25 of the most iconic teen girl films of all time
Swipe through for more. Need a flick recommendation for this weekend? From Twilight to Heathers and everything in between, we’ve pulled together the 25 best teen movies of all time.
Heathers (1988) dir. Michael Lehmann
Veronica (Winona Ryder) and her new boyfriend, J.D. (Christian Slater) try to uproot the popular girls at school—the Heathers (Shannen Doherty, Kim Walker, Lisanne Frank)—before she realises there’s more to him than it seems.
Available to stream on Stan.
Lady Bird (2017) dir. Greta Gerwig
Teenager Christine Lady Bird McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) faces a lot of ups and downs in her relationships during her senior year in high school.
Available to stream on Netflix.
Mean Girls (2004) dir. Mark Waters
When Cady (Lindsay Lohan) joins the school’s dangerous clique, she learns there’s hell to pay when the clique’s leader’s ex-boyfriend wants to be her new boo.
Available to stream on Netflix
Clueless (1995) dir. Amy Heckerling
Clueless follows the life of Cher (Alicia Silverstone), a rich and popular high-school student as she goes adolescence and all its problems.
Available on Netflix.
Easy A (2010) dir. Will Gluck
When high schooler Olive (Emma Stone) lies to her best friend (Alison Michalka) about losing her virginity, another girl overhears and spreads her story.
Available to stream on Netflix.
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018) dir. Susan Johnson
Teenager Lara Jean’s (Lana Condor) secret love letters are shared among the school and wreak havoc on her love life.
Available to stream on Netflix.
Little Women (2019) dir. Greta Gerwig
Based on the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott, Greta Gerwig’s Little Women follows the lives of four sisters—Jo (Saoirse Ronan), Amy (Florence Pugh), Meg (Emma Watson) and Beth (Eliza Scanlen)—in America in the 19th century.
Spirited Away (2001) dir. Hayao Miyazaki
, who explains that the park is a resort for supernatural beings who need a break from their time spent in the earthly realm, and she has to work there to free herself and her parents.After 10-year-old Chihiro and her parents stumble into an abandoned amusement park, her parents are turned into giant pigs. Then, she meets a mysterious boy named Haku
Available to stream on Netflix.
She’s the Man (2006) dir. Andy Fickman
When Viola’s (Amanda Bynes) football team is dissolved and she is not allowed to play on the boy’s team either, she disguises herself as her twin brother and participates in the tournament. Then, she starts to fall for her school’s star player (Channing Tatum).
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) dir. Stephen Chbosky
15-year-old introvert Charlie (Logan Lerman) enters high school and is nervous about his new life. When he befriends his seniors (Emma Watson and Ezra Miller), he learns to cope with his friend’s suicide and his tumultuous past.
The Breakfast Club (1985) dir. John Hughes
Five high schoolers—Andrew, the jock (Emilio Estevez), Claire, the popular girl (Molly Ringwald), Brian, the nerd (Anthony Michael Hall), John, the rebellious punk (Judd Nelson) and Allison, the goth (Ally Sheedy)—spend their Saturday morning in detention. There, they let down their egos and form a friendship.
The Princess Diaries (2001) dir. Garry Marshall
A clumsy, awkward teen (Anne Hathaway) discovers she’s the princess of Genovia, a small European state, and must prove to her grandmother and queen (Julie Andrews) she’s worthy of the title.
Wild Child (2008) dir. Nick Moore
A rebellious Malibu princess (Emma Roberts) is sent off to a strict English boarding school by her father.
Twilight (2008) dir. Catherine Hardwicke
Teen Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) moves to Forks, Washington and meets Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), a fellow high schooler she finds herself drawn to. Later, she finds out he and his family are vampires.
Your Name (2016) dir. Makoto Shinkai
After one seemingly inconsequential meeting, two teenagers share a profound innate connection with each other, discovering that they can swap bodies. But, things get a bit more complicated for the two when they decide to meet in person.
Available to stream on Netflix.
Freaky Friday (2003) dir. Mark Waters
Anna (Lindsay Lohan) and her mum, Tessa (Jamie-Lee Curtis), don’t get along, but things take a turn for a worst when they wake up one morning… in each other’s bodies.
Pitch Perfect (2012) dir. Jason Moore
College newbie Beca (Anna Kendrick) reluctantly joins an all-girls a cappella group before taking on an all-male a cappella group in a competition.
Available to stream on Netflix.
Love, Simon (2018) dir. Greg Berlanti
Based on Becky Albertalli’s Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda, Love, Simon follows Simon (Nick Robinson), a high schooler who keeps his sexual orientation a secret from his friends and family. However, when a blackmailer threatens to reveal it, he goes on a roller-coaster journey to come to terms with his identity.
Ellie & Abbie (& Ellie’s Dead Aunt) (2020) dir. Monica Zanetti
Ellie (Sophie Hawkshaw) is struggling to find the courage to ask her classmate, Abbie (Zoe Terakes), to the formal. Luckily her Aunt Tara (Julia Billington), a lesbian who died in the ’80s has shown up as a “Fairy Godmother” to dish out advice, whether Ellie wants it or not.17-year-old
The Fault In Our Stars (2014) dir. Josh Boone
Based on the popular young adult novel by John Greene, two cancer-afflicted teenagers Hazel (Shailene Woodley) and Augustus (Ansel Elgort) meet at a cancer support group and embark on a journey to visit a reclusive author in Amsterdam.
Available to stream on Netflix.
Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (2008) dir. Gurinder Chadha
An eccentric but loveable teenage girl (Georgia Groome) maintains a diary about the ups and downs of being a teenager and tries to overcome the trials and tribulations of growing up.
Available to stream on Netflix.
Jawbreaker (1999) dir. Darren Stein
The plan to kidnap one of the most popular girls at school goes horribly wrong when her three friends, Courtney (Rose McGowan), Marcie (Julie Benz) and Julie (Rebecca Gayheart), accidentally choke her to death with a jawbreaker.
Available to stream on Amazon Prime.
Romeo + Juliet (1996) dir. Baz Luhrmann
A reimagining of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet only set in LA in the ’90s and starring young Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes.
Bring It On (2000) dir. Peyton Reed
A fun comedy about a young high schooler and new captain of a high school cheerleading team leading her squad to a national championship.
Available on Amazon Prime.
High School Musical (2006) dir. Kenny Ortega
A popular jock (Zack Efron) and athletically gifted geek (Vanessa Hudgens) secretly audition for the school musical and definitely a friendship that threatens the school’s status quo.
Available to stream on Disney Plus.