Teenagers are one of the most important demographics in Hollywood. Not only are they big money-makers, but they are also trendsetters who can easily make or break a franchise with a few simple clicks. Studios are constantly producing teen-oriented movies, hoping these films will become the next big thing on the Internet.
The 2020s have just started, but dozens of teen comedies and dramas have already taken over streaming services and started a teen movie resurgence. These films have taken the best (and worst) of Gen Z humor, lingo, and aesthetics to create the best teen movies of the 2020s.
The Fallout's trailer includes sounds of gun violence.
10 Spontaneous Is A Romantic Comedy With An Explosive And Gory Twist
2020
Spontaneous stars 13 Reasons Why actor Katherine Langford as Mara, a high school senior whose life changes completely after one of her schoolmates spontaneously explodes in the middle of class. As everyone begins to deal with the incident, Mara receives a text from a secret admirer and begins dating him amid the chaos.
Based on Aaron Starmer's eponymous novel, Spontaneous blends gore, comedy, and romance to deliver a dark yet unique coming-of-age film. The film was well-received by critics, who praised its unexpected twists and black humor, which shine among its dramatic premise.
9 The Half Of It Was Praised For Its Representation Of LGBTQ+ POC
2020
Loosely based on the late 19th-century play Cyrano de Bergerac, The Half of It follows Leah Lewis as Ellie Chu, a shy high schooler who makes money by doing her classmates' homework. After she's approached a football player named Paul, Ellie begins writing love letters for his crush, Asher, and inadvertently falls in love with her in the process.
The Half of It was written and directed by LGBTQ+, Chinese-American screenwriter Alice Wu, who based the film on some of her personal experiences. It was praised for its representation of an LGBTQ+ immigrant character and its take on different kinds of love and relationships.
8 Do Revenge Mixes 1990s Teen Comedy With Gen Z Aesthetics
2022
On September 2022, Netflix released one of its most talked-about teen films of the year, Do Revenge. The film tells the story of the fallen queen bee Drea and the awkward yet well-meaning Eleanor. The pair become unlikely friends and join forces to take revenge on those who ruined their reputations. Do Revenge stars Camila Mendes and Maya Hawke in the main roles.
Directed and co-written by Thor: Love & Thunder director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, Do Revenge was inspired by the premise of Hitchcock's 1951 film noir, Strangers On A Train. The movie received praise for its take on Gen Z fashion and slang, its wit and comedy, and its 1990s teen movie influences.
7 Dating Amber Follows Two Teenagers In 1990s Ireland
2020
Set in 1995, Dating Amber centers on two Irish teenagers who begin fake-dating to dispel rumors about their sexualities. When the two take a trip to Dublin, however, they become involved with their respective love interests. This puts their fake relationship in jeopardy of being exposed.
Irish actors Fionn O'Shea and Lola Petticrew played Dating Amber's protagonists, Eddie and Amber, respectively. Dating Amber was praised for its comedy, relatability, and heartwarming story. In 2021, it was nominated for eight IFTA Awards, winning two for its supporting actors.
6 Love And Monsters Shows Off Dylan O'Brien's Natural Charm And Charisma
2020
Love & Monsters stars Teen Wolf actor Dylan O'Brien as Joel, a young man living on a post-apocalyptic Earth where some animals have mutated into monsters. After a gigantic monster infiltrates his colony and kills one of his friends, Joel sets out to find his ex-girlfriend Aimee, whom he'd dated before the apocalypse took place.
Love & Monsters was produced by Shawn Levy, who also worked on Netflix's hit series Stranger Things. Critics exalted Dylan O'Brien's acting and charisma and the movie's surprisingly emotional story as Love & Monsters' best aspects. The film was also nominated for Best Visual Effects at the Academy Awards but lost to Christopher Nolan's Tenet.
5 Enola Holmes Solidified Millie Bobby Brown As A Rising Film Star
2020
In 2020, Millie Bobby Brown cemented herself as a rising film star when she took on the role of Enola Holmes in the film of the same name. The Netflix movie follows the rebellious Enola, Sherlock Holmes' youngest sister, as she travels to London in search of her missing mother and ends up embroiled in a country-wide conspiracy.
Enola Holmes has an incredible supporting cast that includes the likes of Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin, and Helena Bonham Carter. Its quick pacing and high-energy acting differentiated Enola Holmes from other mystery films set in Victorian England, which helped it appeal to Netflix's wider audience, rather than just teens.
4 Emma Reignited Interest In The Regency Era And Its Fashion
2020
Based on Jane Austen's famous novel, Emma revolves around the wealthy and popular Emma Woodhouse as she interferes in the romantic relationships of the people around her. The film stars Anya Taylor-Joy as the titular character, Mia Goth as her naive friend Harriet Smith, and Johnny Flynn as Emma's love interest, Mr. Knightley.
Alongside Bridgerton, Emma brought a new wave of admiration for Regency-era England and early 19th-century fashion, namely bonnets and empire-waist dresses. Emma's period-accurate, pastel-toned costumes and makeup earned it two nominations at the Academy Awards and another at the British Film Awards.
3 The Fallout Shows A Teen Struggling After A Traumatic Event
2021
The Fallout centers on Jenna Ortega as Vada Cavell, a high schooler who lives with PTSD after a devastating school shooting. Unable to cope with her emotional trauma, she tries to evade her feelings by using recreational drugs and beginning a romantic relationship with her friend Mia (Maddie Ziegler).
The Fallout first premiered at South by Southwest where writer-director Megan Park also won the Illumination Award for her work on the film. Aside from its superb directing, The Fallout was also lauded for its empathetic tone and acting, with particular attention directed toward Jenna Ortega in what critics considered her breakout film role.
2 Fear Street 1994 Signifies A Return To Popular Teen Slasher Films
2021
The first in a trilogy, Fear Street 1994 takes inspiration from famous teen-centric slasher films like Scream and gives it a supernatural twist. The movie follows a group of teens as they battle a ghostly killer in the town of Shadyside. It was based on the Fear Street series of books by American writer, R. L. Stine.
Fear Street 1994's ensemble cast includes Kiana Madeira as Deena and Olivia Welch as her ex-girlfriend, Sam. Upon its release on Netflix, the movie was deemed a faithful and worthy adaptation of the source material by critics, who also praised its horror elements, bright imagery, and captivating performances.
1 Unpregnant Is A Road Trip Movie With A Mature Theme
2020
Unpregnant revolves around Haley Lu Richardson as Veronica, a seventeen-year-old who finds out she's pregnant and decides to get an abortion. When she realizes the state of Missouri would require her parents' permission for the procedure, she convinces her ex-friend Bailey (Barbie Ferreira) to accompany her to Albuquerque.
Unpregnant was based on the eponymous novel by Ted Caplan and Jenni Hendriks, who also co-wrote the movie's screenplay. The film was praised for its leads' chemistry, its refreshing take on mature themes, and its modernization of the female buddy film genre.