A good film for teenagers does not lecture; it recognizes: school arguments, a first crush, fights with parents and the urge to prove you are already an adult. We picked 12 films that are already out, from 1980s classics to a 2022 animated feature: coming-of-age dramas and comedies, school stories, adventure and science fiction. Among them is the Ukrainian fantasy film The Stronghold. For each one there is the year, the director, the running time and a reason to watch. No spoilers: only the setup. The facts come from Wikipedia pages checked on October 23, 2026. We do not give age ratings: they differ between countries and services, so check the rating on the film’s page before watching.
The Breakfast Club
The Breakfast Club is a coming-of-age comedy-drama that John Hughes wrote, produced and directed. Five high school students from completely different cliques have to spend a Saturday in the school library serving detention under the watch of a strict assistant principal. At first they have nothing in common, but over the course of the day they start talking about what is really bothering them. The film was shot entirely in one school in Illinois; in 2016 it was added to the US National Film Registry. Why watch: a classic that showed there is always more behind school labels.
Back to the Future
Official trailer · “Back to the Future” (1985)Back to the Future is a science fiction adventure by Robert Zemeckis, who wrote the screenplay with Bob Gale. Teenager Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is accidentally sent from 1985 back to 1955 in a time machine built by his friend, the eccentric scientist Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd). There Marty inadvertently gets in the way of his own parents meeting, and now he has to bring them together so that he does not vanish himself, and then find a way back home. Why watch: a fun adventure in which a teenager sees his parents as his own age.
Stand by Me
Official trailer · “Stand by Me” (1986)Stand by Me is a coming-of-age drama based on Stephen King’s 1982 novella The Body. Summer 1959, the fictional town of Castle Rock, Oregon: four boys (Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and Jerry O’Connell) set out on foot to find the body of a missing boy. The film takes its title from Ben E. King’s 1961 song; the screenplay was nominated for an Oscar. In March 2026 the film returned to theaters for its 40th anniversary. Why watch: a warm and honest story about the kind of friendship that only happens in childhood.
The Hunger Games
Official trailer · “The Hunger Games” (2012)The Hunger Games is a dystopian film based on Suzanne Collins’s novel and the first film in the series of the same name. In a fictional country, teenagers are forced every year to take part in a brutal televised survival show. Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers to go in place of her younger sister, and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) ends up in the Games along with her. Critics praised the film for its themes, Lawrence’s performance and its faithfulness to the book. The plot is built around a deadly game, so younger teens are better off watching with adults. Why watch: a story about courage and about how power turns people into a spectacle.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Official trailer · “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (2012)The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a romantic drama that Stephen Chbosky made from his own 1999 novel. Shy Charlie (Logan Lerman) writes letters to an unknown friend about his first year of high school. Soon he meets the seniors Sam and Patrick (Emma Watson and Ezra Miller), step-siblings, and joins their circle of friends. The film won the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature and a GLAAD Media Award. It also deals with difficult subjects, so it suits older teenagers. Why watch: a heartfelt story about how hard, and how important, it is to find your people.
Wonder
Official trailer · “Wonder” (2017)Wonder is a family drama based on R. J. Palacio’s 2012 novel, starring Jacob Tremblay, Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson. Ten-year-old Auggie Pullman was born with a rare facial difference and has been homeschooled until now. Now his parents send him to fifth grade at a private school, where he has to get used to the stares and the teasing and learn how to make friends. The film was nominated for an Oscar for makeup and hairstyling. Why watch: a kind story about kindness that works well for the whole family.
Lady Bird
Official trailer · “Lady Bird” (2017)Lady Bird is a comedy-drama that Greta Gerwig wrote and directed solo for the first time. Sacramento, fall 2002: Christine (Saoirse Ronan), who calls herself Lady Bird, is a senior at a Catholic high school and dreams of a prestigious college on the East Coast, while her relationship with her mother (Laurie Metcalf) is stormy. The film received five Oscar nominations and won two Golden Globes: for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and for Ronan’s lead performance. Why watch: a funny and touching story about the last year of school and a mom who is hard to live with, but even harder to live without.
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Official trailer · “Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017)Spider-Man: Homecoming is a Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero film about the young Peter Parker (Tom Holland). Peter tries to balance ordinary school life with his feats as Spider-Man while proving to Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) that he is ready to become a full-fledged Avenger. His adversary is the Vulture (Michael Keaton). The filmmakers deliberately made the film different from earlier Spider-Man adaptations, and it was shot in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York and Berlin. Why watch: a superhero who has to juggle saving the day with school life.
The Stronghold
Official trailer in Ukrainian · “The Stronghold” (2017)The Stronghold is a Ukrainian fantasy adventure film based on Volodymyr Rutkivskyi’s novel of the same name. Present-day schoolboy Vitko passes through a mysterious time portal and ends up a thousand years in the past, among warriors who hold an outpost against the Cumans, and the boy has to help them. The film was released in Ukraine on October 12, 2017. Why watch: a Ukrainian adventure in which an ordinary schoolboy finds himself in the distant past.
Love, Simon
Official trailer · “Love, Simon” (2018)Love, Simon is a teen romantic comedy-drama based on Becky Albertalli’s 2015 novel. High school student Simon (Nick Robinson) has not yet told anyone that he is gay. He is exchanging emails with an anonymous classmate he has fallen for online and tries to work out who it is, while also having to deal with a blackmailer who threatens to reveal his secret to the whole school. According to Wikipedia, it is the first film by a major studio about a gay teenage romance. Why watch: a light, kind comedy about the right to be yourself.
Enola Holmes
Official trailer · “Enola Holmes” (2020)Enola Holmes is a Netflix mystery adventure based on the first book in Nancy Springer’s series. Sixteen-year-old Enola (Millie Bobby Brown), the younger sister of the famous Sherlock Holmes, wakes up on her birthday to find that her mother (Helena Bonham Carter) has disappeared. Enola runs away to London to find her and on the way gets caught up in a mystery on which the fate of the country depends. Sherlock is played by Henry Cavill. According to Wikipedia, about 76 million households watched the film in its first four weeks; two sequels followed. Why watch: a heroine who does not wait to be rescued but solves cases herself.
Turning Red
Official trailer · “Turning Red” (2022)Turning Red is a Pixar animated comedy, the studio’s first feature film directed solely by a woman. Toronto, 2002: thirteen-year-old Mei Lee tries hard to be a model daughter, but she also has her own teenage passions. On top of that, because of a family curse, any strong emotion turns her into a giant red panda. The songs for the film were written by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, in the US the film was released on Disney+ instead of in theaters. Why watch: a funny metaphor for everything that happens to you at 13.
How we chose
We put this list together for teens and parents looking for a film that doesn’t lecture but talks to you as an equal: about school, friendship, family and first crushes. There are 1980s classics like The Breakfast Club and Back to the Future, the heartfelt The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Lady Bird, the Ukrainian adventure The Stronghold and the animated Turning Red. We went by viewer reviews, critics’ scores and our own impressions from watching. With younger teens, start with Wonder.
What to choose by mood
| What you want | What to pick |
|---|---|
| A good laugh | Back to the Future, Turning Red, Love, Simon |
| School and growing up | The Breakfast Club, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Lady Bird |
| Adventure and fantasy | The Hunger Games, The Stronghold, Spider-Man: Homecoming |
| A mystery | Enola Holmes |
| For the whole family | Wonder, Turning Red, Back to the Future |
| 1980s classics | The Breakfast Club, Back to the Future, Stand by Me |
If you want a series rather than a film, see our selection of TV series for teens, and for mysteries and a group of friends there are series similar to Stranger Things.
Tip. For an evening with younger teens, Wonder or Turning Red is a good choice. Older teens can be offered The Perks of Being a Wallflower or Lady Bird, followed by a conversation after the film.
Frequently asked questions
What age are these films for?
Age ratings differ between countries and services, so we do not give them: check the rating on the service’s page. The Hunger Games has scenes of violence, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower deals with difficult subjects, so they are more suitable for older teenagers.
Is there a Ukrainian film in the selection?
Yes, The Stronghold (2017), based on the novel by Volodymyr Rutkivskyi. Look for the other films on the pages of services that offer a choice of dubbing or subtitles.
Which film should you choose for the whole family?
Back to the Future, Wonder or the animated Turning Red: these stories give both parents and children something to talk about.
Where can you watch these films?
Streaming catalogs change, so we do not give a list. Check the page of the film you want on a service available to you.
Sources
- The Breakfast Club (Wikipedia)
- Stand by Me (film) (Wikipedia)
- Lady Bird (film) (Wikipedia)
- The Stronghold (2017 film) (Wikipedia)
- Turning Red (Wikipedia)
Data was checked against Wikipedia on October 23, 2026.
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