Seven Movies Like "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"

Craig is a bonafide cinephile, one who prefers watching both old and new films to get his mind thinking.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, published in February of 1999, is a novel by Stephen Chbosky, who spent five years writing the book, drawing inspiration from his memories and experiences. His book was banned in some schools because of its content. In 2012, however, he adapted his novel into a movie featuring Emma Watson, Logan Lerman, and Ezra Miller. The movie has been a huge success, boosting the novel’s sales enough to put it on the New York Times' bestseller list.

In this article, you will find movies like The Perks of Being a Wallflower that will surely remind you of what adolescence is all about.

1. The Way Way Back

Release Date: July 26, 2013

Director: Nat Faxon, Jim Rash

Cast: Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney

Duncan is a very shy 14-year-old. He has always had problems dealing with other people and is branded as a socially awkward teenager. One summer, he is forced to spend time with his mother, her boyfriend, and the boyfriend's daughter, Steph. Despite being an introvert, Duncan refuses to stay inside the beach house. He wanders into the Water Wizz, meeting employees as they are having fun. This marks the beginning of an unexpected relationship with Owen, who allows Duncan to work with him. They help each other with their problems and ultimately find their rightful places in life.

2. It’s Kind of a Funny Story

Release Date: January 7, 2011

Director: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck

Cast: Keir Gilchrist, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Roberts

The story is narrated by Craig Gilner, a 15-year-old who has a crush on Nia, the girl his best friend is dating. Craig is a social recluse, and increasing academic pressure takes a toll on him. He develops an eating disorder, bad sleeping habits, and he even turns to marijuana for comfort. Even worse, he learns that he has suicidal tendencies. When he calls for help and gets admitted to a psychiatric hospital, the juvenile ward is under renovation, so Craig spends his time with other adult patients. With the help of the people he meets inside, he finds a newfound will to live and start anew.

3. The Kings of Summer

Release Date: August 23, 2013

Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts

Cast: Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso, Moises Arias

Joe Toy is a teenager who finds himself frustrated with his father's nonstop attempts to control his life. Joe’s patience runs out, and he decides to leave home. He goes to the woods with his best friend Patrick and an odd boy called Biaggio. To declare their independence, they build a tree house and free themselves not only from responsibility but from their parents as well. Now that they control their destiny, will they turn back or forge ahead on their chosen path?

4. The Spectacular Now

Release Date: September 13, 2013

Director: James Ponsoldt

Cast: Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Kyle Chandler

Sutter Keely is the kind of guy who lives in the moment. He is a senior in high school, loved by everybody, and has no plans for his future. When he gets dumped by his girlfriend, he turns to alcohol and wakes up the next day on a lawn with Aimee Finecky. She is different from all the girls Sutter has known. Aimee is a nice girl, one who doesn’t have a boyfriend, the kind who finds happiness in her books. Despite their differences, they grow increasingly close to each other.

5. Submarine

Release Date: June 3, 2011

Director: Richard Ayoade

Cast: Craig Roberts, Sally Hawkins, Paddy Considine

Oliver Tate is a popular boy in school. He is infatuated with Jordana. One day, Jordana invites Oliver to meet after school. She kisses him and takes pictures to make her ex-boyfriend jealous. They become a couple and everything seems to be alright, but he soon discovers that his mother has a brain tumor. Things get complicated when his mother’s ex-boyfriend moves in next door and threatens his parents’ relationship. With everything going in the wrong direction, how can Oliver manage to straighten things out?

6. Little Miss Sunshine

Release Date: August 18, 2006

Director: Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris

Cast: Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Greg Kinnear

Olive Hoover is a 7-year-old with one big dream: to win the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant. Her family, however, is one big mess. Richard, her father, is a struggling lecturer of his own self-help program. Her mother, Sheryl, is a homemaker who does nothing but chain-smoke. Her brother, Dwayne, hates everyone and doesn’t talk, and her gay uncle, Frank, is a scholar who attempted suicide after falling in love with one of his male graduate students. All of them travel with Olive in her quest to win the pageant, but along the way face many struggles that test the strength of their family bonds.

7. Silver Linings Playbook

Release Date: December 25, 2012

Director: David O. Russell

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro

Pat Solatano is a man buried deep in trouble: He has lost everything—his job, his house, and his wife. He has no choice but to live with his parents in their old home. In spite of everything that’s happened, Pat is determined to start a new life and get his wife back. One day, he meets Tiffany, a strange girl who's dealing with her own problems. She makes a deal with Pat, saying that she’s willing to help him reunite with his wife if he agrees to do something for her. Little did they know that this deal is going to create a special bond between them.

Comments

Austinxhensl on March 24, 2017:

sadly none of these movies detail any into the struggles craig was having between his depression, his ptsd surrouindgin his aunt, his struggles knowing his only friend shot himself, none of this is represented in other movies on this list. while yes there was some semblance of a romantic comedy in the perks of being a wallflower it was so, so much more and i can never find a list that hits home like that movie did.

Daniel on January 24, 2017:

me and earl and the dying girl is also recommendable

AnkitAgrawal619 on December 11, 2016:

Some movie God wrote this article. Impressed

Donncha on August 01, 2016:

I'm going to add Dead Poets Society to that list. I think it has a similar feel about it. It deals with friendship, teenage struggles and development with students at a similar age but in a different time period

RandomGuyPassingBy on July 15, 2015:

Hey! Thank you very much for this movies, I've just seen the trailers until now but I feel like I'll really enjoy watching all of them. I already knew Little miss sunshine but it's a classic. Whatever, thanks for the effort.

stella vadakin from 3460NW 50 St Bell, Fl32619 on February 23, 2015:

A very informative hub on these different movies. I liked,"Little Miss Sunshine."