15 Shows Like Laguna Beach That Capture the Same Vibe

Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County wasn’t just a casually popular early 2000s show—it helped redefine reality TV as we knew it. The mix of wealthy coastal lifestyles, high school drama, and cinematic storytelling blurred the lines between scripted entertainment and real life. It’s the exact reason people are looking for shows LIKE Laguna Beach decades later!

Fortunately, our OG 2000s icons aren’t totally out of the public eye. We still keep up with their daily lives through podcasts like Let’s Be Honest with Kristin Cavallari, Tell Me I’m a Good Mom with Lo Bosworth, and Back to the Beach with Kristin and Stephen Colletti. However, those same lives are what inspired a reality TV show format that influenced countless teen and young adult reality series we’re all OBSESSED with today.

If you’re on your 10th rewatch of the series, hit pause and keep reading. In this post, we’re sharing all of the best shows like Laguna Beach, full of intense love triangles, beachside backdrops, and can’t-look-away drama. Whether you’re craving nostalgia or modern chaos, this list is here to deliver.

15 Shows Like Laguna Beach That Capture the Same Vibe

Laguna Beach is one of those series that effortlessly attracts a whole new wave of fans every few years. The combination of relationship drama, luxury lifestyles, and real-life coming to age experiences? It’s like reality TV gold. But new fans aren’t the only ones still hooked! 

For those who watched the series as it came out, we can’t get enough of podcast episodes like “Team LC” and “I was on Laguna Beach at 17. Being Pregnant Online Hits Different.” Getting to hear the cast reflect on those chaotic teen years with an adult perspective makes the nostalgia hit even harder. 

That said, as celebrated as this series is, fans’ love for it doesn’t disappear just because it’s over. Instead, it sparks a whole new interest—one rooted in finding other shows that capture the same balance of friendship, breakups, parties, and personal conflicts. (And inspire convos like “The Laguna Reunion and Spencer Pratt for Mayor!” from Let’s Be Honest.)

Let’s talk about what Laguna Beach is to help remind you why you loved this series so much in the first place. After that, we’ll hit our list of recs for you to add to your “Watch Next” list.

Wanna listen as you scroll? Tune into the very first episode of Back to the Beach: “Ep. 101: Black and White Affair,” where Stephen and Kristin break down the series’s pilot episode.

Is Laguna Beach a Reality Show?

Yes, Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County IS widely considered a reality TV show. It followed real people, real lives, and real storylines. But remember: when it comes to TV—regardless of what reality series you’re watching—some level of it is produced. We actually dive deeper into this in our post, “What Actually Happens Behind the Scenes of Your Favorite Reality TV Shows?”

Cast members of Laguna Beach have repeatedly said for years that the show was unscripted. So, in other words, the cast isn’t memorizing lines and reciting dialogue. What you see is organic, real, and authentic. However, that doesn’t mean the series was entirely hands-off. Production sometimes re-shot scenes or arranged situations to provoke reactions.

But that’s what good TV is! You won’t find a series that’s 100% detached from production involvement. And this is something we talk all about in “Is Jersey Shore Scripted? The Truth Behind the Drama.”

Plus, compared to other reality shows of its time, Laguna Beach featured long-lens cinematography—cameras that were positioned far away to allow the cast to act naturally. So, if anything, we can TRULY appreciate just how authentic Laguna Beach was as far as the reality TV genre goes.

What Is Laguna Beach Show About?

Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County is an MTV reality series that follows affluent teenagers as they navigate friendships, relationships, social drama, and major coming-of-age milestones in Laguna Beach, California. Inspired by The O.C., Laguna Beach helped pioneer the “docu-soap” format, blending reality television with the polished feel of scripted teen dramas. 

Instead of traditional reality TV confessionals, though, the series leaned into a few defining factors. Think: cinematic visuals, slow-motion scenes, close-ups, and soundtrack-driven storytelling. It made everyday high school life feel aspirational AND dramatic. 

At its core, though, Laguna Beach was about far more than simple teen drama. It featured messy love triangles, shifting dynamics, and emotional chaos. It was such a defining part of early reality TV that it inspired a handful of spin-offs, including The Hills, The City, and Newport Harbor. The fans long for beachside chaos—and we get it.

Not ready to move on just yet? Been there, done that, wrote “Where Are the Laguna Beach Stars Now?” to prove it. Check it out next! And to hear a BTS perspective, tune into Kristin Cavallari’s “ICYMI: Laguna Beach High School Reunion Episode.” While you listen and reminiscence the early 2000s, here are all of the shows similar to Laguna Beach you have to watch next:

15 TV Shows Like Laguna Beach

The O.C.

Where to watch: Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

The O.C. is an early 2000s teen drama following Ryan Atwood (played by Ben McKenzie), a troubled teen who was arrested for stealing a car with his older brother, Trey. After his mother kicked him out, public defender Sandy Cohen takes him in. The thing is, Ryan grew up in poverty—Sandy was uber-wealthy.

As we mentioned earlier, Laguna Beach was INSPIRED by The O.C., so you can imagine their similarities. Both series feature wealthy teens, luxurious homes, sun-drenched California beaches, and high school drama. If you loved Laguna Beach, you’ll LOVE seeing the scripted series that shaped its aesthetic.

Don’t stop your O.C. spiral now! Tune into “Rachel Bison: From 2000s Nostalgia to Her Mom Era” from Let’s Be Honest. You can also read over “Shows Like The O.C.” for even more recs.

Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County is an early MTV reality teen drama developed by the same producers of Laguna Beach. Acting as a direct successor to the OG series, it’s essentially a carbon copy of the iconic cast and storylines we all loved so much. 

Newport Harbor follows a group of teens, including Chrissy, Clay, and Allie, as they navigate “privileged” lifestyles in California. It has the same docu-soap format, clique-y group dynamics, and southern coastal charm as Laguna Beach. Was it as popular? No, no it wasn’t. But is it just as worthy of binge-watching? DUH.

The Hills

Where to watch: Netflix, Paramount+, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

Lauren Conrad was ALL the rage during Laguna Beach, which is exactly what inspired The Hills—an MTV reality series that followed Lauren’s professional and personal life. Also developed by Adam DiVello, this Laguna Beach spinoff showcased Lauren moving to Los Angeles to pursue her passion for fashion. (See what Lauren Conrad had to say about The Hills reunion!)

This series is JUST like Laguna Beach, especially considering that it carried over so many of our early 2000s favorites. Think: Kristin Cavallari, Heidi Montag, Talan Torriero, and Lauren “Lo” Bosworth. Consider it Laguna Beach’s more mature, fast-paced, glamorous older sister. It had all the same energy, just with higher stakes.

You can listen to a handful of LC throwback episodes on Whitney Port’s With Whit, starting with “Lauren Conrad and I (FINALLY!) Reunite.” Also, for a sneak peek into what filming was like, listen to “The Hills: It’s On B*tch (Season 5, Episode 11)” from Let’s Be Honest!

The Hills: New Beginnings

Where to watch: Paramount+, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

Even 2 decades after The Hills ended, fans still craved more. Enter: The Hills: New Beginnings, a reality TV show that ran from 2019 to 2022. This sequel followed OG cast members—Heidi Montag, Spencer Pratt, Brody Jenner, and Audrina Patridge, and Whitney Port—as they navigated LA in their 30s. 

That means we also got introduced to a whole new range of themes, like professional challenges, reconciliation, and navigating adulthood. Although it only lasted for 2 seasons, it was exactly what fans needed—and wanted! A blast from the past and an unfiltered look into what the cast members were up to years later.

Still can’t get enough? Tune into “Heidi Montag: Holding On to What Matters” from The Squeeze! And, of course, you CAN’T miss “Spencer Pratt: Fame, Fires, and Not Holding Back” from Not Skinny But Not Fat!

The City

Where to watch: Paramount+, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

Whitney Port graced the world with her presence on The Hills and instantly became a fan-favorite. Her authenticity, down-to-earth personality, and professionalism is what ultimately inspired her own spin-off: The City! This series follows Whitney as she moves from LA to New York City to advance her career in fashion.

Throughout The City, fans get a firsthand look at Whitney’s professional life working for Diana von Furstenberg and Kelly Cutrone. (Tune into “Kelly Cutrone Is IN THE BUILDING” for more on their mother-daughter relationship!) However, that wasn’t all the show offered. Just like Laguna Beach, it was a perfect mix of aspirational lifestyles, dramatic storylines, and intense relationships.

You can hear ALL about this experience in Whitney Port’s podcast episode, “Roxy Olin & I Reminiscence on Filming The City.”

Summer House

Where to watch: Peacock, Bravo, Hulu, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

If you’re a fan of unhinged, can’t-look-away drama, and you HAVEN’T watched this recommendation? It’s time to catch up. Summer House, a Bravo reality series, follows a group of young professionals who work in New York City during the week, but share a summer house in the Hamptons on the weekends.

The tension is HOTTTT, which you can hear all about in Comments by Celebs episodes like: 

• BRAVO: Leaks Hear ‘Round the World 
• The Foreshadowing of Ciara & West
• The Summer House Parallel Universe

Summer House is all about tight-knit friend groups, real-life romance, and high-stakes messiness. Sound familiar? In fact, it’s so similar to Laguna Beach, fans nicknamed it the “millennial version.” Ugh, so good. If you’ve already caught up on the series, check out “Shows Like Summer House” next!

Siesta Key

Where to watch: Paramount+, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

Siesta Key takes the best parts of Summer House and Laguna Beach and combines them into one MTV reality series. Yeah, it’s that good. Following a group of adults in Sarasota, Florida, the series explores themes like relationships, identity, and personal growth. Connections shift, friendships shatter, and emotional tension is thick. 

And the best part? Siesta Key is produced by a handful of the same producers from Laguna Beach! So you know the vibes are there. Just like the OG show, Siesta Key prioritizes capturing what the transition between stages of life looks like. (Hint: it’s a lot of heartbreak, betrayal, and anxiety.)

Vanderpump Rules

Where to watch: Netflix, Peacock, Bravo, Hulu, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

Vanderpump Rules has been one of the hottest Bravo reality TV series for over a decade now—and for good reason. The show follows the lives of the staff at SUR Restaurant & Lounge, Lisa Vanderpump’s establishment in West Hollywood, California. Bartenders, waitresses, waiters, management, all of them. 

Many of the cast members were friends way before the cameras rolled in—and you know what that means. The breakups, the friendships, and the relationships we see aren’t curated for the cameras. They’re shaped by YEARS of shared history. Just like Laguna Beach, VPR follows a tight-knit group of friends navigating social status, jealousy, and emotional confrontations.

If you want all of the BTS details to VPR, you have to tune into Scheanaigans, Scheana Shay’s podcast. Start with episodes like “Vanderpump’s Calls, RHOC Cameos, & the BravoCon CockBlock.” You can also listen to “In Bed with Lala Kent” from Live From Bed!

Selling Sunset

Where to watch: Netflix

We know what you’re thinking: What could Selling Sunset and Laguna Beach possibly have in common?” Hear us out. Created by Adam DiVello, Selling Sunset follows a group of women working at the Oppenheim Group, an LA brokerage dealing in million-dollar properties. But we’re not just looking at houses and touring mansions—far from it.

Selling Sunset is FULL of competition, personal drama, office politics, and shifting alliances. Aside from having the same creator, SS has that same docu-soap style that fans of Laguna Beach love so much. And, of course, it features a realty format where the agents’ lives are just as important as their sales. It’s an instant binge-worthy watch. 

Already a mega-fan? Us too. Tune into “Soaps, Real Estate, & Drama W/Chrishell Stause!” Also, don’t forget to listen to “Christine Quinn On How to Own Your Narrative, Create Your Future, Be a Boss B*tch, & Selling Sunset” from The Bossticks!

Made in Chelsea

Where to watch: Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

Made in Chelsea is a British reality series that follows the lives of young socialites in West London’s exclusive neighborhoods, like Chelsea, King’s Road, and Knightsbridge. Think: 20-something heirs, heiresses, and young professionals balancing luxury, relationships, and high-stakes drama. 

Honestly, it’s like the British version of Laguna Beach, just add a little more… glamour. However, with a cast of rotating characters and a polished, cinematic style of filming, it feels like Laguna Beach grew up, moved abroad, and developed a taste for champagne.

The Summer I Turned Pretty

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Even though The Summer I Turned Pretty isn’t a reality show, it definitely deserves a spot on this list. The series follows Belly Conklin, a teen who spends every summer at a beach house in Cousins with her family and the Fishers, their longtime friends. 

The catch? Her dreamy beach-town summers come with an extremely messy love triangle involving both Fisher brothers, Jeremiah and Conrad. Like Laguna Beach, TSITP has that classic golden coastal aesthetic, an electrifying love triangle, and summer-only romance. Watch it and get ready for just how nostalgic you’ll feel.

Once you’re done binge-watching, don’t forget to read our post, “Shows Like The Summer I Turned Pretty” next!

Gossip Girl

Where to watch: Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

Gossip Girl follows Manhattan’s ultra-elite teens as they navigate privilege, romance, betrayal, and social power. But unlike regular teens, they do so under the watchful eye of an anonymous blogger who reports on their every move. (Can you imagine? Yikes.) Set against the backdrop of designer fashion and penthouse apartments, the series became one of the most iconic teen dramas of the 2000s. 

So, let’s state the obvious: Laguna Beach features beachside breakups, and Gossip Girl is more designer-fueled deception. But don’t let the settings distract you! Both series center on navigating complicated friendships, shifting romances, and intense social politics.

GG fans, tune into “The Leighton Meester Episode” from The World’s First Podcast. Once you’re done there, head to “Shows Like Gossip Girl” for plenty of other top recs. 

The Real Housewives of Orange County

Where to watch: Peacock, Bravo, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video

The Real Housewives of Orange County takes viewers inside the lives of affluent women as they navigate friendships, marriages, family, and social drama in one of Southern California’s wealthiest communities. As the VERY first installment in the Real Housewives franchise, it seriously set the bar.

And its connection to Laguna Beach is actually stronger than it seems! Both series are rooted in Orange County opulence, aspirational Cali living, and relationship-driven TV drama. Consider it the grown-up version of Laguna Beach—it offers all the same parts of what drew you in, just with bigger personalities… and significantly less concern about prom. 

The Bravoverse is VAST—just like our resources. Check out our post on the best Bravo podcasts, tune into Kyle Richards’ episode of The Bossticks, and don’t miss out on “New York Isn’t What It Used to Be ft. Carole Radziwill” from We Met At Acme.   

Very Cavallari

Where to watch: Hulu, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

We couldn’t talk about Laguna Beach and NOT mention Very Cavallari! This E! reality series followed Kristin Cavallari as she launched her jewelry and lifestyle brand, Uncommon James, in Nashville, Tennessee. But the best part? It gives viewers the opportunity to learn more about Kristin’s professional life, personal relationships, and, of course, occasional workplace drama.

As one of the franchise’s most memorable stars, this is an obvious must-watch for fans of Laguna Beach. But beyond nostalgia, Very Cavallari maintains that same appeal of watching real relationships, luxury lifestyles, and charged conversations.

You can hear ALL about Kristin’s experiences in “Keep Dancing on the Bar, Slut!”

Southern Charm

Where to watch: Peacock, Bravo, Hulu, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

Southern Charm follows a wealthy social circle in Charleston, South Carolina, as friendships, romances, family expectations, and long-standing personal drama collide. Equal parts glamorous and chaotic, the series blends upscale Southern living with messy relationship fallout and social maneuvering. 

While the cast may be a little older than those on Laguna Beach, the themes remain the same. Think: calculated interpersonal drama, social alliances, and aspirational lifestyles that give viewers that “I feel like I’m peeking behind the curtain” feeling. Think of it as Laguna Beach with southern accents, adult conflicts, and significantly stronger cocktails.

Tune into “Shep Rose Spills: Southern Charm Drama, Breakups, & That Cringey Text” from Not Skinny But Not Fat! Or, if you want the best of both worlds? Listen to “LIVE: I Get Myself Into Some Serious Pickles—Let’s Be Honest Live with Austen Kroll and Craig Conover.”

Before you hit play on your 20th Laguna Beach rewatch, check out these similar series instead!

Laguna Beach wasn’t just a one-off early 2000s reality TV show. It was a total cultural phenomenon! By blending a docu-soap format and real teens’ lives, the series thrived on an aspirational aesthetic, authentic drama, and emotionally messy coming-of-age storylines. As much as we love the OG series, it’s time to show a little appreciation to all of the other shows that followed its blueprint. 

Craving more recommendations just like this one? Head to Dear Media! Here, we share all things parenting, beauty, style, career, relationships, pop culture, and health and wellness. And, of course, our Dear Media podcast hosts are leading the conversations—you won’t want to miss out on a single thing. 

Also, don’t forget to stay connected to the Dear Media community! Stay updated with our DM Shop, and get your tickets to all of our Dear Media IRL events! We’re not just repeating conversations, we’re extending them—and you can be right there for it all.