Hollywood has produced hundreds of teen films, but there are still very few movies that really reflect what life is like for our teenagers. Here are some films that are not only age appropriate, but can also be enjoyed by everyone.
Mean Girls
Lindsay Lohan plays a home schooled girl who enters high school for the first time. While the film definitely exaggerates school life, the journey Lindsay’s character goes through is completely relatable. The film shows the pressures and difficulties most teenagers face of trying to fit in. It also teaches teens some important lessons; that you shouldn’t strive to be popular and most importantly you should find friends who like you for you.
The Breakfast Club
This 80’s classic highlights the labels teens try to place on one another and proves that deep down inside, all teenagers feel the same and are still trying to figure things out. This film is a must watch for your teen, because it shows that you should never judge a book by its cover and if you take the time to know someone, you might be pleasantly surprised to discover what’s inside.
Clueless
Despite being released in the early 90’s, this film is extremely relatable today. At the start of the film, the main character Cher, who is played by a young Alicia Sliverstone, is like a lot of teenagers today; quite shallow and materialistic. But like many teen films, Cher goes through an important journey of discovering what really matters in the end, while of course bringing the audience along for the ride.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
While it’s never good to encourage your child to skip school for a day, the film can teach your teen some important lessons. This classic reflects the significance of being there for one another and even though life can seem to overwhelm at us times, it is important to put things in perspective. Despite the great one-liners, it’s probably still important to highlight to your child that they shouldn’t fake a sick day just to miss school.
Easy A
The most modern teen film on the list and also a loose adaptation of The Scarlett Letter. Easy A stars Emma Stone who tries to become more popular at her school by spreading lies about herself. Despite being very funny, the film still teaches teenagers an important lesson when it comes to lies. Even though white lies can seem harmless initially, it’s best to be honest from the forefront and most importantly, you should never lie about who you really are just to stand out.
