The 55+ Best Rated-R Coming of Age Movies

Ranker Film
Updated September 15, 2023 3.7K votes 201 voters 30.4K views
Over 200 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The 55+ Best Rated-R Coming of Age Movies
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Here is a list of R-rated coming of age movies, ranked from best to worst with movie trailers when available. This list takes the best R-rated coming of age movies and pits them against each other to see once and for all what the greatest R-rated coming of age movie of all time is. This list of popular R-rated coming of age movies includes information like who directed the film, when it was released and which actors starred in the movie. If you think the top R-rated coming of age movie isn't as high as it should be then be sure to vote it up so it can take its rightful place among the other great R-rated coming of age films on this list. If you're trying to find a specific R-rated coming of age film you can search this list and filter to find what you're looking for.

This is a list that features movies like The Lost Boys and Stand by Me.

If you're trying to find out "What are the best R-Rated coming of age movies?" and "What are the most famous R-rated coming of age movies?" then this list is the perfect resource for you.

Use this list if you're looking for some new coming of age movies that are rated R. Between Netflix, Hulu and other services there are thousands of great coming of age movies rated R, so get out there and start watching.

Did you know that Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese have both directed Coming of age R movies?

Most divisive: Adventureland
Ranked by
  • Stand by Me
    1

    Stand by Me

    Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman
    64 votes
    • Released: 1986
    • Directed by: Rob Reiner
    In the engaging film Stand by Me, four young boys - Gordie Lachance (Wil Wheaton), Chris Chambers (River Phoenix), Teddy Duchamp (Corey Feldman), and Vern Tessio (Jerry O'Connell) - embark on an unforgettable quest. Their aim? To locate a missing teenager's body somewhere in the woods of Oregon. Directed by Rob Reiner, this coming-of-age drama is based on Stephen King's novella The Body. It's a gripping tale about friendship, adventure, and the harsh realities of growing up. The film, ripe with poignant performances and a captivating storyline, won critical acclaim upon its release in 1986.

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  • The Breakfast Club
    2

    The Breakfast Club

    Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson
    59 votes
    • Released: 1985
    • Directed by: John Hughes
    In the film The Breakfast Club, five high school students, each representing a different stereotype, meet in detention. There's the brainy Brian Johnson (Anthony Michael Hall), the athletic Andrew Clark (Emilio Estevez), the rebel John Bender (Judd Nelson), the princess Claire Standish (Molly Ringwald), and the outcast Allison Reynolds (Ally Sheedy). As they spend a Saturday together under supervision of the strict assistant principal Richard Vernon (Paul Gleason), they gradually open up to one another, revealing their deeper selves beneath their public personas. This 1985 coming-of-age comedy-drama directed by John Hughes explores themes of identity, peer pressure, and adolescence within its 97-minute runtime. To this day, it remains a classic in teen cinema.

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  • Fast Times at Ridgemont High
    3

    Fast Times at Ridgemont High

    Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold
    43 votes
    • Released: 1982
    • Directed by: Amy Heckerling
    In the iconic 80s coming-of-age film, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, teenage life is under the microscope. Amidst Southern California's sun-soaked malls and high schools, we follow a group of students as they navigate adolescent adventures. Our key characters include Stacy Hamilton (Jennifer Jason Leigh), a young girl grappling with her burgeoning sexuality, her best friend Linda Barrett (Phoebe Cates), Mark Ratner (Brian Backer) the shy novice in love, and Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn), the perennial surfer dude. Directed by Amy Heckerling, this movie weaves together tales of love, loss, and teen angst against a backdrop of carefree adolescence and rock 'n' roll.

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  • Girl, Interrupted
    4

    Girl, Interrupted

    Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, Clea Duvall
    36 votes
    • Released: 1999
    • Directed by: James Mangold
    In the drama Girl, Interrupted, Susanna Kaysen (Winona Ryder) finds herself in a 1960s psychiatric hospital after a failed suicide attempt. Among the institution's eclectic mix of patients is sociopath Lisa Rowe (Angelina Jolie), who proves to be both an intimidating presence and an unlikely friend. As Susanna navigates her turbulent journey towards self-discovery, she encounters complex characters battling their own demons. The film, directed by James Mangold, earned Angelina Jolie an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, underscoring the powerful performances and compelling narrative that make Girl, Interrupted an engaging watch.

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  • The Lost Boys
    5

    The Lost Boys

    Jason Patric, Corey Haim, Dianne Wiest
    33 votes
    • Released: 1987
    • Directed by: Joel Schumacher
    In The Lost Boys, the Emerson family, comprising of recently divorced Lucy (Dianne Wiest) and her two sons, Michael (Jason Patric) and Sam (Corey Haim), relocate to the seemingly tranquil town of Santa Carla. They soon find themselves caught in a sinister undercurrent when Michael is lured into a gang led by the charismatic David (Kiefer Sutherland), who are more than they appear: vampires. As Michael begins transforming, it's up to Sam and two quirky vampire hunters, the Frog brothers (Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander), to save him and their town from these night-time predators. A cult classic, this horror-comedy redefined the vampire genre with its unique blend of thrills and laughs.

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  • Almost Famous
    6

    Almost Famous

    Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson
    47 votes
    • Released: 2000
    • Directed by: Cameron Crowe
    Almost Famous is a semi-autobiographical comedy-drama directed by Cameron Crowe. It follows the journey of 15-year-old William Miller (Patrick Fugit), an aspiring rock journalist who gets his big break when he lands an assignment for Rolling Stone magazine. He goes on tour with emerging band Stillwater, led by charismatic frontman Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup) and experiences the highs and lows of the '70s rock scene. The film won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and features a breakout performance from Kate Hudson as groupie-with-a-heart-of-gold, Penny Lane.

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