Every adult can appreciate the significance of growing up and learning things along the way. Getting older is inevitable, but it is important to take it all in so you can learn from your mistakes and grow as a person. Throughout the years, there have been several films spanning across genres that have focused on growing up and coming of age. In fact, the great director John Hughes built a career showcasing the struggles and antics of young adults. Films like The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off showed us what it means to be a young adult in the 1980s. Although times have changed since then, the transition from child to adult is an extremely significant process that can be very enlightening.

Coming of age films can create several emotions and nostalgia. They remind you of the romance, confusion, and many adventures that come with your youth. At the same time, we are reminded of the lessons and knowledge that you gain through maturing into an adult. With that said, being a teenager can be a very confusing experience. Bo Burnham showed us through Eighth Grade the humiliation and drama that come with growing up in the modern age. Technology controls many teenagers’ lives and so much is constantly being posted online on a daily basis. Navigating adulthood is a daunting experience, but it is completely unavoidable. In the past decade, we have gotten several great coming of age films that have shown us what it means to grow up in the modern world. Let’s look at the best coming of age films from the 2010s, ranked.

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9 Booksmart

     United Artists Releasing

Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut was a great portrait of high school life in the modern age. Booksmart follows two friends approaching their high school graduation while being determined to finally break some rules and get into some trouble. They navigate through several high school cliques as they experiment with partying, drugs, and sex. It is a comedic look at the Gen-Z youth while keeping friendship at it’s core. The bond between the main characters is strong and endearing, and we are given a hilarious coming of age film about the modern day.

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8 The Way, Way Back

     Fox Searchlight Pictures

The Way, Way Back focuses on several topics relating to young adults including love, friendship, and divorce. The story follows Duncan (Liam James) as he is dragged to a beach house with his mom’s new boyfriend. While there, he takes a job at a water park, gaining new and unexpected friends along the way. The story focuses on the anxiety and awkwardness that comes with being a teenager, but the importance of taking risks and putting yourself out there. The film has a great blend of comedy and drama and features several great performances from Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell, Toni Collette, and more.

7 The Edge Of Seventeen

     STX Entertainment

Hailee Steinfeld gives a fantastic performance in The Edge of Seventeen as Nadine, a teenager desperately trying to find herself while in the midst of high school. The story focuses on many important topics including friendship, family, and loss. Nadine shows us how difficult it is to be a high school student who can’t fit in. She lives in the shadow of her brother (Blake Jenner) who unfortunately begins to date Nadine’s best friend (Haley Lu Richardson). In the end, Nadine learns the importance of leaving her comfort zone and appreciating the things that she has already, giving us a very satisfying coming of age film.

6 Me And Earl And The Dying Girl

This film is a refreshing take on growing up and serves as a fantastic tribute to the importance of filmmaking. The film follows Greg (Thomas Mann) and Earl (RJ Cyler) who spend their time making creative parodies of classic films. Their lives are disrupted when they learn that an old friend, Rachel (Olivia Cooke), has been diagnosed with cancer. The film focuses on the harsh realities of life and the importance of friendship and creativity to overcome obstacles and tragedy.

5 Eighth Grade

     A24

Eighth Grade shows us how technology currently controls the lives of young adults. Bo Burnham’s film is an honest portrait of the struggles of growing up in the modern age. Elsie Fisher gives a tour de force performance as an eighth grade student navigating life while trying to overcome her social anxiety. At the same time, Josh Hamilton gives a fantastic and underrated performance as a caring father who knows when to keep his distance.

4 Call Me By Your Name

     Sony Pictures Classics

Call Me By Your Name is a heartbreaking and endearing love story that features beautiful landscapes of the Italian countryside. Elio (Timothee Chalamet) navigates life and growing up while forming a romantic relationship with Oliver (Armie Hammer). The film teaches a lot about the significance of finding love, even when you know that it will come to an end. The importance of taking in every moment and appreciating the beauty of life is shown from beginning to end.

3 Lady Bird

Greta Gerwig created a fantastic film featuring a very endearing and honest character known as Lady Bird (Saoise Ronan). Lady Bird is constantly trying to find herself while exploring relationships, friendships, and family. The heart of the film is seen through the loving relationship between Lady Bird and her mother, brilliantly played by Laurie Metcalf. Gerwig created Lady Bird as a love letter to her hometown of Sacramento while making a loving and entertaining coming-of-age film.

2 Boyhood

     IFC Films

Richard Linklater’s Boyhood was a monumental achievement in filmmaking. Linklater filmed Boyhood over the course of twelve years, telling the story of Mason (Ellar Coltrane) from childhood to college. The film broke cinematic boundaries while portraying an honest depiction of growing up. We see many themes portrayed including relationships, family values, and divorce. The film features several great performances from Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, and more.

1 Blue Is The Warmest Color

     Wild Bunch

Blue Is The Warmest Color is a fantastic love story that chronicles the life of Adele (Adèle Exarchopoulos) as she falls for Emma (Léa Seydoux). The film is an honest depiction of love while focusing on the struggle of maintaining it. We watch as Adele matures into a young woman while searching for love, adventure, and happiness. The film shows you that sometimes, in life, there are no clear answers and everybody just has to do the best they can. The film features fantastic performances from both of the main actors, and we are given one of the greatest love stories of all time.