Shubhabrata Dutta
PG-13 movies are often some of the most engaging and entertaining cinematic creations. The rating typically means that parental guidance is advised for children while watching these movies, as some material in these films is sensitive and could be inappropriate for younger audiences. However, the rating also allows makers to create a raw portrayal of the movie’s themes or simply include sexually graphic or violent sequences needed to convey the story’s emotion. Nonetheless, PG-13 movies are often an excellent watch for the entire family. If you are looking for PG-13 movies on HBO Max, we have sorted out some of the best ones the platform offers.
20. Caddo Lake (2024)
Co-directed by Logan George and Celine Held and produced by M. Night Shyamalan, ‘Caddo Lake’ is cut from the Shyamalan cloth of mind-bending films. It follows Ellie (Eliza Scanlen) and Paris (Dylan O’Brien), whose search for their missing loved ones brings them to the swampy waters of Caddo Lake. What was supposed to be a stressful search takes an unexpected turn when the two realize that the lake is a bridge between their past and present. A kaleidoscope of secrets and truths, ‘Caddo Lake’ is a twist-filled addition to the PG-13 section of films on the streaming platform. You can watch it here.
19. Moonage Daydream (2022)
This documentary film has been directed by Brett Morgen and is based on the life of world-famous English singer/songwriter David Bowie. Using archive footage and footage of live concerts, the film throws light on Bowie’s creative journey connected to his spiritual journey. ‘Moonage Daydream’ is a tribute to one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, and if you love music, this film serves as a delightful watch. You can stream it here.
18. In the Heights (2021)
Based on Quiara Alegría Hudes and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s eponymous stage play, ‘In the Heights‘ is a musical drama movie directed by Jon M. Chu. It tells the tale of the residents of Washington Heights in York City’s Upper Manhattan as they pursue their dreams in life. The film’s musical numbers will leave an instant impression on you, and the heartfelt stories of the characters will touch your hearts. Moreover, the movie’s direction and music have received acclaim, and the movie is one of the best stage-to-movie adaptations of recent years. You can stream the film here.
17. Juror #2 (2024)
In Clint Eastwood’s ‘Juror #2,’ a juror faces perhaps the ultimate moral conflict someone in his profession can ever face. During a trial, Justin Kemp realizes that the person accused of the crime might just be innocent, and he is possibly the one responsible. What makes the whole situation more intense is the fact that the crime is murder. Nicholas Hoult does a great job as Justin Kemp, smartly balancing the two personas of his character, the juror and the guilty. A captivating legal drama with an ending where “justice prevails,” ‘Juror #2’ is a rare watch. It can be streamed here.
16. The Wind Rises (2013)
‘The Wind Rises’ is a Japanese animated historical drama directed by Hayao Miyazaki and animated by the revered animation studio Studio Ghibli. It is a fictionalized retelling of the life story of Japanese aviation engineer Jiro Horikoshi, who designed aircraft that were used by Japan during World War II. The movie explores his life experiences, achievements, and love life. To learn about and explore the life of a person of historical significance in an appropriate animated style, you can stream the movie here.
15. Wings of Desire (1987)
‘Wings of Desire’ is a fantasy romance drama film helmed by Wim Wenders. This German film, set in Berlin during the Cold War, follows two angels, Damiel and Cassiel, who watch over Berlin and provide comfort to its residents. Damiel becomes enamored with the human experience and falls in love with a trapeze artist named Marion. His desire to become human and experience life’s joys and sorrows drives the narrative. The film stars Bruno Ganz, Solveig Dommartin, Otto Sander, and Curt Bois.
The movie delves into existential questions as it magnificently portrays longing, isolation, and the yearning for connection. It beautifully captures both the beauty and despair inherent in humanity’s collective experience. The film challenges our perception of reality and invites us to reflect on our own lives with empathy. Wim Wenders skillfully examines the dichotomy between heaven and earth while subtly exploring political tensions within divided Berlin during that era. With stunning black-and-white visuals contrasting against vivid colors used when depicting real-life experiences versus angelic perspectives, ‘Wings of Desire’ showcases how observing life from different angles can alter one’s understanding. Feel free to check out the film here.
14. Marshall (2017)
Chadwick Boseman plays Thurgood Marshall, who became the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, in Reginald Hudlin’s biographical drama ‘Marshall.’ With a special focus on a challenging case in Connecticut, the film showcases the battles Marshall fought both as a lawyer and as a Black man, especially the ones fueled by racism. Needless to say, Thurgood Marshall was a prominent figure who stood against racial discrimination, and Boseman did a great job playing the part. The film is a compelling courtroom drama that also serves as a history lesson. You can watch it here.
13. The Boy and the Heron (2023)
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, co-founder of Studio Ghibli, ‘The Boy and the Heron’ is an Oscar-and-BAFTA-winning animated fantasy drama. It centers on a 12-year-old boy named Mahito, who is struggling to cope with the death of his mother, Hisako, who died in a fire. After moving into his new countryside home with his father and his second wife (Hisako’s sister), a talking grey heron tells Mahito his mother is still alive and brings him to an abandoned tower. The tower is a gateway and leads him to a magical world where he encounters a wizard who wants him to take over the world’s safekeeping. Is Mahito ready for the unexpected perils and situations that are about to come his way? Moreover, is the magical world also where his mother is? A must-watch venture from Studio Ghibli, ‘The Boy and the Heron’ blends grief, acceptance, and magic in a visually stunning manner albeit it may require more than one viewing to understand it completely. However, you wouldn’t mind watching it again and again and that is where the Ghibli magic lies. The film can be streamed here.
12. Blue Beetle (2023)
Based on the DC superhero Blue Beetle/Jaime Reyes, this action movie is the character’s origin story. It shows how graduate Jaime Reyes, hailing from a Latin American family, comes across the Scarab, an ancient relic that gives him the powers of the Blue Beetle, an armored symbiotic exoskeleton that is a tool of war of a benevolent alien race known as Reach. Capable of extraordinary powers that are only limited by the host’s imagination, the Blue Beetle Scarab needs to be kept from falling into the wrong hands. Can Reyes do it? To find out, you can watch the movie here.
11. King Richard (2021)
‘King Richard‘ is a biographical sports drama film based on the life of Richard Williams. It stars Will Smith as Richard, who trains his daughters, Venus and Serena, to etch their names among the greatest tennis players of all time. The film, directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, has received critical acclaim and highlights the struggles of the Williams family. A few sequences featuring sensitive subjective might have earned it a PG-13 rating, but the story of the Williamses will resonate and inspire viewers of all ages. You can watch ‘King Richard’ here.
10. Chungking Express (1994)
‘Chungkng Express’ is a romantic comedy-drama film directed by Wong Kar-wai. The film consists of two interconnected stories about love and loneliness set amidst the neon-lit streets of Hong Kong. The first story follows a police officer known as Cop 223, who is dealing with a breakup and meets a mysterious woman involved in the drug trade. The second story follows Cop 663, who is also dealing with a breakup and forms a connection with a quirky snack bar worker named Faye. The film’s ensemble cast includes Brigitte Lin, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, and Faye Wong.
This cinematic masterpiece delves into profound themes, captivating viewers with its poetic storytelling and visually striking cinematography. Through intertwining storylines and complex relationships, the movie touches upon themes such as love, loneliness, chance encounters, and missed opportunities. Watching ‘Chungking Express’ would be a truly enriching experience for anyone seeking to immerse themselves in art that seamlessly blends romance with elements of mystery and introspection. You can watch the movie here.
9. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
A sequel to the cult classic ‘ Beetlejuice’ (1988), ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ shows the return of the mischievous titular entity. This happens after the Deetz family returns to Winter River after the death of Lydia’s father, Charles. When her rebellious daughter Astrid ends up in the afterlife, Lydia reluctantly reaches out to Betelgeuse to ask for his help in getting her daughter back safe before it’s too late. Naturally, Betelgeuse is hell-bent on chaos, underscored by a hidden agenda that will bind Lydia to him forever. Directed by Tim Burton, ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ is a true-to-form sequel that carries the essence of the original, thanks to the creative decision to bring back Michael Keaton for his iconic role and Winona Ryder as Lydia. You can enjoy the movie with your family right here.
8. Assassin’s Creed (2016)
Based on the popular video game franchise by Ubisoft, ‘Assassin’s Creed’ revolves around a piece of technology called the Animus that allows a person to live the memories of his/her/their ancestors. In the movie, we follow Callum “Cal” Lynch (Michael Fassbender), who is brought to the Animus by Dr. Sofia Rikkin (Marion Cotillard) and tasked with finding the Apple of Eden, an artifact last seen in 15th-century Spain. With complete inspiration from the games, the movie does a good job of incorporating the cinematics and the action, offering viewers, especially sci-fi lovers, something new. Directed by Justin Kurzel, ‘Assassin’s Creed’ may not be as cool as the games, but it is cool enough for binging. You can watch it here.
7. Unstoppable (2010)
Starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine, ‘Unstoppable’ is an edge-of-the-seat thrilling disaster action flick that dramatizes the CSX 8888 incident that took place on May 15, 2001. The CSX 8888 freight train ran uncontrolled for almost 2 hours at the speed of around 51 miles per hour before being brought to a halt, but it was a mammoth task. In the film, railroad engineer Frank Barnes (Washington) and conductor Will Colson (Pine), commanding another locomotive, try to catch up to the train carrying toxic chemicals and make it slow down by coupling it with their train and slowing it. Will they be successful? ‘Unstoppable’ does full justice to its title and is a relentless drama that doesn’t let you blink as you wait to find out what happens next. It can be streamed here.
6. Aquaman (2018)
Directed by James Wan, ‘Aquaman’ is another superhero movie based on the DC character Arthur Curry/Aquaman (Jason Momoa), who would go on to become the King of the underwater kingdom of Atlantis. This movie showcases the character’s origin story and how he claims his rightful place by retrieving the Trident of Atlan and defeating his evil half-brother, King Orm (Patrick Wilson). The rest of the cast includes Amber Heard, Nicole Kidman, Willem Dafoe, Dolph Lundgren, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. You can watch the movie here.
5. Barbie (2023)
Thanks to Greta Gerwig for not making it R-rated, ‘Barbie’ is an effective commentary on the inherent patriarchy that exists in the modern world. What makes it even more remarkable is that it uses the Barbie doll, a female doll considered the most popular in the world, for its motive. Margot Robbie plays the titular character who is forced to leave Barbieland and come to the real world to address an issue that threatens her very existence. Ryan Gosling plays Barbie’s boyfriend, Ken. The supporting cast includes Issa Rae, Kate McKinnon, Emma Mackey, Simu Liu, and Will Ferrell. You can watch ‘Barbie’ here.
4. Men in Black (1997)
‘Men in Black’ is considered one of the greatest sci-fi movies ever. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, the film is the first of a trilogy and revolves around the titular organization that “takes care” of all things other-worldly. In short, establish contact with aliens, allow the good ones to stay on Earth if they want to, and get rid of the bad ones. Former police officer James Darrell Edwards III is recruited into the MIB agency by Agent K/Kevin Brown. Together, they must prevent an alien race from destroying Earth. For this, they must find what is called the Orion’s belt, and that too quickly because the clock is ticking. Starring Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, ‘Men in Black’ is a must-watch movie that is funny, entertaining, and interesting, especially for those who love alien-related stuff. It can be streamed here.
3. The Batman (2022)
‘The Batman,’ directed by Matt Reeves, is a superhero movie based on the DC Comics character of the same name. It follows Bruce Wayne/Batman, who must stop the Riddler’s deadly game of chaos in Gotham City. The film comprises exhilarating visuals and spellbinding performances from Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, Andy Serkis, and Colin Farrell. With violent action sequences and mature themes, the brooding superhero drama pushes the limits of the PG-13 rating, making it one of the most exciting picks on this list. You can check out the film here.
2. Dune (2021)
Directed by Denis Villeneuve, ‘Dune’ or ‘Dune: Part One’ is a sci-fi epic based on Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel of the same name. It is set in the distant future, wherein humanity has settled on different planets and functions under one Emperor. The film focuses on the Atreides family, who live on Caladan, the ocean planet. But when the Emperor asks Duke Leto Atreides to take on the mining responsibilities of Arrakis, the desert planet, he has to follow the order. Thus, the Atreides family arrives at Arrakis, unaware of the dangers that the planet poses, including its king, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen. On the other hand, Paul Atreides, Leto’s son, has strange visions of a girl who appears to belong to the Fremen, the Arrakis natives. Dark times lay ahead, and it is up to Paul to figure out what his visions mean before it’s too late. The film’s cast includes Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Stellan Skarsgård, and Josh Brolin. You can watch it here.
1. Batman Begins (2005)
The first part of Christopher Nolan’s critically and commercially acclaimed standalone Dark Knight Trilogy, ‘Batman Begins’ showcases the origin of Batman. In other words, how billionaire Bruce Wayne put on the cape of the Dark Knight to fight crime in Gotham City after losing his parents as a kid. They were shot to death by a thief in front of his eyes. The film shows him going against his former trainer, Ra’s al Ghul, who wants to destroy Gotham. Christian Bale stars as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Liam Neeson as Ra’s al Ghul, and Michael Caine as Alfred the Butler, along with Gary Oldman, Cillian Murphy, Katie Holmes, and Morgan Freeman. You can watch the film here.
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