George Lucas's American Graffiti is considered a cult classic even after almost fifty years since its release. With some cast members like Ron Howard and Harrison Ford who were just at the beginning of their careers, American Graffiti is a unique film and one of the rare coming-of-age stories that were made at the time.

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Obviously, its box office and critical success (as well as a number of major awards nominations and wins) can be attributed to its high production quality... and to nostalgia. Indeed, the movie uses it in a smart and original way, but there are still some similar coming-of-age comedies that have a similar atmosphere.

Mean Girls (2004)

Mean Girls

Among classic teen comedies, Mean Girls is probably the most iconic. At the time of its release, there have been already many coming-of-age comedies before it - too many of them, actually. But Mean Girls managed to be original anyway and was a massive success at the box office.

Lindsay Lohan plays the sixteen-year-old Cady who has been homeschooled her entire life while living in Africa with her parents. With her first time at school, she attracts the attention of the local Queen Bees called The Plastics (played by Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried, and Lacey Chabert).

Booksmart (2019)

Molly and Amy drive to graduation in Booksmart

Among the most recent releases is Olivia Wilde's directorial debut - 2019's Booksmart. As simple as it may be, the movie was a critical success and even earned Beanie Feldstein a Best Actress nomination at the Golden Globes.

Amy and Molly (played by Kaitlyn Dever and Feldstein) are long-time friends and high school seniors who are considered bookish and pretentious by their peers. Right before graduation, the two decide to go to a party after acknowledging they should have enjoyed high school more.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Characters Patrick and Kat in 10 Things I Hate About You

Like many coming-of-age movies of its time, 10 Things I Hate About You is a modern reimagining of a classic William Shakespeare work - The Taming of the Shrew. Considered a cult classic, it gave Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt their breakout roles.

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A new student at school Cameron is absolutely mesmerized by a fellow student Bianca. But the girl can't date Cameron because of her strict father. To solve the issues, Cameron decides to make bad boy Patrick ask Bianca's older sister Kat out which will help Cameron get Bianca.

Lady Bird (2017)

Saoirse Ronan in the lead role as Christine in Lady Bird

Perhaps one of the most visible movies of the past few years, Lady Bird was a huge success both critically and commercially earning its director Greta Gerwig Academy Award nominations both for Best Director and for Best Original Screenplay along with nominations for Best Picture, Best Actress (Saoirse Ronan), and Best Supporting Actress (Laurie Metcalf).

Ronan plays a high school senior Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson going through her last year at school (set in 2002-2003). Lady Bird has a strained relationship with her mother, a long-time best friend she loves, and a need to escape her hometown Sacramento.

Superbad (2007)

Superbad

Considered one of the best comedies of the 21st century, Superbad was a massive critical and commercial success upon its release with the two leads - Jonah Hill and Michael Cera - getting particular praise for their performances and the onscreen chemistry between them.

Hill and Cera play Seth and Evan, two high school seniors about to graduate. But before they do, the two friends decide to lose their virginity and set out on a journey full of mishaps.

Dazed and Confused (1993)

McConaughey and other actors standing against the colorful wall in Dazed and Confused

Though nowadays Dazed and Confused is considered a cult film, it was actually a hit at the box office when it was first released. Still, Richard Linklater's masterpiece is one of the most well-known coming-of-age movies ever made, in part, perhaps, thanks to the early appearances of the soon-to-be stars like Matthew McConaughey, Milla Jovovich, and Ben Affleck.

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Set during the last day of school on May 28, 1976, the movie follows a group of Texas teenagers as they go through the tradition of hazing, hang out at parties, and enjoy teenage life.

The Breakfast Club (1985)

The Breakfast Club

Like many other works of John Hughes, The Breakfast Club is considered to be one of the best coming-of-age movies ever made. It was a massive critical and commercial success as well as later being cited as one of the best 1980s films ever made.

Five high schoolers from different cliques get detention and now have to spend a Saturday together under the supervision of their strict assistant principal.

Little Women (2019)

The March sisters in Little Women

Another movie directed by Greta Gerwig, Little Women is an adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel. Though its critical and commercial success is truly remarkable (with the film also getting six Oscar nominations and winning one of them for Best Costume Design), its cast is very impressive including Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothee Chalamet, Meryl Streep, and Louis Garrel among others.

The movie tells the story of the March family and particularly the four sisters living in Concord, Massachusetts in the 19th century.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

The art gallery scene in Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Like The Breakfast ClubFerris Bueller's Day Off is considered to be one of John Hughes's best works. It was a great success at the time, both critically and commercially, and over time developed a cult status of its own.

Set in suburban Chicago, the movie focuses on the high school slacker Ferris Bueller who decides to skip school and persuades two of his best friends to join him.

Almost Famous (2000)

Penny Lane smiling in Almost Famous

Though it wasn't successful commercially, Almost Famous was acclaimed by critics and received four Academy Award nominations winning for Best Original Screenplay. It went on to be considered one of the best films of the 2000s.

Set in the early 1970s, the story follows a teenage journalist who sets out to write a cover story for Rolling Stone magazine about a fictitious band named Stillwater.

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