best movies for young people 2012

by w-pipe02 | created - 06 Jul 2013 | updated - 06 Jul 2013 | Public
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1. The Hunger Games (2012)

PG-13 | 142 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

68 Metascore

Katniss Everdeen voluntarily takes her younger sister's place in the Hunger Games: a televised competition in which two teenagers from each of the twelve Districts of Panem are chosen at random to fight to the death.

Director: Gary Ross | Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Stanley Tucci

Votes: 1,004,249 | Gross: $408.01M

2. The Avengers (2012)

PG-13 | 143 min | Action, Sci-Fi

69 Metascore

Earth's mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team if they are going to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity.

Director: Joss Whedon | Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner

Votes: 1,460,014 | Gross: $623.28M

3. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

PG-13 | 164 min | Action, Drama, Thriller

78 Metascore

Eight years after the Joker's reign of chaos, Batman is coerced out of exile with the assistance of the mysterious Selina Kyle in order to defend Gotham City from the vicious guerrilla terrorist Bane.

Director: Christopher Nolan | Stars: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Gary Oldman

Votes: 1,828,756 | Gross: $448.14M

4. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

PG-13 | 169 min | Adventure, Fantasy

58 Metascore

A reluctant Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, sets out to the Lonely Mountain with a spirited group of dwarves to reclaim their mountain home, and the gold within it from the dragon Smaug.

Director: Peter Jackson | Stars: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Andy Serkis

Votes: 873,480 | Gross: $303.00M

5. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (2012)

PG-13 | 115 min | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy

52 Metascore

After the birth of Renesmee/Nessie, the Cullens gather other vampire clans in order to protect the child from a false allegation that puts the family in front of the Volturi.

Director: Bill Condon | Stars: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Peter Facinelli

Votes: 262,999 | Gross: $292.30M

6. The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

PG-13 | 136 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

66 Metascore

After Peter Parker is bitten by a genetically altered spider, he gains newfound, spider-like powers and ventures out to save the city from the machinations of a mysterious reptilian foe.

Director: Marc Webb | Stars: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Irrfan Khan

Votes: 702,763 | Gross: $262.03M

7. Brave (2012)

PG | 93 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy

69 Metascore

Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.

Directors: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman, Steve Purcell | Stars: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters

Votes: 442,585 | Gross: $237.28M

8. Ted (2012)

R | 106 min | Comedy

62 Metascore

John Bennett, a man whose childhood wish of bringing his teddy bear to life came true, now must decide between keeping the relationship with the bear, Ted or his girlfriend, Lori.

Director: Seth MacFarlane | Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane, Joel McHale

Votes: 657,951 | Gross: $218.82M

9. Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)

PG | 93 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy

60 Metascore

The Madagascar animals join a struggling European circus to get back to New York, but find themselves being pursued by a psychotic animal-control officer.

Directors: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath, Conrad Vernon | Stars: Ben Stiller, Jada Pinkett Smith, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer

Votes: 198,125 | Gross: $216.39M

10. Wreck-It Ralph (2012)

PG | 101 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy

72 Metascore

A video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives.

Director: Rich Moore | Stars: John C. Reilly, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Sarah Silverman

Votes: 458,767 | Gross: $189.42M

11. Men in Black³ (2012)

PG-13 | 106 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy

58 Metascore

Agent J travels in time to M.I.B.'s early days in 1969 to stop an alien from assassinating his friend Agent K and changing history.

Director: Barry Sonnenfeld | Stars: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Jemaine Clement

Votes: 387,265 | Gross: $179.02M

12. Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)

PG | 88 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy

49 Metascore

Manny, Diego, and Sid embark upon another adventure after their continent is set adrift. Using an iceberg as a ship, they encounter sea creatures and battle pirates as they explore a new world.

Directors: Steve Martino, Michael Thurmeier | Stars: Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Aziz Ansari

Votes: 225,061 | Gross: $161.32M

13. Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

PG-13 | 127 min | Action, Adventure, Biography

57 Metascore

In a twist to the fairy tale, the Huntsman ordered to take Snow White into the woods to be killed winds up becoming her protector and mentor in a quest to vanquish the Evil Queen.

Director: Rupert Sanders | Stars: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Sam Claflin

Votes: 302,530 | Gross: $155.33M

14. Hotel Transylvania (2012)

PG | 91 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy

47 Metascore

Dracula, who operates a high-end resort away from the human world, goes into overprotective mode when a boy discovers the resort and falls for the count's teenaged daughter.

Director: Genndy Tartakovsky | Stars: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez

Votes: 281,310 | Gross: $148.31M

15. Taken 2 (2012)

PG-13 | 92 min | Action, Crime, Thriller

45 Metascore

In Istanbul, retired CIA operative Bryan Mills and his wife are taken hostage by the father of a kidnapper Mills killed while rescuing his daughter.

Director: Olivier Megaton | Stars: Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen, Maggie Grace, Leland Orser

Votes: 322,794 | Gross: $139.85M

16. 21 Jump Street (2012)

R | 109 min | Action, Comedy, Crime

69 Metascore

A pair of underachieving cops are sent back to a local high school to blend in and bring down a synthetic drug ring.

Directors: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller | Stars: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube, Brie Larson

Votes: 598,884 | Gross: $138.45M

17. Prometheus (I) (2012)

R | 124 min | Adventure, Mystery, Sci-Fi

64 Metascore

Following clues to the origin of mankind, a team finds a structure on a distant moon, but they soon realize they are not alone.

Director: Ridley Scott | Stars: Noomi Rapace, Logan Marshall-Green, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron

Votes: 644,544 | Gross: $126.48M

18. Life of Pi (2012)

PG | 127 min | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy

79 Metascore

A young man who survives a disaster at sea is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery. While cast away, he forms an unexpected connection with another survivor: a fearsome Bengal tiger.

Director: Ang Lee | Stars: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Adil Hussain, Tabu

Votes: 667,178 | Gross: $124.99M

19. The Bourne Legacy (2012)

PG-13 | 135 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller

61 Metascore

An expansion of the universe from Robert Ludlum's novels, centered on a new hero whose stakes have been triggered by the events of the previous three films.

Director: Tony Gilroy | Stars: Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton, Scott Glenn

Votes: 315,683 | Gross: $113.20M

20. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)

PG | 94 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy

41 Metascore

Sean Anderson partners with his mom's husband on a mission to find his grandfather, who is thought to be missing on a mythical island.

Director: Brad Peyton | Stars: Josh Hutcherson, Dwayne Johnson, Michael Caine, Luis Guzmán

Votes: 112,174 | Gross: $103.86M

21. Rise of the Guardians (2012)

PG | 97 min | Animation, Action, Adventure

58 Metascore

When the evil spirit Pitch launches an assault on Earth, the Immortal Guardians team up to protect the innocence of children all around the world.

Director: Peter Ramsey | Stars: Hugh Jackman, Alec Baldwin, Isla Fisher, Chris Pine

Votes: 192,704 | Gross: $103.41M

22. Wrath of the Titans (2012)

PG-13 | 99 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy

37 Metascore

Perseus braves the treacherous underworld to rescue his father, Zeus, captured by his son, Ares, and brother Hades who unleash the ancient Titans upon the world.

Director: Jonathan Liebesman | Stars: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Rosamund Pike, Ralph Fiennes

Votes: 195,611 | Gross: $83.67M

23. Dark Shadows (2012)

PG-13 | 113 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Horror

55 Metascore

An imprisoned vampire, Barnabas Collins, is set free and returns to his ancestral home, where his dysfunctional descendants are in need of his protection.

Director: Tim Burton | Stars: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Eva Green, Helena Bonham Carter

Votes: 280,580 | Gross: $79.73M

24. Parental Guidance (2012)

PG | 105 min | Comedy, Family

36 Metascore

Artie and Diane Decker agree to look after their three grandchildren when their type-A helicopter parents need to go out of town for work. Problems arise when their 21st-century behavior collides with Artie and Diane's old-school methods.

Director: Andy Fickman | Stars: Billy Crystal, Bette Midler, Marisa Tomei, Tom Everett Scott

Votes: 26,794 | Gross: $77.27M

25. John Carter (2012)

PG-13 | 132 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

51 Metascore

Transported to Barsoom, a Civil War vet discovers a barren planet seemingly inhabited by 12-foot tall barbarians. Finding himself prisoner of these creatures, he escapes, only to encounter Woola and a princess in desperate need of a savior.

Director: Andrew Stanton | Stars: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Willem Dafoe, Samantha Morton

Votes: 286,332 | Gross: $73.08M

26. Battleship (2012)

PG-13 | 131 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

41 Metascore

A fleet of ships is forced to do battle with an armada of unknown origins in order to discover and thwart their destructive goals.

Director: Peter Berg | Stars: Alexander Skarsgård, Brooklyn Decker, Liam Neeson, Rihanna

Votes: 257,441 | Gross: $65.42M

27. Mirror Mirror (I) (2012)

PG | 106 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama

46 Metascore

An evil queen steals control of a kingdom and an exiled princess enlists the help of seven resourceful rebels to win back her birthright.

Director: Tarsem Singh | Stars: Lily Collins, Julia Roberts, Armie Hammer, Nathan Lane

Votes: 91,097 | Gross: $64.94M

28. Chronicle (2012)

PG-13 | 84 min | Action, Drama, Sci-Fi

69 Metascore

Three high school friends gain superpowers after making an incredible discovery underground. Soon they find their lives spinning out of control and their bond tested as they embrace their darker sides.

Director: Josh Trank | Stars: Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, Michael B. Jordan, Michael Kelly

Votes: 264,564 | Gross: $64.58M

29. Underworld: Awakening (2012)

R | 88 min | Action, Fantasy, Thriller

39 Metascore

When human forces discover the existence of the Vampire and Lycan clans, a war to eradicate both species commences. The vampire warrior Selene leads the battle against humankind.

Directors: Måns Mårlind, Björn Stein | Stars: Kate Beckinsale, Michael Ealy, India Eisley, Stephen Rea

Votes: 161,281 | Gross: $62.32M

30. Total Recall (I) (2012)

PG-13 | 118 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

43 Metascore

A factory worker, Douglas Quaid, begins to suspect that he is a spy after visiting Rekall - a company that provides its clients with implanted fake memories of a life they would like to have led - goes wrong and he finds himself on the run.

Director: Len Wiseman | Stars: Colin Farrell, Bokeem Woodbine, Bryan Cranston, Kate Beckinsale

Votes: 266,489 | Gross: $58.88M

31. American Reunion (2012)

R | 113 min | Comedy

49 Metascore

Jim, Michelle, Stifler, and their friends reunite in East Great Falls, Michigan for their high school reunion.

Directors: Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg | Stars: Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Seann William Scott, Chris Klein

Votes: 223,913 | Gross: $57.01M

32. ParaNorman (2012)

PG | 92 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy

72 Metascore

A misunderstood boy takes on ghosts, zombies and grown-ups to save his town from a centuries-old curse.

Directors: Chris Butler, Sam Fell | Stars: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Tucker Albrizzi

Votes: 109,968 | Gross: $56.00M

33. This Means War (2012)

PG-13 | 103 min | Action, Comedy, Romance

31 Metascore

C.I.A. operatives wage an epic battle on each other when they discover they are dating the same woman.

Director: McG | Stars: Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, Tom Hardy, Til Schweiger

Votes: 194,277 | Gross: $54.76M

34. Project X (2012)

R | 88 min | Comedy

46 Metascore

Three high-school seniors throw a birthday party to make a name for themselves. As the night progresses, things spiral out of control as word of the party spreads.

Director: Nima Nourizadeh | Stars: Thomas Mann, Oliver Cooper, Jonathan Daniel Brown, Dax Flame

Votes: 233,594 | Gross: $54.73M

35. The Woman in Black (2012)

PG-13 | 95 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror

62 Metascore

A young solicitor travels to a remote village where he discovers that the vengeful ghost of a scorned woman is terrorizing the locals.

Director: James Watkins | Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Janet McTeer, Ciarán Hinds, Emma Shorey

Votes: 192,706 | Gross: $54.33M

36. Paranormal Activity 4 (2012)

R | 88 min | Horror, Mystery

40 Metascore

It has been five years since the disappearance of Katie and Hunter, and a suburban family witness strange events in their neighborhood when a woman and a mysterious child move in.

Directors: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman | Stars: Stephen Dunham, Katie Featherston, Matt Shively, Brendon Eggertsen

Votes: 70,294 | Gross: $53.92M

37. The Odd Life of Timothy Green (2012)

PG | 105 min | Comedy, Drama, Family

47 Metascore

A childless couple bury a box in their backyard, containing all of their wishes for an infant. Soon, a child is born, though Timothy Green is not all that he appears.

Director: Peter Hedges | Stars: Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgerton, CJ Adams, Odeya Rush

Votes: 48,608 | Gross: $51.85M

38. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2012)

PG | 94 min | Comedy, Family

54 Metascore

School's out. Summer vacation is on. However, Greg may not have the best summer vacation ever. What could go wrong?

Director: David Bowers | Stars: Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron, Devon Bostick, Steve Zahn

Votes: 29,862 | Gross: $49.01M

39. Here Comes the Boom (2012)

PG | 105 min | Action, Comedy, Sport

40 Metascore

A high-school biology teacher looks to become a successful mixed martial arts fighter in an effort to raise money to prevent extracurricular activities from being axed at his cash-strapped school.

Director: Frank Coraci | Stars: Kevin James, Salma Hayek, Henry Winkler, Greg Germann

Votes: 95,507 | Gross: $45.29M

40. The Three Stooges (2012)

PG | 92 min | Comedy, Family

56 Metascore

While trying to save their childhood orphanage, Moe, Larry, and Curly inadvertently stumble into a murder plot and wind up starring in a reality television show.

Directors: Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly | Stars: Sean Hayes, Chris Diamantopoulos, Will Sasso, Jane Lynch

Votes: 33,205 | Gross: $44.34M

41. Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)

R | 95 min | Action, Horror, Sci-Fi

39 Metascore

Alice fights alongside a resistance movement to regain her freedom from an Umbrella Corporation testing facility.

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson | Stars: Milla Jovovich, Sienna Guillory, Michelle Rodriguez, Aryana Engineer

Votes: 150,191 | Gross: $42.35M

42. Rock of Ages (2012)

PG-13 | 123 min | Comedy, Drama, Musical

47 Metascore

A small-town girl and a city boy meet on the Sunset Strip while pursuing their Hollywood dreams.

Director: Adam Shankman | Stars: Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin

Votes: 81,691 | Gross: $38.52M

43. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012)

R | 105 min | Action, Fantasy, Horror

42 Metascore

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, discovers vampires are planning to take over the United States. He makes it his mission to eliminate them.

Director: Timur Bekmambetov | Stars: Benjamin Walker, Rufus Sewell, Dominic Cooper, Anthony Mackie

Votes: 161,698 | Gross: $37.52M

44. That's My Boy (2012)

R | 116 min | Comedy, Drama

31 Metascore

While in his teens, Donny fathered a son, Todd, and raised him as a single parent until Todd's 18th birthday. Now Donny resurfaces just before Todd's wedding after years apart, sending the groom-to-be's world crashing down.

Director: Sean Anders | Stars: Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Leighton Meester, Susan Sarandon

Votes: 109,008 | Gross: $36.93M

45. Frankenweenie (2012)

PG | 87 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama

74 Metascore

When a boy's beloved dog passes away suddenly, he attempts to bring the animal back to life through a powerful science experiment.

Director: Tim Burton | Stars: Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau

Votes: 117,165 | Gross: $35.29M

46. Step Up Revolution (2012)

PG-13 | 99 min | Drama, Music, Romance

43 Metascore

Emily arrives in Miami with aspirations to become a professional dancer. She sparks with Sean, the leader of a dance crew whose neighborhood is threatened by Emily's father's development plans.

Director: Scott Speer | Stars: Kathryn McCormick, Ryan Guzman, Cleopatra Coleman, Misha Gabriel Hamilton

Votes: 58,192 | Gross: $35.07M

47. The Watch (I) (2012)

R | 102 min | Comedy, Sci-Fi

36 Metascore

Four men who form a neighborhood watch group as a way to get out of their day-to-day family routines find themselves defending the Earth from an alien invasion.

Director: Akiva Schaffer | Stars: Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill, Billy Crudup

Votes: 133,059 | Gross: $35.35M

48. The Pirates! Band of Misfits (2012)

PG | 88 min | Animation, Action, Adventure

73 Metascore

Pirate Captain sets out on a mission to defeat his rivals Black Bellamy and Cutlass Liz for the Pirate of the year Award. The quest takes Captain and his crew from the shores of Blood Island to the foggy streets of Victorian London.

Directors: Peter Lord, Jeff Newitt | Stars: Hugh Grant, Salma Hayek, Jeremy Piven, Martin Freeman

Votes: 51,445 | Gross: $31.05M

49. Part of Me (2012)

PG | 93 min | Documentary, Music

57 Metascore

A look at the life, career and music of singer Katy Perry as we follow her on the California Dreams World Tour.

Directors: Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz | Stars: Katy Perry, Adam Marcello, Casey Hooper, Patrick Matera

Votes: 13,872 | Gross: $25.24M

50. Silent Hill: Revelation (2012)

R | 95 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller

16 Metascore

When her adoptive father disappears, Sharon Da Silva is drawn into a strange and terrifying alternate reality that holds answers to the horrific nightmares that have plagued her since childhood.

Director: M.J. Bassett | Stars: Adelaide Clemens, Kit Harington, Sean Bean, Carrie-Anne Moss

Votes: 66,739 | Gross: $17.53M



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