Netflix has been leading the way with original series for a while now, from its early, critical success with House of Cards to the pop culture phenomenon that is Stranger Things. The streaming service is still churning out excellent shows you won’t find anywhere else, across a wide range of genres, formats, and international origins. The collection of original projects available on the service is always changing too, with new shows coming to Netflix throughout each month. In order to help you decide what to watch next, we’ve looked through the entire library to provide this list of the best original series on Netflix.
If you want to know the latest additions to the Netflix library, be sure to check out our list of what’s new on Netflix this month, the best movies on Netflix, and the best shows on Netflix.
Recently added to Netflix
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Dead to Me2019 - Grace and Frankie2015
3 Seasons
Genre Drama, Mystery, Crime
Cast Christina Applegate, Linda Cardellini, James Marsden
Created by Liz Feldman
When Jen’s (Christina Applegate) husband dies in a tragic hit-and-run, she becomes determined to solve the crime. When she meets optimistic free spirit Judy (Linda Cardellini) at a grief support group, their polar opposite personalities strike up an unlikely friendship. As they bond over wine and a shared affinity for The Facts of Life, Judy realizes that she holds the key to a shocking secret that may destroy Jen’s life. It may also be the key for Jen to move on with her life, though. Dead to Me is a dark comedy that explores the entertaining sides of grief, loss, and forgiveness. It’s about maintaining your sense of humor in the face of tragedy. The third and final season is available now.
1 Season
Genre Drama, Mystery
Cast Bobby Cannavale, Naomi Watts, Jennifer Coolidge
Created by Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan
Based on a true story, Ryan Murphy’s The Watcher is propped up by its A-list cast that includes Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale as a married couple who move with their two kids to what they believe is their dream home. They overextend themselves to afford it but expect to have an ideal lifestyle there until they realize the neighborhood might not be what it seems. Not only are the neighbors intrusive, rude, and downright creepy, but the couple continuously receives strange letters from someone who calls himself The Watcher. He claims to have been tasked with watching the home for decades, and now, he’s watching them. It’s spooky, edge-of-your-seat tension, and while reviews are mixed, The Watcher is a quick seven-episode binge if you’re looking for something exciting, tense, and frightful.
2 Seasons
Genre Documentary, Drama, Mystery
Cast Various
Canceled and resurrected numerous times over the last 35 years, Unsolved Mysteries remains one of the most classic, beloved mystery documentary series. While the image and voice of the late Robert Stack, complete with his beige trench coat, is missing, the Netflix reboot offers the same intrigue as each episode delves into a cold case or paranormal phenomenon through compelling story retellings, interviews, and re-enactments. From a man who mysteriously disappears from the roof of a building to the Berkshire UFO sightings, a strange death in a Vegas motel, ghosts, abductions, and murder, it’s a mish-mash of everything you love about true crime.
6 Seasons
Genre Comedy, Animation
Cast Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Fred Armisen
Created by Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin, Andy Goldberg, Nick Kroll
If you can handle a little bit (OK, a lot) of potty humor, you should enjoy Big Mouth. The animated series follows two seventh-graders, Nick and Andrew (series creator Nick Kroll and John Mulaney, respectively), as they struggle with their burgeoning sexuality, represented by a grotesque, crass “hormone monster” (also voiced by Kroll), whose base desires cause turmoil and frustration for both boys. Their friends Jessi (Jessi Klein) and Jay (Jason Mantzoukas) also struggle with puberty to varying degrees, as does Andrew’s crush, Missy (Jenny Slate/Ayo Edebiri). On its surface, Big Mouth is quite crude, but that humor belies the show’s nuanced, relatable exploration of adolescence and physical maturation. The series deftly handles the difficulties of middle school life, including common misconceptions held by kids about their sexuality and their bodies.
1 Season
Genre Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama
Cast Tom Sturridge, Boyd Holbrook, Vivienne Acheampong
Created by David S. Goyer, Neil Gaiman, Allan Heinberg
Tom Sturridge stars as Dream/Morpheus, the personification of dreams and nightmares. After escaping from the clutches of an occult trap after 106 years, Dream goes on a mission to restore order to his realm, The Dreaming. Based on the Neil Gaiman-authored DC Comics comic book of the same name, The Sandman has been decades in the making. The payoff has been positive, with critics lauding everything from the production design and costumes to the visual effects and lead performances. Keep an eye (and ear) out for supporting and recurring characters like Game of Thrones’s Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer Morningstar, ruler of Hell, and Mark Hamill as the voice of Mervyn Pumpkinhead, a janitor with a head shaped like a jack-o-lantern. The Sandman is equally weird and wonderful.
2 Seasons
Genre Animation, Comedy, Family
Cast Frank Todaro, Tru Valentino
Created by Dave Wasson
It’s completely ridiculous, but that’s precisely the point when it comes to the animated slapstick comedy The Cuphead Show!, which is loosely based on the Canadian video game Cuphead. At the heart of the show are Cuphead and Mugman, anthropomorphic dishware brothers who live with their grandfather who is … what else … a kettle. The storylines are silly as the pair often finds themselves in some kind of trouble they need to get out of, typically while being hunted by the Devil. With a talented voice cast that includes Marcia Gay Harden, Wayne Brady, and Chris Kattan, there’s little substance to the show, with episodes that run about 12 minutes long each. But it’s mindless viewing fun for adults and kids alike.
5 Seasons
Genre Action & Adventure, Drama
Cast William Zabka, Ralph Macchio, Courtney Henggeler
Created by Hayden Schlossberg, Josh Heald, John Hurwitz
Originally made for YouTube Red, this series sequel to the Karate Kid franchise has found a new home on Netflix. Picking up 30 years after the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, Cobra Kai finds down-and-out Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) desperate to find redemption from his epic loss. To do so, and after encountering a young man who is being bullied, he reopens the infamous Cobra Kai karate dojo. This reignites his rivalry with the Karate Kid himself, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), who decides to open a karate dojo of his own in response. But it’s not easy to go back to karate, maintain balance and find peace after the passing of his mentor, Mr. Miyagi. Meanwhile, a new generation of kids struggles to find themselves through learning very different approaches to the philosophy behind karate through their dueling senseis. With five seasons and multiple Emmy nominations under its belt, it’s likely Cobra Kai will return for a season 6.
3 Seasons
Genre Comedy
Cast Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Jaren Lewison
Created by Lang Fisher, Mindy Kaling
Inspired by Mindy Kaling’s childhood, this comedy series focuses on Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), a first-generation Indian American girl growing up in modern America. While Devi wants to improve her status at school, her community and emotions don’t exactly make it easy. Never Have I Ever is a familiar concept but packed with refreshingly funny and original characters and themes.
1 Season
Genre Drama
Cast Julia Garner, Anna Chlumsky, Arian Moayed
Created by Shonda Rhimes
Earning Julia Garner an Emmy nomination for her performance as the real-life con-woman Anna Sorokin (a second for Garner alongside her nomination for Ozark as well), Inventing Anna was also nominated for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. It’s a story that seems almost too fantastical to be true. Garner sets out to re-create the life and rise of Sorokin, a Russian woman who assumed the fake identity of socialite Anna Delvey. She fooled some of the biggest companies and wealthiest individuals into giving her cash, goods, and services. Based on the New York article How Anna Delvey Tricked New York’s Party People, there’s a ton of creative license taken, as clearly noted in a title card at the beginning of each episode. But mega-hitmaker Shonda Rhimes adds to her award-winning roster with this miniseries that’s a must-watch.
1 Season
Genre Drama, Crime
Cast Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Neve Campbell, Becki Newton
Created by David E. Kelley
Fans might recognize the name from the 2005 Michael Connelly novel as well as the 2011 legal thriller starring Matthew McConaughey. This iteration transfers the story from the sequel novel, The Brass Verdict, a legal drama delivered in episodic form. But the premise remains the same: Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) is a talented defense attorney who prefers to work on the go, dealing with his high-profile (and smaller) Los Angeles cases from his Lincoln Navigator. With a second season in the works and top viewing numbers for season 1, the show is filled with quirky storylines and tense moments as Haller’s latest case puts his life in danger. David E. Kelley, the man behind huge hit shows like Ally McBeal, Boston Legal, and Goliath, is no stranger to the genre, so it’s no surprise The Lincoln Lawyer fits right in among his best.
1 Season
Genre Drama
Cast Kit Connor, Joe Locke, William Gao
Created by Alice Oseman
Heartstopper is a British coming-of-age story, and Alice Oseman wrote the webcomic and graphic novel on which the show is based, as well as the show itself. Set in the complicated world of high school, Charlie (Joe Locke) is a young gay man who falls for his classmate Nick (Kit Connor). Through a series of events, conversations, and conflicts, fans follow the relatable journey of a young man simply trying to find himself. Praised for its positive representation of the LGBTQ community, Heartstopper has a Certified Fresh 100% rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes with critics saying its feel-good, adorable, even predictable elements all add to the charm. The series received a second and third season renewal less than a month after season 1 premiered, indicating that fans are hungry for more.
1 Season
Genre Drama
Cast Shira Haas, Amit Rahav, Jeff Wilbusch
Created by Alexa Karolinski, Anna Winger
Seemingly out of nowhere, a little German American drama took viewers by storm and became a massive hit for Netflix. Unorthodox, which features dialogue mainly in Yiddish with subtitles, earned eight Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including one for Outstanding Limited Series and another for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series for Shira Haas. A raw look at the strictly religious and faith-based lives of those in an ultra-Orthodox community in New York City, at the center of the story is Esty (Haas), a 19-year-old woman who yearns for more freedom. While she’s destined by tradition and religious beliefs to get married and have children, she longs to unshackle herself from the constraints of marriage and motherhood and pursue a deep passion for music. There are only four episodes in the series, but Haas’ performance and the eye-opening, heart-wrenching storyline will keep you glued to the TV the entire way through. The story is fictional but it’s based on the autobiography of Deborah Feldman, who herself caused an uproar when she rejected her Hasidic roots.
7 Seasons
Genre Comedy, Drama
Cast Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Martin Sheen
Created by Howard J. Morris, Marta Kauffman
Still holding the distinction of being Netflix’s longest-running original series, Grace and Frankie ended after seven seasons but kept viewers laughing the entire way through. The title characters, played by comedy icons Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, find their lives upended when their husbands and business partners Robert (Martin Sheen) and Sol (Sam Waterston) reveal that they are not only gay, but they have been secretly in a romantic relationship with one another for decades. The uptight, snooty Grace has never liked the free-spirited, quirky Frankie but now finds herself living in a co-owned beach house with the only woman who can relate to what she is going through. The show progresses as the reluctant, mismatched pair grow to love and respect one another. It’s an inspiring story about the possibilities of starting over, even if you’re pushing 80. Whether the ladies are dating, inventing the next best thing for aging women, thwarting attempts by their kids to move into a group home, or getting up to all kinds of hijinks, it’s plenty of fun to watch.
4 Seasons
Genre Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Mystery, Drama
Cast Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard
Created by Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
This throwback sci-fi series set the world ablaze in the summer of 2016, igniting a bonfire of nostalgia while simultaneously telling a gripping story that gets more exciting with each episode. Now, it’s back for Season 4. When 12-year-old Will Byers goes missing in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana, his mother, Joyce (Winona Ryder, in a comeback performance), thinks she’s losing her mind, believing that Will has been taken by supernatural forces. Meanwhile, Will’s friends work to find and rescue him, with the help of a mysterious young girl named Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), who appears seemingly out of nowhere. The mystery gets deeper and darker as the show goes on, while more and more members of the Hawkins community get drawn into the creepy tale. Few shows have been as willing to let children drive the story, and Stranger Things is better for it. The show is a clear homage to Spielberg’s coming-of-age films and ’80s horror, and superb performances across the board make this a must-watch.
6 Seasons
Genre Crime, Drama
Cast Cillian Murphy, Paul Anderson, Sam Claflin
Created by Steven Knight
Although it’s made for the BBC, Netflix distributes Peaky Blinders in the United States as a Netflix original, so it makes this list. It’s also one of Netflix’s most popular shows, and the diehards are finally rewarded in June with the long-awaited Season 6. The hard-boiled gangster drama centers on the Peaky Blinders, a notorious gang in Birmingham, England in the 1920s. The Blinders are run by the Shelby family, primarily the second-eldest brother, Tommy (Cillian Murphy). Tommy and his brothers have returned from World War I with distinguished war records, but also with deeply rooted, little-understood trauma that both haunts and informs their everyday decisions. In an England torn by post-war horror, economic depression, and the Bolshevik Revolution on the other side of the continent, the conditions are ripe for crime. Tommy has every intention to ride this opportunity to the top.
2 Seasons
Genre Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Cast Natasha Lyonne, Greta Lee, Yul Vazquez, Charlie Barnett, Elizabeth Ashley
Created by Leslye Headland, Natasha Lyonne, Amy Poehler
This critically acclaimed series features Natasha Lyonne as a woman who finds herself stuck in a time loop, reliving the night of her birthday and dying over and over again, only to wake up at the same earlier point in the night. Lyonne co-created the series along with Amy Poehler and Leslye Headland, and the first, eight-episode season received high praise from critics and audiences alike, as well as 13 Primetime Emmy Award nominations. The show’s setting amid the nightlife of New York City, the colorful characters that drift in and out of the life of Lyonne’s character, and the deep dive it takes into the psychological aspects of her experience make it so much more than just another Groundhog Day story.
4 Seasons
Genre Crime, Drama
Cast Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, Sofia Hublitz
Created by Mark Williams, Bill Dubuque
Jason Bateman has had as interesting a career as anyone in the limelight. He burst onto the Hollywood scene in the early 1980s as a young heartthrob, starring in stuff like Teen Wolf Too and The Hogan Family before experiencing a major career renaissance in the late aughts with shows like the brilliant comedy Arrested Development. Ozark marks a different look for Bateman than many have seen, as he plays a financial planner-turned-money launderer who relocates his family to the remote Ozark mountains in Missouri to avoid attention from the law. Unsurprisingly, the law finds him anyway, and Marty (Bateman) must scramble to stay afloat while paying off debts to a Mexican cartel. Laura Linney is awesome as Marty’s wife, who gets caught up in the scheme, and Julia Garner is particularly good as the odd local girl Ruth Langmore. Though Ozark will naturally draw comparisons to Breaking Bad, its scope isn’t nearly as grand, but Bateman seems to improve with each passing episode.
1 Season
Genre Drama
Cast Sienna Miller, Michelle Dockery, Rupert Friend
Created by David E. Kelley, Melissa James Gibson
Based on the Sarah Vaughan novel of the same name, Anatomy of a Scandal is a legal thriller co-created by Big Little Lies creator David E. Kelley. The anthology series centers on the personal and political scandals of the British elite, particularly one around an ambitious Parliament minister (Rupert Friend) and the barrister (Michelle Dockery) in charge of prosecuting the case.
2 Seasons
Genre Drama, Romance
Cast Phoebe Dynevor, Regé-Jean Page, Adjoa Andoh
Created by Chris Van Dusen
Every now and then, a Netflix show becomes a cultural phenomenon. At the moment, that’s the role that Bridgerton is filling. This period romance series has already made a star out of Regé-Jean Page for his role as the Duke of Hastings, Simon Bassett. The show takes place in 1813 as Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) tries to find suitable husbands and wives for her eight children. The breakout relationship in the first season follows Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon as their friendship grows into love before veering into even more complicated territory. This story is just beginning, and it’s likely to be on Netflix for years to come.
2 Seasons
Genre Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama, Action & Adventure
Cast Henry Cavill, Freya Allan, Anya Chalotra
Created by Lauren Schmidt
One of Netflix’s most successful series to date is also one of its most ambitious. Based on the video game franchise and book series of the same name by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher is steeped in mythology and history and yet seems to move much more naturally than a fantasy contemporary, Game of Thrones. The series follows a link of destiny formed between a monster hunter (a witcher) called Geralt of Rivia and princess Ciri, a young woman who was cast from her home when it was razed by an enemy force. Following protagonists Geralt, Ciri, and the sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg, the story moves across multiple timelines until merging by the end of the season. As Geralt hunts terrifying beasts and tries to find acceptance in the world, his relationship with the equally misunderstood Yennefer and the lost princess Ciri may be his ultimate hope.
1 Season
Genre Action & Adventure, Mystery, Drama
Cast Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Jung Ho-yeon
Created by Hwang Dong-hyuk
An acquisition from South Korea, Squid Game hit Netflix like a bolt of lightning, quickly becoming the most-watched show the platform has ever hosted. The viral sensation took off largely through social media and word of mouth by captivating and horrifying audiences with its sadistic premise. A cadre of ultra-wealthy elites round up desperate people and offer them the chance to become rich beyond their wildest dreams simply by competing in a few children’s games. Only, in these games, losing is not an option.
3 Seasons
Genre Comedy, Drama
Cast Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa
Created by Laurie Nunn
Asa Butterfield plays the son of a renowned sex therapist — played by X-Files star Gillian Anderson — who finds himself thrust into a similar role with his teenage classmates, who are all either having or trying to have sex, but rarely enjoying it. The show debuted in January 2019 to positive reviews and was renewed for a second season just a month later. Wonderfully acted by a fantastic cast, the British series also stars Emma Mackey, Ncuti Gatwa, Connor Swindells, and Kedar Williams-Stirling, but it’s worth seeing just for Anderson’s performance as the loving, no-filter mother of Butterfield’s character.
Digital Trends streaming roundup
2 Seasons
Genre Documentary, Crime
Cast Joe Exotic, Carole Baskin
Created by Eric Goode
Tiger King, perhaps Netflix’s most absurdist and absurdly popular docuseries to date, could not have arrived at a more apt time in history. As the entire world shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, people spending their entire lives at home suddenly needed something to watch. A hero nobody asked for emerged: Joe Exotic. Exotic is a mulleted, gun-toting, country-singing polygamist who operates one of the most notorious roadside big cat zoos in Oklahoma. As such, he’s styled himself the Tiger King. This seven-part series centers primarily on Joe, but it takes a dark, chaotic spin in the world of big cat trading, introducing us to kingpins, con men, cult leaders, and other megalomaniacs who have become obsessed with the mystique and danger of owning tigers. Their ultimate enemy: animal activist, cheetah print enthusiast, and sanctuary owner Carole Baskin, who has dedicated her life to ending the big cat trade. Things get dark and weird fast.
1 Season
Genre Drama, Comedy
Cast Sandra Oh, Jay Duplass, Holland Taylor
Created by Amanda Peet, Annie Julia Wyman
Sandra Oh isn’t Killing Eve anymore, but she does have a new show on Netflix called The Chair. In it, Oh portrays Professor Ji-Yoon Kim, the first woman of color to chair Pembroke University’s English department. It may be a prestigious position, but it throws Ji-Yoon into the fire as she deals with proposed layoffs, a badly outdated curriculum, apathetic students, and deeply troubled members of her department. At home, Ji-Yoon is challenged by her adoptive daughter, Ju Ju (Everly Carganilla), and she soon finds that there are too few hours in the day to be both an educator and a parent.
1 Season
Genre Action, Crime, Drama
Cast Omar Sy, Ludivine Sagnier, Clotilde Hesme
Created by George Kay
Omar Sy stars as Assane Diop, a new character inspired by the classic French thief Arsène Lupin in this modern update that has strong Sherlock vibes. After an injustice inflicted by a wealthy family, Diop sets out to avenge his father using every ounce of cunning he has. A gentleman, thief, and master of disguise, Diop uses his charm and craft to outwit his enemies and pursue his quest for vengeance.
2 Seasons
Genre Comedy
Cast Tim Robinson
Created by Zach Kanin, Tim Robinson
You might love I Think You Should Leave. You might hate it. You probably will not be indifferent to it. Tim Robinson stars in this sketch comedy series that is about as weird as sketch comedy gets. The general premise: Tim Robinson and a guest target someone and ridicule them or make them feel so uncomfortable that he or she is forced to leave. It’s not as cut and dry as that though, with many everyday scenarios like sitting next to someone on a plane or a first date getting the sketch treatment resulting in some truly extraordinarily weird and uncomfortable yet hilarious interactions.
1 Season
Genre Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast Christian Convery, Nonso Anozie, Adeel Akhtar
Created by Jim Mickle
After The Great Crumble wreaked havoc on the world, mysterious babies began being born. These “hybrids” — part human, part animal — are feared and hunted by humans who suspect they’re created by the virus unleashed during The Great Crumble. A sheltered, hybrid deer-boy named Gus (Christian Convery) has lived peacefully in his secluded forest home when he unexpectedly befriends a wandering loner called Jepperd (Nonso Anozie). Jepperd doesn’t fear Gus; instead, he takes Gus under his wing as they venture across the post-apocalyptic country in search of answers. Based on the beloved DC comic book series by Jeff Lemire, Sweet Tooth is an epic tale that’s suitable for fantasy fans of all ages.
3 Seasons
Genre Comedy, Drama
Cast Lena Waithe, Naomi Ackie
Created by Aziz Ansari, Alan Yang
If you’ve never seen an episode of Master of None, you might be surprised to see star/creator Aziz Ansari depart from his trademark style of comedy — namely, loud, ridiculous, and goofy — and try on an outfit that looks new, but somehow feels broken-in. The show follows Dev Shah (Ansari), a not-so-famous actor living in New York (then, later, Italy), who is simply trying to get by. Master of None offers a unique and honest take on comedy that’s less reliant on punch lines and more situational — it’s Louie, with a millennial twist. Some episodes are funny, while some are sad, but the majority of them feel well-written and natural. Noël Wells and Eric Wareheim (Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!) provide some help off the bench, and while the acting can occasionally feel a bit strained (especially in the first season), Ansari’s crisp writing and relatable performances (he won a Golden Globe for his efforts) truly carry the show. Aziz’s real parents also appear as Dev’s parents in several hilarious segments, displaying comedy chops that must be hereditary.
1 Season
Genre Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Cast Jessie Mei Li, Archie Renaux, Freddy Carter, Amita Suman, Kit Young, Ben Barnes
Created by Eric Heisserer
Netflix’s latest sensation is Shadow and Bone, a new fantasy series based on Leigh Bardugo’s novels. The show is set in an alternate world where the kingdom of Ravka is divided by an area of permanent darkness called the Shadow Fold. On a mission inside of the Fold, Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) discovers that she is a magic user with the power to create light. This revelation changes Alina’s life forever as she is recruited to serve under General Kirigan (Ben Barnes). In her new position, Alina encounters danger, intrigue, and potentially love.
1 Season
Genre Drama
Cast Anya Taylor-Joy, Bill Camp, Moses Ingram
Created by Scott Frank, Allan Scott
Based on Walter Tevis’ novel, this limited series takes audiences into a surprisingly captivating world: Competitive chess in the 1950s. The series follows Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy), a Kentucky orphan who discovers an aptitude for chess when she sneaks away from choir practices to play with the orphanage’s custodian. After her adoption as a teenager, Beth leans into the competitive chess scene, supported by her single, hedonistic adoptive mother. But although Beth is a female superstar in a male-dominated world, she’s haunted by personal demons and plagued by addiction and an obsessive personality.
1 Season
Genre Documentary, Crime
Cast Deanna Thompson, John Green
Canadian Luka Magnotta was many things: A male model, a jet-set traveler, his mother’s pride and joy, and a murderer. When a viral video hits the internet of Magnotta killing two kittens, a group of amateur chatroom buds bands together to track down Magnotta before he can strike again. A manhunt that eventually rises to the attention of proper authorities through several different states and countries, this dark and perplexing crime series takes a dive into even deeper waters of morbidity. A three-part docuseries that’ll have you glued to your screen, Don’t F*** with Cats is not for the faint of heart, but it’s a gripping show from start to finish.
4 Seasons
Genre Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Cast Kiernan Shipka, Ross Lynch, Lucy Davis, Tati Gabrielle, Miranda Otto, Gavin Leatherwood
Created by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Remember Sabrina the Teenage Witch, the charming sitcom with Melissa Joan Hart? This is not that show. Instead, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina shares its name with a horror comic that modernizes Sabrina’s tales of witchcraft with a much harder edge. Kiernan Shipka stars in the series as Sabrina Spellman, a human/witch hybrid who is just starting down her magical path. Will she be one of Satan’s chosen? Or will Sabrina find her own way as a witch? It’s not always an easy journey, especially when the forces of darkness threaten Sabrina and her family.
2 Seasons
Genre Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast Anthony Mackie, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Chris Conner
Created by Laeta Kalogridis
Richard K. Morgan’s cyberpunk noir novel, Altered Carbon is, like all of Morgan’s literature, high-concept sci-fi that is sleek and sexy enough for a mainstream audience. No wonder Netflix jumped at the opportunity to adapt it. This engrossing series is set more than 300 years in the future, in a world where death has effectively been conquered. Technology allows humans to store their entire consciousness on a disc-like device called a “stack,” enabling them to switch bodies practically at will. Once, however, there was a revolution against this immortalization of society, spearheaded by a group called Envoys, who believed true death was the only thing keeping the world from becoming hopelessly corrupt and destructive. Takeshi Kovacs is the only surviving soldier of that group, his mind imprisoned for centuries until wealthy businessman Laurens Bancroft boots him back up, offering to resurrect Kovacs as himself if he’ll do something for Bancroft: Solve Bancroft’s murder. Altered Carbon is complicated and can be difficult to follow, especially when Kovacs moves from Joel Kinnaman’s body to Anthony Mackie’s body between seasons, but it’s deeply provocative and enjoyable sci-fi.
2 Seasons
Genre Comedy, Crime, Drama
Cast Tyler Alvarez, Griffin Gluck
Created by Dan Perrault, Tony Yacenda
After 27 cars in the high-school faculty’s parking lot are vandalized with crude phallic images, the school’s resident slacker and class clown is expelled, but when two fellow students initiate a documentary-style investigation into the incident, everyone becomes a suspect in this surprisingly compelling and hilarious series. A satire of true-crime documentaries like Making a Murderer and Serial, American Vandal is a mockumentary that manages to channel much of the same “Did he really do it?” uncertainty into its story, while also offering a very funny and impressively clever spin on the typical docuseries format. Much like the true-crime series that inspired it, the first season of American Vandal is packed with narrative twists and turns that keep the audience guessing. It’s supremely binge-friendly as you push to discover the next revelation in this seemingly minor incident that consumes the lives of the characters involved in it. The first season of the series earned rave reviews, prompting Netflix to commission a second season, which premiered to even more critical acclaim. Sadly, that might be the last we see of the series, as Netflix abruptly canceled it in October 2018 as part of a wave of cancellations of projects Netflix co-produced with other studios.
4 Seasons
Genre Drama, Comedy
Cast Jennifer Jason Leigh, Keir Gilchrist, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Michael Rapaport
Created by Robia Rashid
On its surface, Atypical is a traditional family sitcom that hits all the right charming notes with its coming-of-age narrative and characters who are easy to cheer for despite (or because of) their relatable flaws. Look a bit deeper, however, and the Netflix Original series about a high-functioning autistic teenager and his family becomes a remarkably thoughtful exploration of what it means to be “normal” in the modern world. Keir Gilchrist plays Sam, the show’s protagonist, whose pursuit of love and the trials and tribulations that go along with it serves as the foundation of the series’ narrative, and shapes the experiences of his family as they try to find the balance between being supportive and allowing him — and themselves — to be independent. Michael Rappaport and Jennifer Jason Leigh play Sam’s parents, while Brigette Lundy-Paine portrays his supportive sister.
5 Seasons
Genre Sci-fi, Psychological Thriller, Dystopia
Cast Daniel Kaluuya, Wyatt Russell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Daniel Lapaine
Created by Charlie Brooker
What happens when technology goes too far? That’s not an unreasonable question to ask oneself in 2019, and Black Mirror (originally broadcast on British Channel 4, before being acquired by Netflix) is a wildly entertaining, if depressing, answer to that question. Most of the episodes of this chilling anthology series ponder hypothetical eventualities resulting from the unchecked advancement of technology, often charting courses that are disturbingly well-connected to the way we work and live today. The show’s production value keeps getting better, and the fourth and fifth seasons — produced by Netflix — include a bevy of household names, from Miley Cyrus to Gugu Mbatha-Raw (whom creator/writer Charlie Brooker uses to great effect). The first two seasons — including the epic holiday special White Christmas — are also must-see programming. The series broke new ground in late 2018 with the release of Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, a stand-alone movie that features an interactive, “choose-your-own-adventure”-style narrative that broke new ground for the medium.
6 Seasons
Genre Documentary, Cooking
Cast Dan Barber, Massimo Bottura
Created by David Gelb
This documentary web series introduces viewers to top culinary minds across the world, offering insight into the day-to-day experiences and responsibilities of renowned chefs. Each episode focuses on a different restauranteur and blends together personal stories with culinary content to great effect. The show’s traditional documentary presentation can be a bit stuffy at times, and the narratives can be unevenly balanced in favor of emotional backstories, but most viewers should enjoy and appreciate some insight into the wide world of fine dining. The quality of each episode hinges largely upon the personality of the chosen chef, and some — notably Massimo Bottura in the first season, Dominique Crenn in the second, and the brash Ivan Orkin in the third — are more camera-friendly than others. Still, the series is a welcome departure from the competition-focused cooking shows that dominate cable and network TV. If you like this, Chef’s Table France and Chef’s Table: Pizza are also worth checking out.
4 Seasons
Genre Biography, Drama, History
Cast Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, Matt Smith
Created by Peter Morgan
Easily the most celebrated British period piece since Downton Abbey, The Crown follows Queen Elizabeth II — the still-reigning Queen of England, at 93 years old — across different periods of her life, beginning with her 1947 marriage to Prince Philip of Edinburgh. Reception to the series has been overwhelmingly positive, as nearly every aspect of the show — acting, production value, historical accuracy — has been widely praised. The series’ interesting format sees Netflix recasting the role of Elizabeth and other characters season-to-season; Claire Foy starred in seasons 1 and 2 alongside Matt Smith (Dr. Who) and Vanessa Kirby, while Olivia Colman (Peep Show) takes the royal reins in seasons 3 and 4, the latter of which introduces Lady Diana Spencer (Emma Corrin) to the fray, as the show begins its portrayal of her ultimately tragic story. Netflix plans to produce a total of 60 episodes over six seasons.
3 Seasons
Genre Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama, Mystery, Crime
Cast Louis Hofmann, Karoline Eichhorn, Christian Hutcherson
Created by Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese
As the only foreign-language entry on our list, Dark would merit some curiosity at the very least, but it’s here not because it’s German, but because it’s awesome. A Stranger Things-esque setup — missing children from a small town, supernatural occurrences, mysterious laboratories — will have you thinking you know what to expect, but trust us, you don’t. The town of Winden lives in the shadow of eternal clouds, lending Dark a more macabre vibe than Stranger Things, which peppers in comic sequences and lots of nostalgia. Dark weaves together multiple storylines amid complex relationships endemic to small-town life, even outside the good, old U.S. of A. If you’re in the mood for a lighthearted romp or a satisfying romance arc, move on — this is not the show for you. But if you love serious shows with a flair for the dramatic (and a heaping helping of despair), check this one out.
4 Seasons
Genre Comedy, Drama
Cast Logan Browning, Brandon P. Bell, DeRon Horton
Created by Justin Simien
After Justin Simien’s 2014 film of the same name earned rave reviews, Netflix commissioned the young director for a multiseason TV series, featuring the same characters (recast) and an altered storyline. The series is about Black students at a predominantly white (and fictitious) Ivy League college, Winchester University, who work to try and find both group and individual identities while carving out a place within the school’s ecosystem. Logan Browning stars as Sam White, a student who runs a radio show titled Dear White People, which causes some controversy among the student body. Thanks to Simien’s expert touch, the show deftly handles the nuances of identity, romance, education, and socialization with plenty of comedic moments, helping to inform viewers of all colors about other points of view without ever seeming judgmental or vindictive.
3 Seasons
Genre Comedy, Drama
Cast Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin, Marc Maron
Created by Liz Flahive, Carly Mensch
Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: A down-on-her-luck actress in the mid-1980s (Alison Brie) finds surprising fulfillment when she joins a low-budget women’s wrestling program run by a seedy, dishonest director (Marc Maron). Oh, what’s that? You’ve never seen anything like this? Duh. GLOW — which stands for Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling — was a real show in the mid-’80s that featured wrestling (of course), wacky and colorful characters, and crazy comedy sketches. Netflix’s take on it sees the ladies of GLOW battling their issues while trying to come together and produce a successful show. It’s a dangerous premise, but one that works incredibly well thanks to dedicated performances from Brie, Maron, and Betty Gilpin. British rocker Kate Nash, Sydelle Noel, and Britney Young are also excellent in supporting roles. In August 2019, the series was renewed for a fourth and final season, but Netflix then reversed its renewal decision due to the pandemic, in effect canceling the series.
1 Season
Genre Western, Drama
Cast Jeff Daniels, Michelle Dockery, Jack O'Connell, Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Created by Scott Frank
Two-time Oscar nominee Scott Frank (Out of Sight, Logan) created this Western drama for Netflix, and the miniseries went on to earn a pile of Primetime Emmy Award nominations for its epic, seven-episode story arc. The series is set in a small mining town during the 1880s after a mine accident causes the death of nearly all of the town’s male residents. The remaining women are doing just fine, though, until a gunslinger arrives in town on the run from his former mentor, the bloodthirsty leader of an outlaw gang. The film features Jeff Daniels as the cruel, aforementioned leader of the gang hunting for their runaway member, but it’s Downton Abbey actress Michelle Dockery and Nurse Jackie vet Merritt Wever who are the show’s real standouts. They play a pair of pioneer women who don’t need any men to handle their business. Daniels, Dockery, and Wever all earned Emmy nominations for their performances, with Daniels and Wever both winning in their respective categories. The series boasts some stunning cinematography, brilliant dialogue, and compelling action scenes to go along with its strong performances all around.
1 Season
Genre Mystery, Drama
Cast Michiel Huisman, Elizabeth Reaser, Kate Siegel
Created by Mike Flanagan
This terrifying series from Mike Flanagan, the writer and director of criminally underappreciated horror films Oculus and Ouija: Origin of Evil, offers a new spin on Shirley Jackson’s 1959 novel of the same name. It follows a family who moves into an old house intending to renovate it, only to experience one scary paranormal event after another before a mysterious tragedy forces them out of the haunted manor. The story unfolds through a mix of timeline-hopping explorations of each family member’s experiences at Hill House and how the trauma of those encounters shapes their lives and eventually brings them back to where it all started. Beautifully shot, expertly paced, and filled with the sort of subtle callbacks that encourage multiple viewings, The Haunting of Hill House is one of the best horror tales to debut on any screen — big or small — in recent years. Oh, and if you don’t believe us, just consider that Stephen King himself described the series as “close to a work of genius.”
1 Season
Genre Documentary
Cast Charles Martinet
Created by France Costrel
The behind-the-scenes stories of the video game industry are widely known to gamers who are deeply immersed in that world. However, High Score still has some surprises for even the most hardcore gamers, with its insightful examination of the industry’s early days as an entertainment art form. From the rise of the arcades, the console wars between Nintendo and Sega, the advancement of 3D graphics, fighting games, and more, High Score is a terrific crash course in video game history. It even features the voice actor behind Mario, Charles Martinet, as the narrator who walks us through every episode.
3 Seasons
Genre Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Drama
Cast Molly Parker, Toby Stephens, Maxwell Jenkins
Created by Irwin Allen, Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless
The latest adaptation of Irwin Allen’s landmark 1960s sci-fi series, Lost In Space is centered on the Robinson family, which has taken to the stars together, courtesy of a program aimed at finding a new home for humanity. Of course, their craft veers off course and they end up in a new galaxy entirely, which leads — as you might expect — to a series of dangerous scenarios in which the family must work together to survive. Toby Stephens (Black Sails) plays army-dad John Robinson, whose wife Maureen (Molly Parker), is the expedition leader. The kids are played by Taylor Russell, Mina Sundwall, and Maxwell Jenkins, with support from Parker Posey, Ignacio Serricchio, and others. While it’s the same old take on The Swiss Family Robinson at its core, the series’ special effects, set design, and cinematography are all top-notch, lending a sense of legitimacy to the many perils faced by the Robinsons and company. Perhaps more importantly, the family dynamic — especially with the three children and the robot Will befriends — feels real, turning this from an also-ran space sitcom into a pretty great show.
2 Seasons
Genre Drama, Crime
Cast Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, Hannah Gross, Anna Torv
Created by Joe Penhall
Why do we obsess over serial killers? Perhaps it’s because we don’t truly understand what makes them tick. That’s the hook for Mindhunter, a crime drama that is executive produced by David Fincher (Fight Club, Gone Girl) and Charlize Theron. Jonathan Groff (Glee, Hamilton) and Holt McCallany play FBI agents tasked with interviewing and assessing serial killers to build personality profiles that might help solve ongoing and future cases. Aside from Anna Torv (Fringe), a largely anonymous cast takes the stage here, as the pair of agents investigates and interviews characters based on real killers from the mid-late 20th century, including one Ed Kemper. Mindhunter is largely a bleak affair, with a general sense of dread pushed forward by creepy performances and graphic crime scene photos. Still, it’s a curious subject and one which informs the detective work done by characters in modern cop dramas. If you liked Nightcrawler, Zodiac, and Silence of the Lambs, you’ll like Mindhunter.
3 Seasons
Genre Crime, Drama
Cast Pedro Pascal, Matias Varela, Damián Alcázar
Created by Chris Brancato, Doug Miro, Carlo Bernard
Yes, Pablo Escobar is played out, and the show takes its fair share of historical liberties. However, any quibbles with this series can easily be pardoned thanks to some brilliant performances by Wagner Moura (Escobar) and Boyd Holbrook (Steve Murphy), the latter of which is on his way to becoming a bonafide action star thanks to turns in the excellent Logan and The Predator. Narcos details Escobar’s rise to wealth and power as the face behind one of the largest drug cartels of all time, based out of Medellin, Colombia. Moura oscillates between dedicated family man and ruthless kingpin with alarming ease, while DEA agents Murphy and Javier Peña (Pedro Pascal) work to capture the elusive patron. If you’re unfamiliar with Escobar’s story, this is a riveting (if not wholly realistic) look into the man, and the chaos he wrought upon an entire continent during his heyday. The third season follows a sister cartel after Escobar’s death (uh … spoilers?). The popularity of the series even led to a spinoff series, Narcos: Mexico, in 2018.
7 Seasons
Genre Comedy, Drama
Cast Taylor Schilling, Natasha Lyonne, Uzo Aduba
Created by Jenji Kohan
This dramedy was once the crown jewel of Netflix’s original program list — judging by critical reception, at least. Orange Is the New Black received dozens of nominations and awards for its portrayal of an all-female prison. It follows Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling), who goes to prison 10 years after smuggling drug money for her girlfriend. The show has been praised for its thoughtful representations of a diverse group of prison inmates, and for exploring issues relating to race, sexuality, and emotion within a controlled, female-dominant environment. Few programs are willing to dedicate so much time to women, and few combine humor with sincerity as flawlessly. The seventh and final season of the series was released in July 2019.
2 Seasons
Genre Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama
Cast Miguel Ángel Silvestre, Max Riemelt, Jamie Clayton
Created by Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski, J. Michael Straczynski
A sci-fi drama from some of the genre’s greatest storytellers might seem like an easy win, but there was nothing typical about this groundbreaking show from Lana and Lilly Wachowski and J. Michael Straczynski. The series follows a group of eight individuals from around the world who suddenly find themselves connected mentally and emotionally. They can experience each other’s lives and draw upon the knowledge and talents they each possess. On the run from a mysterious government agency rounding up these “Sensates,” they must find a way to protect themselves and continue to live their lives, both as individuals and collectively. While the premise might seem straightforward, Sense8 stands out for its diverse international cast and globe-spanning locations that allow them to experience the world through each other’s eyes. As beautiful as the series is visually, it reaches even greater heights with its willingness to explore the world and the human experience through its characters’ hearts, and show the myriad ways we can love and be loved by those around us. The series was abruptly canceled after its second season due to the high cost of its international filming, but a fan campaign prompted Netflix to greenlight a two-hour series finale that tied up the story’s loose ends.
6 Seasons
Genre Drama
Cast Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Constance Zimmer
Created by Beau Willimon
An adaptation of the 1990 BBC series of the same name (itself adapted from the 1989 book by Michael Dobbs), House of Cards follows the political exploits and personal dramas of Democratic House Majority Whip, Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey). On a cruel quest for power, Frank, along with his wife, Claire (Robin Wright), and their cabinet of congressional conspirators and close contacts steamroll, backstab, and blackmail their way through six seasons of high-minded political madness. Due to allegations of misconduct, Kevin Spacey was removed from the show, with the sixth season focusing on Claire’s ascent to power.
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