Coming-of-age stories have long been a staple of storytelling, capturing the universal experience of growing up. From navigating friendships to discovering identity, these tales reflect the awkward, exhilarating, and emotional transition from adolescence to adulthood. But just as societies have evolved, so too have these narratives.

What once primarily centered on universal high school struggles or rebellion against authority now embraces deeper nuances, exploring mental health, identity, and the increasingly digital world we live in.

From classics like The Breakfast Club to more recent hits like Sex Education and Eighth Grade, the evolution of coming-of-age stories offers a lens into shifting societal values, greater inclusivity, and the ways modern challenges shape today’s youth.

The Foundations of Coming-of-Age Narratives

Traditionally, coming-of-age stories followed a familiar formula. A young protagonist faced external challenges that mirrored their internal struggles, leading to personal growth and self-realization.

The Heydays of the '80s

Take The Breakfast Club, an iconic 1980s film that brought together teens from different high school cliques for a Saturday detention. By confronting stereotypes and connecting with one another, the characters navigated themes of identity, acceptance, and defiance of societal labels. At its core, it captured the universal highs and lows of adolescence, resonating with audiences who recognized themselves in these archetypes.

While The Breakfast Club and similar films like Dead Poets Society spoke to the struggles of a particular demographic (largely white, middle-class teenagers), their relatability lay in their focus on feeling misunderstood, pushing boundaries, and finding one's place in the world. These stories often showcased young characters grappling with authority figures, societal expectations, and cliques, all while gaining a better sense of their individuality. However, as conversations around diversity, mental health, and technology expanded, coming-of-age stories began to break free from these traditional molds.

Modern Media Reflects Evolving Societal Values

Today’s coming-of-age stories are far more diverse in scope, reflecting the complexities faced by young people in a rapidly changing world. Issues like mental health, gender identity, and the pervasiveness of social media are now central to many narratives, making them more inclusive and relevant to a broader audience.

Consider Eighth Grade, Bo Burnham’s intimate portrayal of a painfully shy 13-year-old named Kayla.

  • The film dives into the anxiety-inducing world of middle school, with Kayla struggling to stay authentic while navigating the pressures of Instagram culture and social media validation.
  • Unlike the romanticized portrayals of adolescence seen in older coming-of-age movies, Eighth Grade is raw, tender, and unpolished, accurately capturing the awkward, sometimes isolating reality of growing up in the digital age.

Similarly, Netflix's Sex Education tackles a wide range of socially relevant themes. On the surface, it’s a story about high school students navigating modern relationships and sexual experiences, but it also dives into serious topics like mental health, LGBTQ+ identity, trauma, and body image. By exploring the diverse challenges teens face today, shows like Sex Education demonstrate the growing demand for inclusive narratives that go beyond the surface of adolescence.

The Impact of Technology on the Genre

One of the most significant shifts in coming-of-age storytelling stems from the role of technology. Social media didn’t exist in the world of The Breakfast Club or Clueless, but today, it’s a dominant force shaping teenagers' lives.

Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat not only influence self-image but also create new social pressures, from the impact of online bullying to the addictive pursuit of likes and validation.

Shows like HBO’s Euphoria reflect these digital pressures in hyper-stylized ways, emphasizing how technology influences relationships, identity, and mental health. Rue’s struggles with addiction and self-worth, as well as her inability to escape technology’s grip, offer a glimpse into the dark interplay between adolescence and the digital world. While Euphoria veers toward an exaggerated portrayal of teen life, its themes resonate with young people navigating real challenges amplified by technology.

What’s interesting is how some modern narratives, like Eighth Grade, approach these topics more quietly. Instead of grand plotlines, they show how the subtler aspects of social media—constantly editing your personality or agonizing over a “like”—permeate daily life, profoundly affecting teens’ sense of self.

More Nuanced Perspectives on Identity

Another pivotal shift in the genre is the exploration of identity, especially as it pertains to gender, race, and sexuality. Modern coming-of-age stories no longer assume a singular teenage experience but instead aim to tell richer, multidimensional stories.

  • For example, Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird portrays Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, a Sacramento high school senior grappling with her ambitions, relationships, and strained bond with her mother. It’s a deeply personal story, yet it resonates widely because of its honesty about desire, failure, and family connections. What makes Lady Bird stand out is its unapologetic focus on the specifics of Lady Bird's identity while still feeling universally relatable.
  • On the other hand, stories like Moonlight carve a path for underrepresented narratives. Barry Jenkins’ Oscar-winning film follows Chiron, a young Black man, through three stages of his life as he struggles with his identity and sexuality. The film challenges the limited archetypes of Black masculinity often portrayed in media, showing how deeply youth can be defined by community, acceptance, and personal discovery.
  • Similarly, Heartstopper, based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novels, highlights the beauty and complexity of LGBTQ+ experiences without relying on overly dramatic tropes. Its depiction of Charlie and Nick's innocent, tender romance feels refreshing and earnest, offering younger viewers the kind of hope and representation that was scarce in older stories.

Why Coming-of-Age Stories Continue to Thrive

Despite the changes in tone, themes, and representation, coming-of-age stories remain timeless because they tap into universal experiences. The details of adolescence may shift with each generation, but the emotional core stays constant. Growing up continues to be about balancing self-discovery with societal expectations, learning to cope with failure, and ultimately stepping into adulthood with all its challenges.

What sets modern coming-of-age tales apart is their ability to break old stereotypes and focus on the distinct challenges faced by today’s youth. By addressing mental health, body image, race, gender identity, and technology, these stories resonate on a deeper level, offering not just entertainment but an opportunity for audiences to feel seen, heard, and validated.