Top 10 Best Coming of Age Movies
These are the films the best depict the experience of coming to age. For this list, we're looking to capture a wide variety of coming of age experiences including love, loss, hard economic times, coming to terms of what it means to navigate the world as an adult. We'll be looking at the best and most diverse, not necessarily the most iconic. We're only looking at live action films, so animated movies like “Persepolis” won't make the cut.
#10: “Edge of Seventeen” (2016)
Writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig has gone on record saying that her directorial debut was heavily inspired by the late John Hughes, and watching the film, it’s almost as if you were watching a movie from the man himself. Hailee Steinfeld stars as Nadine, a junior in high school who, after the death of her father at a young age, and a slight backstabbing from her lifelong best friend, sees the world as being entirely against her. With Steinfeld turning in an outstanding performance, and snappy dialogue that hits all the marks of teenage conversation, this is one movie that every one should see at least once.
#9: “The Perks of Being A Wall Flower” (2012)
Based on director Stephen Chbosky’s own novel, which could easily top any list of the best coming of age novels of all time, the 2012 film adaptation was named an instant classic upon release. Heavy hitters like Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller all turn in performances that speak to the troubles that face teens everyday, and while the film does deal with some heavy subject matter, by the end, you’ll be wishing you could spend a little more time with these characters. Of course, you’ll also have David Bowie’s “Heroes” on repeat as well…
#8: “Superbad” (2007)
Evan and Seth have been inseparable since childhood, and as their high school graduation approaches, they are forced to deal with the possibility of being apart for the first time. In a hilarious, booze soaked romp written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the film perfectly captures the nuances of friendship, relationships, and partying. Lots of partying. Oh, and it’s one of the most quotable films of the 2000s.
#7: “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” (1982)
This classic teen film introduced us to a plethora of now super stars: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Sean Penn, Forest Whitaker, and more. Adapted from the 1981 book of the same name, this film follows a group of high school students as they go through the motions of growing up, touching on themes of sexuality, heart break, and drugs. Hilarious and entertaining through and through, this film is full of the teen comedy tropes that we know and love today. And who could ever forget THAT scene.
#6: “Boyhood” (2014)
There aren’t many movies that you can accurately say are wholly unique, but this is surely one of them. Richard Linklater’s magnum opus “Boyhood” was filmed over a span of years between 2002 and 2013, revisiting the lives of his characters every year they aged in real time. Because of the style of filming, the film has a sense of reality to it that a typical movie just can’t hold a candle to. It’s a simple story without shocking plot twists or standout events, but rather a tale that feels similar to most people’s real life childhoods, filled with small highs and lows.
#5: “Lady Bird” (2017)
What can be said about “Lady Bird” that hasn’t already been said amid the critical praise it received when it released? This 2017 film transports viewers to 2002 and follows a high school senior in Sacramento who has named herself Lady Bird. It’s a story that focuses on the mother daughter relationship as well as the female experience of growing up, and all the pains that come along with it. It deals with tropes like applying to college and losing your virginity, but all from an angle that feels fresh and modern despite the setting.
#4: “The 400 Blows” (1959)
Okay, so the movie itself is middle aged, but hear us out on this one. “The 400 Blows”, released in France in 1959, is credited with completely changing the coming of age genre and making it what it is today. Rather than focusing on an idealized version of youth or childhood, this movie takes a more accurate portrayal of the life of a young Parisian boy. It’s a simple story about a kid who makes bad decisions and has to deal with the consequences, but its realism is what really sets it apart, and is why it still holds up today.
#3: “Dazed and Confused” (1993)
This iconic teen comedy follows a group of teenagers on the last day of high school in 1976, and boy, does it ever hold up today. With a stacked cast, including Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey, Mila Jovovich and more, this film is Richard Linklater’s love letter to teen angst, growing pains, and the ‘70s. The film has become a cult classic, and arguably, one of the best comedy films of all time.
#2: “Stand by Me” (1986)
For many young men, watching this film is a rite of passage. “Stand By Me” is based on a novella written by Stephen King that – like the film – is set around four boys on a quest to find the body of a missing boy. Each of the characters has his own cross to bear, and throughout the film they manage to touch on many issues like abuse, neglect and mental illness. This story is more about the journey than the destination itself, and throughout Gordie, Chris, Teddy and Vern learn about themselves and each other, coming out the other side completely changed.
Before we unveil our top picks, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Juno” (2007)
“Y Tu Mamá También” (2001)
“The Way Way Back” (2013)
#1: “The Breakfast Club” (1985)
Of course this one had to be our number one pick. John Hughes was the king of the classic American coming of age movie, having created beloved classics like “Sixteen Candles” and “Ferris Bueller's Day Off” as well as this much loved film. “The Breakfast Club” is an iconic ‘80s movie that works at breaking down high school stereotypes by bringing together students from different crowds for a Saturday detention together. They realize that they have much more in common than they could have imagined, and they all leave a little older and a little wiser.
