The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
Kernel Score: 87% · 11,057 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Drama
Released: 2012-09-20
Runtime: 103 minutes
Is The Perks of Being a Wallflower worth watching?
Must-watch. A gentle, honest film about a shy freshman who finds friends who accept him. It deals with hard subjects carefully, and its cast makes it feel true.
Watch it if you
- like coming-of-age stories
- remember being a teenager who felt like an outsider
- enjoy character-driven drama
Skip it if you
- dislike heavy themes in teen films
- want a plot-heavy movie
Best for: Quiet night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Perks of Being a Wallflower
- Stream: Prime Video
- Free with ads: The CW, Kanopy, Fawesome, Prime Video (free with ads), Amazon MX Player
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1991. High school freshman Charlie is a wallflower, always watching life from the sidelines, until two senior students, Sam and her stepbrother Patrick, become his mentors, helping him discover the joys of friendship, music and love.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a PG-13 coming-of-age drama dealing with trauma, mental health, and first love among teens.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Perks of Being a Wallflower
If you liked The Perks of Being a Wallflower, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015) — 86%: Teen friendship drama that is funny and sad.
- Love, Simon (2018) — 89%: Warm film about a teen finding himself.
- Young Hearts (2024) — 92%: Sensitive story about teen friendship.
- Moonlight (2016) — 85%: Quiet, moving story of growing up different.
- Call Me by Your Name (2017) — 88%: Tender coming-of-age romance.
- Wonder (2017) — 90%: Warm, hopeful story about being accepted.
Director
Cast
- Logan Lerman as Charlie
- Emma Watson as Sam
- Ezra Miller as Patrick
- Mae Whitman as Mary Elizabeth
- Kate Walsh as Mother
- Dylan McDermott as Father
- Melanie Lynskey as Aunt Helen
- Nina Dobrev as Candace
- Johnny Simmons as Brad
- Joan Cusack as Dr. Burton
The Perks of Being a Wallflower FAQ
Is The Perks of Being a Wallflower worth watching?
Must-watch. A gentle, honest film about a shy freshman who finds friends who accept him. It deals with hard subjects carefully, and its cast makes it feel true.
Where can I watch The Perks of Being a Wallflower?
In the US you can stream The Perks of Being a Wallflower on Prime Video, watch it free with ads on The CW, Kanopy, Fawesome, Prime Video (free with ads) and Amazon MX Player and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Perks of Being a Wallflower OK for kids?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a PG-13 coming-of-age drama dealing with trauma, mental health, and first love among teens.
What movies are like The Perks of Being a Wallflower?
If you liked The Perks of Being a Wallflower, try Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Love, Simon, Young Hearts and Moonlight.