Best Family Movies of 1984

After some violent confrontations with his new classmates, Daniel LaRusso learns karate from Japanese handyman Mr. Miyagi, in order to defend himself.

A bitter old miser who makes excuses for his uncaring nature learns real compassion when three ghosts visit him on Christmas Eve.

In 1930s Texas, a widow and her family fight to save their home by harvesting cotton.

When young Victor's pet dog Sparky (who stars in Victor's home-made monster movies) is hit by a car, Victor decides to bring him back to life the only way he knows how. But when the bolt-necked "monster" wreaks havoc and terror in the hearts of Victor's neighbors, he has to convince them (and his parents) that despite his appearance, Sparky's still the good loyal friend he's always been.

When the Muppets graduate from Danhurst College, they take their song-filled senior revue to New York City, only to learn that it isn't easy to find a producer who's willing to back a show starring a frog and a pig. Of course, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy won't take no for an answer, launching a search for someone to take them to Broadway.

The Towani family civilian shuttlecraft crashes on the forest moon of Endor. The four Towani's are separated. Jermitt and Catarine, the mother and father are captured by the giant Gorax, and Mace and Cindel, the son and daughter, are missing when they are captured. The next day, the Ewok Deej is looking for his two sons when they find Cindel all alone in the shuttle (Mace and Cindel were looking for the transmitter to send a distress call), when Mace appears with his emergency blaster. Eventually, the four-year old Cindel is able to convince the teenage Mace that the Ewoks are nice. Then, the Ewoks and the Towani's go on an adventure to find the elder Towanis.

11-year-old Davey's mother is dead and his father doesn't spend nearly enough time with him. So the boy loses himself in video games--and even has an imaginary friend, a super-resourceful secret agent. When he accidentally comes into possession of a spy group's secret plans, and winds up on the run from them, he must learn to rely on himself and his imaginary pal to save his skin. But, in the end, Dad proves to be his real hero.

The evil is set to damper another Christmas season for the children's home. Can the Scooby gang warm his heart?

Hopeful job candidate Buck Boom is dynamic, forceful, confident and creative. But can he convince Mr. Mudgin, the personnel manager, to hire him? You see, Boom is an animated character in a live-action world and Mudgin is not used to dealing with someone who is different.

An oil company is exploring two Arctic sites for oil. The needed blasting at the first site rocks Santa Claus' North Pole village. He realizes that any blasting at the second site will destroy his home. He enlists the aid of a woman and her children to convince her husband (who works for the company) that the first site is where the oil they want is. Along the way, Santa explains all his secrets in delivering presents all around the world.

First published in 1922, Margery Williams' enchanting story about a toy rabbit is a classic of children's literature. This gentle rendition comes alive through Meryl Streep's soothing narration, George Winston's beautiful music score, and David Jorgensen's charming illustrations.

An intelligent, fearless boy living in a superstitious Transylvanian village goes out into the world to figure out what everyone else is afraid of, "the shivers." A king hires him to rid his castle of ghosts and evil spirits, expecting him to die like all who have tried before him, but the boy is more fearless than he could have known.

Trace the life and career of visionary puppeteer Jim Henson through this fascinating documentary, which profiles the creative genius's early endeavors in college, his incredible contributions to "Sesame Street" and the creation of "The Muppet Show." In addition to interviews with Henson, his wife, Jane, and close collaborator Frank Oz, this in-depth special also offers viewers a peek inside the magical Henson Workshop.

Based on the true story of Morris Frank and the first U.S. Seeing Eye Dog, Buddy.

Garfield is taken on a camping trip by Jon, much against his will. A series of very funny disasters follow. But not all is well, as a panther has escaped from the local zoo and is stalking them. Will our hero survive to eat another lasagna and kick Odie off the table again?

On the lazy banks of the Mississippi, a young girl is reunited with her time-served but innocent father. But the reunion is tainted with the whereabouts of the stolen loot, and those who come looking for it...

Educational video where Mr. T attempts to instill good values (honor thy mother, don't give in to peer pressure, etc.) to kids through rapping and breakdancing, among other things.

Teenager Ernie lives with his alcoholic father in the harsh and lawless opal fields of Coober Pedy in outback South Australia. When his cache of precious opals is stolen, Ernie and his best friend are determined to find the thief.

Thumbelina is the answer to her mother's prayers but is all too soon stolen away by Mother Toad as a wife for her son. With the help of many different woodland creatures, especially the Swallow, Thumbelina overcomes many obstacles to try and get back to her mother.

The Smurfs engage in athletic competition to settle a dispute between both ends of the village over misquoted compound words, which turns deadly when the medal Clumsy is awarded actually causes an earthquake.

Set during summer in the Îles-de-la-Madeleine of Quebec, Mario and Simon are two brothers living in a fishing village with their mother, who runs a grocery story, and their father, who runs a fishing business. Mario is ten years old, mute and autistic. He is withdrawn from reality and living in a surreal world that only his older brother Simon and his stuffed coyote share. Mario is very close with and deeply admires his 18 year old brother, whom he depends upon for love and attention. Simon reads Arabian Knights stories to Mario, dresses him in sheik's clothing and they play out imaginary wars in an Arabian style fortress that they built. Everything changes when Helene, a beautiful young tourist comes between the two brothers. Simon falls in love and begins to neglect his brother to spend time with her. Mario feels rejected and discovers what hate and jealously are. He sets about a chain of events that lead to tragedy.

Donald is shown in both animated and costumed form, interacting with emcee Dick Van Dyke and other cast members. The film not only shows Donald's life, but also depicts an extensive international tour that Donald went on in 1984 as well as showing various celebrities of the day wishing Donald happy birthday. The tour culminates in a parade in Donald's honor at Disneyland.

In this musical adventure, Alvin develops an alter ego after Brittany rejects his offer to the Valentine Ball. In a dream state, he becomes a dashing Don Juan, the Valentine heartbreaker extraordinaire CAPTAIN CHIPMUNK. Brittany is quickly won over and eagerly accepts his offer to the Valentine Ball. Hilarious consequences follow when Alvin wakes up at the dance and realizes he’s not the dashing debonair Captain Chipmunk.

The story begins at a big football game where Snoopy wins a game from Peppermint Patty's team. That night, Snoopy gets out a radio, learns some 80's dance moves, and becomes Flashbeagle

A lonely boy befriends a vicious stallion.

Josh Holman encounters the ghost of a child mine worker with a special warning on the headlands of his Cornish home town, as an old tin mine is about to be re-opened after the discovery of valuable deposits of ore.

"In life you have to work fo what you want," Shando's wise old teacher tells him. Shando wants to become a music ant but first he must earn the kabump that all working adult ants have. However, Shando spends his time daydreaming and instead of earning his kabump, he acquires a fake one. He soon learns that true success comes only with hard work and honesty.

A Boston boy escapes from spies and survives in the wild with tricks from his mountain-man father.

Dot comes to the aid of her native animal friends when Bruce the koala tells her of plans to build a massive dam that will destroy their environment. But the local farm animals believe that the creation of the dam will catapult their small country town into the 21st Century. With both sides fighting for what they believe is right, Dot’s plans to wipe out the dam are jeopardised by the local detectives Sherlock bones and his offsider Watson the cat!

Arthur is asked to pick up a bird for Thanksgiving dinner, so he brings home a 266-pound chicken named Henrietta. The family welcome her with open arms, but the neighbors are not so sure and then Henrietta escapes.

A lonely wood-carver named Geppetto wishes for a son one night before going to bed. The Blue Fairy comes while he sleeps and partially grants the wish by turning his latest puppet, Pinocchio, into a living marionette. Pinocchio can himself fulfill Geppetto's wish of a real human son if he can prove himself to be a good soul. However, the road to becoming a real boy seems to never end, since his innocence continuously causes a problem, especially when the Evil Gypsy and his two goons want to exploit him. Not to mention, every time that he misbehaves or lies, his nose grows...

A baby is washed up on a Pacific Island and is adopted by a childless woman. The tribal priest takes an instant dislike to the child, proclaiming him a demon. The child is deaf and mute and therefore excluded from hunting with the other young men. Out of loneliness, he befriends a white turtle. When a drought befalls the island, the priest blames the silent one. When the chief protects the boy, the priest plots the chiefs' downfall.

A kind-hearted mouse dentist and his wife find a clever way to treat a crafty fox who comes to them with a sore tooth in this Oscar nominated short, adapted from William Steig's children's book.

A story of adventure in the pop music world. A schoolboy pop group who call themselves The Pirates find themselves involved with a different sort of piracy when they discover a secret video tape-copying factory

Rose-Petal Place is an abandoned Victorian mansion surrounded by a garden. Little Rose-Petal was created one day when her mistress, in a moment of distress, cried upon her garden and her tears crystallized, bringing her to life.

The Gang participates in the annual scavenger hunt to win their own ice cream flavor but the stakes are made even higher when Bingo makes a bet with Catchum that if he wins, he and Leland get the Gang's clubhouse.

CORDUROY (Live Action--Based on the book by Don Freeman) Corduroy longs for someone to take him home from the department store. He thinks that finding his lost button may help, so he searchers the store when no one is around. Will Corduroy find the button on his adventure?

Two Australian children chase a cat and a dog into a swamp near thier homes. Here they find a treehouse which they never noticed before. Inside the treehouse is a trapdoor which brings them to a wild and wonderful world with pirates, talking trees and bunyips!

The Big Six, and its companion story, Coot Club, are based on the celebrated Swallows & Amazons series of childrens' books written by Arthur Ransome. For anyone who loves sailing and adventure, the Arthur Ransome classics stand alone. Set in the '30s, both stories take place on the lakes and waterways of England, and feature the same cast of lively characters, led by six children, who become firm friends, sharing a love of wildlife and all things nautical.

Poochie, a little pink dog who runs a newspaper advice column for her owner, receives a letter from a little boy who has literally lost his father in Cairo, Egypt. Poochie and her robotic servant, Hermes, travel there to help him and end up finding a lost city that would prefer to keep its secrets.

Coot Club and its companion story, The Big Six, are based on the celebrated Swallows & Amazons series of childrens' books written by Arthur Ransome. For anyone who loves sailing and adventure, the Arthur Ransome classics stand alone. Set in the '30s, both stories take place on the lakes and waterways of England, and feature the same cast of lively characters, led by six children, who become firm friends, sharing a love of wildlife and all things nautical.

Paul feels life should be an adventure, and sets out on one to prove that Trolls really exist.

Young Ali and his camel-driver grandfather Moussa take part in an expedition through the Australian Outback. Faced with prejudice, Moussa's knowledge and the hardiness of his camels in the punishing conditions quickly prove vital to both the success of the expedition and the survival of its members.

A sick boy's toy rabbit comes to life. Part of the Enchanted Musical Playhouse series. Marie Osmond played the part of the Velveteen Rabbit. Songs were composed by the Sherman Brothers.

Gobo thinks the Fraggles' own Solstice holiday, the Festival of the Bells, is a big waste of time. Despite Cantus' warnings, Gobo goes on a journey to find out if the mythical Great Bell at the heart of Fraggle Rock is real. When the Rock slows down in the winter, the Fraggles hold the Festival of the Bells to make sure it keeps moving. As part of the celebration, they ring bells to awaken the Great Bell at the heart of the Rock. They also dress up as a Weebabeast, who used to guard the Great Bell when the Rock was small. Meanwhile, Doc and Sprocket explore mid-winter holiday traditions from around the world.

The adventures of a teen-aged boy and his friend, a runaway slave, as they float down the Mississippi River on a raft.

A wheelchair bound little girl gets involved with characters from her computer game that help her though a difficult time.

A woman named Liz Brantley takes a three-legged solo flight and then her plane crashes.

Version of the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen with the American mime team Shields and Yarnell.