Summary
- Shows like Riverdale offer a range of genres and themes, from supernatural mysteries to teen angst dramas, catering to diverse viewer preferences.
- Spinoffs like Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Katy Keene provide fans with similar dark and edgy vibes, crossover characters, and intriguing storylines.
- Other shows such as Nancy Drew, Stranger Things, and Gossip Girl offer compelling mysteries, supernatural elements, and steamy romances, capturing the essence of shows like Riverdale.
In 2023, Riverdale finished its seven-season run and fans started looking for shows like Riverdale to fill in the gap in their television schedule. It's a television series that gave the classic Archie Comics an updated story. It stars characters such as Archie Andrews, Jughead Jones, Veronica Lodge, and Betty Cooper, who are played by some of the brightest young stars of their era. These characters' relationships were not the only excitement, as many fans regularly turned to this series for its dark and edgy vibe, as this version explored the strangeness lurking beneath Riverdale, which seemed like a wholesome small town.
Those who miss the canceled drama and the thrills it provided should check out several other shows like Riverdale. This includes several TV shows that exist in the same world as Riverdale, but also other teen angst dramas, supernatural young adult-flavored mystery shows, and even some dark thrillers that share the same vibe of this rare comic book adaptation. When it comes to shows like Riverdale, they come in just about every size and genre, and there are plenty to choose from on streaming services today.
15 Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina (2018-2020)
- Stream now on Netflix
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina was the first spinoff from Riverdale. The original version of this show, which was called Sabrina the Teenage Witch, was based on a comic series that existed within the Archie Comics universe. With this Netflix spinoff, it received a darker tale all about Sabrina Spellman, a young woman who is half-witch and half-mortal. That being said, she has to fight off evil with her aunts while also going to school and hanging out with friends, as well. It is a delicate balance. Sabrina even crosses over to the other series, so this is a must for those who love shows like Riverdale.
14 Katy Keene (2020)
- Stream now on Max
The second Riverdale spinoff came in 2020 with Katy Keene. This show starred Lucy Hale as fashion legend-to-be Katy Keene as she chased her dreams in New York City. On top of the quirky characters and storylines, this was also a musical dramedy and brought in Josie and the Pussycats as well. Unlike Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, this was on The CW, so it was able to crossover easier with Riverdale and share some characters, including Sierra McCoy, Kevin Keller, and Hiram Lodge. The show ended up canceled after one season, but some of the characters moved back over to Riverdale after that.
13 Nancy Drew (2019-2023)
- Stream now on Max
Nancy Drew is another CW show that plays by the same rules as shows like Riverdale. Both shows are based on books, with Nancy Drew based on the books by the collective pseudonym Carolyn Keene, a female counterpart to the Hardy Boys novel series. However, much like how Riverdale took the Archie Comics series and turned it into a quirky and dark mystery series, Nancy Drew took the children's mystery novels and added a supernatural touch. Like in Riverdale, several characters from the book series showed up in the TV series, but the mysteries were nothing like fans of the books could have expected, with the show lasting four seasons.
12 Ms. Marvel (2022)
- Stream now on Disney+
Marvel has created some brilliant shows on Disney+ and what makes them so great is that they all approach the heroes in different ways. When it comes to Ms. Marvel, the show took a more teen-centric angle, and it really feels like something fans of shows like Riverdale would fall in love with. The relatable Kamala Kahn is a Muslim high school student in Jersey City who is struggling to fit in and finds her life turned upside down when she gains superpowers thanks to a bangle her grandmother used to own. Her friends play an important role and the kids have to deal with problems they are not equipped to, just like Archie and his friends on Riverdale.
11 Wednesday (2022)
- Stream now on Netflix
Wednesday didn't have to make the changes that Riverdale made because she came from a show that was already bizarre before Netflix sent her out on her own. With that said, shows like Riverdale take kids and throw them into a giant murder mystery, and that is what Wednesday is all about. On this spinoff from The Addams Family, Wednesday Addams goes to Nevermore Academy where all the kids have some sort of superhuman powers as monsters in their own right. However, when murders start to happen, Wednesday and her reluctant friends have to figure out who the killer is before they end up the next victims. Wednesday season 2 is already highly anticipated.
10 The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017)
- Stream now on Netflix
Imagine if Archie Andrews and Jughead were vampires, and they fell in love with Betty and Veronica, who were teenage human girls. That would be pretty close to The Vampire Diaries, which is a perfect fit for fans of shows like Riverdale, who want a little vampire romance added to the mix. Here, it is Stefan and Damon, a pair of vampire brothers who end up in a love triangle with the human teenager Elena. Through the eight seasons, the brothers eventually realize Elena is best with Damon, but tragedy always befalls them and their friends, making it a strong parallel storyline to the disasters that befall Archie and his friends in Riverdale.
9 Pretty Little Liars (2010-2017)
- Streaming now on Hulu
When watching Riverdale, anything could happen at any moment, and the same is true with Pretty Little Liars. This popular series starts with a girl going missing, which causes her friends—Spencer, Aria, Hanna, and Emily—to drift apart. However, they are forced to re forces when they all start receiving anonymous and threatening text messages from "A." Those who are familiar with this show know that it gets even crazier as the story progresses, as more mysteries and messages pop up. And people who have watched PLL, there is the spinoff Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, which is another show like Riverdale.
8 Gossip Girl (2007-2012)
- Stream now on Max
Gossip Girl is another teen drama based on a book series. The main characters here are not average teens, though. They are an attractive and affluent group on the Upper East Side in New York. And instead of receiving creepy texts from a murderous villain like in shows like Riverdale, their lives and secrets are thrust into the spotlight thanks to Gossip Girl, an anonymous blogger. So, it is definitely full of excitement, and as in shows like Riverdale, it places a heavy emphasis on steamy romances and juicy details. There was also a Gossip Girl reboot in 2021.
7 The 100 (2014-2020)
- Stream now on Netflix
The 100 is a post-apocalyptic show in which the only survivors are those in 12 international space stations. After three generations have lived in said space stations, supplies start to dwindle, so 100 juvenile prisoners are sent down to a planet in order to test its habitability. While the sci-fi elements here are a bit different from the ones in other teen dramas, the main draw is still there. Fans of shows like Riverdale should consider watching The 100, with its emphasis on the relationship between the young adults on the planet as they try to coexist and survive.
6 Stranger Things (2016-Present)
- Stream now on Netflix
A Netflix original series, Stranger Things is set in the 1980s, focuses on a group of teenage friends, and features a demonic world called the Upside Down. This show immediately gained a huge following, and though Stranger Things will end with season 5, it's the kind of series that fans are constantly rewatching. This show is a lot more about the supernatural than shows like Riverdale, but it shares a strong connection when it comes to the relationships between the teens on the show and their relationships as they attempt to figure out how to save their town and come out on the other side in one piece.
