Movie night with teenagers - your recommendations?

January 23, 2019 6:28 AM

We like a movie night in our house - couple of recent favourites have been Grease & Ferris Bueller's Day Off - before that it was Pitch Perfect & Mean Girls. What else should we be watching that hits a similar spot? Kids are 15 & 13.

This is for relaxation & family bonding time, so not looking for anything too challenging. Bonus points for school or school-adjacent settings, positive messages around diversity & inclusion wherever possible, and especially for stories about essentially warm-hearted kids who win out over curmudgeonly &/or misunderstanding adults. Putting-on-a-show or sporting themes are most welcome. Sexual content & language up to approx Pitch Perfect levels is fine, but none of us want to see violence & meanness.

Few other things that have already been on repeat play over the years...
Disney/Pixar - I think we've mined this seam out
Harry Potter
Studio Ghibli - two of us are big fans, the other two not so much

I got a very positive response to Some Like It Hot, although not for Singin in the Rain. I'm keeping Les 400 Coups in reserve, but subtitles and b/w are a turn-off for some family members.

Clueless, The Karate Kid, Back to the Future, Gregory's Girl, Bend It Like Beckham, Strictly Ballroom were all good. Which of your family's favourites have I missed?

posted by rd45 to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (61 answers total)

Field of Dreams, A League of Their Own
posted by MrsBell at 6:41 AM on January 23, 2019 [7 favorites]

Little Miss Sunshine
10 Things I Hate About You
Moonrise Kingdom (?)
The Princess Bride??

Note, my son is only 2 so I haven't watched these with him but they are movies I'd be happy to show him around your kids' ages.
posted by CiaoMela at 6:41 AM on January 23, 2019 [3 favorites]

Legally Blonde, Bring It on, Josie and the Pussycats (super cute and sadly overlooked comedy. The one with Rachael Leigh Cook and Rosario Dawson), A League of their Own, Camp, High School Musical (catchy songs, fun for light mocking), Whip It.
posted by Aquifer at 6:41 AM on January 23, 2019 [6 favorites]

Hairspray!
posted by btfreek at 6:44 AM on January 23, 2019 [3 favorites]

Uncle Buck.
posted by ZipRibbons at 6:45 AM on January 23, 2019 [3 favorites]

Star Wars
The Princess Bride
School of Rock
Indiana Jones
Groundhog Day
Ghostbusters (old and new)
Pirates of the Caribbean
Beetlejuice
The Lego Movie
posted by Rock Steady at 6:45 AM on January 23, 2019 [13 favorites]

Hunt for Wilderness. Make it a New Zealand theme night.
posted by RoadScholar at 6:45 AM on January 23, 2019 [3 favorites]

The Cutting Edge
posted by glenngulia at 6:48 AM on January 23, 2019 [3 favorites]

Are action movies ok? Oceans 11etc don’t have much sex and no more violence than fisticuffs. My brother LOVED The Italian Job at this age.
posted by genmonster at 6:49 AM on January 23, 2019 [4 favorites]

If Some Like it Hot was a hit, then Bringing Up Baby or His Girl Friday (or anything else in the screwball vein) would probably be good.

I haven't seen it in years so I don't know how well it's aged, but I couldn't get enough of Newsies at that age.
posted by backwards compatible at 6:50 AM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]

It doesn't really hit any of the themes you're looking for, but I have to recommend A Knight's Tale, because from age 11ish onwards it was and is my family's number one family film night film ^{(Heath Ledger's death was a mymblethfamily deep tragedy)}. I can practically recite the whole thing by heart. It is hilarious. You won't regret it.

Also another vote for Groundhog Day.
posted by mymbleth at 6:50 AM on January 23, 2019 [11 favorites]

Stardust
The NeverEnding Story
The Goonies
Coraline
Stand by Me
posted by fourpotatoes at 7:28 AM on January 23, 2019 [6 favorites]

Bring It On is Pitch Perfect's overachieving Gen X sister, and I strongly recommend it.
posted by restless_nomad at 7:28 AM on January 23, 2019 [6 favorites]

E.T.
Wargames
James and the Giant Peach
Beetlejuice
The Wedding Singer
Whale Rider
The Secret of Roan Innish
A Cat in Paris
Pleasantville
The Manhattan Project (1986)
Spy
posted by mikepop at 7:37 AM on January 23, 2019 [4 favorites]

First Position (a documentary, but really good)
Babies (a documentary, but also really good)
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (both 1 and 2)
Mama Mia!
Big Fish
Grumpy Old Men
Empire Records
Star Wars
A Wrinkle in Time
Spider-Man: Multiverse
Sister Act (1 and 2)
posted by jillithd at 8:00 AM on January 23, 2019 [6 favorites]

My similar-aged children are obsessed with Dirty Dancing.
posted by padraigin at 8:01 AM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure?
posted by LizardBreath at 8:05 AM on January 23, 2019 [3 favorites]

Hairspray
posted by Pineapplicious at 8:06 AM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]

Um, hi. THE PRINCESS BRIDE!!!
posted by Sophie1 at 8:08 AM on January 23, 2019 [6 favorites]

Oh! How could I forget Real Genius?
posted by backwards compatible at 8:09 AM on January 23, 2019 [8 favorites]

15 and 13 seems like a pretty good age to watch Clue, no?
posted by bowmaniac at 8:10 AM on January 23, 2019 [10 favorites]

Small Soldiers
Mystery Men
posted by JimN2TAW at 8:11 AM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]

The Hunt for the Wilderpeople which I will recommend to anyone, ever, at all times. A foster kid of indigenous heritage is placed with an elder white foster couple, as a last resort. It's apparent the wife wants the kid, whereas the husband is gruff and standoffish. Without spoiling too much, they get lost together in the New Zealand brush, and bonding ensues. It is heartfelt without being saccharine, they learn to respect and care for each other while still not meshing well.
posted by FirstMateKate at 8:12 AM on January 23, 2019 [3 favorites]

Sorry to double post, But also:

Big Fish (a son comes to terms with his father's impending death and tendency to imbellish facts about his life through beautiful story telling about adventure and love)
Stardust (a fantasy movie about an outcast boy who gets mixed up with magic, witches, and stars, while trying to win his love, ultimately finding his home in the end.)
posted by FirstMateKate at 8:17 AM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]

Fly Away Home
Whale Rider
Neverending Story 1 & 2
Willow
Princess Bride
Ella Enchanted
Ever After
Addams Family/Addams Family Values
Sleepy Hollow
Beetlejuice
Groundhog Day
Ghostbusters 1, 2 & 3
You've Got Mail
Steel Magnolias
Splash
High Spirits
Legally Blonde 1 & 2
Ghost
Jumanji (both versions)
Hook
The Secret Garden
Heidi
The Trouble With Angels
The Parent Trap (older version)
The Incredible Journey
The Last Unicorn
posted by TrishaU at 8:18 AM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]

What About Bob?
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (I was about that age when I first saw it)
posted by FencingGal at 8:51 AM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]

Creed.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:07 AM on January 23, 2019 [1 favorite]

Comedies:
Dave
My Cousin Vinny
Mrs Doubtfire
Coming of age:
Boyhood
School of Rock
Stand by me
Pretty in pink/ Some kind of wonderful
Pump up the volume

Black Comedy
Romy and Michelle’s high school reunion
I,Tonya
Heathers
Drop dead Gorgeous
So I Married an Axe Murderer

Drama/Fantasy
The Truman show
Midnight in Paris

Teen movies
10 things I hate about you
Never been Kissed
Miss Congeniality
posted by Champagne Supernova at 9:10 AM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]

Lots of great suggestions, above.

There is always Better Off Dead: my 14-y.o. quotes it to me endlessly now....which I actually don't mind. (There is certainly some cringe-y stuff in it, but nothing like in, say, the rated-R Tapeheads.)

Not sure on your household's policy on swearing but I am very fond of The Commitments; note that even the non-prudes at IMDB wince over all those f-words. Maybe save that one for later?
--
(Re-reading your post and yeah, The Commitments is out of reach for now!)
posted by wenestvedt at 9:23 AM on January 23, 2019 [3 favorites]

Footloose
Rock and Roll High School
Ladies and Gentlemen the Fabulous Stains
The Year My Voice Broke
Edward Scissorhands
posted by brujita at 9:29 AM on January 23, 2019 [1 favorite]

Have they seen Riverdance? The music is good, the dancing is still amaaaaazing, and the version of the show that includes tap is really something. Watch it early so you can TURN UP THE VOLUME FOR MAXIMUM CLOPPING.

There are a couple of movies in the Princess Diaries series, and they're nice: Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway and scenery of castles.

Also, have you watched any MST3k?
posted by wenestvedt at 9:31 AM on January 23, 2019 [1 favorite]

A lot of the ones I would have suggested have been brought up already, but I'm shocked that no one has recommended The Breakfast Club.

Stick It is a surprisingly entertaining, often overlooked film in the vein of Bring It On, but about gymnastics. I actually enjoy it more than Bring It On, which has already been suggested here. I expect you guys will like both. The sequels to Bring It On have diminishing returns.

Dirty Dancing was a huge hit with us at that age (though yes, some sex and adult topics like abortion). It's a surprisingly progressive as an adult.

I actually like Grease 2, ha. If they liked Grease enough, it might be enjoyable. It's not as good as the original, but I saw it at that age and still like it because of that. I may have seen Grease 2 first, honestly. It's all fuzzy.
posted by terilou at 9:39 AM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]

Clue!
posted by lucy.jakobs at 9:47 AM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]

Good suggestions above (Real Genius, yes!, and definitely try Bringing Up Baby).

Some possible additional suggestions
Galaxy Quest
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Frighteners
Doc Hollywood
Noises Off (maybe?)
posted by gudrun at 9:58 AM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]

Roughly the same age kids here, and we've recently enjoyed at home:

Bullitt
The Thin Man
Strangers on a Train
Crazy Rich Asians
rewatching all the Marvel movies in order
The Imitation Game

They all have some violence and/or some meanness but it didn't feel like too much to me.
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:58 AM on January 23, 2019 [3 favorites]

> I'm shocked that no one has recommended The Breakfast Club

It hasn't aged well. None of those movies have.
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:59 AM on January 23, 2019 [6 favorites]

On a bit of a different tack:

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Spaceballs
Blazing Saddles

More (?) wholesome movies that come to mind: Apollo 13, Smoke Signals, Citizen Kane. The various Muppet movies.
posted by trig at 10:24 AM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]

Casablanca!
posted by monotreme at 10:34 AM on January 23, 2019 [3 favorites]

Sing Street (Irish teens in a rock band! Good music and so fun!)
Love Simon (fun teen rom com with a gay male lead)
Whip It (teen roller derby with an empowering message!)
posted by wsquared at 10:40 AM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]

The Mighty Ducks (there are three movies)
posted by jillithd at 11:21 AM on January 23, 2019 [1 favorite]

Someone mentioned Heathers above. As a parent of middle schoolers I would give that one a hard no. I remembered it only vaguely and tried it with my kids recently, only to be horrified by the casual homophobia and just, everything. Sixteen Candles also. Just no.
posted by libraryhead at 11:29 AM on January 23, 2019 [4 favorites]

Caddyshack
posted by porn in the woods at 11:46 AM on January 23, 2019 [1 favorite]

Did someone already say Clueless? Back to the Future? (Sorry, just saw these were already on your list. Ignore me!)
posted by bluedaisy at 11:53 AM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]

In case you don't know: Common Sense Media can be good for finding movies and making sure that they're appropriate for your family.
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:04 PM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]

Cloak and Dagger

The Last Starfighter
posted by *s at 12:06 PM on January 23, 2019 [3 favorites]

Angus
Lucas
Both about outcasts and inclusion

La Bamba
about Ritchie Valens

Oldies - i worked in a video store in college
posted by domino at 12:21 PM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]

sports

Rudy
miracle
Secretariat
Seabiscuit
posted by domino at 12:41 PM on January 23, 2019 [3 favorites]

Strange Brew
posted by porn in the woods at 12:54 PM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]

My so-called life (tv series).
posted by No Robots at 1:16 PM on January 23, 2019 [1 favorite]

And “Strange Brew” serves as a GREAT entry point to Shakespeare!!
posted by wenestvedt at 2:31 PM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]

Make a double feature of “Miracle” and “The Cutting Edge,” preferrably when it’s very hot outside.
posted by wenestvedt at 2:32 PM on January 23, 2019 [1 favorite]

Mad Hot Ballroom (documentary) is about children practicing for a NYC dance contest.
posted by Botanizer at 2:45 PM on January 23, 2019 [1 favorite]

She's the man for more Shakespeare.

Thoroughbreds (some violence).
posted by No Robots at 2:56 PM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]

I think "Easy A" would be a good fit. Although it has sexual themes, they are presented in a funny, not vulgar, way.
posted by tacodave at 4:02 PM on January 23, 2019 [1 favorite]

We love all the Fast & Furious movies except Tokyo Drift, which is inferior. Best watched in order.
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:37 PM on January 23, 2019 [1 favorite]

One of my kids and I loved Step, but it isn't a cheerful, relaxing movie, if that's what you're looking for.
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:38 PM on January 23, 2019 [1 favorite]

Remember the Titans
posted by Kris10_b at 7:05 PM on January 23, 2019 [1 favorite]

The criminally underrated That Thing You Do. They’re about college-age rather than high school, but they do win over some curmudgeonly adults, and the movie is mostly relentlessly cheerful. Bonus: Tom Hanks!
posted by MexicanYenta at 6:05 AM on January 24, 2019 [6 favorites]

I adored the Princess Bride, would 100% recommend. The Greatest Showman if you haven't seen it already, and don't mind the utter ahistoricity. Legally Blonde is AMAZING, and I think that Jupiter Ascending gets an unfairly bad rap because it happens to be a tween girl's wish fulfilment fantasy rather than a teen boy's (*cough*Kingsman*cough*). If your kids haven't seen it, the Gene Wilder Willy Wonka is lovely and so much better than the terrible creepy Depp version. Crazy Rich Asians is also wonderful, and Searching (with John Cho) is a beautifully conceptualised thriller with absolutely stellar acting - as a bonus, the theme of the movie (can't say more bc spoilers) is super relevant for teens, I think. And John Cho is absolutely stellar in it.

I vaguely remember watching Les 400 Coups as part of a film class and while it was a groundbreaking movie I can't for the life of me imagine it as pleasant family movie night fare. It's very... French, for good or ill.

You'll need subtitles so this may not work for you, but Chak De! is a wonderful sports movie about the fictional Indian women's hockey team and their quest for gold.
posted by Tamanna at 12:10 AM on January 25, 2019 [1 favorite]

Oh! Billy Elliot! So good.
posted by Tamanna at 12:11 AM on January 25, 2019 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Such great suggestions! Thank you all so much, we're set for movies now for months if not years. I can't pick out a "best answer" without skipping several others that are just as good, so I'm going to whip through all the replies & give everyone a(nother) favourite.

Thank you! I love this site.
posted by rd45 at 3:44 AM on January 25, 2019 [1 favorite]