Amy Poehler's sophomore directorial feature, Moxie, has remained one of Netflix's most-viewed movies since making its platform premiere on March 3, 2021. The film joins a long line of coming-of-age high-school dramedies that revolve around a shy and angst-ridden teenager looking to break out of their shell, find a voice, and help foster change within herself and those closest around them.
Moxie also promotes inclusion, diversity, feminism, individuality, and deep-rooted friendship that withstands hardship. Teenage movies have come a long way since becoming a popular subgenre of films in the 1980s, but Moxie remains in good company.
Can't Buy Me Love (1987)
The core conflict in Moxie is the secret identity of Vivian (Hadley Robinson), a timid 11th-grader who decides to write a feminist zine to combat her male classmates' chauvinism. In Can't Buy Me Love, a similar secret kickstarts the plot.
Ronald Miller (Patrick Dempsey) is a geeky straight-A student who wants nothing more than to hang out with the popular crowd. When Cindy (Amanda Peterson), the most popular girl in school, agrees to pose as Ronald's fake girlfriend in exchange for a financial favor, he becomes the most popular boy in school until he learns there is no price for true love.
Skate Kitchen (2018)
Crystal Moselle's Skate Kitchen revolves around Camille (Rachelle Vinberg), a lonesome teenage Latina who finds her tribe among a group of young and diverse skater girls in New York City.
Intimidated by the more mature crowd who indulge in sex and drugs, Camille slowly shows her true colors and makes meaningful bonds with fellow skater, Janay (Dede Lovelace), and her romantic interest, Devon (Jaden Smith). In between a love triangle with Devon and Janay, Camille also overcomes her contentious relationship with her strict single mother.
Raising Victor Vargas (2002)
Peter Sollet's heartfelt indie dramedy, Raising Victor Vargas, traces the tumultuous life of Victor (Victor Rasuk), a girl-obsessed teenager living with his abnormal family in Lower Eastside Manhattan.
Cramped in a tiny apartment with his stern grandma, temperamental sister Vicki (Krystal Rodriguez), and little brother Nino (Silvestre Rasuk), Victor begins pursuing Judy (Judy Marte), a girl who denies his advances at first. Victor ingratiates himself with Judy's little brother as a way of getting closer to her, leading to a romantic union that backfires at a family dinner.
Love, Simon (2017)
Love, Simon also hinges on a personal secret held by its titular protagonist. Simon Spier (Nick Robinson) is a closeted gay teenager who learns to accept who he is and finds the courage to tell his closest loved ones the truth about his identity.
When Simon begins forging a friendship with an unidentified boy name Blue via email, they cannot hide their romantic feelings for one another for long. Simon attempts to uncover Blue's true identity, even after he's outed by a blackmailing classmate.
Better Luck Tomorrow (2002)
Moxie has an underlying theme of youth rebellion, a subject that Justin Lin explored among Asian-American teenagers to a much starker degree in his sophomore film, Better Luck Tomorrow.
The story revolves around Ben (Parry Shen), a fastidious Asian-American student who is obsessed with good grades and a perfect SAT score. Tired of their traditional expectations, Ben and his friends begin a life of criminal activity that spirals into abject chaos when they begin doing drugs, stealing items, selling test-answers at school, and exacting violence.
Dope (2015)
Rick Famuyiwa's Dope is a fun and refreshing coming-of-age tale that works as a companion piece to his 1999 film, The Wood. Both films take place in Inglewood, California, and trace the evolved maturation of a trio of endearing high-school best friends.
Dope focuses on Malcolm (Shameik Moore), a stereotype-defying Black teenager who hangs out with his fellow nerdy best friends Diggy (Kiersey Clemons) and Jib (Tony Revolori). After attending a wild L.A. party, the trio gets mixed up in a dangerous drug deal that forces Malcolm to reassess who he is and stick to his true identity.
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
The feminine mystique of Vivian in Moxie is outmatched by Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles) in 10 Things I Hate About You, a man-hating intellectual who is forced to reexamine her ideology upon meeting disreputable outcast, Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger).
Adapted from Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, the film focuses on Kat's younger sister, Bianca (Larisa Oleynik), who is not allowed to date unless Kat does as well. A conniving blackmail plot to get Kat to date Patrick ensues, but the ruse backfires when Kat discovers the reasoning behind it.
The Hate U Give (2018)
Directed by George Tillman Jr. and adapted from the Angie Thomas novel, The Hate U Give is a sobering yet uplifting coming-of-age film about Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg), a Black teenager who challenges the status quo of her all-white prep school following an unjust police shooting.
When Starr's unarmed best friend, Khalil (Algee Smith), is fatally shot by police after a traffic stop, she keeps her involvement as a key witness a secret from her closest friends for as long as she can. When the officers are not held accountable for Khalil's death, Starr takes a public stand to end racial injustice among law enforcement.
Pretty In Pink (1986)
John Hughes has been praised for making one of the most authentic high-school movies of all time. Directed by Howard Deutch, Hughes' script for Pretty in Pink explores teenage angst, romance, heartache, bullying, and ultimate friendship.
The stylish Andy (Molly Ringwald) is from the less privileged side of the tracks, spending her days with her best friend, Duckie (Jon Cryer). When the handsome rich boy Blane (Andrew McCarthy) shows interest in Andy as prom approaches, she challenges her preconceived notions of him and his horrendous best friend, Steph (James Spader).
Ghost World (2001)
Few films have captured the feeling of teenage alienation and isolation more than Terry Zwigoff's Ghost World. Based on the Daniel Clowes comic series of the same name, the story centers on Enid (Thora Birch) and her best friend, Rebecca (Scarlet Johansson), as they drift apart following high-school graduation.
With divergent paths and life goals coming into focus, Enid begins spending time with the lonely and pathetic Seymour (Steve Buscemi), while Rebecca gets a job and makes plans for college. At an existential crossroads, Enid faces an uncertain future.