We all need a little self-care at the moment. Returning to some of our childhood faves is a great way to inspire that warm feeling of nostalgia we can wrap around ourselves like an old quilt. Luckily, we’ve scoured the internet to find nine of our most beloved comfort watches that are available to stream right now.
From magical little girls to wizards in training, college road trips to delightful dinosaurs, this list has it all and we hope it brings a little light into your life!
The Black Cauldron
Disney
The Black Cauldron is often (incorrectly) at the bottom of Disney movie rankings everywhere, mostly due to the fact that many of us hadn’t watched it for decades. But now thanks to Disney+ making most of the company’s vaulted movies available, you can once again enjoy this brilliantly scary, gorgeously animated, totally experimental take on animated fantasy. If you don’t remember the setup, The Black Cauldron follows Taran, a young pig keeper, who becomes embroiled in a deadly battle for the fate of mankind as he and his friends try to defeat the maniacal horned king!
You can stream The Black Cauldron on Disney+ now.
A Goofy Movie
Disney
Another Disney gem that will surely make you feel like a kid again, A Goofy Movie is a 1990s animated classic. Spinning-off from the popular Goof Troop television show, this surprisingly sweet movie is all about the father and son relationship between Goofy and his son Max. After the latter gets in trouble at school, the former decides they should embark on a father-son fishing trip — much to the dismay of his high school-age son. Hijinks ensue, obviously… But what really makes A Goofy Movie standout is the emotional heart of the movie. And Powerline. Obviously Powerline.
You can stream A Goofy Movie on Disney+ now.
An American Tail
Amblin
Disney wasn’t the only animation studio racking up hours on your childhood TV. In the 1980s and 1990s, before the Mouse House’s stranglehold on traditional hand-drawn movies truly took hold, Don Bluth created competing films that were often more strange and sad. One of his more famous movies, An American Tail centers on a young mouse who emigrates from Russia and ends up in the Big Apple. If this doesn’t sound familiar to you, then just wait until you hear the song “Somewhere Out There.” You’ll be transported back to your childhood instantly.
An American Tail is streaming on Hulu now.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Golden Harvest
These cheeky teenage turtle brothers are nothing less than a cultural phenomenon… Which is even more hilarious when you realize they were born out of a black and white underground comic that lambasted the superhero genre and mainstream comics culture! Never mind all that, though. If you grew up in the 1980s and ’90s, these radical dudes were everywhere. And their first cinematic adventure still holds up to this day. With high-tech Jim Henson studio-animated suits, incredible voice actors, and bodacious stunts, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a pleasure to watch at any time, but even more so right now. We could all use more light-hearted heroes in our life.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is streaming on Netflix now.
The Secret of NIMH
MGM
Another Don Bluth movie that likely frequented your VHS player or cable viewing, The Secret of NIMH is a childhood touchstone for many dark and twisty adults. Based on the children’s novel by Robert C. O’Brien, this dark fantasy flick also centers on a mouse — but that’s where the American Tail comparisons end. The Secret of NIMH is a sci-fi tinged tale about genetically enhanced rats and a small family of mice who become tangled up in their dark and dangerous world. A must-have weird inclusion on our list, NIMH is a stone-cold kids classic!
The Secret of NIMH is streaming free on Tubi and YouTube now.
The Land Before Time
Universal Pictures
We told you Don Bluth was keeping busy when you were a kid! Bluth teamed up with Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, George Lucas, and Frank Marshall to tell The Land Before Time, a dinosaur family drama that would traumatize and charm kids all around the world. This classic cartoon spawned a huge franchise, but none are as affecting as this first entry. The tragic 1988 animated classic centers on a young dinosaur named Littlefoot who embarks on a quest to find his family after his mother is killed.
The Land Before Time is streaming on Netflix and Hulu now.
Matilda
TriStar Pictures
Not only does Matilda star both Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman as some of cinema’s worst parents, but it was also directed by DeVito! It’s also still a total joy to watch. Based on the Roald Dahl book, this magical story follows a little girl with telepathic powers who uses them to wreak (justifiable) havoc on the horrible adults in her life. Honestly, we still can relate. So throw this one on and go back to a time when magic felt wonderfully real.
You can stream Matilda on Freeform now.
Anastasia
Disney, 20th Century Studios
Anastasia is perhaps one of the only animated films to come close to the quality and scope of Disney’s princess offerings. This beautiful tale from Don Bluth takes one of the strangest historical scams of all time and transforms it into a dreamlike fairytale. Based on many, many real-life cases of young women being groomed to present themselves as the missing Romanov Princess Anastasia, the movie imagines what would happen if one of them truly was the young royal. With a wicked voice cast, a terrifying villain in the film’s supernatural version of Rasputin, and some of the best songs this side of Beauty and the Beast, this one will take you right back.
Anastasia is streaming on Hulu and HBO GO right now.
Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: The Movie
Hasbro
Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers truly took the world by storm in the ’90s as an instant TV staple for young kids. The North American adaptation of Japan’s incredibly popular Super Sentai series has an everlasting charm, though many of us were horrified when we discovered the Rangers weren’t actually doing any of those rad stunts! You’ll likely remember their first foray into movies expands on the story of young kids with magical powers, massive Zords, and the introduction of a new ranger! If you get a real nostalgia kick from this one, then be sure to check out TokuSHOUTsu, a free Pluto TV channel streaming almost nothing but the original Super Sentai shows 24/7.
Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: The Movie is streaming on Starz.
Header Image: 20th Century, Disney
