The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

Director: Stephen Chbosky

Rated: PG-13

Where to watch: Amazon Prime

Perks is the ultimate coming-of-age film set in our hometown. Based on the book by Pittsburgh native Stephen Chbosky, the story centers around a literature-loving freshman named Charlie (Logan Lerman) who is dealing with depression. As he tries to navigate the bouts of high school, two seniors–Sam (Emma Watson) and Patrick (Ezra Miller)–take Charlie under their wing and help him break out of his shell. Charlie has experienced lots of trauma in his childhood, including the loss of his only true friend before entering high school, so he has many different coping mechanisms. However, even though Sam and Patrick’s group of misfit friends has accepted Charlie as one of their own, he feels that one wrong step could damage his relationships with them all.

With the help of his new friends, his coping mechanisms, and the discovery of the truth about his deceased Aunt Helen, Charlie survives his first year of high school with a new perspective on friendship, love, and loss.