52 Movies to Watch with Tweens & Young Teens

Action, adventure, pirates, sword-fighting, magic, and, yes, kissing all mash up in the fairytale-esque story of The Princess Bride. It's inconceivable!

Alexandra F. said:  I'll never forget when I first watched this movie with my then 9- and 11-year-olds, and seeing their faces mirror Fred Savage's exactly as they began to hear the love story unfold - wary and more than a little skeptical. Never fear! Though it is indeed a story about true love, it is also filled with adventure, sword fights, giants and pirates. Oh. And R.O.U.S. (Rodents of Unusual Size). This movie is hilarious - your tweens & teens will love it.

It's up to the Mitchell family to stop a robot apocalypse from destroying humanity...however ill-equipped they may seem.

Alexandra F. said:  My teen and I loved this movie! It was so clever, colorful and fun, and had us both laughing out loud throughout the whole movie. Definitely great for all ages, but perhaps particularly relevant for older kids and teens, given the familiar relationship challenges between the teen protagonist and her father that are at the heart of the story.

The younger sister of Sherlock Holmes has her own mysteries to solve in this charming and funny family movie on Netflix, perfect for tweens and older kids who are able to keep up with the plot twists and clues.

Alexandra F. said:  This is definitely one of the best family movies on Netflix right now! My teens and I loved it - it captured our attention from the moment it started to the very end, and was funny, charming, and so much fun to watch. And, the sequel is even better!

Enchanted playfully blends fairytale tropes with real-world New York as an animated princess is magically transported to the city and falls for a cynical divorce lawyer with a daughter. Hilarity (and a seriously delightful soundtrack) ensue.

Alexandra F. said:  This is a truly enjoyable movie for tweens, teens, young kids and adults alike, with music you will be humming long after the film is over. A unique spin on the classic fairy tale throws a soon-to-be princess into the "real world" in NYC, where her upbeat and optimistic worldview both clashes with and inspires those around her. Tweens will especially enjoy the tongue-in-cheek humor that intentionally flips the traditional princess story on its head.

Alexandra F. said:  Boy, did this movie ever take us by surprise. Made for TV, it is now one of our family's favorite Disney movies ever! The children of all our beloved Disney characters are now in high school, and four “villain kids” get invited to the prep school where the kids of heroes & princes, heroines & princesses attend. Hilarity, and great musical numbers, ensue. This is a trilogy your tweens won’t want to miss (and really, you probably don’t want to miss either).

Alexandra F. said:  My kids were obsessed with this movie when it came out, and were so excited to see the sequel even as tweens. The music is fabulous, and I loved the story about sisterly love and the importance of accepting and embracing who we are.There are so many nuggets of wisdom are sprinkled throughout this story in age-appropriate ways. As good a movie for 14-year-olds as for 5-year-olds!

Alexandra F. said:  There is really nothing like watching this show live, but after having seen the musical my teens and I were really happy to be able to watch it over (and over) again whenever the bug would hit us without having to wait for a live performance!

A ragtag group of outlaws unites to save the galaxy in this seriously funny Marvel movie with big appeal for teens, and a great soundtrack.

Alexandra F. said:  This space adventure is another story from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with a more humorous spin than most other MCU films, and a seriously awesome 70s inspired soundtrack. This is a good movie for tweens that offers exciting action that is not too intense, funny jokes and banter, and an introduction to a pretty great era of music.

Based on the wildly popular children's fantasy books, the Harry Potter films are perhaps best suited as movies for tweens and older kids, as the story grows darker in its later chapters and can be scary for younger viewers. Harry's adventures upon discovering that he is a wizard, and his central role in saving the world from the evil wizard Voldemort, is one beloved by kids and parents alike.

Set in 1970s London, Cruella explores how ambitious and fashionable Estella became notorious villain Cruella de Vil.

Alexandra F. said:  This movie was phenomenal, and surprisingly nuanced for a Disney family movie. I watched it with my teen, and we both loved it, but my six year old kept wandering in and getting hooked, too. Though the story was perhaps more complex and dark than I would normally think my younger kids would enjoy, there wasn’t really anything in it I thought they shouldn’t watch (except the scene with the fire was a little scary). So, while it is especially great for tweens and up, I think it’s an excellent family movie night pick all around!

Free Guy tells the story of an NPC in a video game who gains sentience and decides to become the hero. The blend of action, comedy, and video game visuals makes it a favorite among older tweens and teens.

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.

Based on the classic murder-mystery board game, Clue is a clever, quick-moving farce that follows the Clue characters (Mr. Green, Mrs. White, Col. Mustard, etc) over a hilarious evening as they try to uncover the murderer among them.

Alexandra F. said:  This has been one of our tweens' favorite 80s movies that we've shared with them yet. Watch out for lots of sexual innuendos and double entendres, but enjoy the witty dialogue and spectacular cast.

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.

In the seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land, Stereotypical Barbie begins to question her existence, leading her (and Ken) on an unexpected journey of self-discovery in the real world.

Kelly R said:  I haven't laughed this much at a movie in years. We went with a group of middle schoolers and parents and had the best time.

Kelly R said:  A family movie musical inspired by P.T. Barnum's life, with fun dance numbers and a soundtrack that makes it worthy of repeat viewings for my kids.