The coming-of-age film has been a long treasured sub-genre in film, ranging from light-hearted teen romances to think pieces on great existential questions. The genre produces a great deal of sure-fire box office hits because the central themes are relatable to all people at one time or another. Younger audiences can watch characters that reflect their current milestones and stages of life, while older audiences can reflect on their own experiences of growing up. Modern projects increasingly tackle more difficult subjects than their predecessors, though a great range of experiences and themes are explored. From animated musicals like Happy Feet to moving dramas such as Moonlight, a thoughtful and succinct reflection of any given aspect of growing up exists for any and all viewers.
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Boyhood (2014)
IFC Films
Boyhood made waves in 2014 as a truly one-of-a-kind film and admirable cinematic endeavor. Under the visionary direction of Richard Linklater, the chosen cast filmed over the course of twelve years to accurately capture the aging process of the actors. Aside from the logistical difficulty of keeping actors committed to a project for so long, the director managed to cast actors that remained true to their characters over the course of a decade and then some. Hollywood had never seen such a project as this before. Other films progressed over the span of years, as their casts aged, but this was done with significant breaks in the stories and time jumps from film to sequel.
Never had the aging process or a story of growing up been captured fully within the span of a feature film. There is more to the project than just the groundbreaking production. Boyhood also tells of an average American family facing a range of struggles, from the mundane to notable traumas. The film is a steady reflection of the deep significance of even the smallest moments in life, leaving viewers sure to reflect on their own.
The Edge of Seventeen (2016)
STX Entertainment
Starring Hailey Steinfeld and Woody Harrelson, The Edge of Seventeen is a quirky teen flick detailing the high school dramas and exploits of Nadine. Along with her friend Krista, Nadine navigates the awkward world of teenage romance. With her favorite teacher as mentor and confidante, Nadine maneuvers these tricky and overwhelming waters as she struggles between who she aspires to be versus what is actually meant for her (and also best for her). The movie is uniquely relatable in that it captures teenage relationships, romantic and platonic, in a way that feels thoroughly un-flashy and raw. It is the pure teenage perspective, capturing the way that relatively fleeting and trifling issues feel so immense to its teenage protagonists without mocking the fact that they feel this way.
Thirteen (2003)
Searchlight Pictures
Evan Rachel-Wood and Nikki Reed star in this often overlooked yet important film. One of the most impressive features of this project is that it was co-written by director Catherine Hardwicke and a then-fourteen-year-old Nikki Reed. Thirteen presents audiences with a rare chance to glimpse into the teenage experience through the eyes of an actual teenager, not only through the acting but through the writing. The fact that it was co-written by a child makes the content of the film all the more shocking, as Reed’s character of Evie introduces Wood’s Tracy to a world of rebellion, sex, drugs, and more.
The movie further delves into difficult subject matter such as self-harm, mental illness, and the struggles of being raised by parents who struggle with substance abuse. The two girls are ultimately torn apart as their parents discover the increasingly troubling lifestyle the girls encourage each other to lead. Having to repeat seventh grade, Tracy resumes her life with the absence of Evie, with the girls’ futures thereafter remaining anyone’s guess.
Girl, Interrupted (1999)
Columbia Pictures
It’s the 1960s, a time when mental health is not often or openly discussed. Amidst this climate, Susanna Kaysen (Winona Ryder) finds herself in an inpatient mental hospital after a significant mental breakdown and accidental overdose. She meets a myriad of characters in the mental hospital, being drawn especially to Lisa Rowe (Angelina Jolie). Rowe encourages Ryder to resist treatment, with the two women finding increased trust and odd solace in each other. Susanna’s life is unraveled as her previous affairs are exposed, though her choices as the film progresses showcase her growth as a character and increased acceptance of her struggles. In the end, she chooses to improve herself, telling the story of how difficult growing up can be when you’re not like everyone else.
Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
Warner Bros.
James Dean stars in this 1955 drama featuring three troublesome teenagers arrested for various crimes. The film takes a turn for mature content matter as the teenagers find themselves embroiled in the dealings of their local high school gang, culminating with the death of gang-member “Buzz”. Throughout the drama of Rebel Without a Cause, it is intercut with moments of teenagers simply expressing their longings and taking comfort in each other as children do. As the characters navigate a hostile world while learning how to grow into their own, some come to reconcile not only with their families but with themselves.
Pretty In Pink (1986)
Paramount Pictures
Pretty in Pink is an iconic 1986 classic starring Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer, and Andrew McCarthy in this coming-of-age film that paved the way for angsty portrayals in future films such as The Edge of Seventeen. The film helped to further launch Molly Ringwald’s career to new heights after the wild success of The Breakfast Club. Adapted from the novel by H.B Gilmour, the teen comedy features shining performances by Ringwald and Cryer as the young characters come of age in the face of mature issues such as poverty and insecurities.
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Moonlight (2016)
A24
Directed by Barry Jenkins, Moonlight was a visionary and ground-breaking 2016 film documenting the troubled upbringing of a gay black boy in Miami, Chiron. Growing up in a drug-afflicted neighborhood with a crack-addicted mother, Chiron finds refuge in Juan, a drug dealer that takes the boy in as a father figure of sorts. The film challenges the viewer’s perspective of who can be a hero and who can be a villain, as the man helping Chiron is the very man who sold drugs to his mother in the first place. As he pulls away from Juan’s care, the film transitions into its second act. Chiron is now a teenager, remaining close to Juan’s wife Teresa, with Juan having passed away and his mother’s addiction worsening.
In the third act, we find Chiron having become everything he hated, himself working as a drug dealer in Atlanta. He reconnects with figures from his past and makes amends with the troubling figures and circumstances of his life. Most notably, the film follows the journey of self-discovery and inner struggle of Chiron as he comes to terms with his sexuality, which he ultimately finds acceptance with. The film tackles race, sexuality, poverty, and socioeconomic disparities, all of which it does with great artistry and grace. Deservedly, the film garnered wide acclaim and is considered an important milestone in obtaining greater representation for the LGBT community in Hollywood.
Happy Feet (2006)
Village Roadshow Pictures
On a different note, we have Happy Feet. Though it is an animated film marketed for children, it can be considered as much of a film about growing up as any. Rather than openly representing the various struggles that cause children and teenagers to feel ostracized and alone, Happy Feet represents them all in the form of an odd little penguin named Mumble. Mumble is different because he loves to tap dance in a penguin colony where singing is all the rage, and an important tradition for uniting mates. While he is initially taunted and shunned by his kind for his differences, Mumble’s talents eventually unite his community– and save it. Happy Feet is a heartwarming tale of being true to who you are no matter what, and learning to embrace each other’s differences.
Juno (2007)
Fox Searchlight Pictures
From the mind of Jennifer’s Body creator Diablo Cody, Juno comes forth as the quirky coming of age story of a girl who finds herself pregnant by her long-time admirer. As she searches for an adoptive family for her unborn baby, she faces the typical teenage growing pains of managing complicated feelings. Her relationship with her baby’s father evolves as the chosen adoptive father for her baby also develops feelings for her. The story complicates with these developments, but the bonds of love and friendship prevail as Juno navigates teenage pregnancy.
Man in the Moon (1991)
Pathé Entertainment
Reaching Robert Ebert’s list of the top 10 films of 1991, The Man in the Moon stars Reese Witherspoon in her very first film role. She stars as Dani, a teenage girl finding young love and learning to find her place in her expanding family. The plot of the film is generally simple. There’s no extraordinarily bells and whistles, just the story of a young girl and her family navigating the highs and lows of everyday life. The film launched Witherspoon’s career and garnered wide critical acclaim, making it one of the most notable coming of age films of all time.
Lady Bird (2017)
Lady Bird tells the story of a young girl who goes by the nickname Lady Bird. She has a difficult relationship with her mother, with the pair constantly clashing as they perpetually misunderstand each other. The film’s perspective is through the eyes of Lady Bird, who feels her mother to be the villainous figure in her life. Throughout the course of the film, the young girl learns various lessons on her own, ultimately leading her to reconcile with her mother.
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Universal Pictures
Renowned as one of director John Hughes’ most memorable projects, The Breakfast Club thrust its young stars into stardom, giving them the name of the “Brat Pack”. The film follows a mixed matched group of teens who are facing detention for the day. While they are all facing the same punishment, they all have vastly different personalities and are facing detention for different reasons. What they all have in common is the same teenage existential angst, which they flesh out and delve into as their time together brings them all together as friends. What they have learned is reflected in the final aspect of their detention, in which they must write a paper about who they think they are. The film has become a classic of the 1980s, and has been frequently referenced and parodied in pop culture since.
To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
The 1962 classic tells a story of racism, politics, and progress through the eyes of a little girl, Scout Finch. The Harper Lee novel of the same name upon which the film is based has become a hallmark in American Literature since its release. Scout and her family live in 1930s Alabama, in a town called Maycomb. Her father, attorney Atticus Finch, shows the children the realities of life in an impoverished and largely racist small town in the south. Scout learns the truth of life and the harsh circumstances people find themselves in as her perceptions of townspeople and her reclusive neighbor evolve.
Legally Blonde (2001)
Metro-Goldwyn Mayer
Since the main character of Elle Woods is a full-grown adult attending grad school, one may be tempted to think Legally Blonde is not a story about growing up. It very much is, in fact, as Elle Woods learns important life lessons before stepping fully into her maturity. The college years are as much a part of growing up as one’s teenage years; as you find your place in an adult world, you may find yourself woefully unprepared for. At the start of the movie, Elle Woods has naive notions about love and the sort of happily ever after that awaits her. Her decision to go to Harvard on account of chasing a boy is a sign of a genius that she is comically unaware of, and her time at the institution helps her step into herself with confidence and vision. She lets go of codependency, and learns to define herself by herself. For any young adult figuring out who they are and how life works, Legally Blonde is a classic piece that reassures that it will all be okay.
Akeelah and the Bee (2006)
Lionsgate
The 2006 film starring Keke Palmer follows a young girl’s journey as a spelling bee champion. One of the most spectacular aspects of the film is that it touches on the subject of race while allowing its main character to remain unexposed to the staggering levels of trauma that black characters are disproportionately written to experience. It is not a tale of the girls suffering, but of her triumph through friendship and community.
Spirited Away (2001)
Toho Co., Ltd.
Spirited Away is an animated film about a little girl named Miyazaki. After her parents are turned into pigs after exploring an abandoned amusement park, Miyazaki must work in this mysterious and supernatural place to free her parents. The film’s lesson is to not run away from fears, telling a story of bravery and heart through the eyes of a ten-year-old girl.
Almost Famous (2000)
DreamWorks Pictures
William and Penny are set out to live their dreams of rolling with rock stars in this 2000 “dramedy” set in the 1970s. The film expresses coming-of-age when you are in extraordinary circumstances and faced with your idols. Throughout the film, the young characters learn what they want as they are presented with the lives they have always wanted, perhaps learning that it is not all they hoped it would be.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
Summit Entertainment
The cult classic stars Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and the now controversial Ezra Miller. Charlie (Lerman) is a clinically depressed teenager making his way into a new friend group. With his own troubles, Charlie is not the only one in the group with burdens as the characters juggle school and the everyday challenges of being a teenager with the traumas and/or fears that haunt them. The film has become a classic, especially known for its final scene driving through a tunnel in which Charlie declares “We are infinite”.
Dirty Dancing (1987)
Vestron Pictures
Dirty Dancing is a movie about making choices and coming into one’s own without fear. Jennifer “Baby” Houseman falls in love with her dance instructor as she takes the place of his former dance partner. The girl previously slated to work with the teacher, Johnny (Patrick Swayze), is heavily implied to be undergoing an abortion, a choice that was heavily taboo in the 1980s. The film tackles the aforementioned social issue as well as the concept of classism, all while still delivering an iconic romance and unforgettable dance numbers.
Marie Antoinette (2006)
Sony Pictures Releasing
Much like Legally Blonde, Marie Antoinette is not very obviously a film about growing up, yet it is. Looking back at the historical figure of Marie Antoinette, it is easy to forget that she was just a young girl thrust into a world of politics. It is easy to judge her for her extravagance and frivolity in the face of a starving nation when one forgets that she was quite literally a child that was handed a kingdom. Not only was she handed an entire kingdom, but also subjected to being ripped away from everything she knows as she is expected to perform adult duties with the weight of a nation on her shoulders. Marie Antoinette offers us to take in a more compassionate view of the young and tragic queen, who was experiencing girlhood under extraordinary circumstances.
