Where to Watch Movies with Your Family (Before the Weather Warms Up)

Summer movies under the stars have become a warm weather tradition in many St. Louis communities, but did you know that there are also places where families can gather to see kid-friendly movies during the colder months too?

Spring hasn’t quite sprung yet in the St. Louis area, so if you’re looking for an easy – and in many cases free – way to entertain your kids, you’ll love our list of 6 indoor movie destinations the whole family can enjoy together.  

1. Firehouse Movie Nights at the Clayton Firehouse

Enjoy a free family movie AND see fire trucks and real life firefighters at the Clayton Firehouse on Saturday, Feb. 28 or Saturday, March 28 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.  Firehouse Movie Nights feature free popcorn and soft drinks for sale, and guests are welcome to bring their own refreshments (no alcohol). Seating is available on the concrete engine room floors, so bring heavy blankets to sit on. Reservations are required due to limited space; call (314) 290-8500.

Scheduled movies include:

February 28 – Frozen

March 28 – The LEGO Movie

2. Family Film Day at the Missouri History Museum

Spend a Saturday afternoon at the Missouri History Museum enjoying light snacks and a free movie on the big screen! The Museum’s popular wintertime film series is almost over, but there’s one more Family Film Day to take advantage of this season; surprise the kids with a trip to see An American Tale on Saturday, March 7 at 12:30 p.m.

3. Winter Movie Series at Ballpark Village

Need something fun to do as a family on an otherwise humdrum Wednesday night? Head to the Winter Movie Series at Ballpark Village on Wednesday, March 25 to see Mighty Ducks on the 40-foot screen inside Fox Sports Midwest. Additional family activities will include face painting, movie-themed crafts and photo ops. The movie begins at 6 p.m. and no tickets or reservations are required.

4. Omnimax Movies at the Saint Louis Science Center

The Omnimax Movies at the Saint Louis Science Center always provide a nice educational alternative to the bigger box office films for families, and with running times of about 45 minutes, these movies are also great for younger kids with short attention spans. Right now, you can sit under the four-story screen in the state-of-the-art, wrap-around theatre and see National Geographic’s Mysteries of the Unseen World or Humpback Whales. The newest Omnimax film, Journey to Space, launches March 13.      

And if you want to see an evening film at the Omnimax, don’t forget about First Fridays, when the Saint Louis Science Center stays open until 10 p.m. on the first Friday of every month. While many of the special First Friday activities are geared toward adults and children over 16, guests of all ages can enjoy evening show times in the Omnimax Theater and a free 7 p.m. Planetarium show.

5.  Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day at the St. Louis County Library

At the Bridgeton Trails Branch of the Saint Louis County Library, the recently released Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day will be showing on Tuesday, March 10 at 7 p.m.  This PG- rated film is one that kids of all ages – and even parents – will enjoy. If you can, be sure to introduce your kids to the original book by Judith Viorst before taking them to see the big-screen adaptation.  

6. Host a Family Movie Night at Home

Who says you need to leave the house to enjoy a family movie night together? Make the evening a blockbuster success by “selling” tickets and opening your own concession stand (featuring popcorn and movie theater candy, of course.) Many families also like to create a theme night related to the movie they choose to watch. For example, you could serve spaghetti and meatballs when you watch Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs or make edible “aquariums” out of blue Jell-O and gummy fish snacks when you watch Finding Nemo.

If you want to dig a little deeper with your kids, check out TeachwithMovies.org. The site features lesson plans and learning guides based on over 350 popular feature films; search by age to find the best movies and activities for your family.