30+ Best Movies for 10-Year-Old Girls: From Coming-of-Age Favorites to Girl Power Picks

Movie night is a whole thing in our house. We've got the blankets, the snacks, and even our own popcorn seasoning. I love being a girl mom because my girls are just as excited about the movies I loved at their age as they are about the ones we're discovering together for the first time. And yet somehow it's still hard to find something that feels right: sweet, fun, and not too mature for them.

This is why I put together my tween movie guide. But I also know there can still be enough of a difference in maturity level between a 10-year-old and a 12-year-old. So to help you narrow down your decision even further, I created this list of movies for 10-year-olds based on what my own girls love (and what other families recommend).

While these movies are great for both boys and girls, I'm speaking specifically to girl moms here since I have three daughters.

How to Pick the Right Movies for 10-Year-Olds

A whole lot can change in a year. So even if you have kids close in age like I do, you might find that a movie that works for your older tween doesn't work well for your younger tween.

Here are a few things to consider when choosing movies for 10-year-old girls.

• Age and maturity level. When in doubt, start with the age recommendation for the movie. Look at what the movie is about and see if there's anything your kid isn't ready for or if there are certain scenes that may bother them. Remember you can always watch it with them and discuss anything they may be more sensitive to.

• Shifting expectations over time. What counts as "age-appropriate" for a 10-year-old has shifted more than I expected it would over the years. My youngest is 10 now, and she's already watching movies with more mature themes than my oldest was at the same age. Part of that is being more relaxed with the youngest simply because, once you've got older kids in the house, you can't shield the little one from everything they're already watching. And the other part is the nature of the world evolving, which means entertainment changes, too.

• Find movies with strong female characters. Whether your 10-year-old likes fast-paced action films or slow and heartfelt stories, make sure to watch movies with heroines, not just heroes. Seeing young girls and women with complex storylines who show a wide range of emotions, make mistakes, and take risks will also help them see that they don't have to downplay who they are and what they want.

Ali's Pro Tip: Before watching a new movie with my kids, I always check Common Sense Media reviews to make sure the content lines up with our family's values. I recommend this practice for every parent navigating tween entertainment choices, since every family draws the line a little differently.

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30+ Movies for Your 10-Year-Old's Must-Watch List

From funny, feel-good films to fearless, female-led stories, there's a movie on this list for every 10-year-old kid. Pick the one that matches their current mood (and their maturity level), and you're all set for movie night.

Coming-of-Age Favorites

The Princess Diaries (2001: G)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: Mia going from awkward and invisible to finding her voice hits exactly right at this age, before things get complicated by dating storylines. It's funny, it's sweet, and there's not a single moment you'll want to fast-forward through.

The Parent Trap (1998: PG)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: Twin sisters engineering a plan to get their divorced parents back together is pure summer-camp chaos in the best way. Lindsay Lohan playing both roles never gets old, no matter how many times your kid watches it.

Freaky Friday (2003: PG)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: What kid doesn't want to grow up and call all the shots? A mom and daughter swapping bodies for a day is the kind of premise that makes 10-year-olds laugh out loud and also, sneakily, understand their parents a little better.

Enchanted (2007: PG)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: A fairy-tale princess dropped into real-life New York City is silly, sweet, and never once mean-spirited. Amy Adams singing to pigeons in Central Park is a top-tier movie moment.

Inside Out (2015: PG)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: Riley's emotions literally running the show after a move makes this one of the best "growing up is hard" movies ever made, and it hands 10-year-olds language for feelings they don't always know how to name.

Inside Out 2 (2024: PG)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: Riley turns 13 and Anxiety shows up, making this the single most on-the-nose watch for a 10-year-old about to become a teen herself.

Mystery, Spies & Girl-Power Picks

Enola Holmes (2020: PG-13)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: Sherlock's little sister sets out to solve her own mystery instead of waiting around to be rescued. Her resourcefulness and refusal to conform to society's expectations of young women make this movie one of the strongest girl-detective picks out there.

Note for parents: Rated PG-13 but it plays younger than that suggests; worth a preview if she's sensitive to mild peril. This is streaming on Netflix.

Nancy Drew (2007: PG)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: Same amateur-detective energy as Enola Holmes, with a gentler rating if you want to ease into the genre first.

Harriet the Spy (1996: PG)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: An eleven-year-old who wants to be a writer and spies on her neighbors to practice is exactly the kind of nosy, funny, and a-little-too-honest heroine this age gets completely obsessed with.

Animal & Family Adventures

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993: G)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: Kids this age will love Sassy's humor, Chance's mischievous behavior, and Shadow's loyalty as they trek across the unpredictable wilderness to get home safely.

Note for parents: A river-crossing scene with the cat Sassy is genuinely scary and has upset plenty of kids over the years. And my kids cried when Shadow falls into a muddy pit, breaks his leg, and is unable to escape (momentarily).

Beethoven (1992: PG)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: What kid hasn't dreamed that a dog would show up on their doorstep? Cute and chaotic Beethoven is a lovable, house-destroying St. Bernard puppy who becomes the whole family's best friend.

Note for parents: A mildly menacing villain subplot, nothing serious.

Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken (1991: G)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: A true story about a young woman who joins a diving-horse act, loses her sight, and doesn't quit, quietly inspiring without ever being heavy-handed.

The Secret Life of Pets (2016: PG) and The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019: PG)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: This is a silly, fast-paced movie that answers every kid's question: what do your pets actually get up to while you're at school?

Note for parents: A tiny bit of mild peril from a jealous bunny who was abandoned and wants revenge on humans.

Gentle & Heartfelt Classics for Sensitive Viewers

The Secret Garden (1993: G)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: A lonely girl discovering a hidden, locked-away garden and slowly bringing it (and herself) back to life is quiet in the best way. This is one of the best movies for 10-year-old girls who prefer a slower, prettier story.

Note for parents: Opens with a family death and touches on grief and loneliness before turning hopeful.

Charlotte's Web (2006: G)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: A friendship between a pig and a spider probably shouldn't work as well as it does. Keep tissues nearby for this one too.

Note for parents: Charlotte's death near the end is genuinely sad. This is usually the first "real" movie cry for a lot of kids.

Little Women (2019: PG)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: Four sisters, each with their own distinct personalities, are figuring out who they want to become. Kids this age can see themselves in each character, especially Jo March, the stubborn, creative heroine.

Note for parents: Beth's illness and death are part of the story, handled tenderly but present.

Paddington (2014: PG)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: A polite bear from Peru trying to find his place in London is genuinely funny for kids and parents both, with zero mean-spirited humor anywhere in it. An easy rewatch on a rainy Saturday.

Fly Away Home (1996: PG)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: A girl teaching orphaned geese to fly south by following her ultralight plane is based on a true story, and it's the kind of quietly moving family movie that doesn't get made much anymore.

Animated & Fantasy Adventures

How to Train Your Dragon (2010 animated: PG, 2025 live action: PG)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: A kid too small and too soft-hearted to be a Viking warrior forms a bond with the dragon nobody else could tame. Both versions work, so use whichever one she hasn't seen yet.

Note for parents: Some intense dragon-battle sequences, standard PG adventure peril.

The NeverEnding Story (1984: PG)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: A boy escaping into a magical book he's reading is the kind of story-within-a-story that makes 10-year-olds want to disappear into their own books for a week afterward. It also doesn't shy away from real sadness and loss, which makes it a good bridge between pure make-believe and the heavier feelings this age is starting to handle.

Note for parents: The Artax scene in the Swamp of Sadness is famously sad and has stuck with a generation of kids. Have tissues ready.

Spirited Away (2001: PG)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: A gentle introduction to Studio Ghibli if neither of you have seen any Japanese animation. This film comes so highly recommended by other moms that it's next on our own watch list.

Howl's Moving Castle (2004: PG)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: A castle that walks on legs and one of the most beautiful scores in animation. Another Ghibli pick that's still on our to-watch list, but it comes up constantly when I ask other tween parents for recommendations.

Note for parents: Touches on war and loss in the background of the story, handled with a light enough hand for this age.

The Iron Giant (1999: PG)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: A boy befriends a giant robot who teaches him you are who you choose to be. This beloved classic keeps coming up in every parent group I'm in, even though we haven't gotten to it yet ourselves.

Note for parents: Set during the Cold War, there's a mild peril storyline involving the military, but nothing graphic.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001: PG)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: Starting the series right as Harry discovers he's a wizard is a rite of passage almost every kid this age is ready for, but Hermione Granger is the real reason this belongs on a list of movies for 10-year-old girls. She's the smartest person in every room and never apologizes for it, she stands up to bullies (that Draco Malfoy moment a few movies in is a personal favorite), and she proves being the know-it-all is a superpower, not something to hide.

Note for parents: The Harry Potter series gets noticeably darker as it goes. Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets are the right starting point for most 10-year-olds, but later films (Order of the Phoenix on) are worth saving for a year or two down the road, depending on your child. My kids watched all the movies at a much younger age and were not scared.

Just Plain Fun (Nothing to Preview First)

Teen Beach Movie (2013: TV-G)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: Two surfers pulled into a cheesy 1960s beach-party movie, pure musical-number fun with the songs stuck in your house for weeks.

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989: PG)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: Getting accidentally shrunk to a quarter-inch tall and having to survive your own backyard is the kind of premise that still holds up decades later.

Cheaper by the Dozen (2003: PG)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: A family of twelve kids surviving a move and general chaos is the kind of loud comedy that makes an only child beg for siblings. (The 2022 Disney+ remake works too, if she hasn't seen the original.)

The Sleepover (2020: PG)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: Finding out your mom used to be a jewel thief and tracking her down overnight is an exciting premise for kids who wish life felt a little less ordinary sometimes. Along with lots of fast-paced action, it's also genuinely funny.

Note for parents: This is streaming on Netflix.

Night at the Museum (2006: PG)

Why it's perfect for a 10-year-old: A night security guard watching every exhibit come to life after hours turns a natural history museum into the most exciting place on earth. This movie is funny for the whole family with just enough chaos to keep it moving.

FAQ: Movies for 10-Year-Old Girls

Why are these good movies for 10-year-old girls?

Many of these movies are coming-of-age stories, or they feature female characters, all of which early tweens can relate to. I also included a variety of genres for when your kid wants to watch something funny vs. something more serious.

Do these movies work for 10-year-old boys, too?

Of course! In fact, I highly recommend boys watch movies where the protagonist is a female. It can help them see that it's good to express emotions and that girls can do anything that boys can.

What should I think about when picking the movie for a 10-year-old girl?

The top three things to consider are her emotional maturity and what she feels comfortable watching, what types of movies she's into, and if there are any themes she can relate to. Look for female-driven movies that are more than just a love story, and make sure to involve her!

What sort of movie themes should I focus on for 10-year-olds?

Ten-year-olds are seeking more mature themes, but it doesn't have to be all about romance or violence. Movies about growing up and figuring out who you are make good choices for this age.

Where can I watch these movies?

Most of these are available to rent, buy, or grab on DVD through the Amazon links throughout this post. A couple are streaming exclusives: Enola Holmes and The Sleepover are both Netflix Originals. Streaming lineups shift constantly across Disney+, Netflix, and Hulu, so it's worth a quick search on your go-to service before you buy.

What are the best movies for a 10-year-old girl's sleepover or birthday party?

For a group setting, stick to the crowd-pleasers with nothing heavy to preview first, like Teen Beach Movie, Freaky Friday, Cheaper by the Dozen, Night at the Museum, or Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken. Save the tearjerkers like Charlotte's Web or The Secret Garden for a quieter one-on-one movie night instead of a room full of friends.

The Best Movies for Tween Girls

Looking for seasonal movie nights? I've got you covered year-round, from the best kids Christmas movies to the best Halloween movies for kids to cute Valentine's Day movies for families.

For more movie ideas, check out the best family sports movies, non-animated movies for kids, summer movies for kids, and our favorite tween girl movies.

And if your tween is a reader too, don't miss my favorite Halloween books for tweens. 🎃

More Gift Guides You'll Love

If movie night has you thinking about what else she'd love, check out Tween Gift Ideas or Gift Ideas for 13-Year-Old Girls.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, no list (this one included) can tell you exactly what's right for your kid. You know her best: her sense of humor, what makes her cry, and what she's ready for versus what can wait another year or two. My hope is that this gives you a solid starting point for a whole lot of good movie nights ahead, whatever order you watch them in.

My girls have already started asking what's next on the list, so if you need me, I'll be restocking the popcorn seasoning 💗