Juno
Between a stellar cast owning the feel and energy that the film seeks to capture and a script that refuses to become overtly caught up in the “issues” at the heart of its story, instead highlighting the humans that engage with those issues, Juno is more than deserving of recognition among the all-time greats.
Precious
Precious is a deeply moving film carried by its front and center performances that has plenty to say about poverty, literacy, and the ways that humanity can overcome in even the darkest of places with the right support systems in place, well-deserving of a place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
The Quiet Girl
The Quiet Girl tells a beautifully crafted story about the impact of love and its importance in children as they develop within a deeply moving narrative that’s sure to stick with you, earning its spot among the film greats.
My Life as a Zucchini
My Life as a Zucchini brilliantly portrays its coming-of-age story with stellar writing and strikingly unique animation, earning a spot among the greats along the way.
Billy Elliot
The characters and story of Billy Elliot, portrayed excellently by its leading cast, turn this coming-of-age tale into something even more universal and topical and earn this film a place among the greats.
An Education
Between its artful, innovative, and unique coming-of-age story and the wonderful performance from Carey Mulligan, An Education more than earns its place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
My Life as a Dog
My Life as a Dog has some of the best characters, performances, and scenes of any coming-of-age film, winning over the audience in its universality despite the seeming uniqueness of its situations, which earns it a guaranteed spot among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Licorice Pizza
The leading performances of Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman help anchor Paul Thomas Anderson’s combination love letter to the 1970s and coming-of-age tale to a place that is worthy of mention alongside the greats of cinema.
Y Tu Mamá También
In these two tales told side by side, Cuarón has crafted one of the most devastating looks at young adulthood and growing up and friendship that still manages to escape nihilism through the life of its most doomed character, earning it an undeniable place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Petite Maman
With Petite Maman, Céline Sciamma tells a simple story full of profound truths about family and grief and loss that begs its audience to care for the humans around them with a sense of openness and understanding, earning itself a spot among the greats in the process.
The Spirit of the Beehive
Erice’s tactful breakdown of fascist ideals and culture in The Spirit of the Beehive takes this film from being just a charming, if tragic, coming-of-age tale and makes it into something great, an critique of a modern political regime against the backdrop of a charming, if tragic, coming-of-age tale.
Trainspotting
Trainspotting is a smashing success of the druggie dramedy genre, offering plenty of social commentary, humor for all types, and compellingly memorable characters on its way to all-time greatness.
Winter’s Bone
Winter’s Bone succeeds on the merits of its top performers and a dedication to tell an authentic story in a setting that feels real and lived-in from writer/director Granik, earning it a place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Short Term 12
The ensemble cast of Short Term 12 help make Destin Daniel Cretton’s beautifully real film into something truly great, full of emotion, originality, and humanity, as it earns a spot on this blog’s list.
Let the Right One In
Let the Right One In is an intentionally crafted film with all parts working in sync to take the audience through its unique story to a conclusion that feels so inevitable by the time it happens because of the craftsmanship that brought it there, making this truly one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
Kiki’s Delivery Service
Miyazaki’s coming-of-age film about a witch who delivers things on a broom achieves its level of greatness through the filmmaker’s consistently excellent animation and a poignant message about passion and commodification that is relevant for all audiences.
Moonrise Kingdom
Moonrise Kingdom is the perfect coming-of-age film, delivering dramatic tension, romantic highs, and comedic situations through its excellent ensemble, brilliant writing, and on-point directorial choices from Wes Anderson, earning it an indisputable spot among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Little Women (1994)
Little Women benefits from perhaps the strongest portrayals of some of its side characters to set it apart from its fellow adaptations; combining with its excellent score and production design, these aspects make the film deservedly one of the Greatest Films of All Time.