Heartstopper. It’s the new Netflix teen series that the streaming world is talking about, with its heart-warming vibe and positive LGBTQ+ representation. Since its release last Friday, April 22, the series has managed to top charts on Twitter, as well as earn a fabulous 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. And to be fair, it deserves every bit of praise it gets as it truly is a feel-good watch.
Based on the million-copy bestselling graphic novels by Alice Oseman, Heartstopper centres on a group of teens navigating life in high school: everything from friendship and sexuality to first love.
If you watched the whole season in one sitting as I did, then you’re probably looking for something to fill that Heartstopper-shaped hole in your life. Here’s a list of the movies and shows to watch after Heartstopper.
Dating Amber
Also scoring a near-perfect score of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, this coming-of-age drama is set in Ireland in the mid-90s, where two high school students, Eddie and Amber, pretend to date so that their peers will stop questioning their sexuality. If you’re looking for something equally as heart-warming and funny, just without the romance factor, then Dating Amber is a must-watch and can be streamed on Netflix.
Young Royals
If you’re looking for something that tackles teen angst, sexuality and the pressures of royal life, then I recommend checking out Young Royals on Netflix. The six-episode Swedish series follows Prince Wilhelm as he adjusts to life at a prestigious boarding school. There, he starts falling for a boy, but how does he navigate his way through that when he’s 1. not out and 2. a royal?
The Half of It
Ellie Chu is a shy Chinese-American high school student who’s known for her straight-A’s. Although, when she agrees to help the school jock write love letters for a girl he likes, things become a little awkward, because Ellie likes the same girl. This coming-of-age comedy drama film explores the nature of love, friendship, as well as sexuality. You can watch it on Netflix now.
Genera+ion
If you’re after something a little more raw, with themes more on par with Sex Education, then you’ll want to give HBO’s Genera+ion a try, which is available to stream on BINGE. The series follows a group of high school students as they explore modern sexuality, love, and the nature of family.
Alex Strangelove
This 2018 rom-com takes you on the ride of a high school senior who plans to lose his virginity to his girlfriend, but things become complicated (of course) when he meets a charming gay guy and is sent on a journey of sexual discovery. You can watch it on Netflix now.