Being a grown-up is really hard. For all of adolescence’s challenges — and there are plenty — sometimes we all yearn for simpler times, when our biggest problems were homework and the prom.
If you’re feeling nostalgic, check out the official Watch With Us list of best-ever young adult movies.
We’re getting literary this month, adding two fantastic modern-day retellings of literary classics to the list. These movies star Paul Rudd, Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger and more.
If you’re feeling nostalgic for the days of homework, we’ve got an assignment for you — watch these movies right now.
Need more recommendations? Then check out the Best New Movies on Netflix, (HBO) Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime and More, Best Movies on Amazon Prime Video Right Now, Best Movies on Hulu Right Now and 4 Underrated Movies on Netflix in April 2025.
If you haven’t seen this movie, you’re so totally buggin’. If you have seen it, you’re probably “butt-crazy in love” with this ultra-90s adaptation of Jane Austen‘s Emma. Either way, you should watch it. Clueless is the story of Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone), a wealthy Beverly Hills teen who loves meddling in other people’s lives.
Whether it’s setting up two of her teachers (Wallace Shawn and Twink Caplan) or making over new girl Tai (Brittany Murphy), Cher is certain she has the answers to everyone’s problems. But when several of her schemes blow up in her face, she has to wonder if she has as much of the 411 as she believes she does.
Clueless has everything — iconic costumes, memorable dialogue and a young (and adorable) Paul Rudd. Don’t miss this classic film available to stream on Paramount+.
Another ’90s romantic comedy based on a beloved literary work, 10 Things I Hate About You is based on Shakespeare‘s The Taming of the Shrew. This quirky comedy stars a host of future stars, notably Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Cameron, a transfer student who instantly falls head over heels for Bianca Stratford (Larisa Oleynik), a popular girl at his new high school.
Unfortunately for Cameron, Bianca’s strict dad has a rule regarding his daughters — Bianca cannot date until her rebellious and anti-social older sister Kat (Julia Stiles) does. Ever determined, Cameron hires local bad boy Patrick Verona (a dreamy Heath Ledger) to date Kat so that he can pursue Bianca. Predictably, Patrick and Kat begin falling for each other for real — but there’s nothing predictable about the bizarre scenarios that get them there.
Jam-packed with memorable lines and hilarious visual gags — for some reason, Padua High School has cliques like the “cowboy kids” and “white Rastas” that make every shot entertaining — this movie is also one of the most romantic high school love stories you’ll ever see. “I burn, I pine, I perish,” indeed.
10 Things I Hate About You is streaming on Disney+.
Two high schoolers concoct a plan to ensure they get to hook up before graduation. Sounds familiar, right? That’s technically the plot of Bottoms, but this comedy has a campy, violent and queer twist. PJ (Rachel Sennott, Shiva Baby) and Josie (Ayo Edebiri, The Bear) start a “female self-defense club” at their high school, with the hidden motivation of stealing hot cheerleaders from their football-playing boyfriends.
Completely over-the-top and outrageous, Bottoms is both a hilarious parody of teen comedies and a tender coming-of-age story.
Bottoms is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
Without Ferris Bueller, teen comedies as we know them would not exist. This John Hughes movie starring Matthew Broderick has it all — ridiculously witty dialogue, angst, romance and a musical number. Ferris Bueller (Broderick) enlists his best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) and his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara) to have the greatest day of playing hooky any teen can imagine.
Ferris’ sister (Jennifer Grey) and school dean (Jeffrey Jones) are determined to catch Ferris in the act, but the “righteous dude” is too quick-witted and clever to be cornered by either of them. While Sloane and Ferris are mostly focused on having a good time, Alan Ruck’s Cameron is dealing with some heavy issues with his father that bring just the right amount of drama to this light, hilarious film.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is available to stream on Pluto TV.
Romeo and Juliet might be the Western world’s first Young Adult romance. In Baz Luhrmann’s take on the epic tragedy, Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio play the original “star-crossed” lovers who are divided by their warring families in the modern-day city of Verona Beach.
The Standard calls this movie, which is available to stream on Hulu, one of the best Shakespeare adaptations of all time. In addition to star-crossed lovers DiCaprio and Danes, there’s also a young Paul Rudd as Juliet’s fiancé Paris and a hot-headed John Leguizamo as Tybalt Capulet.
You may have watched Romeo + Juliet in your ninth-grade English class. If you did, now’s the time to revisit it. If not, what are you waiting for?
Stream Romeo + Juliet on Hulu.
This Netflix rom-com, based on a novel by Jenny Han, was such a huge hit that it spawned two sequels and a spinoff series. It stars Lana Condor as Lara Jean Covey, a painfully shy high school girl who has written love letters to all her biggest crushes over the years.
When the letters somehow get mailed, Lara Jean finds herself entering a fake relationship with the adorable Peter Kavinsky. This was the movie that put The Recruit star Noah Centineo on the map as well as in many of our hearts. Come for the laughs, stay for THAT hot tub scene.
Stream To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, as well as its sequels and spinoff, on Netflix.
Are you sick of the whiplash between Marvel and DC when it comes to superhero storytelling? Looking for some lighter fare? If so, Sky High is the flick for you. This slapstick comedy follows Will Armstrong, the son of two legendary heroes, who goes to his parents’ alma mater of Sky High, the school for superheroes. Only one problem – he doesn’t have any superpowers.
Michael Anganaro (This is Us) leads the charming cast of wannabe superheroes. The cast features several actors who would go on to star in bigger superhero properties like Danielle Panabaker (The Flash) and Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Birds of Prey).
You can stream Sky High on Disney+.
“Thirty, flirty, and thriving” has become a catchphrase that features in practically every 30th birthday Instagram post, but it originated in this coming-of-age rom-com. When awkward and unpopular teenager Jenna Rink makes a wish to become a fabulous thirty-year-old, she wakes up in the body of Jennifer Garner!
Unfortunately, Jenna quickly realizes that she hasn’t just changed on the outside. The adult version of herself is not the type of person she wants to be. With the help of her childhood best friend, played by a swoon-worthy Mark Ruffalo, can she find herself once again?
13 Going on 30 is available to stream on Netflix.
If you thought YA movies were all fluff and no substance, check out Saved! This satirical comedy touches on some really challenging issues of faith, family and sexuality. Jena Malone of Hunger Games fame stars as Mary, a devoutly Christian teenager who has sex with her boyfriend to try to “save” him from being gay.
Instead, Mary becomes pregnant and watches as her conservative high school classmates turn against her. A young Mandy Moore plays Hilary Faye, a deliciously hypocritical mean girl, and Macaulay Culkin is her sardonic but kind younger brother.
Saved! is available to rent on Amazon Prime Video.
