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13 Going on 30

13 Going on 30

For some, 13 feels like it was just yesterday. For Jenna, it was.

200498 minPG-13Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
Director
Gary Winick
Starring
Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer, Andy Serkis

After total humiliation at her thirteenth birthday party, Jenna Rink wants to just hide until she's thirty. Thanks to some magic wishing dust, Jenna's prayer has been answered. With a knockout body, a fabulous wardrobe, an athlete boyfriend, a dream job, and superstar friends, this can't be a better life. But soon Jenna realizes that adult life isn’t as easy as she hoped for.

Where to watch

Where can I watch 13 Going on 30?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists 13 Going on 30 streaming on Netflix and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about 13 Going on 30?

13 Going on 30 earns 9 badges, led by Cultural touchstone and Crowd Pleaser.

Show 1 more
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Content
  • Cast

Reception

Is 13 Going on 30 worth watching?

13 Going on 30's Midcredits score is the 66th percentile of all films, from 2.2M ratings across 6 sources. 52% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

66th percentile

Better received than 66% of films

74th percentile among Comedy63rd percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)74th
Approval (how many liked it)55th

68 /100

74th percentile of all films

82nd percentile among Comedy73rd percentile among 2000s

Critics 57 · Audience 69

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.6 — solid but not unanimous.

52% liked it

55th percentile of all films

62nd percentile among Comedy52nd percentile among 2000s
52% rated it 7–1048% rated it 1–6

Critics 65% · Audience 71%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 0 wins / 11 noms overall

99th percentile

2.2M ratings across platforms

99th percentile among Comedy98th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 33% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$37M
Opening weekend$21M
Domestic gross$57M
Worldwide gross$96M

Returned 2.6× its budget — 95th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Fans praised

  • Jennifer Garner's performance is charming and perfectly captures a teenager in an adult body
  • Garner and Mark Ruffalo have great chemistry that makes the romantic comedy work
  • Nostalgic 80s soundtrack and fun dance sequences, especially the 'Thriller' number

Detractors panned

  • Unoriginal plot heavily derivative of 'Big'
  • Predictable and clichéd romantic comedy formula with no surprises
  • Inconsistent character logic and unrealistic situations

What stands out

ActingDivisive80

Jennifer Garner's performance is universally praised; detractors call her unconvincing

Sound and musicDivisive75

80s soundtrack is nostalgic and fun; detractors find it out of sync with timeline

HumorDivisive60

Genuinely funny with real comedy; detractors find it unfunny and cringey

PacingDivisive60

Slow start but then spot-on momentum; never drags

DialogueDivisive55

Snappy and funny at times but also corny and forced

CharactersDivisive45

Jenna is likable but thinly written; supporting characters are underdeveloped

Plot and storyDivisive30

Formulaic body-switch premise derivative of 'Big', predictable and conventional

Originality15

Heavily recycled plot from 'Big' and other 80s body-switch films

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Women

Women scored it 16 points higher than men.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Under-30s vs over-30s 7 points apart
  • Critics vs users even
  • US vs non-US 6 points apart

Watch experience

What is 13 Going on 30 like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Feel-good: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something warm that leaves you smiling.

It is funny and leaves you feeling good. Skip it when you want something with weight.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Very little.

What it feels like

Feel-good.

Moods
JoyfulWarmRomanticBittersweet
Heaviest: middle
Warm humor
Register
WarmPlayful
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its fantasy premise and romantic comedy beats straight, with genuine warmth and affection for its characters.
The rideThe film alternates between lighthearted comedic moments and earnest emotional beats, with the middle stretch containing the most dramatic weight as Jenna confronts her adult life.
StructureThe film follows a conventional three-act structure: setup in 1987, wish and adult life in 2004, then a return to 1987 for resolution.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Feeling good.

The answer rests on this: Feel-goodHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayThe film ends with Jenna getting a second chance and reuniting with Matt, leaving a warm, uplifting feeling.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Rebirth
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13% (this title): Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2% (this title)
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Rebirth: A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed. · Second chance: A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).

13% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeA 13-year-old girl's wish to be 30 magically comes true, but she discovers the life she built is hollow. She must reconnect with her past self and the friend she lost, getting a second chance to undo her mistakes.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfIdentitySelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% (this title) · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22% (this title): Identity 14% (this title) · Coming of age 5% (this title) · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Self

Identity · 14% of filmsFriendship · 9% of filmsComing of age · 5% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film centers on Jenna's struggle to reconcile her teenage self with the adult life she has landed in, exploring who she truly is versus who she appears to be.
StanceThe film celebrates the idea that true happiness comes from being true to oneself and valuing inner worth over external success.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanDomesticInstitutionalRealistic
PopOrchestral classicalBackground music · hybrid · Theodore Shapiro
SettingA teenage girl's suburban home and her glamorous adult life as a magazine editor in Manhattan
MusicThe score is typical of early-2000s rom-coms, blending pop songs with a light orchestral backdrop to enhance the whimsical tone.

Content guide

Is 13 Going on 30 okay for kids?

PG-13

13 Going on 30 is rated PG-13: “Rated PG-13 for some sexual content and brief drug references” (MPAA). As of September 28, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at minimal (4/100), sexual content at moderate (40/100), language at mild (34/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (34/100) and frightening material at minimal (8/100). Overall it is heavier than 10% of PG-13-rated films.

Ratings in 16 other countries
  • UK12A
  • CanadaG
  • AustraliaPG
  • Germany6
  • FranceU
  • Ireland12
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil12
  • Hungary12
  • NorwayA
  • Poland16
  • RO15
  • SK12
  • Spain7
  • Sweden15
  • Switzerland12
Overall
Mild · all five categories
Heavier than 12% of all filmsHeavier than 10% of PG-13-rated films
Violence & Gore
None / Minimal
light for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 3%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate
heavy for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 75%
Profanity
Mild
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 29%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 63%
Frightening / Intense
None / Minimal
light for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 7%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is sexual content, heavier than 75% of PG-13-rated films.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does 13 Going on 30 have?

MovieCove's classifier found 2 depicted content warnings in 13 Going on 30: Sexual harassment or grooming (mild), Sexual violence (mild). Each is backed by a verbatim quote from the parents' guide notes; a missing warning is not a guarantee of absence.

MildSexual harassment or groomingSexual violence

Cast and crew

Who is in 13 Going on 30?

Cast

Jennifer Garner
as Jenna Rink
Breakout: Their highest-reaching film role at the time, and they went on to a career at least 3 times their standing then.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Mark Ruffalo
as Matt Flamhaff
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Judy Greer
as Lucy Wyman
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.
Andy Serkis
as Richard Kneeland
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Kathy Baker
as Bev Rink
Phil Reeves
as Wayne Rink
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.
Sam Ball
as Alex Carlson
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Marcia DeBonis
as Arlene
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Christa B. Allen
as Young Jenna
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Sean Marquette
as Young Matt
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like 13 Going on 30?

Movies like 13 Going on 30 include Get Over It (2001), Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009) and Friends with Kids (2011). Of the 12 closest matches, most are films set in New York, and most are romantic comedies.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

10 of these 12 share its character type: friends-to-lovers. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with 13 Going on 30?

1.8K other films share the rarest tag below, relationship: friends to lovers. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.