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Trailer

Cruel Summer

2021 – 2023Show2 seasons20 episodesTV-14

DramaMystery
74
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.4Metacritic727.3Rotten Tomatoes79%70%

A gripping, nerve-racking mystery series about crime and mystery, with standout performances and editing.

Good for friends night · teens · binge-friendly

Skip it if you want fast pacing · you want to half-watch while scrolling

Where to watch

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Not for laughs, warmth or comfort.

Shows with

Episodes

2 seasons · 20 episodes · best: S1E9 "A Secret of My Own" 8.5

Episodes

7.7
7.0

Story

The truth is how you see it.

Taking place over three summers - 1993, 1994, 1995 - in a small Texas town, a beautiful popular teen, Kate, is abducted and, seemingly unrelated, a girl, Jeanette, goes from being a sweet, awkward outlier to the most popular girl in town and, by ’95, the most despised person in America.

Feels like

  • Non-Linear Mystery Thriller
  • 90s Nostalgia Aesthetic
  • Psychological Character Study
  • Teen Crime Drama
  • Unreliable Narrator Puzzle
  • High-Stakes Social Dynamics
  • Tense & Suspenseful
  • Binge-Worthy Structure

Cast

17 of 17 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Bill Purple, Alexis Ostrander, Kellie Cyrus
Written by
Bert V. Royal, Tia Napolitano, Addison McQuigg

Everyone

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

Facts

April 20, 2021 · July 31, 2023 · Ended

First aired
April 20, 2021
Last aired
July 31, 2023
Status
Ended
Length
2 seasons · 20 episodes
Age rating
TV-14
Content
Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Drug Use, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Mystery, Drama
Original language
English
Also spoken
Spanish
Made in
United States
Available in
128 countries

Tropes

Symbolic Glass House, The Atoner, Fair-Weather Friend +9

  • Symbolic Glass House
  • The Atoner
  • Fair-Weather Friend
  • Recording Your Crime
  • Politically Correct History
  • Expository Hairstyle Change
  • Expository Hairstyle Change
  • Enemy Mine
  • Gaslighting
  • Fake Defector
  • Aborted Arc
  • Alpha Bitch

12 of 113 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Cruel Summer?"

Questions about Cruel Summer

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Cruel Summer?

Hulu

In the United States, Cruel Summer streams on Hulu. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 8 other countries.

Is Cruel Summer worth watching?

74
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 74 (IMDb 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes 79%, and Metacritic 72).

Is Cruel Summer okay for kids?

TV-14ViolenceSexual contentStrong languageDrug useDisturbing imagery

Not for young kids: it's rated TV-14 in the United States for violence, sexual content, strong language, drug use, and disturbing imagery, and the viewing guide lists it for teens and adults.

How long does it take to watch Cruel Summer?

14 h

About 14 hours: 20 episodes in 2 seasons of about 42 minutes each, aired from 2021 to 2023.

Can I half-watch Cruel Summer?

Easy watchDemanding

No, it needs your attention: the title analysis rates it 10 of 10 for non-linear narrative and 8 for complexity.

Is Cruel Summer good for date night?

and 1 morePartner WatchAdultsFriends NightPublic Viewing SafeSolo Watch

It suits a quiet night in as a couple: romance is 7 of 10, but the viewing guide doesn't list it for date night.

What tropes does Cruel Summer use?

Symbolic Glass HouseThe AtonerFair-Weather FriendRecording Your CrimePolitically Correct HistoryExpository Hairstyle ChangeExpository Hairstyle ChangeEnemy MineGaslightingFake DefectorAborted ArcAlpha Bitchand 101 more

TV Tropes lists 113 tropes for it, including Symbolic Glass House, The Atoner, and Fair-Weather Friend.