The tragic true story that inspired Netflix's Adolescence.

Netflix's gripping four-part series, Adolescence, has captured viewers around the world with its intense portrayal of a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering a female classmate.

The new limited series, starring Owen Cooper as the accused teenager Jamie, and Stephen Graham as his father Eddie, delves into themes of incel culture, gendered violence, rising misogyny online and the responsibility parents carry when raising their children.

The ensemble cast includes Erin Doherty, Christine Tremarco, Ashley Walters and Faye Marsay.

Each episode is uniquely filmed in a single, uninterrupted take, heightening the emotional impact and tension throughout the show's four moving instalments.

Watch the trailer. The article continues after the video.

This four-part series is a journey. For me, I was in shock throughout Episode 1, felt sick watching Episode 2, was horrified throughout Episode 3 and emotionally distraught by the last instalment.

Not since Netflix's Baby Reindeer has a show hit me with such force.

The series delicately tackles the aftermath of Jamie's crime, focusing on the psychological repercussions and effects on his family.

It's a powerful piece of television that feels very much centred in reality. So much so, that many viewers are asking: is this based on a real-life event?

Is Adolescence on Netflix based on a true story?

Adolescence is not based on a single true story, but it draws inspiration from several real-life incidents involving young boys committing violent crimes against girls.

Director Philip Barantini noted the rising prevalence of knife crime amongst young people in the UK, which served as inspiration for the series.

"In the UK there's a real problem with knife crime, certainly in the younger generation. There have been a series of young boys who were killing young girls with knives, and it was really upsetting," Barantini told TheWrap.

Adolescence has been praised for its portrayal of teenagers. Image: Netflix.

The co-creator and star of the series, Stephen Graham, told Netflix's Tudum that he was specifically inspired by a news report about "an incident where a young boy [allegedly] stabbed a girl," which led him to question the cultural impacts leading to the rise in violent acts.

Graham spoke about the pressures young men face. "What is happening to our young men these days, and what are the pressures they face from their peers, from the internet, and social media?" he said.

Listen to The Quicky discuss Netflix's Adolescence here. Post continues below.

Another incident in the UK with parallels to the Netflix series is the case of Axel Rudakubana, who received life imprisonment (with a minimum of 52 years) for murdering three girls in Liverpool.

He was just 18 at the time of the three murders and had attempted to murder ten other girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport in 2024.

The influence of the internet played a significant role in Axel's actions by exposing him to violent online content. It was found that he had accessed graphic videos and downloaded an Al-Qaeda training manual before committing the murders.

Considering he targeted girls, many speculate that his actions were motivated by misogyny.

More generally, the themes covered in Adolescence mirror some of the broader factors that impact young people today, such as incel culture and the online radicalisation of young boys and men.

The series mentions the influence of a real-life internet figure, Andrew Tate, who has been associated with promoting misogynistic ideologies.

It's these countless real-life parallels that make Adolescence not just a show worth watching, but one that demands to be seen in 2025.

Feature image: Netflix.