Coming-of-Age Drama backdrop

Coming-of-Age Drama movies

Growing-up drama about identity, belonging, first independence, and life choices that can’t be undone.

Memoir of a Snail

1. Memoir of a Snail

Animation Drama Comedy Family Animation Coming-of-Age Drama
7.8

20241h 34min

Australia, United Kingdom

Director: Adam Elliot

Forcibly separated from her twin brother when they are orphaned, a melancholic misfit learns how to find confidence within herself amid the clutter of misfortunes and everyday life.

Themes

Loss and resilience, Identity through adaptation, Childhood abandonment, Foster family strain, Twin bond and separation, Creativity as refuge

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Hulu
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Kneecap

2. Kneecap

Music Comedy Drama Narrative Musical Parody
7.6

20241h 45min

Ireland, United Kingdom

Director: Rich Peppiatt

When fate brings Belfast teacher JJ into the orbit of self-confessed "low life scum" Naoise and Liam Óg, the needle drops on a hip-hop act like no other. Rapping in their native Irish, they lead a movement to save their mother tongue.

Themes

Language act activism, Language preservation through art, Political expression through music, Anti-establishment resistance, Art as social movement, Youth culture and identity

Available on

Netflix
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Close

3. Close

Drama Coming-of-Age Drama
7.8

20221h 44min

Belgium, France

Director: Lukas Dhont

Two 13-year-old boys spend an idyllic summer together, but their connection is put to the test when they become the subject of speculation at school.

Themes

Grief and guilt, Peer pressure dynamics, Masculinity under pressure, Lgbt visibility, Bullying and ostracism, Ice hockey distance, Death of best friend

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
fuboTV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Io Capitano

4. Io Capitano

Adventure Drama Globetrotting Adventure Coming-of-Age Drama
7.6

20232h 1min

Belgium, France

Director: Matteo Garrone

Longing for a brighter future, two Senegalese teenagers embark on a journey from West Africa to Italy. However, between their dreams and reality lies a labyrinth of checkpoints, the Sahara Desert, and the vast waters of the Mediterranean.

Themes

Economic precarity, Deception and exploitation, Migration pressure, Border crossing risk, Transnational dislocation, Dream versus reality

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Quiet Girl

5. The Quiet Girl

Drama Coming-of-Age Drama
7.7

20221h 34min

Ireland

Director: Colm Bairéad

A quiet, neglected girl is sent away from her dysfunctional family to live with relatives for the summer. She blossoms in their care, but in this house where there are meant to be no secrets, she discovers one.

Themes

Foster family bonds, Belonging versus isolation, Care versus neglect, Unspoken family histories, Childhood resilience, Departure and longing

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Hulu
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Eight Mountains

6. The Eight Mountains

Drama Coming-of-Age Drama
7.7

20222h 27min

Belgium, France

Director: Felix van Groeningen

An epic journey of friendship and self-discovery set in the breathtaking Italian Alps, The Eight Mountains follows over four decades the profound, complex relationship between Pietro and Bruno.

Themes

Self reinvention, Longstanding friendship, Creative ambition, Belonging and dislocation, Parental tensions, Mountain lifeworld

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Your Name.

7. Your Name.

Animation Romance Drama Anime Passionate Romance
8.4

20161h 46min

Japan

Director: Makoto Shinkai

High schoolers Mitsuha and Taki are complete strangers living separate lives. But one night, they suddenly switch places. Mitsuha wakes up in Taki’s body, and he in hers. This bizarre occurrence continues to happen randomly, and the two must adjust their lives around each other.

Themes

Time travel ethics, Memory and longing, Nonlinear timeline, Urban fantasy tension, High school romance, Star crossed lovers

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
HBO Max
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Wicked

8. Wicked

Drama Romance Fantasy Coming-of-Age Drama Fantasy Romance
7.4

20242h 42min

United States

Director: Jon M. Chu

In the land of Oz, ostracized and misunderstood green-skinned Elphaba is forced to share a room with the popular aristocrat Glinda at Shiz University, and the two's unlikely friendship is tested as they begin to fulfill their respective destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Themes

Abuse of power, Female friendship under strain, Institutional manipulation, Prestige vs ethics, Ostracism and belonging, Discrimination against animals

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Aftersun

9. Aftersun

Drama Coming-of-Age Drama
7.6

20221h 41min

United Kingdom, United States

Director: Charlotte Wells

Sophie reflects on the shared joy and private melancholy of a holiday she took with her father twenty years earlier. Memories fill the gaps between camcorder footages as she tries to reconcile the father she knew with the troubled man she didn't.

Themes

Depression masking outward calm, Memory shaping family bonds, Deferred coming of age, Complex parental bonds, Queer loneliness

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

A Complete Unknown

10. A Complete Unknown

Drama Music Coming-of-Age Drama Narrative Musical
7.3

20242h 20min

United States

Director: James Mangold

New York, early 1960s. Against the backdrop of a vibrant music scene and tumultuous cultural upheaval, an enigmatic 19-year-old from Minnesota arrives in the West Village with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music.

Themes

Industry pressure shapes sound, Authenticity vs commercial demand, Artistic ambition vs market constraints, Personal ties under strain, Rebellion within tradition, Public attention vs private process

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Hulu
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.