Adolescence on Netflix tops streaming charts; bags record-breaking UK ratings

Netflix's four-part British crime drama Adolescence has made history in the UK’s streaming landscape, breaking records and dominating the television ratings. Created by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, the miniseries premiered on March 13, 2025, and follows a shocking crime committed by a teenager.

At the center of Adolescence is Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), a 13-year-old who gets arrested for murdering a classmate. Jamie's actions devastate the entire Miller family, and this story highlights the rising knife crime in the UK and gender-based violence.

Stephen Graham explained:

"We made a piece that was based on truth and things that are happening in Britain with young men stabbing young girls to death."

He added:

"We just wanted to shine a light there, and, predominantly, we just wanted to create conversation between parents and children."

Thankfully, Graham succeeded in his plan as Adolescence is now the first streaming show to top the UK’s weekly ratings chart. The series gained an impressive number of viewers in the country, marking a huge milestone.

Per the UK’s official ratings agency BARB (Broadcasters' Audience Research Board), Episode 1 attracted nearly 6.5 million viewers in its debut week, and the viewership remains around 6 to 5.8 million for the following episodes.

Keep reading for more details about the trending TV series.

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Netflix's Adolescence is the top streaming TV series in the UK

As mentioned above, Netflix's newly released miniseries took only a few days to reach more than six million views for its first episode. However, the miniseries is performing well in the UK as well as generating good reviews and viewership globally.

Beyond the UK, it had a viewership of over 20 million with nearly 100 million hours watched in the first week. Adolescence is now among the most-watched TV series on Netflix, and it performed well in just a few days of its premiere.

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What happens in Netflix's Adolescence: Is Jamie really the killer?

The story kicks off with the police arresting Jamie Miller for the murder of his classmate Katie. Initially, he claims to be innocent, but the CCTV footage proves he stabbed her to death. The series then delves into the reason behind Jamie's brutal actions.

Turns out, he has been isolated and feels lonely, and Katie even bullied him online. As a result, Jamie gets filled with toxic ideologies and eventually kills the girl. Despite his young age, Jamie couldn't escape justice and was put behind bars.

His family is heartbroken to learn that Jamie has been struggling with rejection and isolation. His conviction leaves a deep cut in their lives, especially his father, who's left questioning his upbringing.

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