Originally by Ranker FilmList RulesVote for the greatest coming of age films, regardless of how popular or successful they were at the box office.
For this list, we're ranking the best coming of age movies of all time, with the help of your votes. The coming of age films list is special in the sense that everyone on the planet can relate to these movies. They tell stories of awkward teenagers transitioning from children into adults, and the journey is almost always familiar to grown men and women who have already been through it themselves. Many of the top coming of age movies were released in the '80s and '90s, including Dazed and Confused, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles and Fast Times at Ridgemont High. A good example of a newer coming of age film is Superbad, the movie that launched the careers of Michael Cena and Jonah Hill.
Don't be afraid to add one of your favorites to this coming of age movies list if it's missing. Try not to downvote the films you haven't seen, as we want this list to be as accurate as possible.
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- 1
492159The Breakfast Club
Judd Nelson, Molly RingwaldReleased: 1985
Directed by: John Hughes
The Breakfast Club is a 1985 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film written, produced, and... more on Wikipedia
- 2
49793Stand 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... more on Wikipedia - 3
![Ferris Bueller's Day Off is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Best Coming of Age Movies]()
356125Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Charlie Sheen, Matthew BroderickReleased: 1986
Directed by: John Hughes
Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a 1986 American comedy film written, produced and directed by John... more on Wikipedia - 4
![Dead Poets Society is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Best Coming of Age Movies]()
27981Dead 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... more on Wikipedia - 5
![Dazed and Confused is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Best Coming of Age Movies]()
25085Dazed and Confused
Ben Affleck, Milla JovovichReleased: 1993
Directed by: Richard Linklater
Dazed and Confused is a 1993 coming of age comedy film written and directed by Richard... more on Wikipedia - 6
![The Sandlot is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Best Coming of Age Movies]()
27498The Sandlot
James Earl Jones, Denis LearyReleased: 1993
Directed by: David M. Evans
The Sandlot, also known as The Sandlot Kids, is a 1993 American coming-of-age film Comedy... more on Wikipedia - 722174
Good Will Hunting
Ben Affleck, Robin WilliamsReleased: 1997
Directed by: Gus Van Sant
Good Will Hunting is a 1997 American drama film directed by Gus Van Sant, and starring Matt... more on Wikipedia - 8
![Fast Times at Ridgemont High is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Best Coming of Age Movies]()
19971Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Nicolas Cage, Sean PennReleased: 1982
Directed by: Amy Heckerling
Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a 1982 American coming-of-age teen comedy film written by... more on Wikipedia - 9
![Superbad is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Best Coming of Age Movies]()
227100Superbad
Emma Stone, Seth RogenReleased: 2007
Directed by: Greg Mottola
Superbad is a 2007 American teen comedy film directed by Greg Mottola and starring Jonah Hill... more on Wikipedia - 10
![Sixteen Candles is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Best Coming of Age Movies]()
23298Sixteen Candles
John Cusack, Molly RingwaldReleased: 1984
Directed by: John Hughes
Sixteen Candles is a 1984 American coming-of-age comedy film starring Molly Ringwald, Michael... more on Wikipedia - 11
![My Girl is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Best Coming of Age Movies]()
19893My 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... more on Wikipedia - 12
![Juno is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Best Coming of Age Movies]()
21496Juno
Jennifer Garner, Ellen PageReleased: 2007
Directed by: Jason Reitman
Juno is a 2007 Canadian-American comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman and written by... more on Wikipedia - 13
![American Graffiti is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Best Coming of Age Movies]()
16269American Graffiti
Harrison Ford, Ron HowardReleased: 1973
Directed by: George Lucas
American Graffiti is a 1973 American coming of age comedy-drama film directed and co-written... more on Wikipedia - 14
![Almost Famous is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Best Coming of Age Movies]()
17055Almost 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... more on Wikipedia - 15
![Big is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Best Coming of Age Movies]()
18187Big
Tom Hanks, Jon LovitzReleased: 1988
Directed by: Penny Marshall
Big is a 1988 American fantasy comedy film directed by Penny Marshall, and stars Tom Hanks as... more on Wikipedia - 16
![The Karate Kid is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Best Coming of Age Movies]()
206113The 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.... more on Wikipedia - 1715419
The Goonies
Corey Feldman, Josh BrolinReleased: 1985
Directed by: Richard Donner
The Goonies is a 1985 American adventure comedy film directed by Richard Donner. The... more on Wikipedia - 18
![Rebel Without a Cause is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Best Coming of Age Movies]()
11665Rebel 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,... more on Wikipedia - 19
![Mean Girls is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Best Coming of Age Movies]()
208102Mean Girls
Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdamsReleased: 2004
Directed by: Mark Waters
Mean Girls is a 2004 American teen comedy film. Mark Waters directed, and Tina Fey wrote the... more on Wikipedia - 20
![Clueless is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Best Coming of Age Movies]()
24863Clueless
Alicia Silverstone, Brittany MurphyReleased: 1995
Directed by: Amy Heckerling
Clueless is a 1995 American comedy film loosely based on Jane Austen's 1815 novel Emma. It... more on Wikipedia - 21
![The Outsiders is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Best Coming of Age Movies]()
21271The 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... more on Wikipedia - 22
![Pretty in Pink is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Best Coming of Age Movies]()
16080Pretty in Pink
James Spader, Gina GershonReleased: 1986
Directed by: Howard Deutch
Pretty in Pink is a 1986 American romantic comedy-drama film about love and social cliques in... more on Wikipedia - 23
![Boyz n the Hood is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Best Coming of Age Movies]()
10445Boyz n the Hood
Ice Cube, Angela BassettReleased: 1991
Directed by: John Singleton
Boyz n the Hood is a 1991 American hood drama film directed by John Singleton. Three young men... more on Wikipedia - 24
![Heathers is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Best Coming of Age Movies]()
12261Heathers
Winona Ryder, Shannen DohertyReleased: 1988
Directed by: Michael Lehmann
Heathers is a 1988 comedy, drama film written by Daniel Waters and directed by Michael... more on Wikipedia - 25
![Napoleon Dynamite is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Best Coming of Age Movies]()
12680Napoleon Dynamite
Haylie Duff, Jon HederReleased: 2004
Directed by: Jared Hess
Napoleon Dynamite is a 2004 American independent art-house comedy film written by Jared and... more on Wikipedia
