Since its incipient glory with films like Rebel Without a Cause and The 400 Blows, coming-of-age has always been a staple genre throughout Hollywood and beyond. Whether its films' characters mirror our own lives or exist in total opposition to them, we love to see stories of other people growing and adapting to life's greatest obstacles. Although the coming-of-age genre has evolved and changed a lot over the years based on the desires of its audience, there still always seems to be a certain formula behind the genre at times. Must the villain always be a parent or principal? Must the "jock" always fall in love with the "nerd"? Must everyone be a good person, with a clean criminal record, at the end of the day?
These are some very important questions for us to keep in mind, as we behold what the coming-of-age genre has in store for us next. Meanwhile, here are some unconventional coming-of-age films we find are worth a watch (or several) right now.
7
Super Dark Times (2017)
No coming-of-age film delves into such unabashedly dark territory as quickly as Kevin Phillips's Super Dark Times. What starts as a seemingly-typical teen drama about two teenage best friends quickly devolves into an off-the-rails psychological thriller, following an incident with a katana sword gone terribly wrong. Set in the 1990s in upstate New York, Super Dark Times is the stuff of teenage nightmares - memorable as much for the truly haunting, oppressive mood it evokes as for the events of the film itself. Meanwhile, the dialogue within the film always feels authentically real; Zach and Josh's reactions to the film's tragedy come off as neither orchestrated nor manufactured at any point. Anyone looking for a modern, eerie rendition of a film like River's Edge should give Super Dark Times a try.
6 Boyhood (2014)
This list wouldn't be complete without Richard Linklater's astounding magnum opus Boyhood, which famously took twelve years to film with its star Ellar Coltrane (along with Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, and even Linklater's own daughter). Not only is Boyhood one of the best coming-of-age films of the 2010s, but it is also a true testament to Linklater's powers as a filmmaker and storyteller. Not a moment goes by in the film where viewers don't feel like they are immersed in life itself. Unlike most other coming-of-age films, the focus of Boyhood is far from a narrow one; the film contemplates such profound themes as aging, the nature of relationships, and what it means to lead a happy, fulfilling life. But Linklater is not one for pretentiousness - he is the master of keeping things real, and this film might be the most important showcase of that.
5
Fish Tank (2009)
With subtle triumphs like American Honey and Cow under her belt, Andrea Arnold is perhaps one of the most underrated directors of contemporary cinema. Her 2009 film Fish Tank is but another case for her brilliance. Starring Michael Fassbender and first-time actress Kate Jarvis (who was randomly spotted by Arnold's casting agent after a public row with her boyfriend), Fish Tank tells the story of bitter, pugnacious 15-year-old Mia and her scandalous collision with her mother's new boyfriend, Connor. The film is a raw, emotionally fueled portrait of fear and uncertainty, driven by Jarvis's utterly gripping performance - which doesn't feel much like a performance at all. Jarvis won the award for Most Promising Newcomer at the British Independent Film Awards that year, and Arnold took home the Jury prize at Cannes for this inimitable triumph.
4 Submarine (2011)
To anyone a fan of dry Welsh humor, the Arctic Monkeys, or Wes Anderson's aesthetics, Submarine is a must-see. The 2011 film from Richard Ayoade follows Oliver Tate, a pretentious yet well-meaning teen with two things on his mind: saving his parents' marriage and losing his virginity. The film tracks Oliver's escapades with his fiery classmate, Jordana, with whom he develops a tricky, yet touchingly earnest relationship. Submarine itself is one of the most earnest coming-of-age films out there, unafraid to tap into the true roots of teenage desire and how relationships change over time. Meanwhile, it is also bitingly funny, with its quirky, ironic humor, and aesthetically it is a work of art. The film's colorful hues contrast its cynicism and enhance its romanticism.
3 Life is Sweet (1990)
Anyone familiar with British iconoclast Mike Leigh knows that his films aren't exactly teenage-oriented - with the exception, that is, of Life Is Sweet. This witty yet vulnerable comedy-drama follows the twins of a working-class London family, whose outlooks on life couldn't be further apart. Like both of her parents, Natalie is optimistic and bright-spirited, while the unemployed Nicola can't help but perpetually embrace the negative. With unshakeable performances across the board, including one from a young David Thewlis as one of Nicola's lovers, Life Is Sweet is one of Leigh’s most commercially successful, and arguably one of his finest films. While capturing the malaise of working-class London through a realistic lens, Life is Sweet is both poignant and funny as its characters grow - or refuse to.
2 Boy (2010)
In 1984 New Zealand, "Boy" is an adventurous spirit and devout Michael Jackson fan, left mostly to fend for himself along with his younger brother, Rocky. Taika Waititi's heartfelt film follows Boy's bittersweet journey as he gets to know his absent criminal father, played by a Dennis Hopper-looking Waititi himself. At times whimsical, at times intensely serious, Boy (the film) is a touching portrait of a father-son relationship when one is finally forced to see the other as human. James Rolleston - who was picked off the set as an extra two days before the film started shooting - is perfectly charismatic as Boy, and so is Waititi himself as the father. Boy is unafraid to compel its characters towards complicated choices, nor to untangle the intersections between pop culture and Maori tradition.
1 Ghost World (2001)
MGM
Terry Zwigoff's Ghost World is one of the most uniquely cynical, uncompromising teen films out there - if you're of a similar ilk as the film's main characters, that's part of what makes it one of the best. Starring a young Scarlett Johansson and Hocus Pocus's Thora Birch, Ghost World follows the misadventures of two best friends the summer after graduating from high school. As Enid (Birch) begins to take an interest in Seymour, a music-obsessed, cardigan-wearing misanthrope, the girls' friendship slowly begins to dissipate. It's easy to see the struggle from either girl's perspective - not necessarily because they are likable, but because they are relatable and human. That is what makes Ghost World so haunting and distinctive; it's not a happy feeling that the film leaves us with, but one of being seen. Even if we're not as cool as them, we've all felt like the restless Becca, the irritated Enid at some point.