TV Shows Older Kids and Teens Actually Watch (and Parents Should Know About)
About this list
Welcome to KidRated’s guide to the Best TV Shows for Older Kids and Teens – updated for 2026. If you’re wondering what your kids and teenagers are actually watching – and which shows you might be OK with – this list will help.
Just like in his popular video games guide, we asked Kit, now 18, to take the lead. He’s grown up on Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ and Prime, and has watched a lot of this TV with his parents. Each recommendation comes with clear parent advice, based on real viewing rather than guesswork.
This isn’t a “safe TV only” list. Some shows are funny, dark or intense, and age ratings matter – but so does understanding why a show is rated the way it is. Language, violence, themes and awkward moments are all flagged.
The aim is simple: help you find great TV for older kids and teens you can enjoy together – or at least feel informed about. And if you liked this check out our Great Films for Older Kids and Teenagers guide.
Dexter – 2006-2025 (15)
Dexter is a multi season thriller about a blood spatter analyst in Miami who has a sixth sense for catching serial killers. But like everyone says, it takes one to know one… This series is one of the best bits of TV I have ever watched and I can confidently say that after watching lots of TV!
Parent Advice !
The rating is 15 however I think there are definitely some episodes that are more graphic than others. There is lots of blood and gore and some scenes can leave you feeling a bit anxious however if you have watched films like Zodiac or Prisoners and loved those this series is definitely the one for you.
You can watch Dexter on Netflix – Thriller
People Just Do Nothing – 2014-2018 (15) – BBC
People just do nothing is a three season comedy about a pirate radio station in isleworth
(west london). This is arguably one of the funniest things I’ve ever watched. If you’re big on
You can watch Dexter on Netflix – Thriller
A Series of Unfortunate Events – 2017-2019 (PG) – Netflix – Comedy Drama
If you’ve read the books or heard of them I would imagine you know the story but as
someone who read the books, the netflix adaptation did an amazing job of recreating
Lemony Snicket’s peculiar and amazing world where the Bauldelaires are hunted endlessly
by Count Olaf. This is more of a niche TV show, I would compare it to marmite where you
will either fall in love with it or the first episode will put you off instantly.
Parent advice !
In terms of how appropriate this is, the age rating is PG but does cover some dark themes of
kidnapping and death. This is definitely a show I would recommend families to watch
together of any age.
Quick Inspiration
Modern Family 2009-2020 (PG/12a) – Disney+/ Prime – Comedy
Modern Family is the perfect binging show to watch as a family and all young people will love
it because there is a character that everyone can relate to. You also don’t need to worry
about running out of episodes as there are 250 all at around 20 minutes long. I can
confidently say I have never watched a bad episode and have rewatched them multiple
times.
Parent advice !
As the series progressed lots of notable celebrities made cameos because everyone wanted
to say they had been in modern family! Edward Norton, Kevin Hart and Jordan Peele. One of
the main things I loved about this show was the way you get to watch all the characters grow
and evolve, especially the teenagers and kids.
This Country 2017-2020 (12/15) – BBC
This Country is a super funny comedy series on the BBC about cousins Kurtan and Kerry in
their small village in the Cotswolds and how they keep themselves entertained in “the
village”
. If you enjoyed people just doing nothing, the show I recommended earlier then you
will love this.
Parent advice !
This is another binge worthy show with episodes coming in at 20 minutes and 3 seasons to
go through. With the age rating the main reason that is there is due to the use of foul
language so if you don’t want a show that swears then I would stay away from this one.
Umbrella Academy 2019 -2024 (15) – Netflix – Comedy Drama
Umbrella Academy is about a dysfunctional family who all have their own magic/psychic
powers. It begins when their father who adopted the 8 of them dies and they try to solve the
mystery of his unexpected death. They travel through time, different realities while also
solving personal issues.
Parent advice !
This series can be a bit difficult to follow. It is not something you can doom scroll while
listening to it in the background. The age rating is 15 and it has a variety of sensitive topics,
the topic of drug abuse is covered as one of the main characters is an addict and there is
also violence. I began watching it when I was around 13 and didn’t have any issues however
every child is different.
Quick Inspiration
Stranger Things – 2016 – 2025 (15) Netflix – Horror/Drama
Stranger Things is the largest grossing series in the last 10 years taking the world by storm
with the first season in 2016. Stranger Things is set in the 80s in Hawkins Indiana where a
kid mysteriously goes missing one night and suddenly the quiet town of Hawkins is out
looking for him but his friends find something else…
Parent advice !
For parents this show is an amazing throwback to the 80s,I can say this because my parents
loved it, yes they are that old! The show is rated 15 mainly due to violence and some bad
language. I watched the first 4 seasons with my dad and we both loved it and bonded over it
together. For any family that has not watched this I highly recommend it!
Star Wars Clone Wars – 2008-2020 (12) Disney – Sci Fi
If you love the Star Wars universe I would definitely recommend watching clone wars. The
timeline is from Attack of the clones (2002) up until Revenge of the Sith (2005) where order
66 is covered in a lot more depth which I personally loved. Watching this you see a much
deeper dive into relationships between jedi and clones and the republic and also so many
side quests the jedi and clones get up to.
Parent Advice !
This is a strictly animated series rated 12 because there is gun violence. If you have a child
or teenager who is star wars obsessed I would encourage you to watch this with them or
recommend it to them.
The Mandalorian – 2020 -2023 (12) Disney+ – Sci-fi/Western
Like I said earlier about the Clone Wars series, if you or your child are a big fan of the Star
Wars sagas this is a series made for you. The Mandalorian is set just after the end of the
original star wars films and follows a bounty hunter who had been adopted into the
mandorlian clan and taught their ways. The bounty hunter comes into contact with a force
sensitive child who is being hunted by imperials and takes it upon himself to protect him.
Parent Advice !
The show is rated a 12 and that is mainly due to the involvement of guns and some violence,
however it is nothing serious. I personally watched this show with my family who are all
vaguely interested in star wars but if you are not the story line itself is still interesting if you
separate the universe it is in. I highly recommend it !
Gotham – 2014 -2019 (15) Amazon Prime – Drama
If your child is Batman fan they will love Gotham, it takes a deep dive into Bruce Wayne’s
childhood as well as backstories on the staple villains of Gotham like The Penguin and The
Riddler. This show had mixed reviews but as someone who has watched it I think it is a great
watch as long as you have some interest in the DC universe already.
There are 5 seasons boasting 100 episodes at around 40 minutes so you don’t need to
worry about finishing it too quickly, it is one of those series where it takes a while to get into
but once it picks up you can’t turn it off!
Parent Advice !
There is violence in lots of episodes but nothing too gory or traumatic, there is also some
mention of substance abuse however it is nowhere near a main topic. I watched this show at
14 and didn’t have an issue.
Ted Lasso – 2020 – 2026 (15) Apple -Comedy/Drama
Ted Lasso is the perfect show to watch with older kids or as a family, my whole family
watched this together with me being 18 and my sister being 14. We both loved it! Ted Lasso
is about an American football coach who has been hired by AFC Richmond who are in the
premier league, he has no prior experience of coaching football (soccer). The show is
primarily set in Richmond and as someone who lives in the borough it is really cool to see
your own town on TV.
There are currently three seasons available to watch on Apple TV or Prime, there is currently
another season being filmed so you will have something to look forward to if you start
watching now and finish.
Parent advice !
The show is rated 15 and is primarily due to the language used, the main reason for this is to
contrast the politeness of Ted (the coach), compared to his British colleagues. I highly
recommend it!
Gilmore Girls – 2003 – 2007 (12) Netflix
Gilmore Girls is a great show to watch with your daughter, it is about a single mother and her
teenage daughter who live in a town in the states. The series covers their close bond as well
as both their romantic lives which provides good entertainment for all ages. The daughter
Rory also has a passion for writing and she dreams of attending Yale so this is another plot
the show will cover.
I watched a couple episodes of this a while ago with my mum and enjoyed it but never
carried on, however I know lots of people my age and younger who have fallen completely in
love with this series with their parents or siblings, this is definitely a show a mother and
daughter can bond over and relate to.
Parent advice !
Rated a 12, there is some mild swearing but nothing serious, like I mentioned earlier the
show does cover the topic of relationships but more in an emotional depth than anything
sexual. There are seven original seasons as well as a netflix spin off that covers Rory and
her mothers life 15 years later.
Young Sheldon – 2017 – 2024 (PG) Netflix – Sitcom
Young Sheldon is a sitcom about a family in Texas whose youngest son is extremely smart
but lacks many social skills. The show is a spinoff from The Big Bang Theory where viewers
saw Sheldon fully grown up, so if you watched the big bang theory and enjoyed it then I
would definitely recommend this.
The episodes are around 20 minutes long each making it a binge worthy series. One of the
reasons why I liked this show was due to the different characters e.g his mother, father,
younger and older siblings. All of the characters grew as well as Sheldon and it did not feel
like the entire show was fixated around him.
Parent advice !
This is definitely something a family could watch together, similar to modern family there is a
character that can appeal to everyone. With the show being rated PG there is not much to
worry about for parents, there is mention of sex and other romantic aspects but other than
that there is nothing else out of the ordinary.
The Inbetweeners – 2008 – 2010 (15) Channel 4 – Sitcom
The Inbetweeners is a comedy series about sixth formers in the UK, as a boy who watched it I
found it to be one of the most funny and relatable things in terms of school and the sort of
“banter” everyone used. The four main characters, Neil, Jay, Simon and Will all go to the
same school and each of them have their own sort of notable character qualities. For
example Will was labelled as the nerd from day one.
Episodes are around 30 minutes long with 3 seasons and a film that came after in 2011
covering their lads holiday which is another big watch in my opinion. You can watch
Inbetweeners on channel 4 catch up but be prepared for ads !
Parent advice !
This show is definitely for older kids, the show was rated a 15 due to the extreme language
and sexual topics. I watched the show around 15-16 with my dad. We both found it hilarious,
it’s definitely more of a father son.
And here are some others we like….
The Midnight Gospel (15) – Netflix
Don’t be fooled by the animation. This trippy, eight-part series follows Clancy, a space-caster (basically a podcaster) travelling through simulated worlds to interview bizarre characters about life, death and everything in between.
Created by Adventure Time’s Pendleton Ward, it blends wild visuals with deep conversations about philosophy, psychology and existence. Some episodes are dense, but hugely rewarding.
Parent advice:
Best for older teens who enjoy big ideas. Not light viewing – but brilliant for students studying philosophy, psychology or anyone who likes animation with depth.
Community (12) – Netflix
A sharp, meta comedy about a mismatched study group at a community college. Packed with pop culture jokes, clever writing and early performances from Donald Glover and Ken Jeong.
Low-budget but wildly creative, with standout episodes that parody westerns, video games and sci-fi tropes. Created by Dan Harmon (Rick and Morty).
Parent advice:
Smart, fast and very bingeable. Great for teens who enjoy self-aware comedy and references flying thick and fast.
The Get Down (15) – Netflix
Set in gritty 1970s New York, this stylish drama follows a group of young people finding their voices through hip hop as the city burns around them. Stars Justice Smith and Jaden Smith.
It’s part music history, part coming-of-age drama, with brilliant performances and an electric soundtrack. Even non-hip-hop fans will find plenty to love.
Parent advice:
Rated 15 for language and themes. A strong choice for teens who like music, ambition-driven stories and period drama with energy.
Top Boy (15) – Netflix
A hard-hitting London drama following Sully and D’Shane as they battle for control of the drug trade. Originally a Channel 4 series, later revived by Netflix.
Intense, gripping and grounded, this is driven by strong performances and tough moral choices. It pulls no punches.
Parent advice:
Strictly older teens. Violence, drugs and strong language throughout – but excellent storytelling if they can handle it.
The Office (12) – Amazon Prime
The US version of The Office is warm, cringey and endlessly bingeable. Nine seasons of workplace chaos led by Steve Carell’s unforgettable Michael Scott.
It’s packed with awkward moments, big laughs and surprisingly heartfelt character arcs.
Parent advice:
Great for teens. Mild language and cringe humour, but very accessible. If they love it, the UK version is waiting.
The Young Offenders (15) – BBC iPlayer
A heartfelt Irish comedy following two chaotic Cork teenagers stumbling through life, friendship and terrible decisions.
It’s laugh-out-loud funny but also unexpectedly warm, touching on love, loss and growing up without ever getting preachy.
Parent advice:
Strong language, but lots of heart. Best for older teens – especially those who enjoy character-led comedy.
Parks and Recreation (12) – Prime / NOW
A feel-good mockumentary about the parks department of Pawnee, Indiana. Features a brilliant ensemble including Amy Poehler, Chris Pratt and Nick Offerman.
Fast, funny and relentlessly positive, it’s easy to binge and hard not to love.
Parent advice:
Family-friendly comedy with smart jokes and lovable characters. A very safe bet for teens.
Happy! (15) – Netflix
A gloriously unhinged series starring Christopher Meloni as a corrupt ex-cop teamed up with an imaginary blue unicorn.
Violent, surreal and darkly funny, it mixes crime drama with cartoon madness in a way no other show does.
Parent advice:
Definitely 15+. Very violent and weird – but older teens who like offbeat TV will be hooked.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (15) – Netflix
A group of terrible people run a terrible bar and make terrible decisions. That’s the premise – and it works brilliantly.
Each episode is short, self-contained and outrageously funny, with Danny DeVito stealing scenes.
Parent advice:
Strong language and adult themes. Not for younger teens, but hugely popular with older ones.
The Man in the High Castle (15) – Amazon Prime
A chilling alternate-history drama imagining a world where the Nazis won World War II.
Dark, tense and unsettling, it explores resistance, power and propaganda in a divided America.
Parent advice:
Heavy themes and disturbing imagery. Best for mature teens interested in history, dystopian fiction and serious drama.
More Great Ideas for Teens and Older Kids
Need great film ideas for older kids and teenagers? Click here to check out the guide by our resident movie buff, Jack.
Need ideas for things to do in London for teens and older kids? We’ve got 50 of them. Click here.
