Whether you were the nerd, the jock, the outcast, the popular kid, or the burnout in high school, there’s no denying that movies about teenagers are totally entertaining. In those formative years between the ages of 13 and 19, a person experiences so many changing friendships, family dramas, and first times, and even if that time in your life sucked, it’s way more fun to watch someone else go through that suckiness. Amazon Prime Video has tons of incredible teen movies available to stream right now, and we’ve rounded up the best movies filled with hormones, heartbreak, and all the drama of high school.
Fired Up!
Why go to football camp when you can go to cheer camp with a bunch of ladies? That’s the premise of Fired Up!, one of those slightly raunchy, definitely problematic teen comedies that wouldn’t be greenlit today.
John Tucker Must Die
Yes, yes, and more yes. John Tucker Must Die will send you right back to 2006, when Jesse Metcalfe was at the height of his powers. In this iconic film, he’s wooing the likes of Brittany Snow, Ashanti, Sophia Bush, and Arielle Kebbel – all at the same time. You’ll also see a pre-Gossip Girl Penn Badgley, so there’s no way to lose here.
Words on Bathroom Walls
Thanks to a low-key 2020 release, Words on Bathroom Walls is sadly underrated. Charlie Plummer and Taylor Russell star as teens who are drawn to each other despite, or perhaps because of, the mental illness that affects one of them.
The Map of Tiny Perfect Things
Like Palm Springs, but with teens! Mark (Kyle Allen) and Margaret (Kathryn Newton) find themselves living the same day over and over. Will they escape . . . before they fall in love?
The First Time
This rom-com tells the story of two teens from different high schools, one of whom is lusting after a girl he can’t have and another who has an older boyfriend who doesn’t get her. When the two meet at a party, Dave and Aubrey form an instant connection, and it’s not long before they find themselves falling in love.
Summer '03
Joey King stars in this dramedy as 16-year-old Jamie, whose life changes after her grandmother leaves her with a surprising final message on her death bed. What follows is a summer of debauchery, during which Jamie decides that it’s time to let loose and explore her sexuality.
Footloose
In this 2011 remake of the ’80s original, a teen raised in a big city who finds himself experiencing major culture shock after he moves to a small town where dancing and loud music aren’t just frowned upon – they’re outright banned. The 1984 original is also available to stream on Amazon Prime.
A Girl Like Her
In this faux documentary, a bullied teen named Jessica recruits her best friend, Brian, to help her prove that their high school’s most popular student (and Jessica’s former friend) has been tormenting her for the past year. To help her, Brian creates a hidden camera for Jessica to wear, and the footage ends up becoming essential after tragedy strikes.
All Summers End
In this drama, the relationship between three longtime friends changes after one of them gets a girlfriend. To prove to his two buddies that they mean more to him than a girl, Conrad decides to pull an seemingly-innocent prank on his girlfriend’s family – though unfortunately, the prank takes an unexpectedly tragic turn, and Conrad must decide whether to tell Grace the truth.
Mid90s
This dramedy (which was written and directed by Jonah Hill) is set in 1996, revolving around a 13-year-old with an abusive older brother and a struggling single mother whose life changes after befriending a crew he meets at a skate shop. Over the course of a summer, Stevie has his first brushes with alcohol, drugs, and girls, allowing him an escape from his troubled home life.
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Sarah Jessica Parker stars in this ’80s rom-com as Janey, an army brat with a strict father who befriends a free-spirited teen at her latest school. At her new friend’s urging, Janey works up the courage to enter a TV dance competition, even though her dad forbid her from doing so.
The Man in the Moon
Reese Witherspoon stars in this ’90s drama as Dani, a 14-year-old girl from Louisiana who experiences her first love in the summer of 1957 when she meets 17-year-old Court. Little does she know that her first love will eventually lead to her first heartbreak as well.
Selah and the Spades
Set at a prestigious East Coast boarding school, Selah and the Spades follows the story of the titular Selah, a senior who runs a powerful faction of students – known as the Spades – who sell drugs at their high school. Because Selah has no one to replace her after she graduates, she takes a particular interest in new girl Paloma, whom she begins grooming as her replacement.
Extracurricular Activities
In this dark comedy, model high school student Reagan takes on an atypical after-school activity: killing the overbearing parents of classmates who recruit his services. Of course, when police begin to investigate the string of murders in his town, he finds it trickier to keep his business going.
The Virgin Suicides
Adapted from Jeffrey Eugenides’ novel of the same name, this Sofia Coppola-directed drama – which is set in the 1970s – tells the story of five sisters between the ages of 13 and 17 who inexplicably take their lives one after another. The tragic tale of the Lisbon sisters is told by anonymous neighborhood boys, who studied the sisters from afar with lust and curiosity.
F the Prom
Danielle Campbell from The Originals stars in this movie as Maddy, a teen who drifts apart from her former best friend Cole (played by Joey Courtney) over the course of high school. However, when Maddy is dumped by her boyfriend as a high school senior, she reaches out to her old friend, and the two come up with a plan to destroy prom.
Chemical Hearts
Based on Krystal Sutherland’s novel Our Chemical Hearts, this drama tells the story of a driven high school newspaper editor (played by Austin Abrams) who finds himself falling in love for the very first time with the new girl in school (played by Lili Reinhart), who joins him on the newspaper staff.
Palo Alto
Written and directed by Gia Coppola and based on James Franco‘s 2010 short story collection of the same name, Palo Alto tells the story of several teens from an affluent California town as they experiment with drugs, alcohol, and sex. With a cast that includes James Franco, Emma Roberts, Nat Wolff, Keegan Allen, Margaret Qualley, and Chris Messina, among others, you could say this one is pretty stacked.
Tart
Set in 1980s Manhattan, Tart revolves around prep school student, Cat, who befriends the popular crowd after her best friend is expelled from school. As it turns out, getting into the in-crowd is easy – but staying in requires far more effort.
Hot Summer Nights
Set in Cape Cod, MA, in the summer of 1991, Timothée Chalamet stars in this crime drama as Daniel, an awkward teen sent to live with his aunt after the death of his father. Though he’s initially not thrilled with the situation, life becomes far more exciting after Daniel befriends (and later becomes business partners with) the town’s resident drug dealer.
The Standoff
The premise of this comedy is simple: eight teens compete to see who can keep their hands on a car for three days, with the winner getting the new wheels. What makes things more complicated: they all hate one another.
Being Charlie
Love, Simon‘s Nick Robinson stars in this drama as the titular Charlie, a troubled 18-year-old who – after breaking out of a youth drug treatment clinic – is sent by his parents to an adult rehab facility. There he meets Eva, who might just be his antidote . . . or just another bad influence.
Henry Gamble's Birthday Party
This drama tells the story of the titular Henry Gamble, a preacher’s son and active member of the local church youth group who has a big secret: he’s gay. During his 17th birthday party, Henry finds his faith and burgeoning sexuality challenged in new ways as he attempts to figure out who he really is.
Johnny Be Good
Brat Pack member Anthony Michael Hall stars in this ’80s movie as the titular Johnny, a high school quarterback who finds himself courted by recruiters from every major college nationwide during his senior year. Johnny is then torn between two options: waiting for the most lucrative offer, or attending the local state college (which has offered him nothing) with his girlfriend.
Babysitter's Black Book
Based on a true story, this drama revolves around a group of teens who turn their babysitting business into a lucrative escort service for dads in order to make extra cash (and college connections). The plan seems like a great idea – until a vindictive classmate finds out what the girls are up to.
Pitching Tents
Set in the summer of 1984, this raunchy comedy revolves around a teen looking to experience a wild weekend in the woods with his friends before he chooses between college and a job at the local metal factory. Luckily, he encounters a mysterious hottie along the way who helps him relieve some stress and find his way.
Heathers
This dark comedy from the ’80s stars Winona Ryder as Veronica, a high schooler who hangs out with the most popular girls in school, the Heathers, but finds herself growing tired of their company. That all changes when she meets new student J.D., who’s rebellious, mysterious, and – as it turns out – a murderer.
The Outcasts
Victoria Justice and The Middle‘s Eden Sher star in this comedy as Jodi and Mindy, two nerds hoping to spend senior year under the radar after years of bullying. Unfortunately, staying invisible is impossible after Jodi and Mindy become the target of a cruel prank, and the besties decide to unite with their fellow outsiders to get revenge.
Romeo & Juliet
Set in 15th-century Verona, Italy, this movie retells William Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, with Douglas Booth and Hailee Steinfeld starring as the titular Romeo and Juliet. Despite the centuries-long rivalry between their families, the two teens fall in love, and – as you probably already know – things don’t end so well for them.
Watch Romeo & Juliet on Amazon Prime.
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Cyberbully
Hannah Montana‘s Emily Osment stars in this soapy drama as Taylor, a well-liked high schooler who’s thrilled when she’s given her own laptop for her 17th birthday. However, her new freedom becomes dangerous after she accidentally offends a fellow student, who then launches a cyberbullying campaign against Taylor.
Geography Club
Based on the 2003 novel of the same name by Brent Hartinger, Geography Club revolves around a group of high schoolers struggling with or hiding their sexual identities who decide to form a club, which will give them a discreet way to explore their feelings. They think no one will pay attention to something as innocuous as a geography club – but they soon realize that isn’t the case.
Death of a Cheerleader
Based on the real-life murder of Kirsten Costas, who was killed by her classmate in 1984, this ’90s drama tells the story of Angela, a teen from the wrong side of the tracks who becomes wildly envious of her rich, pretty classmate. When Angela’s attempts to befriend her classmate fail, her envy eventually drives her to murder.
Wish Upon a Star
Katherine Heigl stars in this comedy as 18-year-old Alexia, a popular high school senior with a cute boyfriend and a dorky 15-year-old sister, Hayley. Though Hayley envies her sister’s life and wishes she could be her, she never imagines that the wish she makes on a shooting star will actually come true.
Summer of 8
In this dramedy, eight friends spend their last summer before college hanging out and hooking up on the beach. As the summer draws to a close, the friends decide to make their last 24 hours together “perfect,” knowing that their lives and their bonds will likely never be the same after they leave.
Good Kids
Starring Nicholas Braun and Zoey Deutch, this comedy follows four high school overachievers who decide to finish high school with a summer of debauchery before heading off to college. Has this plot been done before? Several times. But it’s still pretty fun to watch them soil their reputations one party at a time.
Low Tide
In this thriller, two teenage brothers find a find a bag of gold coins in a dead man’s island home on the Jersey shore and agree to keep the small fortune for themselves. Eventually, word gets out, and one of the brothers’ friends decides he’s willing to go to great lengths to steal the money.
