Top international coming-of-age films, led by Cinema Paradiso

Collider has compiled a ranking of the 10 best international coming‑of‑age movies, placing Cinema Paradiso at No. 1.

The list focuses on films made outside the U.S. and in languages other than English, and includes Raw (described as nauseating and visceral), Y Tu Mamá También (a road‑trip drama), Au Revoir les Enfants (set in Nazi‑occupied France), Let the Right One In (a coming‑of‑age vampire story), Christiane F. (a harrowing, true‑story drug drama), City of God (a visceral chronicle of youth survival), Fanny and Alexander (a family drama with ghostly elements), Spirited Away (Miyazaki’s acclaimed fantasy), and The 400 Blows (an episodic drama about a boy struggling to fit in).

The article provides short synopses and context for each selection, noting a wide tonal range from sentimental and epic to grisly and harrowing, and it highlights where viewer discretion may be appropriate for the more graphic entries.

Key Topics

Culture, Cinema Paradiso, Spirited Away, Hayao Miyazaki, Raw