Riverdale (2017)

Kernel Score: 91% · 13,674 ratings

Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery

First aired: 2017-01-26

Seasons: 7 · 137 episodes

Is Riverdale worth watching?

Depends on your taste. A soapy, heightened mystery set in a teen world full of murders and cults. It's silly in an entertaining way, but you have to buy into the melodrama.

Watch it if you

  • like campy teen mystery
  • enjoy long-running soap-style dramas
  • want a binge that doesn't take itself seriously

Skip it if you

  • want grounded, realistic drama
  • dislike increasingly outlandish plots

Best for: Binge weekend

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch Riverdale

  • Stream: Netflix
  • Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Fandango At Home

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

Set in the present, the series offers a bold, subversive take on Archie, Betty, Veronica and their friends, exploring the surreality of small-town life, the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome facade.

Riverdale parents' guide: ages 12+

Parents need to know that Riverdale is a teen mystery drama with murder, witchcraft, cults, and mature relationship storylines.

  • Violence & scariness: Moderate — Killing, revenge, and cult storylines drive frequent dramatic tension throughout the series.
  • Sex, romance & nudity: Moderate — Love triangles and romantic relationships among teen characters are a central, recurring focus.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official TV-14 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Shows like Riverdale

If you liked Riverdale, these are the shows we'd watch next.

  • Twin Peaks (1990) — 91%: The cult mystery with a small town and a murder
  • Pretty Little Liars (2010) — 88%: Teen mystery with dark secrets
  • You (2018) — 90%: Dark, bingeable thriller
  • Elite (2018) — 90%: Teen drama with murder and glamour
  • Locke & Key (2020) — 86%: Teen supernatural mystery
  • Dark (2017) — 93%: Twisty, mysterious small-town drama

Cast

  • KJ Apa as Archie Andrews
  • Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper
  • Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge
  • Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones
  • Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom
  • Casey Cott as Kevin Keller
  • Drew Ray Tanner as Fangs Fogarty
  • Vanessa Morgan as Toni Topaz
  • Mädchen Amick as Alice Cooper

Riverdale FAQ

Is Riverdale worth watching?

Depends on your taste. A soapy, heightened mystery set in a teen world full of murders and cults. It's silly in an entertaining way, but you have to buy into the melodrama.

Where can I watch Riverdale?

In the US you can stream Riverdale on Netflix and buy it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and Fandango At Home.

Is Riverdale OK for kids?

Riverdale is rated TV-14. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 12+. Parents need to know that Riverdale is a teen mystery drama with murder, witchcraft, cults, and mature relationship storylines.

What shows are like Riverdale?

If you liked Riverdale, try Twin Peaks, Pretty Little Liars, You and Elite.