Parents' Guide to

Heartbreak High

By Stephanie Snyder, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Raunchy high school portrayal updates '90s teen drama.

TV Netflix Drama 2022
Heartbreak High TV Poster

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

See all
age 13+

Based on 2 parent reviews

hugsarecoolbe
hugsarecoolbe Parent of 14-year-old
October 6, 2022
age 13+

Great

Great tv show suitable for 12 year olds if they are mature
1 person found this helpful.
Stella A.
Stella A. Parent of 13-year-old
July 21, 2023
age 13+

Good show with diversity, And a lovely overall message.

Great show, Id suggest your child be atleast 13 to watch- Theres some sex scenes, And some scenes with drugs, and a WHOLE lot of swearing, but i think that should be okay for 13 years old and above if their matured. There's good queer representation, And ACCURATE autism rep. Coming from an autistic woman, The best ive ever seen, It also included police brutality and racism experienced.

This title has:

Educational value
Too much sex
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In HEARTBREAK HIGH, best friends Amerie and Harper have done everything together -- including creating the "Incest Map," a visual representation of all of the hookups at Hartley High. But as the new school year gets underway, the friendship is unraveling, and Amerie struggles to understand why. On the first day of school, the Incest Map gets blasted, and it is found out that Amerie is behind it. This turns the student body against her, and as she struggles to deal with her own strained reputation, she aligns herself with a new friend group that includes misfits Darren and Quinni. Will her friendship with Harper be repaired? Will she land the guy she's had her eye on? Will she figure out who she is in the high school landscape?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (15 ):

This reboot modernizes a classic Aussie teenage drama -- and the teenage experience. Heartbreak High brings its predecessor to the 21st century with smart phones, references to social media, and an emphasis on diversity. It's worth it to note, however, that the diverse representations have a tendency to border on stereotypical, but that has more to do with the elements of a dramedy than intentional insensitivities. Though the plot is about the trials, tribulations and sex lives of teenagers, it is a show that grown-ups can get invested in, if they can get past the whole sex-lives-of-teenagers part. Breakout star Ayesha Madon delivers a performance that has viewers rooting for Amerie, though her actions are often less than favorable. The social commentary on the lives of today's teenagers is sure to get laughs and to challenge the ways we think about high schoolers, the lives they lead, and the ways adults can help them navigate this tumultuous part of life.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about friendship in Heartbreak High. Have you ever had a friendship like Amerie's and Harper's? Do you think all friendships that fall apart are meant to be repaired? Why or why not?

  • How can high school life impact friendship? How can it impact self identity? What should high schoolers know about the social side of school?

  • What advice would you give to Amerie? To Darren? To Harper?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate