Coming-of-age movies — especially Netflix coming-of-age movies — get a bad rap. Often accused of lacking substance, many aren't willing to give them the time of day, and those who've stumbled upon the more "questionable" ones may never again. But Netflix's library is large, and the number of good coming-of-age movies is even larger.
Forget The Kissing Booth, and Tall Girl and add these five titles to your watch list. From Stand By Me to Rocks, these are the critically-acclaimed coming-of-age movies that awoke the child in viewers... or else made them glad their high school days were over.
Stand By Me (1986)
Directed by Rob Reiner and based on the 1982 novella The Body by Stephen King, Stand By Me is a classic 80s movie full of heart and adventure. The movie centers on writer Gordie LaChance (Will Wheaton) who recounts the time when, as a young boy in 1959, he and his three friends Chris (River Phoenix), Teddy (Corey Feldman), and Vern (Jerry O'Connell) journeyed to find the body of a missing boy and had their plan of becoming local heroes complicated by bully "Ace" Merrill (Kiefer Sutherland).
Hilarious at times, Stand By Me isn't afraid to tackle "serious" topics either. Death is a big theme in the movie as is dysfunctional parental relationships; Gordie's father is not supportive of his writing, Teddy's father is mentally ill, and Chris's father is violently abusive. The boys bond over this and, in the absence of a decent father figure, become each other's role models. Widely successful, it was nominated for two Academy Awards and two Golden Globes and stands up as one of the best movies about boyhood.
The Edge Of Seventeen (2016)
The Edge of Seventeen is a coming-of-age dramedy written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig in her directorial debut. It follows awkward teenager Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld) and her childhood best friend Krista (Haley Lu Richardson) as they navigate high school together. When Nadine discovers Krista in bed with her older, popular, brother Darian (Blake Jenner) it puts a wedge in their friendship that only widens when the two lovebirds become "official." Cutting off Krista and Darian, and without a parent to confide in — her mother doesn't understand, and her father is dead — Nadine loses her way and finds emotional support in the cynical and sarcastic Mr. Bruner (Woody Harrelson).
Though its synopsis reads a little generic, the movie is far from it. Not like a typical coming-of-age comedy, The Edge of Seventeen is realistic and surprisingly moving. This is mostly due to Steinfeld's portrayal of Nadine as complicated and flawed, as teenage girls are. Generally likeable, Nadine is truly awful at times and Steinfeld does a great job at straddling these two personalities. Woody Harrelson is equally brilliant as her older, reluctant, guide who offers funny one-liners in abundance.
The Florida Project (2017)
The Florida Project is a grittier coming-of-age movie directed by Sean Baker and featuring a cast of mostly first-time actors. It follows six-year-old Moonee (Brooklynn Prince) who lives with her young, single, mother Halley (Bria Vinaite) in a budget motel not far from Disney World. Acclaimed actor Willem Dafoe stars as Bobby, the manager of the motel (unsuitably named Magic Castle) who looks out for his residents and their kids. Bobby shows particular concern for Halley who, in order to pay rent on her room, undertakes a series of dangerous jobs.
For a movie that is essentially about poverty, Baker does a good job of making viewers empathize with his characters without ever pitying them. If anything, audiences envy Moonee's embrace of life. Though much of The Florida Project depicts Halley's struggles, Moonee is the beating heart of the movie, and it is through her eyes (and Alexis Zabe's fantastic cinematography) that audiences view Baker's otherwise depressing world as one of vibrancy, wonder, and endless adventure.
Lady Bird (2017)
Written and directed by Greta Gerwig in her directorial debut, Lady Bird follows offbeat teenager Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) who has a precarious relationship with her hometown, Sacramento, and mother Marion (Laurie Metcalf). In her senior year at an all-girls Catholic high school, Lady Bird falls in with a new crowd of popular kids and must tackle love and heartbreak with and without her best friend Julie (Beanie Feldstein) by her side.
Similar to The Edge of Seventeen in ways, Lady Bird is laugh-out-loud funny and quite unlike other coming-of-age movies on Netflix. As with the former, its protagonist is multidimensional, and romance only plays a small part in the character's development. And while Lady Bird might toy with COA stereotypes — with Odeya Rush playing the rich and bratty popular girl and Timothée Chalamet playing the broody indie kid — it does so for comedic effect. Gerwig isn't afraid to call bullsh*t on Hollywood narratives, and her movie is successful because of it.
Rocks (2019)
Rocks is a British coming-of-age drama directed by Sarah Gavron and featuring a cast of non-professional actors. Set in Hackney, London, it follows "Rocks" (Bukky Bakray) a teenage girl who is forced to care for her younger brother Emmanuel (D'angelou Osei Kissiedu) after their mentally ill mother abandons them. Poor, and with social services on their back, Rocks is fortunate to have a solid group of school friends who will get her through.
Rocks is a raw and unflinching portrait of British teenagers that pays testament to the power of sisterhood. Like The Florida Project, it has a documentary-like feel to it, and it's hard to believe a script was used — the interactions between the girls are so natural and familiar. As with the former, Rocks explores life on the breadline, yet it is equally hopeful; though Rocks is financially poor, she is rich in friends. And the movie celebrates this wholeheartedly.