I don't think this is a genre.

For example, the Kids genre is for content made specifically for kids, while the kids keyword is for movies featuring/centering on kids.

The Family genre are for films that can be enjoyed by the whole family, while the family keyword if for movies featuring/centering on families.

We already have a teenager keyword, which is for all kinds of movies featuring/centering on teenagers (which seems to be what you're asking). If you're looking for something more specific, say films that accurately depict the life and experiences of teenagers, I would recommend using a list.

I understand your point, but I still believe 'Teen' should be a genre.

Kids and Family are both genres, even though they describe a target audience rather than a storytelling style. Teen films have a distinct identity, often focusing on the unique emotional, social, and cultural aspects of adolescence.

While the 'teenager' keyword helps, it doesn’t have the same visibility as a genre. Many teen films don’t fit neatly under Drama or Comedy, and having a dedicated genre would help categorize them better. If Kids and Family are genres, why not Teen?

@bigod3007 said:

I understand your point, but I still believe 'Teen' should be a genre.

Kids and Family are both genres, even though they describe a target audience rather than a storytelling style. Teen films have a distinct identity, often focusing on the unique emotional, social, and cultural aspects of adolescence.

While the 'teenager' keyword helps, it doesn’t have the same visibility as a genre. Many teen films don’t fit neatly under Drama or Comedy, and having a dedicated genre would help categorize them better. If Kids and Family are genres, why not Teen?

I disagree I think most teen movies can easily fit into drama romance or comedy or other genres.

I think a lot of teen movies are also not that different from other adult or young adult movies. And they generally can be appreciated and are watched by young adults and adults. I don't really think the same applies to kids movies. They are very different to normal movies/shows made for adults.

@bigod3007 said:

I understand your point, but I still believe 'Teen' should be a genre.

Kids and Family are both genres, even though they describe a target audience rather than a storytelling style. Teen films have a distinct identity, often focusing on the unique emotional, social, and cultural aspects of adolescence.

While the 'teenager' keyword helps, it doesn’t have the same visibility as a genre. Many teen films don’t fit neatly under Drama or Comedy, and having a dedicated genre would help categorize them better. If Kids and Family are genres, why not Teen?

Also I think its often a stylistic thing. In my opinion, kids movies and shows are often trying to talk to the audience like they are educating them. Wheras a "teen movie" or show is generally just told like any other story. There isnt the same spoon feeding and communication style in how the movie/show tries to communicate with its viewer.

Family genre is something that describes that the tone and content of a show and movie is ideal for families of all ages to watch- generally things that are wholesome, in comparison your description of "teen movies" is about the subject matter about what its like to be a teen. Family genre isnt about movies that are about families or have families in them, its about content that isnt too complex or mature for kids but is made to be watched by anyone/a whole family. This is different to how you describe teen movies, about being about teens.

Those are ways in which imo, Family and Kids are genres that make sense that separates them from making a Teen genre. I think Family and Kids are more useful broader genres, while Teen is a bit too specific. If you add Teen as a genre, you might as well add dozens of other genres that are "about" specific things.

I understand you — and maybe you're right that 'Teen' is more of a thematic lens than a proper genre. But then again, most movies are about adults... and we never felt the need for an 'Adult' genre, right?

Still, there's something about teen films — the tone, the energy, the emotional palette — that feels distinctive. Enough to make people say 'this feels like a teen movie' even before labeling it drama, comedy, or romance.

Anyway, I appreciate the conversation! It's been interesting to hear other perspectives.

@bigod3007 said:

I understand you — and maybe you're right that 'Teen' is more of a thematic lens than a proper genre. But then again, most movies are about adults... and we never felt the need for an 'Adult' genre, right?

You dont need an adult genre because it basically already exists. Its just everything that belongs in a non-Kids genre (doesnt belong in the Kids genre). In the same way you dont need a non-Horror genre for films that dont belong in Horror, and you dont need a non-Romance, non-Comedy, etc. genres you don't need a non-Kid genre (adult genre). You generally dont need a genre for things thats defined as being something that isnt a genre that already exists (Kids), especially if the already existing genre does not cover the majority of films while the new genre you are proposing is the majority of films.

Still, there's something about teen films — the tone, the energy, the emotional palette — that feels distinctive. Enough to make people say 'this feels like a teen movie' even before labeling it drama, comedy, or romance.

I dont really agree I feel like the "distinct" feel of a teen movie isnt that distinct. Teen movies arent that different to movies about like college students or young adults to me. Especially when you compare it to other genres like Romance, Comedy, Horror or even Kids or Family. Like if you compare how different Romance vs. Non Romance, Comedy vs. non-Comedy, Horror vs. Non Horror, Kids vs Non Kids or Family vs Non Family movies are. That same distinction doesnt really exist to me for teen movies vs. non-teen movies (like for example, college or young adult movies). The difference is only subtle in comparison in my opinion.

its interesting to hear someone say they want a teen genre. I have never heard anyone want that before haha.

@softpillow

Thanks for the reply, but I still think the comparison between “Teen” and “non-Kids” (or “non-Horror,” “non-Romance,” etc.) doesn’t really hold up. What I’m proposing isn’t a genre defined by what it isn’t, but by what it is. “Teen” represents a stage of life, with its own emotional, social, and cultural dynamics. It goes beyond the age of the characters — it’s a specific thematic lens, with its own tone, rhythm, and types of conflict.

You say the “teen feel” isn’t that distinct, but the fact that so many people can identify something as “this feels like a teen movie” even before knowing the plot or traditional genre already shows that there is a recognizable aesthetic and narrative identity. If that’s not enough to justify a label, what is?

Genres like “Coming-of-Age” (which, by the way, is already respected as a category by many) don’t cease to exist just because they can overlap with Drama or Comedy. The same applies to “Noir,” “Slasher,” “Road Movie,” and so many other labels we use precisely because they capture nuances that traditional genres don’t.

In the end, I’m not saying that every movie with teenagers is automatically “Teen,” but that there’s a significant body of work that shares a common spirit — and would be much better served by a dedicated category than scattered across genres that don’t capture its essence.

You said you’ve never heard anyone ask for a Teen genre. Well, now you have. Maybe it’s time more people did.

@bigod3007 said:

@softpillow

Thanks for the reply, but I still think the comparison between “Teen” and “non-Kids” (or “non-Horror,” “non-Romance,” etc.) doesn’t really hold up. What I’m proposing isn’t a genre defined by what it isn’t, but by what it is. “Teen” represents a stage of life, with its own emotional, social, and cultural dynamics. It goes beyond the age of the characters — it’s a specific thematic lens, with its own tone, rhythm, and types of conflict.

You misread. The comparison isn't teen and "non-Kids". The comparison is "adult" and "non-kids". You say that teen should be a genre because it "adult" isnt a genre. Your suggestion is that genre shouldnt be about whether or not a categorisation is too specific or not. And your reason is you say that even though movies about adults are the majority of films, since there is no adult genre, it would seem specificity is not a real reason for what is and isnt a genre. But no the reason why adult is not a genre is because its too broad. While "teen" isnt a genre cause its too specific. That is the argument I am making.

Genres like “Coming-of-Age” (which, by the way, is already respected as a category by many) don’t cease to exist just because they can overlap with Drama or Comedy. The same applies to “Noir,” “Slasher,” “Road Movie,” and so many other labels we use precisely because they capture nuances that traditional genres don’t.

"Coming of age" is generally a sub-genre of Drama. Slasher is a subgenre of horror.

I would argue that noir and road movie are both too specific to be used as genres for this site. Especially since the goal on this site is to label movies/shows only 1-3 genres ideally.

All of these btw, including "coming of age" exist as keywords, so they don't "cease to exist" just because I argue they shouldnt be genres. And true these capture nuances traditional genres don't, which is why they are used as keywords.

@bigod3007 said:

@softpillow

You say the “teen feel” isn’t that distinct, but the fact that so many people can identify something as “this feels like a teen movie” even before knowing the plot or traditional genre already shows that there is a recognizable aesthetic and narrative identity. If that’s not enough to justify a label, what is?

I said that teen movies arent that distinct from non-teen movies in comparison to other genres like Horror, Romance, Comedy are distinct from non-Horror, non-Romance, or non-Comedy etc.

@bigod3007 said:

You said you’ve never heard anyone ask for a Teen genre. Well, now you have. Maybe it’s time more people did.

I am just one person's opinion though so, if youre interested here are some other threads on this site discussing genres:

https://www.themoviedb.org/talk/51b5fe1a760ee359996a0e62

https://www.themoviedb.org/talk/592aca019251413b45061dfd