Franchises featuring teen torchbearers across genres

Your teen years are awkward no matter who you are. Straddling the fence between childhood and adulthood, where you’re not mature enough to be an adult and too old to be a kid, it comes as no surprise that teens find the silver screen as a way to escape the strangeness of these awkward years. They are especially enthralled when their comfort characters take the shape of teenagers themselves, finding solace in those little bits of relatability.

Here are a few movie trilogies spanning different genres featuring teen heroes that all adults, both young and old, will find riveting.

1.The Fear Street Trilogy

Not only does Netflix’s The Fear Street trilogy fill the niche for horror fans dying to see proper examples of good LGBTQ+ representation in the genre, but it does also so without compromising on the elements that make a scary movie give you the chills. The main premise of the three movies are set in different timelines and was shot one after the other. They were released on Netflix with weekly gaps between each movie and tells the story of a group of teens who shoulder the responsibility of putting an end to a murderous curse that has plagued their town for centuries while trying to save one of their own from being a victim to it. Witchcraft, serial killers, Satanic rituals; you name it, the Fear Street trilogy manages to pack all of it is combined with stellar performances by the cast. And it does it all without compromising on the quality of storytelling, giving horror fans a rare to come by a treat.

2.To All the Boys Franchise

This trilogy of teen romance films based on a series of books makes its start with every teen’s worst nightmare - having the boys at your school be made aware of your crushes on them in the most humiliating way possible, through personal letters written to each of them you had never planned to send. Lara Jean Covey feels her whole life comes crashing down on her when her embarrassing letters make their way to her secret crushes, all five of whom start confronting her one by one. Although the first film in the series focused on the plotline of the leaked letters, the subsequent two follow Laura Jean’s trials and tribulations in her relationship, giving rise to classic moments of teen angst and drama. This Netflix exclusive film series became a whopping success, gaining praise from critics and viewers alike.

3.The Chronicles of Narnia

Who knows how many children went in search of magical worlds hidden behind piles of coats and garments in their wardrobes and closets inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia film series. Based on the popular children’s fantasy books by CS Lewis, the film focuses on the adventures of four siblings who accidentally discover a hidden fantasy realm in a wardrobe and become a crucial part of the land, called Narnia. The rich fantasy series gives the impression that the writers let their imaginations run wild with no intention of reigning them in, and features a talking royal lion, a cruel icy witch, fauns, centaurs and minotaurs and of course all sorts of talking animals.

4.The Divergent Film Series

In the not-so-distant dystopian future, where human beings are assigned value based on their aptitudes, dividing the population into five factions that have taken control of the world and its resources. The aptitude of each person is figured out using a serum and they are left to choose a faction; the ones who do not find a place in them are deprived of their worth in society. When a young girl is designated a Divergent, an independent thinker whom the governments consider a threat, she must strive to keep her uniqueness a secret or face the wrath of a fascist government out for blood. The Divergent films are based on a series of books and rife with action, a compelling storyline and kickass teen characters, it has become a fan favourite among young adult viewers.

5.High School Musical

Anyone who grew up with the Disney channel would start tapping their feet at the mention of High School Musical. Laying out the cutthroat drama that is found in the music industry and tweaking it to suit a high school environment, the films revolve around a popular high schooler and ashy newbie, who audition for the lead in their school’s production of a musical, which leads to them making enemies of a popular clique. It also focuses on the two leads’ struggles of trying to follow their dreams in the face of resistance from family as well as friends. The film’s cast features several ‘Disney kids’ who had their breakthroughs with the series of films. High School Musical’s soundtrack also featured hit original numbers that topped the charts when they came out.