Movies About Teenage Life

From Robert Zemeckis, starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover
Rated PG

Back to the Future is a 1985 science fiction adventure film directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale. The film stars Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, a high school student who is accidentally sent back in time to 1955, where he meets his future parents and becomes his mother's romantic interest. In order to return to 1985, Marty must find a way to get back to the future, with the help of scientist Dr. Emmett Brown. The film follows Marty as he attempts to navigate the past and future, encountering a variety of characters along the way. Along the way, he discovers that he must ensure his parents-to-be fall in love or else he will cease to exist in the future. He also discovers that his friend Dr. Brown is a follower of time travel and has built a time machine out of a DeLorean car. With the help of Dr. Brown, Marty is able to return to 1985, a changed man, more mature, experienced and confident than before. The film was a commercial and critical success and spawned two sequels, Back to the Future Part II (1989) and Back to the Future Part III (1990).

From Rob Reiner, starring Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell
Rated R

Stand by Me is a classic coming-of-age film that follows a group of four 12-year-old boys as they embark on a two-day journey to find the dead body of a missing local boy. Along the way, they encounter danger and adventure, and learn lessons about friendship, loyalty, and growing up. Through the boys' experiences, the film offers a poignant exploration of life, death, and the joys and struggles of childhood. The film stars Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O'Connell, and was based on a short story by Stephen King. It was directed by Rob Reiner and released in 1986. It was nominated for an Academy Award and remains one of the most beloved and iconic coming-of-age films of all time.

From Stephen Chbosky, starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Paul Rudd
Rated PG-13

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a 2012 coming-of-age film written and directed by Stephen Chbosky, based on his novel of the same name. It stars Logan Lerman as Charlie, an introverted freshman in high school who is adjusting to his new environment. He is befriended by a group of seniors who show him the perks of being a wallflower: the freedom to be himself, the courage to take risks, and the understanding that life is more than just the surface. With their guidance, Charlie navigates his way through the highs and lows of adolescence, including the struggles of bullying, first love, and coming to terms with his own identity.

From John Hughes, starring Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy
Rated R

The Breakfast Club is a 1985 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film written, produced, and directed by John Hughes. It stars Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy as teenagers from different high school cliques who spend a Saturday in detention with their strict principal, Richard Vernon (Paul Gleason). The film chronicles their experiences, their problems with their parents and social groups, and their inner struggles as they slowly open up to one another. As the day progresses, they come to understand that despite their differences, they are all facing similar struggles and begin to form a bond. By the end of the day, the five have grown closer and have established a newfound respect for one another, realizing that they are all more similar than previously thought.

From Josh Boone, starring Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff, Laura Dern
Rated PG-13

The Fault in Our Stars is a 2014 romantic drama film directed by Josh Boone and based on the novel of the same name by John Green. The film stars Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, and Nat Wolff as three teenagers who meet and fall in love at a cancer support group. Hazel Grace Lancaster (Woodley) is a 16-year-old girl with terminal cancer. Auggie (Elgort) is a fellow cancer survivor who finds solace in his videogaming. Isaac (Wolff) is Hazel’s friend who is also battling cancer. The three form a bond that deepens when Auggie and Hazel embark on a road trip to Amsterdam to meet the author of the book Hazel loves. As their journey unfolds, they find themselves struggling to cope with the fragility of life and their own mortality. Along the way, they come to understand the importance of living life to the fullest and learning to appreciate what they have while they still have it.

From Richard Linklater, starring Jason London, Wiley Wiggins, Matthew McConaughey, Rory Cochrane
Rated R

Dazed and Confused is a coming-of-age comedy-drama film released in 1993 and written and directed by Richard Linklater. The film follows a group of high school seniors and juniors in Austin, Texas during the summer of 1976 as they grapple with the transition from adolescence to adulthood. The film is set on the last day of school and features a range of activities, including hazing, partying, and cruising. The main characters include Randall "Pink" Floyd (Jason London), Mitch Kramer (Wiley Wiggins), and Simone Kerr (Michelle Burke). The film follows their experiences as they try to deal with the changes in their lives, their relationships, the pressures of school, and the lure of the future. Throughout the film, Linklater explores the themes of innocence, growing up, and the power of nostalgia.

From Greg Mottola, starring Michael Cera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bill Hader
Rated R

Superbad is a 2007 American coming-of-age teen comedy film written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, produced by Judd Apatow and directed by Greg Mottola. The film stars Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse, with Seth Rogen and Jane Lynch appearing in supporting roles. The story follows two best friends, Seth and Evan, who are about to graduate high school. In an attempt to score alcohol for a party, the two set out on a mission to buy liquor, with the help of their friend Fogell, who has obtained a fake ID listing his name as "McLovin." Throughout their night, the trio run into numerous obstacles, including confronting intimidating police officers and clashing with a rival party-crasher. The film received critical acclaim, with many citing it as one of the best coming-of-age comedies. It was a box office success, grossing over $169 million on a budget of $20 million. It also received a nomination for the Writer's Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay.

From Nicholas Ray, starring James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Jim Backus
Rated PG-13

Rebel Without a Cause is a classic coming-of-age drama set in the 1950s that stars James Dean as Jim Stark, a troubled teenager searching for an identity and a place where he belongs. After his family moves to a new town, Jim struggles to fit in and quickly finds himself in trouble. He befriends John "Plato" Crawford (Sal Mineo), another troubled youth, and Judy (Natalie Wood), a girl his age, and the three become close. As Jim and his new friends search for a place to belong, they grapple with issues of teenage rebellion, the power of love, the search for identity, and their own mortality. Through their journey, they ultimately discover the power of friendship and the importance of self-identity.

From Jason Reitman, starring Elliot Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman
Rated PG-13

Juno is a coming-of-age comedy-drama about a 16-year-old girl named Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) who discovers she is pregnant after a one-night stand with her friend Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera). After considering an abortion, Juno decides to give the baby up for adoption. She finds the perfect couple in Mark and Vanessa Loring (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner) and embarks on a journey of personal growth as she prepares to become a mother and give her child away. Through her experiences, Juno learns how to be more mature, how to make tough decisions, and ultimately how to love.

From Edgar Wright, starring Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Anna Kendrick
Rated PG-13

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is a 2010 action comedy film based on the comic book series of the same name by Bryan Lee O'Malley. It tells the story of Scott Pilgrim, a slacker and part-time musician who falls in love with the mysterious Ramona Flowers. To win her heart, he must defeat her seven "evil exes" who are sent to defeat him by her former boyfriends. With the help of his friends, Scott embarks on a quest to defeat each of the seven exes in an effort to win Ramona's heart. Along the way, he discovers himself and his place in the world. The film stars Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and Kieran Culkin, and features music by Beck and Metric. The film was a box office failure but received critical praise for its visual style, direction, soundtrack, and performances.

From Jon Watts, starring Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey Jr., Marisa Tomei
Rated PG-13

From Gil Junger, starring Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik
Rated PG-13

From Terry Zwigoff, starring Steve Buscemi, Thora Birch, Scarlett Johansson, Brad Renfro
Rated R

From Cameron Crowe, starring John Cusack, Ione Skye, John Mahoney, Lili Taylor
Rated PG-13

From Sofia Coppola, starring Kirsten Dunst, Josh Hartnett, James Woods, Kathleen Turner
Rated R

From Michael Lehmann, starring Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Shannen Doherty, Lisanne Falk
Rated R

From Directors: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, starring Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube, Brie Larson
Rated R

From Mark Waters, starring Lindsay Lohan, Jonathan Bennett, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey
Rated PG-13

From Bernardo Bertolucci, starring Michael Pitt, Louis Garrel, Eva Green, Anna Chancellor
Rated NC-17

From James Ponsoldt, starring Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Kyle Chandler, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Rated R

From Will Gluck, starring Emma Stone, Amanda Bynes, Penn Badgley, Dan Byrd
Rated PG-13

From John Hughes, starring Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Justin Henry, Michael Schoeffling
Rated PG

From Directors: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, starring Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice Cube, Nick Offerman
Rated R

From Amy Heckerling, starring Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd
Rated PG-13

From Richard Linklater, starring Blake Jenner, Tyler Hoechlin, Ryan Guzman, Zoey Deutch
Rated R