The 1950s saw an explosion of science fiction films, many of which are free on YouTube. The science fiction craze/heyday switched to television in the 1960s with such shows as The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and Star Trek.
As a boy, I gravitated toward these films and television shows, as I am sure many other boys and girls did. With every story, there was a moral, the music was good, and no blood and gore were ever shown.
Story is key, not special effects.