From PG to PG-13: Movies to Help Your 12-Year-Old Make the Leap
Jon Wilkinson · · 4 min read
PG movies to prepare 12-year-olds for a PG-13 selection. Is your 12-year-old ready for a PG-13 movie already? There's a selection just for you.
The best first steps from PG to PG-13 for a 12-year-old are serious-minded PG films like David, The Truman Show and Back to the Future, followed by The Martian as a good introduction to PG-13. Each one has more weight than a typical kids' movie, and each comes with notes below on what to watch for before you press play.
Choose tonight’s movie
Quick Picks
David — A PG animated film with many serious scenes, a great transition for kids used to animation.
The Truman Show — A unique, psychological premise that gets kids asking questions.
Back to the Future — An adventure to the past that holds attention with the premise alone.
The Martian — A good introduction to PG-13 for kids who love space and science.
Movie Knight guide
The Full List
David is a great film to prepare kids for PG-13 movies. Although David is a PG animated film, it has many serious scenes. This film is a musical depiction of the story of David, a shepherd boy who rises to the challenges he faces. If your kid is used to watching animated media, this film can be a great transition.
David teaches about courage, leadership and believing in yourself. This film has enough action to keep the kids' attention along with great messages for kids to learn. There are some moments that may scare younger children, though the film should be safe for most ages.
The Truman Show is a great film with an incredibly unique premise. This film follows Truman, an insurance salesman who lives in a world of lies. The Truman Show is a very psychological film that can keep kids' attention while also getting them to ask questions. I highly recommend this film not just for 12-year-olds but for anyone older as well.
The Truman Show asks why truth and freedom are important. With this film's unique premise and intense moments, it's sure to keep everyone's attention. It does have a few intense scenes involving existential crisis and manipulation that can feel unsettling, so tread with caution in showing young children this film. Overall this is a great film that I recommend everyone watch at least once.
Back to the Future is a classic film with fun characters and crazy situations. The film follows Marty McFly, a high school student, and Doc Brown, a scientist who invented time travel. Back to the Future is an adventure to the past that will keep your 12-year-old's attention with the premise alone.
Back to the Future teaches about the importance of choice and how your actions can shape your future. This film has iconic characters with great, fun personalities that kids will love. There are quite a few scenes with scary moments, drinking and smoking; parents should keep this in mind before showing it. I highly recommend this film as something everyone should watch at least once.
The Martian is a great film that, I believe, is a good introduction to PG-13 films. The film follows Mark Watney, an astronaut exploring Mars. The Martian is a science fiction survival journey filled not only with educational science but also with high-stakes tension. I highly recommend this film for people who love space and science.
The Martian teaches about perseverance even in the worst situations, as well as the importance of science and learning. The film's premise alone will keep everyone's attention. It has quite a few intense scenes, as well as some strong language; be cautious watching this with younger kids. This is a great film that both parents and teens can enjoy together.
Before you press play
A note for parents
The three PG films on this list carry serious scenes and bigger ideas than most kids' movies, which makes them a natural bridge. When your 12-year-old is ready, The Martian is a good first PG-13 pick, with intense scenes and some strong language to keep in mind. For more ideas, see our Best Movies for a 12-Year-Old list and Classic Movies Your 10-Year-Old Is Ready For. Find parent guides for every movie here at movie-knight.com.
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Jon Wilkinson
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