75 Movies For Tweens That They Might Even Watch *With* You

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Mess with the horrible two. The decade is far more stressful for parents. Twelve years old is when everything changes, eagerly awaiting puberty to take over the child’s body. They may start having doubts about sex, randomly say bad things, and maybe just don’t want to have anything to do with you at all. Welcome to 12 years old! It’s better to stop now. It’s going to be a bumpy ride. Between mood swings (oh, what a joy!) and early independence, finding a way to bond with your tween can seem nearly impossible. Thank you to my parents. Movies for teens to watch together do exist.

According to child psychologist Dr. Emily W. King, watching movies provides a safe, shared activity for young children that doesn’t require direct interaction with their parents. “Tweens are entering the identity-forming stage of their development, and spending time with their families begins to become difficult,” Dr. King explains to Scary Mommy. “Teens need the love and support of their families, but while they may not admit it, they are emotionally drawn to friends and outside interests.” So watching teen movies may be one of the few ways budding teens agree to a little bonding.

But don’t forget, watching movies with your kids is just as important you Because it’s about them. “This provides a platform for parents to relate to and understand what their child is thinking and experiencing as they try to navigate their world,” certified therapist Heidi Heading, LMFT, told Scary Mommy. “Teens are more likely to trust their parents and open up if they feel that movie night is a safe space to ask questions and share their opinions rather than being judged or lectured.”

It’s a tricky question, but how do you convince your child to watch a movie with you? It all comes down to delivery and timing. The heading suggests letting your child choose a movie, or making it fun and spontaneous by saying, “Let’s see a movie tonight! Let’s eat pizza and popcorn.” For teens with younger siblings, King recommends considering moving their bedtime later or allowing them to watch more adult movies than their siblings.

Spending time with your tween can sometimes feel like an uphill battle, but you’re not alone (in the immortal words of Kris Jenner, “You’re doing great, sweetie.”). Now, who’s ready to be the ace of tween movie night?

best tween movies

1. KPop Demon Hunter (2025)

If you have a tween, chances are they already know all the words for “golden” (and we’re not complaining, because let’s be honest, it’s like fire). This Netflix superhit follows a chart-topping girl group who act as (you guessed it) demon hunters and take on a rival demon boy band. Your kids will love it! At the end of the year, Spotify Wrapped will tell the story.

2. zero squad (2020)

This quirky comedy, set in Georgia in 1977, tells the story of Christmas Flint, an eccentric girl who loves space. While trying to cope with her mother’s death, she dreams of being part of a project to launch two Voyager spacecraft that will bring recordings of life sounds to Earth. The film follows Christmas and the merry band of lovable outcasts she recruits to help them win the rights to have their voices recorded on Voyager’s Golden Record. There is some occasional swearing and toilet humor, but the film’s merits far outweigh those minor concerns.

3. Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019)

When your tween starts scoffing that he’s not a baby anymore, tell him that the live-action version of this popular children’s cartoon is getting old. This Dora is a teenager played by Isabela Moner. Similarly, there are still adventure and rescue missions. dora the explorer. But it’s all wrapped up in a more adult fish-out-of-water comedy.

4. Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

If your kids ever roll their eyes when you suggest they watch OG. ghostbusters Movie folks, this is your chance to show us the version they actually think is cool. This is mainly thanks to flashy graphics and popular young stars like Finn Wolfhard (stranger things) and McKenna Grace (young sheldon). And your inner adolescent will be thrilled to see the stars of the OG series, plus Paul Rudd and Carrie Coon, appear as the main adult protagonists.

5. Little Women (2019)

Anyone with a teenage daughter will appreciate the film’s feminist storyline. little women, which one The story focuses on the lives of the March sisters. Meg is the oldest and has a passion for education. Joe is a plucky writer living in New York, and Amy is an aspiring artist who spends part of the film living in Paris. Beth is the youngest and is the glue that holds the family together.

6. inside out 2 (2024)

Pixar has given us another startling peek into Riley’s mind with this 2024 sequel. Here, Riley enters adolescence, and anxiety, envy, ennui, and shame suddenly rush into the headquarters. This piece focuses on the messier, more complex emotional landscape of adolescence, and is so perfect to watch with a tiny human sitting next to you on the couch.

7. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

The classic story is the same. A young boy encounters a radioactive spider, is bitten, and develops strange powers. But the main character in this fast-moving animated version is Miles Morales, a 14-year-old from Brooklyn. Even more fun? Peter Parker from a parallel universe makes a cameo appearance with Spider-Pig. Also, the soundtrack is fire.

8. yes day (2021)

If you’re looking for something the whole family will love, try this fun comedy. The film, based on the book by Amy Claus Rosenthal, stars Jennifer Garner and Edgar Ramirez as parents who agree to everything. One day they follow all the children’s whims. Impossible? yes. It’s cute and sure to make you laugh? Absolutely.

9. the greatest showman (2017)

Well, don’t tell your child that this is as much for them as it is for them. Admittedly, this isn’t for every 12-year-old. But if you have a child who belts out movie songs and clearly has a flair for theater, you can’t go wrong with this musical biopic about the life of circus founder PT Barnum. Warning, you’re all going to sing this song week.

10. Shazam! (2019)

If the 1988 classic movie big and any superman There was a baby in the movie, it will be Shazam! Basically, a 14-year-old boy is given the magical gift of being able to transform into an adult superhero by saying the magic words (you guessed it, the title of the movie). There are some dark moments and a bit of dangerous language. But if you can get past that, your kids will probably find this DC Comics-based superhero comedy entertaining.

11. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)

Right off the bat, yes, you can expect to hear some swearing. And sure, there are plenty of action scenes and some nods to violence (the main character dies in the game before quickly coming back to life). Therefore, you need to decide whether you think your tween is mature enough to tolerate this type of movie. However, there are many positive themes such as teamwork, selflessness, and communication, as well as an obvious sense of nostalgia that makes this film a success.

12. wild robot (2024)

I’m not going to lie, if you watch this, you’ll probably ugly cry. You may lose some cool points for your child if you do this, but it’s worth it. When Roz, a robot accidentally stranded in the wilderness, ends up raising an orphan goose named Brightbill… and what begins as a survival story turns into a surprisingly moving meditation on motherhood.

13. Minecraft movies (2025)

Calling all parents of kids who have spent 4,000 hours building a cobblestone monster. The movie based on the game follows a ragtag group of people being dragged out of a blocky overworld and trying to survive until they can get home. Jack Black and Jason Momoa give their best to the roles, which makes this goofy, meme-filled movie all the more interesting.

14. sandlot (1993)

Perfect for baseball fans, this youth sports movie follows a group of neighborhood boys who play baseball in the sandlot. Chaos ensues when one of them hits a baseball signed by Smalls’ stepfather, Babe Ruth, over the creepy neighbor’s high fence. While you enjoy this 90’s throwback, your kids will have fun laughing along with and empathizing with these goofy characters.

15. Parent’s trap (1998)

What happens when two look-alike tweens (Lindsay Lohan) find out they’re actually twins after meeting at a wild camp? After Nick (Dennis Quaid) and Elizabeth (Natasha Richardson) divorce, they move to California and London, respectively, and agree to raise one of the twins. Harry and Annie meet for the first time at camp and make plans to swap places and reunite with their families. Between sarcastic one-liners, camp drama, and a catchy soundtrack, Parent’s trap A must-see for teens and twins.

16. super mario galaxy movie (2026)

Your family’s favorite fictional plumbers are back! This time, they’ve gone into space on a galactic rescue mission to stop Bowser Jr. and save Rosalina. Donald Glover joins the mess as Yoshi (your kids might not mind, but it’s a fun little treat for others). Your child gamer will likely demand repeated viewings, as there are plenty of Easter eggs.

17. school of rock (2003)

school of rock Probably Jack Black’s greatest movie to date. Troubled by money, he pretends to be a new temporary teacher at a private prep school. Dewey (black), a former rock guitarist, is the complete opposite of the prep school students. He also finds the current Gold Seal reward system for teachers disgusting. There he started a rock and roll revolution, and all subjects in class were replaced with rock and roll history and music lessons.

18. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Once again, Marvel has nailed it. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is an action-packed adventure packed with impressive battle scenes and kung fu. Shang-Chi seems like an average millennial living an ordinary life, but when his mysterious past catches up with him, it opens up a world of magic and terrifying family drama. With the help of her best friend Katie, played by Awkwafina, Shan confronts her past and defeats her demons in the process.

19. tall girl (2019)

Jody is 6’2, so high school is a little harder than other girls. She endures constant teasing and rejection from boys who think she is too tall, but one day she meets a boy who is just as tall as her. She ultimately learns that the only person she has to accept is herself.

20. james and the giant peach (1996)

A kind orphan boy who lives with his mean aunts escapes from their evil clutches and travels to New York. With the help of a big talking bug and his giant peach, they embark on an adventure and James learns the true meaning of friendship and family.

twenty one. child who becomes king (2019)

is explained as goonies meet lord of the ringsa modern take on the Arthurian legend of the sword and the stone, is full of adventure. When an ordinary, friendly boy encounters the mythical Excalibur, he asks his friends for help. And they join forces with none other than the iconic wizard Merlin. Old-fashioned magic, swordplay, modern issues… what more could a tween ask for?

twenty two. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Trilogy (2010-2012)

Based on the book series of the same name by cartoonist Jeff Kinney. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Greg Heffley follows a middle school student as he navigates the terrifying world. He has an older brother who bullies him, the most popular girl in school kicks his butt at wrestling, his best friend is, well, he’s Rory, and his younger brother completely steals his parents’ attention. Despite this, Greg still thinks and acts like he’s an asshole. Get ready to laugh a lot.

twenty three. Alexander and the Terrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (2014)

Another Jennifer Garner-led pick? #Sorry, Sorry; she plays the perfect family comedy mom. Your kids will especially love this movie if they’ve read the classic children’s book of the same name. But even if they don’t, one truly unfortunate day they will be shocked by the pranks of 11-year-old Alexander.

twenty four. Cinderella (2021)

There are other retellings of the Cinderella fairy tale, but if you have children, I recommend this one. Starring singer Camila Cabello as the title character, it’s chock-full of pop musical numbers (as you’d expect given the lead role), and the Fabulous Godmother is played by the delightfully sassy Billy Porter.

twenty five. harry potter Series (2001-2011)

If your child has read harry potter If you’ve read JK Rowling’s novels or visited Universal Studios’ Wizarding World of Harry Potter, now is the perfect time to introduce yourself to the film series. Additionally, in the first installment (harry potter and the philosopher’s stone), The characters are about the same age as your child. If we’re lucky, we’ll have seven movie nights scheduled for the next few days.