Your next binge-worthy show is just a click away with a Netflix subscription. Whether you’re in the mood for a compelling scripted drama, a hilarious comedy, or that series everyone is talking about these days, the streaming service has something for everyone. The collection available to subscribers keeps getting bigger, too, with new shows coming to Netflix throughout each month. In order to make it easy to pick your next show, we look through the entire library every week to keep this list of the best shows on Netflix right now updated.
We’ve also rounded up the best movies on Netflix, the best shows on Hulu, the best shows on Amazon Prime, and the best shows on Disney+. Watching from abroad? Use a Netflix VPN to access your country’s catalog from anywhere in the world. Want to watch on the go? Here’s how to download shows on Netflix.
Breaking Netflix news
New shows added to Netflix
-
-
-
-
Space Force2020
-
Inventing Anna2022
-
Disenchantment2018
Formula 1: Drive to Survive (2019) new
4 Seasons
Genre
Documentary
Cast
Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas
Created by
James Gay-Rees
You don’t need to know anything about Formula 1 racing to enjoy this documentary series that offers an inside look at the drama and high-stakes competition fueling the annual Formula One World Championship. A joint production between Netflix and Formula One, Drive to Survive is credited with igniting (or re-igniting) interest in the competition around the world — particularly in the U.S. Each season of the series chronicles the races, drivers, intense rivalries, and all the highs and lows for teams competing in that year’s competition, with exclusive access to the teams, owners, and managers that makes for plenty of compelling behind-the-scenes moments. Even if you’ve never watched a Formula 1 race before, there’s a good chance you’ll be a fan before the end of the season with Drive to Survive.
Atypical (2017)
4 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Comedy
Cast
Jennifer Jason Leigh, Keir Gilchrist, Brigette Lundy-Paine
Created by
Robia Rashid
Keir Gilchrist portrays autistic teenager Sam Gardner in this Netflix original series that follows Sam’s journey through high school and — in later seasons — college, navigating the complicated social situations he’s presented with at school and home. After a shaky first season, Atypical found its groove in its second season and followed that up with a third, critically acclaimed season that saw Sam begin college and deal with an entirely new set of challenges. Jennifer Jason Leigh and Michael Rapaport play Sam’s mother and father, respectively, while Brigette Lundy-Paine plays Sam’s talented and protective sister. The series wrapped up with its fourth and final season, and all four seasons are now available on Netflix.
Hilda (2018)
2 Seasons
Genre
Animation, Family, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast
Daisy Haggard, Ameerah Falzon-Ojo, Rasmus Hardiker
Created by
Luke Pearson
This clever, all-ages animated series follows the adventures of Hilda, a young girl who — along with her adorable “deerfox” named Twig — explores the world in and around the city of Trolberg, where all manner of fantastic creatures keeps things interesting for her and her pals. A collaboration between American, British, and Canadian studios and based on Luke Pearson’s popular series of graphic novels, the show earned heaps of praise (and quite a few awards) when it premiered in 2018, and it received a second season that premiered in late 2020. Infectiously optimistic and loaded with childlike wonder, Hilda is the sort of series that will bring a smile to the faces of both kids and adults.
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2021) new
2 Seasons
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Animation, Family, Action & Adventure
Cast
Yuri Lowenthal
Created by
Rob David
He-Man gets back to his kid-friendly roots in this animated series that reimagines the Masters of the Universe lore with a fresh saga set in the mystical, wonderful, and dangerous world of Eternia. Unlike the more adult-themed Masters of the Universe: Revelation, this series keeps things all-ages as it follows Prince Adam’s attempts to protect the world from threats both new and all-too-familiar alongside a ragtag team of outcasts — including more than a few old-school characters given a fresh, new spin. If you’re looking to introduce a new generation to the He-Man universe, this fun series will have everyone shouting, “I have the power!”
Midnight Asia: Eat · Dance · Dream (2022) new
1 Season
Genre
Documentary
The travel documentary genre gets a unique twist in this series that explores some of the interesting things that happen after dark in some of the biggest cities in Asia. From an 85-year-old club DJ to a roving street-cart pub you can only locate through social media, there are plenty of fascinating stories to be found among the night owls of Tokyo, Mumbai, Manila, Seoul, Bangkok, and Taipei, six very different cities that share one common trait: They stay alive long after the sun goes down.
Peaky Blinders (2013)
6 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Crime
Cast
Cillian Murphy, Paul Anderson, Sophie Rundle
Created by
Steven Knight
Set in the aftermath of World War I, Peaky Blinders is a crime drama about a British crime family, the Shelbys. After Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) returns from the war, he sets about trying to expand the family’s control of Birmingham, stealing a shipment of guns to give his gang an edge in the world of crime. The show follows Tommy and his family as they move up in the world, butting heads with other crime families and the British government. Peaky Blinders is gorgeously shot, and the story it tells is one of complicated people and muddy morality.
Space Force (2020) new
2 Seasons
Genre
Comedy
Cast
Steve Carell, John Malkovich, Ben Schwartz
Created by
Steve Carell, Greg Daniels
The circumstances surrounding the creation of the U.S. military’s newest branch are ridiculous enough in the real world, but this Netflix series finds a way to make the entire situation even more hilarious, thanks to an impressive cast led by Steve Carell and John Malkovich. Making his return to television, Carell plays a four-star general who finds himself reluctantly leading Space Force and attempting to transform it from a laughingstock into a serious agency of the government, all while contending with an irascible scientist played by Malkovich and other colorful characters around him.
Song Exploder (2020)
2 Seasons
Genre
Documentary
Cast
Hrishikesh Hirway
Have you ever wondered what it took to create some of your favorite songs? Hrishikesh Hirway’s popular podcast Song Exploder gets the answers straight from the artists themselves. The TV incarnation of the show is back for a new season on Netflix, with episodes on The Killers, Nine Inch Nails, Dua Lipa, and Natalia Lafourcade. Naturally, the first season is also available, with spotlight episodes for R.E.M., Alicia Keys, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Ty Dolla $ign.
Transformers: War for Cybertron: Siege (2020)
1 Season
Genre
Action & Adventure, Animation, Kids, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast
Jason Marnocha, Jake Foushee, Linsay Rousseau
The Transformers: War for Cybertron trilogy gives fans of the long-running franchise a more mature take on the popular “robots in disguise” with a CGI-animated series set in the time before the Transformers found their way to Earth. As the Autobots and Decepticons battle for the soul of their home world, Cybertron, the soldiers on both sides of the war have never seemed more human as they find themselves questioning whether their respective causes are even worth fighting for. The third and final season of the series arrived on Netflix in July 2021, completing this critically acclaimed chapter in the Transformers saga.
Inventing Anna (2022) new
1 Season
Genre
Drama
Cast
Julia Garner, Anna Chlumsky, Kate Burton
Created by
Shonda Rhimes
Producer and screenwriter Shonda Rhimes (Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal) has become one of television’s most reliable hitmakers, and she turns her attention to a ripped-from-the-headlines story in this limited series that chronicles the rise and fall of Anna Sorokin (aka Anna Delvey), a young woman who became an Instagram star by convincing a long list of New York socialites that she was a German heiress. Julia Garner portrays Anna in the series, with Anna Chlumsky portraying the journalist who pursued the real story behind this enigmatic influencer who stole millions of dollars by fabricating a life for herself among the city’s wealthy elite.
Community (2009)
6 Seasons
Genre
Comedy
Cast
Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi
Created by
Dan Harmon
NBC never quite knew what to make of Community, but the series found a devoted audience that embraced its hilarious blend of pop culture comedy. Future Marvel directors Joe and Anthony Russo helmed several memorable episodes that earned them a chance to hit the big screen, but the show belonged to its mismatched study group portrayed by Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown, Alison Brie, Donald Glover, and Chevy Chase. Despite several personality clashes, the group becomes a makeshift family, with Ken Jeong and Jim Rash also stealing a lot of scenes as Dean Pelton and Ben Chang. We’re still waiting for a Community movie, but all six seasons are on Netflix.
Stargate SG-1 (1997)
10 Seasons
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Mystery
Cast
Ben Browder, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge
Created by
Brad Wright, Jonathan Glassner
The Stargate movie didn’t quite become the blockbuster that the studio wanted it to be. However, the franchise was reinvigorated by its TV spinoff, Stargate SG-1. Although the show is a direct sequel to the film, Richard Dean Anderson and Michael Shanks took over the roles of Jack O’Neill and Daniel Jackson, respectively, and added significantly more depth to both characters over the course of the series. SG-1 also added Amanda Tapping as Samantha Carter and Christopher Judge as Teal’c to round out the team tasked with further exploration of the mysterious portals that connect Earth to a long list of alien worlds.
Disenchantment (2018) new
2 Seasons
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Action & Adventure, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast
Abbi Jacobson, Nat Faxon, Eric André
Created by
Matt Groening
The creative team behind The Simpsons and Futurama reunited for Disenchantment, an animated comedy set firmly within the magic, swords, and sorcery of the fantasy genre. Unlike its predecessors, Disenchantment is a single, serialized story instead of standalone episodes, unfolding over multiple seasons. The show follows Princess Tiabeanie, aka Bean (Abbi Jacobson); her personal demon, Luci (Eric Andre); and Elfo (Nat Faxon), the half-elf who is desperately in love with Bean. There’s something rotten in the kingdom of Dreamland, and someone close to Bean may be behind the plot to unseat the royal family.
Dawson's Creek (1998)
6 Seasons
Genre
Drama
Cast
James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams
Created by
Kevin Williamson
Not only was Dawson’s Creek the quintessential romance/drama that launched James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, and Joshua Jackson into stardom, but it also launched some pretty amazing memes. Cry, Dawson, cry! All six seasons of the soapy series are currently available on Netflix, offering the opportunity to revisit the life and times of Dawson Leery and his friends in the surprisingly eventful town of Capeside. If you’re looking for a fun, nostalgic rewatch or simply in the mood for some late-’90s melodrama, it’s hard to go wrong with this one.
We Are the Champions (2020)
1 Season
Genre
Documentary
Cast
Rainn Wilson
The thrill of competition is universal, and this Netflix documentary series travels around the world to put a spotlight on some of the strange contests that have developed both passionate fan bases and colorful casts of competitors over the years — or in some cases, multiple generations. Narrated by Rainn Wilson, the series devotes a full episode to each competition — from the dangerous sport of cheese-rolling to the fabulous world of fantasy hairstyling — and explores the communities around each pursuit that keep things interesting. The series’ opening episode is on the aforementioned cheese-rolling, and after watching it, you’ll never look at a wheel of cheese the same way.
Murderville (2022) new
1 Season
Genre
Comedy, Crime
Cast
Will Arnett, Haneefah Wood, Lilan Bowden
Netflix gets experimental in this improvisational comedy series that casts Will Arnett as a hard-luck homicide detective who must solve a new murder each episode with some help from a celebrity guest. That concept would be funny enough on its own, but the show brings each guest on without giving them a script, leaving it to them to investigate the clues and determine which suspect is the real killer. Kumail Nanjiani, Sharon Stone, Annie Murphy, Ken Jeong, Conan O’Brien, and Marshawn Lynch serve as trainee detectives in the show’s first, six-episode season.
Wu Assassins (2019)
1 Season
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama, Action & Adventure, Crime
Cast
Iko Uwais, Byron Mann, Katheryn Winnick
Created by
Tony Krantz, John Wirth
The fight scenes are fast, furious, and frequent in this series featuring The Raid star Iko Uwais, who portrays the last in a long line of supernaturally gifted warriors tasked with defeating powerful warlords who wield elemental powers. Part kung fu saga, part effects-fueled, tokusatsu adventure, Wu Assassins also brings in accomplished martial arts actors Byron Mann (Street Fighter) and Lewis Tan (Mortal Kombat), as well as Vikings actress Katheryn Winnick and Sons of Anarchy actor Tommy Flanagan. While its story leaves something to be desired, it more than makes up for it with some of the best fight choreography you’ll find in any series out there.
Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (2020)
3 Seasons
Genre
Animation, Kids, Action & Adventure
Cast
Karen Fukuhara, Coy Stewart, Deon Cole
Created by
Bill Wolkoff, Radford Sechrist
This brilliant animated series that premiered in January 2020 defied expectations in many ways, including the decision to release all three 10-episode seasons in the same year. Created by Radford Sechrist and produced by DreamWorks Animation, Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts is set in a post-apocalyptic world where giant, mutated animals rule the surface of Earth while humans are forced to live underground to survive. When a young girl named Kipo decides to leave her underground shelter to search for her father, it kicks off an amazing adventure filled with action, emotion, humor, and one of the best soundtracks you’ll hear in an animated series. (A pair of scholarly wolves voiced by GZA and John Hodgman, rapping about the creation of the universe? It’s in there.) Smart, inclusive, and full of cheer-worthy moments, Kipo is the sort of series children and adults can genuinely enjoy together.
In From the Cold (2022) new
1 Season
Genre
Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast
Margarita Levieva, Ivanna Sakhno, Cillian O'Sullivan
Created by
Adam Glass
In this series from Supernatural writer and executive producer Adam Glass, a single mother on a European vacation with her daughter finds herself caught up in an international conspiracy when her secret past as a Russian spy is exposed. With impressive action sequences, a compelling story, and a protagonist who’s more than what she appears, In From The Cold is more than just your typical spy thriller — it’s a fascinating, character-driven adventure that doesn’t pull any punches.
The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window (2022) new
1 Season
Genre
Mystery, Crime, Drama, Comedy
Cast
Kristen Bell, Michael Ealy, Tom Riley
Created by
Hugh Davidson, Larry Dorf, Rachel Ramras
Kristen Bell plays an agoraphobic, alcoholic woman who believes she witnessed a murder in this parody of the popular subgenre of thrillers that gave us The Girl on the Train and The Woman in the Window in recent years. A self-aware spoof that never takes itself too seriously, the series is carried by Bell’s willingness to commit to the joke across eight episodes of ridiculous twists and turns as her character desperately tries to solve a mystery unfolding across the street while drinking a seemingly endless supply of wine.
Ozark (2017) new
4 Seasons
Genre
Crime, Drama
Cast
Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, Sofia Hublitz
Created by
Mark Williams, Bill Dubuque
In Ozark, the Byrde family has a knack for getting into overwhelming trouble. Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) has a scheme to launder money for a Mexican drug cartel, but when that goes wrong, Marty packs up his wife, Wendy (Laura Linney), and their kids for an abrupt move to the Ozarks — where he proceeds to set up an even more dangerous money laundering operation. In addition to starring in the series, Bateman has also made a name for himself directing episodes, earning a Primetime Emmy Award along the way. The first set of episodes in the fourth and final season is now available, so it’s the right time to catch up on the show’s twists and turns.
Centaurworld (2021)
2 Seasons
Genre
Animation, Kids, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure
Cast
Kimiko Glenn, Jessie Mueller, Megan Hilty
Created by
Megan Nicole Dong
Part Steven Universe, part Adventure Time, part She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, this amazingly clever animated series created by Pinky Malinky artist Megan Nicole Dong is the sort of wonderful pick-me-up you might not realize you need right now. The show follows a brave warhorse who finds herself magically transported to a bright, colorful world of magical creatures blended with other species in one way or another, each with their own special abilities and eccentricities. In order to find her way home to her beloved rider, she must navigate a world full of dangers both serious and silly, and learn to work with a colorful herd of outcasts to save both their worlds. Optimistic, inclusive, and endearing, the series also features an impressive voice cast and lots of Broadway-style musical numbers that make an epic adventure even more so.
Orange Is the New Black (2013)
7 Seasons
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Cast
Taylor Schilling, Natasha Lyonne, Uzo Aduba
Created by
Jenji Kohan
One of Netflix’s first breakout original series is still one of its most powerful shows to date. Orange Is the New Black started as a story about Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling), a woman who was locked up in prison over some bad choices she made over a decade before the series started. But over seven seasons, it became a much richer story about the large cast behind bars as they came together and grew apart. It’s also a scathing indictment of the prison industrial complex that works equally well as both a comedy and a drama. This one is for the ages.
Archive 81 (2022) new
1 Season
Genre
Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast
Mamoudou Athie, Dina Shihabi, Evan Jonigkeit
Created by
Rebecca Sonnenshine
When a film archivist takes a job restoring a collection of video tapes damaged by a fire, he soon finds himself being drawn into a mystery filled with sinister — and possibly supernatural — dangers in this Netflix original series starring Mamoudou Athie (Uncorked, Cake) and Dina Shihabi (Altered Carbon). The terrifying show is based on the podcast of the same name, with Rebecca Sonnenshine (The Boys, Outcast) serving as showrunner, and blends found-footage scares with a story that ratchets up the tension with every episode.
Arcane (2021)
2 Seasons
Genre
Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Drama
Cast
Hailee Steinfeld, Ella Purnell, Kevin Alejandro
Created by
Christian Linke, Alex Yee
You don’t need to know anything about the League of Legends game franchise to enjoy this critically-acclaimed adult animated series set in a steampunk world where magic and technology shape the simmering relationship between a utopian metropolis and the oppressed city in its shadow. Full of gorgeous animation and compelling characters, Arcane follows a pair of sisters whose tragic childhood puts them on opposite sides of the war to come, set against a stirring, powerful score. Once you dive into the first season, it’s difficult not to see it through to the end in one shot — which is probably why Netflix green-lit a second season premiering sometime in 2023.
The Magicians (2015)
5 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast
Olivia Taylor Dudley, Arjun Gupta, Stella Maeve
Created by
Sera Gamble
You may get some Harry Potter vibes from this show, but it doesn’t shy away from the darker and adult impulses of its main characters. Jason Ralph stars as Quentin Coldwater, a man who discovers that he is a magical prodigy and enrolls at Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy. Meanwhile, Quentin’s friend, Julia Wicker (Stella Maeve), finds her own path to magical powers outside of Breakbills. Their paths will converge again, as danger awaits from without and within.
Outlander (2014)
6 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast
Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan
Created by
Ronald D. Moore
Outlander is Starz’s breakout adaptation of Diana Gabaldon’s sweeping romantic novels, but the first four seasons are currently available on Netflix. The series follows the time-twisting life — and love — of World War II nurse Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe), who finds herself transported from 1945 to the Scottish highlands in 1743. She quickly meets and marries Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan). Their love spans the centuries and even expands into the early days of the American Revolution.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018)
5 Seasons
Genre
Animation, Kids, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast
Aimee Carrero, Karen Fukuhara, AJ Michalka
Created by
Noelle Stevenson
Unlike the ’80s cartoon it’s based on, Netflix’s She-Ra and the Princesses of Power isn’t as interested in selling toys as it is building upon relationships. The series completely reimagines She-Ra’s story to center around Adora and Catra, a pair of orphans raised by the evil Horde army. When Adora finds her power through She-Ra’s magic sword, it sets her against her best friend, Catra, who also happens to be the person she loves the most. This award-winning series broke new ground for animated LGBT themes and characters and has carved out a well-deserved place for itself in the hearts of fans.
The Good Place (2016)
4 Seasons
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Comedy
Cast
Kristen Bell, Ted Danson, William Jackson Harper
Created by
Michael Schur
Bureaucratic mix-ups can be a nightmare — just ask anyone who has needed to apply for a passport — but on occasion, they can work out in your favor. Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell) finds herself on the good side of a paperwork snafu when, after dying, she ends up in the Good Place, a serene afterlife neighborhood built by a cosmic architect named Michael (Ted Danson). In reality, Eleanor was an abrasive person who only looked out for herself. Now, to avoid being discovered and sent to the Bad Place, she must learn how to behave like a nice person. The Good Place is an upbeat comedy whose unique setting and surprising plot set it a notch above most sitcoms.
Cobra Kai (2018) new
4 Seasons
Genre
Action & Adventure, Drama
Cast
William Zabka, Ralph Macchio, Courtney Henggeler
Created by
Hayden Schlossberg, Josh Heald, John Hurwitz
The hit sequel series to the original Karate Kid films, Cobra Kai brings back William Zabka and Ralph Macchio to reprise their respective roles as Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso, teenage rivals whose feud has extended into adulthood. Set three decades after the events of the first film, the series has down-on-his-luck Johnny attempt to start a new Cobra Kai dojo, only to have his ambitions reignite his rivalry with Daniel. The first three seasons saw the pair take on new students, deal with enemies and allies from their past, and eventually face a common threat — all while the teenagers under their care attempt to navigate their own high-school trials and tribulations.
Shadow and Bone (2021) new
1 Season
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast
Jessie Mei Li, Archie Renaux, Freddy Carter
Created by
Eric Heisserer
Netflix adapted Leigh Bardugo’s popular Grisha novels for this fantasy adventure series set in a world divided by darkness. Jessie Mei Li portrays a young woman who discovers she is a “Grisha” — able to wield magic and create light in darkness — and soon finds herself caught up in a war against powerful forces, both internal and external, in her kingdom of Ravka. Although the series leans into its YA literature roots, it also takes Bardugo’s saga in some new directions, offering plenty of surprises for fans of the novels and earning praise for its spectacular visual effects and fantastic world building.
Alone (2015) new
8 Seasons
Genre
Reality
Alone is a reality show that could probably be called “Real Survivor.” Unlike Survivor, Alone sends its contestants into the wilderness with the bare minimum of survival tools and little or no human interaction. It’s up to the players to get themselves through the ordeal — or decide they need to quit because of medical reasons or other factors. There have been eight seasons to date, but Netflix only has season 7, which was filmed at the Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories of Canada. If a series about authentic wilderness survival intrigues you in the slightest, this is the show to see.
This Is a Robbery: The World's Biggest Art Heist (2021)
1 Season
Genre
Documentary, Crime
The March 18, 1990, robbery of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston is the largest art heist of all time to remain unsolved. The culprits behind the robbery — which is estimated to involve more than $500 million in stolen works of art — are still unknown, with no arrests made and none of the stolen art recovered. The details surrounding the infamous heist are chronicled in this four-part documentary series directed by Colin Barnicle and co-produced by Barnicle and his brother, Nick. Filmed over a seven-year period, the series features interviews with just about everyone involved with the event in one way or another, from the security guards who let the robbers into the museum to the FBI investigators put on the case, offering a fascinating account of one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of both the art world and the world of high-stakes crime.
Saturday Morning All Star Hits! (2021) new
1 Season
Genre
Comedy, Animation
Cast
Kyle Mooney, Emma Stone, Beck Bennett
Created by
Kyle Mooney, Ben Jones
How to describe this weirdly funny, irreverent, and occasionally disturbing parody of Saturday morning cartoon shows of the ’80s? Co-created by Saturday Night Live veteran Kyle Mooney, the series features a mix of live-action comedy and animation presented in the style of classic cartoon programming blocks from the era. Mooney portrays hosts Skip and Treybor, as well as a long list of other characters in the show, which also features twisted parodies of Denver the Dinosaur, Care Bears, and other series that ’80s kids will find eerily familiar. It’s one of the strangest shows you’ll find in this list, and certainly not for everyone, but if you get it, you get it.
The Witcher (2019)
2 Seasons
Genre
Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Cast
Henry Cavill, Freya Allan, Anya Chalotra
Based on the popular fantasy series, Netflix’s The Witcher follows Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill), one of the few remaining monster hunters known as witchers who patrol the lands. The first season of the series was a runaway hit for the streaming service, exploring Geralt’s introduction to the cunning sorceress Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) and the refugee princess Ciri (Freya Allen), whose fate is bound tightly to his own. The second season brings even more bloody battles, complicated characters, and memorable songs — courtesy of the bard Jaskier (Joey Batey).
Schitt's Creek (2015)
6 Seasons
Genre
Comedy
Cast
Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Dan Levy
Created by
Eugene Levy, Dan Levy
Even Netflix couldn’t have predicted that the final season of Schitt’s Creek would sweep the Emmy Awards for comedy in 2020. But this little Canadian comedy surprised everyone by becoming a TV powerhouse, thanks in part to Netflix itself. The father-and-son duo of Eugene and Dan Levy created and starred in Schitt’s Creek for six seasons. The show follows the formerly wealthy Rose family after they lose their fortune and circumstances force them to move to a small town they once purchased as a joke. On the surface, that may sound shallow. But this is a comedy that has a lot of heart to go with its side-splitting moments and unique characters. The final episode even nailed the landing for the series, which is always a rarity.
Maya and the Three (2021)
1 Season
Genre
Animation, Family, Action & Adventure, Comedy
Cast
Zoe Saldana, Joaquín Cosío, Jorge R. Gutierrez
Created by
Jorge R. Gutierrez
This nine-episode animated series created by Jorge R. Gutiérrez is a self-contained story that its creator likened to a Mexican version of Lord of the Rings, and the description isn’t that far off. The series is set in a world based on pre-colonial Mesoamerica, filled with the multitude of gods and heroes that populated the mythology of the indigenous cultures of that era, and follows a 15-year-old girl who embarks on a journey to find the three prophesied warriors who will help her defeat the underworld deities threatening humanity and save the world. Filled with unique, beautiful animation, and colorful characters you can’t help but cheer for (or against), Maya and the Three is an epic adventure everyone in the family will enjoy.
Better Call Saul (2015)
5 Seasons
Genre
Comedy, Crime, Drama
Cast
Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Rhea Seehorn
Created by
Peter Gould, Vince Gilligan
Bob Odenkirk stars in this Breaking Bad prequel series that heads back to the New Mexico desert for a look at Saul Goodman’s origin story. Before Goodman became the quirky, crooked lawyer Walter White played like a fiddle, he was Jimmy McGill, an aspiring lawyer who just couldn’t seem to keep his hands clean. The show is set six years before the events of Breaking Bad and throws out the convention that a spinoff must pale in comparison to its source material. It also proves creator Vince Gilligan and company remain at the top of their game.
Altered Carbon (2018)
2 Seasons
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast
Anthony Mackie, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Chris Conner
Created by
Laeta Kalogridis
An adaptation of a popular cyberpunk novel by Richard K. Morgan, Altered Carbon is set a few hundred years in the future, by which point humanity has developed the technology to download a person’s consciousness into computers. People can now transfer themselves into new bodies, called “sleeves,” effectively making themselves immortal — provided they have the money. Into this world steps Takeshi Kovacs (Joel Kinnaman), a former soldier who has spent the last 250 years in cold storage. He is back, in a new sleeve, courtesy of Laurens Bancroft (James Purefoy), a wealthy man who wants Takeshi to find the man who killed Bancroft’s previous body. Altered Carbon draws on classic noir elements, as Takeshi explores a grimy city where everyone seems to have a hidden agenda.
Money Heist (2017)
5 Seasons
Genre
Action, Crime, Mystery
Cast
Úrsula Corberó, Álvaro Morte
Created by
Álex Pina
This Spanish crime drama rocketed to the top of Netflix’s most-watched shows when it was picked up by the streaming service and brought to a global audience, with everyone from professional athletes to Stephen King praising its clever, suspenseful, and visually stunning subversion of the heist genre. The series chronicles a pair of complicated heists orchestrated by a mysterious stranger known only as “The Professor.” The series, which won a long list of awards for its first season that included an International Emmy Award, unfolds from the perspective of a robber whose account occasionally veers into the surreal in order to keep the story rolling along at a captivating pace.
Waffles + Mochi (2021)
1 Season
Genre
Children's Television, Family
Cast
Michelle Zamora, Piotr Michael, Michelle Obama
When good friends Waffles and Mochi decide to leave their frozen home to learn about foods that aren’t served on ice, they find a new home full of friendly people at a supermarket run by former first lady Michelle Obama. The pair work at the supermarket while also traveling around the world on adventures that teach them all about the origins and importance of various foods. As adorable as it is educational, the kid-friendly Waffles + Mochi also features an impressive list of guests from across the spectrum of famous chefs, foodies, and celebrity food experts.
Digital Trends streaming roundup
Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness (2020)
2 Seasons
Genre
Documentary, Crime
The “crazy true crime” documentary has become the iconic genre of the streaming age, and Tiger King might be one of the best examples of it. The setup is simple enough: Director Eric Goode sets out to make a documentary about a snake dealer in Florida, and in doing so, stumbles into the world of big cat owners and the eponymous “Tiger King,” Joe Exotic, the owner of a big cat zoo who was convicted in 2019 of trying to put a hit on animal rights activist Carole Baskin. From the moment he appears on screen, Exotic is an outlandish figure, and the story only gets wilder from there.
Supergirl (2015)
6 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure
Cast
Melissa Benoist, Chyler Leigh, David Harewood
Created by
Greg Berlanti, Ali Adler, Andrew Kreisberg
Melissa Benoist gave the world a hero to believe in — and to cheer for — when she made her debut as Supergirl in this series that made its way from CBS to The CW and ran for six action-packed, heartwarming seasons before concluding in November. The series follows Kara Zor-El, the Kryptonian cousin of the hero known as Superman, as she protects her new home from all manner of threats, both human and extraterrestrial, and occasionally finds herself assisting (or getting assistance from) a wide range of other, familiar costumed heroes.
When They See Us (2019)
1 Season
Genre
Biography, Crime, Data
Cast
Jharrel Jerome, Asante Blackk, Jovan Adepo, Michael K. Williams
Created by
Ava DuVernay
Ava DuVernay’s When They See Us tells the story of Kevin Richardson (Asante Blackk), Antron McCray (Caleel Harris), Yusef Salaam (Ethan Herisse), Korey Wise (Jharrel Jerome), and Raymond Santana (Marquis Rodriguez): Five young Black men who were falsely accused of rape and sexual assault in the infamous Central Park Five case. After serving years in prison, they became known as The Exonerated Five when the real rapist was caught. But the injustices suffered by these men and their families extended far beyond prison walls. It’s a difficult story to relive, but it’s also one that needs to be told.
Supernatural (2005)
15 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast
Alexander Calvert, Misha Collins, Jared Padalecki
Created by
Eric Kripke
The longest-running American live-action fantasy series in TV history, Supernatural follows brothers Sam and Dan Winchester — played by Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, respectively — as they hunt all manner of ghosts, demons, and monsters across America. Mixing stand-alone “monster of the week” adventures with season-long story arcs that built an impressively deep mythology around the show, Supernatural kept fans coming back for its infectious chemistry and colorful cast that grew as the series progressed. A scripted television series has to be doing something right to run for 15 seasons without being canceled, and Supernatural finally ended its 327-episode run in November 2020 with the sort of satisfying, well-received series finale that few shows receive.
Narcos: Mexico (2018)
3 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Crime
Cast
Scoot McNairy, José María Yázpik, Alfonso Dosal
Created by
Chris Brancato, Doug Miro, Carlo Bernard
A companion to the popular Narcos series, Narcos: Mexico chronicles the rise of the Mexico’s illegal drug trade throughout the 1980s. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story star Diego Luna portrays Guadalajara Cartel leader Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo, with Michael Peña playing DEA agent Kiki Camarena. The third and final season of the series premiered in November.
Alice in Borderland (2020)
1 Season
Genre
Action, Fantasy, Mystery
Cast
Kento Yamazaki, Tao Tsuchiya, Yūki Morinaga, Keita Machida
This Japanese series based on the manga of the same name by Haro Aso follows an aimless gamer named Arisu (Kento Yamazaki) who suddenly finds himself and his two best friends transported to an eerily empty Tokyo where they’re forced to compete in deadly games to survive. A mix of Battle Royale and The Hunger Games with a fascinating mystery and a talented cast, Alice in Borderland earned praise from critics and general audiences alike for its clever first season and was renewed for a second season just two weeks after the show’s Netflix launch. Its underlying premise will keep you guessing, and so will the sense of creeping dread as key characters are killed off — sometimes in gruesome fashion — from one episode to the next.
Mindhunter (2017)
2 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Crime
Cast
Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, Hannah Gross, Anna Torv
Created by
Joe Penhall
Mindhunter flew under the radar during its two seasons on Netflix, but this stylish crime thriller still deserves to find a wider audience. The series is set in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, at a time when the FBI was struggling to understand how the minds of serial killers functioned. Agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany), with psychologist Wendy Carr (Anna Torv), take it upon themselves to study these men as they attempt to build the criminal psychology field from the ground up.
Seinfeld (1989)
9 Seasons
Genre
Comedy
Cast
Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Michael Richards
Created by
Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David
Netflix paid a crazy amount of money to secure the streaming rights to Seinfeld, the “show about nothing” created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, which ran for nine epic seasons and is widely regarded as one of the greatest television sitcoms ever made. The series is finally on the streaming service now, and it offers 180 episodes of idiosyncratic escapades revolving around, well … everyday life in New York City. Jerry Seinfeld portrays a fictionalized version of himself in the show, but it’s his surrounding cast that truly stole the show, with Jason Alexander portraying Jerry’s friend, George Costanza, Julia Louis-Dreyfus playing Jerry’s ex-girlfriend, Elaine Benes, and Michael Richards portraying Jerry’s quirky neighbor, Cosmo Kramer. There’s never been anything quite like Seinfeld on TV, and that’s probably why Netflix paid so much money (reportedly around $500 million) to become its new streaming home.
Squid Game (2021)
1 Season
Genre
Action, Adventure, Drama
Cast
Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Oh Yeong-su, Wi Ha-joon
Created by
Hwang Dong-hyuk
This Battle Royale-style series from South Korea quietly became one of the most-watched shows on Netflix in the first week after it premiered, according to the CEO of the streaming service, giving audiences yet another tale of otherwise average individuals pushed to their limits in a deadly competition filled with familiar games and strange mysteries around every turn. The competitors all want a piece of the competition’s massive prize money, but as the games get deadlier and deadlier, the question becomes: Will anyone survive to claim it?
The Baby-Sitters Club (2020)
2 Seasons
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Family
Cast
Sophie Grace, Momona Tamada, Shay Rudolph, Malia Baker, Alicia Silverstone, Mark Feuerstein, Xochitl Gomez
Created by
Rachel Shukert
Released in summer 2020, this television adaptation of the popular children’s novel series of the same name by Ann M. Martin became an instant hit. Like the books, the series follows five middle-school girls who start their own babysitting business in Connecticut and their adventures as they do so. Each girl has her own unique passion and personality and a different job in the club, from Kristy Thomas (Sophie Grace), the president who makes it a point to call out social injustices, to the shy Mary Anne (Malia Baker), who serves as secretary. It’s a great show that pre-teens and young teens will love, and nostalgic parents who might have read the book series when they were kids will appreciate it, too.
Midnight Mass (2021)
1 Season
Cast
Hamish Linklater, Kate Siegel, Zach Gilford, Samantha Sloyan, Rahul Kohli
Created by
Mike Flanagan
Writer and director Mike Flanagan brings another terrifying limited series to Netflix with this tale set on a small island where the arrival of a mysterious priest and the return of a troubled former resident coincide with a series of miraculous events that might not be what they seem. Although the series isn’t connected to his previous Netflix projects, The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass brings back quite a few cast members from those series, as well as some of his prior, critically acclaimed thrillers. However, it’s actor Hamish Linklater’s portrayal of the enigmatic Father Paul that’s truly something to behold, delivering a performance that truly sells the seven-part story’s exploration of faith, death, and redemption. It’s beautiful, brilliant, and very, very scary, but you’ll want to avoid spoilers going into the series, which is full of unexpected twists and turns.
Stranger Things (2016)
3 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Cast
Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Winona Ryder
Created by
Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
The opening sequence of Stranger Things lays out the TV show’s sci-fi aspirations clearly: A scientist flees down an empty hallway, pursued by some unseen force that eventually nabs him as he waits for elevator doors to close; it then cuts to a group of kids playing D&D in a suburban basement. From Alien to E.T. in a matter of seconds. The show is a stew made of various influences from the ‘80s. A mysterious creature and a secret government agency, a group of kids having adventures around their rural town, teens experimenting with sex, drugs, and peer pressure. There are pieces of Stephen King, Steven Spielberg, and John Hughes strewn throughout Stranger Things, and the result is a show that will feel immediately familiar to people who grew up with that source material. The show is not shallow in its emulation, either. The acting and direction are superb, giving even the most derivative scenes some heft.
Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan (2019)
1 Season
Genre
Documentary, Action, Adventure
Cast
Masayoshi Haneda, Masami Kosaka, Hideaki Itô, Hayate Masao
At times, this docuseries about the warring clans of 16th-century Japan feels more like an edgy action film than a traditional documentary, but the six-part series does a masterful job of exploring the political drama and intrigue of the Sengoku period — one of the most tumultuous eras of feudal Japan’s history. The series follows the rise (and, often, violent fall) of several prominent historical figures whose paths shaped the nation at a time when samurai, warlords, and powerful families were engaged in a near-constant civil war, and does so with a combination of historical (and graphic) reenactments and expert commentary. History lessons this deep have rarely been this intense, or compelling.
The Chair (2021)
1 Season
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Cast
Amanda Peet, Annie Julia Wyman
Created by
Sandra Oh, Jay Duplass
Sandra Oh plays the newly appointed chair of the English department at a fictional, stuffy New England university in this comedy series created by Amanda Peet and Annie Julia Wyman. As the first woman appointed to the position, Oh’s character contends with her place in the institution’s history while simultaneously dealing with a host of other problematic elements — both professional and personal — including stubborn faculty members, institutionalized racism, and her own adoptive daughter. Jay Duplass, Bob Balaban, and Nana Mensah all play supporting roles in a funny, thought-provoking series that explores the issues facing higher-education institutions in the modern era.
Digital Trends streaming roundup
Dark (2017)
3 Seasons
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery
Cast
Louis Hofmann, Andreas Pietschmann, Maja Schöne, Gina Alice Stiebitz
Created by
Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese
Dark is one of Netflix’s most ambitious sci-fi series to date, but you’ll have to read the subtitles unless you’re fluent in German. Regardless of its original language, Dark presents an engrossing missing children mystery that starts in the present but soon expands into the past and the future as the implications of time travel tear four families apart. The end of the world is also in play, but even the Earth as we know it may not be the only battleground. There are a lot of twists and turns to follow, so you’ll want to pay close attention to this one.
American Vandal (2017)
2 Seasons
Genre
Comedy, Crime, Drama
Cast
Tyler Alvarez, Griffin Gluck
Created by
Dan Perrault, Tony Yacenda
This clever mockumentary series puts a new spin on true crime documentaries, with each season following a pair of high-school friends investigating a crime that isn’t as simple as it initially appears. The first season has friends Peter Maldonado (Tyler Alvarez) and Sam Ecklund (Griffin Gluck) attempting to get to the bottom of a prank that left crude phallic images painted on faculty members’ cars, while the second season brings the pair to a prestigious private school after an incident of mass diarrhea is perpetrated by a sinister criminal known only as “Turd Burglar.” It sounds ridiculous, but American Vandal also manages to offer compelling storytelling, blending the silliness of the crimes it explores with increasing tension and impressively scripted drama.
Never Have I Ever (2020)
2 Seasons
Genre
Comedy
Cast
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Jaren Lewison
Created by
Lang Fisher, Mindy Kaling
Never Have I Ever is a coming-of-age dramedy about a young woman who, after the death of her father, decides she wants to change her life and elevate her social status. However, Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), an Indian girl raised in America, finds that her family and friends aren’t fully on board with this renaissance. Considered a standout in a crowded field of coming-of-age dramedies on Netflix, Never Have I Ever delightfully balances the traditional perils of high school like teen romance and popularity with the challenges of grief, being a first-generation American, and finding yourself in a crowd of loved ones.
Black Mirror (2011)
5 Seasons
Genre
Sci-fi, Psychological Thriller, Dystopia
Cast
Daniel Kaluuya, Wyatt Russell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Daniel Lapaine
Created by
Charlie Brooker
Each episode of Black Mirror tells a single story, with a theme of modern and near-future technology running through each unnerving tale. It’s often compared to The Twilight Zone for its episodic nature, and just like that classic, some of the stories will leave you sitting and staring at a blank television, wondering what you just watched. Beyond all of the thought-provoking, mind-bending, and world-building, the acting and aesthetic are smart and nuanced and will leave even the best spoiler guessers out there reeling from the sharp twists and turns in every episode.
Russian Doll (2019)
1 Season
Genre
Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Cast
Natasha Lyonne, Greta Lee, Yul Vazquez, Charlie Barnett, Elizabeth Ashley
Created by
Leslye Headland, Natasha Lyonne, Amy Poehler
Natasha Lyonne brings her signature comedic stylings to this comedy-drama as Nadia, a woman stuck in a time loop who keeps reliving the same day over and over again, each time dying in increasingly freakish ways. She eventually discovers another man going through the same thing, and together, they try to figure out how to get out of the recurring nightmare. Earning four Primetime Emmy Award nominations, the mind-bending series will keep you puzzled and have you guessing all the way through. It’s the kind of series with lots of water-cooler-chatter potential by the end.
Editors' Recommendations
- The 50 best movies on Netflix right now (March 2022)
- The 67 best movies on Hulu right now (March 2022)
- The best TV shows on Amazon Prime right now (March 2022)
- The 61 best movies on Amazon Prime Video (March 2022)
- The 97 best movies on HBO Max right now (March 2022)
