No matter your age, play is important. Here are some of the best movies to inspire play and your inner child.
Movies are a powerful medium. They can teach, inspire, drive social change, build empathy, and of course, entertain. When considering play in the creative process, there’s a long list of movies that can help us connect with our inner child and remember the importance of play.
Creativity and play are some of the most important skills for children and adults to support a happy and productive life. Discover more creative parenting tips and how to nurture your child’s creativity and your own.
Big (1988)
After wishing to be made big, a teenage boy wakes the next morning to find himself mysteriously in the body of an adult.
Creative Lessons
You’re never too old to have fun.
Be happy with who you are…and when you are.
Disney's The Kid (2000)
An unhappy and disliked image consultant gets a second shot at life when he is mysteriously confronted by an eight-year-old version of himself.
Creative Lessons
We must get in touch with our inner child to make life worthwhile.
Elf (2003)
After discovering he is a human, a man raised as an elf at the North Pole decides to travel to New York City to locate his real father.
Creative Lessons
Be yourself, even when it’s hard to know who you are.
Take risks and don’t give up.
Follow your dreams.
Find the good in others.
Hook (1991)
When Captain James Hook kidnaps his children, an adult Peter Pan must return to Neverland and reclaim his youthful spirit in order to challenge his old enemy.
Creative Lessons
Life is an adventure and should be enjoyed.
There are two types of Lost Boys, those who never grow up and those who grow up but lose the child within them.
Christopher Robin (2018)
A working-class family man, Christopher Robin, encounters his childhood friend Winnie-the-Pooh, who helps him to rediscover the joys of life.
Creative Lessons
Where do you put your importance?
The joy of doing nothing can lead to great things. “Nothing leads to something.”
The Little Prince (2015)
A little girl lives in a very grown-up world with her mother, who tries to prepare her for it. Her neighbor, the Aviator, introduces the girl to an extraordinary world where anything is possible, the world of the Little Prince.
Creative Lessons
It’s the time you give to something that makes it precious.
Be open-minded like a child.
- “Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them.”
The important things in life you cannot see with your eyes, only with your heart.
- “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
You should never take yourself too seriously.
Don’t forget to enjoy your life — take a moment and take it all in.
Don’t forget your inner child.
- “All grown-ups were once children … but only a few of them remember it.”
Patch Adams (1998)
The true story of a heroic man, Hunter “Patch” Adams, determined to become a medical doctor because he enjoys helping people. He ventured where no doctor had ventured before, using humour and pathos.
Creative Lessons
Joy and laughter are medicine, and they’re contagious.
- “You treat a disease, you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you, you’ll win no matter what the outcome.”
Yes Man (2008)
A man challenges himself to say “yes” to everything.
Creative Lessons
Live life by saying YES to overcome fears.
Saying yes leads to new opportunities to get outside your comfort zone and overcome fears.
- “You’re dead, Carl. You say “no” to life, and therefore, you’re not living.”
You’re never too old to play.
- “The world’s a playground. You know that when you are a kid, but somewhere along the way, everyone forgets it.”
Life isn’t just about saying yes or no. It’s about sharing experiences and what you have to give to the world.
- “The old Carl didn’t think he was enough for anybody. I thought if I said yes to things, and got involved with people, then sooner or later, they’d find out I’m not enough. I didn’t think I had anything to share. But now I know that what I have to share is pretty huge, and I want to share it with you.”
Don’t let your past control you. Embrace change.
The Bucket List (2007)
Two terminally ill men escape from a cancer ward and head off on a road trip with a wish list of to-dos before they die.
Creative Lessons
Find the joy and make it contagious.
- “You know, the ancient Egyptians had a beautiful belief about death. When their souls got to the entrance to heaven, the guards asked two questions. Their answers determined whether they were able to enter or not. ‘Have you found joy in your life?’ ‘Has your life brought joy to others?'”
Don’t let fear stop you from following your dreams.
Be grateful for what you have.
It’s never too late to start living.
Office Space (1999)
Three company workers who hate their jobs decide to rebel against their greedy boss.
Creative Lessons
Focus on what really matters.
Protect your time.
Take time to disconnect and refresh.
For more real-life inspiration, check out these creative documentaries on Netflix.
Zach is an international writer, photographer, filmmaker, martial artist, and creator of Creative Enso, the Zen art of creative living. His goal is to empower and inspire creatives to live healthier, happier, and more creative lifestyles.
