Growing up tales are ageless—yet in the last 15 years, they’ve changed to fit a world shaped by smartphones, big social changes, and a loud wish for realness. If it’s your first crush, who you are, a fight with faith, or just getting by in high school, these top tales show us that growing up is hard, lovely, and for all. Here are 10 top teen films and tales from the 2010s and 2020s—each changes how we see youth, who we are, and the road to being an adult.
10. Lemonade Blessing (2025)
The newest movie here, Lemonade Blessing, is making folks turn heads with its bold mix of laughs and talk. Set in a Catholic school, it follows John (Jake Ryan), a boy in a strict faith setting, soon to fall for the wild and alluring Lilith. With Chris Merola directing, the film shows faith, tests, and teen worries with a bit of fun. Critics say it hits a “dramedy sweet spot” with kindness in all the right parts.
9. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)
Netflix’s rom-com comeback started with this. With Lara Jean’s dream notes and by-chance love life, the film brings back the magic of ’90s teen movies—but new. It wasn’t just the fake-dating thing that got people—it was the deep feels, Asian-American faces, and the soft note that being open is strong.
8. Lady Bird (2017)
Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird shows the wild heart of near-adulthood with sharp humor and big heart. Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson’s wish to flee her small Sacramento life hits home fast. Yet, below it all sits a touching view of mother-daughter stress, class, and the slow finding that home is both a trap and a space of peace.
7. The Edge of Seventeen (2016)
Hailee Steinfeld stands out in this raw (and often funny) look at teenage self-hate and not fitting in. Nadine is odd, mad, and perfectly not perfect—a Gen Z Holden Caulfield trying to get by in high school while feeling outside of all, even herself. Sharp, quick, and full of heart, it’s a gem in teen dramedy.
6. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Wes Anderson’s growing-up tale about two kids on the run mixes child adventure with deep, grown-up feels. Set on a make-believe New England island, Moonrise Kingdom is pretty but deep, looking at being alone, family mess, and first love with Anderson’s known style.
5. Life of Pi (2012)
Ang Lee’s take on Life of Pi is more than just a pretty show—it’s a deep look at growing up. Pi’s sea trip with a Bengal tiger stands for faith, fear, and who you are. It’s rare to see a growing-up tale this big in sight, yet so close in heart.
4. Easy A (2010)
With Emma Stone’s big break and sharp talks, Easy A is the Scarlet Letter redo we didn’t know we wanted. Looking at bad shaming, rumors, and showing-off morals in high school, the film shows social lines with humor that still feels right in the social media age.
3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010s–2020s)
It may look fun, but Diary of a Wimpy Kid (both book and movie) resonated with a group of kids who grew up feeling odd, not that great, and a bit self-focused. Greg Heffley isn’t your usual hero—and that’s the key. The series’ choice not to judge its main face made it one of the most real and big kids’ sets of the time. As a fan said, “These books and movies raised me.”
2. Submarine (2010)
Directed by Richard Ayoade and made by Ben Stiller, this UK gem follows Oliver Tate, a teen boy trying to save his parents’ marriage and find love in one go. With dry talk and a clear indie feel, Submarine is a quirky, dark-fun look at young raw feelings, love, and self-think—showing a fresh and open look at young years.
1. Toy Story 3 (2010)
More than a follow-up, Toy Story 3 is a real growing-up movie hiding as a kids’ film. As Andy heads to college and says bye to his childhood toys, the movie gives us a strong goodbye not just to faces, but to youth, too. It marked a big move—growing up with Andy meant leaving child days back, and few ends have moved us so much. As a writer put it: “Who didn’t tear up in those last bits?”
From TikTok-derived romances to fun tales of finding self, the growing-up type has never been more mixed—or key. These tales show us our most open times, reminding us that being young is as much about breaking down as it is about finding yourself. And in the 2010s and 2020s, these tales weren’t just told—they made a mark on our world.