40 Best Teen Shows To Binge Over The Weekend

1

Stranger Things (2016-Present)

Equal parts ’80s nostalgia, sci-fi horror, and heartfelt friendship, Stranger Things changed the game for teen TV. Set in the small town of Hawkins, it follows a group of kids as they uncover government secrets, fight off interdimensional monsters, and grow up in the middle of it all. There’s D&D, found family, first loves, and a whole lot of trauma — but it’s also wildly fun and deeply emotional.

Tropes: found family, supernatural threat, government conspiracy
Perfect for fans of: The Umbrella Academy, Super 8

2

Euphoria (2019-Present)

Euphoria is a raw, hyper-stylized dive into teenhood at its most chaotic. It follows Rue, a high schooler struggling with addiction, as well as the lives of her equally messy classmates. With stunning cinematography, haunting music, and emotional performances, this is a teen show that doesn’t flinch — whether it’s exploring trauma, sexuality, or self-destruction. It’s not always easy to watch, but it’s impossible to look away.

Tropes: trauma core, messy love, identity crisis
Perfect for fans of: Skins, 13 Reasons Why, My So-Called Life

3

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)

The blueprint for every teen supernatural show that followed, Buffy blends vampire-slaying action with emotional storytelling and clever writing. Buffy’s your average teen — except for the whole Chosen One thing. Whether she’s battling demons or dealing with heartbreak, it’s all metaphor for the chaos of adolescence. Witty, dark, and iconic, this one’s essential viewing.

Tropes: chosen one, love triangle, monster-of-the-week
Perfect for fans of: Teen Wolf, The Vampire Diaries, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

4

Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)

There’s something timeless about Gilmore Girls. Set in the cozy town of Stars Hollow, it follows fast-talking, coffee-chugging Lorelai and her bookish daughter Rory as they navigate school, dating, and family drama. With unforgettable side characters, iconic fall vibes, and some of the most quotable writing ever, it’s the ultimate comfort binge.

Tropes: small-town charm, mother-daughter bond, academic overachiever
Perfect for fans of: Jane the Virgin, Ginny & Georgia, Dawson’s Creek

5

The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017)

This show is pure teen supernatural drama with a side of centuries-old brooding. Set in the town of Mystic Falls (aka the deadliest place to be a high schooler), The Vampire Diaries follows Elena as she gets tangled up in a love triangle with two vampire brothers — one sweet, one absolutely feral. It has everything: forbidden love, magical lore, doppelgängers, dramatic deaths (lots of them), and a soundtrack that defined the era.

Tropes: love triangle, vampire romance, small-town secrets
Perfect for fans of: Twilight, The Originals, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

6

On My Block (2018-2021)

This underrated Netflix gem is all about friendship, survival, and growing up in a neighborhood where things get real fast. On My Block balances laugh-out-loud humor with hard-hitting moments as a group of teens navigates high school, gang violence, and everything in between. It’s fast-paced, funny, emotional, and honestly, one of the most authentic portrayals of modern adolescence.

Tropes: ride-or-die friend group, first love, high-stakes drama
Perfect for fans of: Euphoria, The Fosters, Never Have I Ever

7

Heartstopper (2022-Present)

There’s no way to watch Heartstopper without grinning like an idiot (and maybe sobbing a little too). This sweet, low-stakes teen romance follows Charlie, an anxious overthinker, and Nick, a golden-retriever rugby player, as they fall for each other in the most tender, slow-burn way possible. It’s the kind of show that captures all the little butterflies and insecurities of first love, and it’s refreshingly wholesome without ever feeling unrealistic.

Tropes: friends to lovers, queer first love, sunshine x sunshine
Perfect for fans of: Love, Victor, Young Royals

8

Outer Banks (2020-Present)

If The Goonies had hotter teens and a lot more sexual tension, you’d get Outer Banks. Set against a dreamy coastal backdrop, it follows a group of working-class kids (the Pogues) who stumble into a dangerous treasure hunt — while dodging cops, rich kids, and family drama. It’s equal parts adventure, teen romance, and ridiculous twists. Wildly bingeable and never boring.

Tropes: rich vs poor, found family, forbidden love
Perfect for fans of: Riverdale, Blood & Treasure, One Tree Hill

9

Pretty Little Liars (2010-2017)

Pretty Little Liars is the ultimate guilty pleasure teen mystery — think Desperate Housewives meets Scream with a lot of texting and secrets. It kicks off with four friends getting anonymous messages from someone calling themselves “A” after the mysterious disappearance of their queen bee. What follows is a twisty, over-the-top spiral of lies, betrayals, and small-town secrets. It’s dramatic, ridiculous, and somehow still keeps you watching episode after episode.

Tropes: secrets and lies, girl squad, love triangles
Perfect for fans of: Gossip Girl, Riverdale, The Vampire Diaries

10

Yellowjackets (2021-Present)

Imagine Lord of the Flies meets Mean Girls, with a dash of psychological horror. Yellowjackets flips between a high school girls’ soccer team surviving a plane crash in the ‘90s and their adult lives in the present — still haunted by what happened in the woods. It’s eerie, dark, and endlessly addicting, with just the right amount of mystery and unhinged energy.

Tropes: survival, dual timelines, secret past
Perfect for fans of: The Wilds, The Society, Pretty Little Liars

11

Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)

Canceled too soon but never forgotten, Freaks and Geeks is a painfully accurate — and hilarious — look at teenage life in the 1980s. It follows Lindsay, a former good girl drifting toward a crowd of burnouts, and her younger brother Sam, stuck in the awkward purgatory of freshman year. It’s awkward, heartfelt, and full of future stars like James Franco and Seth Rogen. A true cult classic.

Tropes: outcasts, coming-of-age, sibling dynamics
Perfect for fans of: Everything Sucks!, The Wonder Years, Pen15

12

Cruel Summer (2021-Present)

Told across three different summers in the ’90s, Cruel Summer follows the rise and fall of two teen girls connected by a chilling disappearance. Each episode shifts perspective, unraveling lies, betrayals, and secrets that twist your sympathies in every direction. If you love unreliable narrators and plot twists, this teen thriller is highly bingeable.

Tropes: unreliable narrator, teen mystery, shifting identity
Perfect for fans of: 13 Reasons Why, Pretty Little Liars, Yellowjackets

13

Friday Night Lights (2006-2011)

Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose. More than just a football show, Friday Night Lights is a deeply emotional look at small-town life, family, and the weight of expectations. Centered on Coach Taylor and his team in Dillon, Texas, this show tackles teen relationships, class divides, and heartbreak with nuance and heart. It’s a grounded, slow-burn drama that sneaks up on you.

Tropes: sports drama, small-town struggles, forbidden love
Perfect for fans of: All American, One Tree Hill, The O.C.

14

Sex Education (2019-2023)

This British teen show is smart, hilarious, and sneakily emotional. It follows a group of high school students trying (and mostly failing) to figure out relationships, sex, and self-acceptance. With a socially awkward teen sex therapist, his eccentric mom, and a wildly lovable cast of misfits, Sex Education is way more heartfelt than you’d expect. It tackles tough topics like identity, shame, and body image — all while being genuinely fun to binge.

Tropes: found family, academic overachiever x rebel, coming-of-age chaos
Perfect for fans of: Euphoria (but lighter), Skins, Freaks and Geeks

15

Gossip Girl (2007-2012)

The blueprint for messy, glamorous teen drama. Gossip Girl follows a group of ridiculously wealthy high schoolers in NYC as they party, scheme, and stab each other in the back — all under the watchful eye of an anonymous gossip blog. It’s pure teen chaos, full of iconic one-liners, love triangles, and fashion that defined a generation. Even if it’s totally over-the-top, it’s addictive in the best way.

Tropes: enemies with benefits, love triangles, rich kid drama
Perfect for fans of: Elite, Pretty Little Liars, 90210

16

Never Have I Ever (2020-2023)

If you’re into chaotic love triangles, laugh-out-loud awkwardness, and heartwarming moments that hit out of nowhere, Never Have I Ever is your next teen show obsession. It follows Devi — a sharp, impulsive Indian-American teen — as she tries to reinvent herself after a tough year. What starts as a quest to become “cool” spirals into a hilarious journey through grief, identity, and messy first crushes. It’s a pitch-perfect coming-of-age dramedy with high school drama, romantic angst, and just the right amount of cringe.

19

Teen Wolf (2011-2017)

Teen Wolf is peak early 2010s supernatural chaos, and it’s still ridiculously fun to binge. It follows Scott McCall, a regular teen who gets bitten by a werewolf and suddenly has to balance lacrosse, high school romance, and staying alive. It’s campy, dramatic, and full of abs, angst, and monster-of-the-week thrills. Bonus points for the iconic slow-burn bromance between Scott and Stiles.

Tropes: supernatural secret, bad boy hero, enemies to reluctant allies
Perfect for fans of: The Vampire Diaries, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Shadowhunters

20

Love, Victor (2020-2022)

A sweet and relatable spin-off of Love, Simon, this show follows Victor, a new student at Creekwood High, as he navigates his sexuality, family expectations, and first love. It’s heartfelt without being heavy, and Victor’s journey feels honest and hopeful. With strong friendships and a swoony romance, this one’s a must-watch for anyone into LGBTQ+ teen stories.

Tropes: coming out, first love, opposites attract
Perfect for fans of: Heartstopper, Glee, Dash & Lily

22

Derry Girls (2018-2022)

Set in 1990s Northern Ireland during the Troubles, Derry Girls manages to be one of the funniest teen shows and sneak in some truly moving moments. It follows a group of Catholic schoolgirls (and one poor English boy) as they navigate friendship, crushes, and pure chaos. The episodes are short, the humor is sharp, and the nostalgia is perfection. Plus: that soundtrack? Chef’s kiss.

Tropes: girl gang, opposites attract, chaotic friendships
Perfect for fans of: Sex Education, Freaks and Geeks, Booksmart

23

All American (2018-Present)

Based on the true story of football player Spencer Paysinger, All American is about a teen from South Central who’s recruited to play at a wealthy Beverly Hills high school. What follows is a culture clash full of intense sports drama, romance, family tension, and personal growth. It’s one of those rare teen shows that balances serious themes with binge-worthy storylines — and the emotional stakes are always sky-high.

Tropes: rich vs poor, found family, sports drama
Perfect for fans of: Friday Night Lights, The Fosters, One Tree Hill

24

Skins (2007-2013)

Skins doesn’t sugarcoat the teen experience. It’s raw, wild, and emotionally messy — with a rotating cast of British teens dealing with everything from drugs and mental illness to identity and love. It’s way grittier than your typical high school show, but it’s also full of heart and unfiltered honesty. The original UK version is the one you want (especially Gen 1 and 2).

Tropes: coming-of-age, found family, emotional trauma
Perfect for fans of: Euphoria, Degrassi, The End of the F**ing World*

25

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018-2020)

This isn’t the Sabrina Spellman of the ’90s. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina reimagines the half-witch, half-mortal teen as a goth feminist icon fighting off literal Hell. With occult rituals, demon deals, and vintage horror aesthetics, the show leans fully into its dark fantasy vibe — but still has all the teen angst, romance, and high school drama you’d expect. Think Riverdale, but witchier.

Tropes: supernatural teen, love triangle, fate vs free will
Perfect for fans of: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Craft, Teen Wolf

26

Julie and the Phantoms (2020)

This musical teen show is pure joy. After the death of her mom, Julie rediscovers her love for music — with the help of a literal ghost band. Yes, really. It’s a heartfelt blend of pop anthems, found family vibes, and emotional healing wrapped in a quirky supernatural premise. Plus, the songs are actually bangers.

Tropes: grief & healing, found family, musical passion
Perfect for fans of: Glee, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Heartstopper

27

The O.C. (2003-2007)

Before Gossip Girl, there was The O.C. — the teen drama that made you want to move to California and brood on a beach. It’s about Ryan, a kid from the wrong side of the tracks who ends up living with a rich family in Newport Beach. Between the rich-kid drama, iconic fashion, and Seth Cohen’s comic book obsession, this show helped define early 2000s teen culture.

28

Ginny & Georgia (2021-Present)

Imagine Gilmore Girls, but with way more secrets, sharper edges, and some true crime flair. Ginny & Georgia follows a 15-year-old girl trying to find her place in a new town while her charming, chaotic mom tries to outrun a shady past. It’s part coming-of-age, part dark family drama, and full of complicated mother-daughter dynamics, high school gossip, and serious emotional depth.

Tropes: mother-daughter drama, new girl in town, hidden past
Perfect for fans of: Big Little Lies, Euphoria, The Fosters

29

The Fosters (2013-2018)

If you love heartfelt teen dramas with found family vibes and real emotional depth, The Fosters should be at the top of your list. It follows a blended family of biological, adopted, and foster kids raised by two moms — and it doesn’t shy away from big topics like identity, grief, activism, and love. There’s romance, school drama, sibling tension — all the teen staples — but with a lot more heart and humanity than most.

Tropes: found family, forbidden love, coming-of-age realism
Perfect for fans of: Switched at Birth, Degrassi, All American

30

The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022-Present)

Few shows capture the emotional whirlwind of a summer crush quite like The Summer I Turned Pretty. Based on Jenny Han’s bestselling books, it centers on Belly — a teen who suddenly finds herself at the center of a long-brewing love triangle between two brothers. It’s full of beach house vibes, emotional family moments, and the kind of drama that only unfolds under fireworks and sunset skies.

Tropes: love triangle, childhood friends to lovers, summer romance
Perfect for fans of: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Outer Banks

31

Veronica Mars (2004-2019)

Part teen drama, part noir detective story, Veronica Mars is a cult classic for a reason. It stars Kristen Bell as a sharp-tongued teen sleuth solving mysteries in a town full of corruption, secrets, and class tension. There’s a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, plenty of heartbreak, and twists that will keep you guessing. Smart, sassy, and ahead of its time.

Tropes: teen detective, rich vs poor, enemies to lovers
Perfect for fans of: Nancy Drew, Cruel Summer, Pretty Little Liars

32

Riverdale (2017-2023)

Look, Riverdale may not make a ton of sense — but that’s part of the charm. It started as a dark, murdery reboot of the Archie Comics and quickly morphed into a full-blown fever dream with cults, serial killers, alternate dimensions, and inexplicable musical numbers. If you love teen shows that are campy, chaotic, and totally unhinged, Riverdale is a must-watch. Just don’t ask too many questions — just vibe.

Tropes: murder mystery, love triangles, bad boy x good girl
Perfect for fans of: Twin Peaks, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Outer Banks

33

Daria (1997-2002)

Smart, sarcastic, and perpetually unimpressed, Daria is the teen misanthrope we all needed. This ‘90s animated cult classic skewers high school, consumer culture, and conformity with dry wit and deadpan humor. It’s not about romance or popularity — it’s about survival through apathy and snark. Iconic then, still relevant now.

Tropes: outsider POV, high school satire, no-nonsense female lead
Perfect for fans of: Freaks and Geeks, BoJack Horseman, Big Mouth

34

That ‘70s Show (1998-2006)

Even if it’s set in the 1970s, the awkward teen experiences in That ‘70s Show are timeless. It follows a group of suburban Wisconsin friends hanging out in basements, figuring out love and life, and getting into dumb trouble. Equal parts comfort-watch and laugh-out-loud funny, this one has huge rewatch value.

Tropes: slacker teens, small-town coming-of-age, found family
Perfect for fans of: Friends, Boy Meets World, Freaks and Geeks

35

Shadow and Bone (2021-Present)

Based on Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse books, Shadow and Bone is a moody, fantasy-packed teen show full of magical politics, brooding antiheroes, and slow-burn tension. It follows Alina Starkov, a mapmaker who discovers she has a rare power that could reshape the world. Between the war-torn backdrop, morally gray characters, and swoony side plots (Kaz and Inej forever), this one’s for fantasy fans who love high stakes and complicated romances.

Tropes: chosen one, enemies to allies, found family
Perfect for fans of: The Witcher, His Dark Materials, The Hunger Games

37

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019-2023)

This meta, mockumentary-style show is way better than it has any right to be. Set at the school where the original High School Musical was filmed, it follows a group of theater kids putting on a stage production — while dealing with crushes, rivalries, and heartbreak backstage. It’s cheesy in the best way, with original songs and plenty of nods to the original films.

Tropes: theater kids, love triangle, musical drama
Perfect for fans of: Julie and the Phantoms, Glee, Camp Rock

38

The Wilds (2020-2022)

If Yellowjackets left you craving more girl-group survival drama, The Wilds is a perfect follow-up. When a group of teen girls crash-land on a deserted island, they have to band together to survive — while also realizing they might not be there by accident. It’s a slow-burn with emotional flashbacks, secrets, and psychological twists that keep you guessing.

Tropes: survival, girl squad, government conspiracy
Perfect for fans of: Lost, Yellowjackets, Cruel Summer

39

PEN15 (2019-2021)

PEN15 is what happens when two adult women hilariously and painfully recreate their middle school experience — braces, AIM crushes, awkward puberty and all — while everyone else in the show is an actual 13-year-old. It’s deeply cringey in the most relatable way, and if you lived through the early 2000s, you’ll be both laughing and crying.

Tropes: middle school awkwardness, best friends forever, puberty pains
Perfect for fans of: Everything Sucks!, Big Mouth, The Wonder Years

40

Grown-ish (2018-2023)

A spin-off of Black-ish, Grown-ish follows Zoey Johnson as she leaves home for college and discovers that adulthood is a lot messier than it looked on Instagram. With sharp writing and stylish vibes, it explores love, identity, activism, and ambition through a Gen Z lens. Bonus: the fashion is always on point.

Tropes: college coming-of-age, identity exploration, messy relationships
Perfect for fans of: Dear White People, Sex Lives of College Girls, The Bold Type

41

Dawson’s Creek (1998-2003)

If your ideal teen show involves long-winded monologues, unrequited love, and lots of angst by the water, Dawson’s Creek is a must. This iconic late-‘90s drama put teen feelings on full blast and helped launch the golden age of WB teen TV. It’s peak nostalgia with all the classic tropes — including the ultimate will-they-won’t-they between Joey and Pacey.

Tropes: love triangle, childhood friends to lovers, emotional overload
Perfect for fans of: The O.C., Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill