Reel Lessons for Real Life: Movies Your Teen Shouldn’t Miss

Cinematic gems for adolescent minds

George J. Ziogas
7 min readJul 21, 2023
© fergregory / Adobe Stock

Adolescence can be a complex phase. As teenagers leave childhood behind, they go through significant physical, psychological, and cognitive changes. In particular, adolescents begin to develop their unique personalities. As a result, they seek more independence from their family. In other words, they try to find their own path and role in life. As teenagers prepare to enter adulthood, they also start to form personal opinions on the world they live in and question societal norms and rules.

Psychologists explain that the many challenges of adolescence can often lead to confusion and emotional turmoil. For this reason, many teenagers seek guidance from role models. According to experts, these figures are fundamental to development. They often inspire, motivate, and give directions. In this sense, movies can help teens find positive role models to emulate. They also allow them to see the world from different perspectives and discover other realities. Additionally, movies help parents to open up conversations on complex topics, such as grief, exploitation, or the perils of hate.

Here are four movies that every teen should watch.

Billy Elliot

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George J. Ziogas

Vocational Education Teacher | HR Consultant | Personal Trainer | Manners will take you where money won't | ziogasjgeorge@gmail.com