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I Wanted My Four-Year-Old to Love Moviegoing. How Hard Could It Be?

'The Wild Robot' and 'Trolls Band Together' led to tears. When can a 4-year-old sit through a movie?

I also informed her of the rich tradition of movie snacks, and when we got to the Regal Union Square in Manhattan, she took full advantage, finagling an ice cream cone as well as a kids’ pack of popcorn, candy and fruit juice from a dad who just wanted her to enjoy “ Trolls Band Together.” She pauses movies to rewind to favorite parts: I don’t think she’s ever made it past a scene in “Turning Red” where the heroine trips on her backpack, and “Barbie” exists to her as a star vehicle for Dua Lipa, who has a seconds-long cameo as a mermaid. And low-fi content that feels user-created, even if it isn’t, appeals to Cleo more than high-gloss Hollywood product: Her absolute favorite program features two children named Vlad and Nikita running around a Miami mansion screaming incoherently at their beleaguered mom.

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