The Best Coming of Age Movies Ever
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Updated 5/23/2011 – I thought it was time to update my best coming of age movie list. I recently rented a great movie that I think fits perfectly into this category. The movie is called “That’s What I Am” released in 2011. The story centers around a 12 year old boy and the events that surround his life and his friends lives at school. It stars Ed Harris and deals with many subjects important to junior high kids in 1965 but really explores the problem of bullying. A great Sunday afternoon renter.
I’m also looking forward to this summer’s “Super 8″. A movie set in the summer of 1979. It looks to be more than a coming of age film because of the elements of the unknown creatures, sci-fi and Area 51. It follows the lives of a group of young friends in a small town in Ohio that discover a secret while using their Super 8 camera. Read more about it here. Update: I did not find “Super 8″ in the same league as these others as far as coming of age movies.
(Original post May 2009) -
I love coming of age movies! They remind me so much of being twelve, growing up in the 70′s. I had a very close group of friends that would find adventure in everything we did, much like the characters in “Stand By Me” and “Now and Then”.
We spent almost every day together in the summer and would skip dinner just so we could play late into the night. We were always outside running around the neighborhood playing games and tricking neighbors non-stop.
I’ve always wanted to write a book based on our summers of fun with a few added twists and turns. The movies listed below are the closest examples of the good times we had as youngsters. I know there are many more coming of age movies but these top my list and have bits and pieces that remind me of days gone by. They are in no particular order. Enjoy and if you’ve missed any of these, they would make great weekend rentals…
My Top 10 Coming of Age Movies
1. Stand By Me -
4 boys set off on a journey to see a dead body
2. The Goonies -
on the goofier side, a group of kids hunts for treasure
3. Now and Then -
a favorite that chronicles the lives of 4 girls
4. Pretty in Pink -
more of a teen movie about fitting in
5. Dead Poet’s Society -
a group of boys learn about life at school
6. St. Elmo’s Fire -
friends trying to make it through life’s struggles
7. October Sky -
a group of kids beat the odds at building rockets
8. Breakfast Club -
a group of kids learn about each other in detention
9. My Girl -
a cute movie about a girl coping with growing up
10. American Graffiti -
a classic about high school friends starting their lives
This list has gotten so popular I’ve decided to add another 10 movies. If you have not seen the first 10 watch those first and then check these out. Again these are in no particular order.
11. Sixteen Candles
12. The Sandlot
13. The Outsiders
14. Almost Famous
15. Dirty Dancing
16. Breaking Away
17. School Ties
18. Summer of ’42
19. That’s What I Am
20. The Man in the Moon
Okay, I’ve had to add even more after seeing a few more movies the second and third time around…
21. 13 Going On 30 (A great little girl in big body movie)
22. My Dog Skip
23. White Squall
24. Second Hand Lions
25. Flipped
26. Mona Lisa Smile
Love these types of lists!br /br /I definitely 100% agree with your #1 choice. I love Stand By Me on so many different levels. It is one of my all time favorites.br /br /Some of your others definitely deserve to be on a list, but not sure about the order for me. Might have to give it a little more thought and publish my own list. Mine would probably only take into consideration 80s movies (because that is what I tend to do), but there are some from other decades that deserve mentioning.
Hey Old School,br /br /I forgot to mention that these were in no particular order. I just added that blurb.br /br /Most of these have a scene, story or character that relates almost directly to my growing up and that is why they made my list.br /br /Let me know when you post yours!
My son’s going to be 12 soon and we’ve started renting some of the old movies, like The Goonies, which he liked alot. Next is Stand By Me.br /br /My 14 year-old daughter had Saturday detention a couple of weeks ago (for something pretty minor). My husband and I got a good chuckle out of referring to her Breakfast Club day at school. And I even did the dance!br /br /Can’t wait til your book comes out!
This is a good list, “The Sandlot” was another one.
I love coming of age movies as well . Have been wanting to put in writing my own experiences – just like you said – and who knows may be someday I will. I think that everyone is able to find a bit from his own childhood in the coming of age films which is why many people like watching them. br /br /Found some titles I did not know about in your list – but yeaa Stand by me is a real classic . br /br /Feel free to check my blog – where you will find many reviews of coming of age flicks.br /br /Greetings ,br /SkyKid
Less than Zero….br /br /PeggY Sue Got Married….br /br /Valley Girl….br /br /Gross Pointe Blank
Forgot Onebr /br /The Hollywood Knights…
Loved The Hollywood Knights!
what about say anything?Or am i just dumb and mussed it? cuz otherwise SERIOUSLY!!?!
this movie list is awesome!
im sixteen and im making it my goal to watch every single one
thanks
Awesome!