The coming-of-age genre is loved by many because it strikes a common chord within audiences. These movies delve into universal feelings of growing up, finding love, heartbreak, and discovering one's own identity, and Prime Video offers some of the best features.
Growing up is the common thread in coming-of-age movies, which gives rise to many hilarious moments, as well as heartwrenching ones. For fans who want to feel some nostalgia and warmth that only this genre of films can offer, there are some fantastic coming-of-age movies to stream on Prime Video. These range from throwback movies to dystopian flicks, and each film has something for everyone to relate to.
10 Turma Da Mônica: Lições Is A Bright, Nostalgic Hit
2021
A sequel to Turma da Mônica: Laços, this tale of young Monica and her friends is a heartwarming one. Still in school, the friend group bonds when they make the silly mistake of skipping class, but they learn some valuable lessons on their adventure. Turma da Mônica: Lições is an emotional and sensitive film, which earned it an IMDb rating of 7.7.
Thanks to Turma da Mônica: Lações, this franchise certainly got better with a sequel. Brilliant acting by Lições' young star cast and gorgeous primary-colored visuals add to the sweet story about growing up, finding new friends, and learning from the mistakes one makes in childhood.
9 The Map Of Tiny Perfect Things Blends Sci-Fi With Romance
2021
Time loops are not a new premise, but The Map Of Tiny Perfect Things injects it with new life. The addition of teenage leads (Kathryn Newton and Kyle Allen) contributes to this, especially since they're sincere and charming in their portrayals.
Mark has been living the same day over and over, but his world is shaken up when he meets Margaret, who is the only other person aware of the time loop anomaly. They embark on a journey to map out the most memorable moments in that one day, and the true reason behind the time loop is revealed.
8 Love And Monsters Is A Dystopian Coming-Of-Age Adventure
2020
Considered one of the best teen movies of the 2020s, the Dylan O'Brien-led Love and Monsters is considered a triumph. Mashing the coming-of-age genre with a post-apocalyptic adventure, the 2020 movie manages to be thrilling as well as emotional and full of heart.
Joel loses touch with his girlfriend Aimee when the Earth is engulfed by monsters, but he promises to find her again. On his journey, he finds help, friendship, and a better understanding of what is a monster and what isn't. With a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score, Love and Monsters is worth a watch for fans of romance, apocalyptic movies, and the coming-of-age genre.
7 Pariah Follows A Powerful Coming-Out Story
2011
The 2011 Sundance Film Festival award winner Pariah details the life of Alike, a teen from Brooklyn who is slowly discovering her sexuality and self. Alike has supportive friends, but her mother frowns upon the LGBTQ+ community as a whole.
Considered a must-watch LGBTQ+ movie, Pariah is special because it depicts the intersection of race and sexuality, authentically chronicling the highs and lows of a Black lesbian's coming-out journey. Alike's story would resonate with countless young people, and it's perfect for audiences who want a poignant story about discovering one's self.
6 Licorice Pizza Is A Nostalgic Journey To Love And Self-Actualization
2021
In Licorice Pizza, Alana and Gary's chance meeting at a school photography session begins their long and eventful relationship. Their relationship is fraught with fun, uncertainty, thrills, and a delicious will-they-won't-they situation. Alana and Gary begin businesses together, go to Hollywood, and pull elaborate pranks on powerful people.
Licorice Pizza is instantly endearing because of its 1973 setting and nostalgic atmosphere, which earned it critical acclaim. Gary and Alana discover themselves and each other in their years-long story, and the star-studded supporting cast is a bonus.
5 Seth And Evan Have The Time Of Their Lives In Superbad
2007
The high school experience can be awkward and embarrassing, and Superbad does a great job of capturing the essence of these years. Jonah Hill plays Seth while Michael Cera portrays Evan, two best friends who are about to finish high school. Their time before college and after school is based on the writers' own lives, and the two main characters attempt to buy alcohol and get together with their crushes.
Superbad is wildly chaotic and funny, with crossed wires, bad cops, and school jealousies making this story of two best friends a memorable one. Superbad is a coming-of-age film that manages to elicit laughs and also leave audiences feeling good.
4 Beautiful Boy Offers A Deep Look Into Addiction
2018
Timothee Chalamet and Steve Carrell's performances in Beautiful Boy have been widely lauded, and with good reason. They play a father-son duo, whose relationship suffers greatly as the latter, Nic, struggles with addiction and relapse. His dad, David, tries to help him out of it.
Beautiful Boy is based on David and Nic Sheff's biographies. It is an emotional watch as David and Nic struggle in their own ways to love each other, and Beautiful Boy is also nuanced because Nic's drug addiction is depicted realistically. The heartwarming movie featured a career-defining performance by Chalamet.
3 Chemical Hearts Deep Dives Into Complicated Emotions
2020
Lili Reinhart of Riverdale fame shines in Chemical Hearts, an honest story of teenage love and how it can be bittersweet and painful sometimes. Wracked by survivor's guilt, Grace moves to a new school to forget about the accident that killed her boyfriend. Little does she know that love would find her again in the form of Henry Page (Austin Abrams).
Chemical Hearts dives deep into complicated themes like sadness, love, affection, sex, and regret and showcases them honestly and beautifully. There is no pretense in Chemical Hearts, and Grace and Austin's bond is an unforgettable one.
2 Giant Little Ones Gives A Nuanced Take On Teenage Sexuality
2018
What makes Giant Little Ones unique is that it doesn't paint sexual identity to be black or white. When childhood friends Franky and Ballas end up having an intimate encounter at a party, Ballas lies about it to their school, and Franky is ostracized. He finds it hard to figure out who he is but does not immediately label himself.
Refreshing and honest, Giant Little Ones breaks out of the mold of traditional LGBTQ+ coming-of-age dramas, which can be very single-minded and flat. The movie goes beyond just scratching the surface and provides viewers with a nuanced and emotional story.
1 Geography Club Imagines A Safe Space For LGBTQ+ People
2013
Widely praised for its efforts to destigmatize same-sex love in everyday life, Geography Club follows young Russell as he falls for Kevin, who is strictly in the closet. Russell and his friends have created a safe space for LGBTQ+ people in their school. The space is masked as a Geography Club, and Kevin struggles to become a part of it.
The club keeps each other safe and comfortable and gives its members solace and comfort when they need it. Geography Club is universally relatable and handles coming out with tenderness and sensitivity.