7 Excellent Coming Of Age Movies

7. Boyhood

Boyhood is a phenomenal achievement both on the awards circuit and within this genre. More literally a coming-of-age movie than any other entry on this list, Richard Linklater's epic was composed across 12 literal years' worth of filming across the early lifespan of main character Mason (Ellar Coltrane) as he grows into a young adult

With so much scope, you'd be forgiven for assuming that this would be a breezy, pacy mess that has no narrative development, but you'd be wrong. Boyhood strikes a balance that is both epic in proportions, yet somehow remains a small, intimate experience that's full of charm. More than any other family drama, this becomes a window into any and all of the defining moments within Mason's lifetime.

Having started out with an adaptable script that changed alongside the long-term filming project, Boyhood feels like it naturally grows alongside its protagonist. Mason grows up through divorce, abusive parenting and his own gut-wrenching break-up, to name but a few. More often than not, coming-of-age focuses on one event, one girl or boy. Instead, Boyhood charts as many of the defining events in one boy's life and wants to see what kind of man they produce.