The coming-of-age genre, sometimes known as Bildungsroman, can be traced back to Goethe's Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship. In this 18th-century novel, an embittered young man embarks on a life-altering journey to seek his fortune, only to find himself on the way.
This youth-oriented template has undergone major narrative changes over time. As of the 20th and 21st centuries, the coming-of-age genre exclusively focuses on childhood and adolescence. Several movie stars have built their careers in the teen film industry, including Heath Ledger, Leonardo DiCaprio, Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Winona Ryder, and Johnny Depp. There are countless coming-of-age movies out there, but only a few of them can be considered truly iconic.
10 Rebel Without A Cause (1955) Is A Cautionary Tale On Behalf Of Its Naive Characters
Rebel Without a Cause is an era-defining coming-of-age movie, though it delves much deeper into the sociopolitical nuances of teenage life than its genre counterparts. Starring a combustible combination of James Dean and Sal Mineo, Rebel Without a Cause garnered critical acclaim, but a few reviewers complained about Nicholas Ray's aimless direction.
The New York Times called the movie "violent, brutal, and disturbing," an apt description for a story about unresolved adolescent desires. Rebel Without a Cause is a cautionary tale on behalf of its naive characters: it doesn't malign teenagers, it defends them.
9 Eighth Grade (2018) Is Nostalgic, Cringey, And Incredibly Relatable
Bo Burnham's Eighth Grade is a painfully believable portrait of a thirteen-year-old girl's life. Everything about Kayla Day feels authentically adolescent, from her goofy grin and recurring acne to her desperate need for peer attention. The film doesn't shy away from its protagonist's awkwardness; on the contrary, it celebrates her admittedly limited outlook.
Justin Chang of the L.A. Times described the movie as "sharp, sensitive, and enormously affecting." Eighth Grade is equally nostalgic and cringey, reminding viewers of their own struggles and battles while growing up.
8 Boyz N The Hood (1991) Is A Multidimensional Cocktail Of Interlocking Character Arcs
Boyz n the Hood focuses on the relationship between a rebellious seventeen-year-old boy and his disciplinarian father. Critic Roger Ebert commended the film as "a thoughtful, realistic look at a young man's coming of age, and also a human drama of rare power," before designating it as "Academy Award material."
Boyz n the Hood's multidimensional narrative is a collection of interlocking character arcs, each with its own fixed path and unique perspective. The movie is simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking — Tre seemingly escapes the clutches of gang life, but his future remains ambiguous.
7 Fish Tank (2009) Is By No Means An Easy Watch, But It Is A Necessary One
Andrea Arnold's Fish Tank was a hit with critics as well as awarding bodies, winning the Cannes Jury Price and the BAFTA for Best British Film. Protagonist Mia is naturally restless and impulsive, traditionally adolescent traits, but her story is far from stereotypical.
Although her mother's boyfriend effectively takes over Mia's parenting duties, his fatherly affection soon turns to sexual overtures. The Rotten Tomatoes critical consensus summarizes this film perfectly, calling it "gritty British realism at its very best." Fish Tank is by no means an easy watch, but it is a necessary one.
6 The Titular Character In Juno (2007) Effortlessly Steals The Limelight From Everyone Else
Juno contains a smorgasbord of spectacular performances from Elliot Page, Michael Cera, J.K. Simmons, Allison Janney, and Jason Bateman. Despite the star power in this film, the titular character effortlessly steals the limelight from everyone else with her plucky sass and admirable autonomy.
The story's main subject is delicate, especially given today's political climate, but Juno's bumpy odyssey is nonetheless inspiring. She decides what she wants to do with her pregnancy, the choice is hers and hers alone. Roger Ebert had nothing but praise for Juno, declaring it "just about the best movie of the year."
5 The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (2012) Highlights The Indestructible Bond Of Friendship
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, with Emma Watson, Logan Lerman, and Ezra Miller in the lead roles, is based on the eponymous novel by Stephen Chobsky. While the book became highly controversial, the film adaptation remains as bittersweet and relatable as ever.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower revolves entirely around Patrick, Charlie, and Sam, whose tumultuous arcs tangle into an indestructible web of solidarity. The movie's title is purposefully ironic, implying that introverted personalities need love and affection as much as their extroverted counterparts. There are no real perks of being a wallflower, but there is such a thing as the power of friendship.
4 The Half Of It (2020) Is A Modernized Adolescent Retelling Of Rostand's Cyrano De Bergerac
The Half of It is arguably one of the decade's most meaningful coming-of-age movies. The narrative borrows several thematic elements from Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac (1897), an influential play by Edmon Rostand. Cyrano and Ellie help other suitors woo the respective objects of their desires.
The only tangible difference is that Cyrano was a medieval Frenchman in his mid-thirties and Ellie is a queer teenage girl from an obscure town in Washington state. Rolling Stone magazine praised The Half of It as a "revolutionary achievement in telling the story of a young lesbian immigrant's journey to self-acceptance."
3 Horror And Hope Are Two Sides Of The Same Coin In Persepolis (2007)
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Marjane Satrapi's autobiographical graphic novel kickstarted her cartoonist career. The movie adaptation, co-directed and co-written by the author herself, obtained recognition from critics and audiences worldwide. Persepolis marks the cultural milestones in young Satrapi's life, like the Iranian revolution and the Iran/Iraq War.
The narrative, as viewed through her innocent eyes, highlights the horrific nature of her experiences. At the same time, Persepolis is a message of hope — despite her suffering, the protagonist "never forgets who [she is] and where [she's] from."
2 The Edge Of Seventeen (2016) Deftly Avoids All The Pitfalls Associated With The Teen Genre
Hailee Steinfeld received widespread praise for her performance in The Edge of Seventeen, a nimbly crafted movie that subverts the very foundation of teenage cinema. Like many students in junior high, Nadine barely manages to scrape through the school year, but at least she has someone to sort through her feelings of confusion and inadequacy.
Max Bruner's guidance ultimately helps Nadine expand her emotional support network and accept new friends into her life. The Edge of Seventeen deftly avoids all the pitfalls and tropes associated with the coming-of-age genre.
1 Boyhood (2014) Describes Its Character's Gradual Growth In Real Time
Boyhood incorporates all the major events in Mason Evan Jr.'s childhood and teenage years, depicting the character's gradual growth over a period of eleven years. The movie was an instant hit and secured numerous nominations and awards, including one Oscar and five Golden Globes.
The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw deemed it "one of the greatest films of the decade," a statement that needs no corroboration. Boyhood concentrates an entire generation into a 165-minute runtime without losing an ounce of the audience's attention. The film and its characters are sincere, profound, and thoroughly enchanting.