The 30 Best Movies for Middle Schoolers

Finding quality content for middle schoolers is tough—namely because everything they used to like is now “too babyish” and the more mature stuff out there can be pretty questionable, if not downright inappropriate. For this reason, and as a mom to a soon-to-be-middle-schooler, I reached out to parents of kids in sixth through eighth grade, and put together this list of the best movies for middle schoolers, all great for a family movie night that involves more conversation than cringing. From inspirational sports dramas to animated features about puberty, here are my top picks.

• Suitable for: ages 11+
• Run time: 1 hour 54 minutes

I admit that when Barbie first hit theaters, I was initially turned off by all the hype. It wasn’t until it became available on Netflix that I decided to finally watch it with my tween daughter who was home sick from school…and I was impressed! The film uses whimsy, absurd humor and exaggerated characters to present a powerful social commentary on gender roles. Or, if you want to hear it from an actual tween, my daughter describes this one as a “comedic movie with great messages and an overall exciting theme about female empowerment.”

• Suitable for: ages 13+
• Run time: 1 hour 43 minutes

This recommendation comes straight from PureWow’s Senior Editor, Dana Dickey, whose teenage son says, “Perks of Being a Wallflower changed my life when I was in middle school.” There are some heavy themes in this coming-of-age movie about a freshman kid and the two high school seniors who take him under their wing and teach him about life and love. Emma Watson stars in this searingly honest look at the life of teenagers, and her performance is excellent. Still, parents should know that the content of the film is quite mature, and includes drug use, drinking, making out and references to eating disorders. The story is also tied together by the revelation of a major trauma that the main character has to confront from his past. In other words, it’s a dramedy with a bit more drama than comedy.

• Suitable for: ages 12+
• Run time: 1 hour 29 minutes

Here, another dramedy that gets Dana Dickey’s seal of approval. Eighth Grade is an indie flick that provides a refreshingly honest portrayal of the early teen years. The film focuses on the coming-of-age story of a young woman who is socially awkward (because it’s middle school, after all) but very adept at social media use (because it’s middle school, after all). You can expect plenty of references to sex and a fair amount of obscene language, but there’s nothing too gratuitous and, most importantly, the content is relatable and relevant. Watch it with your kid and be sure to follow up, because this movie provides plenty of fodder for meaningful conversations about sexual consent, peer pressure and more.

• Suitable for: ages 12+
• Run time: 1 hour 52 minutes

You can’t go wrong with any movie that stars teen favorite, Michael Cera, and this fantasy-romance flick based off the namesake graphic novel series is definitely not an exception to the rule. The action-packed storyline could’ve been plucked straight out of a video game—the main character plays a ton of them, and in the “real world” he has to defeat seven evil ex-boyfriends to win the heart of his crush. Parents should also know that this movie has plenty of swearing, most of which isn’t necessary and does nothing to enhance the dialogue, but the portrayal of teen sexuality is entirely age-appropriate.

• Suitable for: ages 12+
• Run time: 1 hour 36 minutes

I remember watching this clever and heartwarming indie flick in theaters when it came out and it’s on my short list of movie night options to watch with my tween daughter. Elliot Page and Michael Cera star in this biting comedy about a fairly taboo subject: teen pregnancy. It’s a hilarious and very sweet way to start a talk about the birds and the bees (and, chances are, your middle schooler needs one).

• Suitable for: ages 13+
• Run time: 1 hour 36 minutes

Molly Ringwald and Emilio Estevez stars in this movie about a group of high school kids from different circles who are forced to endure a Saturday morning detention together. It’s a fun way to take a deep dive into the social dynamics of teenagers. It also has a very positive message that middle schoolers could benefit from. (Hint: It turns out that popular princesses, nerds and outcasts can actually all be friends.)

• Suitable for: ages 10+
• Run time: 1 hour 42 minutes

Presenting my absolute favorite coming-of-age movie about a close group of girlfriends who, as adults, revisit the memories they have of their middle school years. There’s an all-star cast featuring Christina Ricci, Demi Moore and Rosie O’Donnell. As for the content, you can count on a little sex (think: first kisses and spying on skinny dipping boys), a touch of profanity and a whole lot of heart. Overall, this is a supremely nostalgic movie about growing up and gaining lifelong friendships in the process.

• Suitable for: ages 8+
• Run time: 1 hour 52 minutes

PureWow’s Editor-in-Chief Jillian Quint says that the Descendants franchise has proven supremely popular amongst the tweens and middle school-aged kids in her life—and I, too, can confirm that kids find this made-for-TV movie series about the offspring of Disney villains and how they fare at prep school mighty entertaining. The original movie has some positive messages revolving around choosing good over evil, but I would be remiss not to mention that some pretty cringey gender stereotypes make an appearance and there’s quite a bit of snark, too, so you might want to proceed with caution.

• Suitable for: ages 10+
• Run time: 1 hour 49 minutes

Grab some tissues before you press play, because this movie, based on R.J. Pallacio’s namesake novel about a boy born with a genetic facial difference, is a real tearjerker. The movie features a divergent child as the main character and the powerful messages about friendship, as well as the realistic portrayals of bullying, are sure to have an impact on parents and kids alike.

• Suitable for: ages 13+
• Run time: 2 hours 34 minutes

PureWow Executive Editor, Alexia Dellner, shared a few movie recommendations for this list—namely because her friend recently came to visit with her 13-year-old who is “definitely at the age where he has his own taste and wants to watch more mature stuff.” Specifically, some rather aggro picks like The Last Samurai, which is a pretty intense, award-winning war drama set during Japan’s Meiji Restoration era of the late 1800s. The movie features a predominantly Asian cast (with Tom Cruise being the major exception), but parents should know that one character has flashbacks involving significant violence against Native Americans and that brutal battle-related killings are rampant throughout the film. That said, there are deeply meaningful culture lessons to be found in the narrative, so if you can stomach the war violence, it’s well worth a watch.

• Suitable for: ages 13+
• Run time: 2 hours 37 minutes

Another teen-approved pick, courtesy of Alexia Dellner—this one is based on Susan Collins’s namesake prequel to her best-selling book and film franchise, The Hunger Games. The movie boasts a stellar cast, all of whom deliver amazing performances, and the romance and drama is just as exciting as you’d expect if you’re familiar with the books. That said, the violence of the storyline packs a far bigger punch when played out on screen, so sensitive viewers might be wise to avoid this film adaptation.

• Suitable for: ages 10+
• Run time: 1 hour 40 minutes

I watched this one with my tween daughter and she found it highly entertaining, later describing it as “a meaningful movie about mother-daughter bonding and all the awkward growing up stuff.” (Hint: that last part is code for puberty.) This Pixar gem revolves around Mei, a young Chinese girl who gets her first period and finds that her changing hormones are starting to significantly affect her behavior. Needless to say, the first relationship to become strained by all this is the one she has with her mother. I could say more because I am actually living every single moment of this movie as we speak (from the tender, swollen chest to the eyerolls and nasty attitude) but I’m just going to say it’s a really good animated feature and leave it at that.

• Suitable for: ages 11+
• Run time: 1 hour 53 minutes

Rudy is a poignant sports drama from the early 90s that PureWow’s VP of Editorial Content, Candace Davison, put on my radar after having tapped a few middle school teachers for their top picks. (Apparently the middle school students initially groan about watching a movie that’s so old, but Rudy inevitably wins over each and every one of them.) The story chronicles a real-life underdog who follows his dreams, and despite rampant swearing in the form of locker room language, the content is entirely wholesome and inspirational.

• Suitable for: ages 10+
• Run time: 2 hours

Here, another emotionally-charged sports drama with a powerful inspirational message. Remember the Titans is distinct from Rudy, though, in that this heartwarming football movie really highlights the racial tensions that took place on and off the field at a West Virginia high school in the early 1970s. If you want to lay the foundation for a meaningful conversation about race relations and inclusivity in general, this is a great place to start.

• Suitable for: ages 8+
• Run time: 1 hour 34 minutes

My children (ages 8 and 10) absolutely love this movie, but I think it’s one to grow with, too. My oldest describes it as “a hilarious movie about friendship and the realities of school,” while my youngest agrees it’s hilarious but thinks it’s mostly about…cheese. (I don’t want to, er, spoil it for anyone but there is a pretty memorable scene that involves bullying and a very unappetizing piece of cheese.) Although my kids aren’t middle school-aged yet, I have it on very good authority that this best-selling book series by Jeff Kinney is a huge hit with the tween and early teen crowd, and this film adaptation is just as relatable and entertaining.

• Suitable for: ages 10+
• Run time: 1 hour 49 minutes

Another family favorite and a veritable classic from the early ‘00s—School of Rock put Jack Black on the map, thanks to his incredibly endearing performance as a flawed but very passionate and well-meaning middle school music teacher. (Spoiler: he actually starts off as kind of a deadbeat who impersonates a more qualified candidate to get the job.) Bottom line: If you’re looking for a feel-good flick with an inspiring message of redemption and perseverance, this wholesome pick fits the bill.

• Suitable for: ages 13+
• Run time: 1 hour 40 minutes

Lara Jean is a Korean-American middle schooler who endures the unthinkable when the secret love letters she penned in her journal about her five biggest crushes are distributed to the not-so-intended recipients. Needless to say, the poor teen is utterly mortified…but this turn of events ends up being more positive than you might expect. While dealing with the embarrassing aftermath of this mishap, Lara Jean ultimately finds an opportunity to come out of her shell, process her (unrelated) grief, realize her true worth…and perhaps even find true romance.

• Suitable for: ages 14+
• Run time: 1 hour 29 minutes

This classic and truly touching film starring teen heartthrobs River Phoenix and Corey Feldman is a poignant watch that tells the story of friendship and unforgettable coming-of-age experiences from the perspective of boys who are growing up and learning to survive both dysfunctional home environments and strained peer relationships in the ‘50s. The kids smoke cigarettes and curse, and there are some instances of bullying that are best described as criminally violent. There’s also a narrative that revolves around solving the mysterious murder of a missing child, so the content is on the heavier side. Still, the messages about friendship, loyalty and courage are wholly positive—which is to say that any child old enough to deal with some of the more mature themes will certainly benefit from watching it.

• Suitable for: ages 10+
• Run time: 1 hour 54 minutes

This cult classic from the ‘80s boasts every narrative element needed to keep kids completely enthralled. The storyline involves a ragtag crew of middle school-aged friends who embark on a fantastical and action-packed treasure hunt of sorts. There’s plenty of slightly racy, but mostly age-appropriate humor along the way that speaks to early sexuality—and beyond that, there’s really never a dull moment.

• Suitable for: ages 9+
• Run time: 1 hour 56 minutes

My soon-to-be middle schooler and her younger brother are big fans of this iconic 80s flick. The former is a girl who formed an instant crush on Michael J. Fox (duh) and the latter a boy who describes the movie as “an exciting sci-fi that I really like because it has loads of action and science.” I’m assuming that almost everyone reading this story has seen Back to the Future, but if you haven’t, I can assure you that it is just as much fun for adults to watch as it is for older kids. The only thing to keep in mind is that there is some sexual content—specifically a scene involving an unwanted encounter between a high school girl and, well, a jerk—that should probably be followed up with a conversation about consent.

• Suitable for: ages 11+
• Run time: 1 hour 42 minutes

This is a super nostalgic pick from my childhood that I made my kids watch with me and, yes, I got their opinion on it, too. Ultimately, they both liked the movie; however, I will say that I think that they were a little too young to watch it and found it overwhelmingly sad. I stand by the movie as an excellent way to explain grief and different family situations to children, since the story revolves around a young girl whose father has started dating after the death of her mother. The movie is also grounded in a really beautiful friendship between the main character, a Tomboy girl played by Anna Chlumsky and a neighborhood boy (Macaulay Culkin), but even that has a rather tragic end. In other words, it’s an excellent movie that you can’t possibly watch without shedding a few tears or just straight up sobbing. You’ve been warned.

• Suitable for: ages 8+
• Run time: 1 hour 37 minutes

If you’re looking for a mother-daughter bonding movie, you’d be hard-pressed to find something better than Freaky Friday. Long story short, a little Eastern magic results in an uptight, middle-aged mom (Jamie Lee Curtis) switching bodies with her rebellious teenage daughter (Lindsay Lohan). You will cringe, you will laugh…and hopefully you will emerge with a better understanding of your own spawn, and vice versa.

• Suitable for: ages 10+
• Run time: 1 hour 57 minutes

Based on the bestselling namesake book by Louis Sachar, Holes chronicles the struggles of a middle school-aged boy who, after being caught stealing shoes, is sent to a labor camp where (you guessed it) he has to spend his days digging holes. The movie itself isn’t nearly as disturbing as it sounds based on the premise, but it does touch on gender and racial tensions, as well as some pretty obvious flaws with the criminal justice system. Depending on the age and maturity of your child, a lot of this might go over their head unless you make a point of it, since there’s enough action and adventure in the narrative to keep viewers thoroughly distracted from the deeper themes.

• Suitable for: ages 12+
• Run time: 1 hour 42 minutes

There’s a lot of rough language and some pretty bad examples set in this iconic 80s film (i.e., don’t let your child watch if they’re highly impressionable and likely to be steered towards truancy and deceit.) Still, there is no denying that this movie, starring Matthew Broderick and Jennifer Grey, is a timeless classic and one of the most entertaining flicks from the decade. It’s also worth noting that it not only breaks, but entirely demolishes the fourth wall to great comedic effect.

• Suitable for: ages 11+
• Run time: 2 hours 7 minutes

The Karate Kid is an empowering story about an underdog who comes up against many obstacles on his path to defend himself against bullies, but encounters a spiritual guide (Mr. Miyagi) who encourages him to fight back without embracing senseless violence. Needless to say, there’s plenty of action and the martial arts fight scenes take center stage—nevertheless, the movie still has plenty of soul and resonates decades later.

• Suitable for: ages 12+
• Run time: 2 hours

This one isn’t about athletes, but rather about the marching band members who herald their arrival on the field. The music is great, and the mostly Black cast, starring Nick Cannon and Orlando Jones, gives standout performances in this inspiring movie in which obstacles are overcome and character-building lessons are learned in the pursuit of a common goal.

• Suitable for: ages 12+
• Run time: 1 hour 58 minutes

Based on the young adult novel by Ann Brashares, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is a moving coming-of-age story that revolves around the close friendships of four high school girls, and the events that happen in their lives over the course of a summer in which they’re separated. Some of the content is heavy—one girl is dealing with the suicide of her mother and another reunites with her absentee father—but the genuine bonding that takes place between the girls as they navigate the ups and downs of life is a wholesome thing to watch.

• Suitable for: ages 13+
• Run time: 1 hour 42 minutes

Over-the-top, racy and utterly absurd—Adventures in Babysitting is a classic 80s comedy of errors that serves up plenty of entertainment. Parents should know that this movie is about every single wild thing that could possibly go wrong on a babysitting job, and that the script includes a fair amount of profanity and innuendo. Still, it’s pretty fun to watch.

• Suitable for: ages 9+
• Run time: 1 hour 38 minutes

This cult classic about a man’s efforts to reunite with his true love (the most beautiful woman in the world, duh) is fairy tale satire at its finest. The all-star cast (Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Andre the Giant and Cary Elwes, to name a few) give colorful and truly unforgettable performances and the dialogue is side-splittingly funny and full of wit. It’s not a Mel Brooks movie, but I bet he wishes it were.

• Suitable for: ages 8+
• Run time: 1 hour 38 minutes

A disgraced Olympian (John Candy) and Jamaica’s fastest sprinters work together to qualify as Jamaica’s first ever Olympic bobsledding team in this light-hearted and inspirational movie based on a true story. The characters and the dialogue are hilarious, the story is riveting and the positive messages about perseverance and teamwork are very uplifting.