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Rebel Without a Cause
Rebel without a causes' genre is drama and the film was a groundbreaking attempt to portray the moral decay of American youth, critique parental style, and explore the differences and conflicts between generations. Directed by Nicholas Ray and starring James Dean, Sal Mineo and Natalie Wood; it follows the story of teenager Jim Stark as he traverses high school life and the trouble he gets in along the way. It's target audience is non-surprisingly teenagers aged 13-19. -
The 400 Blows
This French drama film was directed by Francois Truffaut and is one of the defining films of the French New Wave. Starring Jean-Pierre Leaud, Albert Remy and Claire Maurier, the film is about Antoine Doinel, a misunderstood adolescent in Paris who thought by his parents and teachers to be a troublemaker and frequently runs away from home/school before being placed in an observation centre for troubled youths. Similarly, the films audience demographic is teenagers and young adults. -
The Graduate
The Graduate is an American hybrid film (Comedy&Drama), which was directed by Mike Nichols and is based on the 1963 novel 'The Graduate' by Charles Webb. It stars Anne Bancroft and Dustin Hoffman and the film tells the story of 21-year-old Benjamin Braddock, a recent college graduate who is seduced by an older woman, and then falls in love with her daughter. This is another similar film with the typical target audience, albeit slightly older due to the age and circumstances of the protagonist. -
The Breakfast Club
Directed by John Hughes, The breakfast club is a hybrid, comedy-drama film starring Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald and Paul Gleeson. The storyline follows 5 teenagers, "The Brat Pack", each belonging to a different highschool clique, who spend a saturday in detention togther. This is considered one of the greatest high-school films made and was met with high critical acclaim, particularly from their teenage target audience. -
The Goonies
Directed by Richard Doner, this action-comedy immortalises coming-of-age through the story originally written by Steven Spielberg. The film features a band of pre-teens who by attempting to save their homes from demolition, discover a map that leads them on an adventure to find the long-lost fortune of a legendary 17th-century pirate. This film is for the younger band of the usual audience with the adventure feel appealing to pre-teens. It stars Sean Astin and Josh Brolin. -
Ferris Buellers Day Off
This film ia an American comedy, written, produced and directed by John Hughes. It is one of Hughes most recognised films and stars Mathew Broderick, Mia Sara and Alan Ruck. The film follows high school senior Ferris Bueller who skips school and spends time in Chicago getting up to a variety of different things. When released, it became one of the top-grossing films of the year and was nominated for many awards due to being deemed "Culturally, historically and aesthetically significant." -
Stand by Me
Stand by Me is an American drama/adventure film directed by Rob Reiner and starring Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix and Jerry O'Connell. It is based on the novel 'The Body' by Stephen King and tells the story of 4 boys who go on a hike across the countryside to find the dead body of a missing child. It's main focus is on friendship but does explore a variety of different issues making it a good example of a coming-of-age film. -
Heathers
Heathers is a American black comedy film written by Daniel Waters and directed by Michael Lehmann. It stars Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, and Shannen Doherty. The film portrays 4 teenage girls, 3 of whom are named Heather, in a clique at a high school in Ohio. Although I enjoyed this film, it contained very dark aspects, including murder&suicide, which causes it's audience to have to be slightly older and thus almost took away from the feel-good, coming-of-age film that it could have been. -
Dead Poets Society
Dead Poets Society is a American drama film written by Tom Schulman, directed by Peter Weir and starring Robin Williams. The film tells the story of an enthusiastic english teacher who inspires his students through his teaching of poetry in unique and unorthodox ways, encouraging them to live their lives on their own terms and not just complying with what's expected. I really enjoyed this film as it gave some crucial life lessons that made this an inspiring and insightful coming-of-age film. -
Clueless
Clueless is an American coming-of-age comedy film that is loosely based on Jane Austen's 1815 novel Emma. It was directed by Amy Heckerling and stars Alicia Silverstone. The story follows the protagonist, Cher Horowitz, who is the typical 'popular' girl in her beverly hills high-school before discovering she enjoys doing good deeds and sets about being matchmaker between multiple people. This film may appeal particularly more to females but is a famous member of the coming-of-age film category. -
Good Will Hunting
Good will hunting is an American drama film directed by Gus Van Sant, and stars Matt Damon and Robin Williams. The film follows 20-year-old Will Hunting, an unrecognized genius who, because of community service, becomes a patient of a therapist and studies advanced mathematics with a renowned professor. The protagonist had a very troubled childhood and thus deals with many issues in this film that many could relate to, I loved this film as the audience learns something from all the characters! -
Almost Famous
Almost Famous is a comedy-drama film written and directed by Cameron Crowe and starring Billy Crudup, Kate Hudson, and Patrick Fugit. It tells the story of a teenage journalist writing for The Rolling Stone magazine in the early 1970s while covering the fictitious rock band Stillwater, and his efforts to get his first cover story published. I enjoyed this film due to how it features many struggles teenagers go through and thus I feel is very relatable for the films teen target audience. -
Mean Girls
This film is a American teen comedy film directed by Mark Waters and written by Tina Fey. The film is based in part on Rosalind Wiseman's non-fiction book Queen Bees and Wannabes, which describes female high school social cliques and the damaging effects they can have on girls. Starring Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Seyfried this film follows Cady Heron who rises in popularity and discovers the consequences. I love this film as it explores some important themes for teens in a funny and engaging way! -
This is England
A British drama film written and directed by Shane Meadows, the story centres on young skinheads in England in 1983. The film illustrates how their subculture, became adopted by white nationalists, which led to divisions within the skinheads and racism. The film's title is a direct reference to a scene where the character 'Combo' explains his nationalist views using the phrase "this is England". This film appeals to slightly older teens and showcases the diffuculty of growing up in this time. -
Perks Of Being a Wallflower
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an American coming-of-age comedy-drama film. An adaptation of the 1999 novel, it was written and directed by the novel's author, Stephen Chbosky. The film stars Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller and follows the struggles teenagers face to fit in and have confidence while growing up. I really enjoyed this film as it provided some very useful messages that I, as a teenager, can take onboard and apply to my life as can the audience watching. -
The Kings of Summer
'The Kings of Summer' is an American independent coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts. The film follows the protagonist (Nick Robinson) and his two friends (Gabriel Basso and Moisés Arias) as they run away from home and build a house in the woods. I really enjoyed this film as they lived out every child/teens dream and so was very relatable while also covering a variety of issues which made it a fun but also helpful coming-of-age film. -
Boyhood
Boyhood is an American independent coming-of-age drama film, written and directed by Richard Linklater, and starring Ellar Coltrane. It was filmed over a 12 year period following the same characters, in particular the protagonist from a young child to leaving for college. The film covers all the usual things families/children go through including divorce, relationships, rebelling etc. Boyhood is the epitome of a great coming-of-age film and captures the issues and decisions we all face. -
The Diary of a Teenage Girl
The Diary of a Teenage Girl is a American comedy-drama film, written and directed by Marielle Heller and starring Bel Powley, Kristen Wiig and Alexander Skarsgård. The story is of a 15 year old girl living in 1970's San Francisco who enters a relationship with her mothers boyfriend. It also focuses on many different issues the usual films do inlcuding friendship and divorce. It premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and has become popular since.
