McFarland, USA
This warm, true-story sports drama follows a new coach who builds a champion cross-country team from a group of farm-working kids in a small California town. Alongside the inspiration and teamwork, the film honestly portrays poverty, family hardship, and a handful of violent moments that put it firmly in older-kid territory.
A great pick for kids around 10 and up who love underdog sports stories and are ready for some real-world emotional weight.
If you’d rather skip
Coach White throws a cleat at a football player, causing a bloody cut on his face, which leads to him losing his job.
A father shouts at his wife, throws a beer bottle at the wall, and punches the wall in anger; a boy steps in and is beaten defending his mother.
A teen character stands near moving traffic in a moment that implies he may be contemplating suicide; he does not come to harm.