The best coming of age drama movies are capable of truly touching your heart. These films capture the complicated, emotional moments that define growing up. Some of the top examples, like Almost Famous and The Last Picture Show, have earned widespread acclaim for their insight on the subject. Serious coming of age movies have the power to stay with audience members for years, as well as to inspire repeat viewings. Fans form an intense personal connection to them.
Here's your chance to vote for the greatest coming of age drama movies, or to find some good examples that you might have missed. If you don't see a personal favorite on this list of coming of age drama films, please add it so that other users can weigh in.
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4314Call Me by Your Name
Armie Hammer, Timothee ChalametReleased: 2017
Directed by: Luca Guadagnino
Call Me by Your Name is a 2017 Italian-American romantic coming-of-age drama film directed by... more2
368Stand by Me
Kiefer Sutherland, Corey FeldmanReleased: 1986
Directed by: Rob Reiner
Stand by Me is a 1986 American coming of age comedy-drama adventure film directed by Rob... more3
3213The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Emma Watson, Nina DobrevReleased: 2012
Directed by: Stephen Chbosky
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a 2012 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film, and an... more4
224The Lost Boys
Kiefer Sutherland, Corey FeldmanReleased: 1987
Directed by: Joel Schumacher
The Lost Boys is a 1987 American teen horror film starring Jason Patric, Corey Haim, Kiefer... more5
236To Kill a Mockingbird
Robert Duvall, Gregory PeckReleased: 1962
Directed by: Robert Mulligan
To Kill a Mockingbird is a 1962 American drama film directed by Robert Mulligan. The... more6
215The Last Picture Show
Jeff Bridges, Cybill ShepherdReleased: 1971
Directed by: Peter Bogdanovich
The Last Picture Show is a 1971 American drama film directed by Peter Bogdanovich, adapted... more7
194A Bronx Tale
Robert De Niro, Joe PesciReleased: 1993
Directed by: Robert De Niro
A Bronx Tale is a 1993 American drama film set in the Bronx during the turbulent era of the... more8
2310The Outsiders
Tom Cruise, Nicolas CageReleased: 1983
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
The Outsiders is a 1983 American drama film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, an adaptation of... more9
2311Dead Poets Society
Robin Williams, Ethan HawkeReleased: 1989
Directed by: Peter Weir
Dead Poets Society is a 1989 American drama film written by Tom Schulman, directed by Peter... more10
2210The Karate Kid
Elisabeth Shue, Ralph MacchioReleased: 1984
Directed by: John G. Avildsen
The Karate Kid is a 1984 American martial arts romantic drama film directed by John G.... more11
209Footloose
Sarah Jessica Parker, Kevin BaconReleased: 1984
Directed by: Herbert Ross
Footloose is a 1984 American musical-drama directed by Herbert Ross. It tells the story of Ren... more12
175Now and Then
Demi Moore, Christina RicciReleased: 1995
Directed by: Lesli Linka Glatter
Now and Then is a 1995 American coming-of-age film directed by Lesli Linka Glatter and... more13
198Moonlight
Trevante Rhodes, André HollandReleased: 2016
Directed by: Barry Jenkins
Moonlight is a 2016 American coming-of-age drama film directed by Barry Jenkins, based on... more14
2010My Girl
Jamie Lee Curtis, Macaulay CulkinReleased: 1991
Directed by: Howard Zieff
My Girl is a 1991 American comedy-drama film directed by Howard Zieff and written by Laurice... more15
188Rebel Without a Cause
Natalie Wood, James DeanReleased: 1955
Directed by: Nicholas Ray
Rebel Without a Cause is a 1955 American drama film about emotionally confused suburban,... more16
2213The Graduate
Dustin Hoffman, Anne BancroftReleased: 1967
Directed by: Mike Nichols
The Graduate is a 1967 American comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols. It is based on the... more17
1910Dirty Dancing
Patrick Swayze, Jennifer GreyReleased: 1987
Directed by: Emile Ardolino
Dirty Dancing is a 1987 American romantic drama film. Written by Eleanor Bergstein and... more18
156Almost Famous
Zooey Deschanel, Kate HudsonReleased: 2000
Directed by: Cameron Crowe
Almost Famous is a 2000 comedy-drama film written and directed by Cameron Crowe and starring... more19
134Y Tu Mamá También
Gael García Bernal, Diego LunaReleased: 2002
Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
Y Tu Mamá También is a 2002 Mexican drama film directed by Alfonso Cuarón and co-written by... more20
115Scent of a Woman
Al Pacino, Philip Seymour HoffmanReleased: 1992
Directed by: Martin Brest
Scent of a Woman is a 1992 American drama directed and produced by Martin Brest that tells the... more21
1611The Spectacular Now
Shailene Woodley, Mary Elizabeth WinsteadReleased: 2013
Directed by: James Ponsoldt
The Spectacular Now is a 2013 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by James Ponsoldt,... more22
116Rumble Fish
Nicolas Cage, Mickey RourkeReleased: 1983
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Rumble Fish is an American 1983 drama film directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It is based on... more23
22Them That Follow
Olivia Colman, Kaitlyn DeverReleased: 2019
Directed by: Britt Poulton, Dan Madison Savage
Them That Follow is a 2019 American thriller film directed by Britt Poulton and Dan Madison... more24
105St. Elmo's Fire
Demi Moore, Rob LoweReleased: 1985
Directed by: Joel Schumacher
St. Elmo's Fire is a 1985 American coming-of-age film directed by Joel Schumacher. The film,... more25
11Share
Rhianne Barreto, Charlie PlummerReleased: 2019
Directed by: Pippa Bianco
Share is a 2019 drama film, written and directed by Pippa Bianco, based upon Bianco's short... more
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