Sometimes, the right movie finds you at the right time, not just to entertain, but to shift your world view. Coming-of-age films do more than show the awkward journey to adulthood. They echo your questions, heartbreaks and hopes.
For college students transitioning out of adolescence, these stories can feel like lifelines, mirrors and even roadmaps.
Coming-of-age films often center young adults and their growth through conflict, character development and, eventually, resolution. In these movies, something doesn’t just happen to these characters, but they become someone new by the end, said Jamie Rogers, a Western Washington University professor who specializes in analyzing film and literature.
For college students, navigating, uncertainty, identity or independence, these types of movies can make all the difference. Here are a list of coming-of-age movie recommendations I think all college students should watch.
Say Anything… (1989)
Felix Trom, a second-year at Western majoring in computer science and minoring in film, recommends “Say Anything…” (1989), directed by Cameron Crowe, as one of their favorite coming-of-age movies. They love it, particularly for the refreshing sense of unsureness that the main character, Lloyd, played by John Cusack, has.
Lloyd is an uncertain teenager who expresses questions about his future before leaving for college, which Trom said they, and many others, can relate to. The movie explores themes of separating from your parents and gender roles.
Trom reflects on the message and relationship of gender between the two main characters. “They do a reverse Hallmark,” Trom said, showcasing that a woman can take charge of her own life, rather than it being led by a man.
For Trom, it’s that honest portrayal of uncertainty, not having it all figured out, that makes “Say Anything…” timeless.
In a culture that often expects college students to have defined paths and polished ambitions, watching a character stumble through the uncertainty with sincerity offers a kind of comfort. It’s not about having the answers, it’s about learning that it’s OK not to.
Pariah (2011)
Because of its filmmaking, unique use of color and important messages, Rogers recommends “Pariah” (2011) as one of her all-time favorite coming-of-age movies to show to young college students.
Directed by Dee Rees, “Pariah” is about a Black queer girl who is raised by her religious mother. The movie shows the navigation between being genderqueer and a Black woman growing up and having to simultaneously hide your identity.
Rogers highlights the importance of films that showcase often forgotten marginalized groups. As these characters are frequently in stereotypical roles, such movies show that marginalized communities are not alone in their experiences and worthy of attention, like in “Pariah,” she said.
For her, it’s not always the big, triumphant moments that stick: It’s the quiet, surreal ones where identity starts to take shape. That’s the kind of transformation “Pariah” captures, and why it continues to resonate so strongly with students searching for reflections of themselves on screen.
A meeting of the Anti-Cinema Cinema Club watching a movie on the projector on May 21, 2025 at Western Washington University. This club is created to create dialogue and revisit old, silly, classics, sparking joy. // Photo by Myla Balser
Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Wes Anderson’s “Moonrise Kingdom” (2012) offers a more whimsical yet emotionally grounded take on coming-of-age. Set on a fictional New England island in the 1960s, the film follows two children, Sam and Suzy, as they run away together, sparking a local search party and an unraveling of the adults around them.
Ruby Willard, a first-year at Western said “Moonrise Kingdom” is one of her all-time favorite coming-of-age movies.
The movie captures the feeling of being young, misunderstood and desperate to feel in control, said Willard. “It’s these kids … they feel like they’re outcasts, and so then they try to run away together.”
Though visually stylized and filled with dry humor, the film explores deep themes of identity, belonging and connection. It’s a story about what it means to be seen and accepted, especially when you’re still figuring out who you are.
Like the best coming-of-age films, “Moonrise Kingdom” balances quirky charm with an honest storytelling that has the ability of resonating beyond childhood.
Myla Balser (she/her) writes opinions for The Front. She’s a third-year Journalism student at Western, minoring in political science and film. You’ll usually find her reading, movie-marathoning or never turning down a good debate. You can reach her at mylabalser.thefront@gmail.com.
