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| Best Shows Like Phony. |
Phony has a particularly unsettling way of turning an ordinary family relationship into something that feels impossible to trust. The 2026 Hulu series follows Sonny Cooke, a teenager who survives a car accident and becomes convinced that his mother has been replaced by an impostor. As everyone around him dismisses his suspicions, Sonny begins investigating the person he once knew better than anyone.
With its blend of psychological mystery, dark comedy, teenage drama and creeping paranoia, the series makes everyday life feel suspiciously strange. Naturally, viewers looking for something similar have plenty of options, especially if they enjoy stories in which familiar people behave strangely, reality refuses to make sense and the truth remains frustratingly out of reach. From supernatural mysteries and twisted family dramas to coming-of-age thrillers, these 23 shows like Phony should keep your curiosity occupied.
Shows Like Phony
1. Severance (2022)
Severance takes the unsettling idea of not knowing who someone really is and turns it into an entire world of corporate paranoia. The Apple TV series follows Mark Scout and his colleagues, whose memories are surgically divided between their working and personal lives. Inside the office, they know nothing about their lives outside; beyond it, they cannot remember what happens at work. Naturally, this arrangement creates considerably more problems than the company brochure suggests.
Like Phony, the series revolves around a protagonist trying to understand a reality that other people seem determined to keep hidden. Both stories turn ordinary environments into sources of unease, whether that means a family home or a suspiciously cheerful office. The mystery develops through small inconsistencies, strange behaviour and unanswered questions rather than straightforward explanations. If Sonny's determination to discover what happened to his mother appeals to you, Mark's increasingly desperate search for the truth should be right up your street.
2. Homecoming (2018)
Homecoming follows Heidi Bergman, a caseworker at a facility designed to help soldiers transition back into civilian life. Years later, she has a different job and a different life, but questions surrounding her former work gradually emerge. What initially appears to be a straightforward professional arrangement becomes a much stranger puzzle involving memory, identity and questionable institutional practices.
The connection to Phony lies in the growing suspicion that something important has been concealed beneath an apparently ordinary surface. Sonny doubts his mother's identity, while Heidi begins questioning the circumstances surrounding her own past. Both characters must navigate conflicting information and decide whether the people around them can be trusted. The series also understands that psychological tension does not require constant dramatic confrontations. Sometimes, an oddly incomplete conversation is considerably more disturbing than a room full of shouting people. Its compact episodes and carefully controlled atmosphere make it a strong choice for viewers who prefer mysteries that reward patience.
3. Yellowjackets (2021)
Yellowjackets begins with a high school girls' football team whose plane crashes in the wilderness, leaving the survivors to endure increasingly difficult circumstances. The story moves between their teenage years and adulthood, exploring how the experience continues to shape their lives long after their return to civilisation.
Although its premise is more extreme than Phony, the similarities become clear through its exploration of trauma, unreliable perspectives and the lasting consequences of frightening experiences. Both series place young people in situations where their understanding of reality becomes increasingly difficult to separate from fear. In Phony, Sonny struggles to convince others that his mother has been replaced. In Yellowjackets, the characters face questions about what really happened in the wilderness and what they are prepared to admit about it.
The dual timelines also create a steady stream of unanswered questions, making each revelation feel connected to a much larger puzzle. If you enjoy watching characters struggle with memories they cannot fully trust, this survival mystery offers plenty to investigate.
4. The OA (2016)
The OA centres on Prairie Johnson, a young woman who returns home after disappearing for seven years. Previously blind, she can now see, and she begins sharing an extraordinary account of what happened to her with a small group of people. Her story raises questions about identity, belief, trauma and the limits of what can be explained.
Like Phony, the series leaves viewers wondering whether its central character has discovered something extraordinary or is interpreting events in a way that others cannot understand. Prairie's account is difficult for outsiders to accept, while Sonny finds himself facing similar disbelief when he insists that his mother is not who she claims to be. Both stories create tension by withholding certainty rather than providing easy answers.
The OA is more supernatural and philosophical than Hulu's coming-of-age mystery, but its emotional focus on isolation and the need to be believed makes it a compelling follow-up. Just be prepared for a story that enjoys asking questions almost as much as it enjoys leaving you with them.
5. Wayward Pines (2015)
In Wayward Pines, Secret Service agent Ethan Burke arrives in a seemingly peaceful Idaho town while investigating the disappearance of two federal agents. His search quickly turns into a disturbing experience as he discovers that the town operates according to unfamiliar rules and that leaving is not as simple as it should be.
The series shares Phony's fascination with ordinary surroundings that conceal something deeply wrong. Sonny returns from his accident to a familiar household that no longer feels safe, while Ethan enters a town whose friendly exterior gradually becomes harder to believe. Both protagonists are forced to question the people around them and investigate inconsistencies that others either ignore or actively discourage them from pursuing.
The difference is scale. Phony concentrates on a teenager's relationship with his mother, whereas Wayward Pines expands its mystery to an entire community. Nevertheless, the central appeal remains the same: when everybody insists that everything is normal, that is usually the perfect time to start asking uncomfortable questions.
6. Mr. Robot (2015)
Mr. Robot follows Elliot Alderson, a cybersecurity engineer and hacker who becomes involved with a mysterious group planning to disrupt the world's financial system. Elliot is intelligent and observant, but his struggles with his own perceptions make it difficult to know how much of what he experiences can be taken at face value.
This psychological thriller is an excellent match for Phony because both series place considerable emphasis on the gap between perceived reality and what might actually be happening. Elliot's perspective shapes the audience's understanding of events, creating uncertainty around people, relationships and motivations. Sonny's investigation into his mother's identity similarly depends on whether his suspicions reveal a genuine secret or reflect a distorted interpretation of his circumstances.
Both shows also examine isolation and the difficulty of explaining an unsettling experience to people who do not share the same understanding. Mr. Robot is more technologically focused and politically ambitious, but its intricate storytelling and unreliable perspective should appeal to anyone who enjoys piecing together a mystery one troubling detail at a time.
7. The Sinner (2017)
The Sinner begins with Detective Harry Ambrose investigating disturbing crimes whose motivations are not immediately obvious. Rather than focusing exclusively on identifying the culprit, the series examines the psychological circumstances that lead people to do extraordinary things.
Its anthology-style structure makes each season a different investigation, often involving buried memories, complicated relationships and events that refuse to fit a straightforward explanation. This emphasis on uncovering hidden truths makes it a natural recommendation for fans of Phony.
Sonny's behaviour following his accident raises questions about trauma and perception, while The Sinner repeatedly explores how past experiences can influence what people remember and how they understand their actions. Both series encourage viewers to look beyond the first explanation offered by the characters. The difference is that Harry approaches his cases as an investigator, whereas Sonny is personally entangled in the mystery he wants to solve. If you prefer psychological stories that gradually reveal why something happened rather than simply identifying what happened, this crime drama is worth adding to your watchlist.
8. The Society (2019)
The Society follows a group of teenagers who return from a cancelled school trip to discover that their town appears to be deserted and that the adults have vanished. With no clear explanation for their circumstances, the young people must establish their own rules while searching for answers.
The coming-of-age element makes this series particularly relevant to Phony. Both shows place teenagers in frightening situations where the adults around them cannot provide the reassurance or explanations they desperately need. Sonny's classmates and doctors dismiss his suspicions, while the teenagers in The Society discover that growing up suddenly means making decisions with consequences they are not prepared to handle.
The two series also use familiar suburban surroundings to create an uncomfortable contrast between everyday life and an inexplicable situation. However, The Society explores community, leadership and social order on a much larger scale. Its central mystery is designed to keep viewers questioning the circumstances behind the teenagers' predicament, making it a suitable choice for anyone who enjoys youth-centred dramas with an ominous edge.
9. The Leftovers (2014)
The Leftovers begins three years after a mysterious event causes two per cent of the world's population to disappear without explanation. The series follows people attempting to rebuild their lives while struggling with grief, belief and the impossibility of understanding what happened.
The premise is larger than Phony's family-centred mystery, but the emotional similarities are substantial. Both stories examine what happens when an inexplicable event changes the way people see their world. Sonny cannot reconcile the mother he remembers with the woman standing in front of him, while the characters in The Leftovers struggle to make sense of a world permanently altered by an event nobody can explain.
The series is particularly effective at showing how uncertainty affects relationships. People develop different theories, adopt competing beliefs and sometimes cling to explanations that offer comfort rather than certainty. Its dramatic approach is more contemplative than comedic, but viewers drawn to Phony's questions about trauma, identity and isolation may appreciate its willingness to let difficult mysteries remain difficult.
10. Cruel Summer (2021)
Cruel Summer explores a complicated mystery involving two teenage girls, Kate Wallis and Jeanette Turner, whose lives become entangled following a disappearance. The story unfolds across different time periods, gradually revealing conflicting accounts of what happened and how their relationship to the events changed.
Its biggest similarity to Phony is the way it uses teenage life as the backdrop for a mystery that cannot be solved simply by accepting the most obvious version of events. Sonny's investigation is shaped by his conviction that the people around him do not understand the truth, while Cruel Summer builds its suspense around conflicting perspectives and the consequences of being believed or disbelieved.
Both series also explore how reputation, relationships and social expectations influence the way people respond to troubling claims. The high school setting adds another layer of tension, because personal secrets rarely stay private for long when everyone knows everyone else's business. With its shifting timeline and carefully revealed information, Cruel Summer is an appealing option for fans of character-driven mysteries.
11. Pretty Little Liars (2010)
Pretty Little Liars follows four teenage girls whose lives change after their friend Alison disappears. A year later, the group begins receiving threatening messages from someone known only as A, who appears to know their deepest secrets.
The series is more of a teen mystery than a psychological thriller, but its central premise shares an important quality with Phony: the characters cannot easily determine who is telling the truth or whom they should trust. Sonny becomes convinced that someone has taken his mother's place, while the girls discover that familiar people may be hiding information capable of changing everything.
Both shows use the pressures of adolescence to intensify their mysteries. Friendships, family relationships and school life become increasingly complicated as the characters investigate events that adults cannot fully explain or seem unwilling to confront. Pretty Little Liars is considerably more melodramatic, and its elaborate web of secrets occasionally seems to have been designed by someone with a suspiciously large collection of burner phones. Still, its long-running identity puzzles make it a solid choice for viewers who enjoy a mystery with plenty of twists.
12. Behind Her Eyes (2021)
Behind Her Eyes centres on Louise, a single mother who becomes involved with her new boss, David, while unexpectedly forming a friendship with his wife, Adele. As the relationships develop, Louise discovers that the couple's apparently polished life conceals disturbing secrets.
The series is a strong choice for fans of Phony because both stories make familiar relationships feel increasingly unreliable. Sonny believes that the woman living with him is not his real mother, while Louise begins questioning what she knows about the people around her. Their suspicions lead them into situations where appearances offer little reassurance.
Both shows also use psychological tension to keep the audience uncertain about what is actually happening. Behind Her Eyes moves into more supernatural territory, while Phony begins with a teenage boy's reaction to a traumatic accident. Nevertheless, both depend on the unsettling possibility that a person can seem completely familiar while concealing something extraordinary. If you enjoy stories that encourage wild theories and reward careful attention to seemingly minor details, this limited series should keep you occupied.
13. The Watcher (2022)
The Watcher follows a family that moves into a seemingly ideal suburban home, only to begin receiving disturbing letters from someone who claims to be watching them. As the messages continue, the family becomes increasingly suspicious of its neighbours and the community around it.
The suburban setting makes this a particularly fitting recommendation for Phony. Both series transform familiar domestic spaces into places of uncertainty, challenging the assumption that home should automatically feel safe. Sonny begins to fear the person closest to him, while the family in The Watcher becomes increasingly concerned about who might be observing them and why.
The shows also explore the effects of suspicion on everyday relationships. When evidence is incomplete, every conversation can seem meaningful and every unexplained detail can become the beginning of another theory. That does not necessarily make the characters better investigators, but it certainly gives them plenty to worry about. The Watcher leans more heavily into suburban suspense and mystery, making it a good option for viewers who enjoy watching ordinary lives unravel under the pressure of unanswered questions.
14. Servant (2019)
Servant follows Dorothy and Sean Turner, a couple whose household changes after they hire a young nanny named Leanne. Her arrival brings a series of strange developments that leave the family and the audience questioning what is happening inside their home.
The connection to Phony is immediate: both series use a family environment to explore uncertainty, emotional distress and the possibility that familiar relationships conceal something extraordinary. Sonny believes that his mother has been replaced by an impostor, while Servant builds its tension around a household whose circumstances become increasingly difficult to explain.
The confined setting makes the psychological unease particularly effective. Rather than relying on a huge cast or constant changes of location, the series turns ordinary rooms and everyday interactions into sources of suspense. Its dark humour also helps prevent the story from becoming a conventional domestic drama. Like Phony, it encourages viewers to question whether the central mystery can be explained by the characters' perceptions or whether something stranger is taking place. If you enjoy unsettling family stories with an atmosphere that grows more uncomfortable by the episode, Servant deserves a place on your list.
15. Bates Motel (2013)
Bates Motel reimagines the background of Norman Bates, following his teenage years and his increasingly complicated relationship with his mother, Norma. After moving to a small town and opening a motel, the pair attempt to build a new life while becoming entangled in a series of disturbing events.
The relationship between a teenager and his mother makes this one of the most obvious thematic matches for Phony. Both series place family dynamics at the centre of a psychological mystery, exploring how love, fear and uncertainty can become difficult to separate. Sonny's belief that his mother has been replaced threatens the foundation of their relationship, while Norman and Norma's bond grows increasingly complicated as the story develops.
The small-town setting also creates a useful contrast between outward normality and private turmoil. Neighbours go about their business, school life continues and the motel welcomes visitors, yet the central family struggles with problems that cannot easily be discussed in public. Bates Motel is darker and more crime-oriented, but its emphasis on identity, perception and unsettling family relationships makes it a compelling companion series.
16. The End of the F***ing World (2017)
The End of the F**ing World* follows James and Alyssa, two teenagers who embark on a journey away from home while dealing with their own emotional difficulties and complicated family circumstances. What begins as an unconventional road story gradually develops into a darkly comic exploration of adolescence, connection and growing up.
Its tone makes it an appealing alternative for viewers who enjoy Phony's mixture of teenage drama and uncomfortable humour. Both series take young characters seriously without pretending that teenagers always respond to difficult situations in sensible ways. Sonny's investigation into his mother's identity becomes increasingly obsessive, while James and Alyssa make decisions that frequently create more trouble than they solve.
The difference is that The End of the F**ing World* focuses more on relationships and personal growth than on a central identity mystery. Still, its blend of awkward comedy, emotional vulnerability and unsettling situations fits the same general mood. If you prefer coming-of-age stories that avoid overly sentimental lessons and acknowledge that growing up can be a spectacularly messy business, this British series is an excellent choice.
17. I Am Not Okay with This (2020)
I Am Not Okay with This follows Sydney Novak, a teenager navigating high school, family difficulties and complicated feelings while discovering that she may possess unusual abilities. As her emotions become harder to manage, ordinary teenage problems begin taking on a much more alarming dimension.
The series shares Phony's focus on adolescent uncertainty and the difficulty of understanding experiences that seem impossible to explain. Sonny tries to work out whether his mother's apparent change is real, while Sydney struggles to understand what is happening to her and why her reactions are becoming increasingly unpredictable.
Both stories also show how difficult it can be to communicate with people who assume that a young person's fears are simply part of growing up. High school pressures and family relationships add emotional weight to the central mystery, making the supernatural elements feel connected to everyday life rather than separate from it. The series is shorter than many teen dramas, which makes it an easy binge-watch. Its combination of dark humour, awkward adolescence and an increasingly strange situation makes it a natural recommendation for Phony viewers.
18. Dead to Me (2019)
Dead to Me follows Jen Harding, a recently widowed woman who forms an unexpected friendship with Judy, a woman she meets at a grief support group. Their relationship develops through shared experiences and emotional vulnerability, but Judy is concealing information that complicates their friendship.
Although the series is primarily a dark comedy about grief and secrets, it shares Phony's interest in how little people may know about those closest to them. Sonny becomes suspicious of the person he trusts most, while Jen gradually discovers that her new friend is not as straightforward as she first appeared.
Both series use the tension between outward behaviour and hidden information to drive their stories. A friendly conversation can take on a completely different meaning once new details emerge, and apparently small inconsistencies can become impossible to ignore. Dead to Me is more grounded in crime and adult relationships, but its sharp humour provides a useful parallel with Phony's darker comedic moments. If you like mysteries that develop through complicated personal relationships rather than elaborate detective work, this series offers a satisfying mixture of suspense and comedy.
19. The Flight Attendant (2020)
The Flight Attendant centres on Cassie Bowden, a flight attendant who wakes up in a hotel room beside a dead man with little clear memory of the previous night. Her attempts to reconstruct what happened lead her into a dangerous investigation while exposing the complicated relationship she has with her own memories.
Like Phony, the series uses uncertainty about personal experience to create suspense. Sonny questions whether his perception of his mother can be trusted, while Cassie struggles to establish what happened during a period she cannot properly remember. Both characters must navigate the gap between what they believe and what they can actually prove.
The show combines its mystery with dark comedy, allowing awkward situations and questionable decisions to coexist with genuine tension. Cassie's investigation is more adult-oriented and crime-focused, but her increasingly frantic efforts to understand events echo Sonny's determination to uncover the truth. If you enjoy watching a protagonist attempt to assemble a coherent explanation while repeatedly making their own life more complicated, this series should be an entertaining next choice.
20. Castle Rock (2018)
Castle Rock brings together psychological horror, mystery and supernatural storytelling in a town inspired by the fictional world of Stephen King. Across its two seasons, the anthology-style series explores disturbing events, troubled characters and secrets that connect the town's present to its past.
The setting makes it a useful match for Phony, which also uses a seemingly ordinary community to heighten its central mystery. Sonny's small town continues to look familiar even as he becomes convinced that something is terribly wrong at home. In Castle Rock, the town itself feels as though it is hiding something, and its residents cannot always explain the strange circumstances surrounding them.
Both shows build suspense through uncertainty rather than immediately revealing the source of every problem. Their characters are left trying to interpret events while dealing with personal fears and conflicting accounts. Castle Rock is more overtly supernatural and horror-driven, but its mixture of psychological tension and small-town secrets makes it an attractive option for viewers who enjoy stories that turn familiar surroundings into something far less reassuring.
21. Brand New Cherry Flavor (2021)
Brand New Cherry Flavor follows Lisa Nova, an aspiring filmmaker who arrives in Hollywood in the 1990s and becomes involved with a powerful producer. After their relationship deteriorates, she pursues a course of action that draws her into increasingly bizarre and unsettling circumstances.
The series is much stranger than Phony, but its interest in paranoia, personal obsession and the uncertainty of what is real makes it a worthwhile recommendation. Lisa's determination to pursue her goals leads her into a world where familiar rules no longer seem to apply. Sonny similarly becomes consumed by his need to prove that his mother has been replaced, even as the people around him question his conclusions.
Both protagonists find themselves in situations where the line between a rational investigation and an increasingly troubling fixation becomes difficult to identify. The difference is that Brand New Cherry Flavor embraces surreal horror and grotesque imagery, while Phony begins with a more intimate family mystery. For viewers who want something more experimental after exploring psychological thrillers, this limited series offers an unpredictable change of pace.
22. Dark (2017)
Dark begins with the disappearance of a child in a German town, prompting four families to confront secrets that stretch across generations. What initially resembles a local missing-person mystery gradually develops into a complicated story involving time, family connections and the consequences of events that refuse to remain in the past.
Its intricate plot makes it an excellent option for viewers who enjoy Phony's gradual questioning of reality. Sonny tries to understand why his mother seems different, while the characters in Dark discover that their understanding of their families and their town is incomplete. In both series, familiar relationships become central to a mystery that grows more complicated with each discovery.
Dark is considerably more ambitious in its use of science fiction, and following its multiple timelines requires attention. Watching it while scrolling through your phone is an excellent way to spend several episodes wondering why nothing makes sense. Nevertheless, its careful construction and focus on family secrets make it a rewarding choice for anyone who likes connecting clues and reconsidering earlier scenes as new information emerges.
23. The Devil's Hour (2022)
The Devil's Hour follows Lucy Chambers, a social worker who repeatedly wakes at 3.33am and experiences disturbing visions. Her personal life becomes increasingly complicated as she becomes connected to a criminal investigation and encounters circumstances that challenge her understanding of reality.
This British thriller is one of the strongest recommendations for viewers drawn to Phony's psychological uncertainty. Lucy's experiences leave her searching for explanations, while Sonny's conviction about his mother forces him to question the evidence in front of him. Both characters face situations that other people struggle to understand, creating tension between their private experiences and the explanations offered by those around them.
The series also explores the relationship between memory, identity and events that appear to defy ordinary logic. Its atmosphere is more overtly ominous than Phony's darkly comic coming-of-age setting, but the central appeal is similar: the audience is encouraged to question what is happening rather than accept the first explanation available. If you want a mystery that combines emotional stakes with a genuinely unsettling atmosphere, The Devil's Hour is an excellent final addition to your watchlist.
Is It Worth Watching Shows Like Phony?
What makes Phony such an appealing starting point for this list is the way it turns a simple family relationship into a question that refuses to go away. A teenager believing his mother has been replaced could easily become a straightforward thriller, but the premise becomes more interesting when everyone around him offers a different explanation. That uncertainty is what makes shows like Severance, Homecoming and The Devil's Hour particularly effective alternatives. They understand that a mystery becomes much more compelling when the audience cannot immediately decide whom to trust.
Personally, I'd start with Severance for its inventive premise, then move on to Cruel Summer for its teenage intrigue and Servant for its unsettling domestic atmosphere. The End of the F**ing World* is the better choice if the dark humour matters more than the mystery itself. Not every recommendation follows the same formula, of course, but that is the point. Sometimes the best follow-up is not a near-identical copy but a series that explores the same fears from a different angle. Which of these 23 shows would you watch first, and have you found another series that deserves a place on this list? Share your pick and let other Phony fans know what they should watch next.