MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Best Coming of Age films

Best Coming of Age films

posted 5 years ago by looper007 (1126)
39 replies | jump to latest

When this genre gets it right, they can always end up been some of the best films around. So just what films of Coming of Age genre do you highly rate.

Stand By Me (1985)- probably the most famous Coming of Age film. Deserving of the praise it gets, great performance from River Phoenix. The Ending always gets to me.

Dazed and Confused (1993)- Still think it's just about Richard Linklater's best film imo. Just a rewatchable film with well written characters, great acting and awesome soundtrack.

Heathers (1988)- one of the darker coming of age 80's films, but one of ones that's aged better then most.

The Perks of Being A Wallflower (2012)- a film which even Emma Waston can't ruin. A lot darker and downbeat then many would think. Logan Lerman is fantastic in this in a tough role. Great soundtrack

Y Tu Mama Tambien(2001)- a more adult coming of age film, with a touch of sadness underneath all the sex and gross humor.

Blue is the Warmest Color (2013)- like the above film, a bit of a more adult coming of age film but still shows the first dawning of sexuality and love.

The Kings of Summer (2013)- a underrated coming of age film, that has the laughs but has the growing pains and a touching ending. Nick Robinson is excellent in this (also check out Love Simon for another great performance from him).

The Way Way Back (2013)- Another underrated coming of age gem from 2013. Great performance from Steve Carrell is a villainous role, also Sam Rockwell is great. Liam james is a great lead, and Toni Collette as always is great. This is a lot darker then most Coming of age films.

Fucking Amal (1998)- probably unknown by most, but this Coming of age Swedish film about two teenage girls falling in love. Is sweet without been over sappy, funny, touching. Love too that all the actors are played by teens and it has one of the best endings in any coming of age film ever imo.

[–] dmac8 (5050) 5 years ago

American Graffiti
16 Candles
City of God

[–] GlenEllyn (21078) 5 years ago

Yep, I'll stick with American Graffiti.

[–] slimone (7996) 5 years ago

Me too. I love that movie. There was another one like it but I can't remember the name of it.

[–] McQualude (4231) 5 years ago

Grease?

[–] looper007 (1126) 5 years ago

American Graffiti is a classic. 16 Candles isn't my favorite John Hughes film. City of God is a masterpiece, and definitely would be in any top 50 coming of age film list, and any best film ever list.

[–] McQualude (4231) 5 years ago

Bully (2001) - based on a true story about teenage love, rape, bullying, and murder. Three of the leads became heroin addicts and one of them died at only 25 years of age.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Bully was good. Sad about Renfro, he was so good in this movie.

[–] BillHicksFan (10100) 5 years ago

Would I like "Fucking Amal" if I didn't care too much about "Blue is the Warmest Colour"?

(Maybe I just like the title, lol)

[–] looper007 (1126) 5 years ago

Fucking Amal is the total opposite of Warmest Colour. It's just a sweet coming of age lesbian comedy/drama. No 10 minute lesbian sex scenes. The film is under 85 minutes and I'd put it in my top 5 coming of age films. A must see imo. In most countries they changed the title to "Show Me Love".

[–] LauraGrace (15570) 5 years ago

Whale Rider
Welcome to the Dollhouse

[–] looper007 (1126) 5 years ago

Whale Rider is a fantastic choice, great performance from Keisha Castle- Hughes (wasn't she Oscar nommed for it), shame she didn't go onto a better film career (although she sadly had Bipolar Disorder, also had a child as a teenager, fell into drugs and got married young and is now divorced. But she seems to got her thing together is doing well and was in Games of Thrones and Walking Dead). But if she does nothing else she always has that performance in Whale Rider.

[–] LauraGrace (15570) 5 years ago

But if she does nothing else she always has that performance in Whale Rider.

Amazing performance. She made me cry.

[–] Knish (1721) 5 years ago

The basketball diaries

Saturday night fever

Fight club

White squall

[–] looper007 (1126) 5 years ago

I don't think Fight Club would be considered a Coming of Age, would it?. The Basketball Diaries is still Di Capio's best performance imo.

[–] Knish (1721) 5 years ago

I have to disagree

Quote:

"I am a 30 year old boy"

"We are a generation rased by women, I am wondering if another woman is really what we need"

[–] MovieManCin2 (26342) 5 years ago

1. The Graduate
2. The Perks of Being a Wallflower
3. 16 Candles
4. Heathers

😎

[–] Frogarama (12942) 5 years ago

I'd list Heathers if you hadn't.

The Breakfast Club -- One of my favorite movies ever, high schoolers taking the first steps toward their post-school future as they begin to take possession of their lives, to regard each other as people instead of categories, and confronting the pasts that threaten to control their future.

Boyhood -- I did not expect to like this as much as I did, and I certainly did not expect it to deliver a potent existential sensation, as though I was truly watching someone's life.

Alita: Battle Angel -- Would possibly be overlooked as a coming-of-age film, but it truly is.

[–] Stratego (29239) 5 years ago

I have to admit they're not my favourite genre. I liked these ones I rewatched recently.

La Gloire de Mon Père (1990)
Le Château de Ma Mère (1991)

Apparently Clueless is a coming-of-age movie as well? It's quite funny.