Top 10 Underappreciated Teen Movies

Catherine Hardwicke and Nikki Reed are probably best known for their involvement in the “Twilight” franchise. The former directed the first film, while the latter played vampire Rosalie Hale throughout the series. But these two talented women also worked together years earlier to create “Thirteen.” They co-wrote the movie - which Hardwicke also directed - when Reed was a teen herself. Naturally, this meant that her high school experiences heavily influenced the script. The story itself crucially exposes a darker side of adolescence that people often want to ignore. Luckily, the film’s realistic cinematography and raw honesty forces viewers to sit in their discomfort instead. Yet somehow, “Thirteen” didn’t make as big a splash as it should’ve. Nevertheless, it’s a must-watch.

When Bartleby gets rejected from every college he applied to, he creates a fake one. But the institution turns into something way more real than he anticipated, and becomes a place where everyone’s accepted. The film stars Justin Long, Jonah Hill, and Blake Lively, pre-“Gossip Girl” fame. It was released in 2006, at the same time as “Snakes on a Plane.” Now, we may never know how much Samuel L. Jackson’s reptile-filled adventure impacted things, but “Accepted” only grossed about $38 million worldwide. And these days, its Rotten Tomatoes score sits at a meager 38%. However, you shouldn’t let those low numbers stop you from watching it. Not only is the story funny, but it also says something important about the educational system.

This film follows an unconventional group of teens as they try to save the record store where they work. Sadly, it was panned by critics, and made next to no money at the box office. Granted, since its release and subsequent flop in 1995, “Empire Records” has gained a rather dedicated following. But we think it’s finally time for it to emerge from cult status and receive the mainstream appreciation it deserves. And we’re not just saying that because of the soundtrack, though it’s undoubtedly amazing. The movie also makes people feel seen through its premise, humor, and compelling characters. Plus, it features actors like Liv Tyler and Renée Zellweger before they became household names!

Minnie is a teen girl with a real talent for drawing cartoons. But things get complicated when she starts obsessing over physical intimacy, while also feeling ugly and awkward. Though it’s flown under the radar, there’s plenty of reasons to love this movie. Set in 1976, “The Diary of a Teenage Girl” deals with themes we’ve seen before. Yet it does so in a smart way, with an honest depth that’s often missing in such stories. Notably, the film follows a female character who’s going through big changes, treating her feelings and actions with respect in the process. As if that wasn’t enough on its own, it also uses animation as a storytelling tool, which further adds to its originality.

This 2002 release stars America Ferrera as Ana García, a young Latina woman who really wants to go to college. But her family’s precarious finances and her overbearing mother’s distinct vision for her life present some substantial roadblocks. “Real Women Have Curves” creates something truly powerful through these clashes. It even includes one of the most wonderfully body-positive scenes in cinematic history. But not nearly enough people know about the film. Luckily, those who’ve seen it recognize how important and well-crafted it truly is. That group includes the Library of Congress, which added the movie to the National Film Registry in 2019!

Most of us are familiar with Pete Davidson’s work in “The King of Staten Island.” After all, its on-demand release made a splash in 2020. But the star had another film, called “Big Time Adolescence,” that hit streaming airwaves a few months prior to this. It never took off in the same way, which is a shame because it’s really funny. Griffin Gluck is Mo, a 16-year-old whose best friend is a college dropout named Zeke, played by Davidson. Though it may sound like any other coming-of-age story, this movie’s smart dialogue and genuine emotions make it stand out among the rest.

In 1990s Los Angeles, a young boy named Stevie escapes his troubled home life and finds acceptance among a group of skateboarders who soon become his friends. This movie was Jonah Hill’s brainchild, and he took cues from his own experiences coming of age in the mid-90s to write and direct it. The story contains just the right amount of nostalgia, without relying on it as a tool to keep the audience interested. Despite Hill’s star power, the film only made a little over $9 million at the box office. But though many of us missed it in 2018, it’s worth taking a look at now. No matter what decade you grew up in yourself, there’s no doubt you’ll enjoy the ride.

High school can be hard and lonely, especially if your popular older brother starts seeing your best friend. That’s what happens to Nadine Franklin in “The Edge of Seventeen.” The 2016 dramedy has even been compared to John Hughes films because of how it successfully captures the feeling of growing up. It’s a wonderfully acted and smartly-written movie that features some truly exciting back-and-forth between Hailee Steinfeld and Woody Harrelson, among other things. Watching it will make you laugh, cry, and feel awkward in the best way possible. Given everything it accomplishes, we can’t help but wish it got talked about more often!

Awkward teen Duncan isn’t thrilled about having to spend the summer with his mom, her awful rich boyfriend, and his spoiled daughter. It looks like it's going to be a pretty unpleasant vacation, but that changes when he meets Owen. They form a friendship that provides Duncan with the father-figure he needs and a summer he won’t forget. Liam James perfectly brings the protagonist to life, and Sam Rockwell is a blast as Owen. Meanwhile, Steve Carell expertly makes Trent unbearable. “The Way Way Back” is another in a line of smart, funny and heartwarming films that too many folks simply ignored.

When people think of iconic teen movies about a popular clique of high school girls, they tend to picture “Mean Girls” or “Heathers.” Yet “Jawbreaker” rarely comes to mind, and we simply can’t understand why. The dark comedy establishes its tone from the beginning, as the main characters play a prank that goes terribly wrong. It’s grown into something of a cult-classic over the years, with Rose McGowan’s seductive and sardonic Courtney Shayne gaining in popularity as a result. The film’s bright and bold wardrobe is also beloved. We can only hope “Jawbreaker” becomes widely recognized as a teen classic sooner rather than later, because that’s exactly what it is.