Top 25 Teen Dramas Of All Time

Shows like "Degrassi", "Pretty Little Liars", "Teen Wolf", "Every Witch Way", and more shaped our teen years. Now here they are from best to worst!

25. Dance Academy

ABC23, TeenNick

"Dance Academy" (2010-2013) originally aired on ABC3 in Australia, and TeenNick in the US. Had some cringeworthy moments, but was one of the only tolerable shows about dance at the time. It also has a gay character, which is pretty brave for 2010 in Australia.

24. Glee

FOX

"Glee" (2009-2015) aired on FOX. Some people consider this show one of the best teen dramas, and others one of the worst, which is why it's so low on the list, but it arguably paved the way for shows like "Make it Pop!" and the "Riverdale" music episodes. It featured many diverse and talented characters, and did a very good job with the musical segments of each episode.

23. Gigantic

TeenNick

"Gigantic" (2010-2011) aired on TeenNick. It only aired for one season, but it was filled with all the drama someone could ever need. Every character had something to hide and that was what made it so entertaining. You always wanted to find out who's secret would be exposed next. But the low quality and bad writing is what led to the shows downfall, but it will always remain an amazing show.

22. Never Have I Ever

Netflix

"Never Have I Ever" (2020-ongoing) was released, and still able to stream on Netflix. A show about an Indian-American teen Devi, and her friends, who are the biggest nerds in school, trying to make Sophomore year their year. A third season on the way, the show is enjoyable and a feel good coming-of-age dramedy. A heartfelt addition to Netflix, indeed.

21. Riverdale

The CW

"Riverdale" (2016-ongoing) has been and is still airing on The CW. Season 6, just premiered last month, and is still airing new episodes. Based off of the archie comics, the dark-fantasy drama is one of the most watched shows by teens, whether binged on Netflix or The CW app, or tuning in every night on The CW to watch the new episode. It is filled with many scurrilous and scandalous plots that most tend to eat right up. The show seems to be doing pretty good for itself at the moment, and seems to have no intention of being cancelled any time soon.

20. South of Nowhere

TeenNick

"South of Nowhere" (2005-2008) aired on The N (later rebranded as TeenNick). It tackled many taboo subjects like racism and homophobia. The main girls, both being lesbians in a happy relationship, dealing with homophobia, especially from parents, was groundbreaking for the LGBTQIA+ community, and even more for its youth. This series was criminally underrated, and deserved much more praise then it was given.

19. Dynasty (2017 Reboot)

The CW

"Dynasty" (2017-ongoing) originally airing its first season on both The CW and TeenNick, but now from the second season, onward has only aired on The CW. About two rich families, fighting for power, much like "Gigantic", but it is currently on its fifth season and going strong. It's one of a few good teen dramas, where it seems like The CW may give it a chance to finish its story, and it deserves too.

18. I Am Not Okay With This

Netflix

"I Am Not Okay With This" (2019) was released on, and still available to steam on Netflix. This was an absolutely astounding teen show, and it was left on a cliffhanger, even though it was renewed for a second season. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic, effected the shows fate, which is a very disheartening thing to happen.

17. Make it Pop!

Nickelodeon

"Make it Pop!" (2015-2016) aired on Nickelodeon. The show was more of a fit for The CW, TeenNick, or MTV but Nickelodeon was the network that decided to pick up this better, but more unknown, version of "Glee". This teen drama deserved much more hype, than it got. It was given two seasons and a TV movie, but left on a cliffhanger. I strongly recommend you watch this amazing show. Nickelodeon made a huge mistake cancelling this masterpiece.

16. I Am Frankie

TeenNick

"I Am Frankie" (2017-2018) aired on TeenNick, but seemed more like an MTV show. Another criminally short-lived drama series. Running for two seasons, and originally going to have a third and final, but ViacomCBS (owner of TeenNick, MTV, The CW, CBS, Nickelodeon, VH1, etc.) got a new president, who cancelled the show. "I Am Frankie" was one of kind, about a human looking robot, trying to live a normal life while on the run from an evil government agency called WARPA. It was left off with many unanswered questions, and more that unfortunately will never be answered by TeenNick, the creators, ViacomCBS, or anyone else.

15. Gossip Girl (Original from 2007)

The CW

"Gossip Girl" (2007-2012) aired on The CW. The more mellow version of "Pretty Little Liars", it still had the thrilling and mysterious Gossip Girl. The reboot has recently been renewed for a second season on HBO Max, but the original "Gossip Girl" will never be forgotten.

14. Bad Girls Club

Oxegyn

"Bad Girls Club" (2006-2017) aired on Oxygen. It may be a reality show but it still provided us with all the juicy teenage drama we needed. Especially Season 2 and Season 7, respectfully being the most memorable and juiciest seasons.

13. Stranger Things

Netflix

"Stranger Things" (2016-ongoing) was released on, and still available to stream on Netflix. With Season 4 dropping on Netflix in 2022, this show is obviously one of the most popular, most liked, and well-known teen shows of all time. One of the best supernatural shows to date.

12. T@gged

AwesomenessTV

"T@gged" (2016-2018) originally airing on go90 and TeenNick for the first two seasons, with the third being released on Hulu. A show, extremely similar to "Pretty Little Liars", but much darker, it was cancelled, ending on a cliffhanger, since go90 was no longer a channel, and neither TeenNick or Hulu wanted to take it, to give it a season 4. It deserved one, but hopefully with its recent addition to Netflix, it can be continued there.

11. Every Witch Way

TeenNick

"Every Witch Way" (2013-2015) originally airing its first season on Nickelodeon, second on MTV, and third and fourth on TeenNick, it was one of the few shows that got to finish its story... well, kind of. It left off onto a cliffhanger, that led to "WITS Academy" the spin-off, which had one season, that left on a cliffhanger, and was never renewed for a second. "Every Witch Way" aired back to back with "Degrassi" Season 14B, and "Talia in the Kitchen" Season 1, but all three were cancelled. Same with "Open Heart" Season 1 which aired back to back with "Degrassi" Season 14A.

10. House of Anubis

TeenNick

"House of Anubis" (2011-2013) aired on TeenNick. The first TeenNick show, to be associated under the Nickelodeon brand, but one of the most groundbreaking and interesting show. It was another one of the shows like "Pretty Little Liars", "Gigantic", "Gossip Girl", "Dynasty". "Every Witch Way", and "The Vampire Diaries" where nobody is as they seem. TeenNick did a good job with this one!

9. Ginny & Georgia

Netflix

"Ginny & Georgia" (2021-ongoing) was released on, and still able to stream on Netflix. It has been renewed for a Season 2, and we can not wait! It has been one of the most engaging teen dramas this year! It was packed with suspense, entertaining characters, and scandals that nobody could live without!

8. pen15

Hulu

"pen15" (2019-ongoing) was released on, and still available to stream on Hulu. Season 2 Part 2 was just released on Hulu. Going through 7th grade is hard for everybody, especially in the year 2000, where things were taboo and people were more closed-minded. pen15 gives us nostalgia but also makes us cringe in a good way. 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade were everyone's awkward years. It was middle school.

7. The Vampire Diaries

The CW

"The Vampire Diaries" (2009-2017) aired on The CW. Vampires weren't on TV, unless they were old movies or kids shows, until "The Vampire Diaries" premiered on The CW, followed by it's spin-offs "The Originals" and "Legacies", both also on The CW. This show paved the way for shows like "Teen Wolf" and "Every Witch Way".

6. Teen Wolf

MTV

"Teen Wolf" (2011-2017) originally aired on MTV for seasons one, and then again for three through six, with the second airing on TeenNick. Just like "The Vampire Diaries" and "Every Witch Way" it was one of the only teen dramas at this time about supernatural creatures.

5. SLiDE

FOX28

"SLiDE" (2011) originally aired on FOX28 in Australia, and TeenNick in the US. Probably, one of the most underrated teen dramas of all time. It deserved so much more. This show was about five 17 year olds trying to live their life before they become adults.

4. Degrassi: The Next Generation

TeenNick

"Degrassi: The Next Generation" (2001-2009), later rebranded as "Degrassi" (2010-2015) originally aired on TeenNick in the US, and MTV in Canada. This show dealt with many serious/taboo topics like sex, drugs, alcohol, self-harm, suicide, sexuality, racism, etc.

3. Open Heart

TeenNick

"Open Heart" (2015) originally aired on TeenNick in the US, and Family Channel (F2N) in Canada. One of the most engaging mystery drama television series for teenagers. It is such a shame TeenNick cancelled it after its first season, leaving it off on a cliffhanger. I strongly recommend checking out "Open Heart"!

2. Sex Education

Netflxi

"Sex Education" (2018-ongoing) was released on, and still available to stream on Netflix. Season 3 was just added to Netflix a couple months ago. Sex Education is probably one of the realest teen dramas ever, and deserves a million more seasons.

1. Pretty Little Liars

FreeForm

"Pretty Little Liars" (2010-2017) aired on ABC Family (later rebranded as FreeForm). "Pretty Little Liars" is the best teen drama ever created. Originally based off of the books written by Sara Shepard, it is a teen drama mystery thriller television series developed by I. Marlene King. The series follows the lives of five best friends whose clique falls apart after the disappearance of their leader Alison. One year later, the estranged friends Spencer, Hanna, Aria and Emily are reunited as they begin receiving messages from a mysterious figure named "A" who threatens to expose their deepest secrets