20 Coming-Of-Age Movies That Are Totally Flawless

Paul Thomas Anderson has always thrived when telling nostalgic stories, and his recent hit Licorice Pizza is one of his best projects yet.

The film follows 15-year-old Gary (Cooper Hoffman, son of the late Philip Seymour) and his older crush Alana (Alana Haim) as they race through 70s California, fumbling from one misadventure to the next whilst their connection deepens.

Rich with often hilarious pop culture references and endearingly played by its debuting leads, Licorice Pizza is straightforward and comforting in its depiction of human connection and finding purpose.

Anderson's typically keen eye for character development and authentic drama is on full display here, and watching Gary and Alana grow alongside each other makes for one of his finest achievements.