Exploring the thousands of titles on Netflix can be both exciting and overwhelming. Content of all types abounds, from dramas and comedies to reality shows and documentaries. It’s a good thing there’s a list to help narrow your decision by letting you see the most popular Netflix shows. That’s right, every week, Netflix releases its list of the 10 most-watched TV shows over a recent seven-day period.
One of Netflix’s most popular shows returned this week in Bridgerton. Netflix released the first four episodes of season 3, registering the biggest debut weekend in history. Because of Bridgerton’s return to Netflix, seasons 1 and 2 re-entered the top 10. Below, we have listed the top 10 shows in the U.S. from May 13 to May 19, along with general information about each show, including genre, rating, cast, and synopsis.
We’ve also rounded up the best shows on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime, and the best movies on Disney+. For Netflix fans, also check out the 10 most popular movies on Netflix right now.
10. Cooking Up Murder: Uncovering the Story of César Román (2024)
César Román is a Spanish celebrity chef who quickly climbed the social ladder to the top of the culinary world thanks to popularizing the Asturian dish cachopo, a deep-fried sandwich. The Venezuelan-born chef is a jack of all trades, claiming to be a successful entrepreneur in media and politics. Román also worked as a Basque undercover agent. However, some, if not all, of these claims may not be true.
Yet none of it compares to Román’s involvement in the murder of Heydi Paz, an employee at one of his restaurants. Cooking Up Murder: Uncovering the Story of César Román is a three-part documentary that explores Román’s meteoric rise and tragic fall. Román’s lies about his personal life become more apparent as the series progresses. However, one question still needs an answer: Did Román kill Paz?
9. A Man in Full (2024)
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6.6/10David E. Kelly, the creator behind Big Little Lies and The Lincoln Lawyer, is back on Netflix with his latest drama series, A Man in Full. Based on the bestselling novel by Tom Wolfe, A Man in Full stars Jeff Daniels as Atlanta real estate mogul Charlie Croker, whose empire begins to crumble when he faces bankruptcy. As he fights to keep his business, many of his rivals attempt to exploit his downfall.
Other notable characters include Martha Croker (Diane Lane), Tom’s wife, who wishes to keep her social status; Raymond Peepgrass (Tom Pelphrey), a businessman looking to strike against Charlie; and Roger White, a distinguished Black lawyer.
8. Bridgerton season 2 (2020)
73% 7.4/10After a fiery first season that ended in a marriage between Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page), the Duke of Hastings, Bridgerton returns for its second season with another hot and steamy romance. Based on Julia Quinn’s second Bridgerton novel, The Viscount Who Loved Me, Bridgerton season 2 spotlights Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey).
As the head of the family, Anthony feels pressure to look after his mother and siblings, meaning he has little time for romance. However, Anthony knows that, as a Viscount, he must find a wife. Enter Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran), the diamond of the social season. Anthony sees Edwina as a good match because of her grace, nobility, and intelligence. Yet, to win Edwina, Anthony has to impress her sister, Kate (Simone Ashley), who may have feelings for the Viscount.
7. Bodkin season 1 (2024)
58% 7.0/10In the thrilling dark comedy series Bodkin, podcasters attempt to solve a cold case. Gilbert Power (Will Forte) is an American podcaster who travels to the Irish town of Bodkin to investigate an unsolved case about three people who vanished during the town’s fall festival, Samhain.
Joining Will in Bodkin are Emmy Sizergh (Robyn Cara), Gilbert’s podcasting assistant, and Dove Maloney (Siobhán Cullen), an Irish investigative journalist. As the trio conducts their investigation, they quickly learn the town holds secrets its residents want to keep hidden. In Bodkin, the disappearances are only the tip of the iceberg of what’s to come.
6. Bridgerton season 1 (2020)
73% 7.4/10Put on your best suit or gown, grab the latest edition of the scandal sheet from Lady Whistledown, and head to Regency Era in Netflix’s Bridgerton. Based on the book series by Julia Quinn, Bridgerton follows the Bridgerton family, a noble and well-respected family in London. There are eight siblings, including Anthony (Wicked‘s Jonathan Bailey), Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor), Colin (Luke Newton), and Eloise (Claudia Jessie).
The first season picks up at the start of the social season in 1813. Daphne is one of the debutantes being introduced into society. Once Daphne is named the social season’s diamond, she draws numerous suitors, none of which she likes or appreciates. Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page), the Duke of Hastings and old friend of Anthony, pretends to court Daphne to fend off his potential suitors and increase Daphne’s chances of finding the right man. Bridgerton brings the heat in the romantic department, but it’s also a charming costume drama that’s easy to digest.
5. Baby Reindeer (2024)
86% 8.2/10Richard Gadd adapted his award-winning play Baby Reindeer into a seven-episode Netflix series. The dramedy stars Gadd as Donny, a comedian who works as a bartender to pay the bills. During one of his shifts, Donny meets Martha (Jessica Gunning). At that moment, the vulnerable Martha needs a friend, so Donny shows her kindness. This simple act ignites a strange relationship between the two as Martha begins to stalk Donny incessantly.
The obsession disrupts the lives of both Donny and Martha. It forces Donny to explore a previous tragedy he buried within himself. The genius of Baby Reindeer is it never paints Donny as the victim and Martha as the villain. The show provides empathy and compassion for both characters, with plenty of laughs along the way.
4. The Roast of Tom Brady (2024)
8.1/10Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback ever, aka “The G.O.A.T.” Over his 23-year career, Brady was one of the fiercest competitors in the league, refusing to back down from a challenge. For the first time in Brady’s life, he can’t fight back in the Roast of Tom Brady. Originally airing inside the Kia Forum on May 5, The Roast of Tom Brady featured a wide range of comedians insulting the seven-time Super Bowl winner.
The list of comedians at the roast included Kevin Hart, Jeff Ross, Nikki Glazer, Tom Segura, Tony Hinchcliffe, and more. Plus, several of Brady’s teammates and coaches were in attendance to make fun of their quarterback, including Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski, Bill Belichick, and Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
3. Kevin Hart: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (2024)
One of the highest honors in comedy is the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor presented by the Kennedy Center. Adam Sandler, Jon Stewart, Dave Chappelle, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and David Letterman are some of the 25 recipients of this prestigious award. In 2024, the award was presented to actor and stand-up comedian, Kevin Hart.
Relive Hart’s induction ceremony in the Netflix special Kevin Hart: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. The hilarious ceremony features some of comedy’s brightest stars hitting the stage to roast Hart and congratulate him on the award. Comedians who honored Hart include Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Jimmy Fallon, Tiffany Haddish, Regina Hall, and Chelsea Handler.
2. Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal season 1 (2024)
For those unfamiliar with Ashley Madison, it’s an online dating service where married people can look for affairs. Launched in 2002, the Canadian website uses the tagline, “Life is short. Have an affair.” In 2015, a hacker group known as The Impact Team threatened to leak private information about Ashley Madison’s users if the site continued to run.
In August 2015, The Impact Team held up their word and released lots of data regarding the site’s users. The data breach is one of the topics covered in the new series Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal. The show explores how Ashley Madison rose to power, the ensuing hack that killed its momentum, and the eventual rebirth of the site.
1. Bridgerton season 3 (2020)
69% 7.4/10After a two-year absence, Bridgerton returns for its third season on Netflix. The popular series returns with more dazzling dresses, juicy gossip, and seductive relationships. Bridgerton season 3 has decided to go off course with the books, skipping the third book, Benedict’s Story, to focus on the fourth, Colin’s Story.
In season 3, Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlin) is ready to give up her love for Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), especially after he insulted her at the end of season 2. Penelope enters the social season wanting to find a husband and asks Colin for help. As the duo spend more time together, their friendship leads to romantic feelings between the two. Bridgerton season 3 tests the theory that friends can become lovers.
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