With its chillingly realistic premise, many viewers have been left wondering if Netflix's Adolescence is based on a true story. The short answer: not exactly. Netflix’s Adolescence isn’t just another crime thriller, it’s the kind of show that lingers in your mind long after the credits roll.
The gripping miniseries follows an ordinary British family whose world is turned upside down when their teenage son is accused of a brutal murder. Starring Stephen Graham (who also co-created the series), Ashley Walters and Erin Doherty, the show deals with the life of 13-year-old Jamie Miller (played by Owen Cooper), a boy at the centre of a crime that no one saw coming. But the real intrigue of Adolescence isn’t just the shocking crime.
It’s the way the show unpacks the messy and complicated layers of Jamie’s life. Every episode unravels more than just the mystery; it peels back the psychological and social influences that shaped him. One particularly striking detail? Each episode was reportedly filmed in a single continuous shot.
That’s no small feat and it certainly adds to the raw, immersive feel of the series. With its chillingly realistic premise, many viewers have been left wondering if Adolescence is based on a true story. The short answer: not exactly.
But the inspiration behind it is very, very real. True Story Behind Adolescence Before the series hit Netflix, Stephen Graham revealed in an interview with Tudum that the idea for Adolescence was sparked by a disturb.