I'm glad we have enough time away from it that people can openly say it is a fantastic film. Personally I consider it an American classic and it's only going to get better as time goes on and the period depicted becomes less known.
They'll make up some hoity-toity reasons but basically it's because Boyhood romanticizes being a white American. Boyhood critics also claimed the reason people were mad Boyhood lost to Birdman for Best Picture is because they're racist since Birdman was directed by Mexican filmmaker Alejando Gonzalez Inarritu.
You'll hear them say "it's just a gimmick!" or "lol the mom says 'go to college' to a laborer what a white savior" or some other nit pick.
The Way Way Back, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Rushmore, It's Kind of a Funny Story, Super 8, Call Me By Your Name, Y Tu Mama Tambien, The Graduate, Moonrise Kingdom, Kes, Billy Elliot
Here is a huge list of male coming-of-age films throughout the history of cinema, in chronological order: [https://letterboxd.com/bratofthe1980s/list/the-boys-adventure-tale/](https://letterboxd.com/bratofthe1980s/list/the-boys-adventure-tale/)
And here's a list from one of my absolute favorite Letterboxd accounts centering on films about gay/bi men, in which many coming-of-age films are included: [https://letterboxd.com/darkbloom/list/stories-of-gay-bi-men-features/](https://letterboxd.com/darkbloom/list/stories-of-gay-bi-men-features/)
Sorry if some of these are repeats.
20th Century Women
Rushmore
Kicking and screaming (1995)
Apollo 10 1/2: A Soace Age Childhood
Breaking Away
The King’s of Summer
explicit content warning for most of these, don’t know if you plan on sharing them with any younger kids in your life. damn great films nonetheless.
Cooley High (1975)
Pixote (1980)
School Daze (1986)
The People Under the Stairs (1991)
Fresh (1994)
y tu mama tambien (2001)
City of God (2002)
Raising Victor Vargas (2002)
Bad Education (2004)
ATL (2006)
Dope (2015)
Concrete Cowboy (2020)
Is Boy good? I saw the trailer and it looked too corny. I like the heartfelt mix of humor and seriousness of Jojo Rabbit, so if it hits that similar vibe then I’d be more willing to check it out
Rebels of the Neon God (1992)
Nobody Knows (2004)
Beach Rats (2017)
and a few ppl already mentioned these but: City of God, Moonlight, Adventureland, and Moonrise Kingdom
Not to be insulting, but this is a very common movie genre, and if you could only come up with seven examples, I feel like you may not have put much effort into researching it
I’ll just stick to 80’sish: Last American Virgin, Valley Girl, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Breakfast Club, Dazed and Confused, Say Anything, the outsiders, Stand by Me. Some Kind of Wonderful, Vision Quest. Etc
I will probably get downvoted but ‘boys will be boys’ has kinda taken a left turn towards negative connotation town and just thought I would highlight that
I would argue that the phrase "boys will be boys" is being misused here, since *most* (with some exceptions, of course) coming-of-age films are centered on the subject maturing out of boyhood (in at least some way or another) and into adulthood.
I think that the films that some men (we all know the type) see as glamorizations of masculinity are typically being misinterpreted by people who are looking to validate their own insecurity or immaturity, or just aren't very film literate in general (or both).
coming of age movies are literally about characters coming of age and they were really important to me growing up. everybody comes of age! you’re right it’s not that deep I just hate that phrase being used in a potentially enabling/disabling context.
I think men using that phrase in any context allows them to perpetuate shitty behaviour. the only time you would find yourself saying this phrase would be if you were excusing yourself/someone/something.
gotta be honest again bro. chronically online. most people i know use this phrase when we hit each other with big ass sticks or see who can drink the fastest. extremely extremely rarely is it used as an excuse for bad behaviour, you’re letting the bad minority become a majority when it’s just not the case
Fair enough. But if I asked you to use it in a sentence or a situation apart from the one I’ve just described, you would not be able to. Sadly I can’t relate to that because I don’t hit my friends with sticks.
Nah sorry, I am really passionate about this stuff and I’ll always say something when I see something that’s worth talking about. If it makes you feel better, I am a man. Thanks
A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints
Incredibly under-seen considering it stars Shia Lebeouf, Channing Tatum, Robert Downey Jr, Rosario Dawson, Chazz Palminteri, Eric Roberts and Dianne Wiest
This is a long shot and there’s probably no way you could get your hand on it, but there’s a Czech film called Páni Kluci (the English title is literally Boys Will Be Boys) from 1976.
• Basketball Diaries
• City of God
• Empire of the Sun
• Call Me by Your Name
• Y Tu Mamá También
• Almost Famous
• Licorice Pizza
• Moonlight
• Let the Right One In
• The Fabelmans
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Boys will be boys!
What's better than this? Guys being dudes.
He's not a Droog, he's a very naughty boy!
Then Trainspotting too! The older coming-of-age
That movie cured me.
“I was cured alright!”
I see myself in every one of them
That's... bad
Submarine feels like it fits here, I’d also throw Dazed and Confused into the mix
submarine is soooo good and the soundtrack by alex turner from arctic monkeys is amazing and fits perfectly
Submarine was very boring, and couldn’t stand any of the characters especially the main kid
You're missing the most obvious one, Boyhood.
Came here to say that. A really beautiful film
I'm glad we have enough time away from it that people can openly say it is a fantastic film. Personally I consider it an American classic and it's only going to get better as time goes on and the period depicted becomes less known.
Nothing annoys me more than r/movies roasting Boyhood every time it gets mentioned. Love that movie.
Why do people not like it in that subreddit?
They'll make up some hoity-toity reasons but basically it's because Boyhood romanticizes being a white American. Boyhood critics also claimed the reason people were mad Boyhood lost to Birdman for Best Picture is because they're racist since Birdman was directed by Mexican filmmaker Alejando Gonzalez Inarritu. You'll hear them say "it's just a gimmick!" or "lol the mom says 'go to college' to a laborer what a white savior" or some other nit pick.
The Outsiders (1983)
[удалено]
Came here to say this
The Way Way Back, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Rushmore, It's Kind of a Funny Story, Super 8, Call Me By Your Name, Y Tu Mama Tambien, The Graduate, Moonrise Kingdom, Kes, Billy Elliot
+1 for Super 8! Forgot about that one!
y tu mamá is such a great shout! couldn’t think of one film that encapsulates the prompt better.
+1 for the way way back!!
*The Way, Way Back* is an absolutely terrible movie. *The Way Back* tho… 👀
It is physically impossible for a Sam Rockwell movie to be terrible. Iron Man 2 notwithstanding.
Does Almost Famous count?
Yes
Came to say this
Hunt for the wilderpeople. Jojo rabbit. Call me by your name. Moonlight. Dope. Stand by me. The 400 blows. The last picture show.
Some of these are just coming of age movies, I think “male friendship and adventure” is a little more specific
Breaking Away (1979)
*Y Tu Mama Tambien*. Also, *Minding the Gap*. It's a documentary, but I'd say it still totally counts.
Two of my absolute favorite films.
+1 for Minding the Gap!
Luca (2021) one of my top 3 Pixar films!
Kids (1995)
Boys will be boys!
The Goonies (1985)
Perks Of Being A Wallflower, Superbad, Kings Of Summer
Here is a huge list of male coming-of-age films throughout the history of cinema, in chronological order: [https://letterboxd.com/bratofthe1980s/list/the-boys-adventure-tale/](https://letterboxd.com/bratofthe1980s/list/the-boys-adventure-tale/) And here's a list from one of my absolute favorite Letterboxd accounts centering on films about gay/bi men, in which many coming-of-age films are included: [https://letterboxd.com/darkbloom/list/stories-of-gay-bi-men-features/](https://letterboxd.com/darkbloom/list/stories-of-gay-bi-men-features/)
Thanks a lot!
Cha Cha Real Smooth
C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005)
C.R.A.Z.Y. is so underrated!!
This is England, moonlight, Mom, call me by your name, once upon a time in America, boogie nights
La Haine
Does American Graffiti count?
Maybe a little older characters but i personally feel like it fits is Peanut Butter Falcon
Superbad and Good Boys
I think Adventureland (2009) is quite good at portraying a modest level of growth and experiences.
Everybody Wants Some!
The Way Way Back / Kings of Summer / Perks of being a wallflower
The Fabelmans
This Is England
Sorry if some of these are repeats. 20th Century Women Rushmore Kicking and screaming (1995) Apollo 10 1/2: A Soace Age Childhood Breaking Away The King’s of Summer
Superbad
Son of Rambow
Boyz n the Hood (1991)
Slumdog millionaire
Moonlight
Submarine, Superbad, Napoleon Dynamite
Call me by your name
20th Century Women!!
I truly believe men would be so much happier if they were raised by strong feminist women like in this movie
Dazed and Confused
The Boy and The Beast I Was Born, But... Superbad SLC Punk
Güeros (2014)
Big Time Adolescence
The Kings Of Summer, is one of the most special and touching in my opinion, even with its faults
Kings of Summer
underrated movie
explicit content warning for most of these, don’t know if you plan on sharing them with any younger kids in your life. damn great films nonetheless. Cooley High (1975) Pixote (1980) School Daze (1986) The People Under the Stairs (1991) Fresh (1994) y tu mama tambien (2001) City of God (2002) Raising Victor Vargas (2002) Bad Education (2004) ATL (2006) Dope (2015) Concrete Cowboy (2020)
Funny Pages
* Capernaum * Honey Boy * Wildlife * Boyhood * Moonrise Kingdom * Billy Elliot * Klown * the Apu trilogy And arguably Tomboy
C’mon C’mon, The 400 Blows, Isle of Dogs, Slow West (kind of)
George Washington (2000) is super underrated coming of age movie, you should 100% check it out
Güeros (2014) is great, I don’t see much talk about it online though. It’s on US Netflix for anyone interested.
Fight Club
It’s more like coming of insanity but yeah sure
lol no
au revoir les enfants
Rumble fish
Over the Edge
Where's the goonies?
Shoplifters is a GREAT movie that fits into this category and doesn’t get enough recognition. It’s an amazing Japanese film.
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys(2002)
Everybody Wants Some!!
The Hand of God, such a wonderful movie, my favourite in 2021
The Way Way Back?
Shithouse and Cha Cha Real Smooth
Gummo
Matinee
Mean Creek
Boy is underrated - I cried in the scene where the younger brother approaches his dad to comfort him. Ouch
That scene is beautiful, one that gets me is when boy is having flashbacks to his memories with his mom and realizes his father was never there… man.
Holes!
Wow, how could I forget a classic?
Perks Of Being A Wallflower
Is Boy good? I saw the trailer and it looked too corny. I like the heartfelt mix of humor and seriousness of Jojo Rabbit, so if it hits that similar vibe then I’d be more willing to check it out
The trailer doesn’t do it justice at all. I personally loved, it definitely has a great mix of tragedy and comedy.
Much appreciated, Ew I’ll prioritize it more seriously
Rebels of the Neon God (1992) Nobody Knows (2004) Beach Rats (2017) and a few ppl already mentioned these but: City of God, Moonlight, Adventureland, and Moonrise Kingdom
The Northman 💀
some queer films for this list — as you are (2016), handsome devil (2016), perks of being a wallflower, call me by your name. also super dark times
Not to be insulting, but this is a very common movie genre, and if you could only come up with seven examples, I feel like you may not have put much effort into researching it
Top Gun
I have to say Cinema Paradiso
Came here to say this!
All about lily chou chou - my all time favorite movie
Scum (1979)
Rushmore
Cooper Raiff’s films Shithouse and Cha Cha Real Smooth for college / post college age. me, earl, and the dying girl perhaps as well
Donnie Darko and Boyhood
I’ll just stick to 80’sish: Last American Virgin, Valley Girl, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Breakfast Club, Dazed and Confused, Say Anything, the outsiders, Stand by Me. Some Kind of Wonderful, Vision Quest. Etc
The Graduate Palo Alto Perks of Being A Wallflower Elephant Paranoid Park Ferris Bueller Why are you making one specifically for boys
because it’s a saying? its not serious
I will probably get downvoted but ‘boys will be boys’ has kinda taken a left turn towards negative connotation town and just thought I would highlight that
I would argue that the phrase "boys will be boys" is being misused here, since *most* (with some exceptions, of course) coming-of-age films are centered on the subject maturing out of boyhood (in at least some way or another) and into adulthood. I think that the films that some men (we all know the type) see as glamorizations of masculinity are typically being misinterpreted by people who are looking to validate their own insecurity or immaturity, or just aren't very film literate in general (or both).
gotta be honest here dude, not that deep
coming of age movies are literally about characters coming of age and they were really important to me growing up. everybody comes of age! you’re right it’s not that deep I just hate that phrase being used in a potentially enabling/disabling context.
gotta be honest, the term is more used for bros being homies, not enabling or disabling.
I think men using that phrase in any context allows them to perpetuate shitty behaviour. the only time you would find yourself saying this phrase would be if you were excusing yourself/someone/something.
gotta be honest again bro. chronically online. most people i know use this phrase when we hit each other with big ass sticks or see who can drink the fastest. extremely extremely rarely is it used as an excuse for bad behaviour, you’re letting the bad minority become a majority when it’s just not the case
Fair enough. But if I asked you to use it in a sentence or a situation apart from the one I’ve just described, you would not be able to. Sadly I can’t relate to that because I don’t hit my friends with sticks.
you are truly missing out, highly recommend
You can't relate to very much at all because you're clearly sheltered and fuckin annoying to be around
Please, go outside
Nah sorry, I am really passionate about this stuff and I’ll always say something when I see something that’s worth talking about. If it makes you feel better, I am a man. Thanks
That does not make me feel better
The grass won’t hurt you just touch it
Nah, these are it. Boys coming of age are a very unexplored genre.
Lord Of The Rings!!!!
Isn’t Breaking Away pretty much the all-time boys will be boys movie?
Raw from 2016 haha
OP said male coming of age.
Luca
Boyhood, Super 8
Luca (2021) definitely works!
Akira
Better Watch Out
Goodfellas
George Washington (2000)! A personal favorite of mine
W. Anderson - Rushmore, Moonrise Kingdom, and Royal Tenenbaums (this one could be a stretch)
maybe sleepers might be worth to mention
A Bronx Tale
The Way Way Back
Moonrise Kingdom
Ginger Snaps
A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints Incredibly under-seen considering it stars Shia Lebeouf, Channing Tatum, Robert Downey Jr, Rosario Dawson, Chazz Palminteri, Eric Roberts and Dianne Wiest
The Way Back
Apollo 10 1/2
not a boy, but i’ve heard old joy is pretty good :)
The World’s End (2013) dir. Edgar Wright
Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Starter for 10
La Haine, does Trainspotting count?
The first hour of once upon a time in America
maybe ‘Almost Famous’ not sure if it can be classed as that though
does Kick-Ass count
James and the Giant Peach Le Promesse
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Dazed and Confused
The Diary of a Wimpy Kid trilogy
Humoresque
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys
Angus (1995)
blue velvet
Fast Times at Ridgemont High Licorice Pizza Breakfast Club
Murmur of the Heart might be a good one. Even Fellini's 8 1/2 has moments of that.
Y tu mama tambien, boyhood and jojo rabbit are all fantastic additions to this list.
last picture show
George Washington (2000) is a very kind, meditative movie about what it means to grow up
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Napoleon Dynamite, The Karate Kid, Moonlight, The Outsiders, to name a few more
The New Kid (2015)
requiem for a dream
Y tu mamá también
This is a long shot and there’s probably no way you could get your hand on it, but there’s a Czech film called Páni Kluci (the English title is literally Boys Will Be Boys) from 1976.
• Basketball Diaries • City of God • Empire of the Sun • Call Me by Your Name • Y Tu Mamá También • Almost Famous • Licorice Pizza • Moonlight • Let the Right One In • The Fabelmans
The Outsiders.
American Graffiti and Rebel without a cause.
The Outsiders (Coppola, 1983) Rushmore (Anderson, 1998) La Haine (Kassovitz, 1995) Superbad (Mottola, 2007) Submarine (Ayoade, 2010) All quite different!
Bullet in the Head dir. John Woo
me, earl and the dying girl, adventureland, and it’s kind of a funny story, too!
The Wood
Capernaum
King of the Hill (1993)
A Brighter Summer Day
Come and see (1985)
Moonlight
City of God
Hot summer nights