It’s a good time for kid-friendly entertainment in Beijing these days! When the sun just gets way too bright and you need a break from the heat, step into your favorite cinemas and catch one of these family-friendly summer flicks!
Dragon Rider [92minutes]
Quietly released in the local cinemas just over a week ago, Dragon Rider might have slipped under your movie radar because it was actually released on Netflix way back in 2021. But if you prefer your movies on the big screen, then check out the film adaption of the popular novel that’s also available in IMAX theaters here. Featuring the voices of renowned actors Patrick Stewart, Thomas Brodie Sangster, Freddie Highmore and Felicity Jones, the PG movie is great for fans of Dreamworks’ hit “How to Train Your Dragon” series.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie [92minutes]
Even a month after its release, the Super Mario Movie Bros. Movie is still playing in cinemas around the city. Rated PG, this colorful and action-packed animated film will definitely entertain the entire family, plus take the adults down memory lane with all the iconic 90’s gaming childhood characters. This film is even available in 4D at selected cinemas, though we should warn you that some adults have found the roller-coaster-esque seats far too much for them and had to stand to watch the movie instead!
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 [149minutes]
Newly released last Friday on Cinco de Mayo, the third installment of Marvel’s rag-tag band of superheroes is rated PG-13 for good reason. There’s themes of animal cruelty, loads of violence and some gore, plus a surprisingly amount of bad words for a Disney film. An online review has rather aptly said that “this is not a film for the very young or the easily offended”. That said, the film stays very true to its original anti-hero roots and continues to be a very musically-driven journey that will have you singing along or tapping your feet. I highly recommend watching the film in all its 3D glory, though I would steer clear of the first couple of rows to save yourself the risk of a headache.
As a quick recap, the most family-friendly cinemas in Beijing are the 亲子厅 (Qīnzǐ tīng) which usually have some sort of play features like a slide, inside the cinema itself, as well as cushy arm chairs. Other than that, we recommend the cinema at Universal Studios Beijing’s Citywalk for its newness, spacious seats and latest audio-visual technology. I recently discovered the VIP hall at Hopson One’s cinema, which gives you comfy reclining seats for a hefty price tag (RMB165 per pax in 3D). It was a good experience but other than the more convenient downtown location, it’s no better than the cinema at Universal Citywalk and definitely more expensive.
Check out this post on how to buy movie tickets easily on WeChat!
Images: Disney, Wikipedia, Pexels
