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11 Psychological Thriller Shows Like 'We Were Liars' To Binge Right Now

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Are you still reeling from the shocking twists and dark secrets of the Sinclair family? Since the psychological thriller series We Were Liars premiered, fans have been desperately searching for their next binge-worthy mystery. The show, based on E. Lockhart's bestselling novel, masterfully combined the glamorous setting of the wealthy elite with the disturbing undercurrent of an unreliable narrator and a devastating truth hidden by amnesia. If you’re craving more stories about privileged teens, deadly secrets, and mysteries where the truth is constantly shifting, you’ve come to the right place. This list, updated for December 2025, provides the ultimate guide to the most captivating and twisty shows that capture the same high-stakes drama and psychological suspense.

The core appeal of We Were Liars lies in its atmosphere: a seemingly perfect world of summer vacations and generational wealth that hides a catastrophic secret. The protagonist, Cadence, is a classic example of an unreliable narrator, forcing the audience to piece together the truth alongside her. To fill the void, we’ve curated a list of series that share these specific thematic elements, ranging from teen survival mysteries to adult thrillers centered on the lies that bind—and break—families and friendships.

The Ultimate List of Shows with Elite Secrets, Amnesia, and Unreliable Narrators

The shows below are perfect for viewers who love the central themes of We Were Liars: a deep-seated mystery, the corrosive nature of secrets, and a focus on the drama and darkness within a privileged or isolated group.

1. Cruel Summer (Freeform / Hulu)

This anthology series is perhaps the most direct spiritual successor to We Were Liars, specifically because of its innovative narrative structure. The first season follows the mystery of a popular girl, Kate Wallis, who is abducted, and the seemingly unrelated rise of an awkward outcast, Jeanette Turner, who mysteriously takes over Kate's life.

  • Why It's Like We Were Liars: The story is told through shifting points of view and over three non-linear summers, forcing the audience to constantly question the reliability of both main characters' memories and testimonies. This focus on conflicting narratives is a hallmark of the unreliable narrator trope.
  • Key Themes: Shifting perspectives, hidden trauma, high school politics, 90s nostalgia.

2. School Spirits (Paramount+)

If the mystery of Cadence’s amnesia and the "accident" was your favorite part of We Were Liars, School Spirits is a must-watch. The series centers on Maddie Nears, a high school girl who wakes up to find herself a ghost—unable to leave the grounds of Split River High School.

  • Why It's Like We Were Liars: Maddie must solve the mystery of her own disappearance and death, essentially suffering from a form of amnesia about the event. She relies on the help of other ghosts and living friends, but the truth is obscured by secrets and lies from everyone involved.
  • Key Themes: Supernatural mystery, amnesia, teen drama, solving your own murder.

3. The Wilds (Prime Video)

A high-stakes survival drama that shares We Were Liars' home on Prime Video. The series follows a group of teenage girls from vastly different backgrounds who are stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash.

  • Why It's Like We Were Liars: While the setting is remote, the psychological thriller element is strong. The girls are forced to confront their past secrets and traumas, which are revealed through flashbacks. The central twist—that their stranding was not an accident but a dark social experiment—elevates the psychological suspense and highlights the theme of hidden secrets within a closed group.
  • Key Themes: Survival, social experiment, hidden trauma, female friendships, mystery.

4. Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin (HBO Max / Max)

A darker, more horror-focused entry in the Pretty Little Liars universe. Set twenty years after a series of tragic events ripped the town of Millwood apart, a new group of teenage girls—the new "Little Liars"—begin to be tormented by a mysterious assailant named "A."

  • Why It's Like We Were Liars: Both series revolve entirely around secrets and the devastating consequences of past actions. The new Little Liars are made to pay for the "original sin" committed by their parents, mirroring how the Sinclair family’s wealth and silence in We Were Liars led to tragedy.
  • Key Themes: Generational secrets, slasher horror, relentless torment, mystery.

Thrillers Focused on Wealth, Class, and Generational Guilt

A key element of We Were Liars is the backdrop of the wealthy, seemingly perfect Sinclair family and their private island. These recommendations explore the dark side of affluence and the secrets that money can't bury.

5. Outer Banks (Netflix)

While more of an action-adventure, Outer Banks is steeped in class conflict and the secrets of the privileged. The story is set in a coastal town split between the wealthy "Kooks" and the working-class "Pogues." The main character, John B, and his Pogue friends embark on a dangerous treasure hunt tied to the mystery of his missing father.

  • Why It's Like We Were Liars: The series constantly highlights the conflict between the two classes, showing how the wealthy Kooks often operate above the law and keep vital secrets hidden. The high-stakes mystery and teen drama are palpable.
  • Key Themes: Class conflict, treasure hunt, missing persons mystery, teen romance.

6. Blood & Water (Netflix)

This South African teen crime drama is set at a prestigious private school in Cape Town. The story follows Puleng Khumalo, a teen who transfers to the school to investigate a star swimmer she suspects is her sister, who was abducted at birth 17 years ago.

  • Why It's Like We Were Liars: It shares the theme of a high-stakes, personal mystery set within the world of the wealthy elite and private schools. Puleng's quest is driven by a deep, painful family secret that she is determined to uncover, much like Cadence’s pursuit of the truth about her past summer.
  • Key Themes: Family secrets, abduction mystery, private school drama, South African setting.

7. Grosse Pointe Garden Society (NBC / Streaming)

This recent drama focuses on the seemingly charming members of a suburban elite garden society who are hiding their involvement in a murder. The series explores the decadent and dark secrets of a wealthy community.

  • Why It's Like We Were Liars: It takes the concept of the wealthy elite hiding a murder and places it in an adult, domestic suspense setting. The focus on high society, appearances, and the lengths people go to protect their image and secrets directly parallels the Sinclair family's dynamics.
  • Key Themes: Suburban secrets, murder cover-up, domestic suspense, high society drama.

More Psychological Thrillers with Deadly Consequences

For those who love the sheer tension and psychological depth of a story where every character is a suspect, these titles offer compelling alternatives.

8. Dead to Me (Netflix)

Starring Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini as Jen and Judy, this black comedy-crime thriller centers on a powerful friendship that blossoms between a tightly wound widow and a free spirit with a shocking secret.

  • Why It's Like We Were Liars: This show is a masterclass in the psychological consequences of secrets and lies. The entire premise is built on a massive lie that Judy is keeping from Jen, creating a constant tension and moral ambiguity that mirrors the complex deception at the heart of We Were Liars.
  • Key Themes: Secrets and lies, dark comedy, grieving, female friendship, murder cover-up.

9. The Society (Netflix)

A group of teenagers from a wealthy New England town are mysteriously transported to a facsimile of their home, but with no trace of their parents or the outside world. They must forge their own society to survive.

  • Why It's Like We Were Liars: The series deals with the breakdown of social order and the dark consequences of privilege when the safety net is removed. It's a mystery about where they are and why they are there, forcing the teens to confront who they truly are without their parents' wealth and influence.
  • Key Themes: Social experiment, survival, wealthy teens, mystery disappearance.

10. Panic (Prime Video)

Set in a small, impoverished town, this teen drama follows a group of graduating seniors who risk their lives in a series of dangerous challenges to win a life-changing amount of money. The game is run by a mysterious, unknown organizer.

  • Why It's Like We Were Liars: The high-stakes nature of the game forces the teens to confront their deepest fears and hidden secrets. Like the Sinclair family's secret, the "Panic" game is a core mystery that drives the plot, with layers of deception and danger lurking in the shadows.
  • Key Themes: High-stakes competition, danger, secrets, small-town mystery.

11. I Know What You Did Last Summer (2021 Series) (Prime Video)

An updated take on the classic slasher story. After a fatal hit-and-run accident on their graduation night, a group of teens is bound together by a deadly secret. One year later, they find themselves being stalked and murdered by a mysterious killer.

  • Why It's Like We Were Liars: Both stories begin with a catastrophic event (an accident/fire) that the protagonists try to cover up, leading to a relentless pursuit of the truth. The 2021 series, in particular, focuses heavily on the corrosive nature of the shared secret and the psychological toll it takes on the group.
  • Key Themes: Shared secret, hit-and-run, slasher, psychological torment.
11 Psychological Thriller Shows Like 'We Were Liars' to Binge Right Now
shows like we were liars
shows like we were liars

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