I'm looking for ideas for a movie for a girls sleepover we are having at my school in June. The girls are grade 5 to 8 or 10 to 14 years old. We want a pg13 movie that speaks to girls about empowerment. Any ideas will help! Thanks.
A. McLaughlin
Grade 5 teacher
NB, Canada

If your kids (and your daughter's friends) are into soccer - "Bend it like Beckham" is a great girl empowerment movie. Alternatively, you might look into Whale Rider - which I have heard (not seen) is a great movie for teenage girls/young women. I have boys, so I can't say I'm speaking from personal experience. Good luck and report back with what you ended up choosing.

"Whip It"... Although I am sort of biased being around roller girls a lot (In Seattle WA. There are tons) I think that this movie is good for that age range and gender.
I friend of mine's daughter is in a roller group for youth called the "Seattle Roller Brats" and they loved it and they were a younger group.
Anyway its PG13.
Hope all goes well.

The Little Princess, The Secret Garden... I don't recall any bad language or anything scary. I have 4 daughters-ranging in ages 6,8, 17 and 19. They loved these movies. I'm sure there are others which I can't seem to think of at the moment. Do a search online perhaps: BUT please take the time to watch them first... some might seem appropriate but turn out NOT to be.
I hope you all have a great time. Girls need to know that they can stand on their own two feet. That they are not only beautiful but powerful.
I also think 'Tangled' was a good movie... even if there was a hero, it turns out that she had the ability to rescue herself. Because I do believe throughout that movie-it's exactly what she did. Saving him along the way also, LOL.
The Roller one mentioned 'Whip It'. I have never seen. But I plan to watch it and then decide whether it's appropriate for my young ones. It might be the target age group you are looking for?

My now 19yr old suggested 'Freaky Friday' and 'Letters to Juliet'.. . I haven't seen the second but it did look like a good movie.

And although Lindsay Lohan has been having personal issues lately, she was a good actress and I do believe she gets across the message that girls are powerful too. It also helps that in Freaky Friday- she learns to get along with her mother. <a helpful added message to young girls

Another favorite of my girls was "Parent Trap', the updated version-(yep with Lohan when she was young)... was great. And in case the girls didn't know: Lohan played both her parts in that movie. As did the young actress in the original version.

13 going on 30 is a good one for that age group and teaches girl empowerment and teaches them not to try to grow up to fast and enjoy the little things. Basically it is a girl version of the movie Big.

Last Holiday (Queen Latifah) or Phat Girls (Monique). Brilliant comedies and very empowring.

What about A league of Their Own? - LOVE that movie... - Also Fried Green Tomatoes, but that one may be a bit too mature for the age group you described...