Adolescence is a complicated time that is rarely captured accurately in film. Iconic teen movies like “The Breakfast Club”, “10 Things I Hate About You”, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”, “Juno” and “Mean Girls” show the timelessness of teenage-hood, as it is repeatedly portrayed throughout the decades. However, many modern teen movies lack the authenticity that resonates with their target audiences, reducing them to stereotypical adolescent urges, or cast actors who are clearly out of the age range of their characters.
Within the past ten years, movies like “He’s All That”, “The Kissing Booth”, “Time Cut”, “Uglies” and “Boo, B—h” have exemplified the decline of cinematic teen films.s. With predictable plots and shallow attempts at being relatable to their young demographic, teen movies are beginning to feel commercialized, even vapid, featuring TikTokers in leading roles. The reboot sequel to “She’s All That”, “He’s All That”, is a perfect example;from its extremely obvious sponsorship features to the casting of TikToker, Addison Rae, as the leading role.
The “make-over” trope is a recurring theme in most teen movies, with famous transformations such as mysterious Allison Reynolds from “The Breakfast Club” and the artsy Laney Boggs from the original 1999 “She’s All That”. While this trope can convey a message about finding your truest-self and being confident, oftentimes it ends up being an extremely predictable filler, leaving the main character to continue the movie with a completely altered image that does not contribute to the plot.. In “He’s All That” the product placement on Addison Rae’s character’s make-up desk appears to be the star of the film. While the original movie parallels this, it at least had more individuality in its vibes, and a believable romantic plot that brings together two people from different backgrounds. However, “He’s All That” is clearly a modern spin-off, lacking the charm of the original in a failed attempt to appeal to Gen-Z.
Below are three movies that I consider to be exceptions to the statement I made about modern teen movies. These films take a niche teenage experience and expand on them in a thought-provoking, relatable and creative way. They delve into various aspects of growing up that can be overwhelming, and condense them into stories that don’t follow the typical teen movie stereotypes I previously mentioned.
The Exceptions
- My Old Ass (2024)
Directed by Megan Park and awarded a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, this film highlights the complicated nature of growing up and out of your childhood home, love and the LGBTQ+ community and the privileges of being young and fearless. The main character, Elliot, played by Maisy Stella, perfectly captures the highs and lows of being a teenage girl–from the bittersweetness of the relationship between herself, her sexuality, her home, her parents, her past and her future.
- Eighth Grade (2018)
Directed by comedian and songwriter, Bo Burnham, this movie is not romantic or glamorous by any means. It depicts a girl on the brink of becoming a high schooler, and the daily triumphs and struggles that plague the minds of many young teenagers, such as first relationships and changing schools.
- Waves (2019)
Director, Trey Edward Shults, really put an authentic feel to this film with its beloved soundtrack featuring artists like Frank Ocean, Radiohead, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West and Tame Impala, who are actually relevant in Gen-Z culture. The complex dynamics between each character shows the raw emotion of first love, grief, regret and family.
