53 Movies to Watch with Tweens & Young Teens

This mockumentary-style movie about a struggling upstate New York theater camp is a hit with older kids.

Kelly R said:  This was a huge hit with my tween and teen, and we caught it both in the theater and when it started streaming. For kids (like mine) who are into theater, there are so many funny and relatable moments. It definitely earns its PG-13 rating with some iffy content.

A mom and dad who are used to saying no decide to give their three kids a "Yes Day," where for 24 hours the children get to make the rules.

Vanessa M. said:  The Netflix original movie Yes Day is the perfect film for your next family movie night. Starring Jennifer Garner as the mom who always says no, she and her husband are challenged to give their children a yes day - a whole day where kids are in charge! This movie received thumbs up from parents and kids alike, and also inspired us to have our own yes day!

Big is a classic 80s comedy where a young boy wishes to be "big" and wakes up in an adult's body. 

Beth Wood said:  This is one of our family favorites and always gets a good laugh!

The Karate Kid is an inspiring 80s movie about a teenager who, with the guidance of a wise mentor, learns resilience, respect, and confidence through karate.

Katie G. said:  Although my kids like to make fun of the 80s style in this movie, it's still a family favorite. You can't help but root for Daniel throughout the entire movie. Also this is definitely a must-watch if you are ready to delve into the popular Netflix series Cobra Kai.

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!

Meeting at summer camp, two girls discover they have more in common than just looks...they're twins that have been separated! The girls set a sneaky and hilarious plan in motion to bring their parents back together.

Kristy Pepping said:  Great movie! We just showed this to our girls and they loved it.

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.

Kelly R said:  My family has loved watching the Star Wars movies together since my kids were preschool-age, and at this point they have seen them all. We appreciate that they are exciting, funny, and action-filled without a lot of bad language, gore and adult situations.

Alexandra F. said:  Disney's story about a lion cub's struggle to accept his place as king continues to resonate with viewers of all ages as much as it did when it was first released in 1994. The outstanding music and moving coming-of-age story make it an especially great movie for tweens, and a perfect family movie night choice for mixed ages.

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.

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.

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:  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.

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.

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.

A charming teenager fakes sick to cut a day from high school and goes on a whirlwind adventure throughout Chicago.

Alexandra F. said:  My teens really liked this one! I had forgotten how much language it has, so glad we waited until they were a little older.

Mission: Impossible is an action-packed spy thriller that follows Ethan Hunt, a secret agent framed for betrayal, as he races to uncover the real mole and clear his name.

Alexandra F. said:  This iconic Tom Cruise action thriller was a huge hit when we watched it for family movie night with our 12 & 15-year-olds, and we soon made our way through all of the sequels. (The second was the only one that fell flat, the rest were all winners.) The action can be pretty intense, with explosions, knife fights, gunfire and the like, but the camera usually cuts away before the violence gets graphic, and the stunts are incredible. It'd be worth previewing with your kid in mind, but it's an awesome action movie for tweens and teens that parents will enjoy watching just as much.