How to Train Your Dragon (BBC1, 4pm) Year released: 2010

What’s It About? Clumsy young Viking boy Hiccup dreams of following in his warrior father’s footsteps and protecting his village from marauding dragons, but his dad isn’t sure he’s up to the job. Hiccup gets a chance to prove his worth when he finds a small dragon in the woods, but can’t quite bring himself to slay the defenceless creature and ends up befriending it instead. In the process, he starts to realise that the flying lizards are much misunderstood, and could even be potential allies.

Is It Any Good? It’s the best family adventure in years. The computer animation is undoubtedly impressive, but what makes this adventure comedy work is the strong story. Beautifully scripted, it also has an enormous heart, and the scenes between Hiccup and his tamed beast Toothless are pure cinematic gold.

Anything Else? If you like this, be sure to keep an eye out for the sequel, due out next year.

Starring: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Kristen Wiig

Mamma Mia! (ITV, 8pm) (BBC1, 4pm) Year released: 2008

What’s It About? Donna is a former singer struggling to run a hotel on a Greek island. Her daughter Sophie is planning her wedding, but there’s one thing missing. She wants her dad, who she has never met, to be there. So, she steals her mum’s diary in an attempt to find the identity of the mystery man. When she discovers it could be any of the three men her mother romanced one summer, she invites all three to the wedding, giving Donna an unwelcome blast from the past.

Is It Any Good? The plot is almost incidental in this film – what it’s really about is the songs. In particular, it has become famous for the musical numbers sung by former Bond, Pierce Brosnan. Although perhaps not a natural singer, he receives 10 out of 10 for effort in this jolly little sing-a-long.

Anything Else? Meryl Streep nailed her amazing rendition of The Winner Takes It All in just one take, with former Abba member and co-composer of the songs, Benny Andersson, calling her ‘a miracle’.

Starring: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Julie Walters, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, Christine Baranski, Amanda Seyfried, Dominic Cooper

The Godfather (Film4, 9pm) Year released: 1972

What’s It About? Don Vito Corleone presides over an influential Mafia clan, but his youngest son Michael claims to want nothing to do with his father’s criminal activities. However, when their dad is hospitalised following an assassination attempt by a gangster who didn’t take kindly to Vito’s refusal to get involved with the drugs trade, all three of his boys step in to keep the family business ticking over – and it’s Michael who proves to be the most ruthless.

Is It Any Good? Put simply, it’s a masterpiece. Although it was Marlon Brando’s iconic performance as the patriarch that snagged the Oscar and launched a million bad impressions, Al Pacino is arguably even better as Michael, and the supporting cast is bursting with talent. It may seem a little slow to newcomers used to flashier gangster movies, but stick with it, because it is one of those films you simply have to see.

Anything Else? The film was certainly a family affair for director Francis Ford Coppola – as well as his sister Talia Shire, who plays Connie Corleone, his mother, father, two sons and baby daughter Sofia all make fleeting appearances.

Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, John Cazale, Talia Shire, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton.