We discuss 10 TV shows Like Bel-Air you must watch. Add these well-recommended and thrilling series to your watch list.
Now in its second season, it’s hard to believe the Peacock drama, Bel-Air, started with a fan-made YouTube trailer created by Morgan Cooper.
Will Smith (the star of the original 90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) loved the fan-made short so much that he started working with its creator to bring his vision to life.
The show is a dramatic reimagining of the original comedy series, and it follows a street-smart teen from Philadelphia who moves in with his wealthy uncle after getting in some gang trouble back home.
You’ll probably love the series below if you like this poignant coming-of-age drama.
10 TV Shows like Bel-Air
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990 – 1996)
We couldn’t put this list together without including the original sitcom Bel-Air was inspired by. This 90s classic was a launch pad for Will Smith’s career. It follows the same premise as the 2022 series but it’s with a more lighthearted approach.
Dear White People (2017 – 2021)
In this satirical comedy series, a group of black students from a fictional Ivy League school navigates social injustice, cultural bias, and other forms of discrimination. The show is based on the critically acclaimed 2014 film of the same name.
Gilmore Girls (2000 – 2007)
Another coming-of-age tale, Gilmore Girls, centers on a young single mother and her intellectually gifted teen daughter. Lorelei is an ambitious woman who worked hard to raise Rory after falling pregnant at 16. The series centers on the relationship between the two leads and on Lorelei’s strained connection with her parents.
The Village (2019)
The Village only ran for one season on NBC. The show follows residents of a remarkable apartment building in Manhattan as their lives intertwine despite the differences in culture, race, and background.
On My Block
Like Bel-Air, On My Block is set in Los Angeles, albeit a less glamorous part of the city. The Netflix show follows a group of street-smart teens making their way through life and trying to get their high school diplomas. All four seasons of the award-winning teen drama are on Netflix.
The Neighborhood (2018 – )
The Neighborhood is one of the most lighthearted entries on this list. But it does feature a fish-out-of-water theme similar to Bel-Air. The CBS show follows a friendly white Michigan family trying to fit in with their new prominently black neighbors in an L.A. suburb.
All American (2018 – )
Like Bel-Air, All American shows different worlds colliding. The series centers on a talented high-school football player from South L.A. after moving to Beverly Hills to play. There are four seasons of this compelling drama available, with a fifth set to premiere in March.
Love, Victor (2020 – 2022)
This Hulu series is set in the same high school as the 2018 film Love, Simon. The show’s titular protagonist just transferred to the school, and he’s trying to navigate his new environment and home life while coming to terms with his sexuality.
David Makes Man (2019 – )
In this touching series, the titular David is a 14-year-old prodigy working hard to escape the poverty he grew up in. Like Bel-Air, David Makes Man is a coming-of-age drama centered on a young man trying to forge a better future for himself.
The Wonder Years (2021 – )
Another reimagining of a beloved classic, The Wonder Years, is set in the 1960s and follows the experiences of a young black boy growing up in Montgomery, Alabama. Season one opened to critical acclaim, and the show received several accolades, including a Peabody award.
Do you have any other recommendations for TV Shows like Bel-Air? Let us know in the comments.
