We promise you’ll enjoy these, too!
Ah, as any parent of a teenager knows, finding common ground isn’t always the easiest thing. But, behold: Turn on Netflix, and options for mutual laughs and lessons abound. With so many teen movies and shows on Netflix, it can sometimes be hard to find the best of the bunch. That’s why we cut through the ticker tape o’ titles to find the best that the streaming service has to offer on the “keep my 15-year-old entertained and me too” front. With a mix of documentaries, comedies, fantasy series, and more, bookmark this list of the best teen TV shows and movies on Netflix, and plan some screening nights pronto.
Teen Shows and Movies on Netflix That Adults Will Also Like!
Sweet Tooth
If your teen loves Stranger Things, check out this new fantasy adventure based on the DC comic book series by Jeff Lemire. You’ll be on the edge of your seat, too, when you see what unfolds after “The Great Crumble” changed the world as we knew it and creatures that are part human, part animal known as hybrids arrived. “After a decade of living safely in his secluded forest home, a sheltered hybrid deer-boy named Gus (Christian Convery) unexpectedly befriends a wandering loner named Jepperd (Nonso Anozie),” the Netflix synopsis reveals.
Headspace: Unwind Your Mind
Whether SATs or summer internships have your teen stressed out, this interactive special from meditation app giant Headspace will help them zen out with a variety of capable meditation guides in the form of entrancing animations and voice narrations, including some from Headspace co-founder Andy Puddicombe, a former Buddhist monk. Viewers are presented with three options: A guided meditation, a “relax” session, or a sleep exercise to help you get ready to count sheep and includes the option of a bedtime story. You may have struck out on getting your kid to meditate daily, but if this doesn’t inspire them to download a meditation app, we don’t know what will.
Misfit
This 2017 gem is a veritable joy to watch, focusing on a girl who marches to the beat of her own drum. There’s something for everyone in this fast-paced comedy that chronicles a teenager who moves back home to the Netherlands after spending the bulk of her life in America. If you like what you see, there’s more to love with the 2019 follow-up, Misfit 2.
Penguin Town
This delightful documentary series dropped June 16th and has been captivating us since. The teen obsessed with the natural world will get lost in this exploration of a colony of African penguins on the beaches of Simon’s Town, in Western Cape Province, South Africa. The adorable penguins are superb, yes (especially the boisterous “Car Park Gang”), but the fascinating educational aspect of this eight-part docuseries is really what will keep you coming back for more.
Sierra Burgess Is a Loser
First things first, if the grownups haven’t seen this 2018 winner yet, it’s time to correct course with this perfect teen rom-com. While we can’t put our fingers on what exactly is so charming about this flick, we can zoom in on a few favorite things: actor Noah Centineo playing a high school football quarterback, and what it has to show us all about navigating life’s awkward moments. Keep in mind, no movie is perfect and you might take issue with some aspects of the storyline. But, it’ll make for a great post-watch discussion with your teen!
Sisters on Track
Got a budding athlete on your hands? Plop down for this new documentary that landed on Netflix June 24th described as the “coming-of-age story of the Sheppard sisters: Tai, Rainn, and Brooke who were propelled into the national spotlight in 2016 with their first-time wins at the Junior Olympics.” These Brooklyn sisters became Sports Illustrated Kids “SportsKids of the Year” and were able to move out of a homeless shelter with their mom Tonia Handy into their own home. As they set their sights on beating their best, the inspiring flick may very well motivate your sporty kids to do the same.
We The People
While Barack and Michelle Obama’s animated series delivering American civics tutorials — season one fittingly debuts on July 4th — may be intended for a slightly younger set, parents, teens, and pretty much folks of all ages will enjoy these 10 cartoon musical videos performed by Janelle Monáe, Brandi Carlile, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Adam Lambert, Cordae, Bebe Rexha, KYLE, and other artists mom and dad aren’t hip enough to have heard of, along with Joe Biden’s inauguration poet Amanda Gorman. Bonus: You may learn a few new things along the way, and you’ll have some new earworms to enjoy all summer long.
Never Have I Ever
Season two of the hit dramedy comes out July 15th, and we can’t wait to see Indian American teenager Devi (played by rising star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) and her crew continue to bring plenty of teenage drama and laughs to the screen. Created by executive producer Mindy Kaling, with Lang Fisher acting as executive producer, showrunner, and writer, we’re hoping for many more seasons of this stellar series.
Good Burger
This 1997 comedy, starring Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell of Nickelodeon’s Kenan & Kel fame, along with Abe Vigoda, will have you laughing so hard you snort. The plot is an age-old dilemma: a shiny new business (in this case, a burger joint) puts an old one at risk of going under, but how the storyline shakes out will amuse you every time.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
Another recent standout, this film is part of Netflix’s Asian American & Pacific Islander Collection and will keep you engaged from the first scene to last. The premise? The love letters of Lara Jean (played by Lana Condor) get mailed to her five crushes, without her knowing. We know: Yikes! Noah Centineo (swoon for your high schooler!) also stars in this top-rate teen movie based on Jenny Han’s book series. Adults who love Sex and the City will also appreciate Aidan, ahem, John Corbett, playing a lead role in this movie series.
