- Adolescence is already one of Netflix’s most successful series
- The UK crime drama has been a huge hit with audiences and critics
- The Stephen Graham led drama is by far the most watched show on the streaming platform
Adolescence may have only landed on Netflix two weeks ago but the Stephen Graham led crime drama has already shattered a viewership record on the streaming service.
The series, which tells the story of a 13-year-old schoolboy arrested for the murder of a girl at his school, has become an immediate hit for Netflix, both for the strength of the writing and another searingly emotional performance by Graham, who also co-created and co-wrote the series alongside Jack Thorne.
During its opening week on Netflix, per Variety, Adolescence generated an enormous 24.3 million views in its first four days alone. In its first full week (March 17-23) it amassed a staggering 42 million, taking its total to 66.3 million. The number has shattered the record for number of views for a limited series in its opening two weeks.
Adolescence – One Shot, Millions of Views
Directed by Boiling Point’s Philip Barantini, each episode of Adolescence unfolds in one long continuous shot (this was the same technique Barantini used for Boiling Point, also starring Graham). Across four-episodes, we watch in real-time as family and police try to make sense of what actually happened.
Read more: Is Stephen Graham series Adolescence based on a true story?
The technique has drawn significant praise for how seamlessly it is brought together by Barantini and the camera crew, drawing viewers into the midst of the anguish and chaos surrounding the Miller family. Graham discussed how the team somehow made it work during a recent appearance on Jimmy Fallon, drawing awe from Fallon and his studio audience as they watched a behind the scenes clip from an episode the show.
Stephen Graham walks Jimmy through a behind-the-scenes clip from the making of one continuous shot in @netflix’s #Adolescence. #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/grflORP8dw
— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) March 20, 2025
What is the Story of Adolescence?
Adolescence follows Jamie, an average 13-year-old schoolboy played by newcomer Owen Cooper. When a girl in Jamie’s class is murdered, Jamie is arrested at his family home, with his family and the local authorities forced to decipher what happened and why and how it happened.
Graham plays Jamie’s father, Eddie, in a typically emotionally charged role, and is faced with tough questions about his own son and his own parenting in what rapidly turns into a gut churning rollercoaster of intense trauma.
For anyone new to Graham’s work (where have you BEEN?), here are a few of his other roles that you should make sure to check out after Adolescence.
