The Perks of Being a Wallflower is the type of coming-of-age movie that can make you cry and also appreciate life for what it truly is. Most of us will know the struggles of adolescent life, trying to fit in with a new crowd, going through the stages of puberty, and figuring out ourselves.
I feel like The Perks of Being a Wallflower is the ultimate comfort film that teaches you that you should embrace being different, despite what anyone else says.
In this film, we follow our main protagonist, Charlie (Logan Lerman), who starts his first day as a freshman in college after a tough summer.
There are tragedies that Charlie has had to deal with, including losing his best friend to suicide and the death of his aunt.
He attends therapy, and as he works through his grief, Charlie begins writing letters to a “friend” as a way of coping. In his new school, an introverted Charlie meets a new group of friends who are the complete opposite of him and a really cool English teacher.
As Charlie opens up and forms bonds with Sam and Patrick, both seniors at his high school, we see him begin to embrace his own worth, and in turn, we’re reminded that no matter how broken we feel, we can always find a way to heal and grow.
With an awesome playlist of songs – namely Heroes by David Bowie that was blasted through the speakers while Sam embraced her tunnel moment – or that they took part in a Rocky Horror Picture Show production, The Perks of Being is a memorable and heartwarming film that so many love.
If you’re craving more movies like this, take a look at these 10 film suggestions that are just like it.
The Spectacular Now
The Spectacular Now is a coming-of-age drama that follows our main character, Sutter Keely, a high school senior who often gets drunk, living in the moment and avoiding thinking about the future.
However, his life changes once he befriends Aimee Finecky, a shy and introverted girl who challenges his perspective on life. The pair form a bond and later develop feelings for each other, and open up about their insecurities and regrets.
The Spectacular Now stars Miles Teller as Sutter and Shailene Woodley as Aimee.
Easy A
Emma Stone plays Olive Penderghast, a high school student who unintentionally becomes the center of attention at her school.
The trouble begins when Olive lies to her best friend about losing her virginity to a college guy. When another student overhears the conversation, the rumours spread like wildfire, and Olive’s life quickly turns into one big, unexpected scandal.
The Edge of Seventeen
The Edge of Seventeen is a relatable coming-of-age film about Nadine, a high schooler dealing with family drama.
The teenager doesn’t get along with her mother or brother and considers her dad her only ally. When her best friend starts dating her brother, it sends her into a spiral of self-doubt. The 2016 film stars Hailee Steinfeld, Woody Harrelson, and Kyra Sedgwick.
Love, Simon
Love, Simon is a quirky and cute teen drama that follows a teenager named Simon who hides the fact that he is gay from his friends and family.
Simon begins an online relationship with someone named Blue. As the pair get closer, things take an unexpected turn when their emails end up in the hands of Simon’s classmate, Martin, who threatens to expose his secret unless he helps him patch up his love life.
Lady Bird
Lady Bird (2017) follows Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, a high school senior dealing with the turbulent waters of adolescence in Sacramento, California.
Lady Bird dreams of independence and leaving her small-town life and heading to a more exciting future in New York City. However, her relationship with her mother, Marion, is difficult. Christine is torn between following her heart and living up to her mother’s high expectations for her.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Airing back in 2015, Me, Earl and the Dying Girl follows our protagonist Greg, a senior in high school avoids social interaction.
However, he is forced to befriend a girl named Rachel Kushner, who has been diagnosed with leukaemia. Over the course of the film, we witness how Greg’s relationship with Rachel evolves as he begins to care for her.
Greg is joined by his best friend Earl, with whom he shares a love for making quirky parody films, and navigates his growing friendship with Rachel.
The Fault in Our Stars
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green follows the story of Hazel Grace Lancaster, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been living with cancer for several years.
She has thyroid cancer that has spread to her lungs, meaning she relies on an oxygen tank to help her breathe. Hazel is initially withdrawn, but her life changes when she attends a cancer support group and meets Augustus “Gus” Waters, a mysterious and confident boy who is in remission after battling osteosarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer.
Paper Towns
Another John Green book to movie adaptation, Paper Towns is about our protagonist Quentin “Q” Jacobsen, a high school senior who has is in love with with his neighbour with his neighbour, a girl named Margo Roth Spiegelman, since childhood.
One night, Margo shows up at Q’s window and convinces him to go on an adventurous spree, involving pranks and exploring through the city. But on the next day, Margo mysteriously disappears, leaving behind a series of cryptic clues for Q to follow. This film definitely a must-watch and will keep you on the edge of your seat.
It stars Nat Wolff as Quentin “Q” Jacobsen and Cara Delevingne as Margo Roth Spiegelman.
Clueless
A modern take on Jane Austen’s Emma, Clueless is about a rich teen named Cher, who attends a prestigious high school in Beverly Hills.
Cher rules over the school as one of the popular students. During the movie, she takes it upon herself to play matchmaker, but in an unexpected twist, she discovers love herself. It stars Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, and Paul Rudd.
Moonlight
Moonlight (2016) romance drama that follows our main protagonist Chiron, a young African American man.
The film tells the story of his life, spanning childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, including the physical and emotional abuse he endures while growing up. It also portrays his struggles with his sexuality and the challenges he faces in Miami.
Find more movie recommendations here.