Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Teen crime spree story has drinking, smoking, bad behavior.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Barracuda Queens
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Based on true events, BARRACUDA QUEENS features five privileged teenagers who have entered a life of crime. It's 1995, and top students Lollo Millkvist (Alva Bratt), Mia Thorstensson (Tea Stjarne), Frida Rapp (Sandra Strandberg Zubovic) and KIara Rapp (Tindra Monsen) are enjoying a life of school, partying, and dating. But when they find themselves liable for thousands of kroners in hotel damages and credit card charges after a wild weekend getaway, they decide to rob their new neighbor's house and pawn the stolen items for the cash. They botch the job, but as a result bring the homeowner's teenage daughter Amina Khalil (Sarah Gustafsson) into the group. Together, they loot affluent homes, and end each robbery drinking champagne and leaving the glasses out as a calling card. The stakes get higher with each burglary, and soon the young women realize that they might be discovered.
Is It Any Good?
Beverly Hills 90210 meets The Bling Ring in this Swedish guilty pleasure. In Barracuda Queens, a close knit group of smart and privileged young women enjoy their young adult life while unapologetically stealing from rich neighbors. The series, which is loosely based on the true story of the Lidingoligans (an infamous gang of young men who robbed the wealthy in the 1990s) effectively combines teen turmoil with criminal suspense as their risky antics lead to some complicated situations.
However, Barracuda Queens features few consequences for negative actions, and instead manages to seduce viewers into rooting for the young women, in part due to some of the older adults' despicable behavior. There are few redeemable characters in this series, and even fewer positive messages, which is what ultimately makes this import extra entertaining.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about privilege and bias. If these young women were not affluent, would the consequences of their actions be different? Why?
Why do you think the producers of Barracuda Queens choose to cast women versus men for this adaptation? How does it change the way the story is told? Is this a way of making them seem more sympathetic to viewers?
TV Details
- Premiere date : June 8, 2023
- Cast : Alva Bratt , Tea Stjarne , Sandra Strandberg Zubovic , Tindra Monsen , Sarah Gustafsson
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Friendship
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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