Proof that 1993 Was the Best Year for Family Entertainment
Yes, I am aware that Hollywood was producing far more in 1993 than the family-friendly content that I’m discussing here. I know full well that Steven Spielberg had two massive hits in Schindler’s List and Jurassic Park, and Tom Hanks had a huge year with both Sleepless in Seattle (dir. Nora Ephron) and Philadelphia (dir. Jonathan Demme). There are tons of great blockbuster films that were released in the year 1993. However, these are not the movies that I’m talking about when I think of one of my favorite years in film, 1993.
In my humble opinion, there was a real sweet spot for family-friendly releases in the 1990s, particularly in the five years between 1992 and 1997. This is, in large part, due to the creation of the Warner Bros. Family Entertainment label in 1992, which along with the likes of Disney, Universal, and even Nickelodeon, who threw their hats into the feature film ring, produced films that have remained etched into the hearts and memories of us 90’s kids. I have noticed in the past few years that whenever I pop in one of my favorite ‘feel-good films’ from childhood, there is a very good chance that the film came out during that five-year time frame, and by far, more often than not, the film was released in 1993. Listed here are just some of the great family films from 1993, which never fail to bring me back to those best of times, full of nostalgic childhood memories. You’ll notice the list has a few beloved Halloween titles, including our Film Club Pick of the Month, which we’ll be taking a look at next Thursday, the perfect accompaniment to Halloween!
In order of release:
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (dir. Duwayne Dunham)
The Sandlot (dir. David Mickey Evans)
Rigoletto (dir. Leo D. Paur)
Rookie of the Year (dir. Daniel Stearn)
Free Willy (dir. Simon Wincer)
Hocus Pocus (dir. Kenny Ortega)
The Secret Garden (dir. Agnieszka Holland)
Cool Runnings (dir. Jon Turteltaub)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (dir. Henry Selick)
Double, Double Toil and Trouble (dir. Stuart Margolin)
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker (dir. Emile Ardolino)
Mrs. Doubtfire (dir. Chris Columbus)
We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story (dir. Phil Nibbelink, Simon Wells)
As a bonus, here are some beloved family programs that debuted in 1993:
Theodore Tugboat (CBC/PBS, 1993-2001)
Bill Nye the Science Guy (Walt Disney Television/PBS, 1993-1999)
Animaniacs (Fox Kids/Kids’ WB, 1993-1998)
Legends of the Hidden Temple (Nickelodeon, 1993-1995)
Madeline (The Family Channel/ABC/Disney Channel, 1993-2001)
Boy Meets World (ABC, 1993-2000)
What is your favorite year in film or television? What are your favorite films and shows from 1993? Are you pumped for our film review of the 1993 modern classic Hocus Pocus? Let us know in the comments!
Copyright © 2019 Bailey Lizotte
