The best Netflix original series right now

2023 has been a good year for Netflix. The fourth season of You debuted to record-breaking numbers, and the second season of Shadow and Bone, the hit fantasy series, is already No.1 on the Netflix charts.

The collection of original projects available on the service is ever-changing, with new shows coming to Netflix throughout each month. In order to help you choose what to watch next, we’ve carefully 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

• 

  Shadow and Bone

  Shadow and Bone tv-14 2021

• 

  Lockwood & Co.

  Lockwood & Co. tv-14 2023

• 

  The Witcher: Blood Origin

  The Witcher: Blood Origin tv-ma 2022

• 

  Alice in Borderland

  Alice in Borderland tv-ma 2020

Shadow and Bone (2021) new

Shadow and Bone

Trailer

69 %

7.6/10

tv-14 2 Seasons

Genre Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast Jessie Mei Li, Archie Renaux, Freddy Carter

Created by Eric Heisserer

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

Need some fantasy in your drab life? Shadow and Bone is back for its second season on Netflix. And if you’re unfamiliar with the world of the show, it does get you up to speed fairly quickly. The short version is that it takes place in an alternate world, much like our own, which has been divided by literal darkness. And in this world, magic is real…and often lethal.

Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) is a Sun Summoner who has the ability to control light and perhaps to free her world from the darkness. Now, she just needs to survive her confrontation with her Shadow Summoner counterpart, General Aleksander Kirigan (Ben Barnes).

Read less Read more

​Shadow and Bone | Official Trailer | Netflix

You (2018)

You

tv-ma 4 Seasons

Genre Mystery, Crime, Drama

Cast Penn Badgley, Lukas Gage, Charlotte Ritchie

Created by Greg Berlanti, Sera Gamble

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

You has been such a megahit for Netflix that it’s easy to forget that it was once a Lifetime original series that was canceled before Netflix swooped in to renew the show. In You‘s recently completed fourth season, serial killer Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) has relocated to London in an attempt to reinvent himself yet again. This time, Joe is really trying to cut back on his murderous tendencies. But old habits die hard. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Read less Read more Lockwood & Co. (2023) new

Lockwood & Co.

tv-14 1 Season

Genre Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast Ruby Stokes, Cameron Chapman, Ali Hadji-Heshmati

Created by Joe Cornish

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

A group of London teenagers battle with both supernatural threats and competing ghost-hunter agencies run by adults in this series from Attack the Block filmmaker Joe Cornish. The series is adapted from a popular series of novels, with Ruby Stokes, Cameron Chapman, and Ali Hadji-Heshmati leading its young cast.

Read less Read more That ’90s Show (2023)

That ’90s Show

1 Season

Genre Comedy

Cast Debra Jo Rupp, Kurtwood Smith, Callie Haverda

Created by Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Gregg Mettler, Lindsay Turner

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

Hanging out…down at Netflix?!? Red and Kitty Foreman and their wonderful basement hang-out spot are back in this revival of That ’70s Show, which finds the teenage daughter of original series characters Eric and Donna visiting with her grandparents for the summer. While there, she falls in with a new generation of teenage slackers and proves that some aspects of the teen experience never change, no matter which era it is.

Read less Read more The Witcher: Blood Origin (2022) new

The Witcher: Blood Origin

tv-ma 1 Season

Genre Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast Laurence O’Fuarain, Sophia Brown, Michelle Yeoh

Created by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, Declan de Barra

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

This prequel series set in the universe of The Witcher unfolds more than a thousand years before the events of that show and follows a group of seven characters forced to unite their efforts in order to save the world from a terrible force. Recent Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh leads the ensemble cast of the series, which sets the stage for the saga to come in The Witcher.

Read less Read more Alice in Borderland (2020) new

Alice in Borderland

tv-ma 2 Seasons

Genre Drama, Mystery, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Created by Yoshiki Watanabe, Yasuko Kuramitsu

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

A slacker gamer named Arisu (Kento Yamazaki) suddenly finds himself and his two best friends transported to an eerily empty Tokyo in this series based on the manga of the same name by Haro Aso. They soon discover that they have to compete in deadly games to survive, and must do so while trying to solve the mystery around their strange predicament.

Alice in Borderland is like Battle Royale mixed with The Hunger Games It was renewed for a second season almost immediately after the series premiered. The next chapter of the mind-boggling saga premiered late last year.

Read less Read more Emily in Paris (2020)

Emily in Paris

60 %

6.9/10

tv-ma 3 Seasons

Genre Drama, Comedy

Cast Lily Collins, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, Ashley Park

Created by Darren Star

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

Lily Collins plays titular marketing exec Emily Cooper in this series that finds her traveling to Paris for a new job and navigating life, love, and the culture shock of her new, Parisian environment. Shamelessly fun, the show leans heavily into its setting to bring out the glamor of one of the world’s most beautiful cities.

Read less Read more Dead to Me (2019) new

Dead to Me

68 %

8.0/10

tv-ma 3 Seasons

Genre Drama, Mystery, Crime

Cast Christina Applegate, Linda Cardellini, James Marsden

Created by Liz Feldman

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more The Watcher (2022)

The Watcher

54 %

6.6/10

tv-ma 1 Season

Genre Drama, Mystery

Cast Bobby Cannavale, Naomi Watts, Jennifer Coolidge

Created by Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more The Sandman (2022)

The Sandman

66 %

7.8/10

tv-ma 1 Season

Genre Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama

Cast Tom Sturridge, Boyd Holbrook, Vivienne Acheampong

Created by David S. Goyer, Neil Gaiman, Allan Heinberg

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more The Cuphead Show! (2022)

The Cuphead Show!

69 %

7.4/10

tv-y7 2 Seasons

Genre Animation, Comedy, Family

Cast Frank Todaro, Tru Valentino

Created by Dave Wasson

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more Cobra Kai (2018)

Cobra Kai

70 %

8.6/10

tv-14 5 Seasons

Genre Action & Adventure, Drama

Cast William Zabka, Ralph Macchio, Courtney Henggeler

Created by Hayden Schlossberg, Josh Heald, John Hurwitz

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more Never Have I Ever (2020)

Never Have I Ever

80 %

7.9/10

tv-14 3 Seasons

Genre Comedy

Cast Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Jaren Lewison

Created by Lang Fisher, Mindy Kaling

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more Inventing Anna (2022)

Inventing Anna

57 %

6.8/10

tv-ma 1 Season

Genre Drama

Cast Julia Garner, Anna Chlumsky, Arian Moayed

Created by Shonda Rhimes

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more The Lincoln Lawyer (2022)

The Lincoln Lawyer

62 %

7.7/10

tv-ma 1 Season

Genre Drama, Crime

Cast Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Neve Campbell, Becki Newton

Created by David E. Kelley

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more Heartstopper (2022)

Heartstopper

85 %

8.8/10

tv-14 1 Season

Genre Drama

Cast Kit Connor, Joe Locke, William Gao

Created by Alice Oseman

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more Grace and Frankie (2015) new

Grace and Frankie

58 %

8.2/10

tv-ma 7 Seasons

Genre Comedy, Drama

Cast Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Martin Sheen

Created by Howard J. Morris, Marta Kauffman

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more Stranger Things (2016)

Stranger Things

75 %

8.7/10

tv-14 4 Seasons

Genre Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Mystery, Drama

Cast Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard

Created by Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more Peaky Blinders (2013)

Peaky Blinders

8.8/10

tv-ma 6 Seasons

Genre Crime, Drama

Cast Cillian Murphy, Paul Anderson, Sam Claflin

Created by Steven Knight

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more Russian Doll (2019)

Russian Doll

88 %

7.9/10

tv-ma 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

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more Ozark (2017)

Ozark

67 %

8.4/10

tv-ma 4 Seasons

Genre Crime, Drama

Cast Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, Sofia Hublitz

Created by Mark Williams, Bill Dubuque

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more Bridgerton (2020)

Bridgerton

75 %

7.3/10

tv-ma 2 Seasons

Genre Drama, Romance

Cast Phoebe Dynevor, Regé-Jean Page, Adjoa Andoh

Created by Chris Van Dusen

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more The Witcher (2019)

The Witcher

53 %

8.2/10

tv-ma 2 Seasons

Genre Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama, Action & Adventure

Cast Henry Cavill, Freya Allan, Anya Chalotra

Created by Lauren Schmidt

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more Squid Game (2021)

Squid Game

69 %

8.1/10

tv-ma 1 Season

Genre Action & Adventure, Mystery, Drama

Cast Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Jung Ho-yeon

Created by Hwang Dong-hyuk

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more

Digital Trends streaming roundup

Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness (2020)

Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness

76 %

7.5/10

tv-ma 2 Seasons

Genre Documentary, Crime

Cast Joe Exotic, Carole Baskin

Created by Eric Goode

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson (2019)

I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson

7.9/10

tv-ma 2 Seasons

Genre Comedy

Cast Tim Robinson

Created by Zach Kanin, Tim Robinson

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more Sweet Tooth (2021)

Sweet Tooth

78 %

7.9/10

tv-14 1 Season

Genre Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast Christian Convery, Nonso Anozie, Adeel Akhtar

Created by Jim Mickle

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more Shadow and Bone (2021)

Shadow and Bone

69 %

7.7/10

tv-14 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

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more The Queen’s Gambit (2020)

The Queen’s Gambit

8.0/10

tv-ma 1 Season

Genre Drama

Cast Anya Taylor-Joy, Bill Camp, Moses Ingram

Created by Scott Frank, Allan Scott

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018)

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

74 %

7.5/10

tv-14 4 Seasons

Genre Drama, Fantasy, Horror

Cast Kiernan Shipka, Ross Lynch, Lucy Davis, Tati Gabrielle, Miranda Otto, Gavin Leatherwood

Created by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more

American Vandal (2017)

American Vandal

76 %

8.2/10

tv-ma 2 Seasons

Genre Comedy, Crime, Drama

Cast Tyler Alvarez, Griffin Gluck

Created by Dan Perrault, Tony Yacenda

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more

Black Mirror (2011)

Black Mirror

8.8/10

tv-ma 5 Seasons

Genre Sci-fi, Psychological Thriller, Dystopia

Cast Daniel Kaluuya, Wyatt Russell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Daniel Lapaine

Created by Charlie Brooker

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more

The Crown (2016)

The Crown

84 %

8.6/10

tv-ma 4 Seasons

Genre Biography, Drama, History

Cast Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, Matt Smith

Created by Peter Morgan

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more

Dark (2017)

Dark

8.8/10

tv-ma 3 Seasons

Genre Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama, Mystery, Crime

Cast Louis Hofmann, Karoline Eichhorn, Christian Hutcherson

Created by Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more GLOW (2017)

GLOW

82 %

8.0/10

tv-ma 3 Seasons

Genre Comedy, Drama

Cast Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin, Marc Maron

Created by Liz Flahive, Carly Mensch

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more The Haunting of Hill House (2018)

The Haunting of Hill House

79 %

8.6/10

tv-ma 1 Season

Genre Mystery, Drama

Cast Michiel Huisman, Elizabeth Reaser, Kate Siegel

Created by Mike Flanagan

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.”

Read less Read more

Mindhunter (2017)

Mindhunter

80 %

8.6/10

tv-ma 2 Seasons

Genre Drama, Crime

Cast Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, Hannah Gross, Anna Torv

Created by Joe Penhall

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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. 

Read less Read more Narcos (2015)

Narcos

80 %

8.8/10

tv-ma 3 Seasons

Genre Crime, Drama

Cast Pedro Pascal, Matias Varela, Damián Alcázar

Created by Chris Brancato, Doug Miro, Carlo Bernard

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more Orange Is the New Black (2013)

Orange Is the New Black

8.0/10

tv-ma 7 Seasons

Genre Comedy, Drama

Cast Taylor Schilling, Natasha Lyonne, Uzo Aduba

Created by Jenji Kohan

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more Sense8 (2015)

Sense8

66 %

8.3/10

tv-ma 2 Seasons

Genre Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama

Cast Miguel Ángel Silvestre, Max Riemelt, Jamie Clayton

Created by Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski, J. Michael Straczynski

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more House of Cards (2013)

House of Cards

73 %

8.7/10

tv-ma 6 Seasons

Genre Drama

Cast Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Constance Zimmer

Created by Beau Willimon

watch on Netflix

watch on Netflix

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.

Read less Read more