10 Best Indie Coming-of-Age Movies

Often, when viewers watch coming-of-age films, the characters on screen don’t reflect their experiences. There is a certain formula to the mainstream teen movie that usually includes certain high school superlatives and a heterosexual romance.

Indie films offer an alternative to the average teen flick. Their characters are more diverse and therefore better reflect society. Additionally, they actually hire teenage actors or, at the least, young adults that look like teenagers. They also explore a wide variety of issues facing young people, such as sexuality, drug and alcohol use, and the realities of growing up, in ways that feel authentic.

20th Century Women (2016) – Stream On Showtime

20th Century Women follows a teenage boy named Jamie who is taught by the female figures in his life about feminism, love, and sexuality. This group of women includes his mother, his 24-year-old neighbor, and his best friend.

20th Century Women features great performances from Annette Benning, Greta Gerwig, Elle Fanning, and the 16-year-old Lucas Jade Zumann as Jamie. The film was written and directed by Mike Mills, who was nominated for an Oscar for his screenplay.

The Kings Of Summer (2013) – Stream On Showtime

The Kings of Summer explores the theme of teenage rebellion through its three main characters Joe, Patrick, and Biaggio. Unsatisfied by the restraints of their home life, the boys decide to escape to the woods. While the boys first relish in their newfound freedom, they soon realize that they are in over their heads.

The Kings of Summer is anchored by the chemistry between Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso, and Moises Arias. Their friendship is believable, which makes their fights that much harder to watch.

Call Me By Your Name (2017) – Stream On Starz

Based on the novel of the same name by André Aciman, Call Me By Your Name chronicles the summer romance between a teenage boy and a male university student. The film depicts the exploration of sexuality as a natural, beautiful, and sometimes awkward process.

Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer’s performances were two of the best of the year, leading to multiple award nominations. Chalamet’s acting in the final scene of the film is particularly impressive, as he is able to make the audience sob without making a sound.

Juno (2007) – Stream On Starz

In this comedy, Elliot Page plays Juno MacGuff, a pregnant teenager trying to make a decision about the future of her unborn child. Unlike other films that slam teenage pregnancy, Juno takes a more mature approach, with a comedic tone. The protagonist explores her options before ultimately deciding to allow a seemingly perfect couple to adopt the baby.

Although Juno takes a very systematic approach to her pregnancy, she is still a teenager. Viewers watch as she experiences the ups and downs of teenage life, as well as the awkwardness of her blossoming relationship with the baby’s father.

Booksmart (2019) – Stream On Hulu

Directed by actress Olivia Wilde, Booksmart is a comedic buddy film that examines the relationship between two teenage girls in the week leading up to their high school graduation.

Amy and Molly’s relationship is one that many people wish they had in high school. Whereas girls are often depicted in films as being in competition with each other, Amy and Molly are constantly building each other up. Amy and Molly support each other’s romantic and professional lives and genuinely enjoy hanging out together as their authentic selves.

Lady Bird (2017) – Stream On Netflix

Lady Bird is one of the best teenage characters written for the screen in the 21st century. She is a witty and rebellious young woman who loves getting into trouble with her best friend and has a complicated relationship with her mother. Lady Bird is nowhere near perfect, and that’s what makes her so relatable.

Another way in which the film is different from the mainstream teenage film is its perspective of sex. While many films glorify “the first time,” portraying it as a life-changing event, Lady Bird‘s depiction of sex is far less glamourous. It’s awkward, messy, and often anti-climactic.

Thirteen (2003) – Stream On Max Go

Co-written by and co-starring teenage actress Nikki Reed, Thirteen depicts the unraveling relationship between a mother and daughter after the daughter befriends a rebellious girl from school. Evan Rachel Wood and Holly Hunter give emotional performances as the mother and daughter.

Thirteen is a dramatic film that depicts the darker parts of teenage life and the fragility of the mother-daughter relationship. It can be a hard watch at times, but its rawness and willingness to depict ugly moments is what makes it a great film.

Eighth Grade (2018) – Stream On Showtime

Eighth Grade follows Kayla, an awkward pre-teen girl who is about to enter high school. To try and overcome her anxiety, she starts an advice column video blog.

Eighth Grade was the directorial debut of well-known comedian Bo Burnham and stars Elsie Fisher as Kayla. Burnham did an excellent job at depicting this awkward in-between stage of life in which young people have to deal with their changing bodies and the potential shift in social dynamics among their friends. The transition from middle school to high school is a pivotal period in adolescent life, and thus an important period to get right on-screen.

Moonlight (2016) – Stream On Showtime

Barry Jenkins’ masterful drama follows a Black man from childhood to adulthood as he explores and struggles with his sexuality and identity. The film features stunning cinematography and stand-out performances from its entire cast.

It is more experimental than most coming-of-age films, with a distinct three-part narrative and particularly striking use of color and light. Moonlight went on to win three Academy Awards in 2017, including the Oscar for Best Picture.

Boyhood (2014) – Stream On The Criterion Channel

The plot of Boyhood is fairly straightforward. It follows a boy named Mason from ages six to eighteen, depicting various aspects of his life from his parents’ divorce to his departure for college.

What makes Boyhood so special is its production history. While many films use different actors to portray characters at different parts of their life, the actors within this film stay the same. Richard Linklater chose to shoot the film in increments over the course of eleven years so that the actors could age with the characters. The result is an incredibly realistic film about growing up.

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