LuxeBook Recommends: Classic coming of age movies like The Princess Diaries

Schenelle Dsouza 

If you’re a ’90s kid, there’s a good chance that you grew up loving The Princess Diaries. Released in 2002 with a sequel in 2004, both The Princess Diaries and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement have been cult favourites, calling it the ultimate picked-me-up movie for millennials everywhere. And if you’ve checked social media, it’s true. After 18 years, we’re finally getting a Princess Diaries 3.

A sequel to Princess Diaries 2 was in the works for the longest time. In fact, in 2019, Anne Hathaway herself confirmed that there was a script in place, and that both she and Julie Andrews, who played the iconic queen/grandma, are on board. But some delay or the other caused the project to be stalled until now. The third instalment of the movie has been signed on by Disney, with TV writer Aadrita Mukerji, who wrote Supergirl working on the script. While we do know there’s a script and project in the works, the tentative release date is still a big question mark.

The Princess Diaries had two aspects that made it such a memorable watch, a strong female lead and her memorable transformation into adulthood. While we cannot wait for the third part of the series, here are some classic coming-of-age movies with strong female leads to watch in anticipation of The Princess Diaries 3.

The Princess Diaries 1 & 2 

It makes sense to start with the original, and both The Princess Diaries 1 and 2 are cult classics. The story begins with 16-year-old Mia Thermopolis, whose biggest struggle is simply surviving the jungle that is high school. An outcast and a misfit, Mia’s circle of confidants include her mom, her best friend Lily, and her cat Fat Louie. As someone who enjoys being invisible and hates being in the spotlight, Mia’s world is completely overturned when her grandmother Clarisse Renaldi from Genovia visits to break the news of her royal heritage. Over the course of the first movie, Mia undergoes quite a transformation, going from an awkward, shy teenager to a beautiful and confident young princess. The second instalment, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, places Princess Mia in a conundrum as the members of Parliament demand she be married if she desires to be queen. This takes her on another adventure as she sets out to find true love in a very limited amount of time.

Watch on Disney+ Hotstar 

13 Going On 30

A movie for all ages, 13 Going On 30 is what made all of us fall in love with the charmer that is Jennifer Garner. The movie follows the story of a 13-year-old Jenna, a lovesick teen trying to fit in with the popular crowd at school. When her birthday party goes awry, Jenna locks herself in her closet and makes a wish – “to be thirty, flirty and thriving”. The movie then magically shifts to 17 years later, where 13-year-old Jenna finds herself stuck in a 30-year-old Jenna, who is now a successful editor for the fashion magazine Poise. While being thirty, flirty and thriving was something she always wanted, Jenna gets a hard look at what that success cost her. The movie uses a fairy-tale-like plot to showcase the struggles of both young adults and grown-ups, which seemingly aren’t too far away. Fun fact: Christa B. Allen who played young Jenna turned 30 last year.

Girlhood

A compelling coming-of-age film, Girlhood follows the story of a French adolescent, Marieme, who lives in a poor neighbourhood with a controlling family. Wanting to live a life different from the one her oppressive family wants for her, Marieme meets and joins a group of free-spirited girls. With them, Marieme finally feels like she belongs. She learns to come out of her shell and face difficult decisions like making her own choices. One of the great things about Girlhood is how it captures the masterful intricacies of female friendships, exploring the nature of race, gender, and class politics in a Parisian rough neighbourhood.

Watch online on Amazon Prime

Lady Bird

Greta Gerwig has gifted the world with quite a few cinematic masterpieces, many of which boast a strong female lead. Lady Bird is one such creation that has over the years become an icon of a coming-of-age story in cinema. Portraying the struggles of a teenage girl, the movie centres on Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, who is in a constant state of dissatisfaction and rebellion. She rebels against her mother and the rules set by her Catholic school. Wanting to escape the boring town of Sacramento, Lady Bird desires to move to the East Coast, which she believes is more culturally endearing. Lady Bird is a tender story with a unique plot that offers much love and devotion to its female characters. It covers the deep feelings of displacement felt by young girls all over, feelings which are often mocked in comedy dramas.

Watch online on Amazon Prime

Legally Blonde

The Edge of Seventeen

Regarded as one of Hailee Steinfeld’s best performances, The Edge of Seventeen is another movie that captures the struggles of teenage girls, talking about the aspects of growing up and overcoming loss. A life-long outcast, 17-year-old Nandine has always struggled to navigate relationships in her life. After the death of her father, she feels estranged from her family, her brother in particular, while her mother remains constantly out of touch. To make matters worse, her best friend Krista starts dating her older brother Darian, who Nandine loathes, causing her to implode. But, in true coming-of-age fashion, Nadine begins to understand her projections of the world and the people around her and eventually starts to grow as a person.

Watch online on Netflix