While it might feel like 2011 was only a few years ago, the actuality is that it was ten whole years ago! An entire decade has gone by which makes it the perfect time to look back on some of the iconic movies that premiered in 2011.
While major franchises dominated the box offices and comedy and dramas have audiences in tears of laughter and sadness, it was the family-friendly genre that truly hit its stride in 2011. From animated classics to fun live-action films, the PG and under movies released in 2011 definitely deserve to be celebrated for their fun and original plots.
Mr. Popper’s Penguins – 6.0
Turning 10 on June 17th is the Jim Carrey led Mr. Popper’s Penguins. Inspired by the children’s novel of the same name, Mr. Popper’s Penguins tells the story of Thomas Popper Jr. (Carrey), a successful real estate developer whose life is turned upside down when his late father gifts him a live penguin.
Soon one penguin becomes 5 and Mr. Popper becomes responsible for the mischievous penguins while also trying to figure out his estranged relationship with his own children and ex-wife.
Cars 2 – 6.1
Pixar Animation Studios has a pretty strong history of releasing a new animated feature film every year, except for a few hiatuses. In 2011, Pixar hit theaters with the Cars 2, the sequel to their 2006 hit animated feature. This time around Lightning McQueen is competing in a World Grand Prix race and decides to take Mater along with him for the journey.
While Cars 2 was a major success at the box office the movie was met with mixed reviews. In fact, it regularly is ranked one of Pixar’s worst movies of all time.
Dolphin Tale – 6.8
The family-friendly movie genre in 2011 was dominated by movies inspired by true events which is exactly what Dolphin Tale is. Released in September, the movie centers on the bond a rescued dolphin who lost her tail has with a young pre-teen boy who is struggling to find his place in the world.
Together, Winter and Sawyer defy the odds and help each other become the best version of themselves. The movie even earned a sequel that was released in 2014.
Rio – 6.9
Arguably one of Blue Sky Studios’ most memorable and unique animated movies is Rio. The movie was several decades in the making but finally released in theaters in April 2011.
The movie centers on Blue, a beloved pet macaw who gets kidnapped by smugglers when his owner takes him to Rio to meet the only other blue macaw in the world. As if the trip isn’t enough, Blu getting kidnapped forces him to deal with the consequences of living his entire life in captivity, like the fact that he has no idea how to fly.
Soul Surfer – 7.0
Soul Surfer is a family-friendly biographical movie. The movie was inspired by the real-life of professional surfer Bethany Hamilton and her autobiography and was released in April 2011.
AnnaSophia Robb plays Bethany Hamilton, a young professional surfer hopeful who gets the shock of her life when she is attacked by a shark while surfing with the friends one day. Though the movie may be intense, it is also hopeful.
We Bought A Zoo – 7.1
Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson are two of the most influential and talented actors in Hollywood and they both landed roles in the 2011 iconic family-friendly movie We Bought A Zoo. The movie, like many live-action family movies, was inspired by the real-life of Benjamin Mee who wrote a memoir of his adventure.
The movie centers on Benjamin Mee (Damon), a newly widowed father, who decides to purchase a run-down zoo for his family to live on. While the decision starts out as a disaster, Benjamin and his family eventually bond with each other, and the zoo crew, creating a brand new home for them.
Kung Fu Panda 2 – 7.2
DreamWorks Animation is no stranger to creating successful sequels to their animated movies and that certainly didn’t change in 2011. Released in May 2011, the movie once again entered on Po the Panda who must confront his own past in order to save China.
Kung Fu Panda 2 set a lot of records and became the highest-grossing movie to be directed solely by a woman at the time.
Rango – 7.2
Rango is one of those animated movies that are more popular among adults than kids despite its kid-friendly aim. The unique animation and story paid off and Rango ended up winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, becoming the first non-Disney or Pixar movie to do since 2006.
Produced in partnership between Nickelodeon and ILM, Rango tells the story of a pet chameleon who is going through an existential crisis. When Rango is accidentally left in a frontier town, he decides to embark on a journey to discover who he really is by becoming the town’s new sheriff.
Winnie The Pooh – 7.2
2011 wasn’t the first time Walt Disney Studios created a Winnie the Pooh animated movie but it was the first time in a very long time.
Set in the Hundred Acre Woods and inspired by the popular novels by A.A. Millie, Winnie the Pooh follows Pooh and the gang as they try to locate Eeryoe’s missing tale while also hiding from the mysterious “Backson” that the gang believes kidnapped Christopher Robin.
Hugo – 7.5
Martin Scorsese isn’t a name that synonymous with family-friendly movies but that didn’t stop him from directing Hugo, an underrated family-friendly movie that premiered in November 2011. And in true Scorses fashion, he made the movie a work of art earning 11 Academy Award nominations.
The movie centered on Hugo, a young orphan who is being raised by his uncle who lives in the walls of a train station. Hugo is tasked with keeping the clocks working while also keeping a broken automaton safe from intruders.
