Image credit: A24

If the revived popularity of teen TV in recent years—including Euphoria, The Summer I Turned Pretty and Sex Education—is telling us anything, it's that people of all ages are craving the "coming of age" genre.

Coming of age films were a big franchise between the late 80s to the early 2000s, and these decades are hallmarked by some of the most memorable and timeless teen movies we've ever seen grace our screens. It seems there's a newly resuscitated hunger for this kind of viewing.

As young adults (and sometimes, even old adults), we have to wonder why we seem to enjoy films reminiscent of our yesteryears—the awkward, challenging, embarrassing ones where every broken heart, missed goal and bad grade felt like the end of the earth.

The genre is also wildly predictable and formulaic in many ways, always centring on the development of friendship and romance from teen years to adult ones, and the oh so critical journey of "finding ourselves"—which the main characters always inevitably do. But despite knowing exactly what's in store and being told we're getting too old for them, these stories never cease to bring us enjoyment, nostalgia and fill us with no end of emotion.

Perhaps it's the heart soaring feeling of watching a young teen figure it all out and fall in love, or the uplifting notion of young women finding their way in the world with their best friends by their side, or the bittersweetness of a young person's struggle with life's hardships. Whatever the reason, we love coming of age movies, and we always will.

Below, we list the 13 coming of age movies that we'll return to time and time again, no matter how old we get.

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Image credit: Searchlight Pictures

Bend It Like Beckham (2002)

This classic British teen flick is up there with one of our most favourite coming of age movies of all time. The film follows Jesminder "Jess" Bhamra and her friend Jules Paxton, played by Kiera Knightley, as they pursue their passion for football against their parents wishes. While Jess deals with cultural and parental pressure to conform and give up her dreams, this movie is all about pursuing your them no matter what and becoming the person you are meant to be. It's feel good, it's emotional, it's got female sports and a good love story—it's everything.

Image credit: A24

Ladybird (2017)

Written and directed by the talented and wonderful Greta Gerwig, Ladybird follows Christine McPherson, played by the great Saoirse Ronan, a high school senior navigating her first boyfriends, her application to college and most importantly, her fractured and deeply intimate relationship with her mother. For any woman who knows what it's like to come head to head with your mother when you're a teen in a complicated yet fiercely loving way, this movie will make you feel all the feelings. 

Image credit: Columbia Pictures

Suddenly 30 (2004)

For anyone who wanted to grow up too fast and felt like they wished it all away, Suddenly 30 will be the perfect coming of age movie for you. With the incomparable Jennifer Garner in the lead playing Jenna Rink, a thirteen year old girl whose wish to be "thirty, flirty and thriving" suddenly comes true, this film is one for the ages. Imparting messages about finding innocence and joy in adulthood, and about realising what the really important things in life are, Suddenly 30 never ceases to give us an important lesson in gratitude. 

Image credit: Paramount Pictures

Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (2008)

Being a teenager is the absolute worst at times, but it can also be a time for incredible growth, discovery and beautiful moments of friendship, family and first loves—and Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging reminds us of that. This iconic film follows the eccentric 14 year old Georgia Nicholson as she navigates the big changes we go through in life, love and friendships (and our bodies) before we turn 15. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll never forget this unforgettably funny yet sweet coming of age story.

Image credit: Touchstone Pictures

Stick It (2006)

For anyone who went through a bit of a rebellious stage as a teen, Stick It will be sure to resonate. After an unfortunate run in with the law, defiant and edgy teenager Haley Graham has to enter the world of professional gymnastics that she left behind long ago. With the help of her tough love coach and teammates, Hayley goes on a journey of self-discovery and redemption, and it's as touching as it is entertaining. 

Image credit: Netflix

Moxie (2021)

Directed by the legendary Amy Poehler, this special Netflix coming of age movie tells a really important story about the nature of misogyny and sexual harassment for young women today. The movie follows shy teenager Vivian as she goes on a journey of calling out the prevalent sexism at her school, uncovering and challenging the bullying and harassment experienced by her female classmates in an anonymous zine she starts publishing, and making incredible friendships with other girls along the way. Not only is it a great coming of age film, it's a truly empowering and important message about modern feminism. 

Image credit: Columbia Pictures

Little Women (2019)

Based on the classic novel, this latest iteration of Little Women by Greta Gerwig and starring Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Saoirse Ronan and Eliza Scanlen, is a moving rendition of the original story. Following the lives of the four March sisters, this film captures the trials and tribulations, as well as great joys, of growing up from young girls into adult women. Although it's a period story set in the 19th century, there's so much of the March girl's experiences that we can relate to, showing us the timeless beauties and hardships of being a woman.

Image credit: 20th Century Studios

The Hate U Give (2018)

Based off a true story that was turned into a young adult novel, this powerful coming of age movie is inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement and tells an important story of racial prejudice and the pursuit of justice. Following Starr Carter, a young African-American teenage girl, who tries to stand ups for what is right after she witnesses the shooting of her friend by the police, all the while juggling the disparate classes of her home and school life. A must watch not just for young people, but for audiences of all ages, this film is about hope and the importance of speaking up.

Image credit: Paramount Pictures

Clueless (1995)

Clueless is one of those classic late 90s teen movies that never gets old or goes out of style. Loosely based off Jane Austen's novel Emma, Clueless follows the beautiful and popular Cher as she copes with her adolescence by trying to organise the love lives of others. Funny, timeless and heart wrenchingly relatable, this movie is about self-growth, friendship and the importance of becoming the best and truest version of yourself.   

Image credit: Annapurna Pictures

Booksmart (2019)

Booksmart is a wild and witty coming of age movie that lives out all the incredible adventures we had (or wished we had) when we were teens. With graduation looming over them, best friends and studious high schoolers Amy and Molly, played by Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Goldstein, realise that they've missed out on all the fun of their teenage years in order to study, and to make up for lost time, decide to let loose and go wild the night before they graduate. Funny, fast-paced and completely outrageous, behind all the chaos, this film is about the power of female friendship.

Image credit: Orion Pictures

Mermaids (1990)

Any film starring a young Winona Ryder and the incredible Cher is a must-watch, but Mermaids especially is a tender, funny and emotional story about a single mother and her two young daughters. Following Ryder's character, Charlotte, as she tries to strike out on her own path away from her eccentric mother, played by Cher, Mermaids in many ways was the Ladybird of the late 90s. The mother-daughter dynamic and the lessons about accepting your loved ones for who they are will be sure to move you deeply every time you watch it. 

Image credit: Studio Ghibli

Spirited Away (2001)

One of Studio Ghibli's most well-known movies, Spirited Away follows the story of a young  teenager, Chihiro, who is separated from her parents when they stumble upon an enchanted amusement park and taken away by spirits to a supernatural realm. As Chihiro works to free her parents, from whom she previously took for granted as a teenager does, with the help of some friendly spirits, she learns important lessons about family, gratitude and being brave. 

Image credit: Touchstone Pictures

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Another teen movie loosely based off a classic story, 10 Things I Hate About You takes inspiration from Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and follows social outlier Kat Stratford, played by Julia Stiles, as she navigates her relationship with her sister, her dad and her romantic interest, played by Heath Ledger. Teaching us important lessons about challenging social stereotypes and being your own person no matter what, it's funny and heartbreaking and uplifting, all at the same time.

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