10 Best Supernatural Teen Drama TV Shows (2024)

Teen dramas are an enduring part of the television landscape and have the opportunity to blend genres into their plots for exciting results. When supernatural elements are incorporated in teen dramas, this makes for compelling TV that has elevated stakes and tension combined with the pangs of adolescence. Some of the best fantasy TV shows for beginners are combinations of magical storylines and high school mishaps, bringing something to the table for viewers of all ages, as coming-of-age stories never grow old, and neither do mystical creatures.

There's lots of overlap between mystical adolescent narratives and the best romance TV shows based on books since romance is a central part of any teen drama worth its salt. The world-building within novels translates well to television, especially when fantastical narratives and love stories take center stage. However, there's more to supernatural series than the magic systems or exciting worlds that audiences can escape into. These shows are remembered not just for the fantasy elements but also for the depth of the characters.

10 Shadowhunters (2016–2019)

This is the definitive adaptation of the beloved YA book series

Shadowhunters

Action & Adventure

Drama

Fantasy

Supernatural

Shadowhunters is a television series based on the book series by Cassandra Clare. Premiering in 2016, it follows Clary Fray, who discovers her lineage and joins a group of demon hunters called Shadowhunters. As she navigates her new reality, she embarks on a mission to rescue her kidnapped mother.

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

*Availability in US

Cast

Katherine McNamara , Cassandra Clare , Dominic Sherwood , Alberto Rosende , Matthew Daddario , Anna Hopkins , Harry Shum Jr. , Emeraude Toubia , Isaiah Mustafa , Alisha Wainwright , Nicola Correia Damude , Alan van Sprang , Maxim Roy , Shailene Garnett , Curtis Morgan , David Castro , Shainu Bala , Jon Cor , Kaitlyn Leeb , Jade Hassouné , Ari Cohen , Paulino Nunes , Susanna Fournier , Owen Roth , Joel Labelle

Release Date

January 12, 2016

Seasons

3

Network

Freeform

Streaming Service(s)

AppleTV+ , Prime Video

Based on the book series by Cassandra Clare, Shadowhunters is considered the best iteration of the story for the screen, as the 2013 movie was a major flop. However, the story found a new home on television, which turned out to be the perfect place for the narrative since there was more time to develop the world and character relationships. The show primarily follows Clary (Katherine McNamara), a young woman who discovers the world of the Shadowhunters and learns of her own abilities to hunt demons.

Every Shadowhunters book series tackles different elements of the universe, but Shadowhunters primarily focuses on The Mortal Instruments stories. Much of this revolves around the romance between Clary and her fellow Shadowhunter, Jace (Dominic Sherwood), to whom Clary feels an instant connection. Though the series brings many of the best moments from the books to life, it also distinguishes itself and presents new and exciting aspects of the world. Even audiences unfamiliar with the books will be enthralled by the magical series.

9 Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina (2018–2020)

Kiernan Shipka leads this dark iteration of the teen sitcom

Your Rating

10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

8.7/10

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Horror

Fantasy

Drama

Based on the Archie comic series, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is a Netflix supernatural horror series that follows Sabrina Spellman, a young half-witch, half-human that is coming into her powers in her teenage years. To protect her friends, family, and the world itself, Sabrina will have to harness her powers and ignore the calls from her darker side to embrace her evil potential fully and instead use her powers for good. Despite the series cancellation in 2020, the show's story was continued in The Occult World of Sabrina, a comic book serial.

You can buy the seasons for just $9.99 for Prime Day.

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

*Availability in US

Cast

Kiernan Shipka , Ross Lynch , Lucy Davis , Chance Perdomo , Michelle Gomez , Jaz Sinclair , Tati Gabrielle , Adeline Rudolph , Richard Coyle , Miranda Otto

Release Date

October 26, 2018

Seasons

1

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix

Writers

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa , Christianne Hedtke , Jenina Kibuka

Directors

Rob Seidenglanz , Alex Pillai , Kevin Rodney Sullivan

Showrunner

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

Most audiences are familiar with the fantasy sitcom Sabrina the Teenage Witch from 1996, which took a much lighter and relaxed tone than Netflix's supernatural follow-up. Kiernan Shipka, best known for her role as Sally Draper in Mad Men, plays the new Sabrina, who's much more in tune with the darkest parts of her magic than the '90s iteration. Overall, Chilling Adventure of Sabrina takes on a much more horror-esque and gothic tone than its predecessor.

Chilling Adventure of Sabrina sees Sabrina struggle to balance the human and witch sides of herself but usually finds herself fighting for the side of good. Though Sabrina is often most concerned with the forces of heaven and hell, her friends and allies help ground her and provide strong side plots about the ups and downs of the typical high school experience, even when they join Sabrina on a dangerous quest after school. Sabrina's love life is also a major part of the series and helps ground the more high fantasy elements.

8 Marvel’s Runaways (2017–2019)

Though Marvel is known for their superhero adventures, this series takes them to another level

Marvel's Runaways

Drama

Marvel's Runaways is a live-action series based on the eponymous superhero team from the comics. The three-season Hulu series stars Virginia Gardner, Lyrica Okano, Rhenzy Feliz, Ariela Barer, Allegra Acosta, and Gregg Sulkin as a group of teenagers with special abilities who join forces to fight their supervillain parents, who belong to the secret organization "The Pride".

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Cast

Virginia Gardner , Lyrica Okano

Release Date

November 21, 2017

Seasons

3

Streaming Service(s)

Dis , Hulu

Writers

Josh Schwartz

Directors

Josh Schwartz

Showrunner

Josh Schwartz

Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, the minds behind iconic teen dramas like The O.C. and Gossip Girl, came together to create Runaways, one of the most human and grounded of Marvel's projects. Following a group of unlikely teen heroes, Runaways sees them band together when they realize the one thing they have in common: their supervillain parents. While the dynamics between parents and teens in TV shows are always fraught, this is elevated to the extreme in Runaways.

As each of the teens unlocks their special abilities and powers, they start to come into themselves and face the insecurities and doubts that are plaguing them. Like all superhero shows, Runaways uses the characters' powers as a metaphor for difference and othering but demonstrates how, as a group, the teens find solace and acceptance. However, Runaways drives home the point that the most important person to accept them is themselves.

7 School Spirits (2023–Present)

Being a ghost is not the peaceful afterlife the characters were hoping for in School Spirits

School Spirits

TV-MA

Drama

Mystery

Supernatural

Based on the graphic novel, School Spirits is a supernatural mystery-drama series set in a high-school setting focusing on the afterlife. When teenage Maddie finds herself in the afterlife, she spends her idle time trying to investigate why she went missing. However, her high-school sleuthing leads her down a path that only yields more questions and uncovers a more sinister plot underneath her own demise.

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

*Availability in US

Cast

Kristian Flores , Milo Manheim , Spencer Macpherson , Kiara Pichardo , Sarah Yarkin , Nick Pugliese , Rainbow Wedell , Josh Zuckerman

Release Date

March 9, 2023

Seasons

1

Writers

Nate Trinrud , Megan Trinrud , Oliver Goldstick

Website

https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/school-spirits/

In the wake of her grisly murder, or so she's told, Maddie (Peyton List) finds herself trapped in her high school as a ghost alongside the other students and teacher who tragically died there. Certain there must be an answer to her memory loss, as Maddie can't recall her death, she embarks on a quest to solve her murder and discovers she still has a link to the land of the living. Though she's single-minded in her pursuit of the truth, Maddie also learns how messy her life and relationships truly are.

Both in the afterlife and the living world, the people who know Maddie attempt to put together the pieces, and the audiences can't be sure who to trust. Even in death, Maddie still manages to find plenty of teenage drama as she learns about her living boyfriend's betrayal and starts to connect with the ghosts she meets. Through its supernatural conceit, School Spirits grapples with some of the most painful and true parts of adolescence.

6 First Kill (2022)

Though short-lived, First Kill made a mark

First Kill

TV-MA

Drama

Fantasy

Horror

In this supernatural drama, Juliette Fairmont, a teenage vampire, faces the rite of passage to make her first kill. However, things get complicated when her target turns out to be Calliope Burns, a new girl in town who hails from a renowned family of vampire hunters. As their worlds collide and feelings deepen, Juliette and Calliope must deal with conflicting family legacies and the looming threat of a violent confrontation between their families.

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Cast

Sarah Catherine Hook , Imani Lewis , Elizabeth Mitchell , Aubin Wise , Jason R. Moore

Release Date

June 10, 2022

Seasons

1

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix

Franchise(s)

First Kill

Writers

Felicia D. Henderson , V.E. Schwab , Liz Sczudlo

Directors

Jet Wilkinson , Bola Ogun , Maritte Lee Go

Showrunner

Felicia D. Henderson

Creator(s)

V.E. Schwab

Canceled after just one season, First Kill is an underrated addition to the supernatural teen drama genre, with a compelling forbidden romance at the story's center. The term star-crossed lovers takes on a whole new meaning in the series as a vampire descended from supernatural royalty, Juliette (Sarah Catherine Hook), falls in love with a monster hunter, Cal (Imani Lewis). Both have orders to kill each other and take their place in their respective families, but neither has the stomach to end their doomed romance.

The creator of First Kill, Victoria Schwab, is well known for her many contributions to the YA and adult fantasy book genre, and First Kill has much of her trademark humor and world-building. It's a shame that First Kill was canceled so quickly, as strong LGBTQ+ representation within fantasy teen shows can be hard to come by. However, even the single season of the series packs enough angst, bloodlust, and passion to satisfy any viewer.

5 Wednesday (2022–Present)

Jenna Ortega is at her best in this updated take on Wednesday Addams

Your Rating

10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

44

9.6/10

Wednesday

TV-14

Comedy

Fantasy

Supernatural

Netflix’s Addams Family series takes place at Nevermore Academy, a school that nurtures outcasts, freaks, and monsters. The Tim Burton-directed series follows Wednesday Addams as she tries to master her emerging psychic powers and solve the supernatural mystery surrounding her family history. Jenna Ortega stars in the popular series, which originally aired on Netflix on November 23, 2022.

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

*Availability in US

Cast

Jenna Ortega , Catherine Zeta-Jones , Luis Guzman , Gwendoline Christie , Riki Lindhome , Jamie McShane , Christina Ricci , Hunter Doohan , Emma Myers , Joy Sunday

Release Date

November 16, 2022

Seasons

1

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix

Franchise(s)

The Addams Family

Writers

Miles Millar , Alfred Gough

Directors

Tim Burton , James Marshall , Gandja Monteiro

Showrunner

Miles Millar , Alfred Gough

Few shows are as instantly popular as Wednesday, the recent Netflix TV show that explores the characters from The Addams Family, particularly Wednesday. Jenna Ortega plays the titular character, who's enrolled in her parent's old boarding school for the supernatural and strange, where she uncovers a conspiracy. Though Wednesday herself is more interested in solving the mystery than making friends and engaging with budding romantic interests, that's still a large part of the show.

As Wednesday season 2 approaches, it's likely that even more drama and intrigue between the reluctant Wednesday and her newfound group of friends will come to light. Though there are some serious moments in the series, for the most part, Wednesday sticks to the whimsy and fantastical elements that allowed so many viewers to connect with the show in the first place. Of all the recent teen dramas, Wednesday does a good job of translating contemporary sensibilities into a fantasy world.

4 Teen Wolf (2011–2017)

Werewolves take center stage in this well-known drama

Your Rating

10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

6.8/10

Teen Wolf

TV-14

Drama

Fantasy

Romance

This supernatural drama follows a high school student in Beacon Hills who becomes a werewolf after being bitten. Alongside his best friend, he navigates newfound powers and dangers, confronting various threats while entangled in the complexities of adolescence and the supernatural world. Created by Jeff Davis.

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

*Availability in US

Cast

Tyler Posey , Holland Roden , Dylan O'Brien , Linden Ashby , JR Bourne , Melissa Ponzio , Tyler Hoechlin , Shelley Hennig , Dylan Sprayberry , Crystal Reed , Ryan Kelley , Arden Cho , Seth Gilliam , Ian Bohen , Khylin Rhambo , Orny Adams , Daniel Sharman , Cody Christian , Michael Johnston , Keahu Kahuanui , Colton Haynes , Marti Matulis , Michael Hogan , Victoria Moroles , susan walters , Charlie Carver , Jill Wagner , Max Carver , Tom Choi , Matthew Del Negro , Gideon Emery , Meagan Tandy , Eaddy Mays , Tamlyn Tomita , Sinqua Walls , Claire Andrew

Release Date

June 5, 2011

Seasons

6

Network

CBS

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu

Franchise(s)

Teen Wolf

Writers

Jeff Davis

Directors

Jeff Davis

Showrunner

Jeff Davis

Creator(s)

Jeff Davis

Though Teen Wolf premiered after similar works like The Vampire Diaries, the show worked hard to distinguish itself from the many fantasy series hitting the small screen in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Tyler Posey and Dylan O'Brien star as Scott and Stiles, two best friends who become entangled in the supernatural underbelly of their town when Scott is turned into a werewolf. Though Teen Wolf does grapple with many different monsters and creatures from folk tales, it wisely omits vampires, setting the story apart.

For the most part, Teen Wolf follows the familiar pangs of adolescence and doesn't stray from the typical romance plots that define so many shows within its genre. However, the writers and creators of Teen Wolf understood the niche it filled and the role it played on television, allowing the series to play with form and audience expectations as the seasons progressed. The chemistry between Posey and O'Brien as best friends was a consistent mark in the series' favor.

3 Stranger Things (2016–Present)

Netflix's heavy-hitter series is coming to an end

Your Rating

10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

90

9.1/10

Stranger Things

Fantasy

Horror

Drama

Inspired by 80s pop-culture and elements of Stephen King's works, Stranger Things is a supernatural action-drama TV series set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana.
When a young boy goes missing, his group of friends stumbles upon a young girl with telekinetic powers who recently escaped from a mysterious facility. They soon realize that she may be their only chance at stopping an impending doom that threatens to engulf Hawkins whole.

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Cast

Finn Wolfhard , Joe Keery , Jamie Campbell Bower , Brett Gelman , Caleb McLaughlin , Maya Hawke , David Harbour , Matthew Modine , Priah Ferguson , Gaten Matarazzo , Winona Ryder , Charlie Heaton , Sadie Sink , Millie Bobby Brown , Joseph Quinn , Dacre Montgomery , Natalia Dyer , Noah Schnapp

Release Date

July 15, 2016

Seasons

4

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix

Writers

Matt Duffer , Ross Duffer , Paul Dichter , Kate Trefry

Directors

Matt Duffer , Ross Duffer

Showrunner

Matt Duffer , Ross Duffer

Franchise

Stranger Things

As the final season of Stranger Things draws closer, it's fun to look back at the beginning of the nostalgic and thrilling TV series. Since its premiere in 2016, Stranger Things has been one of the biggest hits for its streaming service, Netflix, and it's not hard to see why. The first season is the most cohesive and well-paced of the series, but every successive installment has grappled with the characters growing up and the fact that they've changed so much while facing similar threats.

Stranger Things season 5 will be its last, and it's certain that the series will go out with a bang, revealing more about the Upside Down and the mysterious forces at work than ever before. Something Stranger Things does better than many supernatural teen dramas is incorporate a strong sense of mystery that it sustains across multiple seasons. The audience patiently awaits the answers to the questions the show poses, as the journey to get there is just as compelling as the destination.

2 The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017)

The early seasons of The Vampire Diaries are revolutionary

Your Rating

10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

33

9.5/10

The Vampire Diaries

Horror

Fantasy

Drama

Based on the novels by L.J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries is a story about the developing love triangle between Elena Gilbert and two vampiric brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore. Set in the town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, the show follows the trio from high school through college as they battle for one another's affection.

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Cast

Nina Dobrev , Ian Somerhalder , Steven R. McQueen , Paul Wesley , Kat Graham , Michael Trevino , Michael Malarkey , Zach Roerig , Candice King , Matthew Davis

Release Date

September 10, 2009

Seasons

8

Network

The CW

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix

Writers

Julie Plec , Kevin Williamson , L.J. Smith

Directors

John Dahl

Showrunner

Julie Plec

Franchise

The Vampire Diaries

Though The Vampire Diaries lost steam as the seasons progressed, there's no denying that the first several seasons of the show perfectly encapsulate the best of the supernatural and teen genres. Unafraid to lean into melodrama and unbelievable plot twists, The Vampire Diaries kept audiences guessing and engaged. Vampires, witches, werewolves, and almost every other conceivable supernatural creature grace the screen in The Vampire Diaries, but the series works hard not to feel overwhelming.

While popularity doesn't necessarily determine quality, the fact that The Vampire Diaries received two spinoff series demonstrates the story's longevity. With plenty of gore and romance to draw viewers in, The Vampire Diaries makes them stay through the moving platonic love that drives so much of the narrative, as well as the incredible character development. While it's easy to laugh at some of the campy aspects of The Vampire Diaries, the series is well aware of its tone, ensuring the viewer is laughing with it.

1 Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)

A groundbreaking series, both inside the teen genre and in terms of all television

Your Rating

10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

25

9.2/10

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Action

Comedy

Drama

Horror

Supernatural

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a television series created by Joss Whedon, focusing on Buffy Summers, portrayed by Sarah Michelle Gellar, a young woman chosen to battle against vampires, demons, and other supernatural forces while navigating the complexities of teenage life.

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Cast

Sarah Michelle Gellar , Nicholas Brendon , Alyson Hannigan , Anthony Stewart Head , James Marsters , Emma Caulfield Ford , Michelle Trachtenberg , Charisma Carpenter , David Boreanaz , Kristine Sutherland , Amber Benson , Seth Green , Marc Blucas , Danny Strong , Tom Lenk , Eliza Dushku , Armin Shimerman , Juliet Landau , Adam Busch , Robia LaMorte , Mercedes McNab , Harry Groener , Charlie Weber , D.B. Woodside , Iyari Limon , Clare Kramer , Bailey Chase , Leonard Roberts , Sarah Hagan , Lindsay Crouse

Release Date

March 10, 1997

Seasons

7

Network

The WB

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu , Dis

Writers

Joss Whedon

Directors

Joss Whedon

Showrunner

Joss Whedon

Not only the best vampire TV show of all time, Buffy The Vampire Slayer is the blueprint for all modern supernatural teen dramas. Few audiences and critics would have considered the supernatural teen drama a serious and interrogative genre before Buffy, but the series changed minds and proved that there's room for complex and nuanced discussions about life and love within a show about teens. From the beginning, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is no ordinary teenager, and the story never treats her like one.

Throughout its seven-season run, Buffy evolved a lot, as the series left high school and adolescence behind after season 3. However, this doesn't mean that the characters stopped learning, growing, and coming of age in the show. Many of the major beats and lessons throughout Buffy The Vampire Slayer are universal and connect with viewers of all ages, no matter where the characters are in their lives. It's difficult to imagine that any new TV show will come along that can achieve what Buffy The Vampire Slayer did.