swap_horiz Back to School Alternatives

1

El Sur

Victor Erice’s *El Sur* (1983) is a Spanish coming-of-age film exploring childhood memories through a poignant narrative...

Drama Spanish Youth Family

8.5 Great

2

Welcome to the Dollhouse

“Welcome to the Dollhouse” explores the awkward realities of adolescence through the lens of a wealthy suburban family’s...

American Drama Comedy 1990S

8.1 Great

3

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

The film “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” explores the challenges of a thirteen-year-old girl navigating religious...

American Drama Comedy Teen

8.1 Great

4

Good One

Good One is a 2024 American coming of age drama written and directed by India Donaldson. It follows 17 year old Sam as s...

American Drama Family Teen

7.9 Good

5

Gregory's Girl

Gregory's Girl is a 1981 Scottish coming-of-age comedy film written and directed by Bill Forsyth. Set in a fictional Sco...

Comedy Romance British 1980S

7.8 Good

6

River's Edge

River's Edge is a 1986 American crime drama directed by Tim Hunter that follows a group of Northern California teenagers...

American Dark 1980S Suburban

7.8 Good

7

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

*Me and Earl and the Dying Girl* is a 2015 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon and...

American Drama Comedy Teen

7.7 Good

8

Scrapper

Scrapper is a 2023 British comedy-drama film written and directed by Charlotte Regan. The film follows Georgie (Lola Cam...

Drama Family Comedy British

7.7 Good

9

Dope

*Dope* is a 2015 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film written and directed by Rick Famuyiwa. The story follows Malco...

American Crime Comedy Teen

7.6 Good

10

Cooley High

"Cooley High" is a 1975 American coming-of-age comedy-drama directed by Michael Schultz and written by Eric Monte. Set i...

American Drama Comedy 1970S

7.6 Good

11

Saving Face

Saving Face is a 2004 American romantic comedy-drama written and directed by Alice Wu, her feature directorial debut. Th...

American Comedy Romance 2000S

7.6 Good

12

Crooklyn

Crooklyn is a 1994 American semi-autobiographical drama film directed by Spike Lee. Set in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighb...

Nostalgia American Family Urban

7.6 Good

13

The Joy Luck Club

The Joy Luck Club is a 1993 American drama film directed by Wayne Wang and adapted from Amy Tan's 1989 novel. Through in...

American Drama Family Identity

7.5 Good

14

Honey Boy

Honey Boy is a 2019 American coming-of-age drama film written by Shia LaBeouf and directed by Alma Har'el. The script pr...

American Drama Family Trauma

7.5 Good

15

Real Women Have Curves

"Real Women Have Curves" is a 2002 American coming-of-age drama film directed by Patricia Cardoso and based on the stage...

American Drama Family 2000S

7.4 Good

16

Bottoms

"Bottoms" is a 2023 American teen sex comedy film directed and co-written by Emma Seligman. Starring Rachel Sennott and...

American Comedy Teen Queer

7.4 Good

17

Smooth Talk

Smooth Talk is a 1985 American drama film directed by Joyce Chopra and based on Joyce Carol Oates's 1966 short story, "W...

American Drama Danger 1980S

7.4 Good

18

The Way Way Back

The Way Way Back is a 2013 American coming-of-age comedy-drama co-written and co-directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, who...

American Comedy Identity Summer

7.4 Good

19

Summer School

A 1987 American comedy directed by Carl Reiner, starring Mark Harmon as a gym teacher forced to run a remedial English c...

American Comedy School 1980S

6.2 Fair

20

One Crazy Summer

A 1986 American comedy directed by Savage Steve Holland, starring John Cusack as a cartoonist-aspiring teen spending a c...

American Comedy Romance 1980S

5.7 Mediocre