Movies to watch with tweens that don’t make you look like a dork
Once your kids have outgrown the Disney princesses, the Kung Fu Pandas, and the Ice Ages of the world, picking something for family movie night can get a bit more challenging.
If you want tweens to admit to genuinely liking your choices (rather than just tolerating them with an eye roll), you’ll need something cool and sophisticated. Here are a few of our favourite not-babyish, not-embarrassing grown-up movies to add to your list:
“Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” (age 7+): The first Harry Potter adventure is great for all ages.
“The Princess Bride” (age 8+): Romantic without being mushy, hilarious without resorting to potty humour, fast-paced without gratuitous violence.
“Back to the Future” (age 10+): The ’80s references will soar right over the heads of today’s kids, but the clever premise, high stakes, and excellent performances still make this one a winner.
“Holes” (age 10+): This excellent adaptation of Louis Sachar’s popular book both respects its young audience’s attention and dares to challenge them.
“Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” (age 11+): Thanks to its 1930s setting, this rousing adventure doesn’t feel awkwardly dated, even decades after its release.
“Black Panther” (age 12+): Marvel’s masterful superhero drama is unlike any other, with amazing diversity, surprising depth, and strong, smart female characters.
“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (age 12+): This ’80s comedy has some pretty salty dialogue, but kids will adore Ferris and cheer as he gets away with all kinds of things.
“Guardians of the Galaxy” (age 12+): Charming rogue Peter Quill and his ragtag crew are tons of fun to root for while they fight intergalactic bad guys — and rock out to a retro-cool soundtrack.
“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings” (age 12+): Epic, magical, and intense, the first movie in Peter Jackson’s trilogy is utterly absorbing.
“The Martian” (age 12+): Proof that being awesome at science doesn’t have to be nerdy, this gripping survival story is the perfect mix of tension and humour.