Fifteen is when kids start developing real taste. They're forming opinions about cinematography, storytelling, and what makes something "good" versus just entertaining. This is actually a golden age for introducing them to films that will stick with them forever.

But it's also when the gap between what they can handle emotionally and what's technically "age-appropriate" gets weird. The MPAA rating system isn't always helpful here—some PG-13 movies are more mature than certain R-rated films, and some R-rated movies are exactly what a thoughtful 15-year-old needs to see.

The key considerations at this age:

Let's break this down by what you're going for:

Lady Bird - This is the gold standard. Greta Gerwig's semi-autobiographical film about a Sacramento high schooler is painfully honest about mother-daughter relationships, first love, friendship betrayals, and the desperate desire to be somewhere else. It's rated R for language and some sexual content, but it's the kind of R that most 15-year-olds can handle—nothing gratuitous, just real.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Yes, it's become a bit of a cliché to love this movie, but there's a reason it resonates. It deals with mental health, trauma, and finding your people with genuine tenderness. The "we are infinite" scene is still one of the best depictions of teenage hope on film.

Eighth Grade - Bo Burnham's directorial debut is so accurate it's almost uncomfortable to watch. While it's technically about a 13-year-old, 15-year-olds will recognize every single anxiety and awkward moment. It's a great conversation starter about social media and self-image.

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Wes Anderson's visual masterpiece is like a gateway drug to art house cinema. It's funny, beautifully crafted, and tells a genuinely moving story about friendship and loyalty. Plus, it'll make them want to learn about cinematography.

Knives Out - A genuinely clever whodunit that respects the audience's intelligence. It's fun, it's smart, and it has something to say about class and privilege without being preachy. The whole family can watch this one together.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse - Don't let the "animated superhero movie" label fool you—this is a technically groundbreaking film with real emotional depth. It's about finding your own path, dealing with expectations, and the leap of faith required to become who you're meant to be.

The Hate U Give - This adaptation of Angie Thomas's novel doesn't pull punches about police violence, code-switching, and activism. It's intense but important, and it centers a Black teenage girl's perspective in a way that's still too rare in mainstream cinema.

Juno - Yes, it's from 2007 and the dialogue is quirky in a very specific indie film way, but it handles teen pregnancy with humor and heart without being preachy about it. The relationship between Juno and her dad is particularly lovely.

The Edge of Seventeen - Hailee Steinfeld is phenomenal as a girl navigating the absolute worst year of high school. It's honest about depression, loneliness, and how hard it is when your best friend starts dating your brother. The teacher-student mentorship is also refreshingly non-creepy.

Everything Everywhere All at Once - This movie is a lot—multiverse chaos, googly eyes, hot dog fingers—but at its core, it's about a mother and daughter trying to understand each other. It's rated R for some violence and language, but it's also one of the most creative films in recent memory. Fair warning: it's genuinely weird.

Parasite - Bong Joon-ho's masterpiece is a thriller, a comedy, and a scathing social commentary all at once. Fifteen is old enough to appreciate its craft and understand its message about class inequality. Yes, there are subtitles—that's the point.

Get Out - Jordan Peele's horror-thriller is scary but not gratuitously gory, and it has so much to say about race, liberalism, and microaggressions. It's the kind of movie that demands discussion afterward.

Look, you can absolutely introduce your 15-year-old to The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, or Dead Poets Society. But be prepared for them to notice things you didn't—like how problematic some of the gender dynamics are, or how the "inspirational teacher" trope doesn't always hold up.

The benefit of older films is showing how storytelling has evolved and giving context for all the references in modern media. The downside is that some haven't aged well. Watch together and be open to their observations—they might catch things you missed.

Here's where I'm going to be real with you: the R rating at 15 is contextual. An R rating for pervasive strong language is different from an R rating for graphic violence or sexual content. You know your kid.

Generally safe R-rated territory for most 15-year-olds:

Proceed with caution:

When in doubt, check Common Sense Media or ask our chatbot about specific concerns for a particular film.

Not every popular movie is worth your time. Here are some that get recommended for teens but honestly aren't great:

13 Reasons Why (the movie that spawned the series) - The TV show was controversial for good reason, and the source material isn't much better. There are better ways to talk about mental health and suicide.

After (and its sequels) - This Wattpad-to-movie franchise is basically toxic relationship: the movie. If your kid wants to watch it, fine, but maybe have a conversation about what healthy relationships actually look like.

Most "teen party" comedies - Superbad has its moments, but a lot of this genre has aged poorly and reinforces some pretty gross ideas about consent and gender roles.

The best part about movies at this age is that you can actually watch them together and have real conversations. Here's how to do it without making it feel like homework:

Let them pick sometimes - Even if you're not sure about their choice, watching what they're interested in shows you respect their taste.

Don't pause for teaching moments - Watch the movie, then talk about it after if they're interested. Nobody likes a lecture during the good parts.

Ask questions instead of making statements - "What did you think about how they handled that scene?" works better than "Here's what that scene meant."

Share your own reactions honestly - "That was more intense than I expected" or "I'm not sure how I feel about that ending" models how to process complex media.

The best movies for 15-year-olds are the ones that meet them where they are—not where you wish they were or where they used to be. They're navigating complicated stuff: identity, relationships, their place in the world, what they believe in. Good films can help them process all of that while also just being, you know, good films.

You're not looking for movies that teach lessons (though some will). You're looking for movies that make them feel something, think about something, or see the world a little differently. Movies that they'll still remember in ten years, not because you made them watch it, but because it actually meant something to them.

And honestly? If you can find films that do that while also being something you both enjoy watching together, that's pretty much the sweet spot of parenting a teenager.

Start with their interests - If they're into sci-fi, try Arrival. If they love comedy, try The Grand Budapest Hotel. Meet them where they are.

Create a shared watchlist - Use a shared note or app where both of you can add movies you want to watch together. It becomes a thing you're doing together, not something you're imposing.

Check out our guide to age-appropriate streaming content for more recommendations across different platforms.

Explore what other families are watching to see what's resonating with this age group right now.

The goal isn't to curate every single thing they watch—at 15, they're going to watch plenty without you. The goal is to share some really good films together while you still can, before they head off to college and develop their own taste completely independent of you. Make the most of it.