42 articles
2 Young (早熟)
2 Young (早熟) is a 2005 Hong Kong romantic drama directed and written by Derek Yee, starring Jaycee Chan and Fiona Sit as teenagers facing an unexpected pregnancy; released April 28, 2005, 107 minutes, Huabiao Award winner.
All About Lily Chou-Chou (リリイ・シュシュのすべて)
All About Lily Chou-Chou (リリイ・シュシュのすべて) is Shunji Iwai's 2001 Japanese coming-of-age film about bullied 14-year-old Yuichi Hasumi and the fictional singer Lily Chou-Chou, grown from an interactive BBS novel and starring Hayato Ichihara.
An Education
An Education is a 2009 British coming-of-age drama directed by Lone Scherfig, adapted by Nick Hornby from Lynn Barber's Granta article, starring Carey Mulligan and Peter Sarsgaard; it won three Oscar nominations and a BAFTA for Mulligan.
ATL (film)
ATL is a 2006 American coming-of-age drama directed by Chris Robinson, set among working-class teenagers in south Atlanta whose social lives center on a roller-skating rink.
Baby Boy (film)
Baby Boy is a 2001 American drama film written, directed, and produced by John Singleton, starring Tyrese Gibson as an unemployed 20-year-old father in South Central Los Angeles.
Blue Gate Crossing
Blue Gate Crossing (藍色大門) is a 2002 Taiwanese coming-of-age drama by Yee Chih-yen, starring Gwei Lun-mei and Chen Bo-lin, screened at Cannes Directors' Fortnight and credited with launching Taiwan's xiaoqingxin youth-film wave.
C.R.A.Z.Y.
C.R.A.Z.Y. is a 2005 Quebec French-language coming-of-age drama by Jean-Marc Vallée and François Boulay about Zachary Beaulieu, born Christmas 1960, whose initials with brothers Christian, Raymond, André, and Yan form the title; it won 11 Genies and 13 Jutras.
El Bola
El Bola (Pellet) is a 2000 Spanish drama, Achero Mañas's debut, about an abused twelve-year-old, Pablo, befriended by Alfredo. It won four Goyas including Best Film and the 2001 European Film Academy Fassbinder Award.
Eternal Summer (盛夏光年)
Eternal Summer (盛夏光年) is a 2006 Taiwanese coming-of-age queer drama by Leste Chen, adapted from Hsu Cheng-ping's story "Light Years," starring Joseph Chang, Ray Chang, and Kate Yeung; it premiered at Busan, won a Golden Horse Best New Performer award, and was restored in 4K in 2021.
Fish Tank (film)
Fish Tank is Andrea Arnold's 2009 British social-realist drama about 15-year-old Mia (Katie Jarvis), her mother's boyfriend Connor (Michael Fassbender), and dance as escape; it won the Cannes Jury Prize (tied with Thirst) and the BAFTA for Best British Film.
Games of Love and Chance
Games of Love and Chance (L'Esquive) is Abdellatif Kechiche's 2003 French comedy-drama about banlieue teenagers rehearsing Marivaux; it won four Césars in 2005, including Best Film and Best Director.
Go (GO) (2001 film)
Go is a 2001 Japanese coming-of-age drama directed by Isao Yukisada, starring Yōsuke Kubozuka as the son of Korean residents in Japan who falls for a Japanese classmate.
Hana and Alice (花とアリス)
Hana and Alice (花とアリス, Hana to Arisu) is a 2004 Japanese youth drama by Shunji Iwai, starring Anne Suzuki and Yu Aoi as friends in a love triangle, expanded from KitKat web shorts, with a 2015 animated prequel.
Hounddog (film)
Hounddog, a 2007 independent drama by Deborah Kampmeier starring Dakota Fanning as Lewellen, an Elvis-loving girl in 1950s Alabama; notorious for its Sundance rape-scene controversy, re-edited before its 2008 release.
I Killed My Mother
I Killed My Mother (J'ai tué ma mère) is Xavier Dolan's 2009 semi-autobiographical Canadian debut drama about a gay teen and his mother; it won three Cannes Directors' Fortnight awards and the 2010 Jutra for Best Film.
Igby Goes Down
Igby Goes Down is a 2002 American comedy-drama, Burr Steers's directorial debut, starring Kieran Culkin as a rebellious 17-year-old at war with his wealthy family's world of privilege.
Juno (film)
Juno (2007) is a comedy-drama directed by Jason Reitman, written by Diablo Cody, starring Elliot Page as a pregnant teen arranging an adoption; it won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and grossed $143.5M in the US.
Kidulthood
Kidulthood (KiDULTHOOD) is a 2006 British drama directed by Menhaj Huda, written by Noel Clarke, about West London teens on a day off after a classmate's suicide; first of the Kidulthood-Adulthood-Brotherhood trilogy.
Kisses
Kisses (2008) is an Irish-Swedish drama by Lance Daly in which pre-teens Kylie (Kelly O'Neill) and Dylan (Shane Curry) run away at Christmas to inner-city Dublin; Galway award winner, shot black-and-white turning to color.
Koizora (恋空)
Koizora (恋空, Sky of Love) is Mika's 2005 cell phone novel from Mahou no i-rando, published in books in 2006, adapted into a 2007 Toho film directed by Natsuki Imai starring Yui Aragaki and Haruma Miura, and a 2008 TBS drama.
Lovely Rita
Lovely Rita (2001) is Jessica Hausner's Austrian-German debut feature drama, premiered at Cannes Un Certain Regard, about teenage outcast Rita (Barbara Osika) whose rebellions end in violence; distinct from the 2003 French Clavier comedy.
Machuca
Machuca is a 2004 Chilean historical drama directed by Andrés Wood, set in 1973 Santiago, about the friendship of two boys of different classes during a school integration experiment before the Pinochet coup; Chile's Oscar entry.
Malèna (film)
Malèna (2000) is Giuseppe Tornatore's Italian drama starring Monica Bellucci as a wartime Sicilian widow and Giuseppe Sulfaro as the boy who watches her; from Luciano Vincenzoni's story, with Morricone's score, two Oscar nominations, and divided reviews.
Mysterious Skin
Mysterious Skin (2004) is Gregg Araki's drama adapted from Scott Heim's 1995 novel, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Brady Corbet as two Kansas men shaped by childhood abuse; acclaimed, restored in 4K in 2025.
Once Upon a Time in High School (말죽거리 잔혹사)
Once Upon a Time in High School (말죽거리 잔혹사, Spirit of Jeet Kune Do) is Yoo Ha's 2004 Korean coming-of-age film set in 1978 Gangnam, starring Kwon Sang-woo, Lee Jung-jin, and Han Ga-in; 3,115,767 admissions, third best-selling Korean film of 2004.
Por la Libre
Por la libre (Dust to Dust), 2000 Mexican coming-of-age road comedy-drama by Juan Carlos de Llaca (Altavista Films); cousins Rodrigo and Rocco take their Spanish grandfather's ashes to Acapulco; Ariel winner, Netflix.
Real Women Have Curves
Real Women Have Curves: 2002 HBO Films coming-of-age comedy-drama directed by Patricia Cardoso, starring America Ferrera as Ana García; Sundance Audience Award winner, first Latina-directed National Film Registry entry, adapted to Broadway in 2025.
Sang Pemimpi
Sang Pemimpi (The Dreamer) is a 2009 Indonesian drama, sequel to Laskar Pelangi, adapted from Andrea Hirata's second novel, directed by Riri Riza, released 17 December 2009, second best-selling Indonesian film of 2009 with 1.9 million viewers.
Shanghai Dreams (青红)
Shanghai Dreams (青红, aka 我十九) is Wang Xiaoshuai's 2005 semi-autobiographical Chinese drama about a Shanghai family relocated to Guiyang under the Third Front policy; it won the 2005 Cannes Jury Prize and was his first film approved for Chinese theatrical release.
Summer Palace (颐和园) (2006 film)
Summer Palace (颐和园) is Lou Ye's 2006 China-France romance drama about lovers Yu Hong and Zhou Wei from 1987 to 2001 against the Tiananmen backdrop; it competed at Cannes 2006, was banned in mainland China, and drew five-year bans on Lou Ye and Nai An.