Plot: Period piece about a Jewish family growing up in 1950’s Baltimore.

KBZ’s Take: This is a coming-of-age period piece that touches on a variety of subjects. While the comedy is more subtle in this film, there’s many dramatic moments involving racism, antisemitism and teenage romance. There’s also a subplot involving the father (played by Joe Mategna) whose business isn’t exactly legal. That subplot leads to some very amusing scenes with Orlando Jones as Little Melvin who isn’t the brightest tool in the shed. Some very heartwarming moments in this film and highly recommended for fans of the subgenre.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3JArx8u

Plot: Three of Reagan High School’s most popular girls kidnap their friend and accidentally kill her.

KBZ’s Take: The best of the various Black Comedy Teenage films in the 90’s that dealt with murder. The film is part satire on High School popularity and part Detective film as the girls try to coverup the crime (with diminishing and often hilarious results). The film also starred a who’s who of 90’s teenage actresses with Rose McGowan, Rebecca Gayheart, Julie Benz and Judy Greer. Highly recommended film for fans of the subgenre.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/40hUhJ6

Plot: Coming-of-age story of young Korean War veterans and friends reuniting back home.

KBZ’s Take: One of the lesser-known coming-of-age period pieces of the subgenre, Going All the Way is worth seeing for Jeremy Davies performance alone. Davies has carved out a niche as an often-neurotic character in film and TV such as Lost and Ravenous (1999), and this is a must-see film if you are a fan of his work. As for the film itself, it follows typical plot points as similar coming-of-age period pieces but it’s the roles of Ben Affleck, Amy Locane, Rachel Weisz and Rose McGowan that make it worth watching.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3RfLHXv

Plot: College roommates in Santa Cruz, CA question life after college.

KBZ’s Take: A lesser-known subgenre film that has early career performances from Ben Affleck, Sam Rockwell and Alyssa Milano. The film’s Santa Cruz setting is unique to the film (and subgenre) though the film relies on common themes and situations of life after college. Comedy-wise, there are a few funny moments in the film, but we’re listing the film more for rarity than anything else. It’s a recommended watch for fans and completists of the subgenre.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3JobISx

Plot: Five Twenty-something friends spend a drug-fueled weekend in Cardiff, Wales.

KBZ’s Take: If you turned on this film without knowing anything about it, you’d likely swear it was directed by Danny Boyle. While the Justin Kerrigan directed Human Traffic has many visual similarities to Trainspotting (1996), it’s a more tamed-down version of young adults involved with the UK drug and rave cultures of the time period. It’s still a great film and one that shouldn’t be missed by any fans of the subgenre.

Additional Lists: Top Stoner Comedies You Haven’t Seen #7

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Js9npv

Plot: Teenager camps out on the front lawn of his neighborhood crush for the entire summer.

KBZ’s Take: This is a surprisingly good film that balances coming-of-age period situations with raunchy and sex humor comedy. At the core of the film are the two leads – Peter (Joshua Schaefar) and Erica (Keri Russell) – who have a certain chemistry that works in the film. Most of the raunchy comedy, however, is delivered by Matt (R.D. Robb) – Peter’s friend who tries (and fails) at every form of adolescent masturbation to great comedic effect. Highly recommended film of the subgenre.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3kPu0BL

Plot: A group of teenagers support each other as they approach adulthood.

KBZ’s Take: Though the film is not a classic like Richard Linklater’s previous effort Dazed and Confused (1993), it’s still a great film with Linklater’s signature framing of dialogue (scripted by Eric Bogosian). The ensemble of actors in this film is what makes it work with some great performances from Giovanni Ribisi, Parker Posey, Steve Zahn and Nicky Katt. There’s not much that actually happens in this film, but it’s just as enjoyable watching the actors muse about their disdain for their lives and future.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3DpHlXO

Plot: 16-year-old girl visits her gay half-brother and seduces his boyfriend.

KBZ’s Take: This is the type of film where the plot cascades into increasing chaos with great comedic effect. With razor sharp wit and black comedy, both Christina Ricci and Lisa Kudrow steal the show as opposing forces on the seduction by Ricci’s character. It’s also a great script as you rarely can guess where things are going, and you’ll be left with quite a few WTF’s and laughter as situations escalate into the absurd. Highly recommended film that every fan of the subgenre should seek out.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3HnO45Z

Plot: Two former geeks become 1980’s punks.

KBZ’s Take: SLC Punk seems like it was made specifically for Matthew Lillard as he gives a career performance in this film. Playing Stevo, the lead character, Lillard’s narration of the film is often times even funnier that his actual film dialogue. The film also has one of the greatest lines of dialogue which not only encapsulates the movie (and why the leads are anarchists) but teenage stereotypes of the 1980’s:

“Even as early as my first party, “Why did I love to fight?” I framed it, but still, I don’t understand it. It goes against my beliefs as a true anarchist. But there it was. Competition, fighting, capitalism, government, THE SYSTEM. That’s what we did. It’s what we always did. Rednecks kicked the shit out of punks, punks kicked the shit out of mods, mods kicked the shit out of skinheads, skinheads took out the heavy metal guys, and the heavy metal guys beat the living shit out of new wavers and the new wavers did nothing, they were the new hippies. What was the point? Final summation? None.”

We wanted to put this film as #1 on our list but had to reserve that for one of the lesser-known classic films of the subgenre. However, if you still have not seen SLC Punk, move it to the top of your queue as its one of the best films of the subgenre.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3XTgqvS

Plot: Shy, obese teen Angus hatches a plan to win the heart of his crush – a popular cheerleader in his school.

KBZ’s Take:  As mentioned in our previous entry, we struggled with Angus and SLC Punk! as our top film. What tilted the scales in Angus’ favor was the opening credits scene which completely captured the tone and spirit of high school in the mid-90’s. Though both films are cult classics, Angus has a special type of cult following as it was one of the earliest subgenre films that dealt with bullying. It’s also endeared itself as ‘the film’ for kids growing up in the 1990’s similar to how The Breakfast Club (1985) spoke to kids growing up in the 80’s. Angus has a perfect balance of comedy, coming-of-age drama and inspiration that creates a perfect film for the family. As for the opening credits sequence, the song is ‘Am I Wrong’ by Love Spit Love and you can watch it here. It’s one of the most unique opening credits sequences that transports you right back to your high school days. One of the best films of the subgenre that shouldn’t be missed.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3HmcZGS