The Most Underrated Teen Movies Of The Decade

The Edge of Seventeen was released right before Thanksgiving 2016, quite possibly the worst slot that could be given to a sensitive teen movie. It couldn't compete with holiday heavy-hitters like Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Doctor Strange, which is too bad, because the story is packed with insight. Hailee Steinfeld plays Nadine, a high schooler whose life turns upside-down when her best friend (Haley Lu Richardson) begins dating her older brother. This arrangement tests the limits of their friendship. Woody Harrelson costars as the not-entirely-sympathetic teacher to whom Nadine tells her woes.

Aside from the beautifully nuanced performances given by Steinfeld and Richardson, The Edge of Seventeen has a lot of astute - and often humorous - observations about adolescence, friendship, and the difficulties of fitting in. It's one of those films that feels so real and true that anyone who experienced uncomfortable teenage years should be able to identify with it.

Love, Simon is a tender and funny movie about a high school student (Nick Robinson) hiding the fact that he's gay from his family and friends. After falling for an anonymous classmate he's been corresponding with online, Simon decides that it might be time to formally come out. He worries about how his parents and friends will react though.

Given that teen romances tend to focus on proms or crushes, it's refreshing to find one that digs deeper. Love, Simon hits on issues that gay teens face on a daily basis, including fear of rejection from loved ones and trying to decide the right time/way to come out. A sense of honesty pervades the entire movie, which manages to earn laughs while still being sincere in its treatment of subject matter many viewers will find highly relatable. 

Sing Street is a must-see for any fan of '80s new wave music. Set in Dublin during that era, it tells the story of Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo), a boy who starts a band with his buddies in order to impress Raphina (Lucy Boynton), the girl he has a crush on. She agrees to star in music videos for the songs Conor writes. 

Each of the original tunes in Sing Street was influenced by a particular group, including The Cure and Duran Duran. Writer/director John Carney - who also made Once and Begin Again - knows how important music is in the adolescent years. It literally becomes the soundtrack to life at that age. This feel-good film is an ode to that idea as well as to young love in general. We promise you'll have "Drive It Like You Stole It" stuck in your head for days afterward. 

Mud does not look like a teen movie on the surface because there are so many elements to its plot. At heart, though, it's a coming-of-age story about a misguided 14-year-old who falls under the spell of a questionable man. Tye Sheridan plays Ellis, a kid who is watching his parents' marriage disintegrate. While trying to escape the strife at home, he and his younger brother sail a small boat down the river, where they encounter a fugitive from justice named Mud (Matthew McConaughey) hiding on an island. The film tracks their burgeoning friendship and the repercussions it creates.

Having its protagonist become influenced by a morally dubious character helps Mud to stand out. The audience perpetually wonders whether Mud's bad influence will rub off on Ellis, or whether Ellis' fundamental decency will rub off on Mud. McConaughey and Sheridan are terrific together, creating a dynamic between their characters that's hard to look away from.

Whereas many teen movies deal with school, romance, and friendship, The Hate U Give takes on something far weightier: social awakening. Amandla Stenberg plays Starr Carter, an African American girl who feels she has to put on an artificial personality when she leaves her Black neighborhood to attend her predominantly white, upper-class school. After seeing her childhood friend Khalil fatally shot by a police officer in an incident of racial profiling, Starr finds herself pulled in various directions. The police argue that Khalil would not have been shot had he complied with officers, but she knows the situation wasn't that simple, and speaking out could potentially alienate her from friends of both races.

The Hate U Give follows how Starr decides to become an activist and speak up for what she believes is right. The film is inspiring in that regard and could spur teenage viewers to follow suit. It's a poignant look at the way young people have the power to change the world through their voices. 

There are two great reasons to make sure you've seen The Spectacular Now. First, it provided early roles for Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, and Brie Larson. Second, it's a potent look at adolescent self-destruction.

Teller plays Sutter Keely, a guy who presents as Mr. Happy on the outside but is really just masking a lot of pain, thanks to an absentee father and a devastating breakup with his ex (Larson). Meeting new girl Aimee (Woodley) should be a positive turning point in life, except that the drinking he uses to blunt his feelings gets in the way. Thanks to sharp writing and dynamic performances, Sutter's journey to rock bottom and, potentially, back up again is unforgettable.