Movies like A Brighter Summer Day

Adapted from S.E. Hinton's novel, The Outsiders is a coming-of-age drama that delves into the intense rivalry between two teen gangs in the 1960s. Like A Brighter Summer Day, the film captures the volatile emotions of youth, gang culture, and the search for identity, set against a backdrop of social unrest.

Moonlight chronicles the life of a young black man growing up in Miami and his journey of self-discovery and sexuality. Although more contemporary, the film shares with A Brighter Summer Day a lyrical and emotional depth in its examination of a young life shaped by its surroundings.

Based on Stephen King's novella, Stand by Me is a tale of four boys who venture out to find a dead body. The intense bond of friendship and the poignant loss of innocence echo the sentiments found in A Brighter Summer Day.

John Hughes's The Breakfast Club is a seminal teen film about five high school students from different walks of life who come together in detention. Its exploration of teen identity and dynamics within a peer group parallels the relational intricacies of A Brighter Summer Day.

Richard Linklater's Dazed and Confused captures the last day of school for a group of high school students in 1976. Though it's a comedy, fans of A Brighter Summer Day's exploration of young people standing on the precipice of adulthood will find resonant themes.

In this touching and powerful film, director John Singleton explores growing up in South Central Los Angeles. Boyz n the Hood is thematically similar to A Brighter Summer Day, focusing on youth violence and the struggles of adolescence in a fraught environment.

Directed by George Lucas, American Graffiti is a nostalgic look at the teenage culture of the early 1960s. If you're moved by the rich period detail and the portrayal of youthful dreams and challenges in A Brighter Summer Day, you will likely appreciate the similar themes explored in this classic.