<p>There was a thread a while ago on books for 13-year-olds, and it was a great resource. I was thinking today that I’d like to do the same thing for movies. I think my older son could benefit from the occasional escapist film - the middle-school angst is kicking in these days.</p>
<p>These are a few that we liked:</p>
<p>October Sky
Searching for Bobby Fischer
Twelve Angry Men
Ice Age</p>
<p>Anyone else?</p>
<p>when my D was that age- I couldnt tell you how many times she saw the lord of the rings movies
Looking for alibrandi was also popular, although probly more for girls</p>
<p>“Now and Then” (1995) - starring Christina Ricci and Thora Birch (great coming of age movie for girls; don’t know how guys might feel about it?)
“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986) - starring Matthew Broderick - it’s been on TV a zillion times, but if your son hasn’t seen it yet, I’d rent it this weekend!
“Stand by Me” (1986 - good year for movies!) - starring River Phoenix, Jerry O’Connell, Kiefer Sutherland - intense but extremely well done coming of age film about coming to terms with death, among other things.
“The Sandlot” (1993) - starring a lot of very winning young actors; don’t know what any of them may be up to now, but it’s about baseball, friends, growing up, fathers - really a wonderful film.
“To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962) - starring Gregory Peck, of course, but Phillip Alford as Jem gives my favorite performance in the film; it’s a wonderful coming of age story as well as a period piece, courtroom drama, social commentary, etc.</p>
<p>When my ds were your son’s age, the “Back to the Future” films were hugely popular around here.</p>
<p>“The Thief Lord” (based on the book)
“A Wrinkle in Time” (based on the book)
“The Princess Bride” (boys shouldn’t be put off by the title - it is a humorous, swashbuckling film)
“Sky High” (movie about high school for young superheroes)</p>
<p>Also, my 12 year old 7th grader really likes Humphrey Bogart movies.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>They weren’t that long ago, were they?</p>
<p>Am I old?</p>
<p>Anyway, here’s a list of some films I enjoyed at that age:</p>
<p>Star Wars
Indiana Jones (mostly Raiders and Last Crusade)
The Breakfast Club
Jaws</p>
<p>Some more recent flims I’d recommend:</p>
<p>Napoleon Dynamite (harmless fun)
Beavis and Butthead do America (unless your kid is terminally stupid, of course)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This movie is GREAT. Rats of Unusual Size, indeed!</p>
<p>Thanks for all the suggestions! My son has seen Napoleon Dynamite, and loved it. He’s also seen the Lord of the Rings movies and all of the Star Wars movies, most multiple times. The others he hasn’t seen, so I’ve got a great list now.</p>
<p>Another Princess Bride vote. Let me explain. No, it’s too much. Let me sum up. One of the all-time greats, with great lines. Also, since most teens seem to love the overly dramatic genre that IS S.E. Hinton – Tex, The Outsiders, and Rumble Fish.</p>
<p>I will second Sandlot and October Sky and Napoleon Dynamite</p>
<p>Oh yeah, and
Ferris Bueller
LOTR (you’re right UCLAri, wasn’t the final one like 2 years ago? 
)
Star Wars
Indiana Jones</p>
<p>And my sons also liked Princess Bride. </p>
<p>And:
Naked Gun
Rat Race
Goodburger
newer Parent Trap
Hero
Spiderman movies
Xmen movies
Marx bros movies (esp Duck Soup)
Baby’s Day Out
The Mask
Ocean’s Eleven & Twelve
King Kong
War of the Worlds
Major Payne
Trial and Error
UHF
Wayne’s World
School of Rock
Knight’s Tale
Legend of Zorro (and mask)
The Rookie
Rudy
Sahara (great soundtrack, btw)
Big Fat Greek Wedding
Holes
National Treasure
Pirates of the Carribbean
Mission Impossible movies</p>
<p>they even watch lots of Woody Allen with me:
Annie Hall
Broadway Danny Rose
Everyone Says I Love You
Sleeper</p>
<p>Just one to add right now…</p>
<p>Monty Python and the Holy Grail</p>
<p>a classic…</p>
<p>OMG, yes, how could we forget (“run away!”)</p>
<p>What a great list. I love all these movies. Maybe I’m just 14 years old at heart when it comes to movies. I’ll second Oceans Eleven as a movie kids like (but NOT Oceans Twelve - what a bore), but there are a few things in there that might offend parents like the accasional F-word and a lap dance.</p>
<p>digmedia, I agree, but many movies we taped when they were on TV and so they are edited 
another example is Liar Liar which we taped off TV, and I know there were some more offensive words/scenes in the original (which I haven’t seen for a long time)</p>
<p>Oh man,</p>
<p>If the kid can handle some mild nudity and swearing, the “Life of Brian” is probably the best Monty Python film.</p>
<p>“What shall we do, oh Lord?”
“F off!”
“…”
“How shall we F off oh Lord?”</p>
<p>“Hudsucker Proxy”, with Tim Robbins.</p>
<p>Spellbound
Finding Forrester</p>
<p>Hudsucker Proxy was great!! I always forget about that one. </p>
<p>thought of some more:
Happy Gilmore
Big Daddy
Galaxy Quest
Remember the Titans
What About Bob
Small Time Crooks
Back to the Future movies
Fiddler on the Roof
Home Alone 1 & 2
Sgt Bilko</p>
<p>Freaky Friday
Mrs. Doubtfire
Tootsie
Rain Man
Stepford Wives
French Films: Les Choristes , Etre et Avoir,
A Real Oldie: Young Mr. Lincoln
Grease
The Incredibles
Terminal
Castaway
Catch Me If you Can
Another Oldie but real Goodie: Some Like It Hot</p>
<p>Hahaha … Life of Brian is certainly hilarious … especially when you’ve seen Jesus of Nazareth as many times as I have.</p>
<p>For girls, I have to recommend Ever After.</p>
<p>Not favs at my house, but big favs of some friends of ours</p>
<p>Pink Panther movies!</p>
<p>Some others my son (now almost 15) likes that are off the beaten path-
Chocolat?? He just likes it, I think it is Alfred Molina
Crouching Tiger, Hidden, you know
Anything that is somehow related to a video game, even the ones he doesn’t usually play
Much Ado About Nothing (he says it makes up for Julius Caesar, not his favorite Shakespeare play)
Most of Brendan Fraser’s movies (more Alfred Molina)
Gladiator - wouldn’t recommend for anyone younger, he FFs through the “boring parts”
Terminal
Castaway
The battle scenes from Alexander (he’s watched them a dozen times, passing through the TV channels)</p>