HBO's hit series, Euphoria, premiered on the network in 2019, to fan and critical acclaim. The series examines present-day high school students struggling with love, identity, trauma, sex, and drugs. The series is raw and honest and depicts real issues that most teenagers face. The cinematography is stunning and adds a different, stylized element to the series, making it unlike anything that's ever been made about high school and teenage turmoil.
The series has been renewed for a third season, which won't come out anytime soon. While fans anticipate the next season, there are a few movies like Euphoria that can help tide them over during the long wait.
Updated on March 11th, 2022, by Hannah Saab: After the end of its second season, fans are unsurprisingly looking for more shows and films like Euphoria to fill their time. The popular teen drama's fanbase continues to grow, and along with it the demand for similar movies that tell thought-provoking narratives that represent youth culture in provocative ways. There's no shortage of movies like Euphoria that feature similar themes, characters, and stories.
Cruel Intentions (1999)
• Available to rent on Apple TV.
This 90s twisted teen romantic drama Cruel Intentions is based on the French novel "Les Liaisons Dangereuses." Ryan Phillippe and Sarah Michelle Gellar star as stepbrother and stepsister, who abuse their fellow classmates' trust for their own entertainment and place a dangerous bet that Phillippe's character, Sebastian, can't sleep with good girl, Annette, played by Reese Witherspoon. Once the bet is placed, these characters' lives are changed forever.
The way the movie tackles mature topics is similar to some of Euphoria's most controversial aspects, and while some of the things about the late 90s film have aged poorly, it's still worth seeing today.
The Breakfast Club (1985)
• Available to rent on Apple TV.
The Breakfast Club seems a little more wholesome compared to today's entertainment, but at the time of its release, it was a must-see for fans and critics alike because of its honest look at high school and what teenagers go through.
In the movie, starring Molly Ringwald and Emilio Estevez, to name a few, a group of teens is forced to spend Saturday detention together. Being from different social groups, this initially seems like a nightmare for everyone involved, but actually ends up being the best thing that could happen to them. Fans who enjoy the more lighthearted scenes in Euphoria are bound to love this one.
The Greatest Showman (2017)
• Available to stream on Disney+.
Zendaya has been a sought-after talent in the industry for years already. After the premiere of Euphoria in 2019, this actor became not only sought after but even more respected than she already was.
The caliber of talent in this movie is unbelievable, with Zendaya leading the cast. For fans who love this actor and all of the different roles she can play, the musical movie, The Greatest Showman should be considered essential viewing. It showcases yet another impressive side of her in a completely different context.
The Kissing Booth (2018)
• Available to stream on Netflix.
This Netflix teen romantic comedy stars one of Euphoria's breakout stars, Jacob Elordi, who plays Nate, one of the popular boys with a very angry side. Elordi plays a different type of teenager in The Kissing Booth, which also stars Joey King.
In the film, Nate is the object of Elle's affection. When their high school puts on the annual kissing booth at their school fair, Elle and Nate finally get to see if there's a spark between them. It's definitely more wholesome than the kind of antics Nate pulls in the teen drama.
Heathers (1989)
• Available to stream on Amazon Prime.
For fans of the HBO series who love a darker take on high school hierarchy, the late 80s film, Heathers, is the perfect movie for a night in with friends. This film stars a young Winona Ryder, Shannon Doherty, and Christian Slater.
Heathers is about a group of popular girls, who are all named Heather, except for one. This clique of girls finds themselves facing a difficult and scary situation when a new student comes to town and starts killing off all the popular kids. It's a twisted and highly entertaining ride from start to finish, with a touch of humor that fans may be missing from Euphoria.
Alex Strangelove (2018)
• Available to stream on Netflix.
Alex Strangelove is a coming-of-age feature film that tells the story of a teenager named Alex, who begins dating one of his closest friends, Claire, after helping her cope with her mother's cancer diagnosis.
The two teens decide to lose their virginity to one another, but when Alex meets openly gay teenager Elliot at a party, he begins to question his own sexuality and his feelings for both Claire and Elliot. Like Euphoria, it's a film that deals with hard-hitting topics that can be confusing for teenagers to navigate.
American Beauty (1999)
• Available to rent on Apple TV.
American Beauty is another darker look at teenage years that fans of Euphoria are sure to love. It's a film with a lot of twists and turns and tells the story of a man, Lester Burnham, who is going through a mid-life crisis and finds himself falling for and obsessing over his teenage daughter's best friend, Angela.
The film examines similar themes to that of Euphoria, including sex, adolescence, conformity, and beauty. It also has highly stylized moments that are reminiscent of some of the teen drama's memorable scenes.
Thirteen (2003)
• Available to rent on Apple TV.
This award-winning film is a lot like HBO's hit series in its raw and honest look at what it's like to be a teenager in current times. Thirteen, starring Evan Rachel Wood and Nikki Reed (who also co-wrote the movie), is based on Reed's real life as a teenager, and it sparked a lot of conversation upon its release because it wasn't the typical wholesome kids' movie.
Instead, this film showed the darker side of growing up and encouraged parents to have those difficult conversations with their teenagers, much like Euphoria does today.
The Bling Ring (2013)
• Available to rent on Apple TV.
The satirical crime drama The Bling Ring stars Emma Watson, Taissa Farmiga, and Leslie Mann and is based on the true story of a group of teenagers who formed a crime ring. They started burglarizing homes of the rich and famous in Los Angeles in the early 2000s.
Fans of the HBO series will love this more light-hearted take on the trouble teenagers can get themselves into and will definitely want to research the true story this movie is based on, once they're done watching it.
Carrie (1976)
• Available to rent on Apple TV.
This horror classic is one that every Euphoria fan must see because it also takes a dark look at high school, but in a totally different and terrifying way. Carrie stars Sissy Spacek as the title character, who is a teenage girl who is getting bullied at school.
One day, Carrie realizes she has the power to move things with her mind. As she learns more about her new abilities, she also learns she can use them for both good and evil, and on prom night, after the popular kids pull a cruel prank on her, she decides to get revenge.
The Half Of It (2020)
• Available to stream on Netflix.
The Half of It revolves around an initially lighthearted story about Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis), who finds herself writing love letters for Paul Munsky's (Daniel Diemer) crush, Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemiere). Things quickly become complicated when they find themselves tangled up in a love triangle none of them meant to form.
Like Euphoria, the movie tackles important themes like gender identity and doesn't shy away from discussing religion's role in the way sexuality is perceived and accepted. Audiences who aren't fans of the teen drama's gritty depiction may enjoy this film's more amusing (but still meaningful) approach to those subjects.
Girl, Interrupted (1999)
• Available to rent on Apple TV.
Those who are interested in the way Euphoria portrays mental health will likely enjoy the chilling cult classic, Girl, Interrupted. It follows 18-year-old Susanna Kaysen (Winona Ryder) as she checks into a mental health facility and meets Lisa Rowe (Angelina Jolie), who becomes her closest friend during her stay.
Be warned, it's not a film for the faint of heart. The pyschological drama doesn't shy away from frightening (and sometimes questionable) depictions of mental health and the process of getting help and undergoing treatment. It arguably highlights a more cynical and grim perspective compared to the HBO show.
Boyhood (2014)
• Available to rent on Apple TV.
Anyone who is a fan of the coming-of-age genre should see Boyhood at least once. It's centered on Mason Evans Jr.'s (Ellar Coltrane) experiences as he grows up and faces the various and familiar challenges that come with change, adolescence, and parents' imperfect relationships.
Of course, what makes Boyhood truly stand out is the groundbreaking process behind it, as it actually takes place throughout several years and showcases the actors as they age from childhood up to their late teens. Like Euphoria, the film places viewers into young people's perspectives of all the complicated problems that come with growing up.
Lady Bird (2017)
• Available to rent on Apple TV.
Often considered one of Greta Gerwig's best films, Lady Bird tells the story of a Sacramento teen named Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) who struggles with her relationship with her mother as she navigates the complicated experience of preparing for college. It's well-known for its poignant depiction of what it's like to grow apart from and out of what one is used to in search for bigger, more exciting things.
The award-winning film is not as dark or gritty as Euphoria, but it does manage to evoke the same nostalgia and sadness for those who can empathize with its protagonist's story.
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (2012)
• Available to rent on Apple TV.
It's not an overstatement to say that The Perks of Being a Wallflower was one of the most culturally influential films of the early 2010s. The coming-of-age drama movie tells the touching story of Charlie Kelmeckis (Logan Lerman) who tries to fit in with other high schoolers, but thankfully meets friends like Sam Button (Emma Watson) who make the task much less daunting.
Audiences who appreciate Euphoria's thoughtful portrayal of mental health will likely be entertained by this movie, which doesn't shy away from more controversial themes as well. Plus, its rowdy cast of wild characters are easy to root for and fall in love with.