10 Movies Set in Juvenile Detention Facilities

Before the establishment of the Juvenile Court of Law in Chicago in the late-1800s, America and most of the world didn’t see young offenders as any different from older ones. Everyone was punished the same way, but by the turn of the century, most developing countries had set up juvenile detention facilities as a way to provide a form of legal panacea whenever offenses, such as larceny, murder, and robbery, were committed by minors.

Whatever happens in these institutions isn’t as clear as what happens in adult correctional facilities, but movies have gone to great lengths to shed some light. Over the years, fans have been treated to unique films that explore both the mischief and the woes that go on behind the fences and walls. Many of these big-screen productions also serve as a reminder that the criminal justice system still needs reform because the inmates keep coming out hardened rather than rehabilitated.

Here are 10 movies set in juvenile detention facilities.

10 Dog Pound (2010)

A remake of the 1979 British drama film, Scum, Dog Pound follows three teenagers as they deal with the horrors of confinement after being sent to the Enola Vale Center in Montana. The trio constantly finds itself having to deal with two threats. The lesser threat is a correctional officer who hates one of them because he once attacked and blinded another officer. The major threat is a typical prison bully who feels new inmates deserve a punch now and then.

Why It’s Great

Dog Pound is likely to impress fans of action films and underdog stories because it’s arguably one long Attack Versus Defense sequence. The boys are frequently attacked, putting them in an endless cycle of self-defense. Apart from showcasing the terrifying realities of incarceration, the film impresses by paying homage to some of the critically acclaimed prison movies.

For example, a scene where one of the teenagers tries to call his mother on the phone, after getting assaulted, is a darker version of the popular Shawshank Redemption moment, where a prisoner shouts “I want my mama!” Overall, it’s a sad story with an even sadder ending that will leave audiences vowing to never commit any offense to avoid finding themselves in such circumstances. Stream on Peacock

9 Corpus Christi (2019)

The number of pastime activities inmates can enjoy is limited, so, in Corpus Christi, young Daniel chooses to spend his days listening to the juvenile prison priest’s fire and brimstone preaching rather than discussing the lips and thighs of celebrities with his fellow inmates. This gives him the idea of becoming a preacher when he gets out. When he is finally paroled, he heads to a local town, where the community is traumatized because of a past incident, and pretends to be a qualified clergyman.

Why It’s Great

Corpus Christi‘s awesomeness earned it a Best Foreign Language Film nomination at the Oscars. Its plot is the kind that encourages audiences to make up their mind regarding what is right and wrong, as it’s a juvenile detention movie, a religious movie, and a wild con artist movie, all in one.

It’s not until the final minutes that the townsfolk learn that their priest is a former convict with dozens of gang tattoos on his body. Before that, he gets to have a fun time manipulating them, and what’s even more fascinating is that he believes he is doing nothing wrong. After all, his prison priest once told him, “Everyone is good enough to spread the word of God.” Rent on AppleTV

8 Sleepers (1996)

Based on Lorenzo Carcaterra's best-selling novel of the same name, Sleepers revolves around four teenagers who are frequently assaulted by a guard after being sent to Upstate New York’s Wilkinson Home for Boys for almost killing someone. After coming out, they become members of the Irish Mob and get revenge on their abuser. They are then arrested again and prosecuted by a DA who happens to be a former member of their criminal faction.

Why It’s Great

Sleepers mostly glows because of the performances, as it has a strong cast that includes Robert De Niro, Brad Pitt, Dustin Hoffman, and Kevin Bacon. The film also takes its time in covering all aspects of the criminal cycle, from the committing of crimes to the trials to incarcerations followed by prison woes. Audiences thus get to learn what goes through the mind of a young criminal as all this is happening. Rent on AppleTV

7 Eileen (2023)

Eileen

Release Date

December 8, 2023

Director

William Oldroyd

Rating

R

Runtime

1hr 37min

Based on Ottessa Moshfegh’s best-selling novel, Eileen largely ignores the inmates and focuses on the relationship between Eileen Dunlop (Thomasin McKenzie), a secretary at a boys’ correctional facility, and the new counselor, Rebecca Saint John (played by Anne Hathaway). Though the two initially appear to be on good terms, their bond becomes fractured when dark secrets are revealed, leading to violence and tragedy.

Why It’s Great

By using the juvenile facility as the setting of a tale about obsession rather than one about prison struggles, the movie comes off as very refreshing. The stylish clothes worn by Rebecca are in stark contrast to the rugged attire that covers the boys. While this is sad, it merely proves that someone's decision determines whether they will enjoy life or not. Eileen's antics and unpredictability also contribute to a spellbinding viewing experience. The third act is especially wild and memorable enough to qualify Eileen as one of 2023's best releases. Now playing in theaters

6 The Home of Dark Butterflies (2008)

In The Home of Dark Butterflies, teenager Juliani hops from one Forster home to another before finding himself in an isolated and dreaded juvenile detention center known as The Island. There, he and the other boys are subjected to harsh treatment by the superintendent, Olavi Harjula, but things take an interesting turn when Juliani falls for one of Olavi’s two daughters (the only girls on the island).

Why It’s Great

The Finnish film creates beauty out of pain. Initially, it seems like Juliani is never going to catch a break, but things get better for him and what follows is a complicated yet intriguing romance arc that beats what’s on offer in many of the popular teen drama movies. The fact that the two have to constantly look out for the overbearing Olavi, raises the tension and makes the proceedings more fascinating. In Finland, the film was showered with numerous Jussi Awards (the country’s equivalent of the Oscars). Rent on Prime Video

5 Bad Boys (1983)

Before Will Smith and Martin Lawrence were comical “bad boys,” there was a Bad Boys movie from the ‘80s in which there was nothing to smile about. In the coming-of-age film, Mick O'Brien (played by a young Sean Penn) finds himself in juvenile hell after accidentally killing the eight-year-old brother of rival gang leader, Paco (Esai Morales), during a crime gone wrong. Behind bars, two prison bullies try to make his life unbearable, but things turn even uglier on the outside when Paco threatens to get revenge by going after Mick’s family.

Why It’s Great

The interludes to life on the outside are perhaps the most fascinating aspects of the film. Mick can do nothing about what’s going on outside the walls, so Paco has an easy time causing havoc before he also ends up in jail himself. And as someone who has a reputation for playing villains all too well, Morales shines here.

Inside the juvenile penitentiary, there is the expected heterogeneity of despicable humans. From rapists to contraband dealers who enjoy overcharging customers, there is no shortage of characters to root against. Stream on Roku

4 Racing for Time (2008)

In Racing for Time, Vanessa (a proponent of the “wild boys are more fun” narrative) pays the price for poor dating choices when she is arrested after her boyfriend tags her along for a crime spree. Behind bars, a guard named Stack sees potential in her and builds a racing team around her. The character of Stack is partially based on Sergeant Noel Chestnut, who created a successful track time at the Ventura Youth Correctional back in the ‘90s.

Why It’s Great

Racing for Time is inspirational, proving that anyone can change their ways so long as they get the right guidance. The Lifetime film also digs deep in its exploration of the racial divide. Initially, the Latinx, White, and Black inmates don’t get along, each giving detailed reasons why they see the others as the enemy, but after learning about the things they have in common, they learn to work together and establish a harmonious community. Not Currently Available to Stream or Purchase

3 King of Devil's Island (2010)

King of Devil's Island has an Alcatraz-like prison for youths that’s located on an island surrounded by frozen waters. There, a guard frequently rapes weak prisoners, and when a new prisoner, Erling "C19," finds out about this, he reports it, and the offender is seemingly dismissed. C19 is then paroled and on his way out, he sees the guard returning (proving he had never been fired), so he changes his mind about going home and returns to cause an uprising.

Why It’s Great

The movie’s first act is sad, and a scene where one of the victims drowns himself in the frozen lake is especially heartbreaking. However, from there on, audiences are likely to feel happy as they watch C19 go out of his way to get the guard punished. Using the same template as iconic films about revolutions, King of Devil's Island has memorable scenes where C19 issues rallying cries to fellow inmates and stands on the frontline when the navy is called in to quell the uprising. Even better is that there is a happy ending. Rent on AppleTV

2 Coldwater (2014)

Coldwater’s setting is a juvenile rehabilitation facility in rural California, where the warden is a heartless alcoholic. His guards are all ex-military officials who take advantage of the warden’s adoration of them to torture the inmates. Soon, the teenagers decide to fight back, leading to a deadly third act where the center becomes a warzone.

Why It’s Great

Watching the oppressed stand up against the oppressor is always fun and, like King of Devil's Island, Coldwater presents very skilled protagonists who throw kicks like MMA fighters and inflict punishment in creative ways. Besides that, the non-linear plot and chilling musical score raise the stakes even higher. Most importantly, the film critiques poor leadership, showing that abuse of power is likely to trigger the opposite reaction to what was originally intended. Stream on Peacock

1 The Lost Boys (2023)

It isn’t unusual for people in leadership positions to come up with weird ways to flex their authority. In The Lost Boys, the guards decide that inmates shouldn’t touch each other, and put in place a proper surveillance system to spot any lawbreakers. This rule is put to the ultimate test when two rebellious teenagers, Joe and William, fall for each other and engage in a passionate relationship.

Why It’s Great

The Lost Boys is partially a dissection of oppression, but it’s primarily a love story full of powerful moments. Whether it’s stealing glances at each other or passing messages through the wall separating their walls, the lovers go to great lengths to ensure their connection remains alive.

Despite the restrictions, communication becomes easier with time, when each of them learns about the other’s talents. Joe is a good musician, and William can draw. The ending is even more powerful and likely to leave viewers in a reflective mood. Not Currently Available to Stream or Purchase