10 Best Teen Movies of the Decade
To mark the 21st Century making it through its teen years, the #20teens is a series from Teen Vogue celebrating the best in culture, politics, and style from the last decade.
While the early aughts were defined by vampire films and British wizards, the 10s were an amalgamation of dystopian book-to-big-screen adaptations and modern love stories. The cinematic world of the 2010s defined itself by rethinking the life of the American teenager and opting, in many cases, to trade in tired troped from decades past for more authentic stories — and if not authentic, far more compelling.
In the past ten years, we saw the rise of stars like Emma Stone and Brie Larson who challenged the roles they were given and transformed their careers from side players into Academy Award winners. We saw the beginning and end of an entire movie franchise and said goodbye to childhood favorites. And, although Hollywood still has a long way to go to create more inclusive stories for teens, the 10s were a giant step forward in terms of diversity and representation on screen.
As we approach the new decade, let’s take time to reflect on the cinematic masterpieces that helped define modern adolescence and provided us with life lessons and gifs that we will carry with us into 2020 and beyond.
Continue reading below for our top ten teen movies of the decade and, if you’re interested, you can read our list of the top ten teen TV shows of the decade here.
Everett1/10Easy A (2010)
Building off the chaotic energy the late 00s put into the world (we’re looking at you, Superbad), teen films in 2010 thrived off of quirky, slightly obscure story lines and clichéd love stories. Honorable mentions this year include Michael Cera’s Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (which also starred a then-unknown Brie Larson) and Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth’s The Last Song.
And, without further ado, the honor of 2010’s best teen movie of the year goes to Easy A. Starring Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, and Amanda Bynes, this cheeky teenage film follows Olive (Stone) who uses her high school’s rumor mill to her advantage, participating in a variety of antics until it all eventually comes crashing down. The film won several awards in 2010, including an MTV award for “Best Comedic Performance” and a Teen Choice award for “Choice Movie Actress: Romantic Comedy” and “Choice Movie: Romantic Comedy.”
Everett2/10Super 8 (2011)
In 2011, the world bid a tearful farewell to Harry Potter and his magical friends with the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2. Other popular films released this year include I Am Number Four, Footloose, and Mean Girls 2. But, it’s the sci-fi thriller Super 8 (not to be confused with the motel chain of the same name) that earned its place at the top of our teen movie’s list this year.
Written and directed by J.J. Abrams and produced by Steven Spielberg, Super 8 follows a group of teens that have set out to film their own movie when they capture a monster on camera, which thrusts them and their entire town into danger. The film starred Elle Fanning and Joel Courtney and was considered a commercial success with over $35.5 million opening weekend. It even claimed a few awards for itself across several categories.
Everett3/10The Hunger Games (2012)
2012 was a big year for teen movie fans: Perks of Being a Wallflower was released, putting Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, and Logan Lerman on our list of top crushes, Pitch Perfect earned its spot in our hearts and on our playlists, Spring Breakers proved our fave Disney Channel stars could do more risqué work, and Twilight’s reign as supernatural king of the box office came to a close.
While there’s no denying the cultural impact that Twilight and it’s subsequent films had on American culture, it’s the first film in the dystopian franchise The Hunger Games that earns the title as 2012’s top teen film of the year. Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth, among many more, this film was the beginning of perhaps the biggest franchise of the 10s. The movie won over 20 individual awards, including several Teen Choice awards for “Best Movie,” “Best Performance,” and “Best Liplock.”
Everett4/10The Bling Ring (2013)
Arguably, 2013 was another dismal year for teen-centric films. There was Kick-Ass 2, Warm Bodies, Carrie, and Beautiful Creatures — none of which particularly stood out in terms of a larger cultural impact. Therefore, The Bling Ring is given the honor of 2013’s movie of the year. Starring Emma Watson, Katie Chang, and Israel Broussard, this drama takes a real-life Los Angeles crime ring to the big screen with Hollywood glitz, glam, and destruction at the forefront of these teenagers dangerous game. Although it didn’t make a major splash at the box office, the film provided us with several iconic reaction GIFs and included a cameo from Paris Hilton, who was an actual victim in the real-life crime, which increases its cultural value a thousand percent.
Everett5/10The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
It’s 2014, Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me” has taken over airwaves across the country, Malala Yousafzai has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and Barack Obama is still in office. Things seem to be going well, until John Green decided to destroy our hearts with the box office release of The Fault in Our Stars. While iconic teen films like G.B.F., The Maze Runner, and Divergent all have special places in our hearts, it’s the utterly devastating and truly beautiful film the Fault in Our Stars that defined 2014 teen film. The teen romance film starred Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort in the titular roles about falling in love while dealing with sickness, and received numerous awards for their performances in the heartbreaking film. John Green, if you’re reading this, you owe me several packs of tissues!
.jpg)
Everett6/10Dope (2015)
2015 wasn’t the best year for teen-focused movies. Franchises like The Hunger Games and Divergent saw continued success at the box office and yet another John Green film (Paper Towns) was released. But, it’s the underrated film Dope that really shined as 2015’s movie of the year. The coming-of-age film follows Malcolm (Shameik Moore) a nerdy high school student with Harvard dreams living in a tough L.A. neighborhood. The film, which also stars A$AP Rocky, Zoë Kravitz, and Blake Anderson, quickly transforms from your average, run-of-the-mill high school narratives into a gritty adventure filled with plenty of questionable choices after Malcom is invited to an underground party. It’s a must-watch for anyone searching for a film that offers more than just a great story, but also an intimate look into the struggles of Black teens.
Everett7/10Moonlight (2016)
While teen movies can often succumb to stale, overused tropes and clichés, 2016’s Moonlight stands out amongst the crowd, offering a deeply moving story about coming to terms with one’s identity and sexuality in different stages of one’s early life. Based on an unpublished semi-autobiographical play written by Tarell Alvin McCraney, Moonlight’s moving story won all the awards, including an Academy Award for “Best Picture.” The movie is poised to become one of the greatest of this century (yes, I’m calling it now!) due not only to its cinematic beauty, but its ability to portray Black male identity so truthfully on screen.
Everett8/10Lady Bird (2017)
2017 was a great year for teen flicks with the releases of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Descendents 2, Before I Fall, Power Rangers, The Outcasts, Everything, Everything, It, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and many more. While each of these films offers its own unique perspectives on life as a modern teenager, it’s the Oscar-winning Ladybird that truly defines 2017. Directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Saoirse Ronan, Lucas Hedges, Timothée Chalamet, and Beanie Feldstein, the film follows the life of the artsy Lady Bird McPherson (Ronan) during her senior year of high school. Unlike usual coming-of-age stories, Lady Bird highlights a strained, imperfect family relationship not often portrayed in major blockbusters.
Everett9/10Love, Simon (2018)
It’s almost hard to pick a singular movie that defined 2018 when Netflix really came for the hearts of teens everywhere with the releases of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and The Kissing Booth. Of course, we can’t forget the intimate and heartbreaking film Then Came You starring Asa Butterfield, Maisie Williams, and Nina Dobrev. But, it’s the intimate and gripping queer love story in Love, Simon that has won a place in our hearts forever. Sentimentalities aside, Love, Simon offered viewers a romance that is not often portrayed on the big screen. It’s unique narrative was well-received with the film winning several awards, including “Best Kiss” at the MTV Movie + TV Awards.
Everett10/10Booksmart (2019)
Sorry to every other teen movie released in 2019, because Olivia Wilde’s Booksmart out did them all. Starring Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever, this film about friendship, love, and coming-of-age is absolutely irresistible. Not only does Booksmart perfectly capture the awkward nervousness at the end of high school, but it doesn’t shy away from taboo topics like porn, queer sex, or drugs. As the best movie in the last year of the decade, it’s clear to see how far relevant teenage stories have come from 2010 to now. Booksmart proves storylines that challenge the norm and offer inclusive casting aren’t just for indie films — it’s a necessary part of moving forward in Hollywood, 2020 and beyond.
