Sometimes the perfect family activity is a simple formula of one part family, one part popcorn, one part movie, and finally, one awesome Carolina or Kure Beach vacation rental. Fall is a great time to visit Pleasure Island and a cool fall night is a perfect time for a family movie night. Here is everything you need to make it a wonderful family night.
Pick A Beach Movie
Picking a movie the whole family will love is never easy. Trying to balance teenagers, mom and dad, and the little ones is always a challenge. However, there are many great movies that are timeless and sure to make everyone laugh, cry, and scream together. Some of these are better for the younger crowd, some for the teens and a couple for everyone. Here is our list of five movies to consider for your Carolina Beach vacation. If you have a favorite movie that you and your family like to watch together, make sure to leave a comment below and let us know about it.
Five Great Movies for the Beach
Cast Away (2000) PG-13
Cast Away is the film that made the beach volleyball character Wilson a household name. The soccer ball becomes Tom Hanks’ BFF in this film about survival, loneliness, and never losing hope. Tom Hanks plays the tanned man who lives for years on a desert island after he survives a plane crash. The tropics are gorgeous, but life alone can be rough. Good thing Hanks has a bunch of FedEx packages wash to shore to help him survive.
Jaws (1975) PG
With Jaws, director Steven Spielberg introduced us to a fear we never knew we had…the rogue shark! Who could ever forget the brilliance of Robert Shaw as the maniacal sea dog Quint. or that famous attack theme we all know and love. Whether you are young or old this is a fun movie that is sure to scare the pants off everyone in the family together. The kids will even get a kick out of the old-style special effects.
Finding Nemo (2003) G
Finding Dory is in theaters now, but the prequel to Pixar’s newest animated film first gave us all the feels back in 2003. It follows the animated adventures of Marlin, an overbearing clownfish searching for his kidnapped son, Nemo. He teams up with Dory, a Blue Tang fish (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres) who suffers from short-term memory loss. Their journey takes them from the Great Barrier Reef all the way to the Sydney Harbor and beyond—to 42 Wallaby Way, to be exact.
Fifty First Dates (2004)
Henry Roth (Adam Sandler) meets Lucy Whitmore (Drew Barrymore) while having breakfast at a local eatery on an island in Hawaii. Henry feels a connection with her and returns to the café the next day but Lucy doesn’t recall ever meeting him. It seems Lucy suffered a head injury in a car accident on her father’s birthday. Short-term memory loss prevents her from remembering anything from that day forward. Henry’s tender devotion leads to his creating a short film that gently explains her missing memories. The rest is for you to discover, but we promise it is fun and cute entertainment.
Point Break (1991) R
If you like your beach movies to be action-packed, then Point Break certainly delivers. The original 1991 film – which was remade in 2015 – stars Keanu Reeves as Johnny Utah, an FBI agent investigating a group of surfers who he suspects to be bank robbers. Patrick Swayze plays Bodhi, the leader of the thrill-seeking surfer gang behind the crimes. When Johnny infiltrates the surf community, his newfound relationships have a bigger impact on his job than he’d expected.
Family Movie Night Snacks
Baked Zucchini Chips
Ok, so we knew we must have at least one healthy snack, but don’t worry we won’t ruin movie night completely. The sugar comes later. These crispy baked zucchini chips are just the right blend of health and taste that won’t drive the kids away and will make mom proud. Give them a try.
Milk And Cookies
Everyone loves milk and cookies, and this is a fun and simple way to combine the two into a neat treat the whole family will enjoy. After all, dunking cookies in a cold glass of milk makes for a perfect evening no matter what.
Parmesan Ranch Popcorn
Everyone loves popcorn but who wants the same old boring popcorn with just butter and salt…ok a lot of us do, but if you are looking to change things up a bit you need to try this amazing twist on an old classic. Parmesan Ranch Popcorn, and yes, these flavors all go together great…trust us you’ll want more.
Make A Snack Caddy
Want to splurge on the calories and keep everything neat and tidy while you binge on sugary snacks? Try this handy caddy that you can turn into a snack caddy. The kids will love it and you might even prevent a mess.