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

140 coming-of-age titles ranked by quality and fame, with where to stream.

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.Netflix78
2. 2The Lion King (1994)Wholesome humor · family watch · mildly scary · emotionally heavy · GA young lion prince confronts betrayal and tragedy to embrace his destiny in the majestic Pride Lands.Disney+80
3. 3Anne with an E (2017) · seriesHeartwarming · family watch · emotionally heavy · measured · TV-GAn orphaned girl in the 1890s earnestly fights for love and acceptance in a heartwarming, measured drama.Netflix
4. 4Dead Poets Society (1989)Earnest · comfort watch · emotionally heavy · measured · PGAn inspiring teacher encourages students to defy rigid tradition and find their own voices, stirring both joy and sorrow.
5. 5City of God (2002)Gritty · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · RTwo young men navigate Rio's favelas, one documenting the relentless crime, the other embracing its brutal power.Kanopy · Hoopla
6. 6Euphoria (2019) · seriesGritty · full attention · strong violence · emotionally devastating · TV-MAHigh school students navigate intimate, bleak, and surreal dramas where love and trauma intertwine.Max
7. 7Gravity Falls (2012) · seriesDry wit · whimsical · family watch · mildly scary · TV-Y7Whimsical adventures unfold as twins uncover the quirky, suspenseful secrets of a mysterious Oregon town.Disney+
8. 8The Queen's Gambit (2020) · seriesCerebral · late-night trip · 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)Melancholy · date night · emotionally heavy · a slow burn · RA nostalgic Italian summer unfolds intimately as a young man's first love blossoms with bittersweet melancholy.Netflix
10. 10Cinema Paradiso (1988)Nostalgic · comfort watch · emotionally heavy · measured · PGA filmmaker fondly remembers his childhood friendship with a projectionist and his first love for cinema.Kanopy · Hoopla
11. 11Sex Education (2019) · seriesDry wit · heartwarming · comfort watch · emotionally heavy · 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)Dry wit · darkly comic · full attention · emotionally devastating · 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) · seriesWholesome humor · cozy · date night · measured · TV-14Teenagers navigate school and young love, finding heartwarming connections in a cozy, uplifting, and romantic series.Netflix
15. 15Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)Wholesome humor · suspenseful · family watch · strong violence · PG-13A new professor's dark methods leave Hogwarts vulnerable, forcing students to learn self-defense.Max · Peacock
16. 16Big Hero 6 (2014)Wholesome humor · whimsical · family watch · mildly scary · PGA brilliant young inventor and his inflatable robot friend lead a brisk, heartwarming adventure filled with wholesome humor.Disney+
17. 17Love, Victor (2020) · seriesWholesome humor · earnest · comfort watch · measured · TV-14A new student navigates high school, family, and self-discovery in this earnest, heartwarming comedy.Disney+ · Hulu
18. 18Merlí (2015) · seriesDry wit · heartwarming · full attention · emotionally heavy · TV-MAAn unorthodox philosophy teacher helps students navigate life with earnest, witty, and heartwarming lessons.
19. 19The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)Dry wit · melancholy · comfort watch · emotionally heavy · PG-13A shy freshman navigates the pangs of first love and friendship with witty, melancholic earnestness.Prime Video · Kanopy
20. 20Love, Simon (2018)Wholesome humor · romantic · date night · measured · PG-13A closeted teen's online romance blossoms into a heartwarming, earnest, and wholesome comedy.Max
21. 21Luca (2021)Wholesome humor · whimsical · family watch · measured · PGTwo young sea monsters share a whimsical, heartwarming summer on the Italian Riviera, hiding their true identities.Disney+
22. 22Mommy (2014)Intimate · full attention · strong violence · emotionally devastating · RA grieving mother navigates her volatile son's outbursts while a new friend offers a fragile sense of hope.Tubi
23. 23Young Royals (2021) · seriesIntimate · date night · emotionally heavy · measured · TV-MAA young prince at boarding school navigates royal expectations and a burgeoning, bittersweet romance.Netflix
24. 24Moana (2016)Wholesome humor · epic · family watch · brisk · PGAn impetuous chieftain's daughter answers the ocean's call in an uplifting, whimsical, brisk adventure.Disney+
25. 25Steven Universe (2013) · seriesWholesome humor · whimsical · family watch · emotionally heavy · TV-PGA young boy steps into his mother's magical shoes, learning to control powers with wholesome, heartwarming whimsy.Hulu
26. 26Tangled (2010)Wholesome humor · whimsical · family watch · mildly scary · PGA spirited princess with magical hair and a charming thief embark on a brisk, heartwarming adventure.Disney+
27. 27Little Women (2019)Heartwarming · comfort watch · 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)Dark satire · nostalgic · comfort watch · emotionally heavy · RFour young friends embark on a gritty, nostalgic journey that blends wholesome humor with melancholy self-discovery.
29. 29The Breakfast Club (1985)Dry wit · heartwarming · comfort watch · emotionally heavy · RWitty banter and heartfelt confessions unfold as five detention-bound teens discover common ground.Hulu
30. 30The End of the F***ing World (2017) · seriesDark satire · bleak · full attention · strong violence · TV-MATwo rebellious teens embark on a bleak road trip, blending dark humor with a search for belonging.Netflix
31. 31The Wonder Years (1988) · seriesWholesome humor · nostalgic · family watch · measured · TV-PGA boy navigates childhood's earnest joys and melancholy struggles, all seen through a nostalgic, adult lens.Hulu
32. 32Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)Wholesome humor · whimsical · comfort watch · strong violence · PG-13A high schooler balances everyday life and superheroics with witty charm and brisk, wholesome adventure.Disney+ · Tubi
33. 33Young Sheldon (2017) · seriesWholesome humor · nostalgic · family watch · measured · TV-PGA child prodigy navigates family and school in a heartwarming, nostalgic, and wholesome comedy.Netflix · Max
34. 3410 Things I Hate About You (1999)Dry wit · whimsical · date night · measured · PG-13Witty banter and wholesome charm abound as new students navigate the whimsical world of high school romance.Disney+75
35. 353 Idiots (2009)Big broad humor · feel good · comfort watch · emotionally heavy · PG-13Three college friends navigate an uptight university with broad humor and heartwarming, feel-good schemes.
36. 36Moonrise Kingdom (2012)Dry wit · whimsical · date night · measured · PG-13Young lovers escape into the 1965 New England wilderness, charmingly upending a peaceful island community.
37. 37The 400 Blows (1959)Melancholy · full attention · emotionally heavy · measured · NRA neglected Parisian boy navigates a gritty world of adult indifference, yearning for a better life.Max · Kanopy · YouTube (free)
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)Heartwarming · comfort watch · 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) · seriesDark satire · surreal · late-night trip · emotionally heavy · TV-MAA moody teenager grapples with high school, family, and unrequited love while developing unpredictable superpowers.Netflix
41. 41Hercules (1997)Big broad humor · whimsical · family watch · mildly scary · 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) · seriesDry wit · whimsical · comfort watch · brisk · TV-14An Indian-American teen navigates family, friends, and feelings with brisk, witty humor and heartwarming results.Netflix
43. 43Normal People (2020) · seriesIntimate · date night · 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)Romantic · date night · 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)Dry wit · whimsical · comfort watch · brisk · PG-13A quick-witted slacker leads his friends on a whimsical, brisk adventure through Chicago, outsmarting everyone.Paramount+ · Kanopy · Hoopla
46. 46Girl Meets World (2014) · seriesWholesome humor · whimsical · family watch · measured · TV-GRiley and Maya navigate middle school with heartwarming, wholesome humor and earnest, whimsical adventures.Disney+
47. 47Persepolis (2007)Melancholy · full attention · strong violence · mildly scary · PG-13A young girl's earnest dreams of revolution curdle into melancholy as a nation's hope darkens.YouTube (free)
48. 48Freaks and Geeks (1999) · seriesDry wit · nostalgic · comfort watch · emotionally heavy · 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) · seriesDry wit · heartwarming · comfort watch · 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)Wholesome humor · whimsical · family watch · mildly scary · 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) · seriesRomantic · date night · 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)Wholesome humor · epic · family watch · strong violence · 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) · seriesIntimate · full attention · 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) · seriesWholesome humor · nostalgic · family watch · measured · TV-GA young Philadelphian navigates wholesome life lessons and coming-of-age events in this heartwarming, measured comedy.Disney+
55. 55Moonlight (2016)Intimate · full attention · emotionally devastating · measured · RA young man navigates intimate, gritty chapters of life, earnestly seeking himself amidst love's ecstasy and pain.Netflix · The Roku Channel · YouTube (free)
56. 56Boyhood (2014)Intimate · comfort watch · emotionally heavy · measured · RAn intimate, earnest drama watches a boy's life unfold, capturing twelve years of melancholy and nostalgic growth.AMC+ · Kanopy · The Roku Channel
57. 57Billy Elliot (2000)Wholesome humor · uplifting · family watch · emotionally heavy · RAmidst a gritty mining strike, a young boy discovers heartwarming joy and uplifting purpose through dance.
58. 58Atypical (2017) · seriesWholesome humor · earnest · comfort watch · emotionally heavy · TV-14An earnest, heartwarming journey of self-discovery unfolds as an autistic teen upends his family.Netflix
59. 59The Graduate (1967)Dry wit · melancholy · full attention · emotionally heavy · PGA young man's melancholy affair with an older woman becomes a witty, dark satire of suburban ennui.Kanopy · The Roku Channel · Plex
60. 60Boogie Nights (1997)Dark satire · melancholy · full attention · strong violence · RA measured descent into the gritty, atmospheric melancholy of a fading era's dark satire.Criterion · Plex
61. 61Superbad (2007)Raunchy humor · campy · date night · brisk · RTwo co-dependent seniors navigate a raunchy, cringe-filled night as their whimsical party plans go hilariously awry.Paramount+75
62. 62Mean Girls (2004)Dry wit · satirical · date night · brisk · PG-13A new girl navigates high school's cutthroat social scene with sharp wit and satirical humor.Paramount+ · Kanopy · YouTube (free)
63. 63My First First Love (2019) · seriesCozy · date night · measured · TV-PGYoung friends navigate first loves and new living arrangements, finding warmth and connection in shared experiences.Netflix
64. 64Lady Bird (2017)Dry wit · heartwarming · comfort watch · emotionally heavy · RA witty and earnest coming-of-age story unfolds as a strong-willed teen navigates family and future.Max · YouTube (free)
65. 65The Fabelmans (2022)Heartwarming · comfort watch · emotionally heavy · measured · PG-13A young man's filmmaking dream blossoms amidst family turmoil, finding bittersweet truth through the lens.Peacock · Fandango at Home (free)
66. 66The Jungle Book (1967)Wholesome humor · whimsical · family watch · mildly scary · GA boy's journey to a village becomes a heartwarming, whimsical adventure filled with jazzy animals and true friendship.Disney+
67. 67Malena (2000)Melancholy · late-night trip · emotionally heavy · measured · RA lonely woman's beauty becomes a curse, seen through the intimate, yearning eyes of a young boy.Kanopy · Hoopla
68. 68Dirty Dancing (1987)Romantic · date night · measured · PG-13A young woman’s summer of unexpected romance unfolds through dance at a Catskills resort.Pluto TV
69. 69Aftersun (2022)Melancholy · full attention · emotionally devastating · a slow burn · RA daughter revisits sun-drenched memories of a father, piecing together his hidden melancholy from lingering fragments.
70. 70Turning Red (2022)Wholesome humor · whimsical · family watch · emotionally heavy · PGA thirteen-year-old girl navigates adolescence and a magical family secret with whimsical, brisk energy.Disney+
71. 71Almost Famous (2000)Dry wit · nostalgic · comfort watch · emotionally heavy · RA 15-year-old music fan finds heartwarming, witty adventure touring with a 70s rock band.Paramount+ · Kanopy · Hoopla
72. 72Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)Dry wit · whimsical · comfort watch · 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
73. 73Boyz n the Hood (1991)Gritty · full attention · brutal violence · emotionally devastating · RA father tries to guide his son toward decency amidst the bleak, gritty reality of South Central LA.Starz
74. 74Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015)Dry wit · melancholy · date night · emotionally heavy · PG-13A high school senior’s anonymous world unravels while making bizarre films and befriending a classmate with leukemia.
75. 75Love and Monsters (2020)Wholesome humor · whimsical · family watch · strong violence · PG-13A sheltered man braves a monster-filled world for love, finding wholesome humor and uplifting adventure.Paramount+
76. 76Juno (2007)Dry wit · whimsical · date night · measured · PG-13A witty and earnest teenager navigates an unexpected pregnancy with heartwarming, whimsical charm and measured grace.
77. 77Where the Crawdads Sing (2022)Melancholy · date night · emotionally heavy · measured · PG-13A marsh girl's isolated life turns suspenseful as romance and melancholy intertwine with a murder investigation.Hulu
78. 78The Florida Project (2017)Intimate · full attention · emotionally devastating · measured · RChildhood wonder collides with adult struggles, painting a bittersweet portrait of a forgotten summer.Plex
79. 79Empire of the Sun (1987)Melancholy · late-night trip · emotionally heavy · measured · PGA privileged boy's spirit endures the bleakness of war-torn Shanghai with earnest, atmospheric melancholy.
80. 80Rushmore (1998)Dry wit · whimsical · comfort watch · measured · RA quirky teenager’s crush on his teacher sparks a whimsical, dryly funny rivalry with an unlikely friend.Hoopla
81. 81Clueless (1995)Dry wit · whimsical · date night · brisk · PG-13A whimsical, brisk comedy follows a shallow Beverly Hills teen playing matchmaker with witty, wholesome charm.Paramount+ · Starz · Hoopla
82. 82mid90s (2018)Dry wit · gritty · full attention · emotionally heavy · RA lonely 13-year-old finds gritty, nostalgic camaraderie among skaters in 90s Los Angeles.Max
83. 83Rebel Without a Cause (1955)Melancholy · full attention · strong violence · emotionally devastating · 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)Melancholy · full attention · emotionally heavy · measured · RAn awkward teen in 1980s Naples finds bittersweet liberation after a soccer legend saves his life.Netflix
85. 85Big (1988)Wholesome humor · whimsical · date night · 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) · seriesDry wit · darkly comic · comfort watch · brisk · TV-MAPuberty's horrors and wonders upend teenage friends in this brisk, darkly-comic animated series.Netflix
87. 87Harold and Maude (1971)Dry wit · whimsical · late-night trip · emotionally heavy · 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)Intimate · date night · emotionally devastating · measured · NC-17An intimate romance unfolds with earnest melancholy as a young woman discovers desire and self-acceptance.AMC+ · Kanopy · The Roku Channel
89. 89The Fox and the Hound (1981)Heartwarming · family watch · emotionally heavy · measured · GA fox and a hound navigate a friendship tested by nature's expectations, leading to inevitable melancholy.Disney+
90. 90Bambi (1942)Wholesome humor · melancholy · family watch · mildly scary · GA young deer navigates the forest's gentle rhythms and sudden sorrows, discovering life's bittersweet beauty.Disney+
91. 91Y Tu Mamá También (2001)Intimate · date night · emotionally heavy · measured · NRTwo teenage boys and an older woman embark on a road trip, exploring life, friendship, and intimacy.
92. 92The Edge of Seventeen (2016)Dry wit · heartwarming · comfort watch · emotionally heavy · RWitty and cringe-worthy, a high schooler navigates shifting friendships and the awkward earnestness of growing up.Prime Video
93. 93Dazed and Confused (1993)Dry wit · nostalgic · comfort watch · measured · RTexas teens navigate the last day of school in 1976, finding wholesome humor and wistful freedom.
94. 94Submarine (2011)Dry wit · melancholy · late-night trip · emotionally heavy · 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)Melancholy · late-night trip · 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)Dry wit · whimsical · date night · emotionally heavy · 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)Wholesome humor · whimsical · family watch · measured · GWholesome musical numbers and whimsical adventure unfold as villainous offspring find their own paths to redemption.Disney+ · Hulu
98. 98Chronicle (2012)Tense · 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)Dry wit · campy · date night · brisk · PG-13A clever high schooler embraces scandalous rumors, finding humor and chaos in her suddenly public life.Paramount+
100. 100Mud (2013)Gritty · full attention · strong violence · emotionally heavy · PG-13Two teenage boys help a gritty fugitive reunite with his lover while escaping an avenging, armed family.Kanopy · Hoopla · Tubi

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