Keeping kids entertained over what feels like an eternity of summer (are children ever even in school these days?) is a daunting challenge at best. You can’t just sit them in front of TV and let them play computer games all day, you’ve got to keep them stimulated, keep them active, but also keep them learning – children need to be nurtured don’t you know.
But these activities can take their toll, not so much on kids, but on you! Whether that’s a the physical or financial burden, looking after children all day is tiring and expensive. Sometimes to get a bit of you time back nothing beats sticking on a good film that will keep the kids entertained for a couple of hours so you can enjoy some much needed down time.
To help you choose the best movies to keep the kids entertained and take back some time for you we’ve put together a list of all the best blockbuster for kids available On Demand this summer.
Who knows you might even want to watch some of these yourself
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Available through Sky cinema from 17th August
The mightiest saga in the galaxy continues in an epic eighth episode brimming with breath-taking adventure, emotional turmoil and roof-raising heroics. With the First Order hunting the Resistance into extinction, Rey (Daisy Ridley) seeks out Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to bring him into the fight. Elsewhere, ex-stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega) and gung-ho pilot Poe (Oscar Isaac) embark on impossible missions to buy time for the Resistance’s dwindling fleet, while First Order enforcer Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) battles with his Dark Side. There’s no let-up in the action as the Force not only awakens but rises, shines and puts the kettle on.
Lego Ninjago
Available now through Sky Cinema
Old ninja master Wu (voiced by Jackie Chan) assembles six young warriors to defend their island home of Ninjago against marauding monsters and robots and evil warlords like Lord Garmadon (Justin Theroux). But before you go thinking that this is just going to be a manic mix of martial arts, manga-madness and droll self-parody, the film also throws up serious familial conflict because Garmadon is actually – gasp – the father of dedicated ninja Lloyd (Dave Franco). Actually, no. It’s just a manic mix of martial arts, manga-madness and droll self-parody.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Available through Sky Cinema from 24th August
Joe Johnston’s 1995 fantasy adventure gets an action comedy spin, with the late, great Robin Williams and a young Kirsten Dunst making way for four stuck-in-detention teens who – rather than an ancient board game – discover an old, Super Nintendo-style video game. Of course firing it up transports our unlikely heroes to the dangerous jungles of Jumanji, where survival means getting comfortable with their newly acquired avatars – musclebound adventurer Dr Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson) and his diminutive, backpack-carrying sidekick Franklin “Mouse” Finbar (Kevin Hart), middle-aged map-reader Shelly Oberon (Jack Black) and ass-kicking “killer of men” Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillan).
Justice League
Available through Sky Cinema from 3rd August
With the world in mourning for Superman, Bruce Wayne/Batman (Ben Affleck) and Wonder Woman (Cal Gadot) put together a team including The Flash (Ezra Miller), Aquaman (Jason Momoa) and Cyborg (Ray Fisher) to combat the catastrophic threat of Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds) and his army of insectoid Parademons. Joss “Avengers” Whedon took over directing duties after the departure of Zach Snyder in a superhero caper that lightens the tone of the dark Batman v Superman.
Thor Ragnorak
Available now through Sky Cinema
The genial Chris Hemsworth returns as the God of Thunder for a third, breezy instalment of the Norse superhero saga. He’s been banished by his long-lost goth sister Hela (Cate Blanchett) to the day-glo planet of Sakaar which is ruled over by camp tyrant Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum). Pitted against the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) in a gladiatorial contest, his main priority is saving Asgard from Hela in the form of the prophesised catastrophe of Ragnarok. Director Taika Waititi (Hunt for the Wilderpeople) injects a hefty dose of Kiwi surrealism into the action.
