The hijinx of troubled teens are rough to deal with, unless you are watching them unfold on the big screen. The top juvenile delinquent movies feature characters dealing with drug use, crime and rebelling against authority. This is a list of rebellious teen movies featuring everything from Heathers to Less Than Zero to City of God.
What movies will you find on this list of the best movies about juvenile delinquency? Fans of the classics might rank Rebel Without a Cause at the very top. James Dean became the iconic misunderstood teen in this 1955 classic. A Clockwork Orange, with its unforgettable portrayals of juvenile "ultra-violence" and teen rebellion, also appears on this trouble teen movies list. Kids shocked movie-goers with its content when it was released in 1995. Other films that appear on this roundup of the best juvenile delinquent movies include Bully, The Outsiders, and Boyz n the Hood.
Which teenage rebellion movies deserve the top spot on this list? Decide by giving your favorites a thumbs up and get in on the conversation in the comments section.
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11119The 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... more2
5425Boyz 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... more3
5528Rebel 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,... more4
6034Kids
Rosario Dawson, Chloë SevignyReleased: 1995
Directed by: Larry Clark
Kids is a 1995 American drama film written by Harmony Korine and directed by Larry Clark. It... more5
5024A Clockwork Orange
Malcolm McDowell, Warren ClarkeReleased: 1971
Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
A Clockwork Orange is a 1971 dystopian crime film adapted, produced, and directed by Stanley... more6
5333Heathers
Winona Ryder, Shannen DohertyReleased: 1988
Directed by: Michael Lehmann
Heathers is a 1988 comedy, drama film written by Daniel Waters and directed by Michael... more7
4430Thirteen
Vanessa Hudgens, Evan Rachel WoodReleased: 2003
Directed by: Catherine Hardwicke
Thirteen is a 2003 semi-autobiographical American drama film directed by Catherine Hardwicke,... more8
3219Rumble 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... more9
3222Over the Edge
Matt Dillon, Vincent SpanoReleased: 1979
Directed by: Jonathan Kaplan
Over the Edge is a coming-of-age drama film directed by Jonathan Kaplan released in May 1979.... more10
3429West Side Story
Natalie Wood, Rita MorenoReleased: 1961
Directed by: Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise
West Side Story is a 1961 American romantic musical drama film directed by Robert Wise and... more11
2620Menace II Society
Samuel L. Jackson, Jada Pinkett SmithReleased: 1993
Directed by: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes
Menace II Society is a 1993 drama/hood film and the directorial debut of twin brothers Allen... more12
2116Mid90s
Sunny Suljic, Lucas HedgesReleased: 2018
Directed by: Jonah Hill
Mid90s is a 2018 American comedy drama film directed by Jonah Hill. A thirteen-year-old (Sunny... more13
1920Lolita
Christopher Lee, Peter SellersReleased: 1962
Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
Lolita is a 1962 comedy-drama film directed by Stanley Kubrick based on the novel of the same... more14
2325Sleepers
Brad Pitt, Robert De NiroReleased: 1996
Directed by: Barry Levinson
Sleepers is a 1996 American legal drama film written, produced, and directed by Barry... more15
1921Less Than Zero
Brad Pitt, Robert Downey Jr.Released: 1987
Directed by: Marek Kanievska
Less Than Zero is a 1987 American drama film very loosely based on Bret Easton Ellis' novel of... more16
2023Alpha Dog
Olivia Wilde, Amanda SeyfriedReleased: 2006
Directed by: Nick Cassavetes
Alpha Dog is a 2006 American crime drama film written and directed by Nick Cassavetes, first... more17
1820Heavenly Creatures
Kate Winslet, Peter JacksonReleased: 1994
Directed by: Peter Jackson
Heavenly Creatures is a 1994 New Zealand drama film directed by Peter Jackson, from a... more18
1821Reefer Madness
Dave O'Brien, Carleton YoungReleased: 1936
Directed by: Louis J. Gasnier
Reefer Madness is a 1936–1939 American propaganda exploitation drama film revolving around the... more19
1010Pump Up the Volume
Christian Slater, Seth GreenReleased: 1990
Directed by: Allan Moyle
Pump Up the Volume is a 1990 comedy-drama film written and directed by Allan Moyle and... more20
1419According to Greta
Hilary Duff, Ellen BurstynReleased: 2009
Directed by: Nancy Bardawil
According to Greta is a 2009 American independent drama film directed by Nancy Bardawil.... more21
1724City of God
Alice Braga, Seu JorgeReleased: 2002
Directed by: Fernando Meirelles
City of God is a 2002 Brazilian crime drama film directed by Fernando Meirelles and... more22
1521The Bad Seed
Shelley Fabares, Patty McCormackReleased: 1956
Directed by: Mervyn LeRoy
The Bad Seed is a 1956 American horror-thriller film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring... more23
1623Poison Ivy
Leonardo DiCaprio, Drew BarrymoreReleased: 1992
Directed by: Katt Shea
This film is a 1992 American drama-thriller film and directed by Katt Shea. Andy Ruben... more24
1421Scum
Ray Winstone, Phil DanielsReleased: 1979
Directed by: Alan Clarke
Scum is a 1979 British crime drama film directed by Alan Clarke, portraying the brutality of... more25
1625Bully
Bijou Phillips, Rachel MinerReleased: 2001
Directed by: Larry Clark
Bully is a 2001 American film directed by Larry Clark, and starring Brad Renfro, Bijou... more
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