The coming-of-age genre is filled with some of cinema's greatest films. From Mike Nichol's The Graduate (1967) to John Hughes' The Breakfast Club (1985) to Rob Reiner's Stand By Me (1986), there's nothing quite like watching characters grow into their lives and find themselves along the way.

RELATED: 10 Best Fantasy Films From The 2010s

The best coming-of-age movies allow audiences to reflect on their own transitional periods. These films possess the power to elicit an emotional reaction from the viewer, resonating with both nostalgic adults and younger generations who are living through what's being played out on screen. Some of the best coming-of-age movies come from the 2010s.

8 Easy A (2010) Introduced The World To Emma Stone

Easy-A-2010 EMMA STONE

After breaking into Hollywood with Superbad (2007) and Zombieland (2009), Emma Stone scored her first significant leading role in 2010's Easy A. Directed by Will Gluck, the film follows Stone in the role of Olive Penderghast, a 17-year-old high school girl who lies about her sexual past with a college boy.

With scintillating wit and endlessly quotable dialogue, Easy A simultaneously captures the turn-of-the-decade American high school experience while transcending the mold of 'teenage cautionary tale' movies. The film's fresh script provides many moments of genuine humor. Stone's performance is every bit as charming as it is a potent critique of retrograde attitudes toward female sexuality.

7 Black Swan (2010) Explores An Artist's Transition From Adolescence To Adulthood

The Black Swan - Natalie Portman looking into a mirror

Directed by Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan stars Natalie Portman in the role of Nina Sayers, a ballerina who chances upon the role of a lifetime, the Swan Queen in a production of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. The ballet requires a dancer to play the roles of Odette and Odile, White Swan and Black Swan, respectively.

Black Swan disturbs and exhilarates in all the right ways while remaining captivating in its most unnerving moments. Offering a wonderfully thrilling peek into an artist's obsession and ambition, Nina's struggle with her body image is explored with great care, resulting in a perfect performance from Portman that stands among some of cinema's greatest.

6 Sing Street (2014) Takes A Nostalgia-Driven Journey Back To The 1980s

SING STREET 2016

Written and directed by John Carney, Sing Street sets its story in 1980s Ireland. The film follows the life of a boy who starts a band to impress a girl at school. Ferdia Walsh-Peelo makes his film debut here, along with Lucy Boynton, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Aidan Gillen, Jack Reynor, and Kelly Thornton starring in supporting roles.

RELATED: 5 Scary Psychological Thrillers From The 2010s

Boasting a strong soundtrack and taut screenplay, Sing Street taps into the nostalgia of the 1980s with a message of self-expression and exploration. Blending moments of musicality with comedy and genuine drama, Sing Street is filled with guitars, gum, and hairspray-- lots of hairspray.

5 Moonrise Kingdom (2012) Is Warm, Whimsical, And Poignant

MOONRISE KINGDOM 2012 WES ANDERSON

Directed and co-written by Wes Anderson, Moonrise Kingdom features an ensemble cast that includes Bruce Willis, Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, and Bob Balaban. At the forefront of Moonrise Kingdom are Kara Hayward and Jared Gilman in their first credited film roles.

Any film by Wes Anderson is guaranteed to be gorgeous, and Moonrise Kingdom is no exception. With immaculately-framed shots and meticulously-structured cinematography, the film sees Anderson at his most idiosynchratic. Moonrise Kingdom is a love letter to young love, painting a chaotic picture that mirrors the chaos of growing up.

4 The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (2012) Depicts The Life Of A High School Student Living With PTSD

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (2012)

Directed by Stephen Chbosky in his directorial debut, The Perks Of Being A Wallflower is based on his 1999 novel of the same name and stars Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller. The film follows Charlie Kelmeckis (Lerman), a psychologically bruised teenager who watches life from the sidelines until two free-spirited students (Watson and Miller) become his mentors.

Bolstered by strong performances and an elegant, grounded screenplay, The Perks Of Being A Wallflower captures the pain, fragility, and joy of being young and in love. Chbosky directs a delicate film that recognizes the trials and tribulations of adolescence for children who have had life-altering experiences.

3 Lady Bird (2017) Explores The Relationship Between Mother And Daughter

LADY BIRD 2017 GRETA GERWIG Saoirse Ronan

Written and directed by Greta Gerwig in her solo directorial debut, Lady Bird stars Saoirse Ronan as Christine MacPherson. Navigating a loving but turbulent relationship with her strong-willed mother (Laurie Metcalf), Christine gives herself the nickname "Lady Bird" during her final year at high school.

RELATED: 10 Feel-Good Films From The 2010s

Here, Greta Gerwig directs one of the finest coming-of-age films of all time. Nostalgic but unflinching, Lady Bird captures the turbulence involved in growing up with great authenticity and grace. Saoirse Ronan's stunning portrayal of adolescence is brought to life opposite Laurie Metcalf, whose push-pull dynamic encapsulates something very real, raw, and honest about the relationship between mothers and daughters.

2 Moonlight (2016) Is A Monumental Piece Of Filmmaking

Little in Moonlight

Written and directed by Barry Jenkins, Moonlight explores the life of a boy named Chiron across three stages of his life: childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. These three stages are played by Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, and Trevante Rhodes, respectively. Moonlight depicts the difficulties that Chiron faces with his sexual identity, as well as the physical and emotional abuse he endures growing up.

Director Barry Jenkins' storytelling is poetic and creates a film with a very human heart. Moonlight is a powerful tale about Black culture told from a different Black perspective and understanding.

1 Boyhood (2014) Is The Decade's Best Coming-Of-Age Movie

BOYHOOD 2014 RICHARD LINKLATER

Written and directed by Richard Linklater, Boyhood stars Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, Ellar Coltrane, and Lorelei Linklater. Shot from 2002 to 2013, Boyhood follows a boy from ages six to eighteen as he navigates life with divorced parents. Boyhood is audaciously ambitious and epic in scale, serving as the magnum opus of one of cinema's most creative directors.

Richard Linklater infuses every scene of this film with emotion and verisimilitude that exudes a unique natural beauty. Growing up is terrifying and often heartbreaking, and Boyhood captures that perfectly. It's one of the best coming-of-age movies of all time.