TL;DR: Tweens are in that awkward "in-between" stage where Bluey feels too babyish, but Euphoria is a hard no. To bridge the gap, look for movies that tackle complex emotions, social hierarchy, and identity without the "gritty" trauma of adult dramas. Top picks for 2025/2026 include The Wild Robot, Inside Out 2, A Minecraft Movie, and Zootopia 2.
The "tween" years (roughly ages 9 to 12) are a cinematic no-man's-land. One day they’re obsessed with Minecraft and the next they’re asking if they can watch Deadpool. It’s the era of "The Jump"—that transition from curated Disney Junior vibes to the wild west of PG-13.
As parents, we're often stuck between wanting to protect their innocence and realizing that if we don't give them something "cool" to watch, they’ll just find "Skibidi Toilet" brain rot on YouTube or TikTok.
The goal isn't to find "clean" movies; it's to find resonant ones. Tweens are dealing with friendship breakups, body changes, and the crushing realization that their parents are actually just regular people (gross, I know).
Here is the definitive watchlist for the intentional parent navigating the 2025-2026 landscape.
If your kid is starting to get "moody" (read: developing a complex inner life), these movies are the gold standard. They provide a vocabulary for feelings that tweens usually express via door-slamming.
Look, Pixar basically read every parent's private journal for this one. Introducing "Anxiety" as a character wasn't just clever; it was a public service. For a 11-year-old girl navigating the "puberty alarm," this movie is basically a mirror. It’s essential viewing because it validates that being a "good person" doesn't mean being happy all the time. Read our guide on why Anxiety is the MVP of Inside Out 2
Based on the book by Peter Brown, this film is a visual masterpiece, but it’s the themes of "kindness as a survival skill" that stick. It’s perfect for the tween who feels like an outsider. Warning: you will cry more than they will. It’s a great bridge for kids who still love animals but are ready for a story with real stakes and some "nature is metal" moments.
Pixar’s 2025 release about an underdog kid who accidentally becomes the ambassador for Earth. It hits that sweet spot of sci-fi adventure mixed with the very real tween struggle of feeling like you don't fit in on your own planet, let alone a galactic one.
These are the movies they’ll be talking about at the lunch table. They aren't necessarily "educational," but they are the currency of middle school social life.
Let’s be honest: the trailer looked a little unhinged (live-action Jack Black as Steve?), but for the Minecraft generation, this is their Star Wars. It’s a safe PG bet that feels "big" enough for a theater outing with friends. Is it high art? No. Is it better than watching a MrBeast marathon? Absolutely. Check out our guide on the history of Minecraft in pop culture
The Spider-Verse trilogy is arguably the best thing to happen to cinema in a decade. Miles Morales is the ultimate tween protagonist—balancing parental expectations with his own identity. The visual style is fast-paced (perfect for the "TikTok brain" attention span) but the storytelling is incredibly sophisticated.
Whether they saw the musical or not, the movie adaptation is a massive "event" film. It deals with female friendship, the "popular" vs. "outcast" dynamic, and the realization that authority figures (The Wizard) are often full of it. It’s a great entry point into more complex PG-13 themes without the sexual content or extreme violence of other blockbusters.
Sometimes you just want a movie that doesn't require a $100 trip to the cinema. These are the ones worth the Netflix or Disney+ subscription.
- Zootopia 2: The first one was a masterpiece in explaining systemic bias to kids; the sequel continues the trend of being a "smart" movie that doesn't talk down to its audience.
- Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.: If you have a daughter in the 9-12 range, this is non-negotiable. It’s the most honest depiction of puberty ever put to film. It’s funny, awkward, and deeply human.
- The Mitchells vs. the Machines: A slightly older but still relevant pick for the digital age. It’s the best movie about how tech affects family dynamics, featuring a protagonist heading off to college—a great "growing up" story for tweens.
Ask our chatbot for more movies like The Mitchells vs. the Machines
In 2026, the PG-13 rating is basically meaningless. You have movies like Barbie which is technically PG-13 but totally fine for most 9-year-olds, and then you have horror movies that are PG-13 but will give your kid nightmares until they’re 20.
Tweens care about stakes. They want to see characters who have agency. They are moving away from "magical solutions" and toward "character-driven solutions."
When choosing a movie, look for:
- Protagonists with Agency: Do the kids in the movie make their own choices, or are they just being rescued by adults?
- Complex Friendships: Does the movie show that friends can be mean, or that you can outgrow people? (See: Inside Out 2).
- Visual Sophistication: Tweens are savvy. They can tell when animation is "cheap" or when a plot is recycled.
| Age Range | What They Crave | The "Red Flag" to Watch For |
|---|---|---|
| 8-9 (Early Tween) | Adventure, slapstick, and "big kid" themes (saving the world). | Intense peril or "mean spirit" humor that they might mimic. |
| 10-11 (The Sweet Spot) | Social dynamics, relatable school struggles, and "edgy" humor. | Sexualization of characters or heavy substance use. |
| 12-13 (Young Teen) | Identity, romance (the "crush" stage), and darker themes. | Realistic violence and "doom-and-gloom" nihilism. |
Don't make it a lecture. If you watch A Minecraft Movie and it’s terrible (which, let's be real, it might be), talk about why it was bad. Was the "fan service" too much? Did they ruin the lore?
If you watch something like The Wild Robot, ask: "Why do you think the other animals were so mean to Roz at first?"
Tweens are beginning to develop critical thinking. They love to "review" things. Lean into that. Let them be the critic.
Learn more about how to have "The Screen Talk" without the eye-rolls
The jump from Disney to PG-13 doesn't have to be a free-fall into inappropriate content. 2025 has given us a wealth of "Bridge Media"—films that respect a tween's growing maturity without exposing them to the cynicism of adult cinema.
Focus on the movies that spark conversation. If they’re going to spend two hours in front of a screen, make sure it’s something that gives them something to think about when the lights come up.
Next Steps:
- Check your local theater for Zootopia 2 showtimes.
- Add The Wild Robot to your digital library for the next rainy Saturday.
- Take our Screenwise survey to see how your kid's movie habits compare to their peers