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family movies tweens teens

Best Family Movies for Tweens and Teens

(Inside: Best family movies for tweens and teens. Get the ultimate list of movies for tweens and teens that your family will love.)

A big bowl of popcorn, the family piled on the couch, and a great movie – those are some of my best childhood memories.

Now as a mom, after a busy week, it feels so good to crash on the couch with my favorite people and watch something great. 

So I made an ultimate go-to list of best family movies. Of course, all movies aren’t best for every family, it depends on the ages of your kids, their interests, and how good you are with the fast forward button. But, all the below movies are PG-13 (except one) or lower and have solid storylines.

I hope you find something your family will like. 

best family movies tweens teens

Best Family Movies
for Tweens and Teens

**This blog post contains affiliate links, which mean if you purchase through the link, I get a small commission at no extra charge to you.**

Musicals Series

See 100 more best musical movies here, but listed below are my favorites. 

  • The Sound of Music (1965)
  • Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
  • The Wizard of Oz (1939)
  • Beauty and the Beast (2017)
  • The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
  • My Fair Lady (1964)
  • Grease (1978)
  • Newsies (1992)
  • Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
  • High School Musical (2006)
  • High School Musical 2 (2007)
  • High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008)
  • Enchanted (2007)
  • Annie (1982)
  • Annie (2014)
  • Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
  • Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
  • Les Miserables (2012)
  • Moulin Rouge! (2001)
  • Dream Girls (2006)
  • The King and I (1956)
  • Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
  • The Greatest Showman (2017)

Adventure/Drama Series

  • Jurrasic Park (1993)
  • The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
  • Jurassic Park III (2001)
  • Jurassic World (2015)
  • Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
  • The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe (2005)
  • The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)
  • The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)

 

  • Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007)
  • Pirates the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)

 

  • Back to the Future (1985)
  • Back to the Future Part II (1989)
  • Back to the Future Part III (1990)
  • Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
  • Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
  • Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
  • Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire (2005)
  • Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
  • Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows; Part 2 (2011)

 

  • Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
  • Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Gridelwald (2018)

 

  • The Hunger Games (2012)
  • The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
  • The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014)
  • The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015)
  • Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
  • Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
  • Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
  • Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
  • Tolkien (2019)
  • The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
  • The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
  • The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
  • The Lord of the RIngs: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

 

  • Jumanji (1995)
  • Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005)
  • Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
  • Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)
  • Mission: Impossible (1996)
  • Mission Impossible II (2000)
  • Mission Impossible III (2006)
  • Mission Impossible IV – Ghost Protocol (2011)
  • Mission Impossible V – Rougue Nation (2015)
  • Mission Impossible Fallout (2018)

 

  • Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightening Thief (2010)
  • Percy Jackson: Sea of Monstors (2013)

Comedy Movies

For more comedy movies go here and here.

  • Alexander and the Terrible, Horribles, No Good, Very Bad Day (2014)
  • Mr. Popper’s Penguins (2011)
  • Paddington (2014)
  • Paddington 2 (2018)
  • Home Alone (1990)
  • Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985)
  • Big (1988)
  • Playing with Fire (2019)
  • Beethoven (1992)
  • Beethoven’s 2nd (1993)
  • Beethoven’s 4th (2001)
  • Monty Python And The Holy Grail (1975)
  • Christopher Robin (2018)
  • Mr. Bean’s Holiday (2007)
  • Rush Hour (1998)
  • Rush Hour 2 (2001)
  • Rush Hour 3 (2007)
  • The LEGO Movie (2014)
  • The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
  • Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
  • Parenthood (1989)
  • Father of the Bride I & II (1991 & 1995)
  • The Muppet Movie (1979)
  • The Muppets (2011)
  • The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)
  • The Pink Panther (2006)
  • The Pink Panther 2 (2009)
  • Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
  • Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
  • Groundhog Day (1993)
  • The Truman Show (1998)
  • Megamind (2010)
  • Sister Act (1992)
  • Sister Act 2 (1993)
  • Dr. Dolittle (1998)
  • The Princess Bride (1987)
  • Funny Farm (1988)
  • Just Like Heaven (2005)
best family movies tweens and teens

Adventure/Action Movies

  • The Finest Hours (2016)
  • Night at the Museum (2006)
  • Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)
  • Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014)
  • Spy Kids (2001)
  • Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (2002)
  • Spy Kids 3: Game Over (2003)
  • Spy Kids: All the Time in the World (2011)
  • The Goonies (1985)
  • Into the Wild (2007, Rated R but an interesting story.)
  • Flight of the Phoenix (2004)
  • The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course (2002)
  • Prince of Persia: The Sands of Times (2010)
  • Ready Player One (2018)
  • Pete’s Dragon (1977)
  • Pete’s Dragon (2016)
  • The Lion King (2019)
  • Inception (2010)
  • Jaws (1975)
  • Life of Pi (2012)
  • A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
  • The Last of the Mohican (1992)
  • King Kong (2005)
  • Eight Below (2006)
  • Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
  • The Great Escape (1963)
  • Dolittle (2020)
  • I Am Legend (2007)
  • A Quiet Place (2018)
  • U571 (2000)
  • Skyscraper (2018)
  • Midway (2019)
  • Cast Away (2000)
  • The Martian (2015)
  • Sherlock Holmes (2009)
  • Eight Below (2006)
  • How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
  • How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
  • How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) 
  • Interstellar (2014)
  • Unbroken (2014)
  • Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
  • Waterworld (1995)
  • Dunkirk (2017)
  • The Sixth Sense (1999)
  • Signs (2002)
  • The Villiage (2004)
  • Unbroken (2014)
  • I Spy (2002)
  • The Patriot (2000)

Related article: 146+ Best Chapter Books for Tweens that Will Also Build Character

Drama Movies

  • We Bought a Zoo (2011)
  • War Room (2015)
  • Overcomer (2019)
  • Tuck Everlasting (2002)
  • Cinderella (2015)
  • Wonder (2017)
  • It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
  • Citizen Kane (1941)
  • The Truman Show (1998)
  • Billy: The Early Years (2008)
  • The Hiding Place (1975)
  • The Work and The Glory (2004)
  • Little Women (1994)
  • Little Women (2019)
  • The Last Song (2010)
  • Instant Family (2018)
  • October Sky (1999)
  • Far and Away (1992)
  • Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
  • You’ve Got Mail (1998)
  • Casablanca (1942)
  • A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
  • A Beautiful Mind (2001)
  • Hotel Rwanda (2004)
  • I Can Only Imagine (2018)
  • Left Behind (2014)
  • Left Behind (2000)
  • Left Behind II (2002)
  • Left Behind III (2005)
  • Mom’s Night Out (2014)
  • Ben Hur (2016)
  • The Nativity Story (2006)
  • The Passion of the Christ (2004)
  • Runaway Bride (1999)
  • Notting Hill (1999)
  • Case for Christ (2017)
  • Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
  • Hacksaw Ridge (2016) (This one is rated R, but so good.)
  • Hidden Figures (2017)
  • The Pursuit of Happiness (2006)
  • Finding Neverland (2004)
  • Luther (2003)
  • Courageous (2011)
  • God’s Not Dead (2014)
  • Son of God (2014)
  • Heaven is For Real (2014)
  • A Walk to Remember (2002)
  • Black Beauty (2004)
  • Annapolis (2006)
  • Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)
  • A Dog’s Journey (2019)
best family movies tweens teens

Sports Movies

  • Soul Surfer (2011)
  • Remember the Titans  (2000)
  • Miracle (2004)
  • We are Marshall (2006)
  • Glory Road (2006)
  • The Karate Kid (1984)
  • The Karate Kid II (1986)
  • The Karate Kid III (1989)
  • The Karate Kid (2010)
  • Invincible (2006)
  • Chariots of Fire (1981)
  • The Greatest Game Every Played (2005)
  • Seabiscuit (2003)
  • Secretariat (2010)
  • Field of Dreams (1989)
  • McFarland, USA (2015)
  • 42 (2013)
  • The Blind Side (2009)
  • Invictus (2009)
  • Moneyball (2011)
  • A League of Their Own (1992)
  • Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story (2005)
  • Concussion (2015)
  • Twelve (2019)
  • Dreamer (2005)
  • Rocky (1976)
  • Rocky II (1979)
  • Rocky III (1982)
  • Rocky IV (1985)
  • Rocky V (1990)
  • Rocky Balboa (2006)
  • Creed (2015)
  • Creed II (2018)

 

  • Facing the Giants (2006)
  • Ford vs Ferrari (2019)
  • The Art of Racing in the Rain (2019)
  • The Mighty Ducks (1992)
  • D2: The Might Ducks (1994)

 

 

Science Fiction/Fantasy Movies

  • I am Legend (2007)
  • Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
  • Ready Player One (2018)
  • Peter Pan (1953)
  • Return to Never Land (2002)
  • Avatar (2009)
  • Ad Astra (2019)
  • Fantasia (1940)
  • The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
  • Sky High (2005)
  • Alice in Wonderland (2010)
  • Alita: Battle Angel (2019)
  • Tron: Legacy (2010)
  • Star Trek (2009)
  • Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
  • Oz, the Great and Powerful (2013)
  • Rise of the Planet Apes (2011)
  • Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
  • War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
  • Tomorrowland (2015)
  • Arrival (2016)
  • Gravity (2013)
  • Sky Captatin and the World of Tomorrow (2018)
  • X-Men (2000)
  • X2: X-Men United (2003)
  • X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
  • X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
  • X-Men: First Class (2011)
  • The Wolverine (2013)
  • X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
  • X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
  • Innerspace (1987)

 

Related Article: One Thing Every Middle School Parent Should Know

best family movies tweens teens

Marvel Movies

We’re huge Marvel fans and have watched all of these movies, except Guardians of the Galaxy Volumes 1 & 2 aren’t our favorite for family movies. If you’d like to know the chronological order in which to watch the Marvel movies, check out this website. 

  • Captain Americal: The First Avenger (2011) 
  • Captain America: The Winter Solder (2014)
  • Captain America: Civil War (2016)

 

  • Spider-Man (2002)
  • Spider-Man 2 (2004)
  • Spider-Man 3 (2007)
  • The Amazing Spider- Man (2012)
  • The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
  • Spider-Man Homecoming (2017)
  • Spiderman: Far From Home (2019)
  • Iron Man (2008)
  • Iron Man 2 (2010)
  • Iron Man 3 (2013)

 

  • Black Panther (2018)

 

  • Thor (2011)
  • Thor: The Dark World (2013)
  • Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

 

  • The Hulk (2003)
  • The Incredible Hulk (2008)

 

  • Captain Marvel (2019)

 

  • The Avengers (2012)
  • Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
  • Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
  • Avengers: End Game (2019)

 

  • Ant-Man (2015)
  • Ant-Man and The Wasp (2018)

 

  • Doctor Strange (2016)

 

  • Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2 (2017)

Animated Disney Movies

Click here to see a list of all Disney Movies. I listed my recommendations below.

  • Pinocchio (1940)
  • Dumbo (1941)
  • Bambi (1942)
  • Cinderella (1950)
  • Peter Pan (1953)
  • Lady and the Tramp (1955)
  • Sleeping Beauty (1959)
  • One Hundred and One Dalmations (1961)
  • The Sword in the Stone (1963)
  • Mary Poppins (1964)
  • The Jungle Book (1967)
  • Robin Hood (1973)
  • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)
  • The Rescuers (1977)
  • The Little Mermaid (1989)
  • Beauty and the Beast (1991)
  • Pocahontas (1995)
  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
  • Mulan (1998)
  • Tarzan (1999)

 

 

  • Toy Story (1995)
  • Toy Story 2 (1999)
  • Toy Story 3 (2010)
  • Toy Story 4 (2019)
  • Finding Nemo (2003)
  • The Incredibles (2004)
  • Incredibles 2 (2018)
  • Cars (2006)
  • Cars 2 (2011)
  • Cars 3 (2017)
  • Planes (2013)
  • Ratatouille (2007)
  • WALL-E (2008)
  • Bolt (2008)
  • The Princess and The Frog (2009)
  • Tangled (2010)
  • Brave (2012)
  • Wreck-It-Ralph (2012)
  • Frozen (2013)
  • Frozen 2 (2019)

Classic Disney Movies (Not animated)

Click here to see a list of all Disney Movies. I listed my recommendations below.

  • 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)
  • Old Yeller (1957)
  • The Shaggy Dog (1959)
  • Toby Tyler (1960)
  • Pollyanna (1960)
  • Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
  • The Parent Trap (1961)
  • Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N. (1966)
  • Rascal (1969)
  • The Shaggy D.A. (1976)
  • Freaky Friday (1976)
  • The Love Bug (1968)
  • Herbie Goes Bananas (1980)
  • Escape to Witch Mountain (1975)
  • Return from Witch Mountain (1978)
  • The Absent-Minded Professor (1961)
  • Son of Flubber (1963)
  • Tron (1982)
  • A Far Off Place (1993)
  • Iron Will (1994)
  • 101 Dalmations (1961)
  • The Parent Trap (1998)
  • Benji the Hunted (1987)
  • The Man From Snowy River (1982)
  • Return to Snowy River (1988)
  • Honey I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
  • Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992)
  • White Fang (1991)
  • White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf (1994)
  • Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken (1991)

Other animated Movies

Click here to see a list of all Disney Movies. I listed my recommendations below.

  • The Secret Life of Pets (2016)
  • The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019)
  • Anastasia (1997)
  • The Prince of Egypt (1998)
  • Charlotte’s Web (1973)
  • Charlotte’s Web (2006)
  • The Secert of NIHM (1982)
  • Shrek (2001)
  • Shrek 2 (2004)
  • Shrek the Third (2007)
  • Shrek Forever After (2010)
  • Inside Out (2015)
  • Ice Age (2002)
  • Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006)
  • Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)
  • Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)
  • Ice Age: Collision Course (2016)
  • An American Tail (1986)
  • An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991)
  • An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island (1998)
  • An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster (1999)

Related article: Best Family Devotions That  Create Family Connection

DC Movies

DC movies are a bit dark for our family; we don’t watch all of them. I listed the movies we like; however, if you want to see a full list of DC movies go here. 

  • Wonder Woman (2017)

 

  • Green Lantern (2011)

 

  • Aquaman (2018)
  • Shazam! (2019)
  • Batman (1989)
  • Batman Returns (1992)
  • Batman Forever (1995)
  • Batman and Robin (1997)
  • Batman Begins (2005)
  • The Dark Knight (2008)
  • The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

 

  • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

 

  • Superman (1978)
  • Superman II (1980)
  • Superman III (1983)
  • Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
  • Superman Returns (2006)
  • Man of Steel (2013)

Star Wars Movies

  • Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
  • Star Wars Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
  • Star Wars Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
  • Star Wars Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)
  • Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  • Star Wars: Episode VI – The Return of the Jedi (1983)
  • Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
  • Star Wars Episode VIII (2017)
  • Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
  • Star Wars: The rise of Skywalker (2019)
best family movies tweens teens

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Your brain bounces between your day at work, what time(s) your kids need to be at practice, your teen’s missing school assignments, that you haven’t call your mom lately, the load of the laundry to be switched, “What’s for dinner?” and “Why are 3 of my brain-tabs frozen?”  

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Cheryl Donely

Cheryl is a mom of 3 boys, wife, speaker, high school teacher, and author of Empowered Moms & Kids. She has a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and is passionate about learning and teaching. On www.empoweredmomsandkids.com you’ll find inspiration and encouragement for moms raising tweens and/or teens. Read more in the “about” section of this page.

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