Hideo Kojima Surprises Fans With His Top Netflix Series Pick for 2025

Hideo Kojima, the legendary creator behind Death Stranding, has made waves with his latest pick for the best television series of 2025. Known for his sharp takes on film and TV, Kojima named Netflix ’s limited series Adolescence as his standout show of the year, a choice that’s caught many by surprise. The announcement came as part of Vulture’s annual ‘The Culturati 50’ list, where fifty leading creatives from across the entertainment industry select their top cultural moments, movies, and shows of the year. Adolescence didn’t just make the list—it topped it, earning the most votes in the series category.

In his remarks, Kojima praised the show’s unique approach to storytelling, saying,

A masterful fusion of meticulously calculated one-shot cinematography and direction that draws out the show’s core themes. It vividly exposes the fear and anguish experienced by both children in their formative years and the families who watch over them.

His admiration for the series isn’t new. Back in March, Kojima tweeted,

I watched the first episode of Adolescence on Netflix. It’s good. It’s impressive. It’s filmed in a single continuous shot from start to finish… The characters, drama, and mystery are all brilliantly portrayed. I have to keep watching this.

Real-Time Drama and Raw Emotion

Adolescence, created by Jack Thorne—best known for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child—and starring Stephen Graham of This is England fame, centers on a family thrown into chaos when their 13-year-old son Jamie is arrested for the murder of a classmate. The series dives deep into the realities of growing up in the digital age, tackling issues like the dangers of social media and the impact of toxic online content on young minds. What sets the show apart is its real-time, single-shot filming style, which Kojima highlighted as a key factor in its authenticity and emotional impact.

The show’s commitment to realism and its unflinching look at family and youth struggles have resonated with viewers and critics alike. Adolescence has quickly become a cultural phenomenon, sparking conversations about parenting, adolescence, and the pressures facing today’s teens.

Critical Acclaim and Award Season Dominance

Adolescence has not only captured the public’s attention but also achieved remarkable critical success. With a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it stands as Netflix’s second most-watched English-language series after Wednesday, drawing in 142.6 million viewers within its first 91 days, according to Netflix’s own data. The series racked up thirteen Emmy nominations and took home multiple awards, including Best Lead Actor for Stephen Graham and Best Supporting Actor for Owen Cooper, who plays Jamie. Over half of the voters in Vulture’s poll also singled out Cooper’s performance as the year’s best.

Adolescence is currently available to stream on Netflix. For those looking to explore more standout series, there’s no shortage of new and acclaimed shows hitting the platform this year.