Just because a film is made for younger audiences doesn't mean that it can't be complex. Children's television and movies are increasingly being lauded for expertly handling mature themes, and teen films can likewise be both intellectual and inspirational.
Ranker pulled together a list of the best intelligent teen movies and left it up to the fans to decide which ones deserved the top spots. Many of these films are based on works of classical literature, which gives them the chance to translate the classical themes and theories into more accessible mediums. While these films are fun to watch, they also deal with complex moral and political issues, which make them far more than just guilty pleasures.
Note: Please be aware that Ranker's rankings are subject to change as the votes are cast in real-time. As a result, the rankings here may be out of date.
Easy A
Easy A follows Olive Penderghast as she runs a business at school pretending to have sex with her peers. Olive takes inspiration from The Scarlet Letter to claim her new role in the social sphere, despite the protests of her more conservative peers. But when the lies threaten to have long-term repercussions on the people Olive loves, she has to decide whether the truth or her dignity is more important.
The Scarlet Letter is one of those required-reading books that even the most dedicated student tends to struggle through. Easy A provides audiences with several summaries of the book itself, as well as a look at how similar modern society can be to its Puritanical roots when it comes to purity culture.
The Outsiders
The Outsiders follows a group of boys in 1965 Oklahoma as they try to navigate family crises and class divides. After protagonist Ponyboy and his friends and brothers repeatedly get attacked by their rivals, the Socs, one decides to put a stop to the fighting for good. The moment forces them to run away, which triggers events that define each boy for who he truly is, not Greaser or Soc, but human.
The Outsiders was one of the first books to be defined in the "Young Adult" genre, and it presented the idea that adolescents deserved media that reflected the real struggles they might be going through. The Outsiders shows teens that they are not alone in their struggles, and helps them to see the humanity in even their biggest rivals.
Little Women (2019)
Little Women follows four sisters—Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth—as they seek out ideal lives for themselves. Jo helps her sisters through their struggles, both medical and societal, and grapples with her hopes for her life, considering marriage with a few different men as well as what her life could be if she stayed single and found a way to survive on teaching and writing.
While there have been several adaptations of Louisa May Alcott's original book, the 2019 adaptation of Little Women made several changes for the better, which allowed audiences to get a more nuanced portrait of the family. The film looks at the struggles women often have with identity when society is pressuring them to follow a path they may or may not fit on.
Clueless
Clueless follows wealthy and popular Cher Horowitz. After getting a thrill from doing 'good deeds,' Cher decides to give new girl Tai Fraiser a makeover and a lesson in popularity. When Tai's popularity becomes a threat to her own, Cher finds herself struggling with her priorities in life, resulting in her changing the way she approaches life and love.
While certain parts of Clueless didn't age well, most of it still holds up, keeping the young adult issues relevant to current teens. Popularity has its perks, but finding ways to give back to society can do a lot more for the soul. Partially based on Jane Austin's Emma, it's no wonder that the character struggles and lessons learned are so timeless.
Girl, Interrupted
Girl, Interrupted follows Susanna as she navigates life in a psychiatric hospital. Susanna grows closer to fellow patient Lisa, who encourages her to resist her treatments, but a tragedy makes Susanna realize she doesn't want to live the way Lisa does. The film displays the complexities of women with mental illness, attempting to show them their flaws as well as their virtues.
Historically, women who don't fit society's mold get dismissed as crazy, and their very real struggles often get neglected. Furthermore, some mental illnesses can be alluring in their way, promising freedom from the pressures of society. Seeing these issues thoughtfully considered makes Girl, Interrupted a powerful piece of media.
Remember The Titans
Remember the Titans follows Coach Herman Boone as he attempts to lead the newly integrated high school football team to victory. The battle for equality is fought on and off the field, and several members of the team have to decide whether to do what's best for themselves or put the team first.
Even decades later, Remember the Titans is one of the best athlete biopics of all time because it addresses racial tensions, community bonds, and tragic accidents in nuanced, interesting ways. Any sports story about an underdog has the potential to be inspirational, but the layers of personal and societal risks shown make Remember the Titans a classic.
10 Things I Hate About You
10 Things I Hate About You follows the love lives of sisters Bianca and Kat. Bianca isn't allowed to date until Kat does, so she schemes with her various admirers to set Kat up with bad boy Patrick. All seems to be going well until real feelings get involved, and both sisters find that their partners aren't as generous as they had originally thought.
This classic chick-flick is Shakespeare's The Taming Of The Shrew in disguise, though thankfully it toned down a lot of the play's more misogynistic parts. The film deals with classic issues of overprotective parents, sexual pressure, and the importance of being honest in relationships, all of which help prepare teens to be better partners and parents.
The Princess Diaries
The Princess Diaries follows Mia Thermopolis as her life is turned upside down by the discovery that she is secretly the heir to a kingdom. The discovery launches Mia into the spotlight, a place she finds deeply uncomfortable. After several disastrous mistakes, Mia begins to realize the good she could do by accepting the title and taking her place as Princess of Genovia.
There's a lot about The Princess Diaries that fans might not know if they didn't read the books, but the movies do a good job of balancing the struggles of the everyday teenager with the political responsibilities of royalty. At its heart, the films ask what a person owes to society when they acquire power, and how they should try to balance their responsibilities with their own needs.
Bring It On
Bring It On follows Torrance Shipman as she attempts to succeed as cheerleading captain. After the discovery that her predecessor was stealing routines from another team, Torrance has to find a way to make all-new routines in time for their upcoming competitions. Multiple failures cause Torrance to doubt her position, but she eventually gains the confidence to make the team better than ever—athletically and morally.
On the surface, this is a film about the struggle between doing what's right and doing what's easy, but it also has some pretty critical messages about race and privilege in it as well. The movie looks at what happens when underprivileged groups get taken advantage of, and how hard it can be for those who benefitted from that theft to accept responsibility and make it right.
The Princess Bride
The Princess Bride is a fairytale everyone can love, with charismatic fighters, devious foes, and even a little well-earned romance. After losing the love of her life, Buttercup is betrothed to a cruel man she doesn't want to marry. She gets kidnapped by a trio of bandits, thus beginning a series of adventures that may yet end with her finding love again.
Always a classic, The Princess Bride is the kind of movie that turns traditional stories on their heads. Love isn't just a prize given at the end of a story; it's something that must be fought for, even when powerful adversaries stand in the way. The film easily parodies the fantasy genre while keeping up an interesting story in its own right.