What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedKids
Larry Clark · Film · 1995
If you loved Kids, start with Skins (Bryan Elsley, 2007) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Kids across media.
What hooked you in Kids was the raw, unfiltered portrait of youth navigating the chaotic, often reckless transition into adulthood.
Books on the same thread
The Cat in the Hat
Dr. Seuss · Book · 1957
Explores: Mischief, Imagination, Consequences.
If Kids captured the darker side of reckless behavior, this book explores the same spirit of unchecked mischief and the inevitable consequences that follow when rules are completely ignored.
The Catcher in the Rye
J. D. Salinger · Book · 1951
Shares a thread with Kids: Loss of Innocence.
Much like Kids, this classic novel centers on the profound alienation and loss of innocence that define the teenage experience while navigating the complex streets of New York City.
Dubliners
James Joyce · Book · 1992
Shares a thread with Kids: Loss of Innocence.
You will find the same stark, unflinching look at urban life and the stagnation of youth that makes Kids so memorable in these gritty, atmospheric stories of early century Dublin.
The Giver
Lois Lowry · Book · 1993
Explores: Utopia, Loss of Memory, Individuality vs. Conformity.
If the unsettling loss of innocence in Kids resonated with you, this story offers a similar exploration of the painful realities hidden beneath a facade of societal structure and conformity.
Series on the same thread
Skins
Bryan Elsley · Series · 2007
Explores: Teenage Angst, Friendship, Identity.
This series mirrors the raw intensity of Kids by focusing on the messy, delirious highs and lows of teenage friendship and the constant search for identity in a chaotic world.
Rugrats
Arlene Klasky · Series · 1991
Explores: Childhood Imagination, Toddler Adventures, Adult Incompetence.
While Kids explores the reckless behavior of older teens, this series presents a parallel look at how young people navigate their own world, often ignoring the incompetence of the adults.
Friends
Marta Kauffman · Series · 1994
Explores: Friendship, Relationships, Coming of Age.
If you appreciated the urban setting of Kids, this show offers a lighter look at the same struggle for survival and connection among young people living in New York City.
Freaks and Geeks
Paul Feig · Series · 1999
Explores: Social Outcasts, High School Angst, Identity Crisis.
This show captures the same social pressures and identity crises seen in Kids, focusing on the divide between high school outcasts and the mainstream world during their formative years.
Podcasts on the same thread
Grownkid
GrownKid · Podcast
Explores: twenties, big city life, self-discovery.
This podcast continues the journey begun in Kids by documenting the messy reality of big city life, self-discovery, and the questionable experiences that define the transition into true adulthood.
The Teen Commandments
Podcast
Explores: teenagers, adolescence, parenting teens.
Having witnessed the chaotic adolescence portrayed in Kids, you will appreciate this candid look at the survival tactics and wisdom required to navigate the turbulent years of teenage development.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Kids a documentary?
Kids is a 1995 feature film directed by Larry Clark. It presents a fictionalized day in the life of a group of teenagers in New York City as they spend their time skating, drinking, smoking, and engaging in sexual encounters throughout the city.
What is the premise of the movie Kids?
The film Kids follows a group of teens navigating New York City. The plot centers on their daily activities, which include skateboarding, alcohol and tobacco consumption, and the pursuit of deflowering virgins, capturing a raw look at their lifestyle during a single day.
Does Kids take place in New York City?
Yes, the narrative of Kids is set entirely in New York City. The film documents the experiences of a specific group of teenagers as they travel across the urban landscape to skate and interact with one another throughout the course of one day.
Who directed the film Kids?
The film Kids was directed by Larry Clark and released in 1995. It focuses on the lives of several teenagers in New York City, highlighting their habits and social behaviors, including skating, drinking, and smoking while moving through the city.