10 Movies You Watched As A Kid That Hit Different As An Adult

Big (1988)

Big features Tom Hanks in one of his best comedic roles, as a young boy named Josh who magically winds up in the body of an adult. There are plenty of knowing winks for the film's older viewers, especially the heavy use of sexual innuendo. But Big is more than a fun movie about a kid who learns more about the world. It's also about reconnecting with the simplicity and kindness of youth. Josh's mother also becomes a more important character when seen from an adult's point of view. She loses her son, and this mirrors how some parents feel after their children grow up.

Tom Hanks Skateboarding in Big

Home Alone (1990)

From Kevin's perspective, being left home alone is an opportunity to let loose and have fun, but adults are more likely to empathize with his parents. Director Chris Columbus uses plenty of low angles and wide lenses in Home Alone to give the audience a child's perspective. This makes the furnace in the basement and the mysterious Old Man Marley much more frightening, but older audiences know that the prospect of leaving a child unattended is much scarier. Also, Harry and Marv's injuries in Home Alone are much less cartoonish and silly when seen through a more pragmatic, mature lens.

Kevin McCallister screaming in Home Alone.

Poltergeist (1988)

Poltergeist is a great introduction to the horror genre for younger audiences, without being too terrifying or visceral. The story follows a suburban family who are haunted by the supernatural, and audiences can latch on to either the children or the parents. Poltergeist plays with a lot of common childhood fears, like ghosts, darkness, and clowns, but it could be a rare case of a movie being even scarier for adult audiences. Diane and Steve have to fight for their children's lives while also protecting themselves. The characters are at the forefront of every story beat, and this gives the impression that their actions will ultimately decide if they survive.

Little girl in the movie Poltergeist staring mesmerized with blush TV light shining on her face.

Jurassic Park (1993)

Children love Jurassic Park for its vivid portrayal of dinosaurs brought back to life. It's a dream for many kids to see dinosaurs like this, not just in the pages of a picture book, but adults understand more acutely that the entire theme park is more of a nightmare. Jurassic Park features adults who feel helpless to protect children. In this case, it's because the threat to them is so enormous, illustrated by the ease with which a Tyrannosaurus rex plucks Gennaro from his hiding spot in a bathroom. Adults are also more likely to identify with the tense relationships between the characters.

A T. Rex bursting through the gates

Finding Nemo (2003)

Finding Nemo is about a widowed father who embarks upon a dangerous odyssey to rescue his missing son. Fortunately, the bright colors and variety of sea life make it a fun movie for kids, instead of an aquatic Taken. Children will identify more with Nemo, whose willingness to find freedom from his overbearing father lands him in trouble. But Marlin is the true protagonist. His quest to find Nemo takes on more depth when seen as an adult. Nemo is all he has left after a traumatic event that wiped out his family, and the emotional ending of Finding Nemo isn't just happy, it's also an outpouring of relief.

Marlin and Nemo smiling and slapping fins in Finding Nemo

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

After a bitter divorce, Daniel decides that the best way to spend more time with his children is to use his flair for character work to become their new nanny, an elderly Scottish woman called Mrs. Doubtfire. When seen as an adult, this premise can come across as invasive and creepy. The mother of the children, Miranda, is being deceived into allowing a man into her home whom she had expressly forbidden. Mrs. Doubtfire is unusual for the fact that it discusses the rather taboo topic of divorce, but only adult audiences will see how this situation affects Miranda and Daniel, not just the children.

Robin Williams as Mrs. Doubtfire waving from a window

Lilo & Stitch (2002)

Money troubles don't truly make sense to children, but Nani's search for a job evokes feelings of stress and desperation for adults. Everywhere she goes to look for a potential job, Lilo and Stitch spoil her chances in some way. They don't mean to, but their childish antics make it clear that they don't understand the seriousness of the situation. When Nani lashes out at Lilo, it's only because she is so frustrated with her role as Lilo's guardian, when she hasn't even been able to grieve the loss of her parents. Nani must put on a brave face for Lilo, but children could miss the complexity of her emotional state.

Nani and Lilo looking at Stitch as he talks at the end of Lilo and Stitch (2002)

Freaky Friday (2003)

By design, Freaky Friday is a movie that tries to change people's perspectives. When Anna and Tess switch bodies, they gain a new understanding for one another. Naturally, whatever side of the story people tend to focus on is dependent on which character they relate to more. Older audiences have the benefit of having lived on both sides of the equation, so the movie's message is more resonant. Neither Anna nor Tess are bad people, but their problem is that they struggle to empathize with one another and communicate properly. Seeing both sides makes Freaky Friday much more interesting, rather than just understanding Anna's perspective.

Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis in Freaky Friday

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

Ferris Bueller decides to skip school for a day, and he drags his friends along on a reckless adventure. Ferris Bueller's Day Off feeds the adolescent fantasy of gaining freedom and living without consequences, and its caricatured adult characters act as stand-ins for all the pressures young people face to behave themselves and fall in line. But Ferris Bueller's Day Off has a subtle complexity to it, especially when considering Cameron's journey from a reserved, depressed teenager to a man who stands up to his father. Despite the fun and games, the movie is tinged with sadness at the passing of youth.

Cameron, Sloane, and Ferris examining a painting in Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Mary Poppins (1964)

Mary Poppins is a charming sequence of whimsical scenes centered around the Banks children and their new magical nanny. For children, the songs and the colorful, creative adventures are delightful, but adults can see that the story is more about Mr. Banks. The hard-working banker needs Mary Poppins as a reminder of what's important in life, and he learns to cherish the time he has with his children. Mary Poppins herself is a rather tragic figure when viewed with the wisdom of adulthood. She appears to travel from family to family, spreading joy as she goes but never finding a true home for herself, or a family to call her own.

Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins