53 Movies to Watch with Tweens & Young Teens

Alexandra F. said:  Leonardo DiCaprio is a professional thief who steals valuable secrets by entering the subconscious of his subjects while they are dreaming. The plot for this movie is complex (and SO good!), but even my teen who is notorious for missing simple plot lines was able to follow along once we told her to pay close attention. It's such an original story, with riveting action scenes and cool stunts that don't really cross the line into being overly violent or graphic, and it was a great movie to watch with our 12 and 15-year-olds.

Alexandra F. said:  This murder mystery is phenomenal, and just so smart. We watched the movie with my 11-year-old and 13-year-old, and all of us really enjoyed it. It is a murder mystery, so beware of a scene where the victim's bloody body is found, and another where the camera cuts away as someone is about to slit their own throat. These scenes aside, it is not a violent movie, and is really about the mystery, showcasing clever writing and humor. There is a lot of cursing throughout, though if this is not a dealbreaker for your family, it is a great movie to watch with tweens and teens. The sequel is also phenomenal!

In his first movie role after a career-threatening injury, a stuntman finds himself mixed up in a real-life mystery.

Kelly R said:  We haven't watched a lot of action movies as a family, but this one was just right for movie night with my tween and teen. The stunts are cool, there's plenty of humor, and there's not a lot of objectionable content aside from language.

Truman discovers that he's the star of his own reality show in this classic 90s movie that's still totally entertaining today.

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.

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.

Mind-bending sci-fi action film where a computer hacker named Neo discovers the shocking truth that humanity is unknowingly trapped inside a simulated reality called the Matrix, and he joins a rebellion to fight against the machines that control it.

Kelly R said:  This was my 13-year-old's first R-rated movie, and I personally think it feels more PG-13 compared to many of the movies we watch now. The fight scenes are still captivating and were very memorable for my son, and while there's quite a bit of action (and gun) violence, it's not too bad in terms of language and other adult content. I think the most important thing is to wait until your kids are old enough to follow the pretty confusing plot.

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.

A time traveler on a mission to save the future teams up with his 12-year-old self in this Netflix family movie that's best for older kids because of some adult content. Check it out for movie night with tweens or teens.

Kelly R said:  We really loved it...plenty of humor and also quite heartfelt.

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.

A stressed single mom and her teenage daughter magically switch bodies after a fortune cookie mishap, forcing them to walk a mile in each other's shoes with hilarious and eye-opening results. 

This sweet and funny film about a 13-year-old girl who finds herself fast-forwarded 17 years into the future is a perfect movie for tweens that gives perspective about the things that matter most in life - friendship, kindness, and being true to yourself.

Alexandra F. said:  Just watched this again for the first time in a while and was a surprised by how the kids make a few off-hand comments about drinking beer or sexual activity that just weren’t age-appropriate. They were passing references and not a huge part of the movie, but they were also unnecessary and made the movie less awesome than it would have been without them.

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.

Kelly R said:  I appreciate Pixar tackling the awkward adolescent years!

Based on the beloved coming-of-age novel by Judy Blume, 11-year-old Margaret learns how to adjust following a big move, with the support of her mom and grandma, who are also figuring out changes in their own lives.

A girl has the ability to see imaginary friends (IFs) abandoned by their people in this family movie that's a Roger Rabbit-style mashup of live action and CGI with an impressive ensemble cast.