45 Movies to Watch with Tweens & Young Teens

Amy S. said:  An inspiring movie about an amazing animal! Togo tells the true story of a champion dogsled trainer and his lead sled dog, Togo. Together, they lead a team of sled dogs across Alaska to deliver medicine to a small town that is suffering from a diphtheria outbreak. Compelling story, stunning visuals, and a dog who will win your heart—just be ready for a few tears!

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Kristy Pepping said:  This Parent Trap starring Lindsay Lohan is a remake of the 1961 classic. She plays twins in the movie that meet at summer camp. They were separated at birth, both going to live with one of the divorced parents. The kids decide to switch places once their parents pick them up from camp to experience what life is like with the opposite parent.

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Alexandra F. said:  Be ready to laugh and cry when you watch this film adaptation of the book by W. Bruce Cameron, which follows a dog through four lifetimes of joy and hardship with various human companions. Touching for viewers of all ages, but perhaps an especially meaningful movie for tweens and up.

Alexandra F. said:  Incredible animation and creative storytelling set this film apart, making it one of the best movies for tweens even if they are not otherwise familiar with the Spider-Man universe. The feel is like watching a comic book come to life, with a stand-alone superhero story that features multiple incarnations of the webbed crusader from different realities.

Kelly R. said:  A Pixar coming-of-age story about a girl dealing with adolescence, an overbearing mother, and the ability to poof into a giant red panda when her emotions take over. It's not one that we'll watch over and over again, but it was a fun new kids movie for family movie night and I appreciate Pixar tackling the awkward adolescent years!

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Alexandra F. said:  This is the movie my tweens watch over and over and over again, and I am usually right there with them! We all love the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but this is everyone's favorite MCU movie, hands down. No need to watch the first two Thor movies either - you will be able to follow along with this action-packed, yet lighthearted and hilarious, superhero film about Thor trying to save his home planet from his evil half sister without the back story. As in many PG13 movies, watch out for a handful of references to adult situations, but these are pretty minimal.

Alexandra F. said:  A family favorite for many, the saga of Luke Skywalker now spans nine films, though opinions vary on whether Star Wars fans should start with the original Episode 4 or the more recent Episode 1. Whatever you choose, these are good movies for tweens who are old enough to appreciate the classic depiction of good vs. evil and enjoy the action-packed fighting scenes without feeling scared or overwhelmed.

Alexandra F. said:  Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart are hilarious in this adaptation of Jumanji, where four teens get sucked into the video game world and need to figure out how to get through its dangerous challenges in order to escape.

Alexandra F. said:  Our family loved this addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with absolutely riveting martial arts scenes, a great cast of characters, and beautiful, fantastical settings that were all the cooler for taking place alongside more relatable urban ones. Shang-Chi's father has conquered nations and lived many lifetimes of incredible violence with his legendary rings of power. Shang-Chi tries to escape this legacy, but is inevitably drawn back in, having to face his father and protect the world from some epic, mystical monsters while he's at it.

Alexandra F. said:  Johnny Depp is absolutely incredible as the quirky and hilarious Captain Jack Sparrow in this live action movie based on the iconic ride at the Disney parks. An epic adventure story featuring pirates, magic curses, and plenty of sword fights, this is a super fun and well-done film, and a favorite movie for my 13-year-old. There are a fair amount of violent and other gruesome scenes (think rotting, animated skeletons) that would probably make it too scary for many younger kids, but perfect for tweens and up. Though a bunch of sequels have been made, this first one is far and away the best.

Kelly R. said:  My Harry Potter loving kids were old enough to enjoy the Fantastic Beasts spinoff movies at age 9 and 12, and we binged all three in pretty quick succession. We found them to be entertaining and actually quite funny at times! The plots tend to be more complicated than the Harry Potter movies, so wait until your kids are a little older.

Amy S. said:  For the musical-loving tween, this film follows the rise of P.T. Barnum of Barnum & Bailey Circus. The musical numbers feature super catchy songs and dazzling dance and acrobatic sequences. But beyond the spectacle, the film tackles more serious issues like ambition, prejudice, and fidelity—to others and to oneself—in ways that feel appropriate for a tween audience.

Alexandra F. said:  This is an epic adventure story that spans four action-packed movies. A team of superheroes including Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and the Hulk comes together to save the world - and the universe - from destruction again and again. Though there are plenty of intense battle scenes, the violence is not overly gory or graphic and the adult language and references fairly minimal.

Lisa Brislane said:  Ferris Bueller's Day Off was a huge hit!

Kelly R. said:  My 12-year-old loved this one about a bank teller who figures out he's a secondary character in a video game. I'd recommend it for older tweens, because there is quite a bit of language.

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