In a cultural drought of actual young adult movies and TV shows, Iâve compiled a list of some of my favorite (out and upcoming) movies and TV shows set in college or post-grad.
- Off Campus
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You knew it was coming: Primeâs Off Campus series. Set in college, this book adaptation was an instant success among older Gen Z when it was released in May. Hockey, found family, steamy scenesâitâs all there. The cast has wrapped filming John Logan and Grace Iversâs story for season two, set to release sometime next year, but itâs never too soon for a rewatch.
@offcampusonprime - The Love Hypothesis
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More recently, there’s The Love Hypothesis, a bestselling contemporary romance book by Ali Hazelwood. It was adapted into a movie and released just last week on Prime Video, starring the beloved Lili Reinhart and Tom Bateman. The movie centers on a biology PhD student and a professor in the same department (it sounds more scandalous than it is) who agree to fake-date for the sake of her friendâs love life and to ensure his grant for the next semester.Â
@FilmUpdates via X - Adults
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Next, we have the viral show Adults, whose up-and-coming cast has charmed us all. With Owen Thiele live updating us on his tragic flight from Albuquerque to Jack Innanenâs chronically online TikTok posts, we want more. The show depicts five best friends living in a house in Queens, New York, navigating work, dating, and adult life in general. If youâre about to be post-grad (cough, me), this is a must-watch. Catch all two seasons on Hulu.
@poulbaker via X - A Different World (2026)
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I had to add a reboot here; itâs all the rage nowadays. A Different World (2026), released on Netflix last week, is a reboot of A Different World (1987), which is a spin-off of The Cosby Show (1984). Deep breath. The reboot is set in the same universe as the 1987 version and includes some returning cast members following Deborah Wayneâs freshman year at Hillman College, an HBCU. This nostalgia is more for my mom’s generation, but we get the privilege of watching it with fresh eyes.
@strongblacklead via X - Overcompensating
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Last, but certainly not least, we have Overcompensating. It’s the satirical story of Benny, a closeted student navigating college life with his newfound friend Carmen, while attending the same university as his sister. Produced and written by the one and only Benito Skinner, itâs semi-autobiographical, loosely based on real events of Skinnerâs life. Hilarious, dramatic, and relatable in the cringiest way, Overcompensating is the show to watch for awkward people (cough, me again). If youâre heading to watch it now, youâre in luck because season two is coming soon, with a release date predicted for later this year.
@FilmUpdates via X
Do yourself a favor and check out at least one of these pieces of media. My wish is that this list gives some of us college students and almost-graduates the chance to create some nostalgia of our own. Before we know it, there will be a reboot of all the shows we hold dear now.