Top 10 Best Teen Pregnancy Movies
#10: “The Pregnancy Project” (2012)
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Featuring former “Spy Kids” star Alexa PenaVega in the lead role, “The Pregnancy Project” is a made-for-TV-movie that chronicles a year in the life of a teenager pretending to be pregnant. Based on a novel of the same name, which was in turn the product of a real-life experiment conducted by American high schooler Gaby Rodriguez, “The Pregnancy Project” delves into the stereotypes associated with teen pregnancy. Rodriguez’ goal was to help teenagers realize that “the decisions they make now will ultimately affect their lives.” “The Pregnancy Project’s” unconventional story offers viewers a unique perspective on a tired genre and features enough competent acting to keep the action on-screen believable.
#9: “For Keeps” (1988)
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In “For Keeps”, Molly Ringwald plays Darcy, a high schooler who becomes pregnant while on the cusp of graduating. The unplanned “bundle of joy” throws her's and boyfriend Stan's entire lives completely out of whack. The film was revolutionary for its time, tackling the topics of adoption, abortion, and postpartum depression from a teenage perspective. And while the film performed well at the box office, and many praised Ringwald’s performance, critics were quick to point out some of “For Keep’s” other flaws, causing it to receive a less-than-enthusiastic 18% on Rotten Tomatoes. But don’t let that scare you off. The topics discussed in “For Keeps” are still relevant today and you can never have enough Molly Ringwald in your life!
#8: “The Pregnancy Pact” (2010)
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In 2008, a truly unbelievable story hit newsstands all across America. 18 girls from Gloucester High School in Massachusetts all got pregnant at the same time. Hardly a fluke, the girls planned the entire thing, going so far as to form a pact; though some have since denied it. Well, as soon as the powers that be at the Lifetime Network heard the story, they started working on a film version. The result was “The Pregnancy Pact”, starring Thora Birch as blogger who returns to her alma matter to uncover why so many teenagers are getting pregnant. The film and the events it’s based on even spawned a French version called “17 Girls”.
#7: “Where the Heart Is” (2000)
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Whereas most teen pregnancy movies tend to collapse under the dramatic weight of the subject matter, “Where the Heart Is” leans into the levity of the situation and the result is a film that is funny and uplifting. Featuring an all-star cast in Natalie Portman, Ashley Judd, Joan Cusack and Sally Field, the film tells the story of Novalee Nation, a pregnant 17-year-old who is abandoned by her boyfriend at a Walmart in Oklahoma. Hooked yet? Novalee decides to double down, moving into the Walmart and eventually giving birth there. While reviews for the film were less than stellar, it performed well at the box office; and remains one of the few positive flicks in the teen pregnancy genre.
#6: “Fifteen and Pregnant” (1998)
This made-for-television movie stars a young Kirsten Dunst as Tina Spangler, a 15-year-old girl who, you guessed it, gets pregnant. The film does a great job of showing how an unplanned pregnancy affects an entire family, with Tina’s mother, father and sister all given ample screen time, in order to explore their varied points of view. Despite having already appeared in a number of high-profile films, including “Interview with the Vampire” and “Jumanji”, Dunst doesn’t phone it in. Instead, she delivers a moving performance as Tina that is guaranteed to resonate with modern audiences.
#5: “Just Another Girl on the I.R.T.” (1992)
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One of the genre’s most overlooked films, “Just Another Girl on the I.R.T.” featured a breakout performance from star Ariyan A. Johnson, whose portrayal of the confident and ambitious teenager Chantel Mitchell should have made her one of Hollywood’s hottest up and comers. The film deals with a number of pivotal issues, including race, gender, the AIDS epidemic and of course, teenage pregnancy. Made on a shoestring budget, “Just Another Girl on the I.R.T.” nevertheless picked up a solid 84% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, with one critic calling it “Explosively funny, deeply moving.”
#4: “Unexpected” (2015)
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One of the most charming films on our list, “Unexpected” is about a teacher at an inner-city school who becomes pregnant at the same time as one of her students. Through their shared experience, the two women form an unlikely bond, learning more about each other and themselves with each passing day of their pregnancy. Starring “How I Met Your Mother’s” Cobie Smulders – who was actually pregnant during filming – and featuring a strong performance from newcomer Gail Bean, “Unexpected” is guaranteed to put a smile on your face thanks to its unique premise, excellent acting and a careful handling of the sensitive topic of teenage pregnancy.
#3: “Saved!” (2004)
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A satirical cult-classic from the mid-2000s, “Saved!” takes a biting and hilarious look at teenage pregnancy from the perspective of students attending a Christian high school. Featuring an eclectic cast that includes Jena Malone, Macaulay Culkin, Mandy Moore, Mary-Louise Parker and Patrick Fugit, the film is about a teen, who becomes pregnant after sleeping with her boyfriend – in order to cure him of his homosexuality. While the absurdist comedy has been compared to both “Mean Girls” and “Election”, “Saved!” is surprisingly heartwarming, balancing its laugh-out-loud moments with poignant scenes that any pregnant teenage could easily relate to.
#2: “Precious” (2009)
While some pregnancy films use levity to counteract the heavy subject matter, “Precious” veers wholeheartedly in the opposite direction. The film is about a 16-year-old girl named Precious, while already burdened with a mentally challenged daughter, discovers she is once again pregnant. In place of a loving and supportive family is a mother who is verbally and physically abusive and sexually abusive father; who is responsible for both pregnancies. The film is filled with incredible performances, including Mo'Nique’s Oscar-winning turn as Precious’ truly horrible mother, Mary Lee. Despite its bleak subject matter, the film is incredibly uplifting, as Precious fights to overcome her dire situation through perseverance and hard work. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: “Manny & Lo” (1996) “Gimme Shelter” (2013) “Mom at Sixteen” (2005) “Maria Full of Grace” (2004) “Freshman Father” (2010)
#1: “Juno” (2007)
This laugh-out-loud feature flips the teen pregnancy genre on its head with a plethora of witty dialogue, zany scenarios and totally unique characters. Leading the way is our titular hero Juno, who’s different from the other protagonists on our list in every conceivable way. Bringing the Oscar-winning words of Diablo Cody to life is director Jason Reitman, who gets the most out of his A-list cast from opening credits to final line. “Juno” was hailed by critics as one of the best films of 2007, earning it a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as four Academy Award nominations. Roger Ebert called it the best movie of the year; and honestly, cinematic praise doesn’t get much higher than that!
