I know it can be hard to find the perfect thing to watch with your tween. Some movies are still too mature, but they’re past the stage of wanting to just watch Disney movies. This list of best movies for tweens are our favorites for boys and girls between 11 and 13, covering everything from laugh-out-loud comedies to adventures that will have them on the edge of their seat.
Whether you’re planning a family movie night, a sleepover, or just a cozy weekend afternoon, there’s something on this list for every kind of tween. And bonus — most of these are just as fun for the parents watching alongside them.
Adventure & Action Movies for Tweens
1. The Goonies (1985)
This is a classic and makes me wish I was raised in the 80s, when kids just rode their bikes and went on adventures. A group of kids discovers a treasure map and sets off on the most epic adventure of their lives to save their neighborhood from being demolished. This is one both parents and tweens will love, and the nostalgia hits hard whether you’re watching it for the first time or the tenth.
Rating: PG
2. Jumanji (1995 or 2017)
A board game that sucks players into a dangerous jungle world — what could go wrong? Both the original with Robin Williams and the 2017 reboot with Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart are great picks for tweens. The original is a classic, and the reboot is genuinely funny and action-packed. Either one works, or do a double feature and watch both!
Rating: PG (1995) / PG-13 (2017)
3. Night at the Museum (2006)
The exhibits at the Natural History Museum come to life every night, and the new security guard (Ben Stiller) has to figure out how to survive the chaos. This is a fast-paced, funny adventure that works for the whole family and has enough action and humor to keep tweens fully entertained.
Rating: PG
4. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (2010)
Percy Jackson discovers he is the son of Poseidon and is thrown into a world of Greek gods, monsters, and mythology. If your tween loved the books, they will enjoy seeing the world come to life on screen. And if they haven’t read the books yet, this is a great introduction to the series.
Rating: PG
5. Spy Kids (2001)
Two kids discover their parents are secretly retired spies and must rescue them when they are kidnapped. This is a fun, imaginative, and completely entertaining movie for tweens who love action and adventure with a side of comedy. The gadgets alone will have them hooked.
Rating: PG
6. Holes (2003)
Stanley Yelnats is sent to a juvenile detention camp in the Texas desert, where the warden has the boys digging holes all day in search of something buried. I loved Shia LaBeouf from Even Stevens growing up, and I was so excited for Holes to come out that I read the book first and couldn’t wait to see it in theaters. It held up too. Tweens will love Stanley Yelnats and the mystery that slowly unravels throughout the film.
Rating: PG
7. Treasure Planet (2002)
Disney’s underrated retelling of Treasure Island set in space, following a rebellious teenager who joins a crew of space pirates on a journey to find a legendary planet of treasure. This one deserves way more attention than it gets and is a fantastic pick for tweens who love adventure and a little sci-fi.
Rating: PG
8. The Maze Runner (2014)
A teenager wakes up in the middle of a giant maze with no memory of who he is, and must work with a group of other boys to find a way out. This is a gripping, fast-paced adventure that older tweens especially will love. Fair warning that it ends on a cliffhanger, so have the sequel ready.
Rating: PG-13
9. Harriet (2019)
The incredible true story of Harriet Tubman, who escaped slavery and then risked her life repeatedly to lead others to freedom through the Underground Railroad. This is a powerful, inspiring, and age-appropriate film that is as important as it is entertaining. A great one to watch and talk about together.
Rating: PG-13
10. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
Three orphaned siblings are pursued by the villainous Count Olaf, who is after their family fortune. Dark, funny, and wildly imaginative, this is a great pick for tweens who like their stories with a little bit of edge. Jim Carrey is absolutely unhinged as Count Olaf and steals every scene he is in.
Rating: PG
Feel-Good & Funny Movies for Tweens
11. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010)
Greg Heffley navigates the chaos of middle school with his best friend Rowley, and everything goes sideways in the most relatable way. This is a movie tweens will recognize themselves in, and parents will get a good laugh too. There are several sequels if they want to keep going after the first one.
Rating: PG
12. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
I was actually an adult when I first saw this, and I could not believe I had missed this cult classic as a tween. It is so much fun, with those classic 80s vibes and outfits that are somehow back in style. Ferris Bueller fakes sick to skip school and proceeds to have the most legendary day of his life, and watching it feels like being let in on a really good secret.
Rating: PG-13
13. Home Alone (1990)
Eight year old Kevin McCallister is accidentally left behind when his family flies to Paris for Christmas, and must defend his house against two bumbling burglars. This is one of the most rewatchable comedies ever made and a movie almost every tween will already know and love. The traps alone are worth the rewatch.
Rating: PG
14. Freaky Friday (2003)
A mother and daughter magically switch bodies and have to live each other’s lives for a day. Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis are both hilarious in this, and the film has a real heart underneath all the comedy. A great pick for moms and daughters to watch together.
Rating: PG
15. The Parent Trap (1998)
Twin sisters who were separated at birth accidentally meet at summer camp and hatch a plan to get their parents back together. Lindsay Lohan is incredible playing both roles, and the film is charming and funny from start to finish. A classic that tweens consistently love.
Rating: PG
16. School of Rock (2003)
Jack Black plays a failed musician who pretends to be a substitute teacher and turns his class of overachieving kids into a rock band. This is one of the most fun and energetic comedies of the 2000s, and Jack Black gives everything he has to every single scene. Tweens who love music will especially love this one.
Rating: PG-13
17. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
An awkward, quirky Idaho teenager navigates high school in the most uniquely bizarre way imaginable. This is one of those movies that is hard to describe but impossible to forget. Tweens either love it immediately or grow to love it, and the dance scene at the end is genuinely iconic.
Rating: PG
18. Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)
A family of twelve kids descends into absolute chaos when both parents are pulled in different directions by new career opportunities. This is a warm, funny, and relatable family comedy that tweens will enjoy, especially if they have siblings.
Rating: PG
19. The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003)
Lizzie McGuire goes on a class trip to Rome and ends up living the adventure of a lifetime. This is a classic for millennial parents who want to show their tweens what they grew up watching, and it holds up surprisingly well. Hilary Duff is charming, Rome looks incredible, and it is the perfect feel-good tween movie.
Rating: PG
20. Bedtime Stories (2008)
A hotel handyman discovers that the bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew are coming true in the most unexpected ways. Adam Sandler is at his most family-friendly here, and the film is fun, creative, and genuinely funny for kids and parents alike.
Rating: PG
Inspirational Movies for Tweens
21. Wonder (2017)
A boy with a facial difference attends public school for the first time and has to navigate friendships, bullying, and finding his place in the world. This is one of the most important movies on this list, and it handles its subject matter with incredible warmth and honesty. Have tissues ready. This one will spark a really meaningful conversation.
Rating: PG
22. The Karate Kid (1984 or 2010)
A teenager is bullied and learns karate from his wise mentor Mr. Miyagi in order to defend himself. Both the original and the 2010 remake with Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan are fantastic picks for tweens. The underdog story never gets old, and the message about discipline and perseverance lands every time.
Rating: PG
23. Rudy (1993)
The true story of Rudy Ruettiger, a boy from a working class family who dreams of playing football for Notre Dame despite having no athletic ability. This is one of the greatest sports movies ever made and one that tweens, especially boys, tend to connect with deeply. The final scene is one of the most satisfying in movie history.
Rating: PG
24. McFarland USA (2015)
A coach in a small California farming town discovers that his students are incredibly fast runners and builds a cross country team from scratch. Based on a true story, this is an inspiring and emotionally rich film that the whole family will love. Kevin Costner is wonderful in it.
Rating: PG
25. Spare Parts (2015)
Four undocumented high school students with no engineering experience build an underwater robot and enter a national competition against MIT. Also based on a true story, this is a movie about believing in yourself when no one else does, and it is impossible not to root for these kids every step of the way.
Rating: PG-13
26. Akeelah and the Bee (2006)
An 11 year old girl from South Los Angeles discovers a talent for spelling and works her way toward the National Spelling Bee. This is a beautifully made and deeply moving film about what it means to pursue excellence when the people around you don’t understand your dreams. A wonderful pick for tweens, especially girls.
Rating: PG
27. Little Giants (1994)
Two brothers coach rival pee-wee football teams, and the scrappy underdogs have to find a way to compete against the more talented team. This is a fun, feel-good sports comedy that tweens who love football will especially enjoy. Rick Moranis and Ed O’Neill are great together.
Rating: PG
28. The Blind Side (2009)
The true story of Michael Oher, a homeless teenager who is taken in by a family and goes on to become an NFL player. Sandra Bullock won the Academy Award for her performance in this film, and it is as warm and inspiring as any movie on this list. A great family movie night pick.
Rating: PG-13
29. Sister Act (1992)
A lounge singer witnesses a murder and is placed in witness protection as a nun at a struggling convent, where she ends up transforming the choir and the whole community. Whoopi Goldberg is hilarious and the music is fantastic. This is a fun, feel-good movie that tweens and parents will both enjoy.
Rating: PG
30. Pay It Forward (2000)
A 12 year old boy comes up with a simple idea to change the world: do something good for three people, and ask each of them to pass it on to three more. This is a powerful and emotional film that will spark a genuine conversation about kindness and what one person can actually do. Warning: the ending is a lot to handle.
Rating: PG-13
Fantasy & Sci-Fi Movies for Tweens
31. Harry Potter Series (2001-2011)
Harry Potter was an escape as a tween and teen — there is nothing quite like getting to go to Hogwarts in your imagination, and the movies did a pretty good job keeping true to the books. If your tween has already read the series, they will love seeing the world come to life on screen. If they haven’t, even better — start the books and the movies together. (Just a heads up for the fellow book readers out there: Goblet of Fire did not do the book justice. If your tween read it first, prepare them accordingly.)
Rating: PG / PG-13 (later films)
32. The Chronicles of Narnia (2005)
Four siblings step through a wardrobe into the magical land of Narnia, where they are destined to help defeat the White Witch and restore peace to the kingdom. This is a sweeping, beautiful fantasy adventure that tweens who love Harry Potter will absolutely love. The lion Aslan alone is worth the watch.
Rating: PG
33. Tuck Everlasting (2002)
A young girl discovers a family who has accidentally become immortal after drinking from a magical spring, and must decide whether eternal life is really the gift it seems to be. This is a quietly beautiful and thought-provoking film that will have tweens asking big questions about life and what really matters.
Rating: PG
34. A Wrinkle in Time (2018)
Meg Murry travels across the universe with her brother and a friend to rescue her missing father, guided by three magical beings. This is a visually stunning film with a powerful message about love, courage, and believing in yourself even when the odds are impossible. A great pick for tweens who love fantasy and adventure.
Rating: PG
35. Matilda (1996)
A brilliant little girl with telekinetic powers stands up against her awful parents and the terrifying headmistress of her school. Matilda is funny, dark in just the right way, and deeply satisfying to watch. The Miss Trunchbull scenes are legendary, and the film holds up beautifully for tweens watching it for the first time.
Rating: PG
36. The BFG (2016)
A young orphan girl is snatched from her bed by a Big Friendly Giant and taken to Giant Country, where she must help him stand up to the other, much scarier giants. Steven Spielberg directed this charming Roald Dahl adaptation, and the friendship at the center of the story is genuinely sweet.
Rating: PG
37. Bridge to Terabithia (2007)
Two misfit kids create an imaginary kingdom in the woods and escape there whenever the real world gets to be too much. This film has one of the most unexpected and emotional turns of any movie on this list, and it will absolutely gut you. Watch it with your tween and be ready to talk about it after.
Rating: PG
38. The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
Twin brothers and their sister move into an old house and discover a hidden world of faeries and magical creatures that most humans cannot see. This is a fast-paced and genuinely thrilling fantasy adventure that tweens who love world-building and mythology will eat up.
Rating: PG
39. Coraline (2009)
A bored and neglected girl discovers a secret door in her new home that leads to a parallel world where everything seems perfect — until it isn’t. Coraline is visually stunning and genuinely unsettling in the best way. It is perfect for tweens who like their stories a little darker and more complex.
Rating: PG
40. Stardust (2007)
A young man crosses a magical wall into a fantastical kingdom to retrieve a fallen star for the girl he loves, and discovers the star is actually a person. This is a funny, romantic, and wonderfully entertaining fantasy adventure that older tweens especially will love.
Rating: PG-13
Friendship & Heart Movies for Tweens
41. The Sandlot (1993)
A new kid in town bonds with a group of baseball-loving neighborhood boys over one unforgettable summer. This is one of the most beloved coming-of-age movies ever made, and it captures the feeling of a childhood summer in a way almost nothing else does. Both boys and girls love this one.
Rating: PG
42. Stand By Me (1986)
Four boys go on a journey through the woods to find a dead body, and end up discovering a lot more about themselves and each other along the way. Based on a Stephen King novella, this is a deeply emotional and beautifully made film about friendship, growing up, and the moments that define you. Better for older tweens.
Rating: R (mild — language)
43. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)
Four best friends spend their first summer apart, connected by a pair of jeans that magically fits all of them perfectly. I remember seeing this one with my mom, and it was such a sweet movie that gave us a great way to talk afterward. Grab some snacks and watch this one together. It’s a beautiful story about friendship, identity, and growing up.
Rating: PG
44. Now and Then (1995)
Four best friends spend one last summer together before life pulls them in different directions. Told through flashbacks from their adult perspectives, this is a warm and nostalgic story about the friendships that shape you. A great one for moms and daughters to watch together.
Rating: PG-13
45. My Girl (1991)
An 11 year old girl navigating grief, first love, and the complicated feelings of growing up spends one meaningful summer with her best friend. This is a sweet, funny, and emotionally powerful film that older tweens will connect with deeply. Fair warning: it will make you cry.
Rating: PG
46. Hoot (2006)
A group of kids tries to stop a construction project that will destroy a colony of tiny owls living in the ground. This is a fun, feel-good environmental adventure that tweens who love animals and nature will especially enjoy.
Rating: PG
47. Flipped (2010)
Told from alternating perspectives, this is the story of a boy and a girl who have completely different views of each other throughout middle school, until everything slowly shifts. This is a sweet, honest, and beautifully made coming-of-age story that tweens will find incredibly relatable.
Rating: PG
48. Because of Winn-Dixie (2005)
A lonely girl and her father move to a new town, and her life changes completely when she adopts a stray dog named Winn-Dixie who seems to bring everyone together. This is a gentle and heartwarming film that is especially good for younger tweens and families with animal lovers.
Rating: PG
Music & Dance Movies for Tweens
49. Pitch Perfect (2012)
A college a cappella group goes from a joke to a championship contender, and the music along the way is genuinely fantastic. Anna Kendrick is great in this, and the humor is sharp without being inappropriate for tweens. A great pick for tweens who love music, singing, or just a really fun underdog story.
Rating: PG-13
50. Footloose (1984 or 2011)
A teenager moves to a small town where dancing has been banned and leads a rebellion to bring music back. Both the original with Kevin Bacon and the 2011 remake are entertaining picks for tweens. The soundtrack is iconic and the energy is infectious.
Rating: PG
51. Grease (1978)
Sandy and Danny fall in love over the summer and are shocked to discover they will be attending the same high school in the fall — only their social worlds could not be more different. I loved getting to see Grease with my mom, as it was her favorite movie growing up. They re-released it when I was about 8 or 9, and it was so much fun sneaking candy into the theater and watching it together. The soundtrack and outfits are iconic whether you are 8 or 88.
Rating: PG
52. Sing (2016)
A koala theater owner stages a singing competition to save his failing theater, and the unlikely contestants each have their own story. This is a fun, feel-good animated musical that tweens and younger kids both enjoy, and the music selection is fantastic.
Rating: PG
53. Newsies (1992)
Based on the true story of the 1899 New York newsboys strike, this Disney musical follows a group of young newspaper sellers who band together to fight back against unfair wages. Christian Bale leads an incredibly energetic cast, and the choreography is genuinely impressive. A great pick for tweens who love musicals and history.
Rating: PG
54. The Greatest Showman (2017)
The story of P.T. Barnum and the creation of the circus, told through a spectacular soundtrack and stunning visuals. This is one of those movies where the music is so good that tweens will be listening to it long after the film is over. Hugh Jackman gives everything in this role and it shows.
Rating: PG
55. Stick It (2006)
A rebellious teenage gymnast is forced back into the sport she abandoned and ends up challenging the deeply unfair judging standards of competitive gymnastics. This is a funny, sharp, and surprisingly feminist sports movie that tweens — especially girls — will love.
Rating: PG-13
56. Bring It On (2000)
A cheerleading squad discovers their award-winning routines were stolen and must create something entirely new before the national championship. This is a fun, fast-paced, and genuinely funny movie with a great message about originality and doing things the right way. A classic tween pick.
Rating: PG-13
57. Step Up (2006)
A street dancer gets sentenced to community service at a performing arts school, where he is paired with a classically trained dancer for a year-end showcase. This is a fun and energetic dance movie with real heart, and the chemistry between the leads makes it easy to watch.
Rating: PG-13
58. Mamma Mia (2008)
ABBA songs, a Greek island, and one of the most joyful soundtracks ever put on screen. Mamma Mia is pure fun from start to finish, and tweens who love music and a good love story will have a great time with it. Watch it with your tween and try not to sing along. Spoiler: you will not be able to.
Rating: PG-13
Final Thoughts on the Best Movies for Tweens
Finding the right movie for an 11, 12, or 13 year old does not have to be a guessing game. The movies on this list are the ones that tweens actually watch, rewatch, and remember years later.
Whether your tween is into adventure, music, sports, or friendship stories, there is something here that will become a new favorite.
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