Summary

• Coming-of-age films from the '90s focus on characters' journeys from one phase of life to the next, resonating with young audiences.
• Films like American Pie and Varsity Blues explore themes of self-discovery and societal pressures faced by young adults.
• The best coming-of-age films from the '90s blend humor and drama, striking a chord with audiences then and continuing to influence decades later.

The 1990s presented numerous coming-of-age stories, many of which still resonate with young audiences today. The best coming-of-age films paint both comedic and dramatic depictions of growing up. Whether the individuals at the center of the story are children or young adults in their 20s, what makes a coming-of-age film is the emphasis on a character's journey from one phase of their life into the next.

Films such as Reality Bites and Dazed and Confused capture the excitement and hardships that accompany their respective character's journeys of self-discovery. Films with a heavier, dramatic tone, such as The Virgin Suicides and Boyz n the Hood, shine a light on tougher subjects, including death. Each of the best coming-of-age films from the '90s struck a chord with young audiences at the time of their release, and they continue to be influential decades later.

10 Empire Records (1995)

An Enjoyable Film With A Soundtrack That Exceeds

While not the most critically beloved coming-of-age film, Empire Records does embody a lot of the youthful '90s spirit. The cast of Empire Records portrays a group of record shop employees who try their best to prevent their store from being sold to a large chain. Empire Records has since grown a cult following, but initial reviews criticized the film for being too predictable and relying far too much on the soundtrack.

However, the soundtrack is what allowed Empire Records to have an impact on its target audience in the '90s. Prominent '90s artists, including Gin Blossoms and The Cranberries, are featured throughout the soundtrack. Additionally, Renée Zellweger, who gave a memorable performance early in her career, provides vocals for the song "Sugar High" by Coyote Shivers.

9 Varsity Blues (1999)

Life Feels Predetermined For A Star Football Player

In Varsity Blues, James Van Der Beek plays Jonathan "Mox" Moxon, a quarterback for a small-town Texas high school football team. Growing up in a community that prioritizes a football career over anything else, Mox navigates the pressure to follow a predetermined path carved out for him by his father and football coach. Varsity Blues is, at times, predictable and isn't full of punchy drama as seen in other fictional football stories, but it's a standard coming-of-age film.

The struggle Mox has fitting within a mold others create for him is an experience many young viewers can relate to. Aside from this, Varsity Blues also excels in creating the small-town feel of West Canaan, Texas. The close-knit, football-obsessed community provides the necessary non-physical barrier that makes it appear near-impossible for Mox to set out on his own path.

8 My Girl (1991)

Exploring The Ways Friendships And Death Impact Young Kids

Shortly after his breakout role as Kevin McCallister in Home Alone, a young Macaulay Culkin starred alongside Anna Chlumsky in My Girl. Known for its balance of comedy and heart, My Girl follows the growing friendship between Culkin's Thomas and Chlumsky's Vada. The two kids spend the summer of 1972 together, accompanying one another in their adventures. While My Girl is ed most for its tear-jerker ending, there are also plenty of components that make it a great coming-of-age story.

My Girl is not a perfect film, but it's wonderfully told through the perspective of a young child. From first kisses to welcoming a new parental figure into one's life, the childlike point of view is never lost.

My Girl is not a perfect film, but it's wonderfully told through the perspective of a young child. From first kisses to welcoming a new parental figure into one's life, the childlike point of view is never lost. However, that's not to say My Girl is a frustrating viewing experience for older audiences. Despite its PG rating, the coming-of-age film strikes the perfect balance between youthful and mature themes fit for a wide range of audiences to enjoy.

7 Reality Bites (1994)

A Realistic Look At Life After College

After graduating from college, young adults are expected to have every area of their lives sorted out, but that's not always how things work out. Reality, as the film's title suggests, bites! The transition out of college life is the subject of Ben Stiller's feature directorial debut. The coming-of-age film follows a group of 20-something-year-olds, led by Ethan Hawke and Winona Ryder, in their lives after college graduation.

Ryder's Lelaina Pierce has dreams of becoming a documentarian and begins filming her friends' lives. In addition to the harsh reality of life after college, Reality Bites also touches upon topics that greatly impacted Generation X, the generation largely associated with the film. The seriousness of such topics addressed in Reality Bites ranges from the introduction of MTV to the fear and stigma around AIDS.

6 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

A Modern Spin On A Shakespearean Classic

There are numerous romantic comedies from the '90s that fall under the coming-of-age genre, but one of them sures the others just a bit because of its source material. 10 Things I Hate About You is a loose and modern adaptation of William Shakespeare's comedy The Taming of the Shrew. The film follows high school students who devise a plan to get Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles) to date, allowing her younger sister Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) to date as well.

10 Things I Hate About You isn't without its flaws, but its clever script has everything that makes a great coming-of-age story. The teen film has its characters falling in and out of love and confronting the perceptions their high school peers have of them. It's all topped off with a catchy rock-influenced soundtrack and a memorable serenade performance of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" by Frankie Valli.

5 American Pie (1999)

Inexperienced Friends Rush To Have Sex Before Graduation

Hoping to finish high school as experienced as their peers, American Pie follows a group of students seeking to lose their virginity before they graduate. Due to the raunchy humor in American Pie, it wasn't warmly received by critics upon its initial release. However, the performances of the film's ensemble cast were praised by critics. Comedic actors including Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, and Eugene Levy are just a few individuals who provided their talents for the film.

American Pie was a success at the box office and is now viewed as one of the best comedies of all time, particularly in the coming-of-age genre. Multiple American Pie sequel films were released in the years following the first, and while there are redeeming qualities to the sequels, none were able to make as big of an impact on pop culture.

4 What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)

A Young Man’s Life Is Restricted By Responsibilities

The titular character in What's Eating Gilbert Grape is a 25-year-old man who is tasked with caring for his morbidly obese mother, Bonnie, and younger brother with intellectual disabilities, Arnie. What's Eating Gilbert Grape is a tough look at the impact such a heavy responsibility has on Gilbert. However, there are moments of levity in the film, in part due to Arnie. Played by Leonardo DiCaprio, Arnie is positive and well-intentioned, despite his older brother feeling constant guilt and frustration while caring for Arnie.

What's Eating Gilbert Grape says a lot about the pressure being a caretaker has on someone in their early 20s, and while the film is full of strong performances from its cast, the standout performance is by DiCaprio. Arnie is the heart of the film and DiCaprio plays the character with a great amount of respect and emotional consideration. DiCaprio's performance earned the film its only Academy Award nomination and his first at just 19 years old.

3 The Virgin Suicides (1999)

Mystery Surrounds A Household Run By Strict Parents

Overprotective parents are common characters in films about teens and young adults. While the adolescent characters in these films might rebel by staying out past curfew or running away from home, the Lisbon sisters in The Virgin Suicides take another route. Directed by Sofia Coppola in her directorial debut, The Virgin Suicides follows the lives of the Lisbon sisters and tells one of the heavier stories about the hardships experienced at a young age.

Based on Jeffrey Eugenides' novel of the same name, the sisters in The Virgin Suicides aren't meant to be distinct characters and are only depicted as how others, particularly male characters, view them. Yet, Coppola's film invites audiences into the parts of the girls' lives unseen and not idealized by others. The reality is harrowing as the girls feel suffocated under their parents' control, resulting in a final decision that allows them to feel a sense of control over their decisions.

2 Dazed And Confused (1993)

Various Adventures Transpire On The Last Day Of School

Made up of an impressive ensemble cast that would go on to have successful film careers, Richard Linklater's Dazed and Confused spends a few fun hours with various students after the last day of classes at a Texas high school in 1976. Hazing incoming freshmen and driving around through local neighborhoods are just a few of the activities that take place as the summer kicks off. Dazed and Confused perfectly captures the search for adventure and freedom that comes after the burden of schoolwork is lifted.

McConaughey wasn't the type of actor Linklater envisioned for the role of David Wooderson, but he quickly made the character his own.

Ben Affleck, Parker Posey, Renée Zellweger, and Matthew McConaughey are just a few of the recognizable faces in Dazed and Confused. McConaughey's best roles.

1 Boyz N The Hood (1991)

A Realistic Look At The Effects Of Gang Culture On Teens

Drawing inspiration from his experiences growing up, John Singleton's Boyz n the Hood tells the story of a neighborhood in Los Angeles impacted by the rise of gang culture and the consequences it has on its local teenagers. Due to Singleton's proximity to the subject, the narrative of Boyz n the Hood approaches the lifestyle with consideration. The film doesn't glamorize gang activities and doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of them.

The experiences addressed in Boyz n the Hood aren't often a topic of discussion in popular coming-of-age stories, but this gives the film room to stand apart from others in the genre. Boyz n the Hood has received widespread praise over the years and Singleton became one of the few Black directors nominated for Best Director at the Academy Awards, accompanying others such as Barry Jenkins and Spike Lee. Boyz n the Hood also launched the careers of many of its stars, including Ice Cube, Morris Chestnut, and Angela Bassett.

John Singleton also co-created and directed several episodes of Snowfall (2017).