Netflix's 'Adolescence' is about a boy who kills a girl in his class. The fictional show tackles real issues: knife crime and the 'manosphere.'

• British crime drama "Adolescence" is about a boy accused of murdering his a girl in his class.
• The four-part Netflix series stars Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters, and Erin Doherty.
• "Adolescence" isn't based on a real case, but it is inspired by real problems facing teenagers.

The hard-hitting Netflix crime drama "Adolescence" follows a boy who is accused of murdering a girl in his class.

And while it's not a true story, it tackles very real issues facing teenagers in the UK.

The show is the latest buzzy crime drama from the streamer in 2025 after "Toxic Town" and "Apple Cider Vinegar," which were both inspired by true events.

"Adolescence" tells the story of Eddie Miller (Stephen Graham), a working father who struggles to comprehend that his son Jamie (Owen Cooper) is accused of fatally stabbing his classmate.

Here's what inspired the show.

'Adolescence' was inspired by cases of boys stabbing girls in the UK

Stephen Graham plays a lead role in "Adolescence" but is also the co-creator of the series alongside Jack Thorne.

At the "Next on Netflix" event that Business Insider attended last month, Graham recalled talking to director Philip Barantini about distressing news reports of stabbings.

"The idea came as — over the past 10 years or so — we've seen an epidemic of knife crime amongst young lads, up and down the country. And for me, there were certain instances that really stuck out where young boys — and they are young boys, you know, they're not men — were killing young girls," he said.

"When I mentioned it to Phil, it just really hit me hard. I just thought, 'why? What's going on? What's happening? Why is this the case? What's going on with our society as a whole, as a collective?'" he added.

Graham said people are quick to blame the perpetrator's mom and dad.

"We're all guilty of it, because that's the easy common denominator. I just thought, 'What if that's not the case at all?' That was it," he said.

'Adolescence' takes aim at the 'manosphere' and influencers like Andrew Tate

When the show starts to untangle why the stabbing may have happened, it explores "manosphere" influencers and their misogynist rhetoric.

One character in "Adolescence," DS Marsha Frank (Faye Marsay), describes it as "Andrew Tate shite."

Last March, British politicians said they were working on a plan to educate children about potentially harmful online content.

In February, The Telegraph reported that teachers in the UK are asking for guidance on how to get children to stop copying Tate in schools and online.

Andrew Tate did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.