Arts & Entertainment
7 Outstanding Coming-Of-Age Films To Watch This Weekend
Nothing will get you through the weekend like this list of coming-of-age films including "Risky Business," "Legally Blonde" and more.
As we continue this weekend to stay at home, it's no secret that everyone could use a little pick-me-up during these challenging times — which is why we've gathered an exceptional list of coming-of-age movies that will delight the whole family.
Hoping to catch one of Tom Cruise’s best early performances? Look no further than “Risky Business,” in which the actor shows his infectious, iconic dance moves.
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Fans of Reese Witherspoon should check out “Legally Blonde,” in which she plays a sorority queen fighting to win her beau back by pursuing a law degree at Harvard.
Meanwhile, for those seeking a good dose of laughter, “Mean Girls” and “Dazed and Confused” are available on Netflix and Amazon Prime, respectively, for your streaming pleasure.
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Finally, if you’re in the mood for a dramedy, “The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” “Eighth Grade” and “The Breakfast Club” are all worth a watch.
So as you hunker down indoors this weekend, make sure to check out these coming-of-age flicks that will surely boost your spirits and have you reminiscing about your own adolescent experiences.
Enjoy!
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“Risky Business” (Amazon Prime) — Tom Cruise, Rebecca De Mornay; directed by Paul Brickman
Paul Brickman’s teen movie about loss of innocence became a box office hit in 1983, earning then 19-year-old Tom Cruise widespread recognition for his role of a teenager flirting with disaster. Set in an affluent Chicago suburbia, the film follows the story of Joel Goodson (Cruise), a high school overachiever who decides to have fun when his parents leave him alone in their mansion for a weekend getaway. Over the course of one night, Joel ends up gambling his future away — and unexpectedly finding romance in all the wrong places.
“Mean Girls” (Netflix) — Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams; directed by Mark Waters
Written by "Saturday Night Live" alum Tina Fey, the 2004 teen comedy film centers on Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan), a 15-year-old home-schooled girl who has recently moved back to the U.S. after her parents’ 12-year research stint in Africa. Now settled in suburban Illinois with her mom and dad, she soon attends North Shore High, where she is befriended by three rich, popular girls — Regina (Rachel McAdams), Gretchen (Lacey Chabert) and Karen (Amanda Seyfried) — collectively known as the “Plastics.” Cady’s new circle of friends is seemingly pleasant — that is, until she goes out on a date with Regina’s ex-boyfriend (Jonathan Bennett), giving the trio more than enough reason to go on a warpath against Cady.
“Dazed and Confused” (Amazon Prime) — Matthew McConaughey, Parker Posey; directed by Richard Linklater
Richard Linklater’s 1993 comedy will make you laugh in no time along with an exuberant ensemble cast that includes Matthew McConaughey, Parker Posey, Ben Affleck, Milla Jovovich and Adam Goldberg. Set in 1976 Texas, the film centers on Lee High’s incoming batch of seniors who cannot get excited enough during the last day of the academic year. Why? They get to haze the incoming freshmen as they celebrate the arrival of summer with outlandish shenanigans that include drinking beer, smoking pot on the 50-yard-line of the school’s football field and a longstanding game of mailbox baseball.
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (Netflix) — Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller; directed by Stephen Chbosky
Written and directed by Stephen Chbosky, the 2012 coming-of-age drama is based on the director’s 1999 novel about the trials and tribulations of growing up. Meet Charlie (Logan Lerman), a high school freshman with a history of clinical depression since childhood. Introvert by nature, the teenager finds difficulty in making friends. Much to his surprise, he easily connects with Sam (Emma Watson) and her stepbrother Patrick (Ezra Miller), two seniors who will give Charlie a new sense of hope, purpose and confidence in life.
“Legally Blonde” (Amazon Prime) — Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson; directed by Robert Luketic
Based on Amanda Brown’s novel of the same name, the 2001 comedy centers on the ever-popular Elle Woods, a sorority queen who seems to have it all — beauty, brains, money and a fantastic love life — that is, until her beau, Warner (Matthew Davis), suddenly breaks up with her. Well, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, when Elle discovers that Warner, now a law student at Harvard, has been reunited with Vivian Kensington (Selma Blair), his old flame from prep school. And so begins Elle’s crusade to win Warner back by pursuing a Harvard Law degree. In the process, not only will she wage the battle for her life, but she will also seek justice and equality for all blondes.
“The Breakfast Club” (Netflix) — Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald; directed by John Hughes
Teenage angst is front and center in John Hughes’ 1985 classic film about five high school students who end up together in Saturday detention. Each of them comes from various cliques of the student body at Shermer High, including the stuck-up, popular girl Claire Standish (Molly Ringwald), the stoic wrestler Andrew Clark (Emilio Estevez), the geeky bookworm Brian Johnson (Anthony Michael Hall), the foulmouthed rebel John Bender (Judd Nelson) and the eccentric outcast Allison Reynolds (Ally Sheedy). As the day progresses, the bunch of misfits will learn about the bond of friendship and the importance of mutual understanding and trust.
“Eighth Grade” (Amazon Prime) — Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton, directed by Bo Burnham
YouTube star Bo Burnham's directorial debut centers on the life of a 13-year-old girl trying to survive awkward adolescence in the age of social media influencers. In the movie, Elsie Fisher plays Kayla, an eighth grader who makes affirmational videos on her YouTube channel. Her constant companion and friend is her cellphone, which makes her feel secure and self-confident. But deep inside, she is in an emotional roller coaster — especially when her angst gets the best of her during her last week of eighth grade.
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