From redefining emoji and fashion trends to supporting social change, Gen Z is taking to the screen with strong characters and storylines that emphasize the need to be seen and heard. Defined as a group born between 1997 and 2012, Generation Z (as it always does with the youngest generation) tends to be criticized for their new ideologies and outlook on life. Generation Z, who grew up in the digital age, can stream anything, anytime, drawing on movies and TV to meet their needs.
No matter what generation you belong to, cinema of any kind can reach out to any audience and make them feel understood. With a growing focus on what’s not always reality on our screens (social media), it’s now more important than ever that Gen Z has shows and movies that reflect the realism of their experience. These characters and their stories do just that.
“Bodies, Bodies, Bodies” (2022)
Bodies Bodies Bodies is another masterful piece of A24’s filmography as it crafts the perfect Gen Z detective movie. Featuring breathtaking performances from rising stars body takes a satirical approach to Generation Z, portraying images of the generation that seem to some abstract members of the older generation.
A brilliant depiction of how social media and technology have significantly impacted Generation Z thinking, this horror film also goes deeper into how this younger generation operates in regards to things like politics and social activism. body is still a solid horror/thriller that keeps you on your toes from start to finish.
“Euphoria” (2019-)
Grim and Controversial Generation Z Viewers Either Believe Euphoria is an accurate description of their school experience or dramatically dramatizes the “average” American high school. HBO Max hit lead by Emmy-winning starlet Zendaya as a group of teenagers swim through the waters and traumas of drugs, sex, love, loss and identity.
For those who think the series represents them, Euphoria contains stories of discovering sexuality at a young age, toxic relationships of many kinds, and teenage rage. Whatever character you identify with, everyone will find something of their own. Is losing a parent traumatic? There is character for this. Transition to a new identity from the old one? That’s what characters are for. Straightforward (and visual), no embellishment of truths Euphoria and Generation Z is here for it.
“The Hate You Give” (2018)
Generation Z has witnessed and led enough social justice movements to last a lifetime. The hate you give fell into the hands of the world shortly after the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement and received more attention after the protests of George Floyd. After Starr (Amandla Stenberg) witnesses the murder of her best friend by a police officer, she must reveal her voice to fight for a just cause despite overwhelming pressure from her community.
The film received well-deserved praise from critics and audiences for providing the teen film genre with an installation that is not rooted in teen romance. History of the beginning of the conversation, The hate you give demands attention and gives Gen Zers a safe space to talk.
“I’ve Never Been” (2020-2023)
After the trials and tribulations of a first-generation Indian-American teenager, Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), Never I never accurately romanticizes the high school experience for Generation Z. Complete with love triangles, traumatic experiences, old fashioned parents and therapy, NHIE this is a Netflix original born from the brilliant mind of the creators Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher.
Devi’s determination to lose her virginity and sweep her trauma under the rug, while appeasing her family and cultural expectations, demonstrates the burden of society and the pressure on his youth not to miss out but stay true to who they are. As we see during the initial seasons of who you are at the beginning of one chapter, not who you are at the end of the next, Generation Z is constantly writing the narrative.
Edge of Seventeen (2016)
A comedic reminder that being a teenager isn’t always as romantic as other movies or TV shows make it out to be. Edge of Seventeen - Realistic part of Gen Z canon. High school student Nadine’s life doesn’t seem to get better (Hailee Steinfeld) when her best friend starts dating her brother. Her only small consolation is her friendship with her teacher Mr. Bruner (Woody Harrelson). Straightforward but sincere Mr. Bruner gradually becomes Nadine’s voice of reason in the most unstable moments of her life.
A lesson in the evolution of friendship when trying to establish itself after a tragedy Edge of Seventeen puts a deglamorized version of school life in the hands of a generation that only gets to know a glamorous version of life through social media. The quirky yet attractive Nadine is definitely a key character for Generation Z.
‘Eighth Grade’ (2018)
Crooked but worth it Eighth grade brings Generation Z back to their early days on social media and the desire to fit in before standing out. Kayla Day (English)Elsie Fisher) is just trying to get through his last week of eighth grade, fighting society to stay afloat with a YouTube channel no one watches. Real and authentic, this film does everything but romanticize the transition between middle and high school, instead exploring the exploits of not knowing who you are at that age and overcoming insecurities.
Masterfully written and directed Bo Burnhamwhose special quarantine of 2021 Inside provided TikTok and social media with dozens of audio beats for video content, Eighth grade reaches not only generation Z with its clumsy heroine. Although Fisher is considered Gen Z, her performance resonates with anyone trying to fit in as a teenager.
“Out of Order” (2022)
Taking advantage of today’s desire for relevance on social media, Not good pulls the classic story “caught in a lie” and applies it to the modern lifestyle of Generation Z. Danny (Zoey Deutch) wanders through his career and social life. With no friends, no romance, and most importantly for her, no followers, Danni fakes a social media-worthy trip to Paris to get attention. Her plot is quickly exposed when a fatal attack occurs during the “ride”, forcing Danni to pose as the survivor.
Proving that online influence is more than sunshine and rainbows, Not good speaks to Generation Z, hitting hard on FOMO (fear of missing out) and impostor syndrome. As Danny falls into a messy spiral, this Hulu original sets off a wave of unease that we all acknowledge.
“Sex Education” (2019-)
The expectation that this story would become popular in the 80s and 90s was a recipe for American Piestyle disaster. Catering to a generation that accepts unromanticized sexual experiences and discoveries, sex education captivated Netflix viewers for three seasons. Otis (Asa Butterfield) teams up with classmate Maeve (Emma McKee) run an underground sex therapy clinic at his school using insider knowledge of Otis’s mother, sex therapist Jean (Gillian Anderson).
Popular with critics and viewers alike, Netflix once again provided Gen Zers with a series about the high school experience, not focused on the big game of the football team, and not fitting in with the popular kids. sex educationallows the outrageous and empathetic to co-exist in the same room with mature sex talk.
“Book Smart” (2019)
The film is about accepting what is, what could be and what was not. Book Shop it is a teenage tale designed to subvert the expectations of a “high schooler”. Two best friendsBeanie Feldstein and Caitlin Dever) are trying to squeeze four years of missed opportunities into one night before graduating from high school. Olivia Wildedirectorial debut, book Shop, was praised by critics and fans alike.
Both Molly (Feldstein) and Amy (Dever) fall prey to FOMO (fear of missing out) when they realize they may have been studying too hard and watching high school “special moments” pass them by. Any film that addresses this fear in the teen genre is a surefire victory for Gen Z in an age where if you don’t rush for one experience or another, you’re missing out.
‘Blockers’ (2018)
Turning the teen prom genre on its head, Blockers a film not only for generation Z, but also for their parents. When they discover their girls are determined to lose their virginity at prom, the three parents (John Cena, Leslie Mannand Hayk Baringolts) set out to stop them. Replacing the standard male-led teenage sexual adventure with female-led characters, Blockers was well received by critics and considered fresh, but the audience disagreed.
Relying heavily on “progressive” parents who don’t understand their children but acknowledge that this is a new generation, this film allows its teenage protagonists to confidently navigate their own story without knowing the path. Blockers rough and lewd at times, but its heart is in the right place for older Gen Z audiences.
Source: Collider
