The Edge Of Seventeen: A Hidden Gem Of Modern Coming-Of-Age Comedy

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Coming-of-age stories have always been a staple of great movies. From timeless films like The Breakfast Club and Stand By Me to more recent hits such as Lady Bird, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Boyhood, there’s a rich history to choose from. Picking the very best ones from the last ten or twenty years is a real challenge.

Although there are many great coming-of-age stories, one often overlooked film truly stands out. The Edge of Seventeen is a fantastic movie, even though it wasn’t a big box office success or an awards favorite.

The Edge Of Seventeen Is One Of The Best Reviewed Teen Comedies Ever

No matter how much money it made or whether it won any big awards, The Edge of Seventeen is truly one of the greatest teen comedies ever. This is especially true if you look at more recent films in the genre.

The movie The Edge of Seventeen has a remarkably high score of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes – even better than many beloved classic films. It actually ranks higher than popular favorites like Juno, Election, The Breakfast Club, Superbad, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Easy A, among others.

The movie follows Nadine Franklin as she copes with the loss of her father. She has a difficult relationship with her mother, who is very focused on appearances, and with her popular brother. Things get even more complicated when her best friend, Krista, starts dating him. Nadine finds comfort and connection in an unexpected friendship with her teacher, Mr. Bruner.

The movie received the most positive attention for its clever writing, crafted by Kelly Fremon Craig – who also directed it – and a standout performance from Hailee Steinfeld.

Hailee Steinfeld Again Proved That She’s A Star

Released in 2016, The Edge of Seventeen seemed like the perfect opportunity for Hailee Steinfeld to prove herself as a leading actress. She first gained attention as a young teenager with her critically acclaimed performance in the 2010 film True Grit, earning an Academy Award nomination.

She’s been in several films, including Begin Again, Pitch Perfect 2, and Ten Thousand Saints, and given consistently good performances. However, it had been five years since she was in a critically successful movie like True Grit.

Hailee Steinfeld truly shone in The Edge of Seventeen, a film that arrived when she was ready to take center stage. It was one of her first opportunities to lead a movie, and she delivered a fantastic performance, proving her talent to everyone.

Her impressive performance in True Grit proved she wasn’t a one-hit wonder and launched a successful acting career. Since then, she’s starred in leading roles in Bumblebee and Hawkeye, headlined the acclaimed series Dickinson, and appeared in Sinners, which received the most Oscar nominations of any film.

Steinfeld has showcased her voice acting talents in popular projects like Arcane and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Her role in The Edge of Seventeen proved she was a rising star, and many consider it the performance that put her on the map.

Other Actors In The Cast Have Gone On To Do Big Things

Hailee Steinfeld isn’t the only actor from The Edge of Seventeen to find success afterward. Blake Jenner, who played Nadine’s brother, went on to appear in Netflix’s What/If and the well-regarded movie, American Animals.

Haley Lu Richardson, who plays Nadine’s best friend Krista in the film, has gone on to have a successful acting career. Some of her other roles include appearances in The White Lotus, Ponies, Five Feet Apart, Split, and Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die.

Nadine had a crush on Alexander Calvert, who went on to appear in shows like Supernatural and Gen V. Meanwhile, Nesta Cooper, a friend of Nadine’s brother, landed a role in the Apple TV+ series See. And that’s just the newer faces – the film also stars established actors like Woody Harrelson and Kyra Sedgwick, making for a very talented cast.

Everyone should see The Edge of Seventeen – it’s a fantastic movie about growing up.

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2026-04-06 01:39