Read more
15. Pitch Perfect (2012)
Director: Jason Moore
Cast: Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Rebel Wilson, Elizabeth Banks
If you didn’t know any better, the first few minutes of Pitch Perfect will have you convinced you’re watching one of those obnoxiously cheery performing-arts dramas a la Step Up – that is, until one character vomits all over the stage in the middle of an acapella competition. In truth, the movie lightly subverts those films where good-looking kids sing and/or dance aggressively at one another, while still managing to actually be a movie about good-looking kids singing at each other. It turned into a surprise box-office sensation, spawned two sequels and one legit hit song: star Anna Kendrick’s ‘Cups.’
Teen movies have been making a comeback in recent years, especially on Netflix, but they've never really gone out of style. These films include Netflix originals along with some old-school picks and serve up everything you’d expect from the genre: heartache, romance, coming-of-age lessons, and the timeless tradition of parties without parental supervision.
01
of 18
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before: A Charming Rom-Com for Fans of All Ages
Netflix
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Starring: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish
Director: Susan Johnson
Motion Picture Rating: TV-14
Runtime: 1 hour, 39 minutes
The setup: Lara Jean's young sister secretly mails the love letters she's written to five crushes. Lara Jean enlists the help of one letter recipient, Peter, to convince neighbor and crush Josh (and fellow letter recipient) that she and Peter are in a relationship and that she’s moved on.
If you’re a rom-com fan of any age, there’s plenty to love in this sweet movie with two follow-up installments.
Watch 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before' on Netflix
02
of 18
The Half of It (2020): A Hopeful Love Story
Netflix
IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Starring: Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Alexxis Lemire
Director: Alice Wu
Motion Picture Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 1 hour, 44 minutes
When a lovesick football player named Paul begs loner Ellie to help him woo popular-girl Aster with a love letter, Ellie finds herself in a confusing love triangle.
This intelligent and sincere story tackles friendship and self-discovery and offers a texting-era twist on Cyrano de Bergerac-style love letters and mistaken identity.
Watch 'The Half of It' on Netflix
03
of 18
Home Team (2022): A Feel-Good Football Comedy Loosely Based on a True Story
Netflix
IMDb Rating: 5.8/10
Genre: Comedy, Sport
Starring: Kevin James, Taylor Lautner
Director: Charles Francis Kinnane, Daniel Kinnane
Motion Picture Rating: PG
Runtime: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Sean Payton has the dubious honor of being the first modern NFL football coach to be suspended for an entire season. During his downtime, he apparently took over coaching his son's football team. This comedy sports film starring Kevin James is based on those real-life events.
Watch 'Home Team' on Netflix
04
of 18
Mirai (2018): A Lovely Animated Film About Family and Time Travel
Toho
IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
Genre: Animation, Adventure
Starring: Rebecca Hall, Daniel Dae Kim, John Cho
Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Motion Picture Rating: PG
Runtime: 1 hour, 38 minutes
This lovely Japanese animated film is an emotional story about family. Kun is a four-year-old boy who has a new baby sister, Mirai. Jealous of the newcomer, he flees to the family's garden, which is magical and allows him to travel through time to meet different versions of his relatives—including the teenaged version of his new sister. Throughout the movie, Kun learns that his family members are people with personalities separate from his own and that he's not quite the center of the universe.
Watch 'Mirai' on Netflix
05
of 18
The Kissing Booth 3 (2021): Elle Evans Goes to College
Netflix
IMDb Rating: 4.7/10
Genre: Romance
Starring: Joey King, Joel Courtney, Jacob Elordi
Director: Vince Marcello
Motion Picture Rating: TV-14
Runtime: 1 hour, 52 minutes
Based on author Beth Reekles' The Kissing Booth novels, this film adaptation sees protagonist Elle Evans preparing for college. With one summer left between her and dorm life, she sets out to fulfill a bucket list with her boyfriend, Noah, and her best friend, Lee. While the films veer too often into rom-com cliche, fans of the novels should enjoy this third outing.
Watch 'The Kissing Booth 3' on Netflix
06
of 18
Vampires vs. The Bronx (2019): Best Gentrification Metaphor Since Candyman
Netflix
IMDb Rating: 5.6/10
Genre: Comedy, Horror
Starring: Jaden Michael, Gerald Jones III, Gregory Diaz IV
Director: Oz Rodriguez
Motion Picture Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 1 hour, 25 minutes
Miguel, Bobby, and Luis are a bunch of normal teens with an unusual problem—vampires have invaded their Bronx community and are eating their neighbors. Plucky teens protect their neighborhood from invading monsters is not a new concept. Vampires vs. the Bronx wears that trope like a comfy blanket. But in between the fun frights and the witty one-liners is a clever meditation on gentrification and whitewashing.
Watch 'Vampires vs. the Bronx' on Netflix
07
of 18
JJ+E (2021): A Swedish Romance About Class and Cultural Barriers
Netflix
IMDb Rating: 5.3/10
Genre: Romance
Starring: Mustapha Aarab, Elsa Öhrn, Magnus Krepper
Director: Alexis Almström
Motion Picture Rating: TV-14
Runtime: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Based on one of the most famous books by the award-winning Swedish author Mats Wahl, JJ+E is a modern-day story about two young people who fall in love despite the cultural and class barriers between them. Elisabeth and John-John couldn't be more different economically and socially, but when they start in the same high school class, they become friends and fall in love. The Swedish setting and actors help put a fresher spin on an old romance trope.
Watch 'JJ+E' on Netflix
08
of 18
Confessions of an Invisible Girl (2021): A Sweet Comedy About Not Fitting In
Netflix
IMDb Rating: 5.2/10
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Starring: Klara Castanho, Júlia Rabello, Stepan Nercessian
Director: Bruno Garotti
Motion Picture Rating: TV-PG
Runtime: 1 hour, 31 minutes
This Brazilian teen film stars Klara Castanho as Tetê, a socially awkward loner who feels unaccepted at school and at home. But, when she's forced to move to a new city and start over at a new school, she tries her best to change her life for the better. This cute comedy will strike a nerve in anyone who's ever felt they don't quite fit in.
Watch 'Confessions of an Invisible Girl' on Netflix
09
of 18
Monster Hunter: Legends of the Guild (2021)—A More Faithful Adaptation of Capcom's Popular Game Series
Netflix
IMDb Rating: 5.4/10
Genre: Animated, Action
Starring: Dante Basco, Erica Lindbeck, Brando Eaton
Director: Steve Yamamoto
Motion Picture Rating: TV-PG
Runtime: 58 minutes
If the 2020 Monster Hunter film adaptation starring Milla Jovovich felt lacking, give this new animated movie a chance. Focusing on the character Aiden (a.k.a the "Excitable A-Lister" last seen in the video game Monster Hunter: World), it promises to stick more faithfully to its source material. During the film, Aiden and his fellow hunters track down and battle a fearsome Elder Dragon to protect their village. Fans of the video game franchise can expect plenty of nods and Easter eggs, and even a quippy, adorable Palico!
Watch 'Monster Hunter: Legends of the Guild' on Netflix
10
of 18
Night Teeth (2021): A Campy Vampire Romp for the College Crowd
Netflix
IMDb Rating: 5.7/10
Genre: Action, Thriller
Starring: Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Debby Ryan, Lucy Fry
Director: Adam Randall
Motion Picture Rating: TV-14
Runtime: 1 hour, 47 minutes
College student Benny wants to make some extra cash, so he's moonlighting as a chauffeur. But when he picks up two mysterious women for a night of bar-hopping, he gets pulled into a secret world of vampires and vampire hunters. While the plot is predictable, the cast is talented. Anyone looking for a campy fun watch could do worse.
Watch 'Night Teeth' on Netflix
11
of 18
Enola Holmes (2020): There’s a New Holmes Detective In Town
Netflix
IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime
Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin
Director: Harry Bradbeer
Motion Picture Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 2 hours, 3 minutes
When 16-year-old Enola's older brothers refuse to help her find their recently missing mother, she heads to London on her own to solve the mystery. This spirited caper will appeal to true mystery-loving Sherlock Holmes fans, or Millie Bobby Brown (from Stranger Things) fans alike.
Watch 'Enola Holmes' on Netflix
12
of 18
Audible (2021): Best Documentary for Teen Athletes Who Want to Be Inspired
Netflix
IMDb Rating: 5.3/10
Genre: Documentary
Starring: Amaree McKenstry-Hall
Director: Matthew Ogens
Motion Picture Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 39 minutes
This documentary short follows teen athlete Amaree McKenstry-Hall, who plays football for the Maryland School for the Deaf. He and his fellow players are on an unprecedented winning streak. During the film, they deal with the stress of protecting it while also struggling with their senior year, their futures in the hearing world after graduation, and the death of a friend.
Watch 'Audible' on Netflix
13
of 18
Skater Girl (2021): A Film About Blazing Your Own Path
Netflix
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
Genre: Drama
Starring: Amy Maghera, Waheeda Rehman, Rachel Saanchita Gupta
Director: Manjari Makijany
Motion Picture Rating: PG
Runtime: 1 hour, 47 minutes
This Indian film is about a young girl who discovers skateboarding and dreams of competing in the sport but faces opposition from her traditional parents and the rest of her village. Meanwhile, the young woman who introduced her to skateboarding seeks to support her and the other village girls by building a skatepark. Skater Girl promises to be a heartwarming story about following your dreams.
Watch 'Skater Girl' on Netflix
14
of 18
Finding 'Ohana (2021): For Anyone Who Misses The Goonies
Netflix
IMDb Rating: 6.1/10
Genre: Action, Adventure
Starring: Kelly Hu, Ke Huy Quan, Lindsay Watson
Director: Jude Weng
Motion Picture Rating: PG
Runtime: 2 hours, 3 minutes
If you're a fan of movies where precocious teens go on an adventure for hidden treasures, you may want to spend a weekend watching Finding 'Ohana. It just might fill that Goonies-sized hole in your heart. The film is about two Brooklyn kids who go to Oahu to take care of their ailing grandfather and discover a pirate's journal that leads to a 200-year-old shipwreck. But, they also learn to appreciate their Hawaiian heritage along the way.
Watch 'Finding 'Ohana' on Netflix
15
of 18
All the Bright Places (2020): An Important Mental Health Conversation Starter
Netflix
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
Genre: Drama, Romance
Starring: Elle Fanning, Justice Smith, Alexandra Shipp
Director: Brett Haley
Motion Picture Rating: TV-MA
Runtime: 1 hour, 47 minutes
Violet and Finch start spending more time together while working on a school project about the wonders of Indiana. While they're both struggling in different ways, they look to each other for solace and hope for the future.
This story highlights the importance of finding support and looking out for one another—a meaningful message for all ages.
Watch 'All the Bright Places' on Netflix
16
of 18
Moxie (2021): A Film About Fighting Toxic School Culture
Netflix
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
Genre: Comedy
Starring: Hadley Robinson, Lauren Tsai, Alycia Pascual-Pena
Director: Amy Poehler
Motion Picture Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 1 hour, 51 minutes
This teen comedy from Parks and Rec comedienne Amy Poehler stars Hadley Robinson as Vivian, a shy 16-year-old who decides to rebel against her school's toxic atmosphere by publishing an underground zine called Moxie. Her writing sparks a movement amongst the female students. While Poehler is relatively new as a film director, she's proven herself a talented comedic writer and actress, making this movie promising.
Watch 'Moxie' on Netflix
17
of 18
Mixtape (2021): A Movie About Discovering Who Your Parents Were
Netflix
IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Starring: Julie Bowen, Gemma Brooke Allen, Nick Thune
Director: Valerie Weiss
Motion Picture Rating: TV-G
Runtime: 1 hour, 33 minutes
Beverly Moody (Gemma Brooke Allen) is an orphan teen being raised by her grandmother. One day, she discovers a broken mixtape her parents made before they died. Seeing this as an opportunity to learn more about her parents, she seeks to find all of the songs on the tape with the help of a quirky neighbor and curmudgeonly record store owner.
Watch 'Mixtape' on Netflix
18
of 18
He's All That (2021): Gender-Flipping a Classic '90s Rom-Com
Netflix
IMDb Rating: 4.3/10
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Starring: Tanner Buchanan, Rachael Leigh Cook, Addison Rae, Matthew Lillard
Director: Mark Waters
Motion Picture Rating: TV-MA
Runtime: 1 hour, 28 minutes
The 1999 rom-com She's All That stars Freddie Prinze. Jr. as a popular high school kid who makes a bet that he can turn a socially awkward art student (Rachael Leigh Cook) into the prom queen. This gender-flipped remake sees a social media influencer (Addison Rae) bet that she can turn a scruffy loner (Tanner Buchanan) into the prom king. Of course, the two fall for each other, which complicates things.