What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedSKAM
Julie Andem · Series · 2015
If you loved SKAM, start with SKAM Italia (Ludovico Bessegato, 2018) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to SKAM across media.
If you loved SKAM, you crave that rare, voyeuristic intimacy that captures the fragile, messy evolution of teenage identity.
Start with the source
Adaptation
SKAM Italia
Ludovico Bessegato · Series · 2018
Adaptation
SKAM France
Julie Andem · Series · 2018
Adaptation
DRUCK
Julie Andem · Series · 2018
Books on the same thread
Norwegian Wood (ノルウェイの森)
Haruki Murakami · Book · 1987
Shares a thread with SKAM: Mental Health.
Like SKAM, this story treats the raw, internal struggles of youth with profound gravity, focusing on the heavy emotional toll of loss and mental health during formative years.
Millennium
Stieg Larsson, David Lagercrantz · Book · 2005
Explores: Corruption, Journalism, Misogyny.
While darker in tone, this narrative mirrors the investigative, character-driven pace of SKAM, pulling you deep into the private lives and vulnerabilities of its complex, flawed protagonists.
Never Let Me Go
Kazuo Ishiguro · Book · 2005
Explores: Mortality, Fate vs. Free Will, Memory and Nostalgia.
This novel echoes the poignant nostalgia found in SKAM, exploring how the bonds forged in isolated educational settings shape our understanding of fate, memory, and personal identity.
The Academy
Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham · Book
Explores: social hierarchy, reputation management, academic pressure.
You will recognize the familiar social pressures and high-stakes reputation management of SKAM here, as this story delves into the harmful dynamics that define life within a school.
Films on the same thread
Eighth Grade
Bo Burnham · Film · 2018
Explores: Adolescent Anxiety, Social Awkwardness, Self-Discovery.
This film perfectly captures the digital-age growing pains of SKAM, offering an honest, unvarnished look at the social awkwardness and self-discovery inherent in navigating the end of adolescence.
Scream
Film · 1996
Explores: Survival, Pop culture obsession, Trauma.
Much like the teen angst at the heart of SKAM, this story uses the backdrop of high school life to explore how trauma and survival shape young friendships.
Notes on a Scandal
Richard Eyre · Film · 2006
Explores: Obsession, Manipulation, Power Dynamics.
If the complex interpersonal relationships and manipulative power dynamics of SKAM kept you watching, this psychological drama offers a similarly intense look at boundaries within a school setting.
Elephant
Film · 2003
Explores: High school alienation, Youth violence, Fatalism.
This film strips away the artifice of high school life just as SKAM does, providing a stark, observational perspective on the alienation and daily routines of young students.
Podcasts on the same thread
Scamanda
Lionsgate Sound · Podcast · 2025
The way this podcast peels back the layers of a carefully curated public persona mirrors the themes of reputation and secret-keeping that drive the narrative tension in SKAM.
This American Life
This American Life · Podcast · 2026
Explores: The human condition, Personal narrative, Social observation.
These stories capture the same observational, human-centric magic found in SKAM, focusing on the small, big-feeling moments that make up the messy, unpredictable reality of our daily lives.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is SKAM France worth watching if I have already seen the original Norwegian series?
SKAM France is an official adaptation of the original SKAM series. It follows the same premise of focusing on the everyday lives and scandals of students at an upper secondary school, but it provides a unique cultural perspective through its own distinct cast and setting.
Should I watch SKAM Italia before or after the original Norwegian version?
You can watch SKAM Italia in any order. While the original SKAM created by Julie Andem provides the foundation for the storytelling format, SKAM Italia is a separate adaptation that explores similar themes of teenage life and school troubles within an Italian context.
How does DRUCK compare to the original SKAM series?
DRUCK is a German adaptation of the original SKAM series. Like the original, it centers on the lives of pupils at an upper secondary school. It maintains the signature format of the source material by shifting the point of view to a different character each season.
Are there different versions of SKAM available to watch?
Yes, there are several official adaptations of the original SKAM series. These include SKAM Italia, SKAM France, and DRUCK. Each version reimagines the original story of teenagers at an upper secondary school while retaining the core structure created by Julie Andem.