A Definitive Ranking of the 10 Most Popular Netflix Original Teen Movies

Netflix has really stepped up its game recently.

In the past couple of years, the streaming platform turned its attention towards original content, creating shows and movies that are actually quite popular. Their teen content specifically has taken off, with releases like The Kissing Booth and To All the Boys I've Loved Before garnering viral attention.

While we fell in love with some Netflix original content, other movies had us scratching our heads and giving the platform some major side-eye.

If you're wondering which releases are worth watching (and which are worth leaving behind), keep scrolling for our definitive ranking of the 10 most popular Netflix original teen movies.

10. The Babysitter 

The Babysitter is a teen horror-comedy released in 2017. It follows 12-year-old Cole Johnson as he investigates what his babysitter does after he goes to bed. We won't spoil anything, but suffice to say, this movie is super weird. It's possible we just missed the point, but the whole plot was so bonkers that we could barely believe what we were watching. Definitely the worst Netflix original movie we've seen. Let's hope there's no sequel.

(The Babysitter via Netflix)

 

9. The Kissing Booth 

Ugh, The Kissing Booth. Unfortunately, this movie is super popular. We, however, can't stand it. The relationship between Elle and Noah is concerning, the plot is dull, the characters are shallow and the most "emotional" moments feel disingenuous. Really, there wasn't anything we liked about this movie. In case you couldn't tell, we're definitely not looking forward to the sequel.

(The Kissing Booth via Netflix)

 

8. Dude 

When we found out Lucy Hale was in a new Netflix movie, we were so excited. Plus, this film stars Awkwafina—what could go wrong? Unfortunately, a lot. The film follows four friends during their last year of high school. While it tries to strike an uplifting, emotional note, the whole thing just felt off. It was like the writers tried to cram every teen tragedy into one short film, resulting in a messy plot that was simultaneously too serious and completely ridiculous. It was all too much and only served to make us uncomfortable.

(Dude via Netflix)

 

7. #REALITYHIGH

#REALITYHIGH—cue the eye roll. This is one of those movies that just tries too hard. It's obvious from the title that the writers were set on reaching a younger audience. While that itself isn't a crime, the plot of the movie didn't inspire love in us. The film follows Dani Barnes as she competes with social media influencer Alexa Medina for popularity, boys and pretty much everything else. It's not a terrible film, but it is painfully predictable. Plus, it feels like it was written by a bunch of adults trying really hard to understand the new world of social media. The whole thing kind of made us yawn.

(#REALITYHIGH via Netflix)

 

6. Sierra Burgess Is a Loser 

After watching To All the Boys I've Loved Before, we had high hope for Sierra Burgess Is a Loser. Stranger Things' Barb and Noah Centineo? Score! Then, we watched the movie and it was…okay. We liked certain elements, such as Sierra's growing relationship with mean girl Veronica, and Veronica's entire character arc. Other parts, however, made us cringe. Although Sierra was the film's protagonist and supposed hero, she came off worse than anyone. The ending was supposed to be happy, but it was kind of icky and upsetting. Unfortunately, this movie was a little tone-deaf for our taste, making it one we probably wouldn't watch again.

(Sierra Burgess Is a Loser via Netflix)

 

5. The Last Summer 

Ah, The Last Summer. Once we saw a new Netflix film starring KJ Apa, we had to tune in. This romantic comedy captures the lives of four high school graduates the summer before they leave for college. Unlike Dude, this movie shows the struggles of moving on after high school in a heartwarming, realistic way. It's subtly inspiring, even if some elements have been done a thousand times before. While it's not the best Netflix release, it depicts a difficult time in teenage life with sensitivity and creativity. Overall, we liked it, though we didn't love it.

(The Last Summer via Netflix)

 

4. The Perfect Date 

Hm, another Noah Centineo movie—this guy must have a permanent spot on Netflix's payroll. In this film, Noah is the star character who sets up an app that allows girls to pay him to accompany them on dates. Overall, the movie is pretty good. Noah stars opposite Laura Marano, and the chemistry between the two plays well throughout the film. The out-of-the-box plot kept us interested the whole time, even if a few scenes were too cheesy for our taste. It's not our favorite Netflix original, but it's definitely one we wouldn't mind watching again.

(The Perfect Date via Netflix)

 

3. Tall Girl 

When we first saw the preview for Tall Girl, we nearly laughed out loud. It's such a ridiculous concept—there's no way the movie could actually be good, right? Well, we ate our words. Despite the laughable plot, the movie was actually really engaging. We weren't sure how it was going to end, which kept us interested the whole way through. Plus, it actually made us think about the struggles of tall gals, which we had never truly stopped to consider before. Honestly, it was a good movie. Kudos to Netflix for reppin' the tall girls.

(Tall Girl via Netflix)

 

2. Dumplin' 

Watching Dumplin' absolutely warmed our hearts. Based on a popular book series, this movie follows Dolly Parton-obsessed teen Willowdean Dickson. The daughter of a prominent beauty pageant winner, Will struggles to accept who she is after the death of her aunt. The film is so incredibly sweet and touching in so many ways, but it's still plenty entertaining. Plus, it features some fabulous drag queens and plenty of other diverse moments that really had us falling in love with this Netflix original.

(Dumplin' via Netflix)

 

1. To All the Boys I've Loved Before 

Ah, To All the Boys I've Loved Before—the one, the only, the most amazing Netflix film that will always have our hearts. We seriously don't know what it is about this movie, but we love it. It focuses on Lara Jean Covey, a high school student whose love letters are sent to her crushes. While it sounds like a nightmare, the resulting escapades are the stuff of fantasies. Starring Noah Centineo, this film was the perfect balance of funny, sweet and cute. We've watched and re-watched it thousands of times and we're still not sick of it—that's how you know it's a true winner.

(To All the Boys I've Loved Before via Netflix)

 

Wondering what you should watch next? Click HERE for seven true crime shows on Netflix that aren't too terrifying.