Looking for Netflix movies based on books (for kids 11-12)? There are some great titles you can stream on Netflix. These films and TV documentaries are a great resource any time of year.
If you’d like more direction or opinion about movies appropriate for this age group, check out Common Sense Media. These are great for sick days, school breaks, Summer breaks, or general enrichment.
These movies include feel-good, family movies that you can feel comfortable letting your kids watch alone or streaming on family movie night. These are great selections to add to your Netflix list.
Make the next family movie night an educational night with these movies based on books. It’s perfect for teachable moments and a great way to engage the kids with important topics.
What to Expect in Movies Based on Books for Kids 11-12
Movies based on books for kids aged 11-12 can be a great way to encourage reading and expand their imagination.
When watching such movies, you can expect a few common elements:
1. Faithfulness to the Source Material: Many adaptations for this age group aim to stay faithful to the original book's storyline, characters, and themes. While some creative liberties may be taken, the core of the story should remain intact.
2. Age-Appropriate Content: Movies for this age group typically have age-appropriate content, including suitable language, themes, and visual effects. These films are often rated “G” or “PG” (General or Parental Guidance).
3. Strong Moral and Ethical Messages: Children's books often convey important life lessons and values. Movie adaptations usually retain these messages, which can include themes like friendship, courage, kindness, and the importance of family.
4. Adventure and Imagination: Many books for this age group feature fantastical elements, adventures, and imaginative worlds. Movie adaptations often bring these elements to life with impressive special effects and visual storytelling.
5. Age-Appropriate Casting: Movies usually cast child actors who closely resemble the book's characters in terms of age, appearance, and personality.
6. Educational Elements: Some adaptations may incorporate educational themes or elements to make learning fun. For example, a movie might include science, history, or cultural references that tie in with the book's content.
7. Family-Friendly Humor: Movies often include humor that appeals to both kids and adults. This can make the experience enjoyable for the whole family.
8. Positive Role Models: Movie adaptations frequently showcase positive role models, often in the form of the book's central characters. These characters can serve as inspiration for young viewers.
9. Emotional Engagement: Movies often aim to engage young viewers emotionally, helping them connect with the characters and become invested in the story's outcome.
10. Visual Spectacle: To captivate young audiences, movie adaptations may use stunning visual effects and vibrant cinematography to bring the story to life.
It's important to remember that not all movie adaptations will capture every aspect of the original book, and some changes may be made to suit the medium of film.
Nevertheless, movies based on books for kids aged 11-12 are generally designed to entertain, educate, and inspire young viewers while staying true to the spirit of the source material.
NETFLIX MOVIES BASED ON BOOKS (FOR KIDS 11-12)
Here are the titles available:
Firedrake the Silver Dragon
When humans threaten his home, a young dragon summons the courage to seek a mythical paradise where dragons can live in peace and fly free. | Stream on Netflix
Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racer
The “How to Train Your Dragon” adventure continues when a hunt for lost sheep becomes a fierce, fun-filled competition. | Stream on Netflix
Rise of the Guardians
Jack Frost teams up with Santa, the Tooth Fairy, and others to battle a malicious spirit determined to destroy the innocent beliefs of children. | Stream on Netflix
Stuart Little 2
Trouble's in the air for spirited city mouse Stuart and family cat Snowbell when a new canary friend flies into danger with a ruthless falcon. | Stream on Netflix
The Zookeeper's Wife
When the Nazis invade Poland, Warsaw Zoo caretakers work with the underground resistance to save Jews from the horrors of the Third Reich. | Stream on Netflix
To continue learning, check out The Zookeeper's Wife Movie Study.
Paddington
A lovable young bear from the jungles of Peru lands in London in search of a new home — and soon finds family while settling into city life. | Stream on Netflix
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Offbeat inventor Flint Lockwood must avert a mouthwatering disaster of gigantic proportions after he creates a machine that makes food fall from the sky. | Stream on Netflix
Netflix Originals Based on Books
Yes Day
A mom and dad who usually say no decide to say yes to their kids' wildest requests — with a few ground rules — on a whirlwind day of fun and adventure. | Stream on Netflix
Secret Magic Control Agency
Hansel and Gretel of fairy tale fame — now acting as secret agents — must use magic, clever thinking, and teamwork on a mission to find a missing king. | Stream on Netflix
White Fang
A loyal wolfdog's curiosity leads him on the adventure of a lifetime while serving a series of three distinctly different masters. | Stream on Netflix
DJ Cinderella
Fiercely independent and disillusioned with love, a teen DJ is determined to chart her own path, till a pop heartthrob falls for her awesome mix. | Stream on Netflix
The Little Prince
When an overscheduled girl befriends an eccentric aviator, he regales her with tales about the adventures of an unusual boy who lives on an asteroid. | Stream on Netflix
The Willoughbys
Four siblings with horribly selfish parents hatch a plan to get rid of them for good and form a perfectly imperfect family of their own. | Stream on Netflix
Coin Heist
When a crisis threatens to destroy their high school, four teens hatch a daring plan to raise $10 million. Step one? Breaking into the U.S. Mint. | Stream on Netflix
Jessica Darling's It List
Armed with popularity tips from her beautiful older sister, precocious Jessica Darling prepares to navigate the treacherous world of seventh grade. | Stream on Netflix
Enola Holmes
While searching for her missing mother, intrepid teen Enola Holmes uses her sleuthing skills to outsmart big brother Sherlock and help a runaway lord. | Stream on Netflix
Nightbooks
Scary story fan Alex must tell a spine-tingling tale every night — or stay trapped with his new friend in a wicked witch's magical apartment forever. | Stream on Netflix
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
After their parents are tragically killed, three orphans are taken in by the dastardly Count Olaf, who hopes to snatch their inheritance from them. | Stream on Netflix
If you enjoyed this list of movies, I have a monthly membership for parents and educators that want to teach or supplement lessons with shows and movies.
“I absolutely love sharing movies with my kids as a way to teach them valuable lessons. It's like this awesome bonding experience where we all snuggle up on the couch with some popcorn, and I get to see their little faces light up with curiosity. Whether it's a classic with timeless morals or a new animated flick with hidden gems of wisdom, it's a fantastic way to impart important life lessons in a fun and engaging way. Plus, the post-movie discussions are priceless – hearing their take on the characters and the story adds a whole new dimension to our family time.” –a Homeschooling parent
With Homeschooling with Shows and Movies membership, you will get resources every month, including:
- List of This Month’s Suggested Themes
- List of Monthly Observances
- List Of Movies for Unit Study
- Unit Study Resource
- Seasonal Activities (minimum of three)
- (BONUSES) Resources for you, the teacher
These resources are worth it if you'd like to easily incorporate shows and movies into your homeschooling.
Do your kids love reading? The Kindle Paperwhite Kids is on sale! My kids are avid readers and they love reading on it. I like that it tracks the time and pages they’ve read and they get little awards for reading so many pages or finishing so many books. It’s waterproof and comes with a case, so I bought one in all black and it functions just like the regular Kindle.
BONUS: Kindle Paperwhite Kids includes 1 year of Amazon Kids+ with unlimited access to thousands of books.
MORE NETFLIX MOVIES BASED ON BOOKS
- Netflix movies based on books (for kids 8-10)
- Homeschooling with Netflix
- Educational Movies on Netflix
- Children's Movies on Netflix
- Roald Dahl Books That Become Movies
- 11 Awesome Books That Became Movies
- Netflix Movies Based on Books (For Kids 11-12)
DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVORITE NETFLIX MOVIES BASED ON BOOKS?
- 100+ Educational Netflix Titles for Homeschooling (Free Printable List!) - April 26, 2025
- What To Watch This Week - April 25, 2025
- Where to Watch The Grinch - February 3, 2025
Leave a Reply