A new report has given insight into the viewing habits of Gen Z, revealing that the two most popular series for that age group are 80s-set horror drama Stranger Things and Wednesday, which is based on The Addams Family comics, which which were originally published in The New Yorker between 1938 and 1988.
The two spooky shows topped the ranking of films and TV for Gen Z – people born between 1997 and 2012 – in the report, Teens and Screens – Get Real: Relatability on Demand from the Centre for Scholars and Storytellers at University of of California, Los Angeles.
The annual report quizzed 1,500 US adolescents between 10 and 24 for their thoughts, preferences and habits when it comes to entertainment media.
Among the findings in the report, Gen Z watch more content than older people think. They also prefer relatable stories rather than anything in the fantasy or superhero genres, for example. Younger people also care less about sex, the report found, and place a greater emphasis on friendships being portrayed, especially friendships between people of different genders that don’t turn romantic.
When it came to listing what young people want to see in film and TV, number one was “People with lives like mine.” Sadly, in the overall ranking, “Non-binary and LGBTQIA+ Identities” came in 18th after “Uplifting Stories,” “Superheroes,” and “Systemic Injustice.”
However, “Non-binary and LGBTQIA+ identities” was top of the list for LGBTQ+ respondents. Boys ranked “Superheroes” in first place while girls ranked “Family Life and Relationships with Parents.” And “Romance and/or Sex,” “Partying and/or Drugs and Drink,” and Non-binary and LGBTQIA+ Identities” came in bottom for both genders.
Another interesting finding is that nearly 50% of respondents said they prefer animated content over live-action, with films like KPop Demon Hunters being named in the report.
Asked for their favourite films and TV series Stranger Things took top billing followed by Wednesday at number two. Interestingly, both are considered by the report as “Relatable fantasy: relatively grounded, low-fantasy titles, where supernatural things happen in a world that looks like ours – and often to “normal” people we can relate to.”
They were followed by Spongebob Squarepants in third, and Spider-Man and Family Guy in joint fourth.
Other properties mentioned in the top 25 include KPop Demon Hunters, Dexter, Squid Game, Friends, and Game of Thrones.
The report authors conclude that Gen Z “haven’t abandoned TV shows and movies – they’ve simply redefined how and where they watch them, and they treat shows and movies as a means for connection.”
They continue, “most of all they want to build community with their peers. This breadth of types of connections is what makes media a unique third space for young people – one where they can explore identity, process their emotions and experiences, and create shared cultural touchstones with their friends.”
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