Gen Z didn’t grow up in a normal world. This is a generation raised on group chats instead of phone calls, identity questions instead of fixed labels, and constant connection that somehow still feels lonely. They are no longer a generation that talks about high school crushes or growing up.
There’s anxiety, internet fame, cancel culture, friendship boundaries, mental health, and figuring out life in between. That’s exactly why Gen Z–focused films feel messier, more honest, and often painfully relatable. If you want movies that actually capture what life feels like right now, these are the ones worth adding to your watchlist.
10. The F***-It List (2020)
This one is pure teenage rebellion bottled into a Netflix runtime. When a high school senior’s carefully planned Ivy League future collapses, he does what any emotionally overwhelmed Gen Z teen might do. He posts his secret bucket list online and decides to live it out publicly. It is messy, impulsive, and very on-brand for a generation that copes by oversharing.
9. The Last Summer (2019)
Graduation is done. College is knocking at the door. And suddenly, everything feels fragile. ‘The Last Summer‘ explores that weird in-between stage where friendships start shifting and suddenly feel temporary. It follows multiple couples and friend groups as they try to balance love, ambition, and uncertainty during one final summer together.
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8. The DUFF (2015)
Yes, it is technically pre-Gen Z core, but the themes still hit hard. When Bianca discovers she is labelled the “Designated Ugly Fat Friend,” her world flips upside down. Suddenly, she sees high school through the lens of a brutal social hierarchy. The movie tackles labels, self-image, and popularity politics in a way that feels very relevant to this age group.
7. The Edge of Seventeen (2016)
Hailee Steinfeld delivers one of the most painfully relatable teen performances ever. Nadine is awkward, dramatic, insecure, and convinced the universe is against her. Basically, she is every teenager at some point. The film dives deep into loneliness, sibling jealousy, and that crushing feeling of being misunderstood. It is funny, but it also hurts most honestly.
6. Do Revenge (2022)
This movie feels like ‘Mean Girls‘ if it grew up on Instagram and revenge podcasts. Two girls from completely different social circles team up to take revenge on those who wronged them. It is glossy, dramatic, and dripping in aesthetic. But underneath the pastel outfits and elite school drama on cancel culture, reputation, and social power.
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5. Moxie (2021)
Fed up with everyday sexism at her high school, a shy teen starts an anonymous feminist zine that sparks a full-blown rebellion. ‘Moxie‘ captures Gen Z activism in its early stages. It shows how movements start small but grow powerful when people feel seen. The film thrives on the themes of friendship, identity, and standing up for yourself in a way that feels very relevant to the generation.
4. Shiva Baby (2020)
Anxiety has never been filmed this accurately. ‘Shiva Baby‘ throws you into a cramped house, a funeral gathering, an ex sugar daddy, your ex girlfriend, and your entire extended family. Then it locks the doors. The tension builds with every awkward conversation and forced smile. It perfectly captures that Gen Z pressure of identity, career uncertainty, and romantic confusion.
3. Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
Rich Gen Z friends. A hurricane party. A murder game that becomes way too real. You’re probably thinking, what could go wrong? Well, everything. This film satirises performative wokeness, online therapy speak, and how this generation weaponises language in conflict. Every argument feels like a Twitter thread brought to life.
2. Eighth Grade (2018)
This movie is what makes it so devastating. Kayla tries to make it through middle school, armed with YouTube confidence videos she barely believes in. The film captures social media anxiety, awkward crushes, and the desperate need to be liked with heartbreak. Every small humiliation stings, and it understands Gen Z at its most vulnerable stage.
1. Booksmart (2019)
Two academic overachievers realise they might have missed out on fun. So they attempt to cram four years of teenage chaos into one night. Booksmart is fast, witty, and bursting with personality. It flips the “good girl” trope, showing that intelligence and rebellion are not opposites, and celebrates female friendship without making it toxic or competitive.
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