10 Best Movies Like The Kings Of Summer Update 04/2024

Movies Like The Kings Of Summer

Coming-of-age drama The Kings of Summer is an underrated gem. If you’re a fan like the majority of people who saw it, consider seeing something similar.

There’s something universally appealing about a great coming-of-age film. Most moviegoers can identify with a heartwarming story about adolescence. The Kings of Summer (2013), which had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, exemplified this.

In spite of a modest box office take of $1.4 million on a $1.5 million budget, audiences seemed to enjoy it. The plot revolves around a group of teenage boys who construct a log cabin in the woods with the intention of moving away from their parents and starting a new life there. Many of the actors, as well as the director, went on to have prosperous careers.

10. The Wackness (2008)

The Wackness (2008)

The Wackness, which came out five years before The Kings of Summer, is another story about coming of age. Fans of The Kings of Summer will recognize some of the genre’s tropes, but other aspects of the stories are quite distinct. Like The Wackness, which is held instead in the quiet woods in New York City’s bright lights.

The story revolves around Josh Peck (Josh Peck), a high school senior about to enter college who works with his therapist to sell marijuana throughout the city (Sir Ben Kingsley). As in The Kings of Summer, he develops feelings for the stepdaughter of his psychologist (played by Olivia Thirlby).

9. Hearts Beat Loud (2018)

Just because a movie is a coming-of-age story doesn’t mean all of the recommended films are in the same category as it.

Despite being a musical comedy-drama, fans of The Kings of Summer will recognize a key actor in Hearts Beats Loud.

In addition to his role as Frank Toy’s father in The Kings of Summer, Nick Offerman also portrays the role in the film Hearts Beat Loud. He tries to make a connection with his daughter before she leaves for college in this Sundance release.

8. Super 8 (2011)

Super 8 (2011)

It’s unlikely that you’d expect to see science fiction on a list like this. The Kings of Summer and Super 8 have a surprising number of similarities. The primary difference is that the story revolves around a group of impressionable teenagers who go on an expedition.

The story they’re telling takes them to a much more dangerous place.

Super 8 takes place in 1979, and it follows a group of teenagers as they attempt to make their own film, only to find an alien in their small town. This critically acclaimed film, directed and written by J.J. Abrams, starred a slew of future A-listers.

7. Captain Fantastic (2016)

On Amazon Prime, Erin Moriarty is best known as Annie/Starlight on the show The Boys. The Kings of Summer is where many first saw Kelly, the girl who Joe Toy has a major crush on, in her full beauty and radiance.

In Captain Fantastic, Moriarty plays a similar role as a fling for one of the main characters. A father (Viggo Mortensen) who has raised his children in the wilderness but now finds himself re-entering society after the death of his wife is the focus of the movie.

6. The Spectacular Now (2013)

The Spectacular Now (2013)

The coming-of-age tale The Kings of Summer wasn’t the only one to hit theaters in 2013. The Spectacular Now joined it at the Sundance Film Festival, so it wasn’t the only one there. At the world-famous festival, it received even more acclaim.

In this story, alcoholic Sutter Keeley (Miles Teller) falls in love with a sweet girl named Aimee Finecky (Jennifer Garner) (Shailene Woodley). Brie Larson and Kaitlyn Dever, two up-and-coming actresses, also appear in this impressive ensemble.

5. The Edge Of Seventeen (2016)

It’s a coming-of-age story once more. Despite the fact that there have been many excellent films in this genre released recently, only a few have surpassed The Edge of Seventeen. The cast, which includes both newcomers and seasoned pros, is expertly blended, much like in The Kings of Summer.

Hailee Steinfeld plays Nadine Franklin, a teenage girl who is dealing with life after the death of her father. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. When her best friend (Haley Lu Richardson) begins seeing her brother’s ex-girlfriend, everything changes for her (Blake Jenner). She develops a close relationship with her teacher to help her cope (Woody Harrelson).

4. The Way, Way Back (2013)

The Way, Way Back (2013)

Another great film from 2013 is listed here, indicating that it was the best year yet for these types of films.

The Way, Way Back, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival, continues the trend of taking place during the summer season.

As he prepares to take a vacation to Cape Cod with his mother and her abusive boyfriend (Toni Collette), introverted teenager Duncan (Liam James) is the focus of this film (Steve Carell). The water park manager (Sam Rockwell) helps him through it all while he’s there.

3. Stand By Me (1986)

There’s a good chance thatStand By Me, the oldest film on this list, provided inspiration for The Kings of Summer. That might surprise you, given that the story is based on Stephen King’s novel The Body.

Stand By Me, on the other hand, is appropriate for the mood because it depicts a group of teenage friends who go on a camping trip in the woods. However, in this instance, they go on the hike in search of a missing child’s dead body. This timeless classic was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

2. Kong: Skull Island (2017)

Kong Skull Island (2017)

This appears to be the most improbable choice when looking at the numbers.

It’s an indie film about teenagers called The Kings of Summer, and it’s a monster film called Kong: Skull Island about a giant ape in 1973. However, the focus here is on the individuals who work on these projects.

In the first place, Jordan Vogt-Roberts directs bothKong: Skull Island andThe Kings of Summer. Those are the only films he’s directed, but he’ll be helming Metal Gear Solid as well. In addition to Nick Robinson, Erin Moriarty, and Moisés Arias, Vogt-Roberts used them in a small scene because of their roles in his first film.

1. Love, Simon (2018)

Nick Robinson, who made his film debut in The Kings of Summer, went on to land his most notable role in Love, Simon a few years later. It’s possible that this was Robinson’s best performance yet based on the book Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda.

There he plays Simon, a gay high school student trying to keep his sexual orientation a secret while dealing with problems at home and at school. He develops feelings for an anonymous classmate with whom he bonds over the internet because they are both gay. Love, Victor, a Hulu series based on the classic film, features Robinson as the show’s narrator.