31 Movies for Tweens the Whole Family Will Love
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Take it from me:
We faced the age-old "what should we watch tonight?" battle at home constantly, and finally settled on a list of favorite films perfect for my tweens and us adults.
Get ready to grab some popcorn, gather the family, and fire up the TV.
First, what is a tween?
A tween is a term used to describe a child between the ages of 8-12. They are often considered too old to be a child and too young to be a teenager. Because of this, tweens are at that unique age too old for your favorite kid movies, but still not quite ready for more mature flicks. Children in this age group are also referred to as preteens, middle schoolers, or tweenies.
Here are 31 movies for tweens (that are also perfect for the next family movie night!):
The Parent Trap: Starring Lindsay Lohan, this classic movie about twins who meet at summer camp, become each other's best friend, and try to reunite their parents. If you're a fan of the timeless classic, you'll love the modern take on this storyline!
Harry Potter series: A magical adventure (based on the famous book series) following young wizard and main character, Harry Potter, and his friends as they attend the magical world of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The Princess Bride: A romantic fantasy-comedy - and classic film! - where a young couple has to overcome obstacles to be together.
Star Wars series: A sci-fi classic that follows the story of the Jedi and the Sith as they battle for the galaxy.
Back to the Future: A classic movie about a teenager who goes back in time to meet his parents and inadvertently makes changes that alter the future.
The Karate Kid: A movie about a boy who moves to a new city and learns to defend himself from bullies with the help of a wise karate master.
Jumanji (the new, modern version!): A movie about older kids who pay video games, accidentally 'fall' into it, and must complete the game to end it.
Princess Diaries: A heartwarming comedy about a teenager who discovers she is the heir to a European kingdom - as princess of a small European country! - and must navigate the challenges of royal life.
The Lion King: A Disney animated film about a young lion prince who must learn to rule and save his kingdom from his uncle.
The Incredibles: A Pixar animated film about a family of superheroes who have to save the world from a villain who wants to destroy all heroes.
School of Rock: A comedy about a substitute teacher who forms a rock band with his students to compete in a prestigious battle of the bands.
Freaky Friday: A comedy about a mother and daughter who switch bodies and must learn to live each other's lives for a day (another Lindsay Lohan favorite!)
E.T.: A classic movie about a young boy who befriends an alien and helps him return home.
High School Musical: A fun-filled musical about two high school students from different cliques who break the status quo and audition for the lead roles in their school's musical production.
Big: A comedy about a young boy who makes a wish to become an adult and wakes up in the body of a 30-year old.
Spy Kids: A movie about two siblings who are secretly spies and have to save their parents from a villain trying to take over the world.
The Goonies: A movie about a group of kids who go on a treasure hunt to save their town from being demolished.
The Little Mermaid: A Disney animated film about a mermaid who dreams of becoming human, walks above ground for the first time, and falls in love with a prince. (We hear Disney Junior is launching a tv series for younger siblings soon!)
Mean Girls: A dark comedy that explores the vicious dynamics of a teenage girl at a new school, high school student cliques, and the consequences of teenage social hierarchy.
Ratatouille: A Pixar animated film about a rat who dreams of becoming a chef and helps a struggling restaurant in Paris.
National Treasure: A film of action-packed adventures that follows a treasure hunter as he decodes historical clues and undertakes daring missions to uncover a hidden treasure and protect national secrets.
Moana: An animated film about an adventurous young woman who embarks on a voyage to save her people and discover her true identity. Bonus: This movie features music by Lin-Manuel Miranda!
Indiana Jones: A thrilling action-adventure series that chronicles an archaeologist as he embarks on dangerous quests to recover ancient artifacts and battle nefarious individuals or organizations.
Holes: A coming-of-age tale about a young boy who is sent to a detention camp where he and his friends must dig holes to build character.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: A movie about a young boy who wins a tour of a chocolate factory and discovers the secrets behind the chocolatier's success. (Or enjoy the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory!)
Enola Holmes: A Netflix-exclusive mystery adventure movie that follows the teenage sister of Sherlock Holmes as she sets out to find her missing mother, and outwit her brother's attempts to send her to a finishing school.
Kung Fu Panda: An animated comedy film that tells the story of a clumsy panda who becomes a kung fu master and saving the day against an evil snow leopard with his determination and newfound skills.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: A comedy based on the popular book series, following the hilarious misadventures of a middle school student as he navigates the challenges at a very awkward age, and his embarrassing family.
Adventures In Babysitting: A comedic thriller that follows a babysitter and the younger kids she's watching on a chaotic night filled with unexpected events and dangerous encounters in the big city.
Hunger Games: A dystopian thriller about a young girl who must fight to the death against other teenagers on live television in a post-apocalyptic society ruled by a tyrannical government.
Little Women: A heartwarming period drama based on the classic book that explores the coming-of-age experiences of four sisters as they navigate love, loss in 19th century New England.
Take your mini out! Here are our:
Okay, how many of these movies for tweens have you and the fam already seen? Our list covers genres from comedy to sci-fi and adventure to romance, so hopefully everyone finds something they like.
