Summary
- Adolescence fans relate to Diary of a Wimpy Kid's middle school chaos and survival struggles.
- Gifted highlights the tension between talent and childhood experiences, resonating with Adolescence themes.
- Fans of Adolescence will appreciate Moonlight's emotional depth and Chiron's journey of self-acceptance.
Fans have been swept up by Netflix’s recent hit, Adolescence. Its gritty portrayal of the struggles of growing up and toxic influences has hooked audiences worldwide. For fans craving more stories of characters battling through adversity to find their footing, these coming-of-age movies are a perfect match.
Coming-of-age movies capture the awkward moments every wannabe adult goes through during their formative stages. Anyone who couldn’t wait to grow up and be an adult has regretted that wish at some point in their life. These movies temporarily take the fans back to those carefree days while reminding them of their own misadventures.
9 Diary Of A Wimpy Kid (Trilogy)
Middle School Mayhem
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- March 19, 2010
WHERE TO WATCH
- Cast
- Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron, Steve Zahn, Devon Bostick, Rachael Harris, Chloe Grace Moretz, Laine MacNeil, Andrew McNee, Connor Fielding, Owen Fielding, Karan Brar, Grayson Russell, Alex Ferris, Belita Moreno, Rob LaBelle, Nicholas Carey, Samuel Patrick Chu, Donnie MacNeil, Samantha Page, Ava Hughes, Owen Best, Cainan Wiebe, Cole Heppell, Harrison Houde, Severin Korfer
- Runtime
- 92 minutes
- Director
- Thor Freudenthal
Few adaptations capture the rollercoaster of middle school quite like Diary Of A Wimpy Kid. Spread across three live-action features, these films revolve around Greg Heffley and his cringeworthy schemes to dodge bullies and impress crushes. For Adolescence fans, Greg’s chaotic struggle to survive school mirrors the show’s knack for turning everyday struggles into moments of unexpected growth.
The trilogy is nothing more than a lighthearted lens on the awkward middle-school years, showcasing the struggles of navigating puberty while trying to fit in with the popular kids. From the “cheese touch” panic to his elder brother Rodrick’s epic pranks, these films, based on Jeff Kinney’s books, nail the absurdity of adolescence.
8 Gifted
Being Smart Comes At A Price
Gifted
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- April 12, 2017
- Runtime
- 101 minutes
- Director
- Marc Webb
- Cast
- Chris Evans, Mckenna Grace, Lindsay Duncan, Jenny Slate, Octavia Spencer, Glenn Plummer, Julie Ann Emery, Joe Chrest, Keir O'Donnell, Jona Xiao, John Finn, John M. Jackson, Candace B. Harris, Kelly Collins Lintz, Jon Sklaroff, Brody Rose, Michael Kendall Kaplan, Elizabeth Marvel, Maia Moss-Fife, Ashley Lauren Thomas, Danielle Deadwyler, Jack Landry, Karleigh Chase, Will Buie Jr., Desmond Phillips
Chris Evans trades in his superhero suit for parenting in this heart-tugger. He plays Frank Adler, who’s trying to raise a math prodigy. Mary is a math whiz stuck between her uncle, Frank, who wants her to have a normal life, and her grandma, Evelyn, who sees her as the next big genius.
Adolescence fans will relate to Mary's struggle to push back against adult pressures—finding her own path through small, fierce stands against authority. Gifted highlights a core coming-of-age tension: Does specialized talent overshadow the need for genuine childhood experiences? Mary’s growth shines through small rebellions, and the plot carefully conveys how not to mess up a genius.
7 Boyhood
Growing Up On Camera
Boyhood
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- June 5, 2014
WHERE TO WATCH
- Cast
- Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, Elijah Smith, Lorelei Linklater, Steven Chester Prince
- Runtime
- 163minutes
- Director
- Richard Linklater
Boyhood is a miracle of patience, shot over 12 years. Watching Mason grow from gap-toothed kid to a brooding artist captures the feeling of flipping through a family album. By filming the same actors annually, it captures fleeting shifts through a unique lens that turns typical tropes of puberty into lived experiences on screen.
Much like Adolescence, it’s the slow burn of Mason overcoming life’s quiet challenges that is most affecting—divorce, moves, and heartbreak. In a genre where transformations are accelerated by montages, Boyhood stands apart for letting time do the work. Its unfolding arc suggests that growing up can be both mundane and monumental—a slow, steady process that ultimately shapes who one becomes.
6 Dead Poets Society
Seize The Day
Dead Poets Society
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- June 2, 1989
- Runtime
- 129 minutes
- Director
- Peter Weir
- Cast
- Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles, Gale Hansen, Dylan Kussman, Allelon Ruggiero, James Waterston, Norman Lloyd, Kurtwood Smith, Carla Belver, Leon Pownall, George Martin, Joe Aufiery, Matt Carey, Kevin Cooney, Jane Moore, Lara Flynn Boyle, Colin Irving, Alexandra Powers, Melora Walters, Welker White, Steve Mathios, Alan Pottinger, Pamela Burrell
Dead Poets Society has inspired people for decades with its iconic phrase: “Carpe diem.” Set in the halls of Welton Academy, it follows a group of boys awakened by John Keating (Robin Williams), an unconventional English teacher who pushes his students to chase poetry over conformity.
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The secret meetings in candlelit caves and daring declarations on top of desks aren't just teenage antics—they’re powerful gestures pushing back against authority. The movie isn't just about youthful enthusiasm. It also shows what happens when rebellion meets reality and how one must face it. Decades later, Dead Poets Society remains a cultural landmark, hitting home with movie buffs and casual viewers alike.
5 The Edge Of Seventeen
Final Lap Before Adulthood
The Edge of Seventeen
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- November 18, 2016
- Runtime
- 104 minutes
- Director
- Kelly Fremon Craig
- Cast
- Nesta Cooper, Kyra Sedgwick, Eric Keenleyside, Haley Lu Richardson, Woody Harrelson, Alexander Calvert, Blake Jenner, Daniel Bacon, Hailee Steinfeld, Hayden Szeto
Hailee Steinfeld plays Nadine, the queen of self-sabotage who wears her heart on her sleeve but under her sarcasm-coated armor. Beneath her charm and signature snark lies the universal fear of being left behind when everyone else seems to have life figured out. Her messy fight against isolation and insecurity will feel familiar to Adolescence fans who love a flawed hero clawing toward clarity.
Her witty teacher—played by Woody Harrelson—doesn’t hesitate to give her reality checks but still fails to save her from awkward rants and epic meltdowns. The Edge of Seventeen is a rollercoaster of heartache and humor, proving that growing up means owning the mess.
4 Beautiful Boy
Adolescence And Addiction
Beautiful Boy
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 12, 2018
- Runtime
- 120 minutes
- Director
- Felix Van Groeningen
- Cast
- Timothée Chalamet, Kaitlyn Dever, Steve Carell, Amy Ryan, Maura Tierney
Beautiful Boy doesn’t shy away from confronting the harsher side of adolescence: addiction. Nic (Timothée Chalamet) starts as a bright, promising teen who spirals into substance abuse while his dad (Steve Carell) battles to pull him back. Nic’s arc isn’t just bumpy, it’s brutal—it’s a cycle of hope and relapse that showcases the raw struggle of an addict’s life.
Steve Carell delivers a stunning performance as his character oscillates between hope and despair, navigating every parent’s worst nightmare without falling asleep at the wheel. The film digs into love’s breaking point and the cracks in family ties while quietly making its point that not every step toward recovery and maturity is voluntary. Adolescence fans will appreciate the movie’s rawest moments as Nic fights to reclaim himself.
3 The Perks Of Being A Wallflower
Friends That Pull You Out Of The Dark
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 12, 2012
WHERE TO WATCH
- Cast
- Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Mae Whitman, Kate Walsh, Dylan McDermott, Melanie Lynskey, Nina Dobrev, Johnny Simmons, Joan Cusack, Paul Rudd, Nicholas Braun, Reece Thompson, Patrick de Ledebur, Brian Balzerini, Tom Kruszewski, Julia Garner, Tom Savini, Emily Marie Callaway, Chelsea Zhang, Jesse Scheirer, Justine Nicole Schaefer, Julie Marie Schaefer, Leo Miles Farmerie, Isabel Muschweck
- Runtime
- 103 minutes
- Director
- Stephen Chbosky
This adaptation is a love letter to teens who feel lost. Logan Lerman portrays a quiet kid (Charlie) scarred by trauma, who finds his salvation in books and mixtapes until Sam and Patrick pull him into their orbit. These step-siblings introduce him to the world of indie music, house parties, and a bittersweet taste of belonging.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower offers a window into the vulnerable headspace of someone struggling with repressed trauma and abuse. The movie still resonates because it doesn’t dodge the messy parts of youth; instead, it addresses them head-on. The iconic tunnel scene is one of the highlights of the movie, as the teens blast David Bowie's "Heroes," letting their troubles slip away into the night.
2 Lady Bird
Big-City Dreams
Lady Bird
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- December 1, 2017
- Runtime
- 94 minutes
- Director
- Greta Gerwig
- Cast
- Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges, Timothée Chalamet, Beanie Feldstein, Lois Smith, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Odeya Rush, Jordan Rodrigues, Marielle Scott, John Karna, Jake McDorman, Bayne Gibby, Laura Marano, Marietta DePrima, Daniel Zovatto, Kristen Cloke, Andy Buckley, Paul Keller, Kathryn Newton, Myra Turley, Bob Stephenson, Abhimanyu Katyal, Chris Witaske
Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut is a bittersweet tug-of-war between a fiery teen and her equally stubborn mom. Christine, aka “Lady Bird,” is itching to ditch Sacramento’s sleepy suburbs for New York’s buzz, but, like every teenager, struggles to make her dreams come true.
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Their battles over thrift-store prom dresses, college applications, and the existential crime of being from Sacramento make viewers laugh and feel sorry for her at the same time. What elevates Lady Bird beyond a teen angst movie is its dual perspective: it is Marion’s story as much as it is Christine’s.
1 Moonlight
Finding Your True Self
Moonlight
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 21, 2016
WHERE TO WATCH
- Cast
- Andre Holland, Trevante Rhodes, Janelle Monae, Ashton Sanders, Jharrel Jerome, Alex R. Hibbert, Jaden Piner, Naomie Harris, Mahershala Ali, Shariff Earp, Duan Sanderson, Herman 'Caheei McGloun, Kamal Ani-Bellow, Keomi Givens, Eddie Blanchard, Rudi Goblen, Edson Jean, Patrick Decile, Herveline Moncion, Fransley Hyppolite, Jesus Mitchell, Larry Anderson, Tanisha Cidel, Stephon Bron, Don Seward
- Runtime
- 111 minutes
- Director
- Barry Jenkins
Barry Jenkins’s Oscar-winning film redefines the coming-of-age genre with poetic grit. The movie follows Chiron’s journey from a fearful boy to a guarded teenager struggling with identity, sexuality, and constant adversity. Each act in Moonlight reveals a new layer, reflecting how trauma and survival instincts shape Chiron’s self-worth.
Adolescence fans will admire Chiron’s resolve to rise above a world stacked against him. From bullied “Little” to hardened “Black,” his arc is a silent roar of self-acceptance. Race, sexuality, and belonging collide here, breaking molds with every frame. Moonlight has had a powerful impact on Black and queer communities, elevating the genre to new emotional heights.
- Release Date
- March 13, 2025
- Network
- Netflix
- Directors
- Philip Barantini
- Writers
- Stephen Graham, Jack Thorne
Cast
-
Stephen GrahamEddie Miller -
Owen CooperJamie Miller -
Bidi IredaleEileen
-
Amélie PeaseLisa Miller
- Seasons
- 1