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.

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.

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.

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.