Move over, Regency romance—Netflix’s UK series Adolescence is stealing the spotlight. The gritty drama has officially elbowed past all three seasons of Bridgerton to snag the No. 4 spot on Netflix’s all-time Top 10 list for English-language TV.
It’s a big jump from its old No. 9 perch, leaving The Queen’s Gambit, The Night Agent, and Fool Me Once in the dust too.
This newbie, barely a month old, has racked up over 114 million views since its debut, with 17.8 million coming just last week. That’s enough to keep it ruling the global weekly charts, shrugging off fresh contenders like Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer and the medical drama Pulse.
What’s the secret sauce? Well, reports suggest UK secondary schools are screening it, hooking teens and teachers alike with its raw, real vibes.
The story’s a gut-punch: 13-year-old Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper) gets nabbed for murdering a classmate, sending his family into chaos. Stephen Graham—co-creator and star—plays Eddie, Jamie’s dad and his “appropriate adult” during the police grill sessions. Ashley Walters is the sharp-eyed DI Luke Bascombe, while The Crown’s Erin Doherty shines as psychologist Briony Ariston. Graham teamed up with writer Jack Thorne to craft this beast, and they tapped Boiling Point director Philip Barantini to helm it.
Adolescence is proving it’s got staying power. Sorry, Bridgerton—the corsets and carriages couldn’t keep up with this teen tragedy’s grit.
