© Getty Images

'Stand by Me' (1986) -

Prepare for a tear-jerking ride. This bittersweet movie starring a young River Phoenix sees a group of teenage boys discover a lot about themselves and the power of friendship as they embark on a summer adventure.

© NL Beeld

'The Outsiders' (1983) -

Directed by none other than Francis Ford Coppola, this is a 'Brat Pack' movie with real pedigree. Starring Rob Lowe, Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, and Patrick Swayze among the '80s hunks, it's a morality tale of gang violence spiraling out of control.

© NL Beeld

'Sixteen Candles' (1984) -

John Hughes was the undisputed master of the 1980s coming-of-age flick, and his directorial debut stars '80s icon Molly Ringwald. She plays the birthday girl, whose impending sweet sixteen is not going as well as she'd like.

© NL Beeld

'Pretty in Pink' (1986) -

Ringwald again, in another classic John Hughes film. This time she plays a not-too-popular girl who spends most of her time hanging out with her equally unpopular male friend. When a rich, cool kid starts expressing an interest, she has some tough choices to make.

© NL Beeld

'Boyhood' (2014) -

This epic and unique movie from acclaimed director Richard Linklater was filmed over 12 years, using the same cast. Life is seen through the eyes of young Mason (Ellar Coltrane), and the audience literally witnesses him grow up before their eyes.

© NL Beeld

'Dazed and Confused' (1993) -

Linklater effortlessly captured another moment in time with this 1970s-set movie. It's the last day of high school, and everybody from the stoners to the jocks is ready to party hard.

© NL Beeld

'The Breakfast Club' (1985) -

In another John Hughes classic, a group of mismatched teens are flung together as they serve Saturday detention for breaking school rules.

© NL Beeld

'Precious' (2009) -

Tackling uncomfortable social issues with warmth and sensitivity, this movie centers on an abused, illiterate, pregnant Harlem teen who manages to find hope against the odds.

© NL Beeld

'Bend it Like Beckham' (2001) -

Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra star as Jules and Jess, two soccer-mad London schoolgirls. Jess' strict Indian parents want her to follow her sister's lead and settle down, but all Jess wants to do is be a successful soccer player like her hero David Beckham.

© NL Beeld

'Clueless' (1995) -

Loosely based on Jane Austen's 'Emma,' this iconic '90s movie sees an immaculately-dressed Alicia Silverstone play a teen matchmaker whose attempts at playing cupid don't always go to plan.

© NL Beeld

'Call Me by Your Name' (2017) -

Set in sun-drenched 1980s Italy, this artfully-directed movie is a tale of a precocious 17-year-old musician who falls for the charms of an older American college student.

© NL Beeld

'Easy A' (2010) -

Taking cues from 1850 novel 'The Scarlet Letter,' a high school girl finds her private life under intense scrutiny. But she wears her public 'shaming' as a badge of pride, using her new-found notoriety to boost her social status.

© NL Beeld

'The Edge of Seventeen' (2016) -

Awkward teen Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld) is beside herself with embarrassment when her best friend starts dating her popular older brother. Things go from bad to worse, until she forms an unexpected friendship.

© NL Beeld

'Boyz n the Hood' (1991) -

A powerful movie about race relations and gang violence, this enduringly-popular movie focuses on three young men growing up in a Los Angeles ghetto. 

© NL Beeld

'Mean Girls' (2004) -

The screenplay was written by razor-sharp Tina Fey, so it's no wonder that this smart comedy-drama is packed with killer one-liners. Lindsay Lohan is the home-schooled new kid who falls in with the image-obsessed cool girls.

© NL Beeld

'Son of Rambow' (2008) -

Set during a long English summer during the 1980s, this sweet indie movie sees a boy from an ultra-religious family carve out new friendships outside his protected circle. An uber-cool French kid in town adds to the schoolboy social dramas.

© NL Beeld

'Skate Kitchen' (2018) -

The ups and downs of life as a teenage skater girl come under the microscope in this sassy movie set in New York.

© NL Beeld

'Moonlight' (2018) -

This powerful movie looks at the three time periods–from early adolescence to young adulthood–in the life of a young Black American. Grappling with social issues and his own sexuality, the protagonist has some weighty problems to address.

© NL Beeld

'Superbad' (2007) -

A hilariously cringe-making comedy, 'Superbad' sees high school best buddies attempt to live dangerously before they make the move to college.

© NL Beeld

'Thirteen' (2003) -

On the brink of early adulthood, a clean cut 13-year-old falls in with a cool-but-troubled girl. A series of teen misdemeanours ensues, and mother-daughter relationships are put to the test.

© NL Beeld

'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' (1986) -

Ferris Bueller definitely isn't ready for adulting. In fact, he's not up for taking any responsibility at all. Cue an unscheduled absence from school, and all manner of amusing high jinks.

© NL Beeld

'Remember the Titans' (2000) -

Based on a true story, this is a coming-of-age high school movie with a social conscience. It tells the story of an African-American coach, and the pressures facing students at a newly-integrated school.

© NL Beeld

'Real Women Have Curves' (2002) -

America Ferrera shines as a Mexican-American teen in this engaging movie about a girl facing tough choices between academic ambitions and the weight of family expectations.

© NL Beeld

'Moonrise Kingdom' (2012) -

King of the offbeat comedy, Wes Anderson directs a sweetly-funny tale about two teen lovers. When the pair disappear together, the residents of their 1960s New England town go all out to track them down.

© NL Beeld

'Eighth Grade' (2018) -

A surly 13-year-old takes to YouTube to portray herself as somebody whose life is plain sailing. She dishes out advice via her channel, but has her own issues to address.

© NL Beeld

'Lady Bird' (2017) -

Director Greta Gerwig touchingly captures the pains and pressure of high school senior year. Artistic 16-year-old Christine longs to escape her Sacramento town, and frequently clashes with her well-meaning mother.

© NL Beeld

'Little Women' (2019) -

Gerwig is at the helm again in the 2019 adaption of the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott. It's not the first adaptation, but this version brings the March sisters vividly to life as they go from girlhood to young adulthood.

© NL Beeld

'Rebel Without a Cause' (1955) -

James Dean is the poster boy for tortured teens everywhere in this iconic movie about a boy from a respectable family raging against his stiff upbringing.

Sources: (Film School Rejects) (Glamour)

See also: The best road trip movies of all time

© NL Beeld