For most of the 80s and 90s, you couldn't escape Rick Moranis. He was the nerdy neighbor in Ghostbusters, the villain in Spaceballs, and the face of the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids franchise. Then, at the absolute height of his earning power, he vanished.

His wife, Ann Belsky, died of cancer in 1991. For a few years, he tried to make the "movie star dad" thing work, but eventually, he realized he couldn't be the parent he wanted to be while spending six months a year on sets in Vancouver or London. So he stopped. He didn't issue a press release; he just stayed home in Manhattan and raised his two kids.

That’s intentionality in its purest form. He looked at the "algorithm" of Hollywood success and decided it wasn't worth the trade-off. For parents today who are constantly negotiating the boundary between their digital lives and their actual kids, Moranis is a reminder that you can always choose to put the camera down.

If you saw the clips from yesterday's Hall H panel, you know the room went absolutely nuclear. Seeing Moranis back on stage to talk about the upcoming Spaceballs: The New One is the kind of cultural moment that feels genuinely earned.

The new film is set to release later this year, and based on the first teaser, it looks like it will lean heavily into the "40 years later" meta-humor that Moranis excels at. Mel Brooks is back as a producer, and the buzz suggests the movie will parody the modern era of "legacy sequels" and streaming-service bloat. It's the perfect comeback vehicle because it doesn't require him to be a different person—he’s still the guy who can make a giant helmet and a plastic ring look like the funniest thing on screen.

If your kids haven't met Rick Moranis yet, don't start with the 2026 comeback. Start with the classics. He specialized in a very specific type of character: the guy who is clearly out of his depth but keeps trying anyway.

This is the ultimate family-night pick. It’s a 1989 movie that holds up surprisingly well because the practical effects (giant bees, massive blades of grass, the oatmeal cookie) have a texture that modern CGI often lacks. Moranis plays Wayne Szalinski, a dad whose "intentionality" is a bit skewed toward his inventions, but who ultimately risks everything to save his kids from his own mess.

While Bill Murray gets the cool lines, Moranis as Louis Tully is the secret weapon. He's the hyper-prepared accountant who just wants to throw a good party. For older kids (8+), it’s a great introduction to dry, character-driven comedy. It’s also a good way to talk about how a character can be "uncool" but still essential to the story.

If you have a kid who is into musical theater or slightly spooky vibes, this is the one. Moranis plays Seymour, a florist who finds a giant, blood-thirsty plant. It’s weird, it’s vibrant, and the songs are absolute earworms. It’s a darker tone than Honey, so save it for the kids who can handle a bit of "creature feature" tension.

This one is more for you than the kids, though teens might find it hilarious. Moranis plays an overbearing, hyper-intentional father who tries to teach his toddler square roots and Kafka. It’s a brilliant satire of the "tiger parent" archetype. Watching it now, especially knowing what Moranis did in real life, adds a layer of irony that makes the character’s eventual growth even better.

When you’re watching these with your kids, you don’t need to lecture them about "the importance of family." Moranis’s career does that work for you. But here are a few ways to deepen the experience:

If you're diving back into the Moranis catalog, the main thing to know is that 80s PG was a different beast than today's PG. Ghostbusters has some mild swearing and a few "adult" jokes that will fly over kids' heads, and Little Shop of Horrors is literally about a plant that eats people. None of it is "dangerous," but it’s more textured and less sanitized than a modern Disney+ original.

If your kid is a reluctant reader, check out the Rick Moranis biography. It’s a great way to bridge the gap between movies and reading by focusing on a real-life story that actually has a moral worth discussing.

Q: Why did Rick Moranis stop acting?

He left the industry in 1997 to raise his children as a single father after his wife passed away. He has said in interviews that he didn't miss the travel or the long hours, and he simply preferred being at home.

Q: Is the new Spaceballs movie okay for kids?

The original Spaceballs is rated PG but has some "s-words" and a lot of suggestive humor. The new one will likely target a similar "family-friendly but edgy" vibe. From the trailer, it looks like it will be safe for most kids who are already watching Marvel movies.

Q: What is Rick Moranis's best movie for a 6-year-old?

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids is the clear winner here. The sense of wonder and the "giant world" perspective land perfectly with that age group.

Q: Is Rick Moranis in the new Ghostbusters movies?

He famously declined to appear in the recent reboots/sequels, sticking to his "retirement" until the right project came along. His return for Spaceballs is his first major live-action role in decades.

Rick Moranis is proof that being "intentional" isn't just a buzzword—it's a series of hard choices. Whether he's shrinking his kids or fighting off Dark Helmet, he brings a sense of humanity to the screen that is rare. Revisit his classics this weekend; they’re a great reminder that the best characters are the ones who care about the people around them.