Coming-of-age films take many shapes. Some treat the leap from youth to adulthood as a sparkling adventure, full of endless opportunity. Others lean into humor, finding levity in awkward transitions. Then there are the more grounded stories, the ones that linger on how hard it can be to break free from your past and chart your own course. I have a few go-to classics in the genre, but I don’t usually seek them out.

Recently, though, I stumbled upon one that reminded me why these films endure. "Dancer, Texas Pop. 81" centers on four newly graduated teens from the titular tiny town. What sounds like a setup for a quirky teen comedy turns into something far more reflective: a portrait of what it feels like to grow up in a place too small to contain your dreams. And you can stream it for free

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