Best Netflix Series for Teens
Netflix has become a powerhouse of entertainment with not only complete seasons of television shows or movies but also original content. Not only is there a lot of original content on Netflix, but there are also options for all ages. In fact, some of the best series on Netflix are the best Netflix series for teens as well.
[Updated March 30, 2021]
Whether your teen wants to watch TV alone or as part of a family movie night, they will enjoy these best Netflix series for teens. There is one major problem with Netflix that hasn’t entirely been fixed yet: helping viewers decide what to watch.
With the countless options available, it takes forever to make a decision. But if you narrow your search down to Netflix original content, you will open yourself up to a whole world of great entertainment.
Finding the best Netflix series for teens is easy as well. Once you find a title that interests you, simply add it to your watchlist to enjoy now or later. When you’re ready, grab some popcorn and a beverage, and get comfy with these best Netflix series for teens.
Best Netflix Series for Teens
13 Reasons Why
Starting off strong is 13 Reasons Why. Most parents have indeed read the headlines, and some may have come to conclusions before watching the entire series.
However, this Netflix series for teens can open up a dialogue between parents and teens. 13 Reasons Why is more than a television series; it’s a commentary on the lives teens could be living in real life and should be seen by teens and parents alike.
American Vandal
It is on the completely opposite side of the spectrum as 13 Reasons Why is American Vandal. This series is a mockumentary that takes a poke at the hundreds of documentaries on Netflix.
This series is for the older teens in the house, but it is still a wonderful time. While the show surrounds some phallic graffiti, it’s more of a background aspect of the show.
Like 13 Reasons Why, American Vandal is set in a random high school in the US, and what happens here is a mystery that you will surely solve repeatedly before you get the genuine answer.
The End of the F***ing World
Bear with us here; things just got dark, but in a funny way. The End of the F***ing World is a series that follows a teenage boy who thinks he’s a psychopath and the girl he has fallen in love with.
To prove that he’s a psychopath, this young man needs to find his first kill, but love keeps getting in the way, and it’s hilarious. One of the reasons this show is on the list is because it takes the common coming-of-age story we all know and puts a new angle on the idea by adding a potential future serial killer to the mix.
On My Block
High school drama and transforming from childhood to adulthood can be complex. These things can get even worse when you’re in a city like LA. On My Block follows a group of friends as they deal with growing up in the inner city.
Real life takes its toll, but friendship is a powerful weapon if used correctly.
Best Netflix Series for Teens | Stranger Things
Let’s get dark, ’80s style! Stranger Things has become a phenomenon all its own. This show follows a group of boys and a superpowered young girl as they fight the forces of another dimension.
Taking inspiration from “It” and “E.T.,” Stranger Things is a thrill ride no teen will want to miss. There are already two seasons that have hit many different must-see lists on the internet, and for good reason.
More seasons are coming, so catch up now while you can.
Atypical
There are many different family dramas that teens adore, but Atypical is different in the best ways possible. The story follows a young man with autism who is looking to find a girlfriend but finds so much more along the way.
This show sheds light on autism, and while it is a dramedy, the protagonist is rarely the butt of the joke. Instead, this show is about differences and how we all have them and shouldn’t let them divide us.
A Series of Unfortunate Events
While this finds itself on the list of best series on Netflix, be warned: it’s hard to watch. It depicts some of the worst things that could happen to a group of siblings.
If you do hit play, you may find yourself torn, wanting to close your eyes while being completely glued to the screen. Despite all the warnings in the theme song and from the narrator, along with the fear it evokes in its audience, this series is a must-see.
Since you can find something for everyone, getting a Netflix subscription is almost a no-brainer. The question is, what will you watch? (Also, how early is your alarm clock set for tomorrow morning?)
The Letter for the King
Get ready for an exciting adventure. This show is about a young man who is mixed up in something bigger than himself. The boy must get a letter to the king, but there are plenty of people who don’t want him to make it.
He must rely on strangers and others to get him where he needs to be to save the kingdom.
Alexa & Katie
High school can be a scary place, especially for the teens who fill the halls. However, life can be even scarier. Combine the two, and you’ve got a terrifying mixture. Alexa has cancer and is starting high school.
Luckily, the one thing we can always rely on is friends, which is where Katie comes in.
Degrassi: Next Class
Do you remember how Drake got his start? That show is back with a new take on what it is like to be in high school. This time, students are returning to school with more tech, more studies, and more drama.
This is a beautiful way for teens to escape their own drama and, instead, keep an eye out for the next Drake.
I am Not Okay with This
Some of the best Netflix series for teens take odd turns. Life as a teen has always been brutal. Whether you grew up in the ’80s and had to battle monsters from the upside-down or are dealing with your unfortunate family.
But Syd has another option for you. How about you start developing powers while being angsty and crushing on her best friend? Life doesn’t get more difficult, and Syd can prove it.
The Innocents
Another awkward thing to deal with for teens besides just life is love. But what if love became even more dangerous, just as you were starting to think you had it under control?
This series is a Nordic series that takes the teen romance cliche and turns it on its head in imaginative ways. Meet June and Harry; they are teens, they are in love, and they are on the run.
By the way, June has a weird ability to transform her body into her victims.
Outer Banks
Life is rarely fair, especially if you live in the Outer Banks. Here, there are the rich, there are the poor, and there are lost treasures just waiting to be found. This group of teens comes together to hunt down that treasure.
The problem is someone else is hunting that treasure, too. That other person is much more potent than these teens and will not make finding it easy. Hunt the treasure along with them, as this is one of the best Netflix series for teens.
Locke and Key
There is nothing better than a good sci-fi/horror series. Locke and Key are precisely that. Three siblings lose their father and move with their mom to their father’s ancestral estate. But this home has many different secrets.
The trick is finding the right key to unlock those secrets. A bit cliche to say, but more on the nose than you know.
Cheer
Teens don’t often enjoy docuseries. But Cheer has taken on a life of its own since its release date. This show follows a team of cheerleaders who are working hard to win national championships.
This is a mix between too many different shows, and the drama will keep you hooked. Pray away the broken ankle and learn to cheer your butt off with this addicting Netflix series for teens.
Queens Gambit
Queens Gambit has taken the world by storm. This show is remarkably interesting. In fact, describing the premise might turn many folks away. A girl grows up in an orphanage where she learns about the game of chess.
She is like a chess prodigy and competes in national and global competitions. It doesn’t sound all that interesting, but the acting is phenomenal, the emotions behind everything are palpable, and the writing is perfect.
This show is a must-watch for teens and parents alike.
Cursed
King Arthur is a story that transcends time; everyone knows of or has heard about King Arthur, Merlin, and the entire kingdom. But Cursed tells the story differently, very differently.
Katherine Langford plays Nimue, a sorceress who is destined for more. As she explores the path that has been laid in front of her, she meets Arthur, and their story is fun to watch. Teens will recognize Langford from 13 Reasons Why.
Dash & Lilly
Meet Dash and Lilly, two teens who are feeling a bit alone during the holiday season. But they meet each other in a very weird way and start issuing each other dares.
These dares have them exploring the city and getting to know each other along the way. Even though they have never formally met. This teen rom-com is a perfect holiday show to watch as a family or while your parents work from home…in another room.
Never Have I Ever
You may be familiar with the creators of this series, Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher. This series follows Devi through her high school experience. Devi’s goal is to change her social status while also dealing with boy drama and grief and performing the balancing acts with her friends that all teens can relate to.
All American
We feel like we’re carrying the world’s weight on our shoulders as teens. But really, we only need to worry about our grades, family, and who won last week’s football game.
“All American” is a series about a teen football player recruited to the Beverly Hills High School team from South Los Angeles. Things aren’t quite the same in both communities; when they clash, they clash hard in this drama series.
Boo B*tch
There are plenty of Netflix series for teens that cover all aspects of life. For example, one idea that has made its way into the spotlight is introverts and extroverts.
When an introverted teen finally decides to have a night out, she wakes up as a ghost. Now, she and her best friend must find her unfinished business so she can move on into the afterlife.
Bridgerton
This one has taken the world by storm. Bridgerton is about a young girl who needs to find a man to be with that will help her keep her place in society. However, this show might be too bold for some younger teens.
Parents may want to watch Bridgerton before they allow their teens to watch it, as there are some questionable scenes. Some parents may find some scenes to be too raunchy for their teens, but only parents can make the right decision for themselves and their teens.
Fate: The Winx Saga
The world of fairies has a lot more drama than you may think. Especially when these fairies are attending a magical boarding school. The story follows a young fairy who comes from the real world and is mixed, half human, half fairy.
This young fairy deals with the normal high school drama but tosses in magic, monsters, and hidden history that will rock the world of fairies. In fact, if they don’t figure out what’s going on, it could mean the end of the fairy’s existence.
Wednesday
You don’t need to explain this series on Netflix. However, for those who have been under a rock, Wednesday is a spinoff series based on the classic “Addams Family,” a comic strip from the late 1930s.
Then there was a show, a movie, a musical, and now this spin-off. Wednesday, Addams is sent off to a private school where she uncovers a mystery that only the macabre can solve.
Follow Wednesday, Thing, and a slew of new characters as they get to the bottom of what’s happening at Nevermore.
Heartstopper
“Heartstopper” is a series that follows a group of British teens as they navigate the rocky waters of young adulthood. This show is suited for older teens as there are some pretty heavy storylines.
But the series covers every aspect of growing up that teens experience these days. In fact, the series has done so well that Netflix greenlit two more seasons! Friendships, love, and family all make growing up easier; they also make things much more difficult.
X.O. Kitty
There is no love like teen love. Not because it actually has any real weight to it. But because as teens, we tend to make it seem like more than just a high school relationship.
Well, Kitty is a teen navigating the waters of high school love while helping others find their way. Kitty is a matchmaker who is trying to make things work with her long-distance boyfriend.
Queen Charlotte
You’ve seen “Bridgerton,” now get more acquainted with Queen Charlotte in this spin-off series. Young Queen Charlotte’s marriage to King George of England becomes an epic love story.
But this love story isn’t your average love story. In fact, this love is a love that completely transforms high society.
Sweet Tooth
The apocalypse has happened, but not exactly how we thought it would. Instead, fearing the unknown brought the world to the brink of extinction. Enter Sweet Tooth, a young boy born with the ears of a deer and antlers.
He is on an adventure worldwide, searching for a new start. This is a cute show with some heavy undertones you may pick up on.
Shadow & Bone
There are light forces in the world, and then dark forces keep us divided. But in the “world of “Shadow & Bone,” ”Shadow & Bone” world, people have special abilities that make the fight between light and dark much more intense.
Then Alina Starkov uncovers an extraordinary power that could change the world. But first, she will need to find out who is on her side and who is using her for nefarious purposes.
That ‘90s Show
Your parents have probably heard of or even watched a show back in the day called “That ‘70s Show.” This new series by Netflix is a spinoff that follows the kids of the characters from “That’70s Show.”
This is a classic sitcom in that there is a laugh track, applause, and a fair amount of corny jokes. But sometimes, we want things like this to remind us how to appreciate the things we have in our lives.
Emily in Paris
Emily just got her dream job in Paris, which is a significant change from the life familiar to her in Chicago. Now, Emily has to find a way to adapt to her new surroundings while giving it her all at work, trying to make new friends, and, of course, romance.
This series didn’t start as a top contender but became a hit and now has three seasons. More could be on the way as well.
Derry Girls
Get ready to laugh your butt off with one of the funniest Netflix Series for teens. Follow a group of teens in Northern Ireland in the 90s. There are political problems happening, but those don’t get as much focus as the boy drama, school drama, parent drama, and, of course, girl drama.
This series is fun and light that you and your teens might enjoy. Good luck with your Fatboy Slim tickets!
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