As mentioned, most movie themes encompass universal experiences. And few experiences are more universal than that of growing up with all the awkward, angsty, and otherwise awful events and emotions that go along with it.
No matter where a person lives, what their obstacles are, or how they deal with them, the coming-of-age story2 is one that many people can relate to. But as with many movie themes, the coming of age story can be told in a variety of ways, such as through humor, drama, flashback, ensemble or a single protagonist’s point of view.
Rebel Without a Cause (1955) is one of the earliest on-screen examples of how challenging it can be to go through adolescence.
Writer Shayne Anderson discusses the role that this theme played in his work: “When writing my script, I was aware of a theme. It was apparent early on the story I wanted to tell revolved around a family. Not only a biological one but a family at the school. Friendship as family.”
Other examples: The Outsiders (1983), The Breakfast Club (1985), Stand By Me (1986), Boyz in the Hood (1991), Superbad (2007), Lady Bird (2017).
What are examples of themes?
Movie themes encompass the whole of the human experience. They tend to reflect universal happenings like falling in love, coming of age, or dying. Other common movie themes include good versus evil, determination, humanity versus artificial intelligence/technology, familial conflict, and sacrifice for the greater good.
What are some powerful themes?
If a film is done well, nearly any theme can resonate strongly with audiences. That being said, often it’s the themes with the greatest universal appeal, such as love, parenthood, and death that most profoundly impact viewers.