Fall break: 10 movies to watch as a family (and in theaters)

The autumn school break is often when you're looking for the one movie that will please everyone, from a 6-year-old to grandparents. Here's a selection that always works, plus the new releases to catch in theaters (French release dates).

In theaters right now

Two animated movies open in France on October 21, just in time for the break:

• Shaun the Sheep's Halloween adventure (La Bêêête d'Halloween in France): Aardman's sheep is back, with visual humor that works from age 4 and makes adults laugh too.
• L'île des souvenirs: the other animated adventure to see during the holidays.

And for late November, mark Asterix and the Kingdom of Nubia and Disney's new animated feature, both expected in French theaters on November 25.

Classics at home

For the little ones (under 1h40)

• My Neighbor Totoro (1h26): pure gentleness, perfect as a first Miyazaki.
• Inside Out (1h35): funny, clever and surprisingly moving for parents.
• Paddington 2 (1h43): often cited as one of the best family movies of recent years.

For 8-12 year-olds

• Coco (1h45): perfect at this time of year, since it speaks tenderly about the people we've lost.
• Spirited Away (2h05): a journey everyone should take at least once.
• Fantastic Mr. Fox (1h27): Wes Anderson in stop-motion, a treat for the whole family.

For teens (and parents who want adventure)

• Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (1h57): a visual knockout that reinvented the superhero movie.
• Back to the Future (1h56): the movie that turns teens into fans of "old movies".

Our anti-argument tip

Suggest three movies at most and let everyone vote. Beyond that, choosing becomes a debate. And check the running time before pressing play: a movie that's too long with little ones guarantees a forced intermission.