(Credits: Netflix)

If there was one show that truly owned the Emmys this year, it was Adolescence on Netflix. From the moment nominations were announced, it was clear this limited series was going to set some benchmarks.

And it did. The show racked up an impressive 13 nods across some of the major categories. By the time the night ended, this four-episode drama walked away with eight trophies. It cemented itself as one of the biggest winners of the year, and we are here for it.

The numbers alone tell you how massive this was, but the energy in the room said even more. Adolescence wasn’t just a critically acclaimed piece. It was the kind of show that got people talking. Something that turned a quiet Sunday binge into a global phenomenon. So when category after category kept going its way, it felt like a collective recognition of just how powerful those four episodes were.

Let’s talk about the wins first. The biggest moment of the evening came when the series won ‘Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series’. You can say that this is the ultimate validation for a show that many had called Netflix’s boldest limited project in years. Stephen Graham, who co-created the series and starred as suburban dad Eddie Miller, became a double Emmy winner himself. He bagged both ‘Outstanding Lead Actor’ and ‘Outstanding Writing’, which he shared with Jack Thorne. For Graham, who admitted he never imagined himself standing on that stage, it was a career-defining night.

Then there was Owen Cooper. At just 15, the newcomer stunned Hollywood when he won ‘Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie’ for his role as Jamie Miller. His speech was short, and while his hands were shaking and the award looked too big in his hands, he made sure that the industry knew that they were watching a moment which would be remembered in the history of the Emmys for years. Cooper became the youngest male actor ever to win at the Primetime Emmys.

The celebrations didn’t stop there. Erin Doherty added to the tally with her win for ‘Outstanding Supporting Actress’, while director Philip Barantini’s vision was honoured with the award for ‘Outstanding Directing’. Then you have the behind-the-scenes awards, starting with casting director Shaheen Baig, who earned a Creative Arts Emmy. Then the show went on, winning the trophy for ‘Outstanding Cinematography’. The award went to Matthew Lewis.

By the end of the night, Netflix could proudly say its four-episode juggernaut had taken home more trophies than anyone expected. What started as an intimate family drama about trust, fear, and identity became a cultural touchstone.

Thirteen nominations. Eight wins. And a legacy already being written. Netflix didn’t just deliver another limited series… it delivered a phenomenon.

Adolescence at the 2025 Emmys

• ‘Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series’ (won)
• ‘Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie’: Stephen Graham (won)
• ‘Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie’: Owen Cooper (won)
• ‘Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie’: Erin Doherty (won)
• ‘Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie’: Philip Barantini (won)
• ‘Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie’: Jack Thorne & Stephen Graham (won)
• ‘Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie’: Shaheen Baig (won, Creative Arts)
• ‘Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie’: Matthew Lewis (won, Creative Arts)

Nominated but did not win

• ‘Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy Program’
• ‘Outstanding Contemporary Costumes’
• ‘Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited or Anthology Series’
• ‘Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing’
• ‘Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics’