Best Netflix Pg 13 Movies Marist Teens Can Watch Responsibly
- 01. Best Netflix PG-13 Movies for Catholic High School Students: A Marist Education Authority Guide
- 02. Top 10 PG-13 Netflix Movies for Catholic High School Students (2026)
- 03. Why These Movies Align with Marist Educational Values
- 04. PG-13 Rating Standards for Catholic High Schools
- 05. Educational Implementation Guide for Marist Schools
Best Netflix PG-13 Movies for Catholic High School Students: A Marist Education Authority Guide
The best Netflix PG-13 movies for Catholic high school students include The Two Popes, Rustin, The Six Triple Eight, Bohemian Rhapsody, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, and The Dig (2021)-films that combine age-appropriate content with strong educational, moral, and historical value aligned with Marist pedagogical principles.
Top 10 PG-13 Netflix Movies for Catholic High School Students (2026)
Our editorial team at the Marist Education Authority curated this list based on three criteria: MPAA PG-13 rating suitability for ages 13+, alignment with Catholic values including justice, dignity, and faith, and educational merit for classroom or family viewing. The following table ranks the top selections with release year, runtime, and primary educational theme:
| Rank | Movie Title | Year | Runtime | Primary Educational Theme | Catholic Value Alignment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Two Popes | 2019 | 125 min | Catholic Church reform, discernment | Faith, humility, service |
| 2 | Rustin | 2023 | 108 min | Civil Rights Movement, social justice | Justice, human dignity |
| 3 | The Six Triple Eight | 2024 | 127 min | WWII history, women's contribution | Courage, solidarity |
| 4 | Bohemian Rhapsody | 2018 | 134 min | Music history, identity | Truth, resilience |
| 5 | Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio | 2022 | 117 min | Moral growth, father-son relationship | Obedience, love, sacrifice |
| 6 | The Dig | 2021 | 112 min | Anglo-Saxon history, archaeology | Heritage, stewardship |
| 7 | The Half of It | 2020 | 104 min | Coming-of-age, faith & identity | Love, authenticity |
| 8 | Enola Holmes | 2020 | 123 min | Deductive reasoning, women's empowerment | Intellect, courage |
| 9 | Candy Jar | 2018 | 96 min | Debate, academic excellence | Truth, collaboration |
| 10 | Dumplin' | 2018 | 110 min | Body positivity, self-acceptance | Dignity, confidence |
Why These Movies Align with Marist Educational Values
Marist pedagogy emphasizes holistic formation integrating intellectual rigor with spiritual and social mission. Each film on this list models virtues central to Catholic education: The Two Popes explores papal discernment during the 2013 conclave, offering students a rare glimpse into Church governance and the tension between tradition and progress. Rustin chronicles Bayard Rustin's orchestration of the 1963 March on Washington, producing Obama Higher Ground footage that highlights racial justice and nonviolent activism-core to Catholic social teaching.
The Six Triple Eight tells the true story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black, all-female U.S. Army unit in WWII Europe, sorting three years' backlog of mail in under 90 days. This film reinforces Marist commitment to solidarity with marginalized communities while providing measurable historical impact.
- The Two Popes: Ideal for theology classes discussing Church reform and papal authority
- Rustin: Perfect for U.S. history or civics curricula on civil rights
- The Six Triple Eight: Excellent for WWII history and women's studies
- Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio: Won Best Animated Film Oscar, BAFTA, and Golden Globe for its moral narrative on sacrifice and obedience
- Bohemian Rhapsody: Four Oscars including Best Actor for Rami Malek; teaches music history and identity formation
PG-13 Rating Standards for Catholic High Schools
The Motion Picture Association defines PG-13 as \"Parents Strongly Cautioned\"-material may be inappropriate for children under 13, including mild violence, suggestive content, or coarse language. Approximately 60% of films released annually receive PG-13 ratings, making them the dominant demographic for teen viewing.
- Verify MPAA rating on Netflix before streaming (PG-13 films are not in a dedicated Netflix category)
- Review content warnings for racial slurs, war violence, or sexual references (e.g., Rustin includes racism/homophobia themes; The Six Triple Eight includes racial slurs)
- Use video response worksheets for pre/during/post viewing reflection (free printable available)
- Download via Netflix offline feature if school blocks streaming
- Facilitate guided discussion linking film themes to Catholic social teaching principles
Educational Implementation Guide for Marist Schools
According to We Are Teachers' analysis of 85 educational Netflix titles, video content injects engagement levels every lesson needs by making abstract concepts concrete for students accustomed to video-based learning. For high school implementation, pair films with structured reflection:
Start viewing 30 minutes before class ends to allow immediate debriefing. Assign video response worksheets covering pre-viewing predictions, during-viewing notes, and post-viewing reflection on moral themes. For The Two Popes, prompt students to analyze the tension between tradition and progress in Church governance. For Rustin, facilitate discussion on nonviolent activism as a Catholic social teaching principle.
This approach ensures measurable impact on student outcomes while maintaining alignment with Marist values of formation, service, and intellectual excellence across Brazil and Latin America.
Expert answers to Best Netflix Pg 13 Movies Marist Teens Can Watch Responsibly queries
What makes a PG-13 movie appropriate for Catholic high school students?
A PG-13 movie is appropriate when it avoids explicit sexual content, graphic violence, or strong profanity while presenting themes of justice, dignity, faith, or moral growth-such as The Two Popes exploring Church reform or Rustin depicting civil rights activism aligned with Catholic social teaching.
Does Netflix have a dedicated PG-13 movie section?
No, Netflix does not have a dedicated PG-13 category; educators must manually verify ratings using MPAA information or parental guides like Kids-In-Mind for each title.
Which PG-13 Netflix movie is best for theology classes?
The Two Popes is the top choice for theology classes, depicting Cardinal Bergoglio's 2012 meeting with Pope Benedict XVI and exploring papal resignation, Church scandals, and modernization debates.
Are there PG-13 Netflix movies about civil rights for history classes?
Yes, Rustin is the premier PG-13 civil rights film, produced by Barack and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground, documenting Bayard Rustin's role organizing the 1963 March on Washington.
Which PG-13 Netflix movie won the most awards?
Bohemian Rhapsody won four Oscars (Best Actor, Film Editing, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing), two BAFTAs, and two Golden Globes, making it the most awarded PG-13 Netflix film on this list.
