Family Movie Nights

To help families spend time together and share common experiences, The Leadership Institute provides recommendations for Family Movie Night. Each week, a new movie recommendation and explanation is available for your consideration. Enjoy the show!

If you are looking to see where a particular movie is streaming or is available online, please visit https://www.justwatch.com

Fatima
“Faith begins at the edges of understanding.” This week’s film tells the true story behind the 1917 “Miracle of the Sun” in Fátima, Portugal. When 10-year-old shepherd Lúcia and her… Read More
Iron Will
In the last week of January 1917 (that is, 106 years ago this week), a young man raced through brutal winter weather and rough terrain to finish a 500-mile dog… Read More
Ruby Bridges
It’s 1960 in New Orleans and six-year-old Ruby Bridges is one of the brightest children in her racially segregated school. When the NAACP asks Ruby’s parents if they’d allow her… Read More
Matilda the Musical
This week’s film is a recent release. We recommended the 1996 adaptation some time ago, but that version had a serious lack of singing and dancing.  Based on the popular… Read More
The Nativity Story
“He is for all mankind.” With Christmas Day less than a week away, this week’s film is a change of pace from the past few weeks’ comedies, as we remind… Read More
You Can’t Take It with You
With Thanksgiving only a couple days away, here’s a classic film about appreciating family and friendship over money and social status. Tony (Jimmy Stewart) is in love, but his parents… Read More
I Can Only Imagine
Growing up, Bart Millard considers his abusive father (Dennis Quaid) to be a monster, but keeps the abuse a secret from his friends, instead seeking solace in music, eventually finding… Read More
Joan of Arc
Although All Saints’ Day refers to all saints, both known and unknown, here’s a classic 1948 film about one of the most famous saints. Devout in her faith and dedicated… Read More
The Astronaut Farmer
Charles Farmer (Billy Bob Thornton) always wanted to be an astronaut, but dropped out of NASA’s space program to save his father’s ranch and never got the chance to go… Read More
On the Waterfront
This week’s film is a well-known classic starring Marlon Brando. Partly inspired by a series of actual crime reports, On the Waterfront tells the story of Terry Malloy, a dock… Read More
The Flowers of St. Francis
This 1950 Italian film dramatizes just a small part of the life and works of the popular 12th century Italian friar, Saint Francis of Assisi, known for founding the Franciscans.… Read More