20 teen TV dramas you have to watch (2024)

Love, loss, trauma, and murder? That's all in an hour's work for a great teen drama. Starting with shows likeDegrassi and Beverly Hills, 90210, teen dramas have flourished into a massive genre over the past three decades, tackling tough issues while exploring the dramatic emotional lives of teens as they date, fall in love, deal with their parents, and try to survive high school.

Flip through the slideshow below for 20 of TV's most essential teen dramas, from classics like 90210to exciting newcomers likeOuter Banks and The Sex Lives of College Girls.

Spelling Entertainment/CBS

Arguably the teen drama that launched a million teen dramas, Beverly Hills, 90210 hit the airwaves in 1990. Created by Aaron Spelling and Darren Star, the show ran for 10 seasons, ending its historic run in 2000. Since then, it's seen multiple reboots, including 2008's 90210.

Warner Bros.

This series, about a group of teens plagued by the mysterious "A.," premiered on Freeform in 2010. Now a bonafide cult classic, it's packed with dramatic storylines and has inspired multiple spin-offs, including the 2022 HBO Max series Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin.

Warner Bros.

Inspired by the series of young adult novels by Cecily von Ziegesar, Gossip Girl launched the careers of mega-celebs like Blake Lively and Penn Badgley. The series follows a group of uber-rich teens navigating love, partying, and endless drama while attending a tony NYC prep school.

Columbia Pictures Television

In 1998, teens turned their attention to the exploits of Dawson, Joey, Pacey, and the rest of the gang on Dawson's Creek. The series ran for six seasons, across which it tackles love, loss, and heavy topics like hom*ophobia and mental health.

MovieStillsDB

Starting in 1979,Degrassi has become one of the most expansive teen drama franchises. The Canadian series, developed by Kit Hood and Linda Schuyler, encompasses five distinct eras, including Degrassi: The Next Generation, in which rapper Aubrey "Drake" Graham has a star turn.

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This HBO series earned critical acclaim and controversy after its first season premiered in 2019. Critics praised its cast, which includes Zendaya and Maude Apatow while raising concerns about its use of nudity and depictions of drug use. That didn't stop Euphoria from raking up multiple Emmy nods, including two wins for Zendaya for Best Actress.

NBC

Set in the endlessly dramatic landscape of Texas high school football, this acclaimed series is inspired by the novel by author Buzz Bissinger. It follows the coach and players of a high school football team in a fictional Texas town through their wins, losses, and personal challenges. Stars Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler earned multiple Emmy nods for their performances, and Friday Night Lights even took home a Peabody Award.

Warner Bros. Television

Yet another series about rich and troubled teens in sunny southern California, The O.C. was Beverly Hills, 90210 for the millennial generation when it premiered in 2003. The show ran for four seasons and boasted a surprisingly solid playlist of indie favorites alongside its increasingly wild storylines.

20th Television

One could argue that The Wonder Years is more of a family drama than a teen drama, but there's plenty of teen drama in this legendary series. Set in the late 1960s, it's a nostalgic look back at a truly transformative time in American history through the lens of Winnie Cooper and Kevin Arnold.

DreamWorks

This offbeat teen dramedy from Paul Feig and Judd Apatow boasted a remarkable young cast, including Seth Rogen, Busy Philipps, Jason Segel, and Linda Cardellini. It's perhaps the first to offer an honest look at the lives of teenage outcasts and remains a cult favorite among TV buffs.

ABC

Starring a young Claire Danes, My So-Called Life premiered on ABC in 1994, tackling tough issues like drug use, homelessness, and alcoholism with aplomb. It also introduced the world to Jared Leto via the emotionally unavailable heartbreaker Jordan Catalano, who inspired countless crushes among the show's devoted fanbase.

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Loosely inspired by the campy 1992 film of the same name, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" launched the careers of Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, and more actors. It ran for 7 seasons, earning critical acclaim and a truly obsessed fanbase along the way.

Warner Bros.

At its peak, more than four million Americans tuned in to The WB to watch One Tree Hill , a teen drama set in North Carolina and starring Chad Michael Murray, Hilarie Burton, and Sophia Bush.

The CW/Warner Bros.

This series, based on the characters of the legendary Archie comics, proved a sleeper hit with fans after its 2017 premiere. A little silly and totally supernatural, it's perfect for binge-watching, no matter your age.

MTV

Inspired by the British series of the same name, Skins was met with controversy when it premiered on MTV in 2011. Its detractors criticized the network for the show's "excessive" nudity, resulting in its cancellation after just one season. The British version, though, ran for seven seasons and earned a cult following in the UK and beyond.

Warner Bros.

Even those of us who may not have been as studious as Rory Gilmore, the protagonist of Amy Sherman-Palladino's beloved series Gilmore Girls, could appreciate the exploits of Rory and her mom Lorelai. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll want to drink a whole lot of coffee.

Netflix

Set in the Outer Banks, a series of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina, this series explores the age-old conflict between the haves (rich tourists) and the have-nots (those who work for them). Two seasons of Outer Banks have aired on Netflix, but you still have plenty of time to catch up before the show returns for a third in 2023.

Disney-ABC Domestic Television

This ABC Family-turned-Freeform series about two foster parents earned acclaim from critics for handling tough issues while shining a light on the realities faced by foster families across the country.

Disney-ABC Domestic Television

OK, the premise of this show is definitely a little far-fetched, but that doesn't mean that Switched at Birth isn't still a great watch. The show won a Peabody Award in 2013 and ran for 103 episodes before it was canceled in 2017.

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The subject matter in this HBO series from Mindy Kaling is arguably a little risque, but that just makes it feel more accurate to the teen experience.