film analysis — the complete voice cast breakdown, the Sundance standing ovation story, Isaac and Seth’s differing opinions, and everything they thought on their full revisit — go back and listen to Episode 108 where they covered Inside Out in full. Day 12 is coming tomorrow — what lands at #19? Stay tuned! 📬 Connect With Us: 🎬 Follow our Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/grandmashouse/ 🎥 Get 15% off at MoviePosters.com — use code: grandmashouse 📧 Newsletter: https://moviesatgrandmashouse.beehiiv.com/ ❤️ Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MoviesatGrandmasHousePodcast Find us on YouTube, Threads, Facebook, Instagram | TikTok: LADXMedia Email: moviesatgrandmashouse@gmail.com 🎥 Remember to be kind and rewind. Hello hello! We'd love to hear your thoughts, send us a voice note!

    Top 30 Family Movies Ranked | #20: Inside Out (2015) | Pixar Family Film Review & Letterboxd Rating

  5. 4d ago ·  Bonus

    Top 30 Family Movies Ranked | #21: The Truman Show (1998) | Jim Carrey Film Review & Letterboxd Rating

    The Movies at Grandma’s House Top 30 Family Movie Countdown has reached Day 10 — and today’s pick is one of the most original and thought-provoking films ever made. 30 days, 30 nostalgic family films, one episode every single day through November as Isaac and Seth count down from #30 to #1 across all five seasons of the podcast. What if your entire life was a television show and you were the only one who didn’t know it? Coming in at #21 is The Truman Show (1998) — the groundbreaking Jim Carrey film that arrived before reality television took over the world and made every single person who saw it walk out of the theater asking the same question: is any of this real? 🎬 Film Facts: Released: June 5, 1998Budget: $60 million | Box Office: $264 millionLetterboxd Community Rating: 4.2MAGH Rating: ⭐ 4.0🎥 Why It Made the Top 30: The Truman Show works on a premise so original and so perfectly executed that it stands alone in cinema history. Truman Burbank has lived his entire life inside a massive television set without knowing it. Every person around him is an actor. Every sunrise is engineered. Every moment of his life has been broadcast to a watching world. It is a dark concept — and yet the film handles it with such warmth, such wit, and such genuine humanity that it never feels cynical. This is Jim Carrey as most audiences had never seen him before. The rubber-faced, wall-to-wall energy of Ace Ventura and The Mask is dialed back into something far more nuanced here. The physical comedy and impeccable timing are still there, but underneath them is a real performance — a man slowly realizing his entire reality is constructed, and the moment that dawns on him is genuinely moving. Isaac gives him enormous credit for making you feel every layer of that discovery in real time. The supporting cast is equally strong throughout, and the film’s ability to blend dark dramatic tension with moments of genuine comedy is one of its greatest strengths. Seth calls the premise alone one of the best ever conceived for any film — and it is hard to argue. When a movie gets people walking out of the theater questioning the nature of their own reality, that is something special. The Truman Show did exactly that in 1998 and it still does it today. For the full family film analysis — the complete discussion of the premise, Jim Carrey’s performance, the supporting cast, all the fun facts, and everything Isaac and Seth thought on their revisit — go back and listen to Episode 90 where they covered The Truman Show in full. Day 11 is coming tomorrow — what lands at #20? Stay tuned! 📬 Connect With Us: 🎬 Follow our Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/grandmashouse/ 🎥 Get 15% off at MoviePosters.com — use code: grandmashouse 📧 Newsletter: https://moviesatgrandmashouse.beehiiv.com/ ❤️ Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MoviesatGrandmasHousePodcast Find us on YouTube, Threads, Facebook, Instagram | TikTok: LADXMedia Email: moviesatgrandmashouse@gmail.com 🎥 Remember to be kind and rewind. Hello hello! We'd love to hear your thoughts, send us a voice note!

    Top 30 Family Movies Ranked | #21: The Truman Show (1998) | Jim Carrey Film Review & Letterboxd Rating

  6. 5d ago ·  Bonus

    Top 30 Family Movies Ranked | #22: Ice Age (2002) | Animated Family Film Review & Letterboxd Rating

    The Movies at Grandma's House Top 30 Family Movie Countdown is on Day 9 — and today's pick is the animated family film that launched one of the biggest franchises in movie history. 30 days, 30 nostalgic kids movies, one episode every single day through November as Isaac and Seth count down from #30 to #1 across all five seasons of the podcast. Manny, Sid, and Diego have officially made the list. Coming in at #22 is Ice Age (2002) — the original film that started it all before the sequels took over the world. Just the first one. The one that made you fall in love with a woolly mammoth, a sloth, and a saber-toothed tiger on an unlikely journey across a frozen landscape. 🎬 Film Facts: Released: March 15, 2002Budget: $59–65 million | Box Office: $383.2 millionLetterboxd Community Rating: 3.6MAGH Rating: ⭐ 4.0🦣 Why It Made the Top 30: Ice Age is one of those classic children's films that hits differently when you experience it as a family for the first time. Isaac saw it in theaters with his family when it first came out and they never stopped quoting it. Sid the Sloth's ridiculous observations. Manny's deadpan delivery. Diego's intimidating presence that slowly melts into something warmer. The film balances genuine heart with laugh-out-loud humor and does it with a voice cast that is simply perfectly assembled. John Leguizamo as Sid the Sloth is one of the great animated comedy performances of the early 2000s — endlessly quotable and impossible not to love. Ray Romano was at the height of his fame with Everybody Loves Raymond and brings exactly the right mix of gruffness and warmth to Manny the woolly mammoth. And Dennis Leary as the saber-toothed Diego is inspired casting — his voice carries a natural edge that makes Diego genuinely threatening before the real story takes hold. What makes Ice Age stand out among nostalgic movies for kids is how well it balances those tonal shifts. The lighter comedic moments and the heavier emotional beats complement each other rather than competing, giving the whole film a surprising emotional depth that holds up long after the laughs fade. Seth noted on their original episode that he always forgets how funny it genuinely is until he sits back down to watch it — and that is the mark of a truly rewatchable family friendly film. For the full family film analysis — complete voice cast breakdown, all the best quotes, the darker themes discussion, and everything Isaac and Seth thought on their revisit — go back and listen to Episode 83 where they covered Ice Age in full. Day 10 is coming tomorrow — what lands at #21? Stay tuned! 📬 Connect With Us: 🎬 Follow our Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/grandmashouse/ 🎥 Get 15% off at MoviePosters.com — use code: grandmashouse 📧 Newsletter: https://moviesatgrandmashouse.beehiiv.com/ ❤️ Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MoviesatGrandmasHousePodcast Find us on YouTube, Threads, Facebook, Instagram | TikTok: LADXMedia Email: moviesatgrandmashouse@gmail.com 🎥 Remember to be kind and rewind. Hello hello! We'd love to hear your thoughts, send us a voice note!

    Top 30 Family Movies Ranked | #22: Ice Age (2002) | Animated Family Film Review & Letterboxd Rating

  7. 6d ago ·  Bonus

    Top 30 Family Movies Ranked | #23: The Incredibles (2004) | Pixar Superhero Film Review & Letterboxd Rating

    The Movies at Grandma's House Top 30 Family Movie Countdown is on Day 8 — and today's pick is one of the greatest superhero films ever made. Not just animated films. Not just kids movies. Superhero films — period. 30 days, 30 nostalgic family films, one episode every single day through November as Isaac and Seth count down from #30 to #1 across all five seasons of the podcast. Coming in at #23 is The Incredibles (2004) — the Pixar masterpiece that somehow out-superhero'd most of Marvel and DC while telling one of the most heartfelt family stories in animation history. 🎬 Film Facts: Released: November 5, 2004Budget: $100+ million | Box Office: $631.6 millionLetterboxd Community Rating: 4.1IMDB Rating: 8.0 | Rotten Tomatoes: 97%MAGH Rating: ⭐ 4.0🦸 Why It Made the Top 30: The Incredibles is one of those rare films that works on every single level simultaneously. The action is genuinely thrilling. The family dynamic is warm and real. The humor lands for kids and adults alike. And the animation — directed by Brad Bird, the same creative mind behind The Iron Giant — has a visual identity so distinct and specific that you know you are watching The Incredibles the moment it appears on screen. In an era of increasingly homogenized CGI animation, that kind of standalone style is something truly special. Isaac saw it in theaters with a group and remembers being genuinely blown away. He makes the argument confidently — The Incredibles belongs in the conversation with the best superhero films ever made regardless of studio or franchise. Marvel and DC included. Seth agrees wholeheartedly, and both note that seeing it ranked at #23 on the list only signals how strong the films ahead of it are going to be. The music is another standout — composer Michael Giacchino's score is a character unto itself, driving the adventure forward with a big band jazz energy that perfectly matches the film's retro-spy aesthetic. Seth specifically called it out as one of the key elements that elevates the storytelling beyond what the visuals alone could achieve. For the full family film analysis — deep dive into the animation style, Brad Bird's creative vision, the complete voice cast breakdown, and all the fun facts — go back and listen to Episode 26, part of MAGH's beloved Peak Pixar season. Day 9 is coming tomorrow — what lands at #22? Stay tuned! 📬 Connect With Us: 🎬 Follow our Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/grandmashouse/ 🎥 Get 15% off at MoviePosters.com — use code: grandmashouse 📧 Newsletter: https://moviesatgrandmashouse.beehiiv.com/ ❤️ Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MoviesatGrandmasHousePodcast Find us on YouTube, Threads, Facebook, Instagram | TikTok: LADXMedia Email: moviesatgrandmashouse@gmail.com 🎥 Remember to be kind and rewind. Hello hello! We'd love to hear your thoughts, send us a voice note!

    Top 30 Family Movies Ranked | #23: The Incredibles (2004) | Pixar Superhero Film Review & Letterboxd Rating

  8. Nov 7 ·  Bonus

    Top 30 Family Movies Ranked | #24: Homeward Bound (1993) | Nostalgic Kids Film Review & Letterboxd Rating

    The Movies at Grandma's House Top 30 Family Movie Countdown is on Day 7 — and today's pick is one of the most emotionally powerful family films ever made. 30 days, 30 nostalgic kids movies, one episode every single day through November as Isaac and Seth count down from #30 to #1 across all five seasons of the podcast. Grab the tissues — Shadow, Chance, and Sassy are here. Coming in at #24 is Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993) — the beloved family classic that sent an entire generation of kids into full emotional meltdown in theaters and still delivers every single time. 🎬 Film Facts: Released: February 3, 1993Box Office: $57 millionLetterboxd Community Rating: 3.6MAGH Rating: ⭐ 4.0🐾 Why It Made the Top 30: Homeward Bound is the definition of a wholesome family film that earns every emotional moment it puts you through. Three animals — a golden retriever, a bulldog, and a Himalayan cat — making an incredible journey home across the wilderness. Simple premise. Flawless execution. Isaac saw it in theaters as a kid and openly admits he was bawling when Shadow fell into that ditch. Revisiting it as an adult for the podcast brought all those same feelings rushing back — and watching it with his own kids confirmed it still hits just as hard for a new generation. The voice cast is simply perfect. Don Ameche as the wise and loyal Shadow brings a warmth and gravitas that is genuinely moving. Sally Field as the feisty Sassy is legendary casting. And Michael J. Fox as the energetic, ambitious Chance is a natural fit — his voice carries that playful personality effortlessly. Together they make a trio you root for from the first minute to the last. The practical effects are another reason this film ages so gracefully. No CGI. No digital trickery. Just real animals, real locations, and real filmmaking — and it holds up better today for it. Isaac and Seth are both firm believers that practical effects outlast digital ones every time, and Homeward Bound is one of the strongest arguments for that position. Yes there are intense moments. Yes Shadow's journey in the final act will wreck you. But the payoff is worth every second of it. This is a children's film that respects its audience enough to go to real emotional places — and then rewards them for sticking with it. For the full family film analysis — complete voice cast discussion, deeper breakdown of the story and practical effects, and everything Isaac and Seth thought on their revisit — go back and listen to Episode 10, one of MAGH's earliest and most beloved episodes. Day 8 is coming tomorrow — what will land at #23? Stay tuned! 📬 Connect With Us: 🎬 Follow our Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/grandmashouse/ 🎥 Get 15% off at MoviePosters.com — use code: grandmashouse 📧 Newsletter: https://moviesatgrandmashouse.beehiiv.com/ ❤️ Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MoviesatGrandmasHousePodcast Find us on YouTube, Threads, Facebook, Instagram | TikTok: LADXMedia Email: moviesatgrandmashouse@gmail.com 🎥 Remember to be kind and rewind. Hello hello! We'd love to hear your thoughts, send us a voice note!

    Top 30 Family Movies Ranked | #24: Homeward Bound (1993) | Nostalgic Kids Film Review & Letterboxd Rating
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Family Movies at Grandma's House is a family friendly movie review podcast where we revisit the children's films, family movies and family friendly blockbusters we grew up with to see if they still hold up. Each week, we consider family films & kids movies with real film analysis that also meets nostalgia as we break down the story, the film scores, and whether a favorite deserves to be taken home, watched at grandma's, or hidden in the attic. Honest, family friendly movie reviews for kids movies fans and nostalgic adults alike.

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