The Most Underrated Coming-of-Age Movies of the 2010s, Ranked

10. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"

Ever been the outsider? Meet Charlie. Freshman year, here he comes. He's got baggage, the kind you can't check in at airports. Now, he befriends two seniors, Sam and Patrick. And boy, do things take a turn.

Dance routines, Rocky Horror, and mixtapes (Ah, the good ol' days). Through letters, he spills his guts. Intimate. Raw. Would you write letters in the age of instant messaging? Charlie did. And perhaps, we should too.

9. "Moonlight"

A journey, in three acts. Chiron, navigating life in Miami. From a bullied kid to a teen grappling with his identity and, finally, a full-grown man. Three stages, three actors, one story.

It's tough, gritty, and not your usual coming-of-age flick. Drugs, toxic masculinity, and moments of tenderness shine under the Miami moonlight. Is the moonlight ever deceptive? Perhaps, but Chiron's journey under it is as real as it gets.

8. "Eighth Grade"

YouTube. A platform for all. Kayla, a 13-year-old, offers life advice. Ironic? Maybe, given she's struggling with her own eighth-grade life. School, crushes, and pool parties – what's not to stress about?

Navigating teenage years with social media as a backdrop? A modern minefield. Acne, awkwardness, and affirmations. You think you had it rough in middle school? Spend an hour or two with Kayla. You might change your tune.

7. "Booksmart"

High school's end is nigh. Amy and Molly, besties, soon realize they've missed out. Party? They hardly know the meaning of the word. Determined to cram four years of fun into one night? It's a wild idea, but so are they.

Parties, misunderstandings, and a touch of hallucination (Don't ask). Is the last hurrah ever as expected? Seldom. But the memories? Priceless.

6. "Midsommar"

A holiday in Sweden, they said. It'll be fun, they said. Dani, reeling from personal tragedy, joins her boyfriend and his pals on a trip. A rural Swedish village. Looks innocent, right? Wrong. Pagan rituals, eerie festivities, and, oh, it's perpetually daylight.

A breakup movie masquerading as a horror. What do you do when a vacation turns into a nightmare? Run? Stay? Join the dance? The choices are... unsettling.

5. "Call Me By Your Name"

Alright, transport yourself to the 80s. Northern Italy, sun-kissed orchards, and languid summer afternoons. Enter Elio, a precocious 17-year-old, and Oliver, an American scholar staying with Elio's family. Sparks fly, things heat up, and apricots? They're involved.

The Italian backdrop? Merely a canvas for their budding romance. Summertime flings can cut deep, and this one's no exception. Would you remember a summer love decades later? Who knows.

4. "The Edge of Seventeen"

High school drama alert! Nadine's life isn't a bed of roses. And when her best friend starts dating her brother? It's an all-out catastrophe. Hormones rage, words are hurled, and friendships teeter. A sympathetic teacher, an unlikely friendship, and texting misadventures.

Is seventeen truly the edge? Feels like it. And Nadine's on a rollercoaster without a safety harness.

3. "Boyhood"

Filmed over 12 years. Yes, you read that right. Dive into the life of Mason, from a boy to a man. Moving homes, school fights, first loves, and camping trips.

Growing up is messy, and this movie doesn't shy away from it. Watching an actor age on screen? It's groundbreaking. But isn't life itself groundbreaking, in its quiet, unassuming way?

2. "Mid90s"

Skateboards, baggy jeans, and a lot of grunge. Stevie, a 13-year-old in LA, finds solace among a group of skaters. New tricks, broken bones, and brushes with the law. It's the 90s, alright.

Parties, friendships, and a lot of growing pains. Does skateboarding offer an escape or a deeper dive into reality? Stevie's journey might hold the answer.

1. "Lady Bird"

Alright, here's the 411. Christine, a feisty teen, rebrands herself as "Lady Bird". Why? Beats me. Maybe it's a bird thing. She's in a Catholic high school in Sacramento and itching for change. She's got dreams of New York, where culture's apparently at its zenith.

Love, heartbreak, and a turbulent bond with mom – all in the mix. It's a teen's life on steroids. The drama? It never stops. Is Sacramento truly the Midwest of California? Christine might think so, but I'll leave the verdict to you.