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Trailer

Top Boy

2011 – 2013Show2 seasons8 episodesTV-MA

Drama
85
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.4Metacritic867.2Rotten Tomatoes97%84%

A nerve-racking, brutally violent drama series about everyday modern life and crime, with standout performances and world-building.

Good for friends night · binge-friendly · drop-in friendly

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you want to half-watch while scrolling · graphic violence bothers you

Where to watch

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Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Shows with

Episodes

2 seasons · 8 episodes · best: S3E10 "You Don't Know Me" 9.2

Episodes

8.0
8.1
8.5
8.4
8.1

Story

A thrilling and raw crime drama following a gang of drug dealers in Hackney, London - an honest and gripping rendition of inner-city drug and gang culture.

Feels like

  • Gritty Crime Drama
  • Inner-City Gang Culture
  • Realistic Portrayal
  • Social Commentary
  • Coming-of-Age
  • Complex Characters
  • Intense & Suspenseful
  • Bleak & Unflinching

Cast

11 of 11 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Yann Demange, Jonathan van Tulleken
Written by
Ronan Bennett
Produced by
Ronan Bennett, Charles Steel, Alasdair Flind
Music by
Brian Eno

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

October 31, 2011 · September 10, 2013 · Ended

First aired
October 31, 2011
Last aired
September 10, 2013
Status
Ended
Length
2 seasons · 8 episodes
Age rating
TV-MA
Content
Violence, Strong Language, Drug Use
Genres
Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United Kingdom
Available in
127 countries

Tropes

Child Soldiers, Cluster F-Bomb, Central Theme +9

  • Child Soldiers
  • Cluster F-Bomb
  • Central Theme
  • The Chessmaster
  • Big Bad Duumvirate
  • Chuck Cunningham Syndrome
  • Sequel Escalation
  • Danger Takes a Backseat
  • Disappeared Dad
  • No-Holds-Barred Beatdown
  • Inferred Survival
  • Deuteragonist

12 of 68 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Top Boy?"

Questions about Top Boy

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Top Boy?

Netflix

In the United States, Top Boy streams on Netflix. It also streams in 126 other countries.

Is Top Boy worth watching?

85
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 85 (IMDb 8.4, Rotten Tomatoes 97%, and Metacritic 86). Critics rate it higher (92 out of 100) than audiences (80).

Does Top Boy get better after season 1?

Yes: season 1 has an IMDb average of 8.0, and season 3 peaks at 8.5. The highest-rated episode is You Don't Know Me (season 3, episode 10) at 9.2, and the lowest is The Food Is Killing Us (season 5, episode 4) at 7.5.

How long does it take to watch Top Boy?

7 h

About 7 hours: 8 episodes in 2 seasons of about 52 minutes each, aired from 2011 to 2013.

Will I feel good after watching Top Boy?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for bleakness and 6 for melancholy, against 3 for hopefulness.

What tropes does Top Boy use?

Child SoldiersCluster F-BombCentral ThemeThe ChessmasterBig Bad DuumvirateChuck Cunningham SyndromeSequel EscalationDanger Takes a BackseatDisappeared DadNo-Holds-Barred BeatdownInferred SurvivalDeuteragonistand 56 more

TV Tropes lists 68 tropes for it, including Child Soldiers, Cluster F-Bomb, and Central Theme.