10 Heartwarming Coming-of-Age Movies
It can be challenging growing up, and sometimes it’s hard to find coming-of-age films that capture that experience. There are several ways to transition from childhood to adulthood, and no single definitive sign marks the transition: It could spark from a first love (or first heartache), the loss of innocence, or the assumption of a new responsibility.
But regardless of how it occurs, coming-of-age films usually evoke strong emotions with their bittersweet reminiscence. We only list the best coming-of-age movies below, so you can be sure that you’re watching a film that will evoke strong emotions and stay with you long after the credits have rolled.
Here are our top 10 heartwarming Coming Of Age Movies:
- To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
- The Graduate (1967)
- The Breakfast Club (1985)
- Juno (2007)
- Twenty Official (2015)
- Lady Bird (2017)
- Eighth Grade (2018)
- To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)
- Tall Girl (2019)
- Work It (2020)
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
“To Kill a Mockingbird” is a film that takes you in a time capsule that captures the ideals and feelings of an innocent, kinder America. Atticus Finch is the only attorney in town ready to defend a man wrongfully convicted of a crime.
Oscar-winning Gregory Peck is the actor in this film adaptation of one of the finest coming-of-age books of all time. However, Scout Finch, Finch’s 6-year-old daughter, sees her father and the entire community in a new light through the trial’s events and truly experiences maturity for the first time.
The Graduate (1967)
Like many coming-of-age characters, Benjamin Braddock is confused about what to do with his life after college until he accidentally falls into a love triangle with a seductive older lady and her daughter. The film was nominated in the Academy Awards and took home the statue for Mike Nichols for Best Director.
The Breakfast Club (1985)
The Breakfast Club, in contrast to Lady Bird, mainly focuses on those high school characters while simultaneously dissecting them and demonstrating how nobody survives adolescence undamaged.
Juno (2007)
Juno MacGuff, played by Elliot Page, is sixteen when their close friend Paulie Bleeker informs them that they are pregnant. She resolves to give the kid to adoptive parents since she feels unprepared for the obligations that come with motherhood, but this creates further difficulties.
There is still a lovely narrative about a teenager attempting to join the ranks of responsible adults by finding parents to adopt her unexpected baby. This is a long-standing favorite amongst coming-of-age movies because of the way Juno’s personality enchanted audiences.
Twenty (2015)
Everyone can agree that maturing into adulthood may be just as upsetting as developing into adolescence. Join three friends in their 20s as they face life’s difficulties. Chi-ho, Kyung-Jae, and Dong-woo are best buddies who’ve recently graduated from high school and turned 20.
Chi-ho is a player without a job who prioritizes dating and pursuing women above all else. And cheerful Dong-woo wants to be a cartoonist, but when his family becomes bankrupt, he takes on many part-time jobs to support his family.
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Lady Bird (2017)
Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf’s superb chemistry with each other isn’t the only reason Greta Gerwig’s frequently amusing, frequently tragic mother-daughter coming-of-age film succeeds so brilliantly.
The visuals and mood adjustments make it a stunning tribute to the growing pains of parent-child relationships as the youngster outgrows their previous position. The movie received five Academy Award nominations, including one for best director, making Gerwig the fifth woman in history to receive the honor.
Eighth Grade (2018)
Writer and director Bo Burnham was in a unique position to create a movie that is equally about the creation of online personas by children and the brutality with which those personas are destroyed in real life.
Eighth Grade transforms into a fascinating time capsule of growing up in the 2010s in his hands and a moving ode to young people everywhere who are figuring things out in the open, whether they want to or not, thanks to Elsie Fisher’s gorgeously vulnerable lead performance.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)
Lara Jean’s world is turned upside down when five distinct love letters are sent to her hidden crushes throughout her life. Lara Jean finds herself in a phony relationship with her ex-crush, and she starts to have actual feelings for him. Keeping a crush a secret is pretty much Teen 101. But it’s tough to fake a connection. This coming-of-age movie has remained one of the most popular movies on Netflix, and it’s easy to see why.
Tall Girl (2019)
Tall Girl will transport you back to the lunchroom where you used to eat with those truly remarkable students labeled “nerds” or “geeks” by the popular group. Jodi has a large heart, and Fareeda, her best friend, has infectious confidence.
With the addition of Jodi’s fashionable childhood best friend, Jack Dunkleman, who harbors a crush on her, you have the most laid-back, enjoyable group of people with which to share lunch.
Work It (2020)
Quinn is a talented but awkward senior in high school. She believes she won’t stand out from the competition while applying to Duke University. Quinn, who is more of a geek than a dancer, forms a dance team hoping to stand out to the admissions staff and discovers that there is more passion than she anticipated. This is one of the best coming-of-age movies in recent years that everyone will enjoy.
Conclusion
There’s nothing quite as uplifting as watching characters struggle with these problems and discover themselves along the way, whether it’s a teenager fighting to get through their awkward high school time or a college grad who feels surprised by the complex realities of adulthood.
We’ve watched some of the best coming-of-age films that inspired us to reflect on our formative years. These films can speak to people of all ages, from older viewers who can relate to nostalgia to younger viewers experiencing what we see on screen. Please comment down below on your favorite coming-of-age film!
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