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The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids 

Ranker Film
Updated August 16, 2019 4.2k votes 248 voters 80 items

List Rules Vote up the best PG and G-Rated science fiction movies for twelve year old kids to watch.

Science fiction movies can get really complicated and hard to follow. The top sci-fi films for 12 year olds don’t get too bogged down in the advanced science department but still maintain the genre’s sense of out of this world imagination. If you're wondering what sci-fi films should 12 year old kids watch, this list is a really good place to start.

There are all different kinds of science fiction movies on this roundup. Some of the films feature space exploration, others take place in a galaxy far, far away, and one movie even tells the hilarious tale of a scientist father accidentally shrinking his two kids down to the size of an insect.

Which do you think are the best sci-fi films for 12 year olds? Vote up all your favorites. Did we miss an appropriate science fiction movie you think would be perfect for someone who is not quite but almost a teenager, go ahead and add it to the list below.

list ordered by
1
Alita: Battle Angel is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
mercedesakira.spunkel added Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly

Released: 2019

Directed by: Robert Rodriguez

Alita: Battle Angel is a 2019 American science fiction action film directed by Robert Rodriguez, based on the manga by Yukito Kishiro. After being revived by Dr. Dyson Ido (Christoph Waltz), ...more
2
Shazam! is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
aalroth added Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Jack Dylan Grazer

Released: 2019

Directed by: David F. Sandberg

Shazam! is a 2019 superhero film directed by David F. Sandberg, based on the DC Comics character. A boy (Asher Angel) is given the ability to become an adult superhero (Zachary Levi) in times of ...more
3
Spider-Man: Into the Spi... is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
aalroth added Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali

Released: 2018

Directed by: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a 2018 American computer-animated superhero film directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman, based on the Marvel Comics character. ...more
4
Star Wars: Episode VI –R... is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill

Released: 1983

Directed by: Richard Marquand

Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi is a 1983 American epic space opera film directed by Richard Marquand, and the third and final film in the original Star Wars trilogy. After a daring ...more
5
Star Wars Episode V: The... is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill

Released: 1980

Directed by: Irvin Kershner

The Empire Strikes Back is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner. Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan wrote the screenplay, with George Lucas writing the film's story ...more
6
Back to the Future is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson

Released: 1985

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

Back to the Future is a 1985 American science fiction film directed by Robert Zemeckis. Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent thirty years into ...more
7
Star Wars: Episode VIII ... is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
aalroth added

Directed by: Rian Johnson
8
Star Wars: The Last Jedi... is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
aalroth added Star Wars: The Last Jedi Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver

Directed by: Rian Johnson

This film is a 2017 American epic space opera film written and directed by Rian Johnson. Having taken her first steps into the Jedi world, Rey (Daisy Ridley) joins Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) ...more
9
Black Panther is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
aalroth added Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o

Released: 2018

Directed by: Ryan Coogler

Black Panther is a 2018 American superhero film, based on the Marvel Comics character, directed by Ryan Coogler. After the events of Captain America: Civil War, King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) ...more
10
Wonder Woman is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
aalroth added Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright

Released: 2017

Directed by: Patty Jenkins

Wonder Woman is a 2017 American superhero film directed by Patty Jenkins, based on the DC Comics character. When a pilot (Chris Pine) crashes and tells of conflict in the outside world, Diana ...more
11
Star Wars is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
aalroth added Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill

Released: 1977

Directed by: George Lucas

Star Wars is a 1977 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. The first release in the Star Wars franchise, it stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter ...more
12
Star Wars Episode III: R... is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
aalroth added Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor, Samuel L. Jackson

Released: 2005

Directed by: George Lucas

(19 Years before Episode IV) Three years after the onset of the Clone Wars, the noble Jedi Knights have been leading a massive clone army into a galaxy-wide battle against the Separatists. When ...more
13
Star Wars Episode II: At... is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
aalroth added Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor, Samuel L. Jackson

Released: 2002

Directed by: George Lucas

(22 Years Before Episode IV) Ten years after the events of the Battle of Naboo, not only has the galaxy undergone significant change, but so have Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padmé Amidala, and Anakin ...more
14
Star Wars Episode I: The... is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
aalroth added Natalie Portman, Keira Knightley, Ewan McGregor

Released: 1999

Directed by: George Lucas

(32 Years Before Episode IV) Stranded on the desert planet Tatooine after rescuing young Queen Amidala from the impending invasion of Naboo, Jedi apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Jedi Master ...more
15
Back to the Future Part ... is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
aalroth added Michael J. Fox, Elisabeth Shue, Christopher Lloyd

Released: 1990

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

Back to the Future Part III is a 1990 American science fiction Western film. It is the third and final installment of the Back to the Future trilogy. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis and ...more
16
Back to the Future Part ... is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
aalroth added Clint Eastwood, Michael J. Fox, Elisabeth Shue

Released: 1989

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

Back to the Future Part II is a 1989 American comic science fiction film and the second installment of the Back to the Future trilogy. It was directed by Robert Zemeckis, who directed all three ...more
17
Captain Marvel is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
aalroth added Captain Marvel Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn

Released: 2019

Directed by: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck

Captain Marvel is a 2019 American superhero film directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, based on the Marvel Comics character. In 1995, former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Carol Danvers (Brie ...more
18
Tron is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
Jeff Bridges, David Warner, Michael Dudikoff

Released: 1982

Directed by: Steven Lisberger

Tron is a 1982 American science fiction film written and directed by Steven Lisberger, based on a story by Lisberger and Bonnie MacBird, and produced by Walt Disney Productions. The film stars ...more
19
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids... is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
Keri Russell, Allison Mack, Rick Moranis

Released: 1989

Directed by: Joe Johnston

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids is a 1989 soft science fiction-family film. The directorial debut of Joe Johnston and produced by Walt Disney Pictures, it tells the story of an inventor who ...more
20
Jurassic Park is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
aalroth added Samuel L. Jackson, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough

Released: 1993

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

Jurassic Park is a 1993 American science fiction adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. It is the first installment of the Jurassic Park franchise. It is based on the 1990 novel of the ...more
21
Spider-Man 2 is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
aalroth added Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco

Released: 2004

Directed by: Sam Raimi

Spider-Man 2 is a 2004 American superhero film directed by Sam Raimi, based on the Marvel Comics character. While struggling to manage both his personal life and his duties as Spider-Man, Peter ...more
22
Spider-Man is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
aalroth added Tobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe, Kirsten Dunst

Released: 2002

Directed by: Sam Raimi

Spider-Man is a 2002 American superhero film directed by Sam Raimi, based on the Marvel Comics character. When bitten by a genetically modified spider, Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire), a nerdy, ...more
23
The Iron Giant is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
Jennifer Aniston, Vin Diesel, Cloris Leachman

Released: 1999

Directed by: Brad Bird

The Iron Giant is a 1999 American animated science fiction comedy-drama film using both traditional animation and computer animation, produced by Warner Bros. Animation, and based on the 1968 ...more
24
Flight of the Navigator ... is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
Sarah Jessica Parker, Paul Reubens, Veronica Cartwright

Released: 1986

Directed by: Randal Kleiser

Flight of the Navigator is a 1986 comic science fiction film directed by Randal Kleiser and written by Mark H. Baker and Michael Burton, about David Freeman, a 12-year-old boy who is taken by an ...more
25
Big Hero 6 is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Best Sci-Fi Movies for 12 Year Old Kids
Jamie Chung, Maya Rudolph, Génesis Rodríguez

Released: 2014

Directed by: Chris Williams, Don Hall

Big Hero 6 is a 2014 American 3D computer-animated superhero action comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 54th film in the Walt ...more