This isn't just "movies with teenagers in them" or "movies rated PG-13." These are films that:

Why it works: Matt Damon gets stranded on Mars and has to science his way out of it. It's basically a love letter to problem-solving, perseverance, and the power of a good playlist. The humor keeps it from getting too heavy, and there's something deeply satisfying about watching someone systematically tackle impossible problems.

Conversation starter: "What would you do if you were stuck alone somewhere?" Also great for STEM-interested kids.

Why it works: Visually stunning, emotionally resonant, and you don't need to have seen 47 other Marvel movies to get it. Miles Morales is a genuinely great protagonist dealing with identity, expectations, and what it means to be a hero. Plus the animation style is legitimately groundbreaking.

Ages 12+ — accessible for younger teens, engaging for older ones.

Why it works: This one's wild. Multiverse chaos meets immigrant family drama meets martial arts meets... hot dog fingers? It's absurd and profound at the same time. Great for teens who are into weird, creative storytelling.

Ages 15+ — some mature themes and complexity that younger teens might not fully track.

Why it works: Aliens show up and Amy Adams has to figure out how to communicate with them. It's a thinking person's sci-fi film about language, time, and what it means to truly understand someone different from you.

Ages 14+ — slow-paced but rewarding for teens who like cerebral stuff.

Why it works: Greta Gerwig's semi-autobiographical film about a high school senior navigating her relationship with her mom, her identity, and her future. It's painfully accurate about the push-pull of wanting independence while still needing your parents.

Ages 13+ — some language and mature themes, but nothing gratuitous.

Why it works: High school freshman Charlie finds his people. It's about friendship, mental health, first love, and finding where you belong. Fair warning: it deals with heavy topics including trauma and suicide, so know your kid.

Ages 14+ — important themes but emotionally intense.

Why it works: Bo Burnham's directorial debut is uncomfortably accurate about what it's like to be 13 in the age of social media. Elsie Fisher is incredible as Kayla, a girl trying to survive her last week of middle school.

Ages 13+ — especially powerful for kids in or just past middle school. Learn more about social media's impact on teens.

Why it works: Hailee Steinfeld plays Nadine, a junior whose best friend starts dating her older brother. It's funny, sharp, and gets at the specific torture of feeling like everyone else has it figured out except you.

Ages 14+ — some sexual content and language.

Why it works: A British-Indian girl wants to play soccer despite her traditional family's expectations. It's about following your dreams, cultural identity, and family dynamics—with great humor and heart.

Ages 12+ — accessible and uplifting.

Why it works: The true story of Black women mathematicians at NASA who were critical to the space program. It's inspiring without being preachy, and it highlights a part of history that doesn't get taught enough.

Ages 12+ — great for all teens.

Why it works: Ava DuVernay's powerful film about MLK and the 1965 voting rights marches. It makes history feel immediate and relevant, showing the strategic planning behind the civil rights movement.

Ages 13+ — some violence related to protests and police brutality.

Why it works: Based on Angie Thomas's novel, it follows Starr, a Black teen who witnesses a police shooting of her friend. It's about code-switching, activism, and finding your voice.

Ages 14+ — deals with police violence and racism head-on.

Why it works: Michael B. Jordan plays Bryan Stevenson, a lawyer fighting for wrongly condemned death row prisoners. It's a powerful look at systemic injustice in the legal system.

Ages 14+ — heavy subject matter but important.

Why it works: A newly integrated high school football team in 1971 Virginia learns to work together. Yes, it's a sports movie, but it's really about overcoming prejudice and building community.

Ages 12+ — crowd-pleaser that works for the whole family.

Why it works: A whodunit mystery that's clever, funny, and keeps you guessing. Daniel Craig has a ridiculous accent and Ana de Armas is fantastic. It's also sneakily about wealth, immigration, and privilege.

Ages 13+ — some language but generally clean fun.

Why it works: Wes Anderson's visually stunning caper about a legendary concierge and his protégé. It's quirky, funny, and introduces teens to a distinctive filmmaking style.

Ages 13+ — some mature themes but presented in Anderson's stylized way.

Why it works: A foster kid and his grumpy foster uncle go on the run in the New Zealand wilderness. It's heartwarming, hilarious, and from Taika Waititi (who did Thor: Ragnarok).

Ages 12+ — delightful for all ages.

Why it works: An 11-year-old from South LA competes in the National Spelling Bee. It's about perseverance, community support, and believing in yourself without being cheesy about it.

Ages 10+ — great for younger teens and tweens.

Why it works: Pixar's gorgeous film about family, memory, and Mexican traditions around Día de los Muertos. It will make you cry (in a good way) and it's visually stunning.

Ages 10+ — accessible for younger viewers, meaningful for teens.

Why it works: Japanese anime about two teens who mysteriously swap bodies. It's beautiful, romantic, and mind-bending. Great introduction to anime for teens who haven't explored it.

Ages 13+ — some mature themes but handled thoughtfully.

Why it works: Stunning hand-drawn animation about a girl in 1650s Ireland who befriends a "wolfwalker." It's about nature, colonialism, and friendship with absolutely gorgeous visuals.

Ages 10+ — works for a wide age range.

Why it works: The story of Facebook's founding is basically a Shakespearean tragedy about ambition, betrayal, and what success costs. Teens who grew up with social media will find it fascinating to see its origin story.

Ages 14+ — some language and mature themes. Curious about social media's evolution?

Why it works: Benedict Cumberbatch plays Alan Turing, the mathematician who cracked Nazi codes and pioneered computer science. It's about genius, persecution, and unsung heroes.

Ages 14+ — deals with WWII and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people.

Why it works: You don't have to care about baseball to love this movie about using data and unconventional thinking to compete against richer teams. It's about innovation and challenging the status quo.

Ages 13+ — surprisingly engaging even for non-sports fans.

Ages 12-13: Stick with films like Hidden Figures, Coco, The Martian, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and Hunt for the Wilderpeople. These have mature themes but present them in accessible ways.

Ages 14-15: You can add in Lady Bird, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Hate U Give, and The Social Network. These deal with heavier emotional content and more complex themes.

Ages 16+: Everything Everywhere All at Once and The Edge of Seventeen have more mature content but are incredibly rewarding for older teens.

Pro tip: Check Common Sense Media for specific content warnings if you're on the fence about a particular film for your kid.

Watch together when possible: These movies are conversation starters. Watching with your teen gives you shared reference points and natural openings to talk about big topics.

Don't force it: If your teen isn't into The Grand Budapest Hotel's quirky style, that's fine. Different films resonate with different people.

Context matters: A film like The Hate U Give is powerful but deals with police violence. Know what your kid can handle emotionally, and be available to process it with them afterward.

Language and content: Most of these have some language or mature themes—that's what makes them teen movies rather than kids' movies. The question isn't "is this perfectly clean?" but "does this treat my teen with respect and give them something meaningful?"

Expand their horizons: Use these films to introduce different genres, perspectives, and storytelling styles. Your Name might open the door to anime. The Grand Budapest Hotel might lead to other Wes Anderson films. Hidden Figures might spark interest in more historical dramas.

The best teen movies are the ones that respect their audience—that don't talk down to teens or pretend their problems aren't real. These 25 films do that while also being genuinely good cinema.

Will your teen love all of them? Probably not. But having a shared vocabulary of quality films gives you more ways to connect, more things to reference, and more opportunities for those rare moments when your teenager actually wants to talk to you about something meaningful.

Start with whatever genre your kid gravitates toward. If they love Minecraft, try The Martian's problem-solving approach. If they're into true crime YouTube, go with Knives Out. If they're dealing with friend drama, Eighth Grade will hit home.

And hey, worst case scenario? You've expanded your own movie repertoire. These films are good enough that you'll actually enjoy watching them—which is more than you can say for sitting through another Fortnite session.

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