8 Crime Drama Shows Like Adolescence to Watch Next
Netflix‘s 4-part limited series, Adolescence premiered on March 13 and has amassed a 99% Tomatometer score. Starring and co-created by Stephen Graham (Boiling Point, Bodies), each episode was filmed in one continuous shot, and tells the story of how a family’s world is turned upside down when 13-year-old Jamie Miller is arrested for the murder of a girl from his school.
Graham reunited with director Philip Barantini, who also used a continuous shot style in the 2021 film Boiling Point starring Graham. Adolescence also stars Owen Cooper, who makes his acting debut as Jamie Miller, Ashley Walters (Missing You, Top Boy), Faye Marsay (Andor, Game of Thrones), Christine Tremarco (The Responder, Swallow), Erin Doherty (The Crown, Reawakening), Mark Stanley (Trigger Point, Happy Valley), Jo Hartley (After Life, This Is England), and newcomer Amélie Pease.
The series touches on many important themes from toxic masculinity, cyberbullying, social media influences, to parental responsibility. If you’re looking for similar content to watch next, here are 8 shows like Adolescence to check out.
A Nearly Normal Family (2023 Swedish miniseries)
Cast: Alex Karlsson Tyrefors, Lo Kauppi, Christian Fandango Sundgren, Björn Bengtsson, Melisa Ferhatovic
Synopsis: “The world of a seemingly perfect family shatters when a shocking murder proves that they’re willing to make desperate moves to protect one another.”
Where to watch: Netflix
Broadchurch (2013-2017)
Cast: David Tennant, Olivia Colman, Jodie Whittaker, Andrew Buchan, Carolyn Pickles, Arthur Darvill, Adam Wilson, Charlotte Beaumont, Jonathan Bailey, Matthew Gravelle
Synopsis: “The murder of a young boy in a small coastal town brings a media frenzy, which threatens to tear the community apart.”
Where to watch: Peacock, Prime Video, Plex, Roku
Criminal: UK (2019-2020)
Cast: Katherine Kelly, Lee Ingleby, Rochenda Sandall, Kit Harington, David Tennant, Shubham Saraf, Mark Stanley, Nicholas Pinnock, Sharon Horgan, Amanda Drew, Rakhee Thakrar, Annette Badland
Synopsis: “A cat-and-mouse drama, which focuses on the intense mental conflict between detectives and suspects. The stories take place within the confines of a police interview suite.”
Where to watch: Netflix
Defending Jacob (2020 miniseries)
Cast: Chris Evans, Michelle Dockery, Jaeden Martell, Cherry Jones, Pablo Schreiber, Sakina Jaffrey, Betty Gabriel, J.K. Simmons
Synopsis: “In this gripping, character-driven thriller, a shocking crime rocks a small Massachusetts town and one family in particular, forcing an assistant district attorney to choose between his sworn duty to uphold justice and his unconditional love for his son.”
Where to watch: Apple TV+
The Hooligan (2025 Polish series)
Cast: Grzegorz Palkowski, Mila Jankowska, Karol Pocheć, Wojciech Zielinski
Synopsis: “When his father is released from prison, 17-year-old Kuba finds it difficult not to follow in his hooligan footsteps. After all, football is family.”
Where to watch: Netflix
Quicksand (2019 Swedish miniseries)
Cast: Hanna Ardéhn, Felix Sandman, William Spetz, David Dencik, Anna Björk, Maria Sundbom Lörelius, Ella Rappich, Evin Ahmad
Synopsis: “After a tragedy at a school sends shock waves through a wealthy Stockholm suburb, a seemingly well-adjusted teen finds herself on trial for murder.”
Where to watch: Netflix
Time (2021-2023)
Cast: Siobhan Finneran, Sean Bean, Stephen Graham, Jodie Whittaker, Tamara Lawrance, Bella Ramsey, Lisa Millett, James Nelson-Joyce, Hannah Walters, Dean Fagan, Louise Lee
Synopsis: “Follows Mark Cobden, a husband, teacher and father who is sentenced to four years in prison after accidentally killing a man. Consumed by guilt, Mark openly accepts his sentence but is quickly confronted with the harsh realities of life inside. The series also follows prison officer Eric McNally, who endeavours to protect those in his care, but finds that his job can be demanding in a tense and understaffed environment.”
Where to watch: BritBox
Unbelievable (2019 miniseries)
Cast: Toni Collette, Merritt Wever, Kaitlyn Dever, Blake Ellis, Dale Dickey, Liza Lapira, Kai Lennox, Omar Maskati, Eric Lange, Scott Lawrence, Austin Hébert
Synopsis: “After a young woman is accused of lying about a rape, two female detectives investigate a spate of eerily similar attacks. Inspired by true events.”
Where to watch: Netflix
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