The 1976 Freaky Friday is the blueprint for every body-swap movie that followed, and while it lacks the pop-punk energy of the 2003 Lindsay Lohan remake, it has a dry, witty charm all its own. Jodie Foster is the reason to watch—she’s incredibly sharp as a teenager trying to navigate a suburban mother's social calendar.

Be warned: this is a slow burn by 2026 standards. If your kids aren't used to older cinema, they might check out before the swap even happens. But as a conversation starter about family roles and empathy, it still hits the mark better than most modern comedies.