Best Coming of Age Movies of All Time (And Why They’re Great)

To Kill a Mockingbird is a timeless classic of both the printed page and the silver screen. The only reason this masterwork is so low on our list is because it doesn’t fit into the mold that most often comes to mind when you think of the “ideal coming of age film”; there’s very little humor and the common romance angle is not present, but the growth of a young character during a pivotal point in their life is here in spades.

Rebel Without a Cause is a classic coming of age story and was perhaps considered THE de facto coming of age film for a time. As one of just three major film performances in the career of James Dean before his tragic early passing, Rebel Without a Cause stands as perhaps his most iconic role.

The film has remained a cultural touchstone for more than 60 years, a feat which few films can claim to match. 

Initially made as a short film before being expanded into a feature, Pariah sets up a compelling familial dynamic and grounds you in the perspective of a fully-formed lead character. Pariah earns major points for exploring the coming of age period of life from a point of view that is severely underrepresented.

You don’t need to have any love or even familiarity with baseball in order to love the spirit of friendship and fun that inhabits The Sandlot. Few films manage to capture the spirit of ‘summer vacation’ so wonderfully.

This film does a great job of grounding you in a child’s mindset, allowing you to see the world through young eyes. The flashback narration, in this film and many others, is also the most natural and effective way to capture the nostalgia of youth. 

The Fits takes an unorthodox and decidedly surreal approach to the coming-of-age genre. The less literal plot elements translate wonderfully to the awkward, uncomfortable, and confusing parts of puberty as girls transition into womanhood. Young Royalty Hightower is excellent in the lead role.

Jonah Hill’s directorial debut is an impressive piece of filmmaking. The noteworthy aesthetic and stylistic flourishes all add greatly to the story being told. Also, the entire cast of young actors turn in standout performances, especially young Sunny Suljic in the lead role. The at-first familiar feeling story has some fascinating kinks thrown into it at a character level.

Lean on Pete is a darker, less optimistic coming of age film than the majority of this list. A boy and a horse going on the run from the adults sounds like a recipe for fun, youthful adventure, but Lean on Pete has a decidedly somber tone and a dour, bleak outlook on life that makes for a heartbreaking journey of loss. Plus, the supporting cast adds stellar performances from the likes of Steve Buscemi and a never-better Steve Zahn.

Edge of Seventeen nails that quintessential coming of age movie feeling, that sense of a warm vibe and tone as a story takes an honest look at an uncomfortable but lovable period of life. The film nails the perfect coming of age blend of humor, romance, and personal development.

Edge of Seventeen explores the female side of the coming of age story which goes sorely underrepresented in the vast sea of similar stories.

The ‘awkwardness’ is cranked all the way up in The Way Way Back. The waterpark/vacation town makes for a great setting. The plot doesn’t go anywhere that countless other coming of age haven’t gone before.

But The Way Way Back covers that familiar territory with a fantastic sense of humor and the perfect amount of heart.

The Apu trilogy stands out on this list because it isn’t a singular film; it’s a full trilogy consisting of Pather Panchali, Aparajito, and The World of Apu released between 1955 and 1959. The extended runtime is used to great effect in this Satyajit Ray series to tell a comprehensive coming of age story.

The films paint a vivid portrait of a specific time but has universal appeal owing to its exploration of the universal themes surrounding childhood and growing up. The full trilogy will take you just shy of six hours to watch, but it is absolutely worth the commitment.

The Florida Project focuses on much younger characters than the majority of its contemporaries and manages to deliver impressively naturalistic performances from the entire cast. The Florida Project pulls off the impressive trick of being both remarkably grimy and incredibly beautiful both in picture and in message.

Sing Street tells a familiar coming of age story but tells it exceedingly well, nailing all of the key moments of this subgenre. Even on just a plot and character level, Sing Street is a good film, but when you add the music element into the mix, it transcends to the next level. 

Sing Street features a full soundtrack of original songs performed by the talented cast, and every last one of them is memorable and catchy.

Richard Ayoade, though best known for his comedic acting, is an immensely talented filmmaker. He imbues this somewhat familiar tale with an incredibly strong directorial vision and countless stylistic flourishes in support of the protagonist’s point of view and outlook.

The situations throughout the plot will be familiar to fans of the coming of age films but both the presentation and the lead character are noteworthy departures from similar films and work marvelously to the film’s benefit.

Richard Linklater’s Boyhood is a stunning cinematic experiment pulled off perfectly. Filmed in sections over the course of 12 years with the same cast, Boyhood is a one-of-a-kind experience that allows you to literally watch a child and his family grow and change right before your eyes.

Beyond the impressiveness of the cinematic experiment, Boyhood is a great film on a base level. The characters are all dimensional and performed to perfection. The story is full of a wide range of emotions and has a number of heartfelt moments that capture that sense of genuine experience that Richard Linklater does better than anyone else.

The latest feature film from writer/director Mike Mills, 20th Century Women is a beautiful work of style and honesty. Every single cast member is given a deep, compelling character to really sink their teeth into; Greta Gerwig, Annette Benning, and Billy Crudup turn in especially impressive performances.

The soundtrack makes excellent use of a memorable original score alongside a heaping helping of Talking Heads music which actually factors into the plot in a satisfying way.

Everything about 20th Century Women from the writing to the music to the editing is all perfectly geared toward the characters and the story being told. 

Bo Burnham’s first time around in the writer/director’s chair of a feature-film is infinitely impressive. He emerges as a fully-formed auteur and delivers not just one of the best coming of age films ever produced, but also the single best portrayal of social anxiety ever committed to film. Elsie Fisher’s performance is revelatory. There’s a long and impressive career ahead of her for sure.