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Family movie nights are a great way to bond and learn together. If you add some independent and foreign films — especially those in their original languages with subtitles — you’ll elevate family movie night to a whole new level of learning. This is Rachel here with some great ideas for international films that you can enjoy together as a family. Thanks to Kidflix Global for sponsoring and providing a great giveaway prize.
My family loves experiencing new cultures through the movies we watch. It can be such a fun way to introduce children to things beyond what they see every day.
As someone who grew up traveling internationally, I’ve often wished my kids could have the same experiences, but in a family of 8 international travel just isn’t something that can happen very often.
We have our wish-list of places we’d like to visit though and we always have fun exploring those places through film in anticipation of the day when we get to visit in person.
This month my kids and I have been exploring Germany through our family movie nights thanks to Kidflix Global. They make it so easy to buy or rent international children’s films that you can enjoy as a family.
We’ve found 3 German films that your family will love:
Emil and the Detectives
Twelve-year-old Emil comes to Berlin to spend the holidays with friends and, on his way, his money is stolen. Together with his new pal, Pony, and her street-wise friends, Emil vows to catch the thief and deliver him to the police. For ages 8+.
The Blind Flyers
Musically gifted teenagers from a school for the blind work together to help Herbert, a runaway, return to Khazakistan. Romance blooms as the three create a band and enter a televised music video contest. For ages 10+.
Stella and the Star of the Orient
While rummaging in her grandmother’s attic, ten-year-old Stella steps into an antique wardrobe and travels back 100 years in time where she meets her own great-grandmother, Clementine, and Gus, Clementine’s younger brother. Together they solve a family mystery. This is such a sweet story with a magical quality. For ages 6+.Â
The Benefits of Foreign Films
All of these films are in German with subtitles so they are a great chance to expose kids to the sound of the German language. While older kids who can read may do best with these, younger kids can pick up a lot of the story simply by watching.
My 4 year old sat with me through all of these and really enjoyed them. She asked for clarification a few times when she was lost, but for the most part, she could figure out what was going on simply by paying attention to the context and it was a fun experience for her to hear the language.
My older boys found they had to pay attention more than they do with an English film so it was a good chance for them to slow down and focus. With so many options for entertainment that require very little from my kids, I loved having something that stretched them a bit more.
My favorite of these films was Emil and the Detectives. My husband said it reminded him of a German version of The Goonies. They were all great family movies that offered a fantastic cultural learning experience.Â
My family had so much fun hanging out together and exploring the German culture. Watching the films in a short period of time really helped my kids see some of the similarities and start to get a feel for the sound of the language.
Enter the Mystery in Germany Sweepstakes
In addition to our giveaway below, you have another chance to win. On January 1, 2017, Kidflix Global will launch their newest promotion and sweepstakes.
They will be giving away these 3 German films:
- Stella and the Star of the Orient (ages 6+)
- The Blindflyers (ages 10+)
- Emil and the Detectives (ages 11+)
Be sure to sign up for their newsletter so you don’t miss future prizes.
Follow Kidflix Global:
Twitter | <Facebook | Pinterest | Vimeo
Our Giveaway
We’re hosting a giveaway for a 3-DVD package that includes all 3 films…
- Stella and the Star of the Orient (ages 6+)
- The Blindflyers (ages 10+)
- Emil and the Detectives (ages 11+)
We will randomly select a total of 5 winners.
If you’d like to win, please leave us a comment below telling us if you have family movie nights and if you’ve ever watched a foreign movie with subtitles with your children. Then complete your entry using the form below.
This giveaway is in addition to their sweepstakes which will launch on January 1st.
Pin it for Later
Disclosure: This post is sponsored so extra thanks for reading and sharing.
Written by 5 Minutes for Mom contributor, Rachel Lister.
Talk with us: @5minutesformom and Facebook.com/5minutesformom
Pin with us at pinterest.com/5minutesformom
Cindy Munkelt says
Just with husband-emptynesters. No I haven’t. Want these for my niece.
rosemary says
wow
Allyson Rose Becker says
Not usually. And no I have not watched foreign movies.
Peggy Rydzewski says
No sub titles movies because one is only 4 and the other is 8 and movie night is when they come to nanas house.
Dee Hadley says
We have movie night on Thursday. It’s great! I have never watched a movie with subtitles.
Brandy says
I haven’t thought much about it but weather I win or not I think we would both enjoy it!!!!!!
Shirley Hicks says
no..we don’t watch foreign films and really don’t have movie night
Tim Deeter says
my kid love witch moive all time
liz lew says
We usually do at least once a month
Daniel M says
we try to have a few movie nights on the weekends if everyone isn’t busy
Jerry Marquardt says
I have had family mnovie nights with my family. I never watched a foreign movie with any subtitles with my children.
Leslie Stanziani says
We do a weekly family movie and game night. We have watched movies with subtitles.
Jae Park says
Yes, we do have family movie nights. On the odd night when the kiddos have little or no homework, we will find a movie to watch and pop some popcorn. We have watched foreign movies together and enjoyed them. Thank!
Keri justice says
We do have family movie night but we’ve not ever watched any foreign films. I would love to win theses!
tiffany c (@sweetmatcha) says
Yes we love family nights! We recently watched Kubo and the two strings, and the kids loved it! We haven’t watched any movies with subtitles together, but I would love this prize to watch together with the kiddos. Plus dd can bring dvds to school for movie days, I bet she’d love to share these movies with her classmates. Thanks for the chance!
Megan Chan says
Yes, I love having family movie nights! And yes, we have watched subtitled movies as well.
latoya says
We don’t really have regular movie nights, we sort of just watch or go to the movies together when we have something we all want to see. My mom and I watch lots of foreign films.
Christa Bengtsson says
We have family movie nights on Saturday nights. We have never watched one with subtitles with the kids before.
susan smoaks says
we do have family movie nights. we do them about once a month. we all love it so much.
Dave L says
We do have family movie nights, and occasionally we will watch a foreign film like My Neighbor Totoro or Kiki’s Delivery Service with the original language track and subtitles instead of the English dub. I prefer watching foreign films because they are usually refreshingly original. Thank you for the fun giveaway.
Jennifer H. says
We don’t watch foreign films. We like watching Lord of the Rings.
Erica B. says
We love having movie nights. We’ve never watched a foreign movie though.
Kelley Roach says
Yes we do often!! There are even cartoons on Netflix with subtitles. I love this!
kathy d says
We don’t have family movie night. The little one would not sit still long enough and no we don’t watch movies with subtitles. I don’t like them
Audrey Stewart says
I have never watched a sub titled film with children, but I keep the close caption on my TV. I can’t hear that well.
Danielle Magee says
Yes, we have family movie night. No, we have never watched a subtitle film.
Dena says
We don’t have a set night for movie nights, mostly when the grandkids are here. We have watched movies with subtitles, but nothing from Germany. Sounds interesting.
KD says
We often have family movie nights but haven’t yet watched any subtitled movies. These movies sound good!
Ashley Packard says
We like to watch a lot of animated stuff, but we haven’t tried any films with subtitles yet
Meghan says
We do! Mainly cartons now.
Gabrielle Kinman says
The movies with subtitles are as good as the others. Thank you so much.
Elizabeth Brooks says
The weekends we watch movies. Snuggles and popcorn
PAT says
love to win
Kathy Ammerman Cox says
We watch holiday movies as a family we start Dec 1 and pick a different one every night till Christmas but we have never exposed the kids to foreign films I think I will try it.
Gayle Gildehaus says
My girls and I love to put in old VHS movies to watch on nights!
Robyn Brooks says
Family movie nights yes, Foreign movues no
heather s says
We haven’t watched a movie with a subtitle but would be open. We watch family movies together
MelissaandKeith Miller says
Yes we have family movie nights No we have never used subtitles
Kim Keithline says
Saturdays are usually our movie night we have never watched a foreign film with sub titles before
Marti says
We have family movie nights, but have not tried a subtitled film yet because the youngest is too young to read well. I do enjoy them myself and I’d love to watch Emil and the Detektives; it was one of my favorite books as a kid and I would be interested to see how the story has been updated,
jeremy mclaughlin says
Yes we always have family movie night. Never watched a foreign movie with subtitles with my children.
KENNETH OHL says
We try to have Friday night as movie night and we have never watched a foreign film together
Dianna Davis says
yes, we love our family movie nights– We have had only two foreign films with the subtitles– It took a while but it helps the littler ones read what they can
M'lissa says
We have family movie night every Friday. My kids have never seen a foreign movie.
Katie K says
We do have family nights w/ pizza, games and sometimes movies. Kids aren’t old enough -yet- to do subtitles but we are definitely open to it!
Donna Clifford says
Yes we do have family movie nights. No on foreign films, but we would not mind.
Maryanne says
Yes we have movie nights but we haven’t tried subtitles yet!
Ira says
We don’t have family movie nights yet as my kids can’t sit the whole movie at once. But they learn 3 languages and watch kids programs in all 3. And I do hope to add more movies from around the world soon.
Paol Trenny says
We have movie night twice a month (Saturday). And yes, we have watched many movies with subtitle.
dorrie turner says
We have had family movie night many times, but never tried a subtitled movie.
Angela Saver says
Yes we have family movie nights! We have only watched 1 movie with subtitles.
Psychic Ratings says
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Carol says
I never watched a foreign movie with subtitles with my children.
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Thanks for finally talking about >Elevate Family Movie Night with
3 German Films Your Children Will Love <Liked it!
Ashley M says
We have a family fun night every Friday! I have never watched an entire foreign film with my children!
panties says
Yes! Finally someone writes about boob.
Mel says
We do have movie nights but haven’t watched a foreign film yet.
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Kristie says
We love having family movie nights, but never watched a foreign one with subtitles! Neat idea!
vickie couturier says
no,i dont think we have
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Christina O says
Yes, we have family movie nights on Saturdays. No subtitles that I remember.
Elizabeth Miller says
We do have family game and movie night pretty much every week. We have never watched a foreign movie as a family.
Richard Brandt says
Yes, we prefer foreign films with their original soundtrack. It’s a big world out there.
Cindy Brooks says
We do have family movie nights. My sweet husband and I like to watch foreign films, but we’ve never watched one as a family!
Laura says
Yes, we have family movie nights. We never have watched a foreign movie with subtitles though!
Beth T. says
My niece and nephews watch foreign films with their parents, and I think they really enjoy the different cultures and languages. As kids, we did, too–my mom was a teacher and never passed up the opportunity for a teaching moment, pointing out differences and asking whether we preferred their way or ours, for example. It opened our eyes and reminded us that our ways weren’t the only ways, nor automatically the “best”.
Seyma Shabbir says
Yes we do often!! There are even cartoons on Netflix with subtitles. I love this!