Teenage Romance Movies About High School

From Richard Linklater, starring Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Vernon Dobtcheff, Louise Lemoine Torrès
Rated R

Before Sunset is a 2004 romantic drama directed by Richard Linklater and starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. It follows Jesse and Celine, who first met nine years earlier in Vienna and had a brief but intense romance. When Jesse returns to Paris to promote his book about their time together, the two reunite and spend a day walking and talking around the city. As the day passes, they rekindle their connection, catching up on the intervening years, and face the bittersweet realization that they still love each other but can no longer be together.

From Mike Nichols, starring Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, Katharine Ross, William Daniels
Rated PG

The Graduate is a 1967 American comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols and written by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham, based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Charles Webb. The film stars Dustin Hoffman as Benjamin Braddock, a recent college graduate with no well-defined aim in life, who is seduced by an older woman, Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), and then falls in love with her daughter Elaine (Katharine Ross). Benjamin's world is turned upside down as he finds himself in an awkward love triangle and must ultimately choose between the woman he loves and the future he once envisioned for himself. The film's music score was composed by Paul Simon and Dave Grusin. The Graduate was a critical and commercial success, grossing $104 million at the box office and becoming the highest-grossing film of 1967 in the United States. The film won the Academy Award for Best Director, along with seven other Academy Award nominations and four Golden Globe nominations. The film is widely regarded as one of the most influential films of the 1960s and is frequently referenced in popular culture.

From Stephen Chbosky, starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Paul Rudd
Rated PG-13

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an American coming-of-age drama film directed by Stephen Chbosky that follows Charlie, a freshman in high school who is adjusting to his new environment with the help of his two close friends, Sam and Patrick. Through their friendship, Charlie learns to open up and confront his inner struggles, including his past traumas and his mental health issues. With their support and guidance, Charlie learns to accept himself and his past and gain the courage to face the future. Along the way, the three friends experience the highs and lows of teenage life, including love, heartbreak, and the pressure to fit in. As he navigates his way through high school, Charlie discovers the importance of true friendship, finding his own voice, and the power of love.

From Matt Ross, starring Viggo Mortensen, George MacKay, Samantha Isler, Annalise Basso
Rated R

Captain Fantastic is a 2016 comedy-drama film directed by Matt Ross and starring Viggo Mortensen. The film tells the story of a family living in the forests of the Pacific Northwest who practice an eclectic lifestyle of homeschooling, hunting, and meditation. When the father, Ben (Mortensen) is forced to face the outside world with the death of his wife, he must decide whether to continue living off the grid or to conform to societal expectations. Along the way, he and his six children must also confront their emotions and redefine their definition of family.

From John Hughes, starring Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy
Rated R

The Breakfast Club is a classic, coming-of-age movie about five high school students from different cliques who are forced to spend a Saturday together in detention. Over the course of the day, the five students—a jock, a nerd, a princess, a criminal, and a basket case—begin to open up to each other and find common ground. As they share their stories, they realize that they are more alike than they thought and form a friendship. In the end, they come to understand that their differences don’t define them, and they leave the detention hall with a newfound appreciation for each other.

From John Hughes, starring Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jeffrey Jones
Rated PG-13

Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a classic '80s teen comedy directed by John Hughes. The film follows Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick), a high school senior who decides to take a 'mental health day' and skip school for the day. He enlists his best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) to accompany him on his day off, and also drags his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara) along. The trio embarks on a wild adventure in downtown Chicago, including visiting a luxury hotel, attending a Cubs game, and ultimately crashing a parade. Throughout the day, Ferris outwits his principal (Jeffrey Jones) and dean of students (Edie McClurg) who are both determined to catch him cutting class. In the end, Ferris learns valuable lessons about friendship and responsibility, and his principal learns to lighten up a bit.

From Marc Webb, starring Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Geoffrey Arend, Chloë Grace Moretz
Rated PG-13

500 Days of Summer is a quirky romantic comedy-drama directed by Marc Webb. The film follows a young man, Tom Hansen, as he falls in love with a woman named Summer Finn over the course of 500 days. Despite the fact that Summer does not share Tom’s romantic feelings for her, the two become close friends and even embark on a few dates throughout the film. Along the way, Tom learns some important lessons about love and life. At the end of the film, Tom is able to move on with his life and find happiness in spite of his heartache. The film features a unique narrative structure that jumps back and forth between Tom’s past, present, and future. It is a touching, lighthearted, and humorous story that will leave viewers with a newfound appreciation for life.

From Abdellatif Kechiche, starring Léa Seydoux, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Salim Kechiouche, Aurélien Recoing
Rated NC-17

Blue Is the Warmest Colour is a French romantic drama directed by Abdellatif Kechiche, released in 2013. The film follows the intense love story between Adèle, a high school student, and Emma, an aspiring artist. Adèle is drawn to Emma's free-spirited nature, and the two become deeply attracted to one another, eventually embarking on a passionate love affair. As their relationship deepens, Adèle must confront her own insecurities and societal pressures, while Emma struggles to maintain her own identity. Through the ups and downs of their relationship, Adèle and Emma ultimately learn to accept, understand and support one another.

From Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, starring Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler, Olivia Cooke, Nick Offerman
Rated PG-13

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a comedy-drama directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon. It follows Greg Gaines, a high school senior who is trying to navigate his way through the social pressures of his last year of school. He finds an unlikely friendship in Rachel, a classmate who is diagnosed with leukemia. Through this friendship, Greg learns to appreciate life and the importance of relationships. As Rachel's condition worsens, Greg and his friend Earl decide to make a special movie for her. This film, along with the other "movies" they have created, brings them closer together and ultimately helps Greg learn how to deal with his feelings of grief. In the end, Greg experiences true friendship and learns to accept the inevitable.

From Deniz Gamze Ergüven, starring Günes Sensoy, Doga Zeynep Doguslu, Tugba Sunguroglu, Elit Iscan
Rated PG-13

Mustang is a 2015 French-Turkish drama film directed by Deniz Gamze Ergüven. The film follows five young orphaned sisters living in a remote Turkish village. The sisters are seen as a source of dishonor to their conservative family, who respond by placing increasingly restrictive controls on them. The girls, determined to live life on their own terms, fight back against the confines of their family’s expectations. Through this struggle, they form a bond of solidarity that unites them and allows them to find a new form of freedom.

From Richard Linklater, starring Jason London, Wiley Wiggins, Matthew McConaughey, Rory Cochrane
Rated R

Set in the summer of 1976 in Austin, Texas, Richard Linklater's "Dazed and Confused" follows a group of high schoolers as they navigate the last day of school and the night that follows. Led by senior Randall "Pink" Floyd, the students party, laugh, get in a bit of trouble, and explore the boundaries of their changing worlds. With a stellar cast, a soundtrack that captures the spirit of the era, and a hilarious, poignant script, Dazed and Confused is a classic coming-of-age story that has endured for more than 25 years.

From Jason Reitman, starring Elliot Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman
Rated PG-13

Juno is a 2007 coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody. It stars Ellen Page as the titular character, an independent-minded sixteen-year-old confronting an unplanned pregnancy and the subsequent events that put pressures of adult life onto her. The film also stars Michael Cera as Juno's best friend Paulie Bleeker, Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman as Vanessa and Mark Loring, the parents of the baby, and Allison Janney as Juno's stepmother. The film follows Juno's experience of an unplanned pregnancy and her subsequent decisions. Juno initially plans to have an abortion but changes her mind when she visits an abortion clinic and sees a young girl in the waiting room. Instead, she decides to give the baby up for adoption to a yuppie couple, Mark and Vanessa Loring. As Juno struggles with the emotions she experiences throughout her pregnancy, she also deals with the reactions of her family and friends. Ultimately, Juno and the Lorings develop a close bond as she gives birth and helps them prepare to become parents.

From Ang Lee, starring Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Henry Czerny
Rated R

From Bo Burnham, starring Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton, Emily Robinson, Jake Ryan
Rated R

From Directors: Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, starring Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, AnnaSophia Robb
Rated PG-13

From Richard Curtis, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Nick Frost, Michael Hadley
Rated R

From Kelly Fremon Craig, starring Hailee Steinfeld, Haley Lu Richardson, Blake Jenner, Kyra Sedgwick
Rated R

From Andrea Arnold, starring Katie Jarvis, Michael Fassbender, Kierston Wareing, Rebecca Griffiths
Rated Not Rated

From Jonah Hill, starring Sunny Suljic, Katherine Waterston, Lucas Hedges, Na-kel Smith
Rated R

From Josh Boone, starring Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Connelly, Lily Collins, Nat Wolff
Rated R

From Alex Holdridge, starring Scoot McNairy, Sara Simmonds, Brian McGuire, Kathleen Luong
Rated Not Rated

From Peter Sollett, starring Victor Rasuk, Donna Maldonado, Kevin Rivera, Krystal Rodriguez
Rated R

From Elissa Down, starring Rhys Wakefield, Luke Ford, Toni Collette, Erik Thomson
Rated PG-13

From Sofia Coppola, starring Kirsten Dunst, Josh Hartnett, James Woods, Kathleen Turner
Rated R

From Jordan Vogt-Roberts, starring Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso, Moises Arias, Nick Offerman
Rated R