Netflix reveals 5 fascinating details about 'one shot' filming of Adolescence (2025)

The hit series has received a near-perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes

Streaming giant Netflix has taken to social media to reveal behind-the-scenes details of how new drama Adolescence was filmed - with each episode being one continuous shot.

Adolescence, starring Ashley Walters and Stephen Graham, first launched on Netflix last week on March 13, and it has already received widespread critical acclaim and remains in the number one spot on the streaming platform.

The powerful drama revolves around 13-year-old Jamie, played by Owen Cooper, who gets arrested on suspicion of murdering his classmate.

Each hour-long episode gives viewers a real-time insight into the ripple effect of the 'manosphere' and what can happen when teenagers get exposed to dangerous content.

Adolescence boasts an impressive cast. Iconic British actor Stephen Graham, who has previously performed in a one-shot style in BBC's hit film Boiling Point, co-wrote Adolescence with Jack Thorne, and appears in the show as Jamie's dad Eddie.

London-born actor Ashley Walters, known best for playing Dushane in Top Boy, plays DI Bascombe in Adolescence and leads the team dealing with Jamie's arrest. Owen Cooper actually first stepped foot on a set on the first day of filming the series.

Due to its unique filming style, Netflix has taken to social media to answer fans questions about how the impactful drama was created. Here are some of the fascinating details around how the team pulled it off.

The 'one shot' filming method and how they did it

Filming each episode in one shot was an ambitious aim but Netflix has revealed how they tackled some of the tricker elements.

Answering whether they really filmed each episode in one shot, Netflix wrote on X: "They absolutely did! If you can’t see the joins, it’s because there aren’t any. Each episode was genuinely filmed in real-time in one continuous shot. We promise!"

But there were certain points that left fans confused, particularly in episode two when one shot shows the camera appearing to travel through a window.

Explaining how this scene was shot, Netflix wrote: "There wasn’t actually a window there. It was taken out and put back in using VFX.

"One of the camera operators was in the classroom, then when Ryan jumped out of the window, the other operator – who was crouching on the other side – took the camera and continued the chase."

The streaming giant revealed how many takes it took to get the final product. Netflix wrote: "It was initially planned that they would film each episode in full 10 times (once in the morning, once in the afternoon, across five days) – but in reality a few attempts had to be abandoned and restarted, so some episodes had many more than 10 takes."

'Special paint' and a dozen doors were needed on set

The creators of the show had to think carefully about how certain props would work with their filming method.

During episode four, Graham, who plays Jamie's dad Eddie, throws paint over a van. Fans might have been wondering how they removed the paint for the further takes, and Netflix explained: "They created a special paint that was the same consistency and would stick to the van, but that could be jet washed off after each take."

Meanwhile, in the opening scene, viewers see police ram down a door to get to Jamie to make the arrest. Netflix explained they went through a dozen different doors when filming the episode.

"They rammed through 12 doors in total," Netflix explained. "Then, they had a PVC door specialist on set to fit a new door each time. What a job that is."

Some moments were not in the script

With the cast having to know lines for up to 60 minutes worth of content, some viewers are wondering whether there was any improvisation from the cast.

Netflix explained: "With such long shots, variations from take to take were inevitable. In the final version of Episode 3, Owen Cooper yawns (understandable after such a labour-intensive schedule) – to which Erin Doherty’s Briony responds, “Am I boring you?”.

"This back and forth, including Owen’s subsequent smirk and denial, feels so true to the characters that you’re convinced it’s completely planned."

Crew members were disguised as extras

With such tricky camera manoeuvres to pull off, viewers might be surprised to see that nobody was getting in the way of the film crew during takes. But Netflix explained how they avoided that from happening.

The cast would work through the exact choreography during rehearsals to plan where cameras would be at particular times.

"Sometimes it was necessary for some of the crew to remain in shot," Netflix explained. "In these instances they were dressed in costume so that they could blend into the show to serve as extras in the shot."

Drones were used for wide shots

The crew also utilised drones to film during episode two, it was revealed.

Netflix explained: "The DOP [cinematographer] carries the camera and follows a school pupil to the traffic lights with a wide shot as she goes at the end of the school day.

"Before she crosses the road, a team attach the camera to a drone, which then flies a distance of 0.3 miles across the site to the murder scene, where it comes down to a camera operator and team of grips who smoothly catch the camera and transition into a close shot of Stephen Graham."