Your 14-year-old didn't stumble upon this randomly. There's a whole corner of social media dedicated to "movies that will destroy you emotionally" and "underrated romances your parents watched." City of Angels checks both boxes.

It also hits different in 2026 than it did in 1998. Today's teens are growing up with:

A movie about an immortal being who chooses human experience—with all its pain and brevity—over eternal observation? That resonates.

Plus, the film's central tension (experiencing life fully vs. staying safe but disconnected) mirrors their own navigation of digital vs. physical experiences. Seth literally cannot feel anything until he "falls"—which is a pretty on-the-nose metaphor for taking risks in real life versus staying in the safety of screens.

Content-wise, City of Angels is surprisingly clean for a PG-13 romance:

Thematically, this is where it gets interesting:

The film takes a clear stance that experiencing life—even with pain and death—is better than existing without sensation. Seth gives up eternity to taste a pear, feel rain, and love Maggie. The movie argues that mortality gives life meaning, that physical sensation matters, that love is worth suffering for.

For some families, this aligns beautifully with your values about being present, taking risks, and living fully. For others, the film's somewhat New Age-y spirituality (angels in trench coats hanging out at the beach, choosing to "fall" and become human) might feel off-brand.

The ending—I won't spoil it completely, but let's say it doesn't go the way Hollywood romances typically do—is devastating. Like, your teen might genuinely need to process this. It's the kind of sad that sits with you, which is actually part of why it's valuable.

Here's the thing: your teens are already consuming content about death, meaning, and sacrifice. They're getting it from Euphoria, from sad Spotify playlists, from that one friend who makes everything deep.

City of Angels gives you a way into those conversations with:

Conversation starters after watching:

"Seth gave up immortality for experiences that would end. What would you give up to really experience something?"

"The movie suggests that pain and loss are part of what makes life meaningful. Do you think that's true?"

"Seth could observe everything but not participate. Does that remind you of anything in how we use technology?" (They'll probably roll their eyes, but they'll think about it later.)

"What do you think the movie is saying about why physical experiences matter?"

City of Angels isn't perfect—it's a 90s remake that sometimes tries too hard to be profound, and Meg Ryan's character makes some frustrating choices (as people in love tend to do). But it's a genuinely well-crafted film that treats big questions seriously without being preachy.

For families with teens 13 and up, especially those who are already exploring existential questions or consuming heavy content on their own, this is a chance to engage with those themes together in a format that's actually designed to be thought-provoking rather than just shocking.

Plus, if your kid is going to cry over a movie, wouldn't you rather it be this than whatever algorithmically-generated sadness TikTok serves up next?

Watch it together, keep the tissues handy, and maybe follow it up with something lighter—like discussing whether Roblox is teaching entrepreneurship or finally watching The Princess Bride if somehow they've missed it.

And hey, if nothing else, you get to introduce them to peak 90s Nicolas Cage, which is a cultural education all on its own.