If you are drawn to any of the themes in Baby there is an abundance of teen-dramas that you will find just as entertaining. The Italian Netflix Original Baby explores the lives of a group of wealthy Roman high-school students, in the suburb of Parioli. While the series deals with a number of controversial issues - like underage prostitution - it also showcases all of the usual teenage dramas. Baby primarily focuses on two young girls, and their coming-of-age and finding their independence.
The subject matter of the teen-drama series is nothing new, and as such, there is an abundance of movies and shows that hold similarities to Baby. Whether the appeal is rebellious behavior, exploring sexuality, or impending adulthood, there is a Baby-adjacent teen-drama for every viewer.
Dude (2018)
The 2018 Netflix Orginal Film Dude, follows four best friends throughout their final two weeks of high-school. This film, however, does not buy into many of the high-school drama tropes and presents a more diverse depiction of a group of wealthy, weed-smoking, LA teens.
As well as all of the components of a coming-of-age drama, Dude deals with loss and life-changing events, with a balance of gravitas and humor. The film boasts an all-star cast, with teen-drama veterans Lucy Hale from Pretty Little Liars and Kathryn Prescott of Skins fame, as well as Alexandra Shipp (X-Men Apocalypse), and Awkwafina.
Misbehavior (Yeogyosa) (2016)
Misbehavior is a South Korean psychological thriller set in a high-school, and written and directed by Kim Tae-yong. The film follows two female teachers, working at an all-boys high school, one a temporary teacher, and the other the daughter of the school board's chairman.
A complicated relationship between the two teachers evolves as one day Hyo-joo the temporary teacher, witnesses Hae-yeong engaging in an intimate and highly-inappropriate embrace with a student. A love-triangle ensues, in the form of a dark and unsettling character study of sorts.
The Babysitters (2007)
Written and directed by David Ross, The Babysitters is an independent drama that follows Katherine Waterston as seventeen-year-old Shirley. Shirley starts out as a typically well-behaved, model student preparing for college and babysitting to save money.
Everything changes one night, as Shirley finds herself kissing a father that she is babysitting for. From this point, she hatches a plan to gather her friends and pair them up with unhappy husbands, under the guise of a babysitting business. The film has supporting roles by John Leguizamo as the husband who starts it all, and Cynthia Nixon as his wife.
Skins (2007-2013)
The British comedy-drama series Skins was notoriously shocking and controversial when it first aired in 2007. In the years since, many of its controversial subject-choices have become more accepted, and visible in the mainstream, but Skins manages to maintain its originality all the same.
As teen coming-of-age dramas, go, Skins is probably still one of the grittier examples, but this didn't stop many of its castmembers from pursuing varied acting careers. The series provided breakthrough roles for young British actors like Dev Patel and Nicholas Hoult as well as Jack O' Connell and Kaya Scodelario.
Quicksand (Störst Av Allt) (2019)
2019 saw Netflix's first Swedish-language original production - teen crime-drama Quicksand (Swedish: Störst Av Allt). Quicksand follows a student in Stockholm who finds herself on trial for murder. The show is based on a novel of the same name and centers on the aftermath of a school shooting.
At the opening of the series, Maja appears to be a normal high-school student, but as the trial progresses, and her secrets become exposed, there seems to be much more to the eighteen-year-old than meets the eye. The investigation uncovers a multitude of hushed relationships between Maja and fellow students, as well as parents and teachers.
Young & Beautiful (Jeune & Jolie) (2013)
The French film Young & Beautiful (French: Jeune & Jolie) is an erotic drama centering on a young woman who begins a secret life as a prostitute. The protagonist, Isabelle - played by Marine Vacth - loses her virginity at 17 while on holiday in the South of France, and upon returning home begins working as a prostitute by the name of Lea.
As a French production, the film takes a significantly different approach to the topic than similar dramas like Baby and The Babysitters. This is a complex drama that is more about personal growth and guilt than it is about teenage choices and struggles.
Gossip Girl (2007-2012)
There are few shows as iconic and well-known as Gossip Girl, and there are even fewer teen-dramas that are not in some way comparable to it. Gossip Girl introduced viewers to Blake Lively and Leighton Meester, among many others, and showcased the fictional lives of the wealthy teens of Manhattan's Upper East-Side.
Gossip Girl is rich with lies, conflict, and teen rebellions while maintaining its chic and glamorous aesthetic. Many of its issues may be less gritty and controversial than some fellow teen-dramas, but they are no less entertaining for it. Serena van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf will forever be synonymous with privileged teen-drama.
Summertime (2020-)
Summertime is a new addition to Netflix's increasing library of Italian original productions. The romantic drama introduces viewers to a group of young Italians during the summertime on the Adriatic coast. The series is inspired by a novel from Federico Moccia.
The series centers on Summer, a high-school student living in the town of Cesenatico, who has dreams of moving on to bigger and better things. During this summer, Summer meets Ale, a famous motorcyclist originally from Rome, and is introduced to the world of young love.
18 Presents (18 Regali) (2020)
18 Presents (Italian: 18 Regali) is an Italian-language Netflix Original Film starring Baby's Benedetta Porcaroli as Anna and The Trial's Vittoria Puccini as Elisa. The film is inspired by the true story of Elisa Girotto. After being diagnosed with cancer, pregnant Elisa endeavors to leave a memorable legacy for her unborn daughter.
The film follows Porcaroli's character Anna, as a teenager who for the past eighteen years of her life has received a birthday gift from her deceased mother. Anna has grown to resent these gifts, and on her eighteenth birthday leaves home to find herself.
Elite (2018-)
Netflix's Spanish teen-drama Elite (Spanish: Élite) has entertained viewers since its release in 2018. The crime drama focuses on three working-class teenagers who have transferred to the highly exclusive Las Encinas school, after the collapse of their own school.
The three new students struggle to fit in with their elitist classmates, and the clashes between them and their fellow students eventually become fatal. The series follows the aftermath of a serious crime and its consequences for all involved.