Handpicked by Our Editors

Matilda
Age 8+
5

Matilda

Why We Recommend It

Clever Matilda handles bullying kids and berating adults with fantastical solutions that bend slightly dark and surreal.

Read our full review
What is your kid learning from teen movies?

Teenage movie content ranges all over the map. Young teens are naturally curious about more adult behavior, so it's not surprising that teens' movies with sex, violence, language, and edgy content are pretty standard. But this content can really impact impressionable youth, normalizing behavior that you may not want them to imitate.

Ask your kids about movie star role models. Listen, then offer your perspective and some reality checks.

Movie Reviews

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Movies New in Theaters for Early Teens (ages 12-14)

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The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that the second installment in the hugely popular Twilight saga is darker and a bit more violent than the first movie, but not enough to make it inappropriate for teens, especially those who've read the books. That said, the relationship ... read more

Age 13+
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
3
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The Blind Side (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this formulaic but uplifting family sports drama -- which is based on the true story of football player Michael Oher -- centers on messages about inclusion, the benefits of hard work, and the importance of family. That said, it ... read more

Age 12+
The Blind Side
3
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2012 (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that director Roland Emmerich's 2012 is an intense, violent disaster movie, with billions of anonymous characters getting killed during massive scenes of destruction (earthquakes, tsunamis, and more). Although the tone is mainly exciting, ... read more

Age 13+
2012
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The Fourth Kind (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this sci-fi thriller from director Olatunde Osunsanmi mixes supposedly real footage of alien abductees with re-creations played out by actors (including Milla Jovovich and Will Patton). That mix makes it hard to know what to believe, ... read more

Age 14+
The Fourth Kind
2
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The Box (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this Cameron Diaz thriller from the director of Donnie Darko is based on a macabre premise: that human beings would rather win money than protect a stranger's life. It's too confusing and intense for tweens and young teens, and, in ... read more

Age 13+
The Box
1
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Gentlemen Broncos (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that although this comedy from the folks behind Napoleon Dynamite -- which co-stars Flight of the Conchords' Jemaine Clement -- is pretty light on sexuality and swearing (particularly for a PG-13 movie), it's quite uncomfortable to watch. ... read more

Age 12+
Gentlemen Broncos
1
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Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that amped-up violence and language make The Vampire's Assistant movie too mature for younger tween fans of the Cirque du Freak books it's based on. There are several disturbing scenes of vampires stabbing, punching, kicking, and ... read more

Age 12+
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
2
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The Stepfather (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this thriller/horror remake of 1987's The Stepfather has plenty of tension, scares, and violence, though most of it is relatively bloodless. Three murders take place on screen (as well as fighting, attacks, etc.), and several other ... read more

Age 14+
The Stepfather
3
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Adventures of Power (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this tedious Napoleon Dynamite wannabe has some comedic violence (including beatings and martial arts), some kissing and suggestive talk, and a bit of strong language (including words like "p---y" and "ass"). ... read more

Age 13+
Adventures of Power
1
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Good Hair (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this Chris Rock documentary includes some mature themes related to race, femininity, and class. There's a fair amount of strong language (a couple of "f--k"s, as well as "s--t," "bitch," and the like), ... read more

Age 14+
Good Hair
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St. Trinian's (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this British boarding-school comedy will probably appeal most to teens who enjoy quirky and/or independent films -- though they won't find any positive role models or messages here. Although it's all played for laughs, the students ... read more

Age 13+
St. Trinian's
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An Education (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this smart 1960s-set drama written by popular author Nick Hornby explores a teenager's efforts to define her future, which includes making a mess of her well-laid plans -- most notably by becoming involved in a relationship with a ... read more

Age 14+
An Education
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Capitalism: A Love Story (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that, like all of Michael Moore's documentaries, this film has a very definite point of view and blurs the line between factual analysis and opinion. There's some analysis and information here, but viewers will also be presented with ... read more

Age 14+
Capitalism: A Love Story
2
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Whip It (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this coming-of-age sports dramedy -- which stars Juno's Ellen Page and was directed by perennial teen fave Drew Barrymore -- offers empowering messages for girls, especially those with unconventional interests/hobbies. Although the ... read more

Age 13+
Whip It
3
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The Invention of Lying (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that The Invention of Lying is, like most of star Ricky Gervais' humor, irreverent and edgy (though also thought provoking). Nothing is sacred -- including religion (in the movie, the concept of God, aka "The Man in the Sky," is ... read more

Age 14+
The Invention of Lying
3
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Fame (2009) (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this remake of the 1980 movie musical Fame has been heavily marketed to tweens and teens on television and online. Although it's rated PG (unlike the original, which was rated R), it feels more like a PG-13 movie, especially in ... read more

Age 12+
Fame (2009)
2
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The Boys Are Back (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that The Boys Are Back is a moving drama about profound loss experienced by both adults and children -- subject matter that could easily overwhelm younger kids and tweens. A mother’s death is depicted onscreen, as is her family's ... read more

Age 13+
The Boys Are Back
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Surrogates (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that Surrogates pushes the limits of its PG-13 rating. Yes, it's set in a futuristic world and most of the violence and mayhem is directed at robot "surrogates," but the images are still disturbingly bloody and destructive ... read more

Age 14+
Surrogates
2
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Love Happens (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this romantic dramedy centers on the topic of grief (and moving past it). There are plenty of tearful references to how characters' loved ones died, so teens dealing with loss or other separation-related issues may find the movie ... read more

Age 14+
Love Happens
2
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Bright Star (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this moving period romance is tame on the surface -- there's virtually no violence, sex, strong language or other iffy content -- but it has an undercurrent of sexual longing fueled by social barriers that complicate the characters' ... read more

Age 12+
Bright Star
4
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Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All by Myself (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

Parent need to know that this dramedy based on a play by Tyler Perry is both gritty and righteous. Although, like Perry's other films, it ends on a decidedly optimistic (if unsurprising) note, the main character is an iffy role model ... read more

Age 14+
Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All by Myself
2
more new in theater

New on DVD for Early Teens (ages 12-14)

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Star Trek (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that although this slick, upbeat sci-fi adventure isn't much more violent than the earlier Star Trek movies, there's a heightened feel that gives it a little bit more edge. While the action is (mostly) bloodless, it's also intense; expect ... read more

Age 12+
Star Trek
4
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My Sister's Keeper (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this tearjerking drama explores some heavy themes that younger audiences may find difficult to process without guidance. A teenager is terminally ill, and her march to the end is painful: She vomits after chemo, her hair ... read more

Age 14+
My Sister's Keeper
3
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My One and Only (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that although this 1950s-set comedy starring Renee Zellweger is fairly light and frothy in tone, it takes on mature themes like adultery, single parenthood, and divorce's effects on children. In addition to plenty of irresponsible ... read more

Age 14+
My One and Only
3
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Food, Inc. (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this documentary is a hard-hitting exposé on the food industry, especially the elite group of powerful corporations behind most of the food on supermarket counters. Most teens may not be interested, even though the documentary is ... read more

Age 13+
Food, Inc.
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I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this is a review of the movie shown in theaters and not the unrated version with an alternate ending available on DVD.Parents also need to know that this deplorable teen comedy targets teens especially since it stars Heroes ... read more

Age 14+
I Love You, Beth Cooper
1
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G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this relentless action adventure inspired by the '80s cartoon/toy line is filled with extreme (albeit minimally bloody/gory) violence. Kids will want to see it because they're the ones who play with the toys, but there's no end to ... read more

Age 13+
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
1
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Nothing Like the Holidays (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that, like most contemporary holiday movies, this film features a large, loud, "dysfunctional" family dealing with lots of issues. One son has just come back from Iraq and could have post-traumatic stress, another has a Jewish ... read more

Age 13+
Nothing Like the Holidays
3
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Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this sequel to 2007's Transformers is edgier and less kid-friendly than the first. Kids will want to see it because they're the ones who play with the toys the movie was inspired by, but it's packed with metal-on-metal mayhem and ... read more

Age 13+
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
1
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Drag Me to Hell (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this is a review of the movie seen in theaters and not the unrated version available on DVD. Many of the scares, jumps, and jolts in this horror/action movie from Spider-Man director Sam Raimi are played for comic effect. Still, it's ... read more

Age 13+
Drag Me to Hell
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Land of the Lost (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this big-screen version of the cult-classic 1970s TV show has lots of vulgar language, as well as an extended sequence in which some of the main characters are clearly stoned on a natural narcotic/hallucinogenic substance. There's ... read more

Age 14+
Land of the Lost
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The Proposal (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this charming romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds has a much talked-about scene in which the leads, both naked, accidentally crash into and fall down on top of each other. But since it's rated PG-13, all that's ... read more

Age 14+
The Proposal
4
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Dance Flick (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this lowbrow comedy is much raunchier than the teen-friendly dance movies it's spoofing. There's lots of gross-out humor, including a character's head literally going up his butt, a fat man squashing a thinner man in a dance battle, ... read more

Age 14+
Dance Flick
2
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My Life in Ruins (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this romcom probably isn't on most kids' radar, with the exception of teen girls who love romantic films. Sexuality includes discussions about the main character's sex life, some kissing, and a brief post-coital shot of a ... read more

Age 13+
My Life in Ruins
3
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Year One (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this farcical romp through the Book of Genesis -- which was originally rated R but got edited down to an edgy PG-13 -- is full of slapstick violence, crude sexual material, strong language (including "f--k"), and ... read more

Age 14+
Year One
2
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Superman Batman: Public Enemies (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this animated action story pits Superman and his pal Batman against almost every other supervillain and hero. Superman is framed for a murder he didn’t commit, but the authorities are determined to bring him in, and the task falls ... read more

Age 13+
Superman Batman: Public Enemies
3
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Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this predictable romantic comedy about a shameless womanizer who ultimately sees the error of his ways has plenty of innuendo and discussion about sex, though there's more talk than action. Expect to see deep kissing, some groping, ... read more

Age 14+
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
2
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X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this comic book prequel isn't as tween-friendly as the earlier X-Men movies. Although many of the mutants are pretty indestructible, the action is still bloodier than in the previous films, thanks to the fact that much of it is ... read more

Age 13+
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
2
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Easy Virtue (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this play-based period comedy might not seem to be standard fare for teens at first glance, but its two leads -- Jessica Biel of 7th Heaven and Prince Caspian's Ben Barnes -- may be a draw. The film tackles some mature themes, mainly ... read more

Age 14+
Easy Virtue
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Nature of the Beast (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this suspenseful made-for-TV movie includes occasionally bloody violence and multiple scenes of gun use. Frightening werewolves hunt and attack humans, biting them to pass along the curse or, in one case, devouring them altogether ... read more

Age 13+
Nature of the Beast
3
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State of Play (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this Russell Crowe/Ben Affleck thriller is a mix of violence, political intrigue, and sexual innuendo -- all mature themes that are unlikely to appeal to young viewers. Characters steal, drink, smoke, and lie to the point where it's ... read more

Age 14+
State of Play
4
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Duplicity (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this caper film isn't a tween-friendly romantic comedy. Although it's both romantic and comedic, it's also a cerebral spy thriller with so many twists that even some adults will be confused. And although the main characters are ... read more

Age 14+
Duplicity
4
more new on DVD

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