Adolescence (TV series)
Updated: 1/7/2026, 2:00:45 PM Wikipedia source
Adolescence is a British television psychological crime drama series created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham and directed by Philip Barantini. It centres on a 13-year-old schoolboy, Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), who is arrested after the murder of a girl in his school. Each of its episodes was shot in one continuous take. Adolescence premiered on Netflix on 13 March 2025, to critical acclaim for its directing, writing, and cinematography, with special attention paid to its atmosphere and performances. Adolescence was the first streaming show to place at the top of the Barb Audiences weekly television ratings, and received thirteen nominations at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, winning for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series and Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Barantini, in addition to acting wins for Lead Actor (Graham), Supporting Actor (Cooper), and Supporting Actress (Erin Doherty). On 9 April 2025, Deadline Hollywood reported that Netflix and Plan B Entertainment were in talks about creating a second season.
Infobox
Tables
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
| 1 | "Episode 1" | Philip Barantini | Jack Thorne & Stephen Graham | 13 March 2025 (2025-03-13) | |
| On the morning of 8 May 2024, Detective Inspector Luke Bascombe and Detective Sergeant Misha Frank lead a police raid at the home of the Miller family: father Eddie, mother Manda, daughter Lisa, and 13-year-old son Jamie. They arrest Jamie on suspicion of murder and take him to the nearby police station. A tearful Jamie professes his innocence as he is processed and taken to a detention cell while his family arrives at the station. Eddie agrees to be Jamie's "appropriate adult" and accompany him as he is searched and questioned. Eddie privately asks Jamie whether he has committed the crime and believes his denial. Barlow, the solicitor appointed to represent Jamie, arrives and advises Jamie not to respond to questions about the previous night. During Jamie's formal interview, Bascombe and Frank reveal that Jamie has made several sexually explicit comments about female models on Instagram. He is then questioned about his classmate Katie Leonard, whose murdered body was found in a car park the night before. Bascombe plays CCTV footage of Jamie stabbing Katie to death before terminating the interview. Jamie and Eddie weep in the interrogation room; Eddie briefly recoils when Jamie touches him before they tightly embrace. | |||||
| 2 | "Episode 2" | Philip Barantini | Jack Thorne & Stephen Graham | 13 March 2025 (2025-03-13) | |
| Three days after the murder, Bascombe and Frank visit Jamie's secondary school to speak to Jamie and Katie's classmates, hoping to learn Jamie's motive and the location of the murder weapon. Katie's best friend, Jade, is distraught by the murder and sardonically insults the officers. She later assaults Jamie's friend Ryan during a fire drill, accusing him of getting Katie killed. When Bascombe and Frank interview Ryan, he is initially cooperative but soon turns evasive, leaving the room when the murder weapon is mentioned. Bascombe's estranged son, Adam, a student at the school, informs his father that Katie replied to Jamie's Instagram comments of models using emoji language to accuse him of being an incel, and Bascombe wonders if there was a cyberbullying campaign against Jamie. As Bascombe and Frank attempt to question Ryan again, he flees through a window, and Bascombe chases him out of the school. When Ryan is caught, he reveals that the knife belonged to him; he and another friend, Tommy, had given Jamie the knife, thinking he would use it to intimidate Katie into retracting the Instagram replies. Ryan is arrested for conspiracy to murder. Eddie visits the site of Katie's murder to leave flowers in remembrance. | |||||
| 3 | "Episode 3" | Philip Barantini | Jack Thorne & Stephen Graham | 13 March 2025 (2025-03-13) | |
| Seven months after the murder, forensic psychologist Briony Ariston meets with Jamie at a secure training centre to prepare a pre-trial report on his mental capacity. Briony assures Jamie that her only goal is to evaluate his understanding of the circumstances surrounding the case, not the case itself. Jamie, however, engages in a tenuously gripped game of one-upmanship. Briony questions Jamie about his attitude towards masculinity, women, and himself. Briony recalls that Jamie had said he and his friends had been bullied at school. Jamie recounts that Katie had sent a topless photo to a classmate she was attracted to, and that boy spread it around the school without her consent. This hurt Katie, and Jamie asked Katie out, believing she would be more likely to accept him in an emotionally vulnerable state. She rebuffed him and proceeded to leave insulting comments on his Instagram page. Throughout the interview, Jamie's mood fluctuates between friendly and aggressive. This includes several outbursts of anger, the confession that he was tempted to grope Katie during the confrontation and that he borrowed the knife to threaten her. After Briony informs Jamie that this session is their last, he demands to know if she likes him personally, but she refuses to answer, further agitating Jamie. The security guard is forced to drag Jamie out of the interview room. Alone, Briony is visibly distressed. | |||||
| 4 | "Episode 4" | Philip Barantini | Jack Thorne & Stephen Graham | 13 March 2025 (2025-03-13) | |
| A year after the murder, the Millers have made attempts to return to normality as Jamie awaits trial. On Eddie's 50th birthday, his van is spray-painted by teenagers who attend Jamie's school. Eddie plans to take Manda and Lisa to the cinema later that day to lighten the mood, but they first go to a hardware store to buy something to remove the paint from the van. There, Eddie is further distressed by an employee recognising him and awkwardly expressing support for Jamie. Eddie buys some paint to recoat the van. Outside, he spots the teens who tagged the van and angrily threatens them before throwing the contents of the can of paint on his van out of anger. On the drive home, Jamie calls and announces his plan to plead guilty. At the house, Eddie and Manda come to terms with Jamie's predicament, blaming themselves for not paying attention to his online radicalisation. Lisa joins them, expressing support for Eddie's decision not to move the family, knowing their connection to Jamie would eventually catch up with them. They decide instead to rent a film and order Chinese food to turn the day around, with Manda and Lisa leaving to prepare breakfast. Alone, Eddie breaks down on Jamie's bed. He tucks in a teddy bear, kisses its head, and apologises to Jamie for not doing better, before joining his family. | |||||
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
| AACTA International Awards | 6 February 2026 | Best Drama Series | Adolescence | Pending | |
| Best Actor in a Series | Owen Cooper | Pending | |||
| Stephen Graham | Pending | ||||
| Best Actress in a Series | Erin Doherty | Pending | |||
| AARP Movies for Grownups Awards | 10 January 2026 | Best TV Series or Limited Series | Adolescence | Pending | |
| Best Actor – Television | Stephen Graham | Pending | |||
| American Film Institute Awards | 4 December 2025 | Top 10 Television Programs | Adolescence | Won | |
| Artios Awards | 26 February 2026 | Limited Series | Shaheen Baig | Pending | |
| Astra Awards | 11 June 2025 | Best Limited Series | Adolescence | Won | |
| Best Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie | Stephen Graham | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie | Owen Cooper | Won | |||
| Ashley Walters | Nominated | ||||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Streaming Movie | Erin Doherty | Nominated | |||
| Best Directing in a Limited Series or TV Movie | Philip Barantini (for "Episode 3") | Won | |||
| Best Writing in a Limited Series or TV Movie | Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham (for "Episode 3") | Won | |||
| Best Cast Ensemble in a Limited Series or TV Movie | Adolescence | Nominated | |||
| 11 December 2025 | Best Casting – Television | Nominated | |||
| Critics Choice Awards | 4 January 2026 | Best Limited Series | Won | ||
| Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television | Stephen Graham | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television | Owen Cooper | Won | |||
| Ashley Walters | Nominated | ||||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television | Erin Doherty | Won | |||
| Christine Tremarco | Nominated | ||||
| Film Independent Spirit Awards | 15 February 2026 | Best New Scripted Series | Jack Thorne, Stephen Graham, Philip Barantini, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Nina Wolarsky, Hannah Walters, Mark Herbert, Emily Feller, Carina Sposato, Niall Shamma, and Peter Balm | Pending | |
| Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series | Stephen Graham | Pending | |||
| Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series | Erin Doherty | Pending | |||
| Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series | Owen Cooper | Pending | |||
| Golden Globe Awards | 11 January 2026 | Best Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television | Adolescence | Pending | |
| Best Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television | Stephen Graham | Pending | |||
| Best Supporting Actor on Television | Owen Cooper | Pending | |||
| Ashley Walters | Pending | ||||
| Best Supporting Actress on Television | Erin Doherty | Pending | |||
| Gotham TV Awards | 2 June 2025 | Breakthrough Limited Series | Adolescence | Won | |
| Outstanding Lead Performance in a Limited Series | Stephen Graham | Won | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Limited Series | Owen Cooper | Won | |||
| Erin Doherty | Nominated | ||||
| Hollywood Music in Media Awards | 19 November 2025 | Original Score – TV Show/Limited Series | Aaron May and David Ridley | Nominated | |
| Location Managers Guild International Awards | 23 August 2025 | Outstanding Locations in a Television Anthology, Mow, or Limited Series | Adolescence | Nominated | |
| National Television Awards | 10 September 2025 | New Drama | Won | ||
| Drama Performance | Owen Cooper | Won | |||
| Stephen Graham | Nominated | ||||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | 6 September 2025 | Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Shaheen Baig | Won | |
| Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Matthew Lewis (for "Episode 2") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Contemporary Costumes for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Jessica Schofield, William Maher, and Tracey Cliffe (for "Episode 2") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special | James Drake, Michele Woods, Emma Butt, Rob Davidson, Jessica Watkins, Oli Ferris, and Sue Harding (for "Episode 1") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Jules Woods, Kiff McManus, Rob Entwistle, and Adam Méndez (for "Episode 1") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series | Kelly Caton, Jordan Anderson, Bram De Jonghe, Kia Milan, Nyle Washington, and Simon Richards | Won | |||
| 14 September 2025 | Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series | Mark Herbert, Emily Feller, Hannah Walters, Stephen Graham, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Nina Wolarsky, Jack Thorne, Philip Barantini, Carina Sposato, Niall Shamma, Peter Balm, and Jo Johnson | Won | ||
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Stephen Graham | Won |
References
- Award shared with nine other television programs.
- Specifically for Adolescence: The Making of Adolescence.
- Adolescencehttps://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/adolescence-cast-release-date-photos-news
- Yahoo! Entertainmenthttps://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/adolescence-makes-teen-psychological-drama-122330355.html
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/artisans/news/adolescence-one-take-episodes-netflix-1236339292/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2025/04/adolescence-season-2-netflix-plan-b-1236363260/
- Digital Spyhttps://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a63133715/tv-series-shows-coming-2025/
- Radio Timeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/stephen-graham-adolescence-one-take/
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/mar/17/adolescence-netflix-powerful-tv-could-save-lives
- Newsweekhttps://www.newsweek.com/adolescence-netflix-series-true-story-claims-fact-check-2052271
- "Adolescence: Netflix drama hailed as 'flawless' TV"https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwydwzv4qpgo
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2024/03/netflix-steven-knight-guinness-stephen-graham-uk-1235858380/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2024/tv/global/netflix-julie-delpy-suranne-jones-the-choice-buying-london-marian-keyes-grown-ups-1235941731/
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/netflix-new-series-jamie-dornan-steven-knight-julie-delpy-1235852516/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2024/07/netflix-adolescence-stephen-graham-erin-doherty-ashley-walters-1236017677/
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/mar/13/adolescence-review-the-closest-thing-to-tv-perfection-in-decades
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/mar/31/adolescence-drama-schools-hit-out-at-stars-from-nowhere-narrative
- Screen Dailyhttps://www.screendaily.com/news/2024-film-and-high-end-tv-productions-shooting-in-the-uk-and-ireland-latest-updates/5189068.article
- Digital Spyhttps://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a61660233/stephen-graham-new-netflix-crime-drama-adolescence/
- Radio Timeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/stephen-graham-ashley-walters-adolescence-newsupdate/
- Empirehttps://www.empireonline.com/tv/features/adolescence-making-of-most-dizzying-tv-feat/
- "Stephen Graham for 'Adolescence'. Conversations at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. Timestamps 10:02-10:53, 20:03-20:23"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B5DXCR-344
- The Starhttps://www.thestar.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/adolescence-new-netflix-drama-starring-stephen-graham-ashley-walters-erin-doherty-being-filmed-in-sheffield-4714644
- Wakefield Expresshttps://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/arts-and-culture/film-and-tv/new-one-shot-netflix-crime-drama-adolescence-starring-stephen-graham-ashley-walters-and-erin-doherty-filmed-in-south-kirkby-production-park-reveals-4864621
- Wakefield Expresshttps://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/arts-and-culture/film-and-tv/where-was-adolescence-filmed-here-are-the-locations-used-in-new-netflix-drama-5039304
- Yorkshire Examinerhttps://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/tv/netflix-adolescence-filming-locations-jaw-31214930
- "Netflix's Adolescence makes UK TV ratings history"https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62kyg00q71o
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/tv/news/adolescence-beats-bridgerton-stranger-things-ratings-1236354104/
- Media Play Newshttps://www.mediaplaynews.com/netflix-british-teen-crime-series-adolescence-remains-no-1-with-nearly-100-million-views/
- Adolescencehttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/adolescence/s01
- Adolescencehttps://www.metacritic.com/tv/adolescence/season-1
- RogerEbert.comhttps://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/adolescence-netflix-tv-review-2025
- The Telegraphhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2025/03/01/adolescence-review-it-will-chill-the-blood-of-any-parent-of/
- "Adolescence – Title Insights"https://www.showlabs.tv/en/title/134468-adolescence
- "Netflix Top 10 – Week of March 17–23, 2025"https://www.showlabs.tv/en/rankings/netflix/top-10/2025-march-17-23
- MerseyNewsLivehttps://merseynewslive.co.uk/2025/03/19/knowsley-mp-urges-screening-of-stephen-grahams-adolescence-in-parliament-and-schools/
- "Starmer backs campaign to show Adolescence in schools"https://news.sky.com/story/starmer-backs-campaign-to-show-adolescence-in-schools-13331968
- "As a father, watching Adolescence with my teenage son and daughter hit home hard"https://x.com/Keir_Starmer/status/1906697638306554207
- "Adolescence hard to watch as a dad, Starmer tells creators"https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx28neprdppo
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/adolescence-netflix-elon-musk-race-jack-thorne-b2724321.html
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/adolescence-creator-jack-thorne-anti-white-propaganda-absurd-1236176011/
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/adolescence-owen-cooper-emmy-nomination-2025-1236315094/
- "Who is Owen Cooper and what did he say in Emmy speech"https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpw178d7yw2o
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/adolescence-star-owen-cooper-emmys-win-record-breaker-1236369134/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2025/12/australia-aacta-international-awards-nominations-2026-list-1236652024/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2025/11/one-battle-after-another-hamnet-a-house-of-dynamite-among-aarps-movies-for-grownups-best-picture-nominees-1236623475/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2025/12/afi-awards-tv-top-10-1236636296/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/artisans/news/casting-society-artios-awards-nominations-2026-1236543155/
- "A Complete List of the 2025 Astra TV Awards Nominations"https://theastras.com/a-complete-list-of-the-2025-astra-tv-awards-nominations/
- "Apple TV+'s 'The Studio' and 'Severance' Lead the 2025 Astra TV Awards Wins for Best Comedy and Drama Series"https://theastras.com/2025-astra-tv-awards-winners/
- "'Sinners' and 'Stranger Things' lead with the most nominations for the 2025 Astra Creative Arts Awards"https://theastras.com/sinners-and-stranger-things-lead-with-the-most-nominations-for-the-2025-astra-creative-arts-awards/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2026/film/news/critics-choice-awards-2026-winners-list-1236621119/
- "Here Are Your 2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominees!"https://www.filmindependent.org/blog/here-are-your-2026-film-independent-spirit-awards-nominees/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/lists/golden-globes-nominations-2026-movies-tv/
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2025-gotham-tv-awards-nominations-nominees-list-1236203266/
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2025-gotham-tv-awards-winners-list-1236235141/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2025/11/hollywood-music-in-media-awards-2025-nominations-list-wicked-for-good-1236608348/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2025/06/lmgi-awards-nominations-2025-list-1236444995/
- Radio Timeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/national-television-awards-2025-winners-full-list-newsupdate/
- "Adolescence"https://www.televisionacademy.com/shows/adolescence
- "Adulation for 'Adolescence', 'The Studio' Sets New Record for Comedy Series at 77th Emmy Awards"https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/awards-news/77th-emmys-winners-the-pitt-the-studio
- "Adolescence: The Making of Adolescence"https://www.televisionacademy.com/shows/adolescence-the-making-of-adolescence
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2026-producers-guild-awards-kids-sports-shortform-nominees-1236449480/
- "IPA set to Celebrate the 30th Annual Satellite Awards"https://www.pressacademy.com/news/ipa-set-to-celebrate-the-30th-annual-satellite-awards/
- "서울드라마어워즈 골든버드賞에 '세브란스:단절' 벤 스틸러 감독"https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20250916156800005?input=1195m
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/tca-awards-2025-nominations-severance-the-pitt-1236310235/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/tv/news/television-critics-association-awards-2025-winners-the-pitt-1236493489/