Young Adult 2011

As a bestselling author of young adult fiction, Mavis Gary returns to her small-town roots, seeking to recapture the glory days and rekindle a past love. Instead, she finds an unlikely ally in a former classmate still stuck in high school nostalgia, leading to an unexpected exploration of second chances and unrequited longing.

As a bestselling author of young adult fiction, Mavis Gary returns to her small-town roots, seeking to recapture the glory days and rekindle a past love. Instead, she finds an unlikely ally in a former classmate still stuck in high school nostalgia, leading to an unexpected exploration of second chances and unrequited longing.

Does Young Adult have end credit scenes?

No!

Young Adult does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of Young Adult

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No actors found

Ratings and Reviews for Young Adult

See how Young Adult is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where Young Adult stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

71

Metascore

6.4

User Score

IMDb

6.3 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

58

%

User Score

Take the Ultimate Young Adult Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of Young Adult with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


Young Adult Movie Quiz: Test your knowledge on the film 'Young Adult' and the journey of Mavis Gary as she revisits her past.

What is Mavis Gary's profession?

Awards & Nominations for Young Adult

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17th Critics' Choice Awards 2012

Charlize Theron
Nomination

Best Actress

Charlize Theron
Patton Oswalt
Nomination

Best Supporting Actor

Patton Oswalt
Nomination

Best Original Screenplay

Diablo Cody

69th Golden Globe Awards 2012

Charlize Theron
Nomination

Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

Charlize Theron

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for Young Adult

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Read the complete plot summary of Young Adult, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


Mavis Gary, portrayed by Charlize Theron, is a 37-year-old ghostwriter grappling with divorce and alcoholism. As she races against the clock to finish the final installment of her fading young adult novel series, she receives an email containing a photo of her high school boyfriend Buddy Slade’s newborn daughter. This prompts her to believe that she and Buddy, played by Patrick Wilson, are destined to be together again. Resolute, Mavis departs from Minneapolis to her hometown of Mercury, Minnesota, under the guise of handling a real estate transaction.

On her journey, she indulges in nostalgia, listening to “The Concept” by Teenage Fanclub—an old favorite given to her by Buddy years ago. Upon her arrival, she plans a nostalgic reunion at a local sports bar. Meanwhile, Mavis visits Woody’s, where she unexpectedly reconnects with an old acquaintance, Matt Freehauf, played by Patton Oswalt. Matt, who endured a traumatic experience that left him wheelchair-bound, cautions Mavis against her impulsive intentions of sabotaging Buddy’s marriage. However, she chooses to dismiss his advice.

The next day, when Mavis meets Buddy at the sports bar, they encounter Matt again. Buddy extends an invitation to a gig featuring his wife Beth’s “mom rock band.” As Mavis spends more time with Matt—who expertly brews bourbon in his sister Sandra’s home—her infatuation blinds her even more. Mavis attends the concert, only to find herself the target of the other mothers’ bitterness; they remember her as the “psychotic prom queen bitch.” The lead singer, dedicating a song called “The Concept” to Buddy, exacerbates Mavis’s feelings of inadequacy.

After a night of drinking, Mavis drives a tipsy Buddy home, where a shared kiss is abruptly interrupted by the babysitter. The following day, she faces her parents and receives an invitation to the baby naming ceremony for Buddy’s daughter. Despite drinking with Matt later that day, Mavis feels increasingly rejected and lonely. At the ceremony, she confesses her love to Buddy, but he turns her down, following which a chaotic incident leads her to reveal a long-buried pain—a miscarriage she endured years earlier after revealing her pregnancy to Buddy.

Buddy, busy setting up a drum set for Beth, overhears Mavis’s outburst, discovering the emotional turmoil she has kept hidden. Feeling humiliated, Mavis departs the party and seeks solace with Matt, culminating in an emotional moment of intimacy. The next morning, as Matt sleeps, Mavis shares an insightful conversation with Sandra, who still idolizes her. Though Sandra wishes to join her in Minneapolis, Mavis opts to continue on her own, resolved to make a change.

While dining en route, Mavis finds her stride, penning the final chapter of her book, showcasing a protagonist who triumphs by leaving behind a troubled past and embracing hope for the future. However, as she reflects in the parking lot on her remaining car’s damage—a remnant of her reckless behavior—the journey toward self-discovery truly begins.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for Young Adult

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Official Trailer

Cars Featured in Young Adult

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Explore all cars featured in Young Adult, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


Acura

2005

RSX

BMW

1970

2002

Chevrolet

1987

Caprice

Chevrolet

2004

Malibu Maxx

Chevrolet

1995

Monte Carlo

Chrysler

2000

Cirrus

Ford

2001

Crown Victoria

GMC

2010

Yukon XL

Honda

1995

Odyssey

Hyundai

2004

Elantra

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


emotional breakdownmental illnessnarcissismhigh schoolwriteralcoholicdrinkingborderline personality disorderminnesotahometownhate crimemini cooperfingernail polishphone messagefemale bandsinging in a carcomputer printerspilled winecar damageantagonist as protagonistfemale protagonistreturn to hometownmarriagesmall towncar cassette playermontagesuperhero toyhigh school sweetheartaction figurebaby storecar accidentfemale drummeron the roadguitar playerguitarfellatiofemale nuditysexual promiscuitymakeupcomputermotelliekisslistening to musicsex scenedrunkennessvoice over narrationreturn homeex boyfriend ex girlfriend relationshipbaby

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