Best Movies for 13-Year-Olds
We read the screenplay for every film on this list, so these aren't guesses based on a rating board's summary. Each pick below is recommended for ages 13 and up, with a note on exactly why it suits this age. Tap any title for the full scene-by-scene breakdown.
20 script-verified picks
- 1Forrest Gump1994 · PG-1313+
Only mild scares, mild peril only — our age 13+ pick
- 2Inception2010 · PG-1313+
Only mild scares, mild peril only — our age 13+ pick
- 3Cinema Paradiso1988 · PG13+
Only mild scares, mild peril only — our age 13+ pick
- 4The Dark Knight Rises2012 · PG-1313+
Only mild scares, mild peril only — our age 13+ pick
- 5Avengers: Infinity War2018 · PG-1313+
Some intense frightening scenes, strong action violence — our age 13+ pick
- 6Senna2010 · PG-1313+
Only mild scares, mild peril only — our age 13+ pick
- 7Hamilton2020 · PG-1313+
Only mild scares, mild peril only — our age 13+ pick
- 8Batman Begins2005 · PG-1313+
Only mild scares, mild peril only — our age 13+ pick
- 9Top Gun Maverick2022 · PG-1313+
Only mild scares, mild peril only — our age 13+ pick
- 10Stand by Me1986 · R13+
Only mild scares, mild peril only — our age 13+ pick
- 11Rocky1976 · PG13+
Only mild scares, mild peril only — our age 13+ pick
- 12Jaws1975 · PG13+
Some intense frightening scenes, strong action violence — our age 13+ pick
- 13Titanic1997 · PG-1313+
Only mild scares, mild peril only — our age 13+ pick
- 14Jojo Rabbit2019 · PG-1313+
Only mild scares, mild peril only — our age 13+ pick
- 15Spartacus1960 · PG-1313+
Only mild scares, strong action violence — our age 13+ pick
- 16Avatar2009 · PG-1313+
Only mild scares, mild peril only — our age 13+ pick
- 17Ferris Bueller's Day Off1986 · PG-1313+
Barely a scary moment, very mild peril — our age 13+ pick
- 18Dunkirk2017 · PG-1313+
Only mild scares, mild peril only — our age 13+ pick
- 19Walk the Line2005 · PG-1313+
Only mild scares, mild peril only — our age 13+ pick
- 20Mission: Impossible – Fallout2018 · PG-1313+
Only mild scares, mild peril only — our age 13+ pick
