The best coming-of-age movies and shows, ranked

139 coming-of-age titles from the recognizable third of the CouchRot catalog, ranked by quality and fame. Every page carries scare, gore, violence and emotional-weight tags, plus where to stream in the US.

1. 1Stranger Things (2016) · seriesProperly scary · light gore · strong violence · emotionally heavy · TV-14A small town grapples with a chilling supernatural mystery, secret experiments, and a peculiar young girl.Netflix79
2. 2The Lion King (1994)Mildly scary · emotionally heavy · measured · GA young lion prince confronts betrayal and tragedy to embrace his destiny in the majestic Pride Lands.Disney+81
3. 3Dead Poets Society (1989)No gore · emotionally heavy · measured · PGAn inspiring teacher encourages students to defy rigid tradition and find their own voices, stirring both joy and sorrow.
4. 4Anne with an E (2017) · seriesNo gore · emotionally heavy · measured · TV-GAn orphaned girl in the 1890s earnestly fights for love and acceptance in a heartwarming, measured drama.Netflix
5. 5City of God (2002)Mildly scary · graphic gore · brutal violence · emotionally devastating · RTwo young men navigate Rio's favelas, one documenting the relentless crime, the other embracing its brutal power.Paramount+ · Kanopy · Hoopla
6. 6Euphoria (2019) · seriesLight gore · strong violence · emotionally devastating · measured · TV-MAHigh school students navigate intimate, bleak, and surreal dramas where love and trauma intertwine.Max
7. 7Gravity Falls (2012) · seriesMildly scary · brisk · TV-Y7Whimsical adventures unfold as twins uncover the quirky, suspenseful secrets of a mysterious Oregon town.Disney+
8. 8The Queen's Gambit (2020) · seriesNo gore · emotionally heavy · measured · TV-MAA chess prodigy rises through the ranks, battling intimate demons with earnest, melancholy focus.Netflix
9. 9Call Me by Your Name (2017)No gore · emotionally heavy · a slow burn · RA nostalgic Italian summer unfolds intimately as a young man's first love blossoms with bittersweet melancholy.
10. 10Cinema Paradiso (1988)No gore · emotionally heavy · measured · PGA filmmaker fondly remembers his childhood friendship with a projectionist and his first love for cinema.MGM+
11. 11Sex Education (2019) · seriesNo gore · emotionally heavy · measured · TV-MAAn awkward teen uses his mom's expertise to run a secret sex therapy clinic, navigating earnest and witty high school drama.Netflix
12. 12American Beauty (1999)No gore · emotionally devastating · measured · RA suburban father's mid-life crisis becomes a darkly comic, melancholy, and intimate satire.Hoopla
13. 13All of Us Are Dead (2022) · seriesProperly scary · extreme gore · brutal violence · emotionally devastating · TV-MATrapped high school students navigate a relentless zombie outbreak with gritty, high-octane action and bleak suspense.Netflix
14. 14Heartstopper (2022) · seriesNo gore · measured · TV-14Teenagers navigate school and young love, finding heartwarming connections in a cozy, uplifting, and romantic series.Netflix
15. 15Love, Victor (2020) · seriesNo gore · measured · TV-14A new student navigates high school, family, and self-discovery in this earnest, heartwarming comedy.Disney+ · Hulu
16. 16Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)Mildly scary · strong violence · emotionally heavy · measured · PG-13A new professor's dark methods leave Hogwarts vulnerable, forcing students to learn self-defense.Max · Peacock
17. 17Big Hero 6 (2014)Mildly scary · emotionally heavy · brisk · PGA brilliant young inventor and his inflatable robot friend lead a brisk, heartwarming adventure filled with wholesome humor.Disney+
18. 18Merlí (2015) · seriesNo gore · emotionally heavy · measured · TV-MAAn unorthodox philosophy teacher helps students navigate life with earnest, witty, and heartwarming lessons.
19. 19The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)No gore · emotionally heavy · measured · PG-13A shy freshman navigates the pangs of first love and friendship with witty, melancholic earnestness.Kanopy
20. 20Love, Simon (2018)No gore · measured · PG-13A closeted teen's online romance blossoms into a heartwarming, earnest, and wholesome comedy.Max
21. 21Luca (2021)No gore · measured · PGTwo young sea monsters share a whimsical, heartwarming summer on the Italian Riviera, hiding their true identities.Disney+
22. 22Mommy (2014)No gore · strong violence · emotionally devastating · measured · RA grieving mother navigates her volatile son's outbursts while a new friend offers a fragile sense of hope.Tubi
23. 23Young Royals (2021) · seriesNo gore · emotionally heavy · measured · TV-MAA young prince at boarding school navigates royal expectations and a burgeoning, bittersweet romance.Netflix
24. 24Moana (2016)No gore · brisk · PGAn impetuous chieftain's daughter answers the ocean's call in an uplifting, whimsical, brisk adventure.Disney+
25. 25Steven Universe (2013) · seriesNo gore · emotionally heavy · measured · TV-PGA young boy steps into his mother's magical shoes, learning to control powers with wholesome, heartwarming whimsy.Hulu
26. 26Tangled (2010)Mildly scary · brisk · PGA spirited princess with magical hair and a charming thief embark on a brisk, heartwarming adventure.Disney+
27. 27Little Women (2019)No gore · emotionally heavy · measured · PGFour earnest sisters navigate love and loss while coming of age in Civil War-era America.Hulu
28. 28Stand by Me (1986)Mildly scary · light gore · emotionally heavy · measured · RFour young friends embark on a gritty, nostalgic journey that blends wholesome humor with melancholy self-discovery.Max
29. 29The Breakfast Club (1985)No gore · emotionally heavy · measured · RWitty banter and heartfelt confessions unfold as five detention-bound teens discover common ground.Hulu · Peacock
30. 30The End of the F***ing World (2017) · seriesMildly scary · light gore · strong violence · emotionally heavy · TV-MATwo rebellious teens embark on a bleak road trip, blending dark humor with a search for belonging.Netflix
31. 31Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)Mildly scary · strong violence · brisk · PG-13A high schooler balances everyday life and superheroics with witty charm and brisk, wholesome adventure.Netflix · Disney+
32. 32Young Sheldon (2017) · seriesNo gore · measured · TV-PGA child prodigy navigates family and school in a heartwarming, nostalgic, and wholesome comedy.Netflix · Max
33. 3310 Things I Hate About You (1999)No gore · measured · PG-13Witty banter and wholesome charm abound as new students navigate the whimsical world of high school romance.Disney+ · Peacock75
34. 343 Idiots (2009)No gore · emotionally heavy · measuredThree college friends navigate an uptight university with broad humor and heartwarming, feel-good schemes.
35. 35Moonrise Kingdom (2012)No gore · measured · PG-13Young lovers escape into the 1965 New England wilderness, charmingly upending a peaceful island community.
36. 36The Wonder Years (1988) · seriesNo gore · measured · TV-PGA boy navigates childhood's earnest joys and melancholy struggles, all seen through a nostalgic, adult lens.Hulu
37. 37The 400 Blows (1959)No gore · emotionally heavy · measured · NRA neglected Parisian boy navigates a gritty world of adult indifference, yearning for a better life.Max · Criterion · Kanopy
38. 38It (2017)Terrifying · graphic gore · strong violence · emotionally heavy · RChildhood fears manifest as a shape-shifting clown while young outcasts confront terror in a bleak Maine town.Max
39. 39CODA (2021)No gore · emotionally heavy · measured · PG-13A young woman navigates family loyalty and her musical dreams, finding her voice in a world of silence.Apple TV+
40. 40I Am Not Okay with This (2020) · seriesMildly scary · emotionally heavy · measured · TV-MAA moody teenager grapples with high school, family, and unrequited love while developing unpredictable superpowers.Netflix
41. 41Hercules (1997)Mildly scary · brisk · GA super-strong hero, a flying horse, and a sassy trainer battle a hotheaded god in this brisk, whimsical adventure.Disney+
42. 42Never Have I Ever (2020) · seriesNo gore · brisk · TV-14An Indian-American teen navigates family, friends, and feelings with brisk, witty humor and heartwarming results.Netflix
43. 43Normal People (2020) · seriesNo gore · emotionally devastating · measured · TV-MATwo young lovers navigate an intimate, measured dance of connection and longing across many years.Hulu
44. 44A Walk to Remember (2002)No gore · emotionally devastating · measured · PGA rebellious teen falls for a minister's daughter, discovering love's earnest beauty and melancholy secrets.Fandango at Home (free) · Pluto TV
45. 45Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)No gore · brisk · PG-13A quick-witted slacker leads his friends on a whimsical, brisk adventure through Chicago, outsmarting everyone.Apple TV+ · Paramount+ · AMC+
46. 46Girl Meets World (2014) · seriesNo gore · measured · TV-GRiley and Maya navigate middle school with heartwarming, wholesome humor and earnest, whimsical adventures.Disney+
47. 47Persepolis (2007)Mildly scary · strong violence · emotionally devastating · measured · PG-13A young girl's earnest dreams of revolution curdle into melancholy as a nation's hope darkens.
48. 48Freaks and Geeks (1999) · seriesNo gore · emotionally heavy · measured · TV-14Teenagers navigate the awkward, humorous world of high school, finding connection among burnouts and geeks.Prime Video · Paramount+ · Kanopy
49. 49On My Block (2018) · seriesNo gore · measured · TV-14Four streetwise teens navigate the heartwarming and gritty realities of friendship in a rough Los Angeles neighborhood.Netflix
50. 50The Little Mermaid (1989)Mildly scary · measured · GA spirited mermaid princess dreams of a human world, risking everything for love in a vibrant underwater adventure.Disney+
51. 51The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022) · seriesNo gore · measured · TV-14A young woman's sixteenth summer at the beach house brings first love, heartbreak, and profound change.Prime Video
52. 52Treasure Planet (2002)Mildly scary · strong violence · emotionally heavy · brisk · PGA young cabin boy and a cyborg cook embark on a whimsical, brisk adventure across the galaxy for treasure.Disney+
53. 53Merlí. Sapere Aude (2019) · seriesNo gore · emotionally heavy · measured · TV-MAA philosophy student navigates university life, finding intimate, earnest guidance from an intriguing new professor.Netflix
54. 54Boy Meets World (1993) · seriesNo gore · measured · TV-GA young Philadelphian navigates wholesome life lessons and coming-of-age events in this heartwarming, measured comedy.Disney+
55. 55Moonlight (2016)No gore · emotionally devastating · measured · RA young man navigates intimate, gritty chapters of life, earnestly seeking himself amidst love's ecstasy and pain.Hulu · The Roku Channel · YouTube (free)
56. 56Boyhood (2014)No gore · emotionally heavy · measured · RAn intimate, earnest drama watches a boy's life unfold, capturing twelve years of melancholy and nostalgic growth.Netflix · AMC+ · Criterion
57. 57Billy Elliot (2000)No gore · emotionally heavy · measured · RAmidst a gritty mining strike, a young boy discovers heartwarming joy and uplifting purpose through dance.
58. 58Atypical (2017) · seriesNo gore · emotionally heavy · measured · TV-14An earnest, heartwarming journey of self-discovery unfolds as an autistic teen upends his family.Netflix
59. 59The Graduate (1967)No gore · emotionally heavy · measured · PGA young man's melancholy affair with an older woman becomes a witty, dark satire of suburban ennui.Prime Video · Kanopy · The Roku Channel
60. 60Boogie Nights (1997)Light gore · strong violence · emotionally devastating · measured · RA measured descent into the gritty, atmospheric melancholy of a fading era's dark satire.Criterion
61. 61Superbad (2007)No gore · brisk · RTwo co-dependent seniors navigate a raunchy, cringe-filled night as their whimsical party plans go hilariously awry.Apple TV+ · Starz · Tubi76
62. 62My First First Love (2019) · seriesNo gore · measured · TV-PGYoung friends navigate first loves and new living arrangements, finding warmth and connection in shared experiences.Netflix
63. 63Mean Girls (2004)No gore · brisk · PG-13A new girl navigates high school's cutthroat social scene with sharp wit and satirical humor.Paramount+ · Peacock · Kanopy
64. 64Lady Bird (2017)No gore · emotionally heavy · measured · RA witty and earnest coming-of-age story unfolds as a strong-willed teen navigates family and future.Hulu · Max · YouTube (free)
65. 65The Jungle Book (1967)Mildly scary · measured · GA boy's journey to a village becomes a heartwarming, whimsical adventure filled with jazzy animals and true friendship.Disney+
66. 66The Fabelmans (2022)No gore · emotionally heavy · measured · PG-13A young man's filmmaking dream blossoms amidst family turmoil, finding bittersweet truth through the lens.Peacock
67. 67Dirty Dancing (1987)No gore · measured · PG-13A young woman’s summer of unexpected romance unfolds through dance at a Catskills resort.
68. 68Malena (2000)No gore · emotionally heavy · measured · RA lonely woman's beauty becomes a curse, seen through the intimate, yearning eyes of a young boy.Kanopy · Hoopla
69. 69Turning Red (2022)No gore · emotionally heavy · brisk · PGA thirteen-year-old girl navigates adolescence and a magical family secret with whimsical, brisk energy.Disney+
70. 70Almost Famous (2000)No gore · emotionally heavy · measured · RA 15-year-old music fan finds heartwarming, witty adventure touring with a 70s rock band.Paramount+ · Kanopy · Hoopla
71. 71Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)No gore · measured · PG-13A defiant city kid and his cantankerous foster uncle forge an unlikely bond while on the run in the New Zealand bush.Prime Video · Peacock · The Roku Channel
72. 72Boyz n the Hood (1991)Mildly scary · light gore · brutal violence · emotionally devastating · RA father tries to guide his son toward decency amidst the bleak, gritty reality of South Central LA.Starz · Tubi
73. 73Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015)No gore · emotionally heavy · measured · PG-13A high school senior’s anonymous world unravels while making bizarre films and befriending a classmate with leukemia.
74. 74Aftersun (2022)No gore · emotionally devastating · a slow burn · RA daughter revisits sun-drenched memories of a father, piecing together his hidden melancholy from lingering fragments.
75. 75Love and Monsters (2020)Mildly scary · light gore · strong violence · brisk · PG-13A sheltered man braves a monster-filled world for love, finding wholesome humor and uplifting adventure.Paramount+
76. 76Juno (2007)No gore · measured · PG-13A witty and earnest teenager navigates an unexpected pregnancy with heartwarming, whimsical charm and measured grace.
77. 77The Florida Project (2017)No gore · emotionally devastating · measured · RChildhood wonder collides with adult struggles, painting a bittersweet portrait of a forgotten summer.Kanopy · Hoopla · The Roku Channel
78. 78Where the Crawdads Sing (2022)Light gore · emotionally heavy · measured · PG-13A marsh girl's isolated life turns suspenseful as romance and melancholy intertwine with a murder investigation.Hulu
79. 79Empire of the Sun (1987)Mildly scary · emotionally heavy · measured · PGA privileged boy's spirit endures the bleakness of war-torn Shanghai with earnest, atmospheric melancholy.
80. 80Rushmore (1998)No gore · measured · RA quirky teenager’s crush on his teacher sparks a whimsical, dryly funny rivalry with an unlikely friend.Hoopla
81. 81Clueless (1995)No gore · brisk · PG-13A whimsical, brisk comedy follows a shallow Beverly Hills teen playing matchmaker with witty, wholesome charm.Netflix · Paramount+ · Kanopy
82. 82mid90s (2018)No gore · emotionally heavy · measured · RA lonely 13-year-old finds gritty, nostalgic camaraderie among skaters in 90s Los Angeles.Max
83. 83Rebel Without a Cause (1955)Light gore · strong violence · emotionally devastating · measured · PG-13A rebellious new kid in town finds love and trouble while navigating a gritty, melancholy world.YouTube (free)
84. 84The Hand of God (2021)No gore · emotionally heavy · measured · RAn awkward teen in 1980s Naples finds bittersweet liberation after a soccer legend saves his life.Netflix
85. 85Big (1988)No gore · measured · PGA boy's wish to be big delivers whimsical, heartwarming chaos as he navigates adult life with childlike wonder.Disney+
86. 86Big Mouth (2017) · seriesNo gore · brisk · TV-MAPuberty's horrors and wonders upend teenage friends in this brisk, darkly-comic animated series.Netflix
87. 87Harold and Maude (1971)No gore · emotionally heavy · measured · PGA morbid young man finds an unconventional zest for life through a free-spirited, much older woman.Kanopy · Hoopla · YouTube (free)
88. 88Blue Is the Warmest Color (2013)No gore · emotionally devastating · measured · NC-17An intimate romance unfolds with earnest melancholy as a young woman discovers desire and self-acceptance.Netflix · AMC+ · Kanopy
89. 89The Fox and the Hound (1981)No gore · emotionally heavy · measured · GA fox and a hound navigate a friendship tested by nature's expectations, leading to inevitable melancholy.Disney+
90. 90Bambi (1942)Mildly scary · emotionally heavy · measured · GA young deer navigates the forest's gentle rhythms and sudden sorrows, discovering life's bittersweet beauty.Disney+
91. 91The Edge of Seventeen (2016)No gore · emotionally heavy · measured · RWitty and cringe-worthy, a high schooler navigates shifting friendships and the awkward earnestness of growing up.Prime Video
92. 92Y Tu Mamá También (2001)No gore · emotionally heavy · measured · NRTwo teenage boys and an older woman embark on a road trip, exploring life, friendship, and intimacy.AMC+
93. 93Dazed and Confused (1993)No gore · measured · RTexas teens navigate the last day of school in 1976, finding wholesome humor and wistful freedom.
94. 94Submarine (2011)No gore · emotionally heavy · measured · RA whimsical, melancholy coming-of-age story unfolds as a Welsh schoolboy navigates first love and family troubles.Prime Video · Kanopy · Hoopla
95. 95The Virgin Suicides (2000)Light gore · emotionally heavy · measured · RFive mysterious sisters navigate their sheltered lives as a group of friends become dreamily obsessed with them.Kanopy · Hoopla · Pluto TV
96. 96Pleasantville (1998)No gore · emotionally heavy · measured · PG-13Teenage siblings get trapped in a wholesome 1950s sitcom, bringing witty, colorful disruption to its black-and-white world.Kanopy · YouTube (free) · Plex
97. 97Descendants (2015)No gore · measured · GWholesome musical numbers and whimsical adventure unfold as villainous offspring find their own paths to redemption.Disney+ · Hulu
98. 98Chronicle (2012)Mildly scary · light gore · brutal violence · emotionally devastating · PG-13Teenagers grapple with newfound powers, spiraling into a gritty, darkly comic, and intimate descent.
99. 99Easy A (2010)No gore · brisk · PG-13A clever high schooler embraces scandalous rumors, finding humor and chaos in her suddenly public life.Apple TV+ · Tubi
100. 100Mud (2013)Mildly scary · light gore · strong violence · emotionally heavy · PG-13Two teenage boys help a gritty fugitive reunite with his lover while escaping an avenging, armed family.Prime Video · Tubi

Showing 100 of 139. The rest, filtered to your services, are in the app.

This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Intensity, tone and pace tags are CouchRot's own.