Some of the best romantic comedies of all time explore the romances between teens or young adults, those exciting early relationships that are often awkward, complicated, and endearing to audiences. In Love, Simon titular high schooler comes to with being gay while falling in love with his online confidant.
These films have love at their core -- whether they lean towards comedy, like The Fundamentals of Caring, or are more serious and sadder, like Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. The settings, characters, and situations differ, but all of these movies are charming portrayals of young love that are worth checking out.
Updated on February 13th, 2022 by Danielle Bruncati: Young love is one of the purest forms of romantic love which makes it such a viable option for Hollywood. It’s the form of love that is the most exciting, most dramatic, and often has the most stakes as teenagers have to learn to grow together or break up. It’s even more complicated for teenagers who can’t be their true selves or are dealing with life-threatening diagnosis’s as is the case with two iconic teen movies. The best part about these movies though is that everyone can find a moment to relate to even if they haven’t experienced a young love.
Some Kind Of Wonderful (1987)
Available On Hulu
Unhappy with the resolution of Pretty in Pink, John Hughes decided to create Some Kind of Wonderful. The movie centers on Keith, a high school outcast, who convinces his tomboy best friend to help him date the most popular girl at school. While their plan works, Keith eventually realizes that Amanda isn’t right for him and instead his best friend is the perfect girl for him.
Like all of John Hughes’ coming-of-age romances, there are a lot of growing pains. Viewers will relate to the pain Watts feels when she thinks Kieth is putting his relationship over their friendship. And it has a certain wish fulfillment element to it since the best friends do end up together in the end.
To All The Boys I've Loved Before (2018)
Available On Netflix
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before begins when Lara Jean’s sister sends out love letters Lara Jean has written to all her past crushes. When her sister’s ex is one of the recipients, Lara Jean ends up fake dating Peter, another love letter recipient, to make it clear that she doesn’t love her sister’s ex anymore.
Young love is messy and that becomes abundantly clear in To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. Though Lara Jean and Peter originally agree to fake date, it’s not long before they both catch feelings. As they process their feelings, jealousy runs rampant in both of their lives.
The Fundamentals Of Caring (2016)
Available On Netflix
At its heart, The Fundamentals of Caring delivers on what the title promises. Paul Rudd plays Ben, the new caregiver hired to take care of Trevor, a cynical, sardonic wheelchair-bound teen.. On the way, they pick up Dot, an aloof and witty hitchhiker, with whom Trevor develops a romance.
Viewers will find a lot to ire in this upbeat story about friendship, living your daydreams, and crucially, about love. Trevor gets to experience his first kiss, his first date, breaks out of his stifling routine, and inspires Ben to write a book -- all in the space of a week-long road trip.
Me And Earl And The Dying Girl (2015)
Available On Tubi
When budding filmmaker Greg's mom forces him to visit Rachel, the terminally ill student at his school, he quickly develops a fondness for her wit, cynicism, and creativity. With his best friend Earl, he makes it his mission to make her an amateur film and, in his head, keep her alive by doing so.
The film is incredibly moving but also has some amusing moments of comic relief, such as during the boys' adaption of Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange called "A Sockwork Orange" featuring some ominous sock puppets. Unlike other romantic movies with a sick protagonist, the film never succumbs to false sentimentality. This young love doesn't last as Rachel dies at the end and Greg's heart is broken. With superb performances and an excellent score from Brian Eno, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a movie worth checking out.
Love And Basketball (2000)
Available On HBO Max
A cult classic, Love and Basketball follows Quincy McCall and Monica Wrightt through the highs and lows of their lives as they attempt to be professional basketball players. The movie starts with them in childhood and follows them through adolescence and adulthood.
Love and Basketball is a special young love movie because it’s one of the few that actually shows viewers what young love can turn into. It’s a nice reminder that young love shouldn’t be counted out but instead something to fight for if it’s right.
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008)
Available On Tubi
This movie plays out over the course of one magical night in downtown New York City. Nick and Norah's favorite band Where's Fluffy? have announced a secret show, and the eponymous characters race across the city examining clues and trying to find the venue. While they are ultimately unsuccessful, Norah's dad owns the Electric Lady music studios, and she takes Nick there -- he plays a song for her before they make love on the studio's sofa.
Unlike some movies that are slow-burners and play out over several days, months, or even years, this fleeting and exciting night filled with ion and mystery is one of the great young love tales. The film was based on a novel by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan and has a brilliant soundtrack featuring Richard Hawley, whose song "Baby, You're My Light" plays during one melancholic moment when Nick and Norah temporarily go their separate ways.
A Walk To (2002)
Available On Tubi
While some might say A Walk To is a quiet favorite for many. Set in North Carolina, the movie follows a “bad boy” high school senior who ends up falling for the town’s pastor’s daughter after being forced to spend time with her.
While young love rarely ends up happily, Landon and Jamie get an even worse ending than most when Jamie dies from cancer. While somber in tone, the movie does remind its viewers how special young love can be.
The Half Of It (2020)
Available On Netflix
When Paul, a slow-witted high school footballer, asks Ellie, a whip-smart Chinese-American, to help write a love letter to his crush, Ellie ends up falling for the recipient of the letters, a girl named Aster. A classic love triangle situation ensues in which Paul ends up falling for Ellie, while the letters she writes reveal her true feelings. The film, one of the best movies directed by a woman on Netflix, is set in a small town called Squahamish and has a cozy autumnal feel.
The Half of It usurps the traditional girl-meets-boy story. Instead, its heart comes from the friendship between Ellie and Paul -- he defends her from bullies and, a keen chef, brings food to her unwell father. Meanwhile, she sends complimentary letters to food critics regarding his sausage creations. Despite their friendship being placed front and center, Ellie still gets her kiss with Aster, and Ellie and Paul still find love, albeit as friends. The film has some very cute moments and is an absolute must-watch.
Pretty In Pink (1986)
Available On Hulu
This John Hughes cult classic follows Andie, a girl from the wrong side of the tracks whose father is poor, as she falls for Blane, a rich preppy kid at her school. Meanwhile, Andie's friend, the delightful Duckie, is totally in love with her -- he even performs a hilarious and theatrical dance at the record store where she works.
The movie has a lot to say about young love, though its ending may split the room. Andie ultimately chooses Blane, despite the original ending having her end up with Duckie. Hughes hastily rewrote the script after test audiences responded poorly. The official ending still shows that class cannot divide lovers, has one of cinema's most iconic school dance scenes, and is one of several fantastic movies that contains one of Hughes' best female characters in all of his movies.
Love, Simon (2018)
Available On Hulu
Love, Simon's premise has such longevity that it has spawned a spin-off series: Love, Victor. The movie follows Simon, a gay high schooler who has not yet come out to his friends and family, as he develops a romance online with an anonymous student, "Blue."
The movie is immersive and audiences will likely find themselves caring deeply about the host of charming characters, including Simon's friends Nick, Leah, and Abby, and his open-minded, liberal family . Despite this , Simon has a hard time when someone blackmails him and threatens to leak his and Blue's messages and out him to the whole school. It's a touching teen rom-com that foregrounds gay characters and highlights the emotional process of coming out without being too sentimental.
