Top 10 Most Relatable Teen Movie Moments

Mia Thermopolis is one of the most relatable teen characters in the history of the genre. And that’s really saying something, seeing as she actually turns out to be a princess and all. What makes Mia so relatable isn’t just her awkwardness, or her perilous clumsiness, but her wants and desires. Like any teenager, she hopes that her first experience with romance will be straight out of a fairytale. She’ll kiss a boy, and it will be so magical that her foot will just … pop! Unfortunately for Mia, she learns the hard way that adolescent boys are not usually the romantic type. But don’t worry, she gets her pop in the end.

Sisters are a different breed – in the best way – which is why we love seeing them represented accurately in our favorite media. “To All the Boys I've Loved Before” is a great romance movie. After all, who doesn’t love Peter Kavinsky? But its real secret weapon is how lovely and real the relationship between Lara Jean and her sisters is. Part of the tension stems from Lara Jean’s crush on sis Margot’s ex-boyfriend. It’s all really well drawn out, but these two never lose sight of the fact that sisterhood comes first. And as for little sister Kitty? Well, she’s just a trip all on her own. Anyone who has sisters of their own will probably recognize the dynamics here!

We’ve all said some things that would’ve probably been better left…well, unsaid. When you have the instinct to fit in, or to tell the truth, or whatever it may be, it can be hard to keep your thoughts to yourself. This is part of what makes Cady from “Mean Girls” so ultra-relatable. When she gets to North Shore High School, she has a bit of trouble fitting in. And when she’s asked to infiltrate the Plastics, that increases tenfold. Cady often finds herself saying things she shouldn’t, a trait that comes to a head at a party when she’s in a bedroom with her crush. Gross and embarrassing…who hasn’t been here in one capacity or another?!

If we’re being honest with ourselves, we’ve all been a little clueless. The actual film “Clueless” might magnify that teenage tendency by a million, but it doesn’t mean that we can’t relate to Cher and her antics. One of her most accessible moments, however, is the one where she actually gets a clue. In a wonderful sequence bolstered musically by “All by Myself,” the protagonist comes to a major realization. Once she’s acknowledged her crush, she finds that she can’t act normal around him – we get it. For anyone who’s come to the realization that they like someone a little late, this sort of behavior is a total mood.

Asking someone out is difficult no matter how old you are. So it’s hard not to cringe when you think of how horrible dating can be during adolescence. “Say Anything …” expertly captures the awkwardness, sweetness, and angst of teenage romance in equal measure. We’re completely on Corey’s side as she laments how terrible her ex-boyfriend is through song. But something about Lloyd’s struggle to get through a sentence naturally when talking to Diane Court on the phone really makes us feel seen. Early on in the film, she returns his call, and he asks her out. Hearing him stumble his way through the proposition perfectly exemplifies how tricky it is to be a teen in your feelings.

We all like to think we’re the main character in the story. But more often than not, that’s not quite the case. It would be cool to be able to be Ferris Bueller, twisting and shouting our way through a parade. But, if we’re being honest with ourselves, most folks aren’t like him. The majority are probably more like Cameron. That’s not to say Cameron isn’t great. He’s definitely one of our favorites, and Alan Ruck gives a wonderful, grounded performance. Watching the character play second fiddle to Ferris is one of the most relatable things about the movie. Ferris might be cool, but Cameron is a man of the people.

Even as the world becomes more accepting toward queer youth, it can be extremely difficult for anyone to come out to their family. This concept was captured beautifully in 2018’s “Love, Simon.” Simon lives a pretty charmed life. He’s got accepting parents, great friends, and everything seems to be going pretty well for him. But he has a secret – he’s gay. Initially he has trouble telling the truth. The film does a great job at portraying the fact that coming out can be scary, even when you’re surrounded by good people. It also nails the relief that can come when you open up and are met with love.

High school is hard enough, but don’t even get us started on middle school. To say it’s no picnic would be an understatement. Heck, we had a hard enough time just watching this movie! “Eighth Grade” is a modern coming-of-age classic that takes viewers through the worst parts of puberty. But the awkwardness alone isn’t what makes it so relatable. What really puts the story over the edge is main character Kayla’s desperate need to fit in. When you’re at that age where your body is changing and everyone’s slowly making the transition to young adulthood, it’s hard to know where you stand. The film subtly and sensitively captures how difficult and isolating that experience can be.

In “Booksmart,” Amy and Molly have been the best of friends for ages. They rarely butt heads, and are nearly connected at the hip. Actors Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein have a wonderful rapport, and this connection reflects our own close friendships back at us. It also makes the characters’ huge fight that much harder to stomach. Director Olivia Wilde beautifully frames the argument in a way that captures how earth-shattering spats between besties are in life, especially at that age. Once all the sound drops out, we no longer even really know what’s being said. Yet it doesn’t matter. We connect to the sheer pain associated with the fact that this argument might be Amy and Molly’s last, while thinking of our ride-or-dies.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

A Rebel, “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999)
We All Feel Like Kat Sometimes

The Friendship, “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” (2005)
Sharing Pants Is the Mark of True Friends

Getting Older Isn’t All It’s Cracked Up to Be, “13 Going on 30” (2004)
Be Careful What You Wish For

Singing "Pocketful of Sunshine", “Easy A” (2010)
We Can’t Get This One Out of Our Heads Either

Boredom, “Dazed and Confused” (1993)
When You’re This Bored, It’s Easy to Get Into Trouble

One of the most formative relationships a girl can have is the one with the mother-figure in her life. In 2017’s “Lady Bird,” that relationship is brought to screen in a heartbreaking and lovely way. Lady Bird is an eclectic high school senior who wants to get out of Sacramento and make it to the East Coast. Throughout the movie, her bond with her mom Marion is fraught over things such as money and her desire to leave home. Thus, the conversations between mother and daughter feel lived in and honest, and are sure to make many feel seen. While we might witness that type of rawness in male-centric movies, it’s rarer to find it in a female-led one. We’re grateful we got it here.