Young adult fiction (YA) is popular among readers aged 11+ and often combines adventure and fantasy with personal coming-of-age themes. Since the early 2000s, there has been a boom in screen adaptation of the genre, offering audiences visual spectacle and an encouragement towards literacy.
The films in this list are suitable for early secondary school audiences, from adaptations of children's novels that retain relevance and excitement for teenagers, to films based on texts specifically written to accompany young people into adulthood. Whether they are used in the classroom to aid teaching of a particular text, or simply as great films in their own right, we hope they will inspire young people to return to the source material with fresh eyes, or perhaps pick up something new for the first time.
All of the films below are available to stream via Into Film+ but some of them (labelled) are only available to Into Film+ Premium users. Find out more here.
Cert
Age group8–15
Duration112 mins
Offbeat film about a kid who's sent to a sinister correctional facility in the desert to dig holes after being falsely accused of theft.
This comedy adventure, faithfully adapted from Louis Sachar’s novel, is imaginative, inventive family entertainment, full of visual flourishes and a genuine weight to its story. Like the book, the film is likely to enchant as well as challenge its young audience.
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Cert
Age group8–15
Duration109 mins
Thirteen-year-old Meg must travel throughout the universe to find her father who has been missing for four years.
Madeline L’Engle’s 1962 novel introduced themes of spirituality and fate to a younger audience whilst also telling an exciting and inclusive adventure story with children at its centre. With this adaptation, director Ava Duvernay became the first Black woman to direct a live-action film with a budget of more than $100 million alongside casting a diverse and recognisable cast.
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Cert
Age group8–15
Duration137 mins
Classic family adventure tale of four World War Two refugees finding a gateway to a fantasy world in the back of their old wardrobe.
The Narnia series by CS Lewis is one of the most beloved sagas in children’s literature. This adaptation of the first instalment is arguably more action-packed than the 1988 BBC version, with thrilling battle scenes aided by special effects, and it expands the characterisation of the eldest sibling Peter, offering further points of references for older young audiences.
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Cert
Age group8–15
Duration93 mins
Charming family fantasy film following the adventures of two ten-year-old misfits, based on the popular novel.
Adapted from a children’s novel, this film introduces audiences to elements that are often developed in young adult fiction, including the tension between escapism and reality, the themes of loss and grief, and relatable characters that are on a personal journey. Both book and film draw on the legacy with CS Lewis’s literary works.
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Cert
Age group8–15
Duration146 mins
Harry Potter attends Hogwarts school for the first time as rumours surface proclaiming the return of the darkest wizard of them all, Lord Voldemort.
The first adaptation of JK Rowling’s magical series is the perfect hook for delving deep into a whole world of literature and media, with the film’s musical score just as integral to the cultural phenomenon as the writing. The books follow the main character throughout his adolescence, and the films also mirror this gradual maturity in their tone.
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Cert
Age group8–15
Duration114 mins
A modern American boy discovers he is the son of the Greek god Poseidon but is soon thrust into trouble when Zeus thinks he stole his lightning bolt.
While it deviates quite significantly from the source material, this adaptation of Rick Roirdan’s popular novel is visually striking in its blend of Ancient Greek mythology with a modern setting, bringing this hybrid world to the attention of more potential fans who may then wish to delve deeper into the intricacies of the story and the legends that inspired it.
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Cert
Age group12–16
Duration106 mins
Coming of age comedy in which a young girl navigates a new life in 1970s suburbia, with new friends, religious quandaries and the threat of puberty.
Heralded for its relatable and frank depiction of puberty, Judy Blume’s seminal coming-of-age novel has also historically faced bans in school libraries in the US. But like the book, this considerate film adaptation promotes age-appropriate conversations around growing up, body image and empathy.
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Cert
Age group12–16
Duration104 mins
Waking up to find that his house is to be demolished, Arthur Dent discovers that his whole planet is lined up for a similar fate.
Douglas Adams’s classic science fiction adventure is not specifically marketed as a YA novel, but its humour and concepts have had an enduring appeal for young people, and the same goes for the film adaptation. Having spent years trying to persuade Hollywood to turn the book into a film, the author was working on early versions of the screenplay at the time of his death.
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Cert
Age group12–16
Duration126 mins
The Book Thief tells the story of Liesel, an extraordinary and courageous young girl sent to live with a foster family in World War Two Germany.
Set during the Second World War, Markus Zusak’s novel explores themes of loss, friendship, and the power of words. The film adaptation plunges the viewer into a vivid re-creation of that historical period, focusing on the story’s context and characters and alleviating the role of the book’s ever-present narrator.
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Cert
Age group12–16
Duration108 mins
A boy struggling to cope with his mother’s illness finds himself visited by a fantastical monster.
This dark fantasy drama conveys the book’s honest and healthy message about grief and emotions, drawing on Jim Kay’s original illustrations to create a unique visual style of eerie, fairy-tale-like quality. The coming-of-age story is poignant and engrossing, highlighting how the power of the written word translates effectively onto the screen.
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Cert
Age group12–16
Duration98 mins
The joys and heartbreaks of growing up are beautifully handled in this captivating coming-of-age story that balances emotion with humour.
Unusually, the author of this book adapted the screenplay and directed the film version himself, over ten years after publication. Originally written in an epistolary format, the events described in the protagonist’s letters are lived out on screen in real time and flashbacks, leading to a heartfelt depiction of mental health and friendship.
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Cert
Age group12–16
Duration140 mins
Teenager Wade and his friends enter the virtual reality universe of the OASIS to complete a series of tasks hidden somewhere within its vast realm.
Steven Spielberg directed this cyberpunk-cool film based on Ernest Cline’s dystopian YA novel. With teenage characters, exhilarating action sequences and pop culture references, the film is a crowd-pleasing ride for young audiences while presenting challenging existential and ethical discussions around virtual reality and society.
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Cert
Age group12+
Duration140 mins
In an unequal post-apocalyptic society, a 16-year-old girl volunteers to take the place of her younger sister in a brutal annual contest.
Suzanne Collins’ dystopian series has many of the quintessential elements of young adult fiction, including themes of survival, coming-of-age and relationships. This adaptation of the first book is as thrilling and action-packed as the original work, with Jennifer Lawrence receiving critical acclaim for her portrayal of the complex Katniss Everdeen.
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Cert
Age group12+
Duration133 mins
A young girl is drawn to activism after witnessing the police shooting of her childhood friend.
Author Angie Thomas has said in interviews that she hopes that either the book or film can be an entry point for audiences to find out more about social activism. Whichever format resonates initially can lead to an exploration of further literature and debate.
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Cert
Age group15+
Duration113 mins
Riveting adaptation of the young adult sci-fi series about a boy waking up in a glade surrounded by a huge maze, remembering nothing but his own name.
Another dystopian science fiction series, ‘The Maze Runner’ is considered one of the best young adult book-to-film adaptations, and its potential for box office success was recognised early on by literary agents. Drawing comparisons to William Golding’s seminal literary work ‘Lord of the Flies’, the book was a New York Time Bestseller for 148 weeks.
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