We discuss 10 TV Shows like Outer Banks you must watch. Add these well-recommended series to your watch list.
The hugely successful teen adventure series Outer Banks is back for a third season. Created by the Pate brothers and Shannon Burke, this Netflix original series follows a group of teens from both the rich and the poor sides of town as they embark on a journey to retrieve the buried treasure.
The third season focuses on the hunt for El Dorado, the city of gold, crammed full of the show’s usual teenage romances and guilty-pleasure action sequences you have come to expect and love over the years. If you are a die-hard fan or pretty new to the show, here are ten recommendations to binge-watch next.
10 TV Shows like Outer Banks you must watch
Stranger Things (2016 – present)
Netflix’s other teenage-themed juggernaut, Stranger Things, may be more of a genre series, with heavy strokes of hard sci-fi and horror to gawp at, than Outer Banks, which is mainly based ‘somewhat’ in reality. Still, these mega-hits are focused on a team of courageous teenagers working together to defeat powerful enemies and battle untold odds to succeed. These teens find romance and hardship along the way and create friendship groups for life. Stranger Things even features a guest role from Outer Banks star Madelyn Cline, although she is almost unrecognizable in season 2 of the Duffer brothers’ show.
Elite (2018 – present)
Another Netflix series squarely aimed at the teen audience, this Spanish hit tells the story of rival classmates at an elite high school in Las Encinas. Like Outer Banks, Elite explores the differences between the rich and the poor factions of society. In Outer Banks, these are nicknamed the Kooks and the Pogues, with the hunt for buried treasure supposedly evening the scales between the classes. Elite is another teen drama that includes sex, romance, and murder. Still, this original series tries to twist the usual genre cliches, defy expectations, and create something entirely new in the process.
Riverdale (2017 – present)
At times the plot of Outer Banks can verge on the ridiculous and the unbelievable; another show that relishes these trashy subplots is Riverdale, the teen-centric comic-book adaptation from The CW. The series focuses on high school drama and the criminal underworld in a picturesque town. Another show utilizes mystery elements within a teen drama set, although Riverdale leans into the supernatural from time to time. UK viewers can catch the series on Netflix.
The Recruit (2022 – present)
Netflix’s original series The Recruit centers on rookie lawyer Owen Hendricks, played by Noah Centineo, who finds himself thrown headfirst into a deadly criminal world in this lite-espionage drama. Like Outer Banks, teens are in dangerous situations with real-world threats and fatal consequences. Although they both seem to tackle these hardships with laid-back sarcasm and flippancy. The Recruit was another hit series for Netflix, with a second season in the pipeline. It succeeded due to Centineo’s charismatic likability and the show’s fun mixture of humor and action.
Black Sails (2014 – 2017)
This historical adventure series from Starz ran for four seasons and 38 episodes. It works as a prequel to the 1883 Treasure Island novel, set during the Golden Age of Piracy, as pirates hunt for treasure in the Caribbean. Sound familiar? Like Outer Banks, treasure hunting is the main draw, although this series takes a more mature and grim look at the swashbuckling era. Black Sails currently holds a score of 8.2 on IMDB, with fans praising the show’s progression over the seasons.
Animal Kingdom (2016 – 2022)
Six years after the Australian movie of the same name premiered in cinemas, a TV adaptation was released on TNT. This crime drama focuses on 17-year-old Joshua ‘J’ Cody, who moves in with his crime family in Oceanside, California. They live an extravagant lifestyle due to their criminal activities, which Joshua soon gets sucked into. The show explores the criminal world against a sunny backdrop, like Outer Banks, with a star turn from Ellen Barkin (Poker Face). Available on Prime Video in the UK and the US.
Virgin River (2019 – present)
If you want easy viewing and that daytime-drama feel, look no further than Netflix’s Virgin River. This romantic drama series follows the day-to-day shenanigans of the residents of this remote Northern Californian town, mainly exploring the family dramas of its many townsfolk, including nurse practitioner and midwife Mel Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge). There’s romance and crime, just like Outer Banks, although this series is less teen-orientated and much more wholesome. Laid-back viewing with a similar tone and some stunning views.
The Wilds (2020 – 2022)
You could say The Wilds is Prime Video’s equivalent to Outer Banks, with a similar aesthetic and tone. However, this series revolves around a group of teenagers that survive a plane crash and are left stranded on a desert island. These girls may have survived a deadly ordeal but are also secretly involved in a social experiment. Expect a unique and authentic exploration of teenage issues and beautiful, scenic backdrops in this Amazon Original. The first season was praised as an addictive thriller, capturing the complexities of adolescent girls, while the second (and last) season was a little less loved but still intriguing nonetheless.
The Society (2019)
Ever wanted to be free of your parents and all the ties of modern society? Well, The Society may be your dream come true. This Netflix one-off miniseries looks at a group of teenagers who learn to run their community after everyone else disappears, and the outside world seems to have vanished from view. Starring Kathryn Newton (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania), this high-concept teen drama series is about empowered teenagers, much like Outer Banks, which feels like a fresh angle in the coming-of-age genre.
Ozark (2017 – 2022)
The Netflix love-in continues with Ozark, the crime masterpiece from the streaming giants. Ozark and Outer Banks are set in communities by the water, focusing heavily on crime. Ozark may be more serious and cutthroat, but many similarities remain to be drawn. They both involve teenagers out of their depths in the adult world and address the consequences of a life of crime. Everyone wants to get rich and powerful, although they may not be prepared for the tough choices and complex issues with these deadly pursuits. Greed may outweigh morals in both of these Netflix originals.
Do you have any other recommendations for TV Shows like Outer Banks? Let us know!
