Looking to catch up on all the latest and greatest Netflix shows? I've got some trending recommendations to fill up your watchlist as we head into 2026. Like all the best streaming services, Netflix is always bringing us new releases, but that huge range of choices can be a double-edged sword. Sometimes, that massive library offers too much choice, leaving you with little option but to sit and scroll through category after category whenever you're between shows.
If you limit yourself to what's trending on Netflix, that can mean you stumble on the next must-watch everyone's streaming.... or it might mean you waste your precious viewing time on a series that's not right for you. That's exactly why we at Tom's Guide keep such a close eye on what's in Netflix's top 10 lists: to make sure you only spend time on worthwhile watches.
Every week, I whittle down the Netflix top 10 list to the three shows that I think are most deserving of your time, so you've always got a quick list of Netflix recommendations ready to go. You can find those top picks (plus the full Netflix top 10 shows list) below.
This article was recently updated and is now based on what was in the Netflix U.S. top 10 as of Friday, January 2, 2025.
Best shows in the Netflix top 10
'Emily in Paris'
Netflix's bingeable rom-com is back for its fifth season, and Emily Cooper's (Lily Collins) latest outing continues to be occupy a spot high in the Netflix charts after its return in mid-December.
Jet-setting marketing exec Emily is now the head of Agence Grateau Rome and (unsurprisingly) is facing fresh professional and personal, romantic challenges as she adapts to life in the Italian capital (and beyond). Alas, just as everything's falling into place, a work idea backfires, and the fallout cascades into heartbreak and career setbacks, leading Emily to lean further into her French lifestyle. Netflix promises that "Emily in Paris" season 5 will see Emily emerging with "deeper connections, renewed clarity, and a readiness to embrace new possibilities."
Stream "Emily in Paris" on Netflix now
'Harlan Coben's Run Away'
It's practically tradition now that Netflix begins the year with a binge-worthy, twisty thriller based on a Harlan Coben story, and the streamer's kicked 2026 off in style with "Run Away," which premiered on January 1.
This time, we're following Simon (James Nesbitt), a man who seemingly leads a perfect life. He's got a loving family, a great job, and a beautiful home... but that world crumbles when his eldest daughter, Paige, runs away from home. Simon later finds Paige vulnerable and high on drugs in a city park, giving him the chance to take her home. The problem? It turns out Paige is not alone, and an argument escalates into shocking violence, and Simon ends up losing Paige all over again. His ensuing search will take him into a dangerous underworld, revealing dark secrets which could well tear his family apart forever. It's a classic Coben set-up, and the show's rocketed straight into Netflix's charts.
Stream "Harlan Coben's Run Away" on Netflix now
'Stranger Things'
It's all come down to this. As of our latest update, the "Stranger Things" season 5 finale has arrived, bringing the hit Netflix sci-fi series to its explosive end. Unsurprisingly, the finale's arrival sent the show right to the top of Netflix's charts for the third time in 2025.
This fifth and final season takes place in 1987 and sees El (Millie Bobby Brown) and the rest of the Hawkins gang locked in the final fight with their fleshy foe, Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower). He's out to establish his "new world," and it'll take the entire party working together to try and stop him. If you're not caught up on the franchise's final chapter, this weekend just might be the perfect time to do exactly that.
Stream "Stranger Things" season 5 on Netflix now
Full Netflix top 10
- "Stranger Things"
- "Harlan Coben's Run Away"
- "Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable"
- "Ricky Gervais: Mortality"
- "Emily in Paris"
- "Mark Rober's Crunchlabs"
- "The Beast in Me"
- "Sean Combs: The Reckoning"
- "Members Only: Palm Beach"
- "Tom Segura: Teacher"
Not sold on any of these picks? Take a look at our round-up of everything new on Netflix in January 2026, or our guide to the best Netflix shows for tons more streaming suggestions.
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.
