Top Family Movies for Teens in 2010

Family movies this year ranged from horrible to crazy to absolutely amazing. While the usual movie blockbusters like "Iron Man II", a great movie flick for tweens and teens, soared to the top, other film offerings like "Furry Vengeance" should have never left the cutting room floor. Given the cost of popcorn and tickets, and many families opting to stay home and watch Netflix and Hulu.com, narrowing down the list of must-sees and movie duds will save families some hard-earned dough.

Iron Man II
Iron Man II, although not as cohesive as "Iron Man", still packs a punch with insane special effects, an endearing jerk of a main character, and enough suspense to make you want to see the upcoming "Avengers" movie. While the younger audience should be in bed before you turn on this action flick, tweens and teens will enjoy the killer robots and mayhem while parents can enjoy the more adult aspects of the movie.

Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows
You only needed to watch the endless line of diehard Potter fans camping out to remember that a very specific generation of Potter fans kept this series alive much longer than it should have been. All the same, teens will enjoy the more grown-up version of Harry and Ginny, as the series finally graduates to adulthood. Once again, the younger set should be in bed before you hit play on your Blue-Ray.

Alice in Wonderland
Sad to say, this take on the Lewis Carroll novel seems to be nothing more than a ridiculous ego extravaganza from film mogul Tim Burton. The 3D version of "Alice in Wonderland" actually took away from the seamless computer imagery created by the animators. (I am still amazed by Helen Bonham's large melon of a head throughout the film). If you want to experience a bad trip with your teens, then this is the movie for you. If not, I suggest passing over this poorly-conceived flick.

Toy Story 3
Although you wouldn't think teens would be interested in a tale of talking toys, this group grew up with the Toy Story characters and is more than happy to enjoy some nostalgia in the latest yarn spun from Disney and Pixar. Added bonus? Younger brothers and sisters can enjoy this fun movie with parents and older siblings. "Toy Story 3" is a great family movie pick.

The Last Airbender
Based on Nickelodeon's animated character Avatar, "The Last Airbender" gives series enthusiasts the opportunity to immerse themselves in a fantastic world where elements, magic, goodness, and evil combine into a tale of survival. Although meant for a younger audience, young teens will enjoy this action flick, directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Admittedly, "The Last Airbender" is not one of Shyamalan's best flicks, but it is still good entertainment.

If your family did not have a chance to check out these top movie flicks for teens in 2010, most are available affordably on video or Blue-Ray disc. Pop some popcorn in the microwave and enjoy the home movie theater experience.