Being a teenager is an extremely big deal. A man and woman's formative years are what moulds them; defines their views and interests, and exposes them to the cold, harsh realties of adult life. Plus there's a lot of awkward longing and embarrassing fuck ups.
Below, we've compiled the definitive list of cinema that best captures that six-year period of hormones, strife and acute discomfort. From classic coming-of-age tales, to gritty black and white portraits of urban struggle, these are the movies that bottle our most awkward years.
Lady Bird (2017)
“I wish I could live through something”
It’s arguable that Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut is one of the most keenly and truthfully observed movies about the modern adolescent experience, capturing as it does all the posturing, insecurity, fractiousness and fervour that comes with it. Which is all well and good, of course, but did we mention it’s also a flat-out hoot?
The backbone of Lady Bird is the relationship between a strung-out mother (Laurie Metcalf) and her high-minded daughter (Saoirse Ronan) whose lofty self-image is somewhat let down by her work ethic, or lack thereof. Lady Bird, as Ronan’s character re-names herself, also has the usual teen perils to contend with: complicated female friendships and pretentious suitors, a role which Timothée Chalamet – the current patron saint of the coming-of-age genre – pulls off with comic aplomb.
Moonlight (2016)
“At some point you've got to decide for yourself who you gonna be. Can't let nobody make that decision for you.”
Long after the Oscars ‘best picture’ kerfuffle has faded, Barry Jenkins’ bona fide masterpiece about three stages in the life of Chiron, a young African-American man growing up in Miami, Florida, struggling with poverty, his mother’s drug problem, and coming to terms with his own sexuality, will stand the test of time.
Based on Tarell Alvin McCraney’s play, In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue, three different actors – Alex R Hibbert, Ashton Sanders and Trevante Rhodes, respectively – portray Chiron as a young boy, teenager and young man, with all the fear, vulnerability, anger and sadness that churn in him as he tries to make sense of his life, and of himself. But it was Mahershala Ali as thoughtful drug dealer Juan who owns this film, and not surprisingly a ‘best supporting actor’ Oscar to go with it.
Call Me By Your Name (2017)
“If you only knew how little I really know about the things that matter”
Luca Guadagnino’s romantic Eighties-set drama, based on André Aciman’s 2007 novel of the same name, in no way undercuts the dreamy narcissism, both painful and pleasurable, of being a teenager. On the contrary it revels in it, as the delicately handsome 17-year-old Elio (Timothée Chalamet), vacationing with his folks in Northern Italy, begins a passionate relationship with a visiting grad student, Oliver (Armie Hammer).
The film was noteworthy not only for the tender portrayal of young love, but for the sumptuousness of the setting, the elegance of the clothes, the beauty of the cinematography and so on. Never has a holiday in the Italian countryside – yes, even with your parents – looked so appealing. We'd also be not in the least surprised, if the film’s most memorable scene is anything to go by, if it did wonders for the sale of soft fruits.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
"It is his fault he didn't lock the garage."
The definitive teenage fantasy film, Matthew Broderick's portrayal of the eponymous Ferris became the template for a generation of slacker, troublemaker protagonists.
So '80s it hurts – in the best way possible of course - Ferris Bueller's Day Off explored the great unknown transition from juvenility to adulthood, and made everyone who watched it dream of sacking off school, ignoring your parents and taking ownership of the keys to a Ferrari.
Submarine (2010)
"I suppose it won't matter when I'm 38, but I'm upset about it."
Richard Ayoade's directorial debut is a world away from the brash, sun-drenched American comedy-dramas that came before it, instead focusing on the uncomfortable upbringing of a Swansea teenager, Oliver, who is determined to lose his virginity.
Moving, funny and etched with a sort of bleak loneliness that runs through every character, the Wes Anderson stylistic influences are clear, but Submarine is still a fresh and engaging take on the genre.
Boyhood (2014)
"I sure as shit don't know. Neither does anybody else, okay? We're all just winging it, you know?"
Richard Linklater's poignant or pretentious (you decide) 166 minute epic was famously filmed over the course of 12 real time years, with the cast reconvening each year to pick up the story.
Charting the course of a young man's life from infancy to his first day at college (hence the clever name), Boyhood may have been perceived as too meandering and earnest by some, but what you can't argue against is its emotional and authentic take on the trials of a normal existence.
Kids (1995)
"I'm not gonna die."
One of the most controversial films of the '90s, Kids presented a view of amorality and bored youth that had received little attention prior to its release; following a group of listless skater kids in New York as they fuck, fight and ultimately spiral out of control.
Written by Harmony Korine when he was just 22, most of the film's cast were plucked from amateur obscurity, which only helped lend the film a gritty and difficult credence.
Dazed And Confused (1994)
"All right, all right, all right."
Long before that horrendous rom-com phase and eventual Oscar-winning renaissance, Matthew McConaughey was the party and soul in an undisputed Richard Linklater classic.
Centering around a chaotic summer full of high school hazing, pranks and beer keg parties in small town Texas, Dazed and Confused is a nostalgia trip that gets better with every watch, and also features Ben Affleck as one of the most-punchable characters in film history.
Superbad (2007)
"Nobody has gotten a hand job in cargo shorts since 'nam!"
It's hard to believe that it's almost 10 years since Superbad arrived to make a generation of hopeless teenage boys feel slightly more comfortable with their crippling inadequacies.
While the premise might be simple - three hapless friends try to get drunk and get laid - the razor sharp dialogue and pitch perfect characters make it a coming of age story that will likely be relatable for as long as there are coming of age stories.
The Breakfast Club (1985)
"We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it, that's all."
Not to be confused with that trendy breakfast place where you have to queue up for ages, The Breakfast Club is broadly considered to be the definitive high school movie and is still a stone cold classic more than 31 years after its initial release.
Following five teenagers from different school cliques as they're forced into morning detention, the sentiment might be a bit obvious now (we're all so alike!), but the comedy timing and unconventional character development stop it from ever straying into soppy territory.
La Haine (1995)
"The world is ours."
One of the most beautifully shot films you're ever likely to see, this French classic ignited huge social discussions upon its release, as it gave a platform to the bored, lost and listless youths of France's untouchable ghettos.
While the subject matter might be harsh, the fundamentals for a classic young man's movie are all there. From the tense challenges of friendship to the longing for adventure and escape.
That ending too...
Donnie Darko (2001)
"Don't worry. You got away with it."
Made over just 28 days with a budget of $3.8 million, Donnie Darko was the mind-bending sci-fi drama that gave Jake Gyllenhall his big break, playing a teenager who befriends an apocalyptic rabbit who may or may not be there...Yes, it's a bit weird.
While its theatrical release bombed, it has since gained a cult following thanks to its challenging themes of death, depression and parallel universes. Perfect for anyone who is feeling a bit existential and pretentious.
