7 Coming-Of-Age Movies That Are Actually Relatable
Tired of unrealistic and cringy coming-of age movies? These ones are here to save the day.
We've all seen those coming-of-age dramas that are completely detached from reality. They are always over-the-top and highly ridiculous (not in a good way). However, don't give up on the genre just yet. Coming-of-age stories, when done right, can be such a powerful form of therapy for everything we've been through.
These 7 films take the awkward, messy and beautiful stories of growing up and make them unapologetically relatable.
The Way Way Back (2013): Finding Your Place
- On Rotten Tomatoes, The Way Way Back has 83% from critics and 84% from the audience.
- On IMDb, The Way Way Back is rated 7.4/10.
Forced to spend the summer with his family, Duncan quickly finds refuge at a local water park and an unlikely friendship with Owen, the park's manager. The film is a great take on being the odd one out and the most unexpected places where you can find your people.
The Way Way Back is simple, yes, but it doesn't take much to tell the authentic story. Also, Steve Carell is great in it, which makes it a must see.
Available on: Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Apple TV.
The Spectacular Now (2013): Spectacular Love Story
- On Rotten Tomatoes, The Spectacular Now has 92% from critics and 76% from the audience.
- On IMDb, The Spectacular Now is rated 7.0/10.
The Spectacular Now is the story of a charming but troubled party-loving high school senior whose life takes an unexpected turn when he meets someone special. We highly recommend that you just jump into the movie without watching the trailer (as it pretty much casually spoils everything).
Available on Kanopy for free.
Morris from America (2016): Finding Yourself in a Foreign Land
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Morris from America has 87% from critics and 60% from the audience.
- On IMDb, Morris from America is rated 6.2/10.
Morris, a 13-year-old aspiring rapper, moves to Germany with his father and faces the struggles of being the new kid in town.
Morris from America does a wonderful job of exploring culture shock, first love and the very special bond between a dad and son. Craig Robinson delivers a heartfelt and hilarious performance as the caring father trying to help his kid find his way in this new world.
Available on Kanopy for free.
Lady Bird (2017): Greta Gerwig Modern Classic
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Lady Bird has 99% from critics and 79% from the audience.
- On IMDb, Lady Bird is rated 7.4/10.
Your hometown is simultaneously the most boring and most complicated place on Earth and Lady Bird understands that. We follow a high school senior as she deals with her last year of Catholic school, her first relationships, and most importantly, her complicated relationship with her mother. It's funny, touching, and incredibly authentic.
Available on Kanopy and Plex for free.
The Kings of Summer (2013): Comedy Gold With Nick Offerman
- On Rotten Tomatoes, The Kings of Summer has 77% from critics and 77% from the audience.
- On IMDb, The Kings of Summer is rated 7.1/10.
Three boys decide to spend their summer building a house in the woods. It's the ultimate childhood dream that came true. The Kings of Summer is quirky, heartfelt and surprisingly relatable (even if you've never attempted to build your own house).
Nick Offerman is great, but surprisingly not the best part of the movie. The whole cast did an outstanding job.
Available on Kanopy for free.
Mid90s (2018): Jonah Hill Directorial Debut
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Mid90s has 81% from critics and 81% from the audience.
- On IMDb, Mid90s is rated 7.3/10.
Following a 13-year-old Stevie in Los Angeles during the '90s, Mid90s is all about finding your people. The film nails that weird time when you're too old to be a kid, but too young to be a teenager.
The soundtrack, the way it's shot, everything is perfect. And if you're feeling nostalgic, this is your go-to choice.
Available on Kanopy for free.
The Worst Person in the World (2021): Growing Up Doesn't Stop at 20
- On Rotten Tomatoes, The Worst Person in the World has 96% from critics and 87% from the audience.
- On IMDb, The Worst Person in the World is rated 7.7/10.
The Worst Person in the World has already been called “an instant classic” by The Guardian.
This Norwegian movie follows Julie, a young woman in her late twenties who is still trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life. Through her relationships, the film is a great representation of the feeling of being lost in your late 20s when everyone else seems to have it all figured out.
Available on: Kanopy for free; Hulu.
