Forget ‘Stranger Things,’ This Netflix Teen Hit Built a Cultural Empire of Its Own [Exclusive]

In telling the story of Netflix's rise as the current largest premium streamer, a few series must be mentioned as catalysts for the platform's growth and modern identity. Early forays into original content, like Orange Is the New Black, House of Cards, Narcos, BoJack Horseman, and Daredevil, showed that a service of its kind was capable of pioneering the next generation of must-watch television. The debut of Stranger Things in 2016 and subsequent expansion of the series, meanwhile, took things further by demonstrating the pure cinematic scale streaming could provide, with the ability to make stars and tell stories that feel like blockbusters. Bridgerton would then become a shining example of Netflix's ability to support literary series adaptations, and Squid Game broke cultural barriers, opening up more viewers than ever to the artistry of international television.

A slightly underrated series that should also be a part of that conversation, however, is Outer Banks. Premiering in April 2020, the treasure-hunting action adventure has been among Netflix's most enduring teen dramas and one of the glitziest series at the forefront of its push into comfort television alongside shows like Virgin River and My Life With the Walter Boys. Created by Josh and Jonas Pate and Shannon Burke, it revolves around two groups in the Outer Banks of North Carolina — the working-class locals known as the Pogues, and the Kooks, consisting of rich seasonal residents, often business tycoons and their families. Under their leader, John B. Routledge, the teenage Pogues spent five seasons seeking treasure and answers across three continents while navigating friendship, romance, and unending drama, all while earning a loyal following and over 400 million global views since the adventure began.

Though not the juggernaut that Stranger Things and Bridgerton have become, OBX's impact can't be overstated. Its recent fifth season marked the end of the journey of a lifetime for the Pogues, but it went out with a bang, debuting at #1 in the Netflix Global Top 10 for the fourth consecutive season and hitting #1 in 74 different countries. Between the first four seasons, too, the series spent a combined 20 weeks on the global charts. Once audiences got on board with the treasure hunt and the intrigue of finding Routledge's dad, they stuck with the friend group until the end. In a statement exclusively shared with Collider, the creative trio admit they're still stunned that their series broke through and credited Netflix, their crew in Carolina, and the fans who resonated so strongly with the message.

"Outer Banks has been a nine-year ride for us, starting with a little idea about four friends on a barrier island, and turning into a surprise global hit. We’ve honestly been amazed by the continued reach and impact of the series, and are deeply gratified by the dedication of the fans. This show has always been about chasing something bigger than yourself — about camaraderie and friendship and going out into the unknown – and seeing those themes ripple out into the world is the real reward for us. We’re deeply indebted to Netflix for being a partner at every step of the way, for our dedicated Carolina crew, and for the massive global fandom that keeps coming back to revisit these characters and this story. P4L!"

'Outer Banks' Has Sparked Adventures and Turned South Carolina Into a Destination

Yet, viewership is only a small part of Outer Banks' success. The best illustration of how seismic the teen drama has been for Netflix is the impact it's had on the people involved with it at every level, from the audiences to the stars and locals in the areas explored in the show. First and foremost, the mantra of the show is adventure, and it's made as a reflection of the kinds of unbelievable, unforgettable memories that can be made by going out into the world with friends and exploring. A lot of viewers have taken that call to adventure literally, starting right away after Season 1. In the aftermath, the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau saw a 61% spike in tourism, while Season 4 spurred a 319% increase in searches for "Charleston holidays."

"Pogue" is no longer a concept confined to the show, but a lifestyle people want to embrace. The Outer Banks are also a destination that fans don't want to just visit, but call home, a desire reflected in a 10,547% spike in searches for "Outer Banks vacation homes." Multiple generations have also since adopted the "Pogue life" fashion trend on social media while official collaborations with brands from ASOS Reclaimed Vintage to BYRD, American Eagle, and PacSun have made it more possible than ever to copy the styles of John B. and company.

Much of the show's style has to be credited to the very local production. Outer Banks sported a staggering team of over 1,700 cast and crew and 4,500 extras and daily hires across all 50 episodes, making residents part of the action as the Pogues searched far and wide for El Dorado, the Merchant, the Blue Crown, and more. While North Carolina, Barbados, Morocco, and Croatia were all filming locations as the adventure became more globe-trotting with each season, the series mostly stayed true to its South Carolina roots, shooting in 15 towns and cities across a grand total of 470 days between all seasons in the state. Filming on-location allowed the show to weave in landmark businesses into the Pogues' world, like The Wreck of the Richard and Charlene in Mount Pleasant, the Hunting Island Lighthouse, and Lowndes Grove in downtown Charleston.

"Ever since Outer Banks premiered, it's been an absolute whirlwind," Brandi Sherbert, the owner of Pitt Street Pharmacy, said of the experience of being featured in the Netflix hit. The vintage pharmacy, which still has bar stools set up and an old soda fountain, already stands out as a window into another time. However, a memorable visit from the Pogues, even if a little destructive, has cemented it as an attraction worth the visit to Mt. Pleasant to witness. "Between tourists from around the globe, tour groups, and even locals, we receive hundreds of extra visitors every single week — fans lining up for our famous fountain soda and wondering exactly what John B or JJ ate while hanging out, snapping pictures outside, some even driving hours just to see where that wild JJ window-smashing scene was filmed. Being part of the show has been an exciting experience, but the resulting surge in business is something we never could have imagined.”

North Charleston's director of Tourism, Amy Heath, further attested to the "tremendously positive impact" of being a part of the wild ride that was OBX. "Filming at Riverfront Park and its venues brought the cast and crew to our community, and we saw ‘set-jetters’ visiting nearly every day," she told Collider. It helped to partner with a team that was so cooperative and interested in giving South Carolina as much of a spotlight as the characters. "The cast and crew were wonderful to work with, and we are proud of the tourism exposure and lasting impact the show has brought to North Charleston.”

A New Wave of Stars Was Born on the 'Outer Banks'

Speaking of the cast, several of the Pogues have also risen considerably in stardom since Season 1. Chief among them are, to no surprise, Chase Stokes and Madelyn Cline, who play the lead couple of John B. and his girlfriend, Sarah Cameron. Being the most front-and-center romance of the teen drama has seen their followings on social media skyrocket. Originally sitting at around 6,000 followers online, Stokes now boasts 7.4 million followers for an eye-popping 123,233% increase thanks to his breakout turn. Cline, meanwhile, came in with an already strong following of around 552,000 and left with a 2,871% boost to 16.4 million. Their Hollywood careers have also blossomed, with Stokes next set for a role in the Dennis Quaid NASCAR drama series Thunder Road and Cline bound for Judd Apatow's The Comeback King with Glen Powell after also appearing in Glass Onion and the new I Know What You Did Last Summer.

They're just a small part of a cast that has also counted Madison Bailey, Jonathan Daviss, Rudy Pankow, Austin North, Charles Esten, Drew Starkey, Carlacia Grant, and Fiona Palomo among their ranks, all of whom have seen their stocks rise considerably. Pankow, who played the fan-favorite JJ Maybank, for instance, previously appeared in the Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg-led Uncharted adaptation, as well as the recent Colleen Hoover movie, Reminders of Him. Starkey will also soon appear on the big screen in the new action horror-thriller Onslaught from Adam Wingard.

Even music artists have been affected by OBX. Back in August 2021, three of the top five spots on the Billboard Top TV Songs Chart were occupied by Celeste's "Strange," Dr. Dog's "Where'd All the Time Go," and The xx's "Intro," all of which were prominently featured in the summery drama. The former of the three reached 8.8 million U.S. on-demand streams in that time, too, largely powered by the show. No artist has benefited more, however, than Alt-J, who saw their decade-old track "Left Hand Free" become the anthem of the Pogues and a song that elicits the phrase "The Outer Banks, paradise on Earth." Following the series' debut, the song flew to #1 on The Hollywood Reporter's Top TV Songs chart while also finding virality on TikTok. Truly, it has been a case of a rising tide lifting all ships with OBX.

Season 5 of 'Outer Banks' Marks the End of an Era for Netflix

With the end of Outer Banks, Netflix bids farewell to one of its lynchpins in the general YA, teen drama space, one that has collectively garnered over 10.4 billion global views for the platform since 2023. This genre will live on — shows like Walter Boys are thriving and locked up for the foreseeable future, and new series and films like Crew Girl and Don't Say Good Luck are poised to pick up the torch — but leadership understands the gravity of such a beloved show leaving. As such, OBX was given a send-off only the biggest of Netflix titles are afforded, starting with a custom mural in Charleston thanking the locale for hosting the Pogues for five seasons and the stars appearing at the platform's red carpet End of Summer Bash earlier this month.

The celebration hit its crescendo on August 15 with Pogues for Life: A Fan Farewell Event, a globally live-streamed send-off party that served as a trip down memory lane and a preview of the final run. The stars showed out for a fireside chat, reminiscing on seven years of adventure, while the fans honored them by voting for the first and only Pogue Awards, recognizing accomplishments from "Pogue Post That Made the Most Waves" to "Most Dramatic Plot Twist." All of it culminated with an advance screening of the Season 5 premiere. In bringing the cast and audience together one final time, it represented the culmination of Outer Banks' journey into something far bigger and more meaningful than ever expected.

In her own statement shared with Collider, Nne Ebong, Netflix's VP of Studio Scripted Series, drove home how the final result — a teen drama that brought global audiences together and inspired adventures and friendships — became everything the streamer believed it could be and more. The treasure hunt couldn't have gotten this far, however, without a team effort, from the Pates and Burke to Stokes, Cline, and the cast, and everyone who bought into the summer fun from Episode 1. All Ebong hopes is that the finale cements the legacy of one of Netflix's crown jewels of the 2020s.

"Outer Banks was never only about the treasure — it was about a group of friends finding themselves. It’s the story Netflix always wanted to tell, for the fans who grew up with the show and those revisiting their own teenage years alongside them. Over five seasons, 'The Pogues' became part of pop culture — from the fashion to the songs that topped the charts to the tourists who drove to South Carolina to stand where they filmed. We're incredibly proud of what Jonas Pate, Josh Pate and Shannon Burke built with this cast and crew, and we hope this final season sends them off the way they deserve: together, one last time.”

All episodes of Outer Banks are now streaming on Netflix.