Parents of tweens know that sometimes their TV and movie tastes can be a bit tricky. They’re too big for “little kid stuff,” but not quite ready for more grownup content aimed at teens and adults. Finding something suitable for kids in this in-between phase isn’t always easy, but we’ve aimed to make it easier by tracking down the best movies for tweens.
No matter which streaming services you subscribe to, we’ve compiled a list of movies for tweens that will be fun and engaging, but still wholesome and age-appropriate. From musicals to fairy-tale re-tellings to spy thrillers, there’s a little something for every tween, no matter how picky they may be.
High School Musical
Opposites attract in this Disney Channel teen musical. Zac Enron stars as basketballer Troy, who’s hoping to win a part in the school play—and the heart of brainy beauty Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens). Tweens will be singing their hearts out to non-stop catchy tunes.
Where to watch: Disney+
Rated G.
High School Musical 2
What time is it? Summertime! HSM 2 shows us what the gang gets up to when school is out. The kids of East High are working at a country club for the summer and getting ready to show off their singing skills in a talent show. If your tween still can’t get enough HSM after watching these two movies, there’s also a third installment in the franchise, plus a Disney+ reboot series!
Where to watch: Disney+
Rated G.
Cinderella
The classic fairytale gets a modern makeover in this 2021 movie musical. Singer Camila Cabello stars as Cinderella, with the iconic Billy Porter as fairy godparent Fab G. The stacked cast also includes Idina Menzel as the evil stepmother and Minnie Driver and Pierce Brosnan as the King and Queen alongside Nicholas Galitzine’s Prince Robert.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Rated: PG
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Princess Diaries
Anne Hathaway stars in this 2001 comedy as Mia Thermopolis, a typical teen who gets the surprise of a lifetime when she finds out she’s royalty. The Queen of Genovia—who just so happens to be Mia’s long-lost grandmother—is on a mission to make Mia fit for the throne, but there are some hilarious hiccups along the way.
Where to watch: Disney+
Rated G.
Freaky Friday
A rebellious teen and her uptight mom swap bodies after eating a magical fortune cookie in this hilarious and heart-warming comedy. To set things right, the two will have to learn to see things from the other’s perspective, which is easier said than done. Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis star.
Where to watch: Disney+
Rated PG.
Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone
Wizards, wands, and Weasleys! While some of the later Harry Potter films may be a bit scary for kids, the first installment in the franchise is just right for kids and tweens.
Where to watch: HBO Max
Rated PG.
Spy Kids
When two retired spies are captured on the job, their kids suit up to come to their rescue. Carmen and Juni had no idea what their mom and dad did before having kids—but a talent for espionage seems to run in the family.
Where to watch: HBO Max
Rated PG.
We Can Be Heroes
A band of kids with extraordinary talents has to fend off an alien invasion after their superhero parents are kidnapped. The team is led by Missy—the only kid who doesn’t have any superpowers of her own.
Where to watch: Netflix
Rated PG.
Yes Day
A family reconnects for a day of fun and adventure after mom and dad promise to say Yes! to anything their kids want in this funny flick starring Jennifer Garner and Jenna Ortega. Just be prepared for your kids to ask for a yes day of their own.
Where to watch: Netflix
Rated PG
Tall Girl
Where to watch: Netflix
Rated PG.
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Home Team
This funny, family-oriented sports film is based on a true story. When NFL coach Sean Peyton got suspended from the league for a year, he kept busy by heading home to coach his young son’s Pop Warner team.
Where to watch: Netflix
Rated PG.
Finding ‘Ohana
Parents who loved watching The Goonies in the ’80s will likely love checking out this Netflix offering with a similar vibe. A brother and sister from Brooklyn spend a summer with family in Hawaii and end up on the hunt for glory and gold in the form of pirate treasure.
Where to watch: Netflix
Rated PG.
Jumanji
It isn’t all fun and games when you play Jumanji. The late Robin Williams stars as Alan Parrish, a man who’s been trapped inside a magical board game for decades—at least until two kids unwittingly free him and decide to beat the game once and for all.
Where to watch: Hulu
Rated PG.
The Karate Kid
This 2010 remake sees the titular kid practicing not karate, but kung fu. Jaden Smith plays Dre, who butts heads with a bully after he moves from Detroit to Beijing. Jackie Chan plays Mr. Han, the martial arts master who teaches Dre how to stand up for himself.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Rated PG.
Hidden Figures
The unsung heroes of space exploration are given their due in this enlightening 2019 flick. Hidden Figures tells the story of the team of black women mathematicians—Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson—who helped the first American astronaut get into orbit.
Where to watch: Disney+
Rated PG.