No painfully childish picks

15 Best Family Films for Teenagers That Adults Will Enjoy Too

Family film night gets harder when younger viewers have outgrown simple children's films but the group still needs something everyone can watch. These picks respect teenage attention spans and give adults something real to enjoy.

01
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
2018
1h 57mPG8.4/10Animation · Action · Adventure
AnimationAction
WHY IT FITS
Inventive animation, a great soundtrack and a sincere story about becoming ready in your own way.
THE VIEWING BRIEF
This belongs on your list when the brief is: Animation · Action.
View movie details
02
Enola Holmes
2020
2h 4m127.2/10Adventure · Mystery · Crime
MysteryAdventure

CAN'T FIND EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE AFTER?

Tell Ask The Movie what you want.

Describe the mood, the people watching, what to avoid, how much time you have — or the oddly specific film in your head.

Ask now

WHY IT FITS

A bright mystery with a capable teenage lead and enough momentum for a mixed-age group.

THE VIEWING BRIEF

This belongs on your list when the brief is: Mystery · Adventure.

View movie details

03

Hunt for the Wilderpeople

2016

1h 41m12A7.6/10Adventure · Comedy · Drama

FunnyWarm

WHY IT FITS

A rebellious boy and reluctant foster uncle become the subjects of a national manhunt.

THE VIEWING BRIEF

This belongs on your list when the brief is: Funny · Warm.

View movie details

04

The Martian

2015

2h 21m12A7.7/10Science Fiction · Drama · Adventure

Science fictionLanguage warning

WHY IT FITS

Science, resilience and dry humour turn survival on Mars into an unusually optimistic blockbuster.

THE VIEWING BRIEF

This belongs on your list when the brief is: Science fiction · Language warning.

View movie details

05

Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves

2023

FantasyComedy

WHY IT FITS

A generous fantasy adventure built around teamwork, jokes and likeable failures.

THE VIEWING BRIEF

This belongs on your list when the brief is: Fantasy · Comedy.

06

Hidden Figures

2016

2h 7mPG8/10Drama · History

True storyInspiring

WHY IT FITS

An accessible true story about the Black women mathematicians central to NASA's space programme.

THE VIEWING BRIEF

This belongs on your list when the brief is: True story · Inspiring.

View movie details

07

School of Rock

2003

MusicComedy

WHY IT FITS

A chaotic substitute teacher helps a class discover confidence through a secret rock band.

THE VIEWING BRIEF

This belongs on your list when the brief is: Music · Comedy.

08

Kubo and the Two Strings

2016

1h 42mPG7.6/10Animation · Adventure · Family

AnimationFantasy

WHY IT FITS

Beautiful stop-motion fantasy with real danger, family history and emotional weight.

THE VIEWING BRIEF

This belongs on your list when the brief is: Animation · Fantasy.

View movie details

09

The Mitchells vs. the Machines

2021

1h 50mPG7.8/10Animation · Adventure · Comedy

AnimationVery funny

WHY IT FITS

A messy family road trip collides with a robot uprising in a rapid, visually playful comedy.

THE VIEWING BRIEF

This belongs on your list when the brief is: Animation · Very funny.

View movie details

10

Akeelah and the Bee

2006

1h 53mNot rated7/10Drama

InspiringDrama

WHY IT FITS

A talented student enters the world of competitive spelling and finds a community behind her.

THE VIEWING BRIEF

This belongs on your list when the brief is: Inspiring · Drama.

View movie details

11

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

2017

1h 59m12A6.8/10Adventure · Comedy · Fantasy

AdventureComedy

WHY IT FITS

Teenage personalities land in mismatched game avatars, creating an easy ensemble adventure.

THE VIEWING BRIEF

This belongs on your list when the brief is: Adventure · Comedy.

View movie details

12

The Truman Show

1998

1h 43mPG8.2/10Comedy · Drama

SatireThoughtful

WHY IT FITS

Funny, accessible and newly relevant for conversations about privacy, performance and reality.

THE VIEWING BRIEF

This belongs on your list when the brief is: Satire · Thoughtful.

View movie details

13

Nimona

2023

1h 39mPG7.9/10Animation · Family · Fantasy

AnimationInclusive

WHY IT FITS

An energetic shape-shifting adventure about labels, loyalty and who gets called a monster.

THE VIEWING BRIEF

This belongs on your list when the brief is: Animation · Inclusive.

View movie details

14

October Sky

1999

1h 47mPG7.7/10Drama · History · Family

True storyScience

WHY IT FITS

A coal miner's son becomes fascinated by rocketry in a sturdy, rewarding true story.

THE VIEWING BRIEF

This belongs on your list when the brief is: True story · Science.

View movie details

15

The Princess Bride

1987

1h 39mPG7.7/10Adventure · Fantasy · Romance

ClassicFantasy

WHY IT FITS

Adventure, romance and comedy delivered with enough wit to survive endless family rewatches.

THE VIEWING BRIEF

This belongs on your list when the brief is: Classic · Fantasy.

View movie details

Tell Ask The Movie what you want.

Related movie guides

Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves

School of Rock