Over the last few years, Netflix's best teen series have instantly won over the hearts of real-life teens and the young at heart. With no restrictions to adhere to, Netflix has allowed these teen shows to be unapologetically authentic depicting both the highs and lows of teenage life. From ensemble casts to shows that center around one main teenager there is certainly a teenage show for everyone to relate to on the streaming service. Whether it's a comedy or a drama, Netflix's teen shows are currently in a league of their own.
Several of Netflix's top-rated teen series has only had one to two seasons. However, Netflix continues to put out new, impactful, and authentic teen shows that push boundaries while confronting the very real-world issues that teenagers are growing up with in the 2020s. The best part is Netflix doesn't shy away from any of it and instead has aired teen shows centered on past generations and others in languages other than English.
20 Teenage Bounty Hunters (2020)
Teenage Bounty Hunters was released in 2020 and quickly found support amongst fans of the young adult TV genre. The dramedy series centers around twin sisters Sterling and Blair who get mistaken for bounty hunters after helping a professional capture a bail jumper. The fresh take on the teen genre was well-received with critics praising the show's humor and the chemistry between Maddie Phillips and Anjelica Bette Fellini as the twins. Unfortunately, the series didn't perform to Netflix's standards and was canceled after one season.
19 Trinkets (2019-2020)
Trinkets is one of Netflix's best teen series despite being underrated when it comes to the general public of Netflix subscribers. The drama series centers on three teenagers who go to the same high school but become close after attending the same Shoplifters Anonymous therapy group. The series was based on a young adult book of the same name written by Kristen Smith and dropped its second and final season on Netflix in 2020 though it was ultimately canceled. Despite that, it's a well-received show that with great LGBTQ+ representation.
18 Julie And The Phantoms (2020)
Julie and the Phantoms quickly soared to Netflix's top charts when first released and held its place for several weeks. The teen musical series centered on Julie, a young teenager who has given up on music after her mother's death. However, when Julie accidentally summons the spirit of three teenage musicians, they team up to help each other reclaim their dreams of being famous musicians. Julie and the Phantoms was one of Netflix's biggest teen shows of 2020 which is why fans were outraged when Netflix decided to cancel after one season. Despite only airing for one season, it was highly praised and was even nominated for Outstanding Young Adult Series at the Emmys.
17 Everything Sucks! (2018)
Everything Sucks! was one of Netflix's most unique teen shows of the 2010s that aimed to parody nostalgic teen culture. It does so by setting Everything Sucks! in the 90s, making for a fun twist on what is typically seen by the genre. The dramedy centers around teenagers in the A/V and Drama club who team up to make a movie together. The series was praised for its handling of a teen's coming-out story and for its authentic light on the teen experience in the 90s. Despite its cult following, the series was canceled after only one season by Netflix.
16 Riverdale (2017-2023)
Turning the Archie comics into a moody teen drama might have sounded like a strange idea by Riverdale certainly struck a chord with younger audiences when it first aired. The show takes the classic characters of Archie, Betty, Veronica and Jughead, following them as they deal with the various unexpected mysteries of Riverdale, including murder and supernatural occurrences. Yet the show also explores the complications of teen romance, dealing with school, and family drama. In fact, fans seemed to enjoy when the series was more focused on those grounded aspects rather than the larger genre elements as Riverdale reaches its seventh and final season.
15 Outer Banks (2020-)
Outer Banks is of the most widely talked about shows among Netflix's best teen series. It quickly garnered attention on Netflix and was renewed for a second season three months after its initial release. Set in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the series centers are John B., a teenager who is the leader of his friend group the "Pogues." After John's father goes missing, John B. enlists his friends' help to discover the truth about his father's disappearance. The mystery adventure is a fun setting for the teen dynamics that include romances and tense relationships.
14 13 Reasons Why (2017-2020)
Easily one of Netflix's most controversial shows of all time, 13 Reasons Why ended its historic run after four seasons on Netflix. Loosely inspired by the Brian Yorkey young adult novel of the same name, the series centers on Clay Jenson, a young teenager who finds himself hitting rock bottom after learning that Hannah Baker has killed herself. 13 Reasons Why definitely pushed the boundaries when it came to teen shows exploring topics of suicide, sexual assault, and drug addiction amongst several others. While the subject matter is certainly intense, many audiences found it a powerful teen story.
13 I Am Not Okay With This (2020)
Even after getting canceled after only one season, I Am Not Okay With This is one of Netflix's most popular and beloved teen shows. It has since been praised for its themes and its representation of LGBTQ+ teen characters. The series was based on a comic book by Charles Forsman and follows Sydney Novak, a teenager who discovers she has telekinetic powers while also trying to figure out who she is in the world of high school. Sophia Lillis was heavily praised for her lead performance in the short-lived show.
12 Cobra Kai (2018-2023)
Though The Karate Kid was an iconic 80s movie that still has plenty of fans, it is still surprising that this legacy series managed to become such a hit. Cobra Kai takes place decades after the events of the first movie, which catches up with the original movie's bully Johnny Lawrence who seeks redemption by restarting his old controversial dojo for teens. While the show has a lot of interesting things to say about the characters from the original, it is really a story focused on the young characters finding confidence in themselves in the midst of an aspiring sports story. Cobra Kai season 6 will be the Netflix teen series' last, culminating the Emmy-nominated show.
11 Atypical (2017-2021)
Atypical is one of Netflix's most heartwarming teen comedies and comedies of all time. The series centers on Sam, a teenager on the autism spectrum, who is determined to find love while in high school. Sam's desire for a girlfriend affects his entire family as they adjust to Sam becoming more independent. All four seasons of the show were met with critical praise though Atypical has been the subject of criticism with many finding faults in its lack of autistic actors and generalized depictions of autism. Still, it is something worth checking out.
10 The End Of The F***ing World (2017-2019)
The End of the F***ing World lands itself on the list of Netflix's best teen shows of all time with a darkly comedic take on a teen relationship story. Based on another Charles Forsman comic, the series follows two teenagers who embark on a road trip that forever changes the course of their lives for various reasons. The series ran on Netflix for two seasons where it garnered both critical and commercial success earning both a British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series and the 2019 Peabody Award.
9 American Vandal (2017-2018)
The teen genre finally got its very own mockumentary when American Vandal was released back in 2017. The series centers around Peter Maldonado, an aspiring documentarian, who must use his skills to prove that his Catholic school's class clown was not responsible for a string of pranks. The series ran for two seasons on Netflix which were both met with huge critical acclaim. American Vandal went on to win a Peabody Award in 2018. Despite its success, Netflix canceled the series despite the creators' wish to create another season.
8 On My Block (2018-2021)
Next up on the list of best Netflix teen shows is the coming-of-age dramedy series On My Block. The series centers on a group of childhood friends who must navigate their South Central Los Angeles neighborhood while dealing with the more traditional teenage problems like love and friendship. The fourth and final season of the series was released in 2021 and answered some important questions fans were left wondering about when season 3 ended on a major cliffhanger. Since then the series has been praised for its likable characters and for dealing with difficult themes like gang involvement and violence.
7 Young Royals (2021-)
Despite being a Swedish teen drama series airing entirely in Swedish, Young Royals earned a loyal American fanbase since the series was available on all Netflix properties. The series follows Prince Wilhelm of Sweden who is forced to attend a boarding school after getting into trouble. Wilhelm plans to lay low but ends up befriending Simon, a scholarship student, whom Wilhelm ends up having feelings for. One of the reasons for the high rating is that the series chose to cast actual teenagers to play teenagers while also being inclusive in terms of race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.
6 Wednesday (2022-)
Few people would have thought that a reimagining of The Addams Family would be one of Netflix's biggest shows as well as one of its best teen shows. Jenna Ortega stars in the series as Wednesday Addams, the dour and darkly comedic young daughter of the famous spooky family. While the show has a lot of fun with its genre storytelling, with the creepy horror elements Tim Burton excels at as well as a fun murder mystery, there is also its fair share of teen angst. Wednesday struggles as an outcast at the Nevermore Academy and while dealing with relationships as an introvert which may feel surprisingly relatable to some viewers.
5 Never Have I Ever (2020-2023)
Never Have I Ever is another teen Netflix series that instantly won over the hearts of Netflix subscribers. The series was penned by the incredibly talented Mindy Kaling who drew from her own childhood for inspiration. The series revolves around sophomore Devi who is determined to change the course of her high school career after a devastating freshman year left her depressed and uncool. Throughout the series, the show has seen typical teen issues like complicated romances, trouble with friends, and struggling with parents. However, it also examines how young people can deal with grief and expectations for their future. Never Have I Ever's final season wrapped up the series in a satisfying and relatable way.
4 Heartstopper (2022-)
Heartstopper was released on Netflix in April 2022 and instantly shot to the top of the trending list. A feat that's not surprising since the series is based on the popular web-comic turned graphic novel series. The show centers around Charlie, a gay teenager at an English boarding school who finds an unlikely friend in popular older classmate Nick. As the two spend more time together, both boys begin to realize their friendship might be something more. With only one season out, fans are looking forward to more episodes becoming available in August 2023. The series has been praised by fans and critics for offering LGBTQ+ teenagers a heartwarming and positive love story that's often reserved for straight couples.
3 Sex Education (2019-)
Sex Education earns the title of being one of the best Netflix teen series as well as one of the best original series the streaming service has ever offered. The teen dramedy series centers on Otis, a socially awkward teenager whose mother happens to be a sex therapist. With the help of his mom's work material, Otis creates an underground sex therapy clinic at his high school. The British dramedy series quickly built up a massive following earning a whopping 40 million views during its first season debut. There are currently three seasons on Netflix with Sex Education season 4 on the way.
2 Derry Girls (2018-2022)
Along with being one of the rare shows with no bad seasons, Derry Girls is also one of the most unique of Netflix's teen shows. Set in the 1990s, the show follows a group of girls (and their one male friend) living in the small Irish town of Londonderry. Along with having a sharp Irish wit that makes it one of Netflix's best comedies as well, Derry Girls deals with heavy subject matter from the real-life events of the Irish conflict at the time. Yet the show always manages to find humor and heart while its third season concluded this unique coming-of-age story with a genuinely touching message that spoke to the history of the show as well as the lives of these young girls.
1 Stranger Things (2016-)
Stranger Things is the biggest Netflix franchise right now and one that is far bigger than any of the other teen shows. The nostalgia-fuelled 80s adventure follows the young heroes of Hawkins, a down cursed by the evil forces of another dimension trying to break through to their side. While the size and popularity of the series outweighs the other shows, it would be unfair to say Stranger Things is really about the teen experience. Yet even among all the genre mayhem of the Upside Down, Stranger Things deals with teen issues, from first romances to bullying at school to struggling with sexuality and being accepted.