Movies are  a great way to pass time in the summer, and being sucked into a world that’s visually stunning with a good story is always welcomed. With the last days of school coming up, it’s a perfect time to watch something that might make you happy between vacation plans. 

   A movie that has made a name for itself due to its Asian representation is Pixar’s “Turning Red” (2022). It is an animated film about a young 13-year-old girl navigating the highs and lows of middle school. She learns how to balance pleasing her mother and letting loose and comes to terms with just being a normal teenager. With stellar animation, a 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and small details that bring cultural representation to popular media, it is a light-hearted movie on Disney+ that is a must watch for young teens. 

  For those in search of a little nostalgia, childhood favorite character for many, “Paddington” (2015), has his own movie. In the film, Paddington the bear has lost his home in the wild and has traveled to the big city, ending up with Henry and Mary Brown. The couple takes care of him and gets to see Paddington’s comedic adventures through the city. It has funny scenes and is a cute movie for an uneventful night. Watch it on Netflix.

   “The Mitchells vs. The Machines” (2021) is an animated Netflix film about a family who is trying to survive a robot apocalypse along with their quirky family dynamics and drama. As the last humans who have not been taken by robots, they have to find a way to save the human race. This movie shows a family who doesn’t fit the mold of “normal” families and tries to work out their differences through a unique experience. A solid watch for family movie night.

   Lastly, “Over the Moon” takes an old Chinese myth of a moon goddess named Chang’e and turns it into a fun animated film. The main character Fei Fei builds a rocket ship to travel to the moon in order to meet the goddess, and goes on an adventure to help the moon goddess find her lost love. This Netflix movie also deals with family issues and shows Fei Fei’s family changing around her and how she deals with it. 

   All of these options are a great way to pass time during the summer, and all are family-friendly. Make some popcorn, grab a friend or sibling, and enjoy any of these movies when you need a little joy in your life.