The best coming of age movies hit you in the feels and remind you of what life was like when you were growing up. These movies about young kids finding their way in the real world often have relatable themes that are unique to all of our journeys. The coming of age movie is a celebration of youth and nostalgia focusing on all the heavy emotions that come with growing up as a kid.
Hollywood has made the coming of age movie an art form, with dozens of incredible movies having been released over the years. These movies range from Award-winning blockbusters to small indie movies. What they all have in common is detailing the experiences we all went through as youths. Here are some of our favorites.
26 Best Coming of Age Movies of All Time
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1. Lady Bird (2017)
Actresses turned director Greta Gerwig wowed audiences with her directorial debut, Lady Bird. The movie stars Saoirse Ronan as a high schooler struggling to discover who she is while dealing with bad boys, her fractured relationship with her mother, theatre, and her first love.
It’s a wonderfully emotional flick with standout performances from Ronan, Laurie Metcalf as her mother, Beanie Feldstein as her best friend, and Timothée Chalamet as a potential suitor.
2. The Breakfast Club (1985)
Is there a better coming of age drama than The Breakfast Club? John Hughes’ tale of self-discovery will have you feeling all the emotions. Five students, each one representing a classic high school stereotype (the nerd, the athlete, the princess, the arty one, and the bad boy), report for weekend detention where they reveal their true selves and the pressures each one is under to live up to their parent’s expectations.
The Breakfast Club is a classic that turned its cast – Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy – into massive movie stars, while also sending Scottish rock act Simple Minds’ “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” straight to the top of the charts.
3. Eighth Grade (2018)
Bo Burnham is better known for his recent comedy special, Inside, but do yourself a favor and give his 2018 movie Eight Grade a watch. As the title suggests, the movie focuses on Kayla (Elsie Fisher), a young girl struggling to fit in during her final week of eighth grade. To handle her social anxiety, she posts self-help vlogs that fuel her social media obsession.
Burnham wrote and directed Eight Grade, his first feature, and faithfully captures the highs and lows of this generation’s experiences growing up in a world where social media, mental health, and sexual consent are all at the forefront of people’s minds.
4. Stand By Me (1986)
Another classic coming of age movie, Stand by Me is based on the Stephen King short story The Body. Four kids – River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell, and Will Wheaton – go on a journey to find a dead body in 1959. Along the way, they encounter a vicious guard dog and school bullies and get into all sorts of trouble, while also opening up to each other about their hopes, dreams, and fears.
There’s a real emotional pull at the heart of Stand by Me, with each of the boys exposing their deepest fears and regrets while learning more about each other and who they really are. The soundtrack is also killer and by the time B.B. King’s “Stand By Me” starts playing over the closing credits, there won’t be a dry eye in the house.
5. Mean Girls (2004)
Based on a self-help book, Queen Bees and Wannabes, Mean Girls has reached cult status over the past 15 odd years. It’s your classic fish-out-of-water story about a young girl who’s grown up in Africa where she was homeschooled being thrust into the cutthroat environment of high school.
Dealing with cliques, bullying, emotional torment, and all the bad things that can happen while in school, Mean Girls is a very relatable coming of age drama. It’s arguably Lindsay Lohan’s best role, with a top-notch support cast including Rachel McAdams, Lacey Chabert, Amanda Seyfried, Amy Poehler, and Tina Fey, who also happened to write the script.
6. The Spectacular Now (2013)
Before Miles Teller turned into a bonafide leading man, he starred in this little-seen indie rom-com. Teller plays Sutter, the life of the party who falls for the quiet Aimee (Shailene Woodley). As their budding romance takes flight, Sutter’s family problems and issues with alcohol rear their ugly head and threaten to derail the relationship, the best thing Sutter has in his life. Great Bob Odenkirk cameo too.
7. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
A little different from your standard coming of age moive, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is Edgar Wright’s fantastic take on the Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series. Fusing video game-esque special effects with real-life, Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) must battle the seven evil exes of his new girlfriend Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) while trying to win a battle of the band’s competition.
Staying relatively close to the graphic novels, this is a visually exciting movie with two great leads, an even better ensemble cast (Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, Kieran Culkin, Brie Larson, Jason Schwartzman, Aubrey Plaza, Bill Hader, Thomas Jane, and Clifton Collins Jr.), and a tremendous soundtrack.
8. School Ties (1992)
Long before Good Will Hunting, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck appeared in this early 90s flick. School Ties stars Brendan Fraser as a young Jewish kid who scores an athletic scholarship to a prestigious prep school. While there, Fraser tries to hide his religious beliefs for fear of being bullied, but when he is outed as a Jew, he is isolated by his classmates and struggles to make it through the year.
Throw in a cheating scandal, Damon as a prick, and some solid writing and you have a very watchable coming of age story dealing with some hefty issues.
9. Call Me By Your Name (2017)
The movie that put Timothée Chalamet on the map is a story of love, loss, and innocence set against the backdrop of the Italian summer. Chalamet falls for older man Armie Hammer and must navigate his feelings of desire and love as he comes to terms with who he is.
This is a touching flick that tastefully handles the relationship between Chalamet and Hammer (the age difference offended some) and would go on to win many awards, including an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for James Ivory.
10. Love & Basketball (2000)
Love & Basketball follows the trials and tribulations of long-time friends and lovers Monica and Quincy. Both aspire to be professional basketball players and make it in the NBA, with the movie tracking their journey over the years, along with their relationship, that turns from friends to lovers.
The movie received high praise not only for its story and acting (Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan are wonderful) but the themes of female empowerment and gender roles that are sewn into the fabric of the story.
11. Remember the Titans (2000)
Coming of age films aren’t all about love and romance. Sports flick Remember the Titans is the perfect example of a movie about a group of young men who learn and grow together while trying to win the state championship. Denzel Washington is Herman Boone, a football coach who is given the task of integrating the students from two schools, one for white students and the other for black students, into the same team.
A struggle at first, the two groups of players soon begin to mingle and realize that despite the color of their skin, they have a lot in common. Based on a true story, Remember the Titans is a feel-good watch with plenty of ups and downs and a predictably happy ending.
12. Moonlight (2016)
Few films have had such an impact on cinema in the past decade as Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight. The story of a black boy coming to terms with his race as he evolves into a man while also trying to understand his sexuality and who he is makes for an arresting piece of filmmaking.
The movie won three Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay), turned Mahershala Ali into a star, and put a spotlight on LGBTQ+ films and the power they can have. A visually stunning movie many consider a modern masterpiece.
13. The Diary of a Teenage Girl (2015)
15-year-old Minnie (Bel Powley) is determined to lose her virginity and begins a sexual relationship with her mother’s boyfriend (Alexander Skarsgård). Recording the details of their encounters, she soon starts experimenting with others and believes sex is the only way to find happiness. Over the course of the movie she slowly discovers that to truly love someone and be content you must first love yourself.
Adapted from a graphic novel, The Diary of a Teenage Girl contains illustrated effects that create a visually pleasing aesthetic, that, when paired with Marielle Heller’s directing, makes for an enjoyable watch.
14. The Graduate (1968)
“Mrs. Robinson you’re trying to seduce me. Aren’t you?” This often misquoted line from the 60s classic The Graduate tells you all you need to know. Dustin Hoffman, a recent college graduate, gets involved with a married older woman but finds himself falling for her daughter.
As he finds himself drawn deeper into the affair as his feelings for the daughter escalate, Hoffman must make a choice that will impact the rest of his life. Filled with meaningful dialogue, fantastic performances, and a Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack, The Graduate is one of cinema’s great movies.
15. Thirteen (2003)
Almost a decade on, Thirteen remains a cultural touchstone that still resonates with people today. Based on the experiences of actress Nikki Reed, the movie focuses on a seventh-grade student in Los Angeles who begins experimenting with drugs and sex. Thirteen presents a very realistic view of growing up as a teen in the 00s and the pressures that come with trying to fit in.
Although it did receive some backlash, Thirteen was almost universally praised, with the cast, in particular Holly Hunter and Evan Rachel Wood, singled out by many for their eye-catching performances. Thirteen serves as a cautionary tale of what can go wrong when you make bad decisions as a teen.
16. Rebel Without a Cause (1956)
Nobody was as cool as James Dean. Rebel Without a Cause casts the handsome actor as Jim Stark, a troublemaking youth growing up in the 1950s who is unsure of who he is or where he’s headed.
A commentary on the generational gap between teenagers and parents of that era, this coming-of-age film is celebrated for its presentation of young adults and Dean’s memorizing performance. Decked out in tight jeans and that iconic red jacket, Dean’s Stark made being a juvenile delinquent never look so appealing.
17. American Graffiti (1973)
Before breaking out with Star Wars: A New Hope, George Lucas showcased his directorial skills with American Graffiti. The film follows a group of teenage kids over the course of one summer night as they try to hold onto their youth before becoming adults.
Set during the rock and roll era of the 50s, the movie features drag races, young love, and a stacked cast of up-and-comers including Harrison Ford, Richard Dreyfuss, and Ron Howard.
18. Superbad (2007)
While it could be classified as a teen comedy, Superbad has all the ingredients needed for a coming of age film. Teenage best friends Michael Cera and Johna Hill are about to finish high school and are on a mission to get laid at the graduation after-party.
It might sound a bit like American Pie, but Superbad is a much wittier comedy with great performances from Cera and Hill along with a scene-stealing cameo from Christopher Mintz-Plasse as the two’s nerdy friend McLovin.
A great look at male friendships and the bonds that are formed when we are young, Superbad is a comedy classic with a heart of gold.
19. Dead Poets Society (1989)
Watching Dead Poets Society makes you wish Peter Weir still made films. This cult classic stars Robin Williams as an English teacher who inspires his students with poetry at an elite all-boys school in the 50s.
The movie won a stack of awards, turned Ethan Hawke into a star, and demonstrated Williams’ dramatic chops, all while confirming Weir as one of the great directors of the 20th century. It’s a truly remarkable film that will have you reaching for the tissues throughout.
20. Little Women (2019 film)
Depending on how old you are will more than likely determine which version of Little Women you enjoy the most. While the 1994 adaptation is great, the recent 2019 take by Greta Gerwig gets out tick of approval.
Like previous films, Little Women 2019 focuses on the March sisters – Jo (Saoirse Ronan) Meg (Emma Watson), Amy (Florence Pugh), and Beth (Eliza Scanlen) – and their exploits as they grow up during the American Civil war.
It’s a fantastic adaption of Louisa May Alcott’s iconic novel with an amazing cast that hits all the right notes.
21. Juno (2007)
Juno MacGuff (Elliot Page) gets pregnant by local nerd Paulie Bleeker (Micahel Cera, popping up for the third time on this list) and must decide whether she wants to keep the child or put it up for adoption.
This is a sweet, heartfelt indie with great performances (J. K. Simmons as the dad is hilarious), witty dialogue, and a soundtrack that ranks as one of the best of modern times.
22. Boyhood (2014)
Filmed over the period of 12 years, Boyhood is an epic coming of age drama from expert filmmaker Richard Linklater. The movie follows Mason Evans Jr. (Ellar Coltrane) from ages six to eighteen as he grows into a man while dealing with the divorce of his parents (Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke) while discovering his own self.
What makes Boyhood such a great watch is not just the acting and directing, but the story itself, which continued to evolve every year as Coltrane got older and the world around him changed. A magic piece of inventive filmmaking from one of the greats.
23. The Edge of Seventeen (2016)
Not to be confused with Stevie Nicks’ hit “Edge of Seventeen,” this coming-of-age story centers on a teenage girl trapped in the shadow of her popular brother. Hailee Steinfeld is fantastic as 17-year-old Nadine Franklin as she slowly starts to discover who she really is, growing more confident as the film reaches its expected climax.
Along with Steinfeld, special mention must be made of Woody Harrelson, who is awesome as Steinfeld’s exasperated teacher who she comes to for frequent advice.
24. Booksmart (2019)
Olivia Wilde has been in the news for all the wrong reasons of late, but there is no denying her feature directorial debut is a wonderfully funny and charming film. Booksmart stars Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever as two girls looking to let loose on the final day of high school.
This one will make you laugh, cry, and feel nostalgic for simpler times, while also making you remember the relationships you formed while at school.
25. Dope (2015)
Three high school geeks – Malcolm Adekanbi (Shameik Moore), James “Jib” Caldones (Tony Revolori), and Cassandra “Diggy” Andrews (Kiersey Clemons) – live in a crime-riddled suburb of Inglewood, California, dream of bigger and better things but find themselves mixed up with the local drug lord in this heartfelt tribute to the 90s.
Dope is an underrated coming of age film with a great cast and an even better soundtrack.
26. Boyz n the Hood (1991)
A certified classic, Boyz n the Hood is John Singleton’s accurate depiction of what life is like for black Americans growing up in the ghetto. Cuba Gooding Jr., Morris Chestnut, and Ice Cube are three young black men trying to navigate life in the hood without getting killed. While Cube is in a gang and heading down the wrong path, Gooding Jr. and Chestnut have a chance to escape, if the violence doesn’t consume them first.
Singleton’s debut hits just as hard today as it did over three decades ago, highlighting how much work we still need to do as a society to offer kids living in tough neighborhoods a better chance at life.
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