What do I watch with a nearly 13yo who doesn’t like anything???

[LadyContrary]

Just as the title says. We are having a movie night. DS likes nothing atm - he is a grumpy teenager who communicates more through grunts than actual words. I suspect he’s in it just for the snacks anyway.

He doesn’t like (brace yourselves for the list)

• Christmas movies (for girls, apparently!!!)
• Star Wars/ lord of the rings vibe (seen many times)
• anything too scary (as if I would ever let him watch a proper horror film!)
• anything at all.

Every suggestion from me has been a NO!!!
He likes football, all sports in general, planes and travelling. He liked Jurrasic Park films, Sully: mirace on the Hudson, Men in Black - just a few examples for inspiration..

I’m feeling lost for ideas, any suggestions welcome! We have Disney+, Prime, Netflix, Sky, Paramount, Apple and pretty much any other streaming service (I know, I know, waste of money).

Films mine liked when they were awkward 13 year olds
Spirited away
Princess bride
Monty Python and the holy Grail
Wallace and gromit curse of the were rabbit
The Martian

Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy. We loved it as teenagers and still quote it now.

Would he watch something factual?

It sound like animated and comedy stuff is more likely to go down well.

Meet The Parents
Dodgeball
Office Space
The Spiderman films with Andrew Garfield or Tobey Maguire?
School of Rock
Zoolander
Shallow Hal

Longest Yard. Its a 15 but nothing too disturbing in it.

I have a 13 year old. The Jumanji films, the Mission Impossible films, Indiana Jones, Free Guy, Red Notice.

School of Rock
Minority Report
ET
Miss Peregrines School for Peculiar Children
Magical Beasts..(1st film)
Percy jackson films

Bridget Jones Diary and sequels

Does it have to be tv? Why can't you bond doing something else?

Netflix -
The Fugitive
The Matrix,
Forrest Gump
Knives Out
Enola Holmes
6 Underground
Divergent

I agree that Con Air is fab but there is a scene on the rooftop with Nicholas Cage and his girlfriend getting it on so it depends how embarrassing that would be. An option for stuff like that is to watch that part, fast forward through it and tell him what happened or leave the room for 3 minutes. I have 2 sons, we have a family movie every week so I did those things.

Ready Player One, The Rock, Edge of Tomorrow, Day after Tomorrow, Princess Bride, Shrek, if you can get them. The Mummy original movie with Brendan and Rachel as leads.

The best things about films or tv shows is it gives you something to talk about, the characters, the plot, good friendships, shit friendships. Don't stop, make him come up with some stuff so he can't blame all the shit stuff on you.

Why do you have to have a movie night if he's made it clear he doesn't like it? Do something else!

Enders game. Old stuff like Back to the future?

That's perfect example of the genre.

Does it have to be a film? What about a series? Then if he enjoys it, you can watch more episodes on future nights - and if he doesn’t, it’s not too long to endure it. My nearly 14 year old son has been loving watching our old favourites:

Buffy
Angel
Scrubs
Lucifer
House
Prison Break
Burn Notice
Veronica Mars

Lucifer in particular was a massive hit with its very teenage boy level humour!

If you are determined it has to be a film, how about

Die Hard
Lethal Weapon
Any Marvel movie

When DS 13 had to name his favourite film for Drama lesson at school last year, he put JoJo Rabbit. It's a 12 cert, and he definitely watched it several times.

Oldie but goodie? Furry Vengeance.

Or The Goonies. Flight of the navigator. I Robot.

National Lampoon. I love Animal House but perhaps European or Christmas Vacation more age appropriate

Anything manga. Studio Ghibli stuff...

Indiana Jones, back to the future, Edward scissor hands

Never Ending Story
Willow
Labyrinth

Thank you for the helpful suggestions.

For those who asked why do it if he’s not keen… he’s not keen on anything at the moment, it we only did what he wants to do, we would do nothing. Buy once we’re actually doing the thing he absolutely wasn’t keen to do, he’s happy and engaged. And it’s been a really busy few days, so I want us to just chill together. Sometimes you have to force some happiness and joy on people for them to realise they’ve needed it.

Box set rather than film? Then if he doesn’t enjoy it after one episode then can try another one

Given he doesn’t care, find something you like, and when he complains, tell him it’s natural consequences, and to be less stroppy in future.

Oh, and have a ‘because I knew this would happen, would you prefer …’ couple of options ready, just to show how nice you are.

Not to derail the chat.. but…

Just curious, is that the key to raising teens? Should I completely take the pressure off myself and only do what he wants/ as and when he wants? Lower my expectations and not make any effort?

How about The 5th element? Sci fi but a very different vibe to Star wars etc. Funny, action packed, good story.

Can’t see that anyone has suggested Men In Black!
Could you entice him with food? Get his favourite…. Say, burger king by deliveroo….

At 13 they are going to start to want to hang out with mates not their parents.

Food is usually a good way to entice them to watch something with you. You sometimes have to grin and bear what they want to watch to spend some time with them. But hopefully you can find something you all like to watch. Trying to think what age DS was when we watched Black Books, Friday Night Dinner, IT Crowd together.