A thirteen-year-old boy, Jamie Miller, is arrested for the brutal murder of a schoolgirl. To his family this all seems like a huge mistake - surely Jamie would not do something like that? To the police the evidence is clear but what motive could he possibly have?
Where to Watch Adolescence
Adolescence Ratings & Reviews
- rg9400March 15, 2025Adolescence is a harrowing watch centered around a filmmaking technique where each episode is filmed in real-time and in a single continuous take. It's hard to exactly describe what this show is without removing part of its teeth. It isn't exactly true crime or a mystery or a procedural or even a family drama. It's a scathing journey, equal parts focused on understanding the cause as well as the devastating impact of the unthinkable, offering a very timely analysis of the way we are failing the next generation, all told via this "gimmick." Gimmick or not, executing on this style is very impressive both in terms of the camerawork and the phenomenal acting. More importantly, it influences the entire show. Each episode utilizes a different style, from the methodical confines of a police station to the chaotic mess of a high school to a bottled conversation across a table to subdued family life. In each case, the single take has a different impact though it always creates an intimacy and authenticity with its characters. Episode 3 in particular will be one of the best episodes of television this year. At times, following characters as they walk around or as they go through the minutiae can feel dry, footage that would have found itself on the cutting floor in a more edited show. However, here, it lets you wallow in the emotions of the characters, being put in their shoes, the impatience blending into anxiety as fear of the unknown hangs over their heads. Because of this, the quietest moments hit the hardest, the emotions crackling through the screen. The single take isn't just a technical conceit, it seeps into the very core of what this show wants to be. This is a tough show to watch. I think you need to watch this show.
- COCOMarch 23, 2025Just give Stephen Graham the Emmy already. I’ve seen enough of this man’s performance to be convinced.
- CoougeSeptember 30, 2025Waste of time. It’s so slow and it feels like an improv. Why does this need 4 episodes? 4 hours with with mostly meaningless conversations, waiting, thinking, driving and walking.
- Lucas SinclairMarch 19, 2025So good that I had to watch it with my family. Hit a lot heavier in second watch and my, do I love it. Stephen Graham is so fucking good- everyone is amazing. Everything about it is amazing.
- SpoonsMarch 14, 2025Adolescence had me hooked from the first scene, compelling enough to watch all four episodes back-to-back. Stephen Graham delivers yet another incredible performance, portraying grief with heartbreaking authenticity. Ashley Walters impressively captures the struggle of understanding a senseless crime shaped by modern incel culture, while also balancing personal fears as a parent. Young Owen Cooper is astonishing, perfectly balancing vulnerability and menace as a boy caught between perpetrator and victim. Erin Doherty’s standout performance in the psychological evaluation episode adds powerful emotional depth. Technically, Adolescence is outstanding—each episode shot as continuous single takes, creating a tense, real-time theatre-like atmosphere. It’s emotionally raw, intense, and profoundly relevant, especially for a father raising two boys in today’s complex digital landscape.
- Jacob ThompsonSeptember 27, 2025This spends 4 hours giving a message that can be told in way less time
- sanjayuchchariaJuly 31, 2025Only a father of son knows the pain of it. Tear jerking ending. Losing son in an accident is another thing but see the son of teenaged behind the bars is really painful. 😢
- thereelvoiceMarch 28, 2025Adolescence is a brilliant 4 episode series that follows a 13 year old boy that has been accused of murdering a classmate. Every episode is filmed in one single shot which adds to the realism as you follow every second of every emotionally upsetting scene. The performances are amazing as they are convincing and I found myself truly saddened and moved by this story. Adolescence is a must watch.
- Janko RoettgersSeptember 13, 2025Dark, depressing, very good, but also ... feels so incomplete, somehow?
- Jay Marie BaileyAugust 11, 2025Well made drama, well acted with great casting and well written. Was caught a bit by surprise with the jump in timeline between episode 2, 3 & 4, with 3 taking part 7 months after and 4 taking part 13 months after. Although that jump in time did take me by surprise initially having watched all episodes now the story premise wasn't what I was expecting (thought it was going to be police procedural being perpetrator to justice) where in fact it is more about how an event such as this effects more than just offender and victim. Very cleverly done
- stevencaceres245June 26, 2025Yes, everything you’ve heard and everything you read is correct. It is brilliant television filmmaking even if you don’t know the technical side of it. It still blows your mind. It is a dark dark story, and I was really hoping the show would turn out differently. At the end of it, I was just an emotional mess. Truly worth watching.
- Maximiliano Gastón PortilloMay 3, 2025Wow. Just wow. Adolescence does offer a truly distinctive viewing experience. The thoughtful way it approaches sensitive topics, combined with the astounding performances and impressive (at risk of making an understatement) production quality, lets you see, episode after episode, the amounts of love and care poured into its creation. If you haven't watched it yet, do yourself the favour.
- jamoke82April 25, 2025I am floored. This was the most powerful thing I have ever watched. The only thing that came close was the documentary, Dear Zachary. The performances, direction, production were amazing and the fact that they were all one takes makes them that much more incredible. As a fairly new father, this hit me hard and in a way I didn’t expect. Bravo to everyone involved.
- Motaba Movie centerMarch 24, 2025Recommended for everyone, but it's a must-see for anyone raising teenagers. It's not an educational film, it doesn't offer solutions, but it's gut-wrenching and won't let up.
- CubaneAugust 8, 2025If you want to watch something where the single-shot technique is used to the benefit of the experience, watch 1917. If, on the other hand, you want to watch something where the cinematographers are too busy thirsting for a BAFTA to buy a damn tripod for their camera, this is the series for you. Every shot consists of either inanely orbiting around the subjects or parking the camera someplace and forcing the subjects to essentially improvise dialogue to avoid dead air. It's a shame, too, as the performances are acutally quite good across the board. Several well-deserved Emmy nominations were made for this series, although one will notice none of them were for the cinematography.
- Irfan RasiwalaJuly 14, 2025Completely overrated show. Tedious and predictable.
- Judith HolmanJuly 5, 2025The subject matter that this series grapples with is so extremely relevant these days. I often think to myself that I’m thankful that I’m not raising my children during these times in this country. This was thoughtfully, written and directed. Heartbreaking as it may be, these are the kinds of issues that we have to keep talking about and not push them into the shadows. Every family with school-age children should watch this series Bravo to the cast the writers, the directors and those portrayed
- Kevin WardJuly 1, 2025Crossing my fingers that Philip Barantini and Stephen Graham plan to just one shot everything from here on out. Performances are impeccable especially Owen Cooper and Stephen Graham. Teenagers are just awful though, fr.
- DoowangleJune 29, 2025Superb acting across the board, great dialogue and pacing. A bit dubious of the “Andrew Tate turned my kid into a murderer” narrative that the story is serving, but enough parents believe it, especially in the UK, to make it real to their minds, so I can overlook it since it was so well executed
- another92June 16, 2025Unbroken shots trap us in an elevator with these characters, none of which I care about at all.
