Here's the thing: teen movies are actually important. I know that sounds dramatic, but these films are often where kids first see relationships, conflict resolution, identity struggles, and social dynamics play out on screen. They're processing a lot through these stories.

The question isn't whether your teen should watch teen movies—it's which ones are worth their time (and yours, if you're co-watching). Because let's be real: some teen movies are thoughtful explorations of adolescence, and others are just... two hours of bathroom humor and tired stereotypes.

Plus, with teens spending an average of 8-9 hours a day on screens, the quality of what they're consuming matters more than ever. You want those hours to include at least some content that's not complete brain rot.

Let's start with the wins—movies you can feel good about, or at least movies that won't make you regret your parenting choices:

The Hate U Give - This one's heavy but important. It tackles police violence, activism, and identity with nuance and respect. Perfect for teens ready to engage with serious social issues. Definitely worth a family conversation afterward.

Booksmart - Think Superbad but smarter and with female leads. Yes, there's language and some sexual content, but it's genuinely funny and subverts a lot of tired teen movie tropes. Ages 15+ is probably the sweet spot here.

Love, Simon - A sweet, well-done coming-out story that manages to be both heartwarming and realistic. It's the kind of representation that matters, and it's actually a good movie on top of that.

Eighth Grade - Bo Burnham's painfully accurate portrayal of middle school in the age of social media. It's rated R for language, but honestly, if you have a middle schooler, they've heard worse in the cafeteria. This one sparks great conversations about online personas versus real life.

These are the movies where your mileage may vary based on your family's values and your teen's maturity level:

Lady Bird - Beautiful mother-daughter dynamics, but there's sex, underage drinking, and some intense family conflict. If your teen is ready for honest portrayals of complicated relationships, this is gold.

The Edge of Seventeen - Refreshingly real about how hard high school can be, but includes sexual content and heavy themes around depression. Not a light watch, but valuable for the right teen.

Superbad - Look, it's crude. Very crude. But it's also a surprisingly sweet story about friendship and growing up. Ages 16+ if you're okay with a LOT of sexual humor and language.

Here's where Hulu gets dicey. Some movies in their teen section are... not it:

Most "teen party" movies from the 2000s - You know the ones. They typically involve a quest to lose virginity, heavy drinking portrayed as consequence-free fun, and women existing primarily as prizes to be won. American Pie is the poster child here. Are they culturally significant? Maybe. Are they what you want your 13-year-old absorbing? Probably not.

The "teen romance" movies that are actually just toxic relationship dynamics - If the plot hinges on stalking being romantic, jealousy being passion, or a girl needing to be "saved" by a guy, that's a hard pass. These tropes are everywhere, and they're teaching terrible lessons about healthy relationships.

Horror movies marketed to teens - Hulu has a bunch of these, and they range from "mild suspense" to "why did I think this was okay for a 13-year-old." Always, always check the actual content beyond the rating. The jump scares might be fine, but the sexual violence subplot? Not so much.

Ages 11-13: Honestly? Most of Hulu's teen movie library skews older. You're better off with their tween-friendly options or checking out Disney+ for this age group. If they're begging for something more mature, The Giver or The Maze Runner might work, but preview them first.

Ages 14-15: This is the sweet spot for movies like Love, Simon and Eighth Grade. They're dealing with real teen issues without gratuitous content. Still, co-watch when possible—not to police, but to be available for questions.

Ages 16+: At this point, you're probably negotiating rather than dictating. Movies like Booksmart, Lady Bird, and even some of the edgier options become reasonable, depending on your teen's maturity and your family's boundaries.

The rating system is basically useless. PG-13 is a wildly broad category. Always check why something got its rating. A movie rated PG-13 for "thematic elements" is very different from one rated PG-13 for "sexual content and drug use."

Hulu doesn't have great parental controls for movie content. Unlike Netflix's robust profiles and restrictions, Hulu's content filtering is pretty basic. You can set up a Kids profile, but once your teen has access to the regular profile, they've got access to everything. This means more manual oversight is needed.

The algorithm will push whatever gets clicks. Just because Hulu recommends something doesn't mean it's appropriate. The "Because you watched..." suggestions are based on viewing patterns, not content quality or age-appropriateness.

Context matters more than content. A movie with mature themes isn't automatically bad for teens—sometimes those are exactly the conversations you want to have. But you need to be present for those conversations. Letting your 14-year-old watch The Hate U Give and then talking about it afterward? Great parenting. Letting them watch it alone at 2 AM with no follow-up? Missed opportunity.

Start with co-watching. I know, I know—your teen doesn't want to watch movies with you. But frame it as family movie night, make it fun, and use it as a gauge for what they can handle on their own.

Use the "trailer test." Watch the trailer together. If your teen is uncomfortable watching the trailer with you, that's useful information about whether they're ready for the full movie.

Create a "pre-approved" list. Sit down together and go through options, read reviews on Common Sense Media, and build a list of movies they can watch without asking first. It gives them autonomy while maintaining boundaries.

Talk about what they're watching with friends. Your teen is probably seeing movies at friends' houses that you wouldn't choose at home. Instead of pretending that's not happening, ask about it. "What did you think of that?" is way more effective than "You watched WHAT?!"

Hulu's teen movie library is a mixed bag that requires more parental curation than you might expect. The good news? There are genuinely excellent films in there that can spark meaningful conversations and provide quality entertainment. The bad news? They're buried alongside a lot of mediocre and potentially problematic content.

Your best bet is to treat Hulu like a library where you need to know what section you're browsing. Don't just hand over the remote and hope for the best. But also don't stress about finding perfect, sanitized content—teens need to see realistic portrayals of their world, including the messy parts.

The goal isn't to shield them from everything uncomfortable. It's to make sure that when they encounter mature content, they have the context and critical thinking skills to process it. And sometimes, that means watching a movie together and talking about why that relationship dynamic was toxic or why that joke wasn't actually funny.

Not sure where your teen falls in terms of media maturity? Take Screenwise's family assessment to get personalized recommendations based on your kid's age, interests, and your family's values.

Want to dig deeper into specific movies? Check out our guide to age-appropriate teen content or learn how to have better conversations about what your teen is watching.

And remember: you're not trying to win a perfect parenting award here. You're just trying to help your kid navigate media with intention. Some days that means watching Booksmart together and having a great talk. Other days it means they watch something questionable at a friend's house and you deal with it later. That's just life in 2026.