Gaming Icon Hideo Kojima Names His Top TV Show of 2025
A legendary video game creator, known for his impeccable cinematic taste, has just revealed his pick for the best television series of the year. Discover which surprise streaming hit earned his highest praise for its unique filming style and powerful, realistic storytelling about family turmoil.
Hideo Kojima, a figure whose opinions on film and TV carry serious weight, has officially crowned his favorite show of 2025. The choice, a surprise Netflix hit that captivated audiences earlier in March, was revealed as part of Vulture's prestigious 'The Culturati 50' list. The series, Adolescence, not only won Kojima's vote but also secured the top spot among fifty industry creatives.
A Masterful Fusion of Style and Substance
Kojima described the show as, "A masterful fusion of meticulously calculated one-shot cinematography and direction that draws out the show’s core themes." He added, "It vividly exposes the fear and anguish experienced by both children in their formative years and the families who watch over them."
This wasn't his first time singing its praises. Back on March 23, the Death Stranding director shared his initial thoughts on Twitter, stating, "I watched the first episode of Adolescence on Netflix. It’s good. It’s impressive. It’s filmed in a single continuous shot from start to finish… The characters, drama, and mystery are all brilliantly portrayed. I have to keep watching this."
Behind the Unflinching Narrative
The series was brought to life by Jack Thorne, the writer behind Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and Stephen Graham, the acclaimed star of This is England. The plot centers on a family thrown into chaos after their 13-year-old son, Jamie, is arrested for murdering a classmate.
The show tackles tough, modern issues head-on, exploring the dark side of social media and the impact of harmful online content on young minds. As Kojima noted, the real-time filming technique gives the story an intense and uncomfortably realistic feel.
Rave Reviews and Industry Accolades
The show's success isn't just based on expert opinion; the numbers back it up. Adolescence boasts an impressive 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes. According to Tudum, it became Netflix's second most-watched English-language series, trailing only Wednesday, with an incredible 142.6 million viewers in its first three months.
The series also cleaned up at the Emmys, earning thirteen nominations and taking home several awards. Graham won for Best Lead Actor, and Owen Cooper, who plays the troubled teen Jamie, secured the award for Best Supporting Actor. In fact, Vulture reported that over half of the voters also named Coopers performance the best of the year, too.