Movies can bring us joy, but they can also teach us important life lessons, and more often than not, money plays a key role in those lessons. After all, money makes the world go round, but understanding how it works and why it’s important may not always feel entertaining.
To help make financial education more exciting, we’ve rounded up 10 films that are great resources in providing money lessons for kids and teens.
So, grab your popcorn and let’s get started!
1. Up
While it’s widely known as one of Pixar’s most emotionally charged animated films, Up isn’t just a story about 78-year-old widower Carl Fredricksen embarking on a journey to the mysterious Paradise Falls by tying thousands of balloons to his house (with an accidental stowaway, the local Boy Scout, in tow). Ultimately, Up sends us an important message about building relationships and how easy it is to lose sight of who and what we have in our lives before it’s too late.
What’s the money lesson?
Carl and his wife Ellie save money for the Paradise Falls trip in a glass jar in the film. Each time their savings grow, something forces them to use their emergency fund for their intended adventure. If the couple had invested the funds at the bank, they could earn interest on their savings.
Suitable for: Up is rated PG due to a few potentially frightening scenes for younger kids, including characters almost falling from a floating house and some guns firing.
2. The Princess Bride
Full of quirky characters and silly one-liners, The Princess Bride follows farm girl Buttercup and her one true love, Westley. After five years of separation, Westley returns to save Buttercup from Prince Humperdinck, who she forcibly married while he was away. Separately and together, they must battle the evils of the mythical kingdom of Florin to reunite with each other.
What’s the money lesson?
The most potent money message in The Princess Bride is about not letting the pursuit of wealth or material gain compromise your values and priorities. The film also suggests that people should follow their passions while being mindful of having a side job to pay the bills.
Suitable for: The Princess Bride is rated PG due to minor violence, scary scenes and mild adult themes.
3. Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
In this classic tale, we meet young Charlie Bucket, who wins the chance to visit Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory with four other children upon finding a golden ticket in a chocolate bar. Charlie stands out as he grew up less fortunate and doesn’t share the other children’s display of greed and selfishness. He ultimately resists the factory’s temptations and wins over Willy Wonka’s affection.
What’s the money lesson?
By the film’s end, it’s clear that Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory shows how your integrity is more valuable than any amount of money or prize. We see this specifically with Charlie, who, when Willy Wonka refuses to give him the promised lifetime supply of chocolate, decides to give the candy back to Wonka. Willy Wonka then surprises him by offering to give him the entire factory.
Suitable for: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory has a G rating, but most argue that the tunnel scene in the film is a bit spooky.
4. Confessions of a Shopaholic
With its flashy fashion under the bright lights of New York City, Confessions of a Shopaholic is a comedy that accurately depicts the negative impact of overspending. Introducing us to Rebecca Bloomwood’s life, the film follows her success as an advice columnist for a financial magazine. But there’s only one problem — Rebecca is deep in debt, and hiding her secret could threaten the success of her writing career and her blossoming relationship.
What’s the money lesson?
The main lesson in Confessions of a Shopaholic is clear: ignoring debt, and impulsive credit card spending leads to negative consequences. It teaches how credit card interest works, the importance of budgeting, avoiding impulse buying and emotional spending by being more mindful with your money.
Suitable for: With a PG rating, Confessions of a Shopaholic is suggested for a teen audience.
5. The Pursuit of Happyness
Another film that will tug at your heartstrings is The Pursuit of Happyness. It’s a true story about a man named Christopher Gardner who is down on his luck as a single father struggling to make ends meet. Through perseverance and dedication, Gardner continues his job as a salesman while concurrently taking on an unpaid internship as a stockbroker in the hopes of landing a life-changing career.
What’s the money lesson?
This film highlights money’s role in happiness, suggesting that money is simply a means to an end. What matters more is hard work and discipline to achieve your goals.
Suitable for: Rated PG-13, parents should be aware that The Pursuit of Happyness covers some adult-related topics between family members along with many emotional scenes.
6. Brewster’s Millions
In Brewster’s Millions wacky plot, we meet Montgomery Brewster, who, after losing his position as a minor-league pitcher, inherits $300 million from his great-uncle. But there’s a catch! To inherit the money, Brewster must spend $30 million in 30 days under a complicated set of rules forbidding him from donating to charity or purchasing new assets before the 30 days ends. He also cannot share the bizarre conditions with anyone – including his best friend.
What’s the money lesson?
It should come as no surprise that the lesson from this film is that the actual value of money is often only understood when you are forced to spend a large amount of it quickly. It also covers responsible financial management and not taking wealth for granted.
Suitable for: Although the film is rated PG, parents should know that this comedy has some swearing and drinking.
7. The Princess and the Frog
Another animated film ideally suited for kids, The Princess and the Frog, introduces the hardworking and ambitious Tiana, who dreams of opening a restaurant in New Orleans. Her dreams shift quickly when Prince Naveen turns into an amphibian at the hands of the evil Dr. Facilier. Mistaking her for a princess with hopes of breaking the spell, Naveen kisses Tiana, turning her into a frog. The pair then travel together through the bayous to seek the help of a powerful voodoo priestess.
What’s the money lesson?
In this story, Tiana prioritizes working and saving money to achieve her dream of owning a restaurant, which shows commitment to her savings plan.
Suitable for: The Princess and the Frog is rated PG, with many parents suggesting it is safe viewing for kids six and up.
8. Bank of Dave
Based on a true story, the Bank of Dave follows the story of Dave Fishwick, a self-made millionaire who aims to establish a community bank to help the town’s local businesses thrive. But, of course, there is a big challenge. To succeed, he must go head-to-head with London’s elite financial institutions — and compete for the first banking licence in England in more than 150 years.
What’s the money lesson?
While community-focused banking is a key point in the film, Dave’s character emphasizes the importance of managing finances responsibly and not encouraging excessive borrowing.
Suitable for: Rated PG-13, the Bank of Dave is appropriate for kids over thirteen due to some adult content related to swearing and scenes with drinking.
9. Cool Runnings
Loosely based on the debut of the Jamaican national bobsleigh team at the 1988 Winter Olympics, Cool Runnings is about their dream of competing despite never having seen snow. To get there, they’ll need the help of a disgraced former champion who is desperate to redeem himself. Ultimately, with the Jamaicans’ determination and support from their coach, they’ll shoot for gold.
What’s the money lesson?
With limited resources and funding, the team must work together to find creative ways to overcome financial obstacles by preserving and being resourceful.
Suitable for: Cool Runnings is a Disney film rated G. It contains mild violence and language.
10. Moneyball
Our final film is another recommendation based on a true story. Billy Beane, the Oakland A’s general manager, wants to reinvent the baseball team, but one small problem is the tight budget. After joining forces with a recent Ivy League graduate, Peter Brand, Beane recruits players scouts have deemed not good enough, but he sees game-winning potential.
What’s the money lesson?
By utilizing data analysis and statistical insights, Beane and Brand successfully identified undervalued assets in potential players. It proves that even with a limited budget, their team can succeed by finding players overlooked by others.
Suitable for: Due to some swearing and scenes with drinking, Moneyball is PG-13, making it more appropriate for a teen audience.
Teach your kids the value of money management with Mydoh
We love encouraging money education through thoughtful entertainment. Still, there are many other ways for kids and teens to learn about how money works and why it’s important to get hands-on experience. Mydoh makes it easy for kids aged 6 to 17 to learn about money through real-life experiences as they build the financial skills they need to thrive in the future.
Download Mydoh and help build the foundation of financial literacy for kids and teenagers.
This article offers general information only and is not intended as legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. While the information presented is believed to be factual and current, its accuracy is not guaranteed and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the author(s) as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or its affiliates.
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