Teen movies have always been popular. Speaking to and for teens, carrying heartfelt messages–or just portraying teens having the times of their lives. Whatever the case, teen movies are beloved for a reason.
The last five years have brought plenty of new ones, but in those years everyone likely overlooked some significant ones that could go down as classics years from now in the teen movie genre. There are many noteworthy ones, but here are 10 of the most underrated teen movies from the past 5 years to get one started.
Girl Asleep (2015)
Girl Asleep follows the story of Greta (Bethany Whitmore). Set in the 1970s, Greta’s mother throws her a birthday party for her fifteenth birthday, inviting the whole school to attend, much to Greta’s horror.
Though, Greta does have fun, that is until she’s humiliated. Shortly afterwards, she comes across a strange creature in her room that sends her on an adventure, where she finds out more about herself. She struggles with letting go of her childhood, and with finding out who she is. For anyone that’s been afraid to grow up or unsure of what comes next, Girl Asleep may be the movie for you.
Raw (2016)
This French-Belgian horror film is disturbing and disgusting wrapped into one. Justine (Garance Marillier) is just beginning her first year at veterinary school, which her older sister also attends. When she and the rest of the new class are spattered with blood and forced to eat raw rabbit kidneys as part of a ritual, things change for Justine, who, up to that point, had been a lifelong vegetarian.
She develops a craving for meat, and it only grows until she starts craving human flesh, specifically. She starts taking bites out of people left and right, and learns that her family has some dark skeletons in the closet.
Before I Fall (2017)
You’d better break out the tissues and comfort food for this teen movie. Based on a book of the same name, the film tells the story of Samantha Kingston (Zoey Deutch). She has it all: popularity, beauty and a boyfriend. When she dies in a car accident, however, she gets stuck in a time loop.
Each day, she discovers more and more about herself and her life, and starts making some serious changes. Ultimately, she realizes what it takes to end the loop: sacrificing her life for someone else.
Hot Summer Nights (2017)
Daniel (Timothée Chalamet) is an awkward teenager turned drug dealer in this neo-noir, coming-of-age film. He’s sent against his wishes to Cape Cod by his mother for the summer, where he meets bad boy Hunter (Alex Roe), that ropes him into selling drugs. Their business is profitable, but it comes at a cost.
Things get even more intense when Daniel falls for Hunter’s sister, throwing further complications in the mix.
Eighth Grade (2018)
For Kayla (Elsie Fisher), eighth grade is especially difficult. She’s shy and suffers from anxiety, using social media to make motivational videos. She encounters some adult situations, reconnects with her father, and makes a time capsule for her high-school self to find that reminds her to persevere through the tough times. The film is relatable and well-done, especially in its portrayal of anxiety.
The Last Summer (2019)
That last summer between high school and college is a big deal. Everyone is in the middle of leaving behind what they know and starting something new. This is the perfect movie for a graduate-to-be, or if one absolutely loves KJ Apa (best known as Archie Andrews in Riverdale). The group of high school graduates face the complications of love as well.
Released by Netflix a year ago, the film is underrated and definitely worth watching especially if one is struggling between what they’re leaving behind and excited at what’s coming all at once.
Blinded By The Light (2019)
Javed (Viveik Kalra) is a Pakistani teen living in England in the 1980s. He is faced with racism from his peers at school and his neighbors, and his father doesn’t understand him. He finds solace in the lyrics of Bruce Springsteen’s songs, and is inspired to continue writing.
Despite hard times in his family, Springsteen helps Javed through it. For anyone that’s ever had any kind of music make a difference in their life and inspire them to pursue their dreams, this is the perfect movie.
Fan Girl (2015)
Kiernan Shipka (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) delivers a great performance in this film as Telulah “Lu” Farrow. Lu dreams of being a filmmaker, and sets out to to make a movie about her favorite band, All Time Low, intending to enter it into her school’s film competition.
Lu is a fun character to follow, and her mom is played by fan-favorite Meg Ryan. For anyone that loves creativity, filmmaking and music, this is the underrated movie for them.
The Duff (2015)
Bianca (Mae Whitman) is horrified to learn she has been labeled as the DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) by her peers, in comparison to her two prettier and more popular friends. Bianca enlists her next-door neighbor and jock, Wesley (Robbie Amell), to reinvent herself. She struggles with bullies, her overbearing mom, her blossoming feelings for Wesley and a brief fallout with her two friends before coming to the important conclusion that she should just be herself, and writes a life-changing article about being a DUFF.
Midnight Sun (2018)
A young and talented teenager (Bella Thorne) has a life-threatening condition in which she cannot be exposed to sunlight. At night, she goes out and plays music for those around her, encountering Charlie (Patrick Schwarzenegger), whom she’s crushed on for years. She goes out with him, but doesn’t want him to learn of her condition.
