Netflix’s Adolescence Stuns as 2025’s Most Talked-About Series
Hideo Kojima has singled out Netflix’s Adolescence as his top pick for 2025, applauding its bold one-shot filming and raw depiction of family and youth. The series has swept up critical praise and several Emmy awards.
Hideo Kojima, well-known for his sharp takes on film and telly, has named his standout series for 2025, and it’s a bit of a curveball. The show that’s caught his eye is Netflix’s Adolescence, which made a splash online earlier this year. Kojima’s choice came as part of Vulture’s ‘The Culturati 50’, where a bunch of creatives from the industry picked their top shows, films, and pop culture moments of the year. Adolescence ended up leading the pack, nabbing the most votes in the series category.
In Kojima’s words:
A masterful fusion of meticulously calculated one-shot cinematography and direction that draws out the show’s core themes. It vividly exposes the fear and anguish experienced by both children in their formative years and the families who watch over them.
One-Shot Wonder and Real-Time Drama
This isn’t the first time Kojima’s sung the show’s praises. Back in March, he posted on Twitter after watching the first episode, saying:
I watched the first episode of Adolescence on Netflix. It’s good. It’s impressive. It’s filmed in a single continuous shot from start to finish… The characters, drama, and mystery are all brilliantly portrayed. I have to keep watching this.
The series, created by Jack Thorne (of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child fame) and Stephen Graham (from This is England), follows a family thrown into chaos when their 13-year-old son Jamie is arrested for the murder of a classmate. The story digs into tough topics like the risks of social media and the impact of toxic online content on young people. Most of the show plays out in real time, which gives it a gritty, authentic edge.
Critical Acclaim and Record-Breaking Numbers
Adolescence has been a hit with both critics and punters. It’s sitting on a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes and has become Netflix’s second most-watched English-language series after Wednesday, racking up 142.6 million viewers in its first 91 days, according to Tudum. The show’s also cleaned up at the Emmys, scoring thirteen nominations and taking home several awards, including Best Lead Actor for Stephen Graham and Best Supporting Actor for Owen Cooper, who plays Jamie. More than half of the voters in Vulture’s poll reckoned Cooper delivered the year’s standout performance.
Streaming Now and Making Waves
Adolescence is currently streaming on Netflix, drawing in viewers with its bold storytelling and unflinching look at family life under pressure. For those keen to see what all the fuss is about, it’s well worth a watch. And if you’re after more top telly, there’s no shortage of fresh picks and upcoming series to keep an eye on this year.