Adventure Awaits: 80 Top Action Movies for Tweens

This classic adventure movie series follows the life of Indiana Jones, an archaeologist with a knack for getting into thrilling, action-packed situations.

There are 5 movies in the Indiana Jones Franchise: The classic three from the 1980s, and two newer releases from 2008 and 2023.

Based on the book series, this action-packed film trilogy is a perfect way to introduce tweens to strong, independent characters like Katniss Everdeen.

As well as the original 3 Hunger Games movies, there is a newer prequal movie, 'The Ballard of Songbirds and Snakes', which came out in 2023.

The first Hunger Games movie has a 15 age rating, whilst the subsequent movies in the series are rated 12A. Due to the nature of the plot, there are violent scenes. Parental guidance sites like Common Sense Media are a great place to work out whether the content is suitable for your tween.

Follow the journey of a young boy who learns martial arts from a wise mentor. It's a great movie for teaching life lessons.

Good news! If you tween loves The Karate Kid, there are four more movies in the franchise.

Join Marty McFly and Doc Brown on a time-traveling adventure trilogy with great humour and life lessons.

For kids who love dinosaurs and adventure, this movie takes an unexpected turn when a park visit goes awry.

There are 7 movies in the Jurassic Park series. The original, and arguably the best Jurassic Park, is rated PG. However, the two most recent inthe franchise 'Jurassic World' and 'Jurassic World Dominion' are rated 12A.

Take a trip to a magical world with the young wizard Harry Potter.

The first few movies are rated PG, with the final few being rated 12A.

A hilarious spoof of sci-fi adventures, great for family movie night.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and it's 2023 sequel Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse have been very well received. A must watch for superhero fans.

This animated version is a great introduction into the world of Spider Man. If your tween loves the Spider-Verse, there are 11 Spider Man movies to delve into. Toby Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland have all played the red and blue Spidey superhero in various Spider-Man movie series across the last couple of decades.

Join a group of friends in a thrilling adventure within a magical board game. A Robin Wiliams classic.

Starring Dwayne Johnson, an action-packed movie where a video game comes to life, perfect for tweens.

Join a team of ghost hunters in this classic action-comedy.

The latest movie in the Ghostbusters series. When a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.

Experience epic battles and superhero teamwork in these 4 Avengers Movies from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Planning to watch all the Marvel movies in chronological order? You start with Captain America: The First Avenger. Followed by many many more action movies in the Marvel cinematic universe, featuring well known characters such as Iron Man, Hulk, and Thor.

Watching all the Marvel films in order will certainly keep your action-movie loving tween busy for a while!

Join Bilbo Baggins on an epic adventure through Middle-earth in this trilogy prequel to The Lord of The Rings.

Explore the adventures of writer Newt Scamander in New York's secret community of witches and wizards. Set seventy years before Harry Potter reads his book in school.

Join Will Smith in the fight against an alien invasion in this action-packed film.

 Ryan Reynolds is a video game character who becomes self-aware in this action-comedy.

An iguana-turned-giant monster heads off to New York City.

Later instalments of the Monster-verse; Godzilla (2014), Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and 2021s Godzilla VS Kong are all rated 12A

Peter Pan grows up in this action-packed adventure featuring Robin Williams as the iconic character.

 Follow Tom Cruise on thrilling espionage missions. There are 7 Mission Impossible movies, with Mission Impossible 8 landing in 2024. 

A magical adventure through a wardrobe to the land of Narnia.

Join a treasure hunter in a quest for hidden historical secrets.

Although the original 1986 Top Gun is a 15, 2022's fighter pilot action sequel is a little more family friendly with it's 12A age rating.

 A misfit team of deep-core drillers try to save the planet from an asteroid the size of Texas.

An adventure featuring a family discovering a magical world.

In a parallel universe, young Lyra Belacqua journeys to the far North to save her best friend and other kidnapped children from terrible experiments by a mysterious organization

A preteen's life turns upside down when he befriends the new girl in school and they imagine a whole new fantasy world to escape reality.

Looking for a missing brother, a scientist, his nephew and their mountain guide discover a fantastic and dangerous lost world in the centre of the earth.

They usually say no, but today mum and dad are saying 'Yes'. A comedy-adventure about a family's "yes day" escapades.

Join a group of kids who shrink to miniature size in their own backyard.

A teenager transforms into an adult superhero in this action-packed adventure.

Follow the story of an all-female baseball league during World War II.

Based on the popular role-playing game, this adventure film is a new take on the D&D world.

Join a group of boys at a detention camp as they dig up the past and seek hidden treasure.

A family adventure with a tech twist as they battle rogue robots.

A heart-pounding disaster film that follows the harrowing journey of a rescue pilot and his family as they struggle to survive the catastrophic aftermath of a massive earthquake along the infamous San Andreas Fault.

Join a rag tag group of young friends as they form a youth ice hockey team.

A group of intergalactic criminals must pull together to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe.

A modern take on the Arthurian legend where a young boy discovers he's the only one who can save the world.

"Twister" is a thrilling action-packed film that takes you on a tornado-chasing adventure with a team of storm chasers as they pursue the ultimate twister.

Join a group of friends as they form Jamaica's first bobsled team.

A magical board game takes two brothers on a space adventure.

"Spy Kids: Armageddon" is an action-packed family movie that follows the young spy siblings as they embark on a mission to save the world from a high-tech villain's apocalyptic plans.

Based on the popular book series, Eragon takes you on a magical adventure with a young dragon rider.

Join the action-packed adventure with ninja heroes: the Power Rangers.

A classic tale of a mischievous cat and the adventure he brings.

Follow the journey of a young Viking and his friendship with a dragon.

Join a young night security guard on an adventure with exhibits that come to life.

Join Percy Jackson, the son of Poseidon, on an adventure to prevent a war among the gods.

An adventure inside a magical toy store that comes to life.

Follow a young girl as she helps a group of orphaned geese learn to fly.

An alien invasion threatens the future of humanity. The catastrophic nightmare is depicted through the eyes of one American family fighting for survival.

Join Nanny McPhee on an adventure to teach life lessons to a group of unruly kids.

A fairy tale adventure that has it all – action, romance, and comedy. Perfect for the entire family.

Join a group of friends on a treasure hunt with an old treasure map, in this classic adventure film.

The ultimate action-packed adventure in a galaxy far, far away. There are 12 movies in total in the Star Wars series. Plenty to keep space-adventure fans busy.

"The NeverEnding Story" is a beloved fantasy film that transports viewers into a magical world where a young boy discovers a mysterious book with the power to shape reality.

"Pirates of the Caribbean" is a swashbuckling adventure that follows the eccentric Captain Jack Sparrow as he navigates treacherous waters, supernatural curses, and epic pirate battles.

Starring Linsday Lohan playing herself...twice. It's the classic adventure tale of twin sisters who plot to reunite their long-lost parents.

"Volcano" is a thrilling disaster film that unfolds in the heart of Los Angeles when a dormant volcano suddenly erupts, and a group of brave individuals race to prevent a catastrophic disaster.

"Mary Poppins" is a classic musical film that tells the enchanting story of a magical nanny who brings joy and wonder to a London family through her extraordinary adventures and timeless lessons.

"Mary Poppins Returns" is the charming sequel to the classic tale, where the magical nanny returns to help the Banks family once again, spreading joy and wonder in a new generation of heart-warming adventures set in Depression-era London.

"Bedknobs and Broomsticks" is a whimsical family film set during World War II that whisks you away on a fantastical journey with three children, their guardian, and a magical bedknob that transports them to extraordinary adventures in an animated wonderland.

"Fantastic Mr. Fox" is a delightful animated film that follows the clever Mr. Fox and his woodland friends as they outsmart three mean-spirited farmers in a daring and charming heist adventure adaptation of the classic tale by Roald Dahl.

"The Day After Tomorrow" is a disaster film that unfolds as a series of extreme weather events trigger a new ice age, forcing a climatologist and his son to embark on a perilous journey to safety in a frozen world.

A fantastic adventure filled with action and epic battles.

A tale of a young boy's journey through grief and imagination.

"ET" is a heartwarming science fiction film that tells the touching story of a young boy who befriends an extraterrestrial stranded on Earth and helps him find his way home while forming a bond that transcends worlds.

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem" is an action-packed animated film that follows the iconic pizza-loving turtles as they battle their most fearsome foes to protect New York City from chaos and destruction.

"Divergent" is a dystopian thriller that follows a young woman's journey in a divided society where her unique qualities make her a target and a symbol of rebellion.

"Twilight" is a beloved supernatural romance that has captured the hearts of tweens worldwide, revolving around the intense and forbidden love between a mortal girl and a vampire, making this movie series a timeless favorite among young audiences.

A boy's life is turned upside down when he learns that he is the last of a group of immortal warriors who have dedicated their lives to fighting the forces of the dark.

14-year-old schoolboy Alex Rider is forced by the Special Operations Division of the UK's secret intelligence service, MI6, into a mission which will save millions of lives.

In 1931 Paris, an orphan living in the walls of a train station gets wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton.. A young boy unravels secrets and embarks on a quest to find his place in a captivating, cinematic journey filled with wonder and discovery.

Recent adaptation of a sci-fi classic starring Timothee Chalamet. A noble family becomes embroiled in a war for control over the galaxy's most valuable asset while its heir becomes troubled by visions of a dark future.

"Men in Black" is a sci-fi comedy that follows the secret agents of a covert organization as they protect Earth from extraterrestrial threats while keeping their activities hidden from the public.

In this 80s classic, heroic warrior He-Man battles against the evil lord Skeletor and his armies of darkness for control of Castle Grayskull.

The James Bond movie series is an action-packed iconic spy franchise known for its charismatic protagonist, high-stakes espionage, and dazzling action sequences. Tweens can enjoy the Bond films for their mix of suave charm, clever gadgets, and exhilarating adventures, making it a captivating introduction to the world of espionage and intrigue.

There are 27 James Bond films in total. Tweens may prefer the more recent Bond movies featuring Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig as 007.