A24 knows that its strength lies in coming-of-age stories that resonate with your bones and horror movies that won’t let you sleep for nights on end. The indie studio has established itself as a powerhouse of creativity and representation. From critically acclaimed Moonlight and Everything Everywhere All At Once, to underrated gems like Share and The Farewell, movies have brought A24 massive success and fresh talent.
The coming-of-age genre, in particular, has allowed the company to shine with personal and authentic stories. Recent years have seen a surge in memorable cinema that beautifully captures teenage life and sailing life in the formative years, gaining experiences that shape your identity for life. A24’s gift for finding these tales of transition is actually a bonus for the audience. From budding directors to young performers, the space allows artists to craft genre-bending stories of youth.
While the list could go on and on, we’re keeping it to a couple of dozen impactful films that the company has manufactured, from good to straight-up great. Each of these movies uses a gorgeous lens to look into the lives of characters in their little moments of change. A24’s commitment to honest storytelling has established a home for coming-of-age cinema that feels fresh and full of heart. The studio won’t stop with its originality, but for now, here’s a ranking of all the coming-of-age stories by A24.
23 The Vanishing of Sidney Hall (2017)
Sidney Hall is as mysterious and off-putting as they come. At the age of 24, Hall fell in love, wrote a novel based on trauma, and completely disappeared from the face of the Earth. Or so he wants us to believe. The story follows the protagonist through three stages of his life. At eighteen, he falls in love, witnesses bullying, and comes across an atrocious tape. At twenty-four, he’s an accomplished novelist, a New York bestseller vying for a Pulitzer Prize. At thirty, he’s been off the grid for five years, and a detective set out to look for him. The non-linear narrative works brilliantly in staging the troubles of being immature and trying to embrace adulthood you don’t think you’re ready for. The Vanishing of Sidney Hall reflects growing up and navigating the pain of losing one’s innocence a little too soon.
22 Barely Lethal (2015)
Barely Lethal is a highly captivating action-thriller masquerading as an edgy coming-of-age comedy. In the A24 Disney Channel Original Movie, we see Megan (Hailee Steinfeld), a 16-year-old assassin and agent being trained for a special mission by Samuel L. Jackson (read Nick Fury. Because it might as well be part of the MCU). Yearning for a normal teenage life, Megan fakes her own death and enrolls herself in a prestigious American high school. The movie is filled with laughs and a few unexpected cameos and plot twists here and there. But ultimately, the story fails to deliver the spectacle we expect out of a cast so talented.
21 Laggies (2014)
Considered as one of Chloë Grace Moretz’s underrated performances, Laggies follows two women, Megan and Annika, played by Keira Knightley and Moretz, respectively. Megan is a 28-year-old woman battling her quarter-life crises, and Annika is a carefree teenager living one day at a time in an apartment shared with her bored-with-life dad. When Megan’s boyfriend proposes, she freaks out and grabs to opportunity to spend a week living with the query dad-daughter duo. Megan reevaluates her relationship and her life in this occasionally painful and endlessly funny coming-of-age story portraying those who remain a teen at heart for their entire lives.
20 How to Talk to Girls at Parties (2017)
Don’t get carried away with the title. In the 102 minutes runtime, the movie will not teach you how to talk to girls at parties. You’re on your own there. It will, however, transport you to a mystical world. Set in the 1970s, How To Talk To Girls At Parties is a science fiction romance like no other. We follow Enn, a teenager who arrives at a party he didn’t know was overflowing with extraterrestrial beings. There, he meets Zan, a rebellious and attractive alien who is fascinated by Earth. Enn finds himself drawn to Zan. Against the backdrop of punk-rock and differences, this wildly imaginative and visually stunning film explores a budding romance and the dimly understood heartache that follows when you’re young.
19 Ginger & Rosa (2012)
Directed by Sally Potter, Ginger & Rosa takes a deeply moving look at love and heartbreak in 1960s London. The movie revolves around two seventeen-year-old girls who have been inseparable since they were very young. While their hearts are set on rebellion and dreams of escaping, Ginger and Rosa are torn when one develops a crush on the other’s father. With the political unrest simmering and the girls drifting apart, it is interesting to understand whether love can stand the test of time. Elle Fanning and Alice Englert are incredible in portraying teenage anxieties and the complexities that arise when feminist ideals clash. Regardless of its aesthetic visuals and intense shots, the movie remains unexceptional in the A24 bundle.
18 The Sky Is Everywhere (2022)
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A24
The Sky Is Everywhere is based on the 2010 young adult novel by Jandy Nelson, who is known to craft some of the most sentimental and powerful coming-of-age stories ever. In the lush and thriving backdrop of 1990s California, the story follows Lenny Walker, a musically gifted teenage girl struggling to balance her emotions and her growing penchants after her sister’s tragic death. Bailey meant the world to her, and Lennie didn’t think spending time with her boyfriend would evoke feelings that never existed. On the other hand, she’s caught between a fellow student at school who shares her passions and interest. While director Josephine Decker has a knack for displaying some of the most breathtaking visuals, the movie, with all its sublimity, is a reflection on finding one’s purpose.
17 Hot Summer Nights (2017)
This refreshing summer tragicomedy set in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, features Timothēe Chalamet as the eighteen-year-old Daniel, who following his father’s death, begins spending his days with the wrong crown. He gets involved with a local drug dealer, Hunter, and falls for the man’s mysteriously attractive sister, McKayla She’s off-limits, but what do teenagers care? The movie is great with its visuals and the pulsing ‘80s soundtrack. Daniel's character is precise with his cluelessness and over-the-head dreams. Overall, Hot Summer Nights is an interesting and nostalgic watch, but it still lacks something definitively A24.
16 Lean on Pete (2017)
Based on the novel of the same name by Willy Vlautin, Lean on Pete follows Charley Thompson, a teenage boy in working-class Portland, Oregon. Charley lives with his emotionally fragile but distant father Ray, clinging to hope. Meanwhile, he finds solace in his love for an aging racehorse named Lean on Pete. They’ve formed an unbreakable bond that fills his heart with melancholia. When Charley finds out that Pete is bound for slaughter, he steals the horse, and they set off on a poetic journey of self-discovery. The movie is complicated and humorous in equal measure. With its dark undertones, unwarranted sentimentality, and a stunning cast, Lean on Pete knows what it is like to grow out of yourself and others’ expectations of you.
15 Mid90s (2018)
Mid90s crafts a deeply personal story around our 13-year-old protagonist Stevie, who is struggling with his toxic home life and a fresh group of friends. Living with his free-spirited, a little too expressive mother and a brother who is an unsociable bully, Stevie is trying to navigate his life in Los Angeles when he stumbles across a group of kids at a skate shop and strikes a connection with them. His explosive nature finds a rebellious cause and indulges in some really adult-like things regardless of being so young. As heartbreaking as it is to watch, Jonah Hill uses a natural bouncy chemistry and a grainy frame to capture adolescence in its truest form. Lucas Hedges and Sunny Suljic deliver strong performances to elevate the emotiveness of the film.
14 The Souvenir (2019)
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The Souvenir is a poignant coming-of-age story set in 1980s London. The film centers on Julie, an aspiring filmmaker grappling with the turbulence in her ambitious dreams and her transition to adulthood. Meanwhile, she falls deeply in love with an older man named Anthony. Anthony seems to share her passion and purpose and the want for their blossoming romance. Moreover, Julie’s contempt and urge to break free of her British and architecturally rich background are prominent throughout the film. The film’s subtle yet powerful representation of being stuck in a tragic and unfulfilling relationship is also something one can relate to.
13 Morris from America (2016)
Morris Gentry is a teenage African American hip-hop enthusiast who has recently moved to Heidelberg, Germany, with his widowed father. It is hard enough to settle in another country, let alone do at the cusp of youth, understanding and accepting one’s own identity, pursuing dreams, and staying true to one’s heart. And the movie captures it all. Markees Christmas is excellent as the 13-year-old misfit eyeballing every square inch and crushing over the cool, rebellious, 15-year-old classmate Katrin. Craig Robinson is equally wonderful as the grieving father trying to come to terms with his overturned life. Together and apart, their chemistry gets you invested in their journey. Morris From America is a celebration of hope, hard-won acclaim, and music against the backdrop of a poetic coming-of-age story.
12 The Spectacular Now (2013)
As heartwarming, fuzzy, and inspiring as they come, The Spectacular Now weaves a coming-of-age story that perfectly captures the melodrama and angst of growing up using subtle yet life-changing realizations. The movie follows Sutter Keely, played by Miles Teller, a charming and popular, prom-king material high school senior who finds himself slowly and palpably falling for Amiee Finecny, played by Shailene Woodley, an outcast with the most introverted personality one can imagine. Both the protagonists are dealing with trouble at home and planning their uncertain futures as their romance blossoms against all odds. Breakout performances or not, the two stars are stunning in portraying a rather stereotypical and realistic story of young love.
11 Native Son (2019)
Based on the novel by Richard Wright and directed by Rashid Johnson, Native Son follows the 1930s South Side Chicago scene. Our protagonist Bigger Thomas is a young black man living callously in a world divided by poverty and injustice. For someone who’s always had limited opportunities, when the chance to chauffeur for an affluent and influential Chicago businessman presents itself, Bigger Thomas leaps at it unaware of how being surrounded by power and wealth might change his life forever. Native Son is a patchwork quilt of prejudices internalized and justice long denied, a reflection of how a life cut short isn’t necessarily a life diminished.
10 Share (2019)
A criminally underrated A24 gem, Share touches on topics that are often avoided and shied away from. Pippa Bianco’s stunning and impactfully captured movie follows Mandy as she wakes up one day on her front lawn with no recollection of the events that got her there. When an unsettling video of hers goes around suggesting she might have been the victim of a sexual assault, Mandy retraces her steps from the day before. The film is quite intense and dreadful at times. Revisiting aimless events of what seems like a harmless day from the eyes of a sixteen-year-old might evoke a certain amount of emotions, leaving you sad, angry, disappointed, and empty. But the movie is very delicate, respectful, and assured about it.
9 Funny Pages (2022)
Funny Pages is teenage cluelessness at its peak. The story follows Daniel Zolghadri’s Robert, a teenage cartoonist who abandons the very comforts of his suburban life with the idea of finding his soul elsewhere, and becomes friends with a mindless former cartoon artist. Clearly, Robert’s pursuit is misguided, but it is foolishly sweet to see him try. The dialogue delivery in the movie is spot-on, and it also borrows some elements and aesthetics from Mid90s and Lady Bird. Director Own Kline portrays old and dirty New York in the best possible ways. From grimy textures that give you anxiety to unlikable characters making bad decisions, the movie has it all. To top it all, Sean O'Hagan provides a beautiful and sublime score to supplement the dreamy and creative nature of the film.
8 Never Goin' Back (2018)
Never Goin’ Back is all about female friendships and getting away from your hometown. Angela and Jessie are two best friends waiting tables in a lowly diner. Their desire to move to the beaches of Galveston surpasses literally everything. So much that they find themselves engulfed in a drug scam. The film is a breath of fresh air when it comes to young women working towards obtaining the little joys in life and doing it without authority on their backs. The creative and authentic setting gets you invested from the very start and makes you a part of the girls’ reckless adventures and weekend plans. In some ways, Angela and Jessie seem like grown-up versions of The Florida Project’s Moonee and Jancey, and for the best reasons.
7 Waves (2019)
Waves follows Tyler, a sensitive high school senior drowning under the pressures of youth and success while handling the complex responsibilities and expectations coming from his family. While the movie opens up with sunny beaches and a competitive academic environment, things get too hypnotic and wrenching too fast. As an 18-year-old, Tyler is dealing with his identity and the weight of his burgeoning talent, when he ends up committing a crime that alters the course of his life. As a waking nightmare, we see the characters go from normal to cracked as every mesmerizing element crumbles down. Kelvin Harrison Jr., Taylor Russell, Alexa Demie, Lucas Hedges, and Sterling K. Brown all deliver remarkably emotional performances. Overall, Waves is a metaphorical examination of the storms that shape our lives.
6 American Honey (2016)
Star is a rebellious teen with nothing to lose. When the opportunity presents itself, she drifts into an aimelss wanderlust and joins a traveling sales crew as they journey across The States selling subscriptions to houses in turn. Star gets incredibly comfortable with the group and slowly edges into their lifestyle of night-long partying and breaking the law. American Honey is an intrinsic exploration of Star’s life and how the world has always denied her of what she deserves, and now that she’s finally out to get her own, she is brimming with hope and curiosity. At first, the film may seem unbearably long, but time flies in a jiffy when you’re looking at a charming cast of characters cruising through the Midwest. A24 does wonders in displaying Star’s journey towards purpose and belonging.
5 Eighth Grade (2018)
Kayla Day is the eighth-grade YouTuber we all secretly aspire to be. With that out in the open, Eight Grade is a timeless piece of work that resonates with audiences of all ages. We see Kayla as an anxious and introverted junior high student. While struggling with self-doubt and limitless insecurities in real life, she’s highly confident and inspirational in posting videos on her YouTube channel. She’s going through a period of developing crushes, dealing with rivals, and swimming in a sea of popular students. Bo Burnham’s directorial debut is cruel and thorough in its depiction of the adolescent journey and how some insecurities are heightened rather than abated with time.
4 20th Century Women (2016)
20th Century Women pulls all the stops when it comes to exploring every single character it features. Set in 1979 in Santa Barbara, California, we see Annette Benning’s Dorothea as a tenacious mother wanting to raise her son, Jamie, right. In her pursuit, she takes assistance from her tenant, Greta Gerwig’s Abbie, and teenage neighbor, Elle Fanning’s Julie. The film has a very important narrative. From restless experimentation to the deep purposeful formation, it navigates Jamie in his curious and sensitive stage of life, where it is necessary to know the difference between being good and being right. Mike Mills shapes existential dread and poetic womanhood against the backdrop of a meaningful cinematic experience.