With its dark and authentic feel, Thirteen forever broke the mold for coming-of-age dramas when it was released in 2003. A big reason for this is that Thirteen is partially based on screenwriter and actress Nikki Reed’s life from when she was a young teen. The story follows Tracy (Evan Rachel Wood), a seventh grader in Los Angeles, as she forms a friendship with a troubled classmate. Along the way, Tracy dabbles in drug use, sex, and self-harm, making her story an undeniably dramatic one that arguably crafted the blueprint for every dark coming-of-age movie that came after it.
- Is Nowhere Special True Story? Ending Explained, Plot, Release Date, Trailer, and More
- Extrapolations Season 1 Episode 8 Ending Explained, Release Date, Cast, Plot, Review, Where to Watch, Trailer and More
- Why is Superstore Not on Netflix? Where to Watch Superstore?
- Did the Color Purple Win Any Awards 2024? Everything You Need to Know
- Marry My Husband Episode 1 Ending Explained, Release Date, Cast, Plot, Review, Where to Watch and More
Growing up and figuring out who you are is a difficult task at any age. Some movies like Thirteen accurately portray the trials of growing into a different, more mature person. The transition from childhood to adulthood is rarely an easy one. Still, hopefully viewers can see themselves in the characters and stories that populate the often intense film genre of coming-of-age dramas.
You are watching: The 8 Best Dark Coming-Of-Age Movies Like Thirteen
8
Stand By Me (1986)
Directed By Rob Reiner
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Like
Follow
Followed
Stand By Me
R
Adventure
Drama
10/10
8.3/10
Release Date
November 26, 1986
Runtime
89 minutes
Cast
See All
-
Kiefer Sutherland
-
See more : Who are Madison Prewett Parents? Meet Chad Prewett And Tonya Prewett
Jerry O’Connell
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
Stand by Me might seem like a cliché choice for one of the best dark coming-of-age movies because it’s often seen as a quintessential pillar of the genre. Nonetheless, the film explores the loss of innocence through a haunting, emotionally charged journey. Set in the summer of 1959, the story follows four boys — Gordie, Chris, Teddy, and Vern — who set out to find the body of a missing boy.
While their quest may seem adventurous on the surface, it quickly becomes a deep exploration of trauma, fear, and the harsh realities of life, as each boy carries emotional scars before embarking on their journey. Stand By Me is cemented by an excellent cast, including a nuanced narration from Richard Dreyfuss and thoughtful performances from the child actors, particularly the late River Phoenix.
The boys are forced to confront mortality and the world’s cruelty, experiences that age them far beyond their years.
The film doesn’t shy away from tough topics like death, abuse, grief, and the loss of childhood security. The boys are forced to confront mortality and the world’s cruelty, experiences that age them far beyond their years. Their journey is less about finding a body and more about what they discover about themselves and each other. Unlike typical coming-of-age stories that focus on romance or school milestones, like Thirteen, Stand By Me leans into the darkness of growing up, making it a poignant and unsettling reflection on the end of innocence.
7
The Florida Project (2017)
Directed By Sean Baker
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Like
Follow
Followed
The Florida Project
R
Drama
8/10
Release Date
October 6, 2017
Runtime
111 Minutes
Cast
See All
-
Brooklynn Prince
-
Christopher Rivera
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
While the protagonist of The Florida Project might be a child, she certainly comes of age by the end of the film. The Florida Project, directed by Oscar-winning Anora filmmaker Sean Baker, follows six-year-old Moonee, who lives long-term in a motel near Disney World just outside Orlando. She is looked after by her struggling young mother, Halley, and motel manager Bobby, played masterfully by the incomparable Willem Dafoe.
Related
10 Best Quotes From The Florida Project
Following some of Orlando’s poorest residents, Sean Baker’s The Florida Project will make the audience laugh one moment and cry the next.
Posts
In the film, Moonee is determined to have the summer of a lifetime. Still, she does not understand the desperate situation she and her mother are in, living from week to week in a decrepit motel, known as the Magic Castle Inn and Suite. The only person who seems to take pity on them is Bobby. He tries to make the motel as safe as possible for Moonee and all the other kids living in the shadow of the happiest place on earth.
Meanwhile, Halley is tasked with providing for her child by going into sex work. By the end of The Florida Project, Moonee is forced to grow up and, in a sense, come to terms with what the rest of her life will look like. The film offers a refreshingly honest look at growing up, especially in an unforgiving environment, and Florida is as much a character as Los Angeles is in Thirteen. The Florida Project is colorful in its cinematography and characters, but the somber story is sure to stay with viewers long after the credits roll.
6
To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
Directed By Robert Mulligan
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Like
Follow
Followed
To Kill A Mockingbird
Approved
Crime
Drama
Release Date
December 25, 1962
Runtime
129 minutes
Cast
See All
-
See more : Who are Madison Prewett Parents? Meet Chad Prewett And Tonya Prewett
Gregory Peck
-
See more : Who are Madison Prewett Parents? Meet Chad Prewett And Tonya Prewett
John Megna
-
See more : Who are Madison Prewett Parents? Meet Chad Prewett And Tonya Prewett
Frank Overton
-
See more : Who are Madison Prewett Parents? Meet Chad Prewett And Tonya Prewett
Rosemary Murphy
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
Much like Thirteen, To Kill a Mockingbird concerns a young protagonist who is forced to grow up and become desensitized to the horrific world around her. Based on Harper Lee’s classic novel of the same name, this To Kill a Mockingbird adaptation follows the book closely. In 1930s Alabama, Scout’s dad, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer tasked with defending an innocent Black man, Tom Robinson, who is accused of sexually assaulting a white woman. All the evidence points to Robinson’s innocence, but people still threaten Atticus Finch and even kids, including Scout.
Since she’s caught in the crossfire of a racist time and place, Scout is forced to understand the harsh realities of racism despite being a white child. Make no mistake, by the end, Scout understands that while there are great people like her father in the world, there are people, like Bob Ewell, who would just as well kill a child in the name of racism. Her realization and growth as a character are beautiful and disturbing simultaneously, making To Kill A Mockingbird a devastating look at childhood, race, and having to grow up prematurely.
5
Eighth Grade (2018)
Directed By Bo Burnham
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Like
Follow
Followed
Eighth Grade
R
Comedy
9/10
10/10
Release Date
July 13, 2018
Runtime
93 Minutes
Cast
See All
-
See more : Who are Madison Prewett Parents? Meet Chad Prewett And Tonya Prewett
Emily Robinson
-
See more : Who are Madison Prewett Parents? Meet Chad Prewett And Tonya Prewett
Nora Mullins
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
Eighth Grade captures the raw, often painful reality of adolescence in the age of social media. Written and directed by comedian Bo Burnham, the film follows Kayla Day, a shy and anxious 13-year-old navigating her final week of middle school. Unlike more idealized portrayals of teenage life, Eighth Grade dives deep into the insecurity, loneliness, and quiet desperation that often define this growing stage.
Kayla tries to present a confident version of herself online through YouTube videos, while in real life, she struggles to connect with peers and find her voice. The disconnect between her inner world and the image she tries to project highlights the pressures of performative self-worth in the digital era. It’s fascinating how the film relies upon the close relationship between teens and social media, forcing the audience to look at the often painful time when impressionable minds are beginning to celebrate the falsehoods of social media.
Eighth Grade also explores themes of isolation, social anxiety, and the desperate desire for acceptance. Scenes involving sexual pressure and awkward attempts at fitting in are portrayed with unsettling honesty, making viewers confront the darker, uncomfortable truths of adolescence.
4
Mid90s
Directed By Jonah Hill
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Like
Follow
Followed
Mid90s
7/10
Release Date
October 19, 2018
Runtime
85 Minutes
Director
Jonah Hill
Cast
See All
-
See more : Who are Madison Prewett Parents? Meet Chad Prewett And Tonya Prewett
Sunny Suljic
-
See more : Who are Madison Prewett Parents? Meet Chad Prewett And Tonya Prewett
Lucas Hedges
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
Mid90s, written and directed by actor Jonah Hill, explores the gritty and painful process of adolescence through the lens of a troubled 13-year-old boy named Stevie. Set in Los Angeles during the 1990s, as the title would suggest, the film follows Stevie as he escapes a tense home life that involves an abusive older brother and a distant mother. As a result, Stevie falls in with a group of older skateboarders. What begins as a search for belonging quickly exposes Stevie to a world of drugs, reckless behavior, peer pressure, and emotional turmoil.
Unlike nostalgic or romanticized portrayals of youth, Mid90s doesn’t shy away from showing the harsh realities of trying to grow up too fast. Stevie experiences moments of joy and connection, but they’re often overshadowed by self-destructive behavior and the emotional scars he’s trying to cover up. His desire to be accepted leads him into dangerous situations far beyond his maturity level, making his journey both heartbreaking and unsettling.
Mid90s is dark because it captures how easily kids can lose themselves in the wrong crowd while trying to feel seen, heard, and valued.
The film’s raw style, naturalistic dialogue, and unfiltered look at toxic masculinity and youthful recklessness strip away any glamour. Like Thirteen, Mid90s is dark because it captures how easily kids can lose themselves in the wrong crowd while trying to feel seen, heard, and valued.
3
Boyhood (2014)
Directed By Richard Linklater
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Like
Follow
Followed
Boyhood
R
Drama
Documentary
10/10
10/10
Release Date
June 5, 2014
Runtime
163minutes
Cast
See All
-
See more : Who are Brodie Retallick Parents? Meet Glenn Retallick And Jo Retallick
Ellar Coltrane
-
Patricia Arquette
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
Boyhood is probably better remembered as a cinematic experiment than a coming-of-age classic, but it’s a classic nonetheless. Notably, director Richard Linklater shot the movie over the course of 12 years so that viewers could watch the young protagonist, Mason, grow up. The film offers a straightforward, albeit dramatic, look at Mason’s life. Mason, along with his sister, deals with the fallout of their parents’ broken relationship and quests to construct a new family dynamic. Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette, who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, deliver outstanding performances as the parents.
Related
The 5 Best Supporting Actress Oscar Winners Of The 2020s, Ranked
From Da’Vine Joy Randolph to Zoe Saldaña, some really great actors have won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress throughout the 2020s.
Posts
The story of Mason transforming from a boy into a young man is full of moving authenticity, and its experimental approach to storytelling is surely worth a watch.
2
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (2023)
Directed By Kelly Fremon Craig
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Like
Follow
Followed
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
PG-13
Comedy
Drama
8/10
Release Date
April 28, 2023
Director
Kelly Fremon Craig
Cast
See All
-
Abby Ryder Fortson
-
Rachel McAdams
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. may appear light-hearted on the surface, but it carries a quiet darkness that makes it a deeply resonant coming-of-age film. A near-perfect adaptation of Judy Blume’s classic novel, the story follows 11-year-old Margaret as she navigates puberty, identity, and spirituality—all while feeling caught between childhood and adulthood. What makes the film dark is not overt trauma or violence but the emotional complexity of growing up and the subtle pressures that shape a young girl’s sense of self.
Related
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret’s 10 Biggest Book Changes
Judy Blume’s “Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret” has been adapted into a film and of the many changes made, these are the most significant.
Posts
Margaret’s struggle with religion — torn between her Christian mother and Jewish father — adds a layer of existential confusion. Her whispered prayers to a seemingly absent God reflect an inner loneliness and a desperate need for guidance. As she faces the onset of puberty, body image anxiety, and the pain of social exclusion, the film highlights how isolating and overwhelming adolescence can be.
There’s also a quiet sadness in how the adults around Margaret — particularly her mother and grandmother — project their insecurities and desires onto her, forcing her to navigate emotional responsibilities far beyond her age. The film’s darkness lies in its honesty: it doesn’t shield Margaret from the confusing, often painful parts of growing up. Instead, it embraces them, making her story feel deeply real and universally poignant.
1
Moonlight (2016)
Directed By Barry Jenkins
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Like
Follow
Followed
Moonlight
R
Drama
9/10
10/10
Release Date
October 21, 2016
Runtime
111 Minutes
Cast
See All
-
Janelle Monae
-
See more : Who are Madison Prewett Parents? Meet Chad Prewett And Tonya Prewett
Edson Jean
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
Best Picture-winning Moonlight examines the intersection of identity, trauma, and masculinity through the life of Chiron, a young Black boy growing up in a rough Miami neighborhood. Told in three chapters — childhood, adolescence, and adulthood — the film traces Chiron’s journey as he grapples with poverty, bullying, a drug-addicted mother, and his own suppressed sexuality. The darkness of Moonlight comes from both external hardships and the deep emotional wounds Chiron endures in silence.
As a child, Chiron is painfully shy, already aware of how different he is from other boys. He’s nicknamed “Little” and becomes a target for bullying. In adolescence, he faces increasing violence and isolation as he begins to understand his sexual identity in an environment that punishes vulnerability. The world around him offers few safe spaces — his home is unstable, school is dangerous, and even moments of tenderness come with fear.
Moonlight’s third act reveals the long-lasting impact of trauma. Chiron, now an adult, has built emotional armor around himself, adopting a hardened persona to survive. Like Thirteen, he darkness in Moonlight is not just in its subject matter, but in its atmosphere — quiet, intimate, and heavy with unspoken pain. It’s about the cost of hiding one’s true self and the emotional toll of a world that denies softness to Black boys. Despite its beauty and moments of grace, Moonlight doesn’t shy away from the loneliness and fear of growing up different. It’s a haunting, emotionally raw portrait of coming of age under harsh circumstances.
Thirteen
R
Biography
Crime
Documentary
Drama
Release Date
August 20, 2003
Runtime
100 minutes
Director
Catherine Hardwicke
Writers
Catherine Hardwicke, Nikki Reed
Cast
-
Holly Hunter
-
Evan Rachel Wood
-
Nikki Reed
-
Jeremy Sisto
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Entertainment