Thirteen, the gritty and unflinching 2003 film directed by Catherine Hardwicke, was a cinematic lightning rod upon its release. It dared to dive deep into the turbulent world of adolescence, capturing the raw emotions, rebelliousness, and self-destructive behavior that can emerge during those formative teenage years.
Starring Evan Rachel Wood as Tracy, a 13-year-old girl who spirals into a dangerous lifestyle after befriending the popular but troubled Evie (played by Nikki Reed, who co-wrote the semi-autobiographical screenplay), *Thirteen *was praised for its honest and unvarnished portrayal of teen angst, peer pressure, drug experimentation, and sexual awakening. It sparked important conversations about parenting, growing up too fast, and the challenges facing modern youth.
If you were captivated by Thirteen‘s bold storytelling and unforgettable performances, here are 18 other powerful coming-of-age films that explore similar themes and showcase the triumphs and tribulations of growing up:
1. Girl, Interrupted (1999)
Based on Susanna Kaysen’s memoir, Girl, Interrupted follows 18-year-old Susanna (Winona Ryder) who finds herself in a psychiatric hospital after a suicide attempt. There, she meets a group of troubled young women, including the charismatic sociopath Lisa (Angelina Jolie in an Oscar-winning role). Set in the 1960s, the film is a poignant exploration of mental illness, self-discovery, and the blurry line between sanity and insanity during the vulnerable teenage years.
Like Thirteen, Girl, Interrupted doesn’t shy away from depicting the darker aspects of adolescence. It’s a raw and riveting character study anchored by stellar performances from Ryder and Jolie. Through Susanna’s journey, we see her grapple with her own demons while navigating the complex dynamics and power struggles within the institution.
2. The Virgin Suicides (1999)
Sofia Coppola made her directorial debut with this dreamy, melancholic adaptation of Jeffrey Eugenides’ novel. Set in 1970s suburbia, The Virgin Suicides centers on the enigmatic Lisbon sisters – five teenage girls who captivate the neighborhood boys before their tragic demise. Kirsten Dunst delivers a breakout performance as the alluring Lux Lisbon.
Coppola crafts a haunting, impressionistic portrait of adolescent longing, repression, and the mysteries of girlhood. The film’s gauzy, nostalgic aesthetic belies the darkness bubbling beneath the surface as the sisters strain against the confines of their strict religious upbringing. Like Thirteen, it captures the intensity of teenage emotions – the soaring highs and devastating lows.
3. Moonlight (2016)
Barry Jenkins’ Oscar-winning masterpiece is a poetic triptych following a young black man’s path to self-discovery. Told in three chapters, Moonlight traces the life of Chiron from childhood to adulthood as he grapples with his identity, sexuality, and the scars of a troubled upbringing in Miami.
What makes Moonlight so powerful is its empathy and its embrace of vulnerability. Like Tracy in Thirteen, Chiron is a character adrift, struggling to find his place in a world that often feels hostile. Through his interactions with his drug-addicted mother (Naomie Harris), his tender relationship with his mentor Juan (Mahershala Ali), and his complex connection with his friend Kevin, we witness Chiron’s achingly human quest for connection and self-acceptance.
4. Pariah (2011)
Dee Rees’ semi-autobiographical film Pariah shares DNA with Moonlight in its sensitive exploration of a young person coming to terms with their sexual identity. The film follows 17-year-old Alike (Adepero Oduye), a Black lesbian teenager in Brooklyn who is quietly but firmly embracing her identity.
Like Thirteen, Pariah doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges Alike faces, from her strained relationship with her parents to the homophobia and judgment she encounters. But it also celebrates her resilience, her creativity (Alike is an aspiring poet), and the joy she finds in the LGBTQ community. It’s a moving portrait of a young woman learning to be true to herself against all odds.
5. The Diary of a Teenage Girl (2015)
Based on Phoebe Gloeckner’s graphic novel, The Diary of a Teenage Girl is a candid, sometimes shocking coming-of-age story set in 1970s San Francisco. Bel Powley stars as 15-year-old Minnie, an aspiring cartoonist who begins a sexual relationship with her mother’s boyfriend (Alexander Skarsgård).
Like Thirteen, the film doesn’t moralize or shy away from the messiness and confusion of adolescent sexuality. It captures Minnie’s mix of curiosity, desire, and insecurity with raw honesty. And like Tracy, Minnie turns to art as a means of self-expression and making sense of her experiences. It’s a bold, unapologetic film that treats its young female protagonist with rare respect and understanding.
6. Mustang (2015)
This Turkish-French film, the debut feature from Deniz Gamze Ergüven, follows five orphaned sisters living under the oppressive guardianship of their conservative relatives in a remote Turkish village. After they are seen innocently playing with boys, the girls are confined to the house, forced into arranged marriages, and subjected to “virginity tests.”
Like Thirteen, Mustang simmers with the rebellious spirit of its young protagonists as they resist the suffocating restrictions placed on their bodies and minds. It’s an intimate, sun-soaked film that turns an empathetic eye on the girls’ fight for freedom and autonomy in a society that seeks to control and commodify them.
7. The Hate U Give (2018)
Based on Angie Thomas’ YA novel, The Hate U Give stars Amandla Stenberg as Starr, a 16-year-old girl navigating the contrasts between her poor, mostly black neighborhood and the wealthy, mostly white prep school she attends. When she witnesses the fatal police shooting of her childhood friend, she finds herself at the center of a national story.
Like Thirteen, The Hate U Give doesn’t talk down to its teenage protagonist or the audience. It confronts the realities of racism, police brutality, code-switching, and activism through Starr’s eyes as she grapples with her identity and finds her voice. It’s a powerful film that, like Thirteen, understands that coming-of-age stories can and should tackle weighty real-world issues.
8. Girlhood (2014)
French filmmaker Céline Sciamma’s Girlhood (originally titled Bande de filles) follows Marieme, a Black teenager in the impoverished suburbs of Paris. Facing an oppressive family life and limited prospects, she finds an outlet in a girl gang and begins to assert her independence.
Shot in rich, saturated colors, Girlhood immerses us in the texture of Marieme’s world – the housing projects, the underground parties, the intense bonds between the girls. Like Thirteen, it’s a film that understands the allure and power of female friendships in the face of hardship. And like Tracy, Marieme is a complex, flawed character whose journey of self-discovery is marked by both liberation and painful consequences.
9. Precious (2009)
Based on the novel Push by Sapphire, Precious is the harrowing story of Claireece “Precious” Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), a 16-year-old girl in 1980s Harlem who is pregnant with her second child by her abusive father and facing constant physical and emotional abuse from her mother (Mo’Nique in an Oscar-winning performance).
Directed by Lee Daniels, Precious is an unflinching look at cycles of abuse, poverty, and systemic oppression. Like Thirteen, it depicts the harsh realities of a teenage girl’s life with raw, unvarnished honesty. But it also shows the transformative power of education, self-expression (Precious dreams of being a writer), and supportive figures like her teacher Ms. Rain (Paula Patton). It’s a difficult but ultimately hopeful film.
10. Fish Tank (2009)
British director Andrea Arnold’s Fish Tank stars Katie Jarvis as Mia, a volatile 15-year-old girl living in a grim East London housing project. Mia dreams of being a dancer, but her fraught relationship with her mother and her mother’s charming new boyfriend (Michael Fassbender) threatens to derail her ambitions.
Shot in a raw, realist style, Fish Tank captures the restless energy and pent-up frustrations of adolescence. Like Tracy in Thirteen, Mia is a character defined by her anger and her yearning for something more. Arnold doesn’t judge Mia for her sometimes reckless choices, but rather invites us to understand the social and familial pressures that shape her actions. It’s a powerful portrait of a girl fighting to define herself on her own terms.
11. An Education (2009)
Set in 1960s London, An Education stars Carey Mulligan as Jenny, a bright 16-year-old schoolgirl whose dreams of Oxford are complicated when she falls for a charming older man (Peter Sarsgaard).
Based on journalist Lynn Barber’s memoir, the film, directed by Lone Scherfig and written by Nick Hornby, is a coming-of-age story that’s both seductive and sobering. Like Tracy in Thirteen, Jenny is a character seduced by the allure of adult pleasures and a lifestyle beyond her suburban existence. The film captures the intoxicating rush of first love and the painful lessons that follow with wit, intelligence, and empathy.
12. The Spectacular Now (2013)
Based on Tim Tharp’s novel, The Spectacular Now is a tender, truthful high school romance that avoids the usual clichés. Miles Teller stars as Sutter, a charming but directionless senior who unexpectedly falls for the “nice girl” Aimee (Shailene Woodley) after a breakup.
Directed by James Ponsoldt, the film is a nuanced exploration of the joys and pains of young love, the specter of alcoholism, and the anxiety of standing on the precipice of adulthood. Like Thirteen, it treats its teenage characters with respect and emotional realism, never reducing them to stereotypes. Teller and Woodley’s natural, lived-in performances anchor the film.
13. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
Based on director Stephen Chbosky’s own novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower follows Charlie (Logan Lerman), an introverted freshman who finds acceptance with a group of quirky seniors, including the free-spirited Sam (Emma Watson) and her flamboyant stepbrother Patrick (Ezra Miller).
Set in the early 1990s, the film captures the exhilaration and confusion of adolescence with earnestness and specificity. Like Thirteen, it doesn’t shy away from heavy topics like mental health, abuse, and sexuality. But it’s also a warm, compassionate film about the life-saving power of friendship and self-acceptance. It understands, like Thirteen, that coming-of-age is as much about joy as it is about pain.
14. The Edge of Seventeen (2016)
Hailee Steinfeld stars as Nadine, a high school junior whose already turbulent life is thrown into disarray when her best friend starts dating her popular older brother.
Written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig, The Edge of Seventeen is a sharp, funny, and emotionally honest teen comedy in the spirit of John Hughes. Like Thirteen, it captures the intensity of adolescent emotions – the soaring highs and crushing lows, the life-or-death stakes of every social interaction. Steinfeld’s prickly, vulnerable performance makes Nadine a protagonist to root for, even (or especially) when she’s making mistakes.
15. Lady Bird (2017)
Greta Gerwig’s solo directorial debut is a funny, moving love letter to her hometown of Sacramento and the turbulent bond between mothers and daughters. Saoirse Ronan stars as Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, a restless high school senior desperate to escape her humdrum life.
Like Thirteen, Lady Bird is attuned to the way teenagers use rebellion as a form of self-discovery. Lady Bird’s clashes with her mother (Laurie Metcalf), experimentation with relationships and identities, and dreams of a different life will resonate with anyone who felt out of place in high school. Gerwig’s script crackles with wit and insight, and Ronan’s performance is a marvel of prickly specificity.
16. Eighth Grade (2018)
Comedian Bo Burnham’s directorial debut follows Kayla (Elsie Fisher), a shy 13-year-old navigating the final week of middle school in the age of social media and constant connectivity.
Shot with unobtrusive realism and anchored by Fisher’s heartbreakingly real performance, Eighth Grade captures the anxiety and awkwardness of early adolescence with cringe-inducing accuracy. Like Thirteen, it’s attuned to the way young girls are pressured to grow up too fast in a hypersexualized, image-obsessed culture. But it’s also a deeply empathetic film, one that sees Kayla’s struggles and insecurities with clarity and compassion.
17. The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2018)
Based on Emily M. Danforth’s novel, The Miseducation of Cameron Post stars Chloë Grace Moretz as a lesbian teenager who is sent to a gay conversion therapy center after being caught with another girl on prom night.
Set in the early 1990s, the film, directed by Desiree Akhavan, is a poignant and at times darkly funny look at the damaging effects of homophobia and the resilience of queer youth. Like Thirteen, it understands the way institutions can fail and even harm vulnerable teenagers. But it also celebrates the power of solidarity and self-acceptance in the face of oppression.
18. The Fits (2015)
Anna Rose Holmer’s enigmatic debut feature follows Toni (Royalty Hightower), an 11-year-old tomboy who becomes fascinated by the tight-knit dance team at her community center, just as a mysterious illness starts to afflict the older girls.
Shot in dreamy, fragmented style, The Fits is a poetic meditation on the mysteries and transformations of girlhood. Like Thirteen, it’s attuned to the way young girls’ bodies can become sites of anxiety, desire, and power. Hightower’s watchful, expressive performance anchors the film, which builds to a surreal, cathartic climax.
