Movies We Can All Relate To
Just because coming-of-age movies are often associated with teenagers, school hallways, and awkward first experiences doesn't mean adults can't enjoy them. After all, this genre of films is about being relatable, genuine, and reflective. Here are 5 great options to consider watching for movie night.
1. Lady Bird
Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird is funny, sharp, and honest about the tension between independence and family loyalty. It's an experience everyone has gone through before, and if you're watching as an older adult, you can enjoy its careful look at parent-child relationships and the small misunderstandings that shape them.
2. The Perks of Being a Wallflower
This moving film explores friendship, loneliness, and self-acceptance through the eyes of a quiet freshman. The characters may be young, but their emotional struggles are easily relatable. Adult viewers are sure to appreciate how the story treats healing as gradual, personal, and sometimes complicated.
3. Booksmart
If you're craving something a bit more funny and witty, Booksmart centers on two overachieving friends who decide to have one wild night before graduation. The film is energetic and entertaining, but it still gives real weight to friendship and change. Adults can enjoy its clever humor and its reminder that success doesn't always look the way people expect.
4. Boyhood
Richard Linklater’s Boyhood follows one boy’s life from childhood to college, filmed over many years with the same cast. There aren't any huge dramatic twists, but rather, its appeal comes from appreciating its simple and ordinary moments. For adults, the film offers a thoughtful view of time, family, and the quiet ways people change.
5. Stand by Me
Stand by Me tells the story of four boys who set out on a journey that becomes more meaningful than they first understand. The film balances humor, sadness, and nostalgia in a beautifully balanced way, allowing adults to enjoy its honest portrayal of childhood friendship and the lasting effect of formative experiences.
