Teenage dramas have intrigued audiences for their unpredictable stories and complicated relationships with family and friends. One such movie that explores the dark sides of teenage emotions is Thirteen (2003). The movie managed to blend intense drama with a lot of action and thrill. If you have already explored it, here are some more movies like Thirteen that you can check out!
Some movies are beyond teenage love stories and mushy college romances as they focus more on the complicated teenage years. For instance, Clueless (1995) is a cult classic teenage romantic flick that addresses the complicated feelings of teenagers. However, Thirteen is a much darker and more dramatic movie that explores s*x, dr*gs, and confusion among teenagers.
So, this list is an updated compilation of awesome movies like Thirteen that have much more to offer than dramatic love stories. Let’s explore similar movies like Thirteen that you should not miss out on watching at any cost!
Table of Contents
25 Rebellious Movies Like Thirteen | High-Intense Teenage Dramas!

Thirteen is an intense dramatic flick exploring teenage emotions and complicated lives. The movie revolves around a 13-years old girl named Tracy. Her life completely changes when she enters High School and befriends Evie. Evie is a careless free-spirit yet popular girl in the school.
Her bad influence on Tracy becomes very dominant, which leads Tracy into the world of dr*gs, petty crimes, and random hookups. When Tracy’s mother finds out the truth, she becomes aggressive and tries to stop Tracy at any cost. This leads to a series of events that changes everyone’s lives.
- Release Date: 20 August 2003
- Director: Catherine Hardwicke
- Genre: Drama
- Movie Run Time: 1h 40m
- Cast: Evan Rachel Wood, Holly Hunter, Nikki Reed, Vanessa Hudgens, Brady Corbet, Ulysses Estrada, Sarah Blakley-Cartwright, Jenica Carey, and Sarah Clarke
- IMDB Score: 6.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 81%
- You Can Watch It On: Prime Video
So, if you like the premise and are more interested in watching pretty intense dramas rather than mushy love stories, here are many amazing movies similar to Thirteen at your service. Let’s dive deep into the article to explore them!
Also, Read | 32 Best Movies Like Maze Runner | Hauntingly Amazing Flicks!
1# Lords Of Dogtown (2005)

Lords Of Dogtown is one of the most entertaining movies like Thirteen, about sports spirit and survival among brutal people. Lords Of Dogtown revolves around a group of brilliant friends in skateboarding. Despite belonging to the impoverished streets of Dogtown in Santa Monica, they manage to earn a wide reputation for being the best skateboarders.
However, their future dwindles because of corporate politics, prejudice of higher classes, and limited opportunities. Thus, the teenagers try their best to overcome the odds at any cost. Lords Of Dogtown is very much similar to Thirteen in portraying the aggression and messy lives of the protagonists.
- Release Date: 3 June 2005
- Director: Catherine Hardwicke
- Genre: Drama/Teen
- Movie Run Time: 1h 47m
- Cast: Heath Ledger, Emile Hirsch, Victor Rasuk, Johnny Knoxville, John Robinson, Rebecca De Mornay, William Mapother, and Julio Oscar Mechoso
- IMDB Score: 7.1/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 55%
- You Can Watch It On: Prime Video
2# Kids (1995)

Another brilliant movie that explores the dark phases of teenagers is Kids. The movie is decades old but has the potential to give you goosebumps and a thrilling experience through its diabolic characters and plotline. Kids revolves around a notoriously corrupted teenager named Telly. He suffers from HIV disease. Thus, he plans to have s*x with as many girls as possible to spread it.
One of his victims, Jenny, comes to know about his evil plans. Thus, she takes a pledge to save the innocent girls from Telly and expose his evil intentions. However, things go wrong when a series of twists follow in the movie, which changes the entire course of the film. Kids movie is one of the most thrilling movies like Thirteen that will give you goosebumps.
- Release Date: 28 July 1995
- Director: Larry Clark
- Genre: Drama/Indie film
- Movie Run Time: 1h 31m
- Cast: Leo Fitzpatrick, Justin Pierce, Chloë Sevigny, Sarah Henderson, Joseph Chan, Johnathan Staci Kim, and Sajan Bhagat
- IMDB Score: 7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 46%
- You Can Watch It On: Prime Video
3# White Oleander (2002)

One of my favorite movies similar to Thirteen is White Oleander for various good reasons. White Oleander is quite dramatic and an emotional movie that focuses on teenage struggles during the growing age. The movie revolves around Astrid and Ingrid, who are mother-daughter. Astrid falls in love with Barry Kolker, but she fails miserably in the relationship.
Out of revenge, she kills him and ends up getting into jail. On the other hand, minor Ingrid is sent to different foster houses for her upbringing. However, Istrid’s journey is full of odds and restrictions that shape her entire personality. Despite facing many challenges, Ingrid keeps writing letters to her mother and asks her to keep faith in love and positivity. White Oleander is one of the most dramatic movies like Thirteen that you must watch!
- Release Date: 8 October 2002
- Director: Peter Kosminsky
- Genre: Drama/Melodrama
- Movie Run Time: 1h 49m
- Cast: Michelle Pfeiffer, Renée Zellweger, Robin Wright, Alison Lohman, Amy Aquino, John Billingsley, Elisa Bocanegra, and Scott Allan Campbell
- IMDB Score: 7.1/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 69%
- You Can Watch It On: Prime Video
4# Boyhood (2014)

Boyhood is an amazing movie that will take you on a memorable ride of the teenage journey and its related complications. The story revolves around two young siblings – MJ and Samantha. Their parents get divorced. Thus, they have to live with their mother. Their father can visit them occasionally.
However, as the story progresses, it highlights the impact of the absence of good parenting on children’s minds. MJ and Samantha go through rough phases of their teenage lives and struggle hard to confront their inner demons. Boyhood is one of the most interesting movies like Thirteen that will keep you hooked to your screens till the very end.
- Release Date: 11 July 2014
- Director: Richard Linklater
- Genre: Drama/Coming-of-age story
- Movie Run Time: 2h 45m
- Cast: Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, Elijah Smith, Lorelei Linklater, Steven Chester Prince, Bonnie Cross, Sydney Orta, and Libby Villari
- IMDB Score: 7.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
- You Can Watch It On: Prime Video
Also, Read | 25 Insanely Hilarious Movies Like Superbad That Are Too Good!
5# Twilight (2008)

Twilight does not need any introduction for lots of reasons! However, the movie explores the complicated feelings and relationships of teenagers in college and their families. The protagonist, Bella Swan, moves in with her father when her mother remarries another man. Bella gets attracted to mysterious yet charming Edward Cullen, who happens to be a vampire!
The movie perfectly blends fantasy with teenage emotions and romance. If you want to watch more movies like Twilight, we have a lot to offer! Twilight is different from regular college romances and teenage love stories because it has a lot of mysteries, thrillers, and twists, similar to Thirteen movie.
- Release Date: 20 November 2009
- Director: Catherine Hardwicke
- Genre: Romance/Fantasy
- Movie Run Time: 2h 2m
- Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke, Sarah Clarke, Matt Bushell, Taylor Lautner, Nikki Reed, Nikki Reed, and Gil Birmingham
- IMDB Score: 5.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 49%
- You Can Watch It On: Netflix
6# Pretty Persuasion (2005)

Pretty Persuasion is another interesting movie similar to Thirteen, where many teenagers plan something very odd and notorious to get the limelight and instant fame. Pretty Persuasion movie focuses on high school politics, drama, and manipulation rather than a lovey-dovey romance. The protagonist, Kimberley, plans with her friend Randa and Brittany to falsely accuse their English professor of taking s*xual advances from his students.
Kimberley wants to use this news to get a sensational news reporter. However, things go wrong when a serious probe gets started and real media gets involved. Moreover, this further leads to many complicated situations and ugly compromises. Pretty Persuasion is one of the most entertaining movies like Thirteen that you should not miss out on watching!
- Release Date: 12 August 2005
- Director: Marcos Siega
- Genre: Drama/Comedy
- Movie Run Time: 1h 44m
- Cast: Evan Rachel Wood, Ron Livingston, James Woods, David Wagner, Brent Goldberg, Adi Schnall, Elisabeth Harnois, Stark Sands, and Jane Krakowski
- IMDB Score: 6.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 33%
- You Can Watch It On: Prime Video
Also, Read | 26 Vengeance Movies Like John Wrick | Witness Devishily Violent Action
More Movies To Watch If You Love Thirteen | The Complete List!

Well, the list of movies similar to Thirteen movie is quite long because I don’t want you to miss out on any good stuff. So here are some of the popular movies like Thirteen that you should watch to explore teenage emotions and stories. Moreover, the below-mentioned movies explore not just romance or drama but some of the best teenage action movies as well!
Movies Like Thirteen | Release Date | Director | Movie Run Time | IMDB Score | Rotten Tomatoes Score | You Can Watch It On |
Fish Tank (2009) | 11 September 2009 | Andrea Arnold | 2h 3m | 7.3/10 | 91% | Prime Video |
Mid90s (2018) | 19 October 2018 | Jonah Hill | 1h 25m | 7.3/10 | 80% | Netflix |
Bullet Boy (2004) | 8 April 2005 | Saul Dibb | 1h 29m | 6.4/10 | 69% | Prime Video, Roku |
Girl, Interrupted (1999) | 8 December 1999 | James Mangold | 2h 7m | 7.3/10 | 53% | Prime Video, Netflix |
Heathers (1989) | 31 March 1989 | Michael Lehmann | 1h 43m | 7.2/10 | 93% | Prime Video |
Christiane F. (1981) | 2 April 1981 | Uli Edel | 2h 18m | 7.5/10 | 75% | Prime Video |
The Virgin Suicides (1999) | 21 April 2000 | Sofia Coppola | 1h 37m | 7.2/10 | 78% | Prime Video, Kanopy, and Crackle |
The Craft: Legacy (2020) | 28 January 2021 | Zoe Lister- Jones | 1h 35m | 4.4/10 | 47% | Prime Video, Netflix |
Augusta, Gone (2006) | 1 March 2006 | Tim Matheson | 1h 40m | 6.6/10 | N/A | Prime Video |
Eighth Grade (2018) | 13 July 2018 | Bo Burnham | 1h 33m | 7.4/10 | 99% | Prime Video |
You & Me Forever (2012) | 13 September 2012 | Kaspar Munk | 1h 25m | 5.7/10 | 83% | Prime Video |
Havoc (2005) | 26 June 2005 | Barbara Kopple | 1h 34m | 5.4/10 | 45% | Prime Video |
Foxfire (1996) | 23 August 1996 | Annette Haywood- Carter | 1h 42m | 6.1/10 | 33% | Prime Video |
Mean Girls (2004) | 3 September 2004 | Mark Waters | 1h 37m | 7.1/10 | 84% | Netflix |
Beautiful Boy (2018) | 10 October 2018 | Felix Van Groeningen | 2 hours | 7.3/10 | 67% | Prime Video |
Speak (2004) | 20 January 2004 | Jessica Sharzer | 1h 32m | 7.2/10 | 80% | Prime Video |
Towelhead (2007) | 26 September 2008 | Alan Ball | 2h 4m | 6.9/10 | 49% | Prime Video |
The Diary Of A Teenage Girl (2015) | 24 January 2015 | Marielle Heller | 1h 42m | 6.8/10 | 95% | Prime Video, Apple TV |
The Basketball Diaries (1995) | 21 April 1995 | Scott Kalvert | 1h 42m | 7.3/10 | 47% | Prime Video |
Also, Read | 25 Daydreaming Movies Like Your Name | Movies That’ll Make You Connected!
Final Words
Thirteen movie is surely one of the best choices to explore teenage stories on silver screens. Be it strong emotions or teenage depression, it managed well to portray every shade with brilliance. So, if you are already a fan of this masterpiece, watching some more movies like Thirteen will surely give you pleasure! So, without a delay, add all of the above-mentioned movies like Thirteen to your binge list!