If you loved the raunchy humor and heartfelt coming-of-age story in the 2019 comedy hit Good Boys, you’re probably looking for more movies that deliver big laughs while capturing the ups and downs of growing up. Good Boys follows three 12-year-old friends – Max, Lucas, and Thor – as they navigate the awkwardness of adolescence while getting into all sorts of R-rated misadventures in their quest to attend a cool party.
The movie perfectly balances crude gags with surprisingly sweet and relatable moments about friendship and self-discovery. It’s a winning formula that has fueled many other great coming-of-age comedies over the years. So if you’re craving more hilarious movies in the spirit of Good Boys, check out these 18 films that also mine comedy gold from the messy, confusing, wonderful time known as growing up:
1. Superbad (2007)
No list of movies like Good Boys would be complete without mentioning Superbad, the 2007 teen comedy classic that clearly inspired a lot of the humor and heart in Good Boys. Written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, Superbad follows two high school seniors, Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera), on a wild quest to buy alcohol for a party, impress their crushes, and enjoy one last hurrah before college.
Along with their nerdy friend Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), who hilariously gets a fake ID with just the single name “McLovin”, the guys encounter all sorts of crazy obstacles, from a pair of irresponsible cops to a shady adult party. But amid the crass jokes and wacky scenarios, Superbad also touchingly captures the bittersweet emotions of friends facing a major life transition. It set the gold standard for raunchy-but-sweet coming-of-age comedies.
2. Booksmart (2019)
Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut Booksmart puts a fresh spin on the teen party comedy. On the eve of high school graduation, two overachieving best friends, Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein), realize they spent so much time studying that they missed out on fun. Determined to make up for lost time, they set out to cram four years of missed experiences into one epic night.
Their misadventures include accidentally ending up at the wrong party on a yacht, an encounter with their school’s resident mean girl, and an eye-opening Lyft ride with their principal. Like Good Boys, Booksmart earns huge laughs from its leading duo’s innocence and determination as they navigate the wilds of teenage social life. But it’s also a heartfelt, empowering story about female friendship and living life to the fullest.
3. The Sandlot (1993)
A classic coming-of-age sports comedy, The Sandlot follows a group of young baseball-loving friends over the course of one memorable summer in the early 1960s. New kid in town Scotty Smalls (Tom Guiry) is taken under the wing of the leader of the neighborhood sandlot team, Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez (Mike Vitar).
As Smalls learns to play ball and bonds with his new friends, they get into a series of misadventures, most memorably involving a massive dog they call “The Beast” and Smalls accidentally losing his stepdad’s prized Babe Ruth-signed baseball. With its sweet nostalgia for childhood summers and themes of friendship, courage and growing up, The Sandlot is a home run of feel-good comedy.
4. Blockers (2018)
Blockers flips the script on the typical teen sex comedy by focusing on the parents. Single mom Lisa (Leslie Mann), overprotective dad Mitchell (John Cena), and divorced Hunter (Ike Barinholtz) discover that their teenage daughters have made a pact to lose their virginity on prom night. Determined to stop them, the parents set out on a crazy quest to track the girls down and “block” them.
Their misguided mission leads to all sorts of awkward and hilarious situations as the adults confront the realities of their daughters growing up. While extremely raunchy and bawdy at times, Blockers is also refreshingly progressive, sex-positive, and sensitive in its depiction of teen sexuality and parent-child relationships. It’s a smart, funny look at learning to let go.
5. Wet Hot American Summer (2001)
A cult classic comedy, Wet Hot American Summer is set on the last day of a wild summer camp in 1981. It follows the crazy antics of the camp counselors, including horny teens, stoner mentors, and clueless adults, as they hook up, put on a talent show, save the camp from a falling space station, and more.
The absurdist humor is brought to life by an all-star comedic cast including Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Molly Shannon, Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Amy Poehler, and Bradley Cooper in one of his first film roles. Like the kids in Good Boys, the counselors of Wet Hot American Summer may not always make the best decisions, but their youthful enthusiasm and bonding through bizarre adventures is highly entertaining.
6. Dazed and Confused (1993)
Richard Linklater’s 1993 cult hit Dazed and Confused follows a group of Texas high schoolers on the last day of school in 1976. The film is a hazy, nostalgic slice of life that captures the feeling of aimless adolescence and the importance of savoring fleeting moments with friends.
There are keg parties, freshman hazing rituals, cruising, and existential conversations, all set to an incredible soundtrack of classic rock hits. The ensemble cast includes early appearances by Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey, Parker Posey, and Milla Jovovich. While more laidback in its approach than the manic energy of Good Boys, Dazed and Confused is a defining film about the joys and restlessness of youth.
7. Smiley Face (2007)
This stoner comedy puts a unique spin on the “one crazy day” movie trope. Jane (Anna Faris), an aspiring actress and unabashed pothead, accidentally eats a whole plate of cannabis cupcakes and embarks on a bizarre series of misadventures across Los Angeles while extremely high.
Her impaired antics include inadvertently stealing money from her dealer, trying to replace the cupcakes, auditioning for a commercial, and getting into an altercation with a bus driver. Propelled by Faris’s hilariously committed performance, Smiley Face is a silly, loose, unpredictable ride that captures the giddy, surreal experience of being out of your mind.
8. Pineapple Express (2008)
A classic of the stoner action-comedy genre, Pineapple Express stars Seth Rogen as Dale, a process server and cannabis enthusiast, and James Franco as his spacey dealer Saul. After Dale accidentally witnesses a murder by a drug lord and a corrupt cop, he and Saul go on the run and get caught up in a violent series of events.
Their weed-fueled misadventures include a fight with teenage girls, blowing up a drug den, and facing off against hitmen, all while bickering like an old married couple. Pineapple Express delivers big laughs and gonzo action, but also touchingly depicts Dale and Saul’s growing friendship as they survive this insane ordeal together.
9. Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)
The misadventures of two stoner buddies are also at the center of this 2004 cult comedy. Harold (John Cho), a strait-laced investment banker, and Kumar (Kal Penn), a free-spirited med school candidate, get high one night and embark on an epic quest to satisfy their craving for White Castle burgers.
Their increasingly weird obstacles include a rabid raccoon, racist cops, a horny Neil Patrick Harris, and an escaped cheetah. While very crude and silly, Harold & Kumar also slyly tackles stereotypes and identity issues as its Korean-American and Indian-American heroes navigate the bizarre landscape of New Jersey suburbia. It captures the joys of cutting loose with your best friend.
10. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
John Hughes’ classic 1986 comedy celebrates the art of playing hooky. Charming high school senior Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) is determined to have one final legendary day off before graduation. With the help of his anxious best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) and girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara), Ferris concocts an elaborate scheme to skip school and spend the day tearing up Chicago.
From joyriding in a vintage Ferrari to performing in a parade, Ferris lives by the motto “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” His quest to make the most of his youth leads to many iconic moments and near misses with school authorities. It’s a fun, nostalgic ode to friendship and seizing the day.
11. American Pie (1999)
The raunchy 1999 hit American Pie launched a franchise and became a defining teen sex comedy. The film follows a group of high school seniors, led by Jim (Jason Biggs), who make a pact to lose their virginity by prom night. Their horny hijinks include webcam mishaps, an unfortunate incident with an apple pie, and awkward attempts at seduction.
While extremely lewd and crude, American Pie also has a good heart as it explores the insecurities and pressures around teen sexuality. The likeable young cast, including early roles for Alyson Hannigan, Seann William Scott, and Eugene Levy, grounds the over-the-top comedy with relatable characters you root for, much like the earnest kids of Good Boys.
12. Risky Business (1983)
Tom Cruise became a superstar with this 1983 classic about a straight-arrow teen who gets in over his head while his parents are away. Joel (Cruise) is a sheltered rich kid determined to have some fun while left home alone. He embarks on an affair with a beautiful sex worker named Lana (Rebecca De Mornay), but events spiral out of control when he crashes his dad’s Porsche and ends up turning his house into a brothel to pay off the damage.
Risky Business mixes titillating comedy with a satirical look at upper-class privilege and the pressures of adolescence. Cruise’s magnetic performance, especially in the iconic underwear dance scene, made him an instant icon. Like Max in Good Boys, Joel learns some important, humbling life lessons on his bumpy path to maturity.
13. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)
Judd Apatow’s breakout hit The 40-Year-Old Virgin proves that coming-of-age stories can happen at any age. Steve Carell stars as Andy, a middle-aged electronics store worker who has never had sex. When his co-workers discover his secret, they embark on a mission to help him finally lose his virginity.
Andy endures many awkward dates and humiliating mishaps in his quest to seal the deal. But he also starts to come out of his shell, confront his insecurities, and open himself up to real intimacy with a single mom named Trish (Catherine Keener). Carell’s lovable underdog performance anchors the film’s raunchy humor with a genuine sweetness. Like the kids in Good Boys, Andy learns that relationships are less about sex than about vulnerability and being true to yourself.
14. Eighth Grade (2018)
Comedian Bo Burnham’s directorial debut Eighth Grade is an unflinchingly honest look at adolescent angst in the social media age. Elsie Fisher stars as Kayla, a painfully shy 13-year-old stumbling her way through the last week of middle school. She posts self-help videos online that get no views, crushes on oblivious boys, and struggles to connect with the other girls.
Burnham captures the raw, awkward realities of early teenhood with empathy and insight. He finds both humor and heartbreak in Kayla’s fumbling attempts to define her identity and find her place in an unforgiving social hierarchy. Like Good Boys, Eighth Grade is a funny, cringe-inducing, ultimately poignant portrait of the universally relatable challenges of growing up.
15. Weird Science (1985)
John Hughes puts a sci-fi spin on the teen sex comedy with Weird Science. Nerdy best friends Gary (Anthony Michael Hall) and Wyatt (Ilan Mitchell-Smith) are hopeless with girls. Using Wyatt’s computer, they create a simulation of their dream woman, combining beauty, brains, and a “wild side.” To their shock, she comes to life as Lisa (Kelly LeBrock), a real flesh-and-blood bombshell in lingerie.
Lisa helps the boys gain confidence, stand up to bullies, and throw a huge house party to impress their crushes. But of course, the newfound popularity comes with complications. With its bizarre premise and horny teen hijinks, Weird Science is an odd, funny fable about wish fulfillment and learning to accept yourself. It captures the geeky outsider perspective with heart, not unlike Good Boys.
16. The Kings of Summer (2013)
An underrated gem, The Kings of Summer follows a group of teenage boys who run away from home and build a house together in the woods. Eager to escape their well-meaning but overbearing parents, best friends Joe (Nick Robinson) and Patrick (Gabriel Basso), along with eccentric tagalong Biaggio (Moises Arias), retreat to the wilderness for an idyllic summer of independence and male bonding.
Of course, their blissful paradise is threatened by the realities of survival, a love triangle, and encroaching adulthood. The Kings of Summer is a funny, wistful, beautifully filmed ode to the ephemeral freedom of youth and the pains of growing up. Its affectionate depiction of boyhood friendship is very much in the spirit of Good Boys.
17. The Way, Way Back (2013)
This coming-of-age dramedy stars Liam James as Duncan, a shy 14-year-old dragged on summer vacation with his mom (Toni Colley) and her obnoxious new boyfriend Trent (Steve Carell). Miserable, Duncan finds an unexpected friend in Owen (Sam Rockwell), a laid-back water park employee who takes him under his wing.
Through his friendship with Owen and a tentative romance with the girl next door (AnnaSophia Robb), Duncan slowly starts to find his place in the world. With its witty script, great cast, and sensitive depiction of the pains of adolescence, The Way, Way Back is a funny, moving portrait of a pivotal summer in a teen’s life.
18. Can’t Hardly Wait (1998)
Set at a wild high school graduation party, Can’t Hardly Wait follows a group of teens trying to make the most of their last night together before heading off to college. Preston (Ethan Embry) is determined to confess his love to his longtime crush Amanda (Jennifer Love Hewitt) before she leaves town.
Meanwhile, aspiring rapper Kenny (Seth Green) faces off against his former best friend, and nerdy William (Charlie Korsmo) plots revenge against his bullies. The huge ensemble cast also includes Lauren Ambrose, Peter Facinelli, and Melissa Joan Hart.
Can’t Hardly Wait is a fun, nostalgic snapshot of ’90s teen culture, filled with memorable characters and quotable one-liners. It captures the excitement and uncertainty of being on the cusp of a major life change. Like the kids in Good Boys, these teens learn some important lessons (and create a lot of mayhem) through one unforgettable night.
So there you have it – 18 hilarious coming-of-age comedies in the irreverent, heartfelt spirit of Good Boys. Whether they’re on a quest for popularity, romance, or just a good time, the young heroes of these films learn a lot about themselves and what matters most in life. Through their raunchy misadventures, awkward moments, and hard-won triumphs, they capture the messy, bittersweet experience of growing up that we can all relate to. Happy viewing!
