Willow

Directed by Ron Howard, 1988
PG; 125 minutes

A young farmer is chosen to undertake a perilous journey to protect a special baby from an evil queen. Along the way, he teams up with a disgraced swordsman to defeat the evil sorceress in an adventure that explodes beyond the boundaries of his own hopes and fears. Featuring performances by Warwick Davis, Val Kilmer, and Joanne Whalley.

The Secret of NIMH

Directed by Don Bluth, 1982
G; 82 minutes

In this animated adventure, Mrs. Brisby is a mild-mannered mother mouse with a plan to move heaven and earth (or at least her house and home) to save her family from Farmer Fitzgibbons’ plow. On her way to find help, she discovers NIMH: a secret society of highly intelligent rats who have escaped from a nearby science lab. Their know-how might be the key to completing Mrs. Brisby’s quest.

James and the Giant Peach

Directed by Henry Selick, 1996
PG; 80 minutes

Featuring stop-motion animation and live action, this inventive adaptation of Roald Dahl's beloved children's tale follows the adventures of James (Paul Terry), an orphaned young British boy. Forced to live with his cruel aunts (Joanna Lumley, Miriam Margolyes), James finds a way out of his bleak existence when he discovers an enormous enchanted peach. After rolling into the sea inside the buoyant fruit, James, accompanied by a crew of friendly talking insects, sets sail for New York City.

An American Tail

Directed by Don Bluth, 1986
G; 80 minutes

A young mouse named Fievel Mousekewitz (Phillip Glasser) and his family emigrate from Russia to the United States by boat after their home is destroyed by cats. During the trip, a fierce storm throws Fievel from the ship, and he loses contact with his family. Luckily, he manages to sail to New York in a bottle. There, Irish mouse Bridget (Cathianne Blore), an Italian mouse named Tony (Pat Musick) and a kindly cat named Tiger (Dom DeLuise) help Fievel search for his loved ones.

Song of the Sea

Directed by Tomm Moore, 2014
PG; 94 minutes

The animated film Song of the Sea tells the story of the last seal-child, Saoirse, and her brother Ben, who go on an epic journey to save the world of magic and discover the secrets of their past. Pursued by the owl-witch Macha and a host of ancient and mythical creatures, the siblings race against time to awaken Saoirse’s powers and keep the spirit world from disappearing forever.

Labyrinth

Directed by Jim Henson, 1986
PG; 101 minutes

Frustrated with babysitting on yet another weekend night, Sarah (Jennifer Connelly), a teenager with an active imagination, summons the Goblins to take her baby stepbrother away. When little Toby actually disappears, Sarah must follow him into a fantastical world to rescue him from the Goblin King (David Bowie).

The Muppet Christmas Carol

Directed by Brian Henson, 1992
G; 86 minutes

The Muppets perform the classic Dickens holiday tale, with Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit, the put-upon clerk of stingy Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine). Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzie Bear, Sam the Eagle, and other Muppets weave in and out of the story, while Scrooge receives visits from three Christmas spirits: past, present and future, who try to show Scrooge the error of his self-serving ways.

The Neverending Story

Directed by Wolfgang Petersen, 1984
PG; 94 minutes

An unhappy young boy discovers a book about the mystical land of Fantasia. Though warned that the book can be dangerous, he becomes engrossed in the story and finds himself in Fantasia, which is in desperate need of a hero to save them from the evil force of Nothingness.

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Directed by Jack Clayton, 1983
PG; 95 minutes

In a small American town, twelve-year-olds Will and Jim meet a salesman who offers them a lightning rod as protection from an upcoming storm. Soon after, Mr. Dark’s carnival arrives in town, with diabolical consequences. Based on a short story by Ray Bradbury, this dark fantasy film includes performances by Pam Grier, Diane Ladd, Jonathan Pryce, and Jason Robards.

The Last Starfighter

Directed by Nick Castle, 1984
PG; 101 minutes

Teenager Alex Rogan (Lance Guest) conquers the Starfighter arcade game, only to discover it was a secret test. Soon, Alex finds himself on another planet, recruited by an alien defense force to join a team of the best starfighters. Replaced on earth by a look-alike android, Alex’s family and friends become confused by the fake Alex’s behavior.