TL;DR
If you’re looking for the "greatest hits" of modern coming-of-age media to watch or read with your kids, here are the essentials:
- For Middle Schoolers: Inside Out 2 (Emotions/Anxiety), Turning Red (Puberty/Family), and Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret (The classic update).
- For High Schoolers: Heartstopper (Healthy relationships/Identity) and Eighth Grade (Social media/Anxiety—warning: it’s cringey-real).
- For the Readers: The Wild Robot (Belonging) and Percy Jackson (Identity and ADHD/Dyslexia as superpowers).
Ask our chatbot for a personalized list based on your kid's specific interests
Coming-of-age stories used to be simple. It was basically "I got my period/started shaving, and now my parents don't understand me." But in 2026, the "coming of age" experience happens as much on TikTok as it does in the school hallway. The stakes feel higher because the audience is bigger, and the "brain rot" content is always just one swipe away.
When we talk about "coming of age" now, we’re talking about the transition from being a kid who accepts their parents' world to a person who is building their own. It’s about identity, social hierarchy, and the terrifying realization that you have to manage your own digital footprint.
Kids are growing up in a "glass house" environment. Every awkward phase, every "Ohio" joke that didn't land, and every cringey dance is potentially recorded. Modern coming-of-age stories help kids realize that the internal chaos they feel—the "Anxiety" character in their head—is a universal feature, not a bug.
These stories provide a safe "third space" to talk about the hard stuff. It’s much easier to ask your kid, "Why do you think Riley felt like she had to lie to her friends in Inside Out 2?" than it is to ask, "Are you lying to your friends to feel cool?"
Middle school is the frontline. This is where Roblox starts to feel "for babies" and the pressure to be on Snapchat or Instagram becomes a literal obsession.
This is arguably the most important movie for this age group in a decade. It introduces "Anxiety" as a character, and it perfectly captures that moment when your "Sense of Self" starts to get messy. It’s a great bridge for talking about how to manage digital anxiety and the pressure to perform.
Some parents got weird about this movie because it mentions periods and "poofing" into a giant red panda as a metaphor for puberty. Honestly? Get over it. It’s a brilliant look at the tension between wanting to please your parents and wanting to go to a boy band concert with your best friends. It’s the ultimate "I’m growing up and it’s messy" film.
The 1970 book was the GOAT, and the recent movie adaptation is actually better in some ways. It keeps the heart of the story—waiting for your body to change and questioning your faith—but makes it feel fresh for kids who are dealing with the same stuff today.
By high school, the conversation shifts from "what is happening to my body?" to "who am I in relation to everyone else?"
If you want to see what a healthy, supportive, but still realistic teenage relationship looks like, this is it. It deals with LGBTQ+ identity, mental health, and bullying with a level of gentleness that is rare. It’s the anti-Euphoria (which, by the way, is basically trauma-porn and usually way too much for most teens). Heartstopper shows that coming of age can be kind.
Warning: This movie is physically painful to watch because it is so accurate. It follows a girl in her last week of middle school who makes "motivational" YouTube videos that nobody watches. It captures the specific loneliness of the digital age. It’s rated R for some language and a very uncomfortable scene with an older boy, so watch it with your older teen or watch it yourself first. It is the best "social media wellness" lesson ever filmed.
Don't let the title scare you away, but also, don't let your 11-year-old watch it. For older teens (16+), this show is a masterclass in communication, consent, and the fact that everyone is just as confused as you are. It’s vulgar, it’s hilarious, and it’s surprisingly moral.
Sometimes the best stories about growing up aren't set in a school. They use fantasy or sci-fi to talk about the same themes.
Whether you read the book or watch the movie, Roz’s journey is a coming-of-age story for both the robot and the gosling she raises. It’s about "programming" vs. "personality." In a world where our kids are being fed algorithms on YouTube Shorts, talking about what makes us "us" (and not just our programming) is a vital conversation.
The Disney+ series (and the books) is the gold standard for kids who feel like "outsiders." Percy’s ADHD and dyslexia being signs that he’s a demigod is the ultimate "it’s okay to be different" narrative.
When picking a story, look past the rating and look at the "emotional load."
- Ages 9-12: Focus on stories about friendship shifts and physical changes. They are starting to move away from "little kid" media but aren't ready for the cynicism of high school shows.
- Ages 13-15: This is the peak "identity" era. They want to see stories about romance, social standing, and breaking rules.
- Ages 16+: They can handle (and are likely already seeing) more mature themes. Use these shows to discuss consent, substance use, and the transition to college/independence.
Learn more about how to use Screenwise to set age-appropriate boundaries
The goal isn't to turn a movie night into a lecture. If you start with "What did we learn about friendship today?" they will go back to their room and look at TikTok for three hours.
Try these instead:
- "Who was the most 'cringe' character?" (This opens the door to talking about social anxiety).
- "Do kids at your school actually act like that?" (This lets them be the expert).
- "I felt like [Character Name] when I was that age. It sucked." (Vulnerability is your best tool).
- "If you were in that situation, would you have posted that online?" (A low-stakes way to talk about digital reputation).
Coming-of-age stories are the "simulators" for real life. They let our kids "test drive" big emotions and social situations from the safety of the couch. Whether it’s Riley’s anxiety in Inside Out 2 or Charlie’s first crush in Heartstopper, these stories remind our kids (and us) that growing up is a beautiful, terrifying, and totally normal disaster.
Next Steps:
- Pick one movie from the list above for your next family night.
- Check out our guide on the best movies for family conversation
- Take the Screenwise Survey to see how your kid’s media consumption compares to other families in your community.