Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter
In order to secure a spot on this list, a TV show needs to do one of three things: hold a Rotten Tomatoes (RT) critical and/or audience score above 70%, be a massive hit for Netflix from a viewership perspective, or fulfil both criteria. As more and more Netflix series start to meet these targets, we'll become more objective in our choices, too. For now, though, these are the 48 best Netflix shows to stream today.
Looking for the best Netflix series to stream today? You've come to the right place. In this guide, you'll find a small but wildly successful and/or critically-acclaimed shows – 48, for anyone who's counting – on Netflix. That includes some of 2024's biggest hits, too, such as Baby Reindeer.
Below, we've categorized our selection by their primary genre as well. If you're only searching for the best dramas on Netflix, then, you can use the navigation bar on the left side of this page to immediately jump to the kind of content you enjoy on the world's best streaming service. You're welcome. So, what are you waiting for? Read on to find your next TV obsession.
Best animated series on Netflix
Arcane
RT score: 100% (critics); 96% (audience)
Seasons: 1
Age rating: 15
Arcane, Riot Games' TV adaptation of its hit video game franchise League of Legends (LoL), is an animated masterpiece. Set before the stories that occur in the fan-favorite MOBA, Arcane follows Vi, Jinx, Jayce, and other notable LoL individuals as they rise from outsider status to become the heroes and villains seen in Riot's popular multiplayer game.
With a terrific voice cast including A-listers like Hailee Steinfeld and Ella Purnell, a stunning art style from French studio Fortiche Productions, and a narrative that'll excite, entertain, and tug at your heartstrings, Arcane isn't just a fan-service-centric series. Diehard fans and first-timers alike will revel in its fully lived-in world and extensive character development. Arcane season 2 arrives in November – and, as revealed alongside season 2's first trailer, it'll be the hit Netflix show's final entry.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
RT score: 100% (critics); 99% (audience)
Seasons: 3 (7 if you include The Legend of Korra)
Age rating: PG
In our view, Netflix’s live-action adaptation of beloved anime Avatar: The Last Airbender (A:TLA) is a “gutsy but frustrating remake that blows hot and cold”, so you’ll want to stick to the original series instead.
Michael Dante DiMartino and Brian Konietzko’s timeless classic tells the tale of Aang, the last surviving member of the Air Nomad tribe who’s also the latest reincarnation of the Avatar. The latter is an all-powerful being who can control the four elements – earth, wind, fire, and water – and who maintains equilibrium throughout the world. When that’s disrupted by the power-hungry Fire Nation, Aang embarks on a dangerous quest to rebalance the natural order.
One of the best animated shows ever made that delicately explored themes often overlooked in youth entertainment, the original A:TLA series, which first aired on Nickelodeon, is must-see TV. Its sequel show The Legend of Korra is also a top-tier anime.
Watch Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix.
Blue Eye Samurai
RT score: 96% (critics); 96% (audience)
Seasons: 1
Age rating: 18
Another Netflix TV Original that's unmissable, Blue Eye Samurai sees Maya Erskine (Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mr and Mrs Smith) voice the character Mizu, a mixed race, vengeful blade-wielding warrior who's out for retribution in 17th century feudal Japan.
We could dig into its story more, but doing so would spoil the show's finest moments. Blue Eye Samurai isn't just a gorgeous animated series to look at, mind you – it's an absorbing tale of revenge, deceit, and intra- and intergenerational trauma that shows it has the necessary substance to go alongside its beautiful visuals. An absolute treat for the senses and definitely one of the best Netflix series of recent times. Netflix confirmed Blue Eye Samurai season 2 was on the way last December.
Watch Blue Eye Samurai on Netflix.
BoJack Horseman
RT score: 93% (critics); 96% (audience)
Seasons: 6
Age rating: 18
Bojack Horseman is side-splittingly funny, is the best thing Will Arnett (Arrested Development, The LEGO Batman Movie) has made for a long time, and it should be a shoo-in as your next binge watch. Well, if you're into anthropomorphic comedies about washed-up TV actors, anyway.
On the surface, it seems like a gimmick, but BoJack Horseman's melancholic and self-deprecating approach to depression and other mental illnesses sets this apart from its contemporaries. For anyone with concerns it'll be too sombre and/or triggering, , fear not – there's plenty of slapstick humour, word play, and stunning animation to maintain some levity amid the sorrow.
Watch BoJack Horseman on Netflix.
Scavengers Reign
RT score: 100% (critics); 94% (audience)
Seasons: 1
Age rating: 15
Originally released on Max in the US, this criminally under-watched show is another gorgeous looking, incredibly imaginative, and soul-crushing series that deserves many more eyes upon it. In Scavengers Reign, the crew of a damaged space freighter soon find themselves marooned on an alien world. Initially charmed by their new home, it quickly becomes apparent that said planet is not utopian. At all.
I've enjoyed my fair share of animated series in recent times, including the aforementioned four – and, frankly, I'd recommend Scavengers Reign as much as any of the above quartet. An emotionally devastating watch with a deep narrative fuelled by existential horror and eye-popping imagery.
Watch Scavengers Reign on Netflix.
Best comedy series on Netflix
Arrested Development
RT score: 75% (critics); 85% (audience)
Seasons: 5
Age rating: 15
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is the undisputed king of comedies from a multi-season viewpoint (The Simpsons would have something to say about that, though), but Arrested Development runs it close for the "funniest but cringiest sitcom show on Netflix" gong.
Jason Bateman, Michael Cera, Will Arnett, and Portia de Rossi play the Bluths, a wealthy but dysfunctional family who get caught up in all sorts of embarrassing capers as they try to navigate the perils of, well, life in hilarious fashion. You'll be crying tears of laughter even as you hide behind your fingers at how wince-inducing it all is. Rest assured, though, you'll be glad you did.
Watch Arrested Development on Netflix.
Beef
RT score: 98% (critics); 87% (audience)
Seasons: 1
Age rating: 18
This surprisingly epic comedy-drama sees Steven Yeun (Invincible, The Walking Dead) and Ali Wong (Paper Girls) play Danny and Amy, stranger whose lives are up-ended when they get involved in a heated driving spat. Instead of settling their feud amicably, the duo raise the stakes in hilarious, shocking, and tension-fuelled fashion. What's born of their initial run-in is a seemingly escalating squabble that threatens to completely destabilize their own lives, as well as anyone caught in their orbit.
We don't want to sound hyperbolic, but Beef is one of the best Netflix series we've ever seen. Its edgy and adult comedy, outlandish set-pieces, and stunning impactful story have been weaved together to create a TV colossus. Be sure to watch these five vengeful thrillers after you've watched Beef and then read our report on who might be set to star in Beef season 2.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
RT score: 95% (critics); 88% (audience)
Seasons: 8
Age rating: 15
Nobody likes a TV show's popularity to grow once more in the wake of one of its stars passing away, but Andre Braugher's untimely passing in late 2023 revived Brooklyn Nine-Nine's fortunes on multiple streamers.
It primarily follows the childish but clever NYPD detective Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) who, alongside the Nine-Nine's other eclectic characters, creates a laugh-a-minute sitcom, with deadpan jokes, slapstick comedy, and the odd emotional pull galore. In our minds, it's the closest thing to a joke-generation, easy-to-watch NBC comedies like The Office and 30 Rock From the Sun. Each season comprises 20-plus episodes with runtimes below 30 minutes, so there's no excuse not to stick it on in the background and revel in its intelligent stupidity. One of the best series that Netflix has licensed.
Watch Brooklyn Nine-Nine on Netflix.
Friends
RT score: 78% (critics); 93% (audience)
Seasons: 10
Age rating: 12
You've got to admit, having Friends to stream on Netflix is super handy if you're a fan, so we had to include on our best Netflix series list.
Set in New York City, this sitcom is about six friends in their twenties, following their various romances, jobs, and evolving relationships. With 10 seasons to get through, there's lots to watch, but the good news is it's relatively consistent throughout – as long as you don't mind the odd dated gag, of which there are plenty. Check out our list of the best Friends episodes if you need suggestions on highlights.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
RT score: 94% (critics); 92% (audience)
Seasons: 16
Age rating: 15
Initially made on a shoestring budget, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia's first season had a cult following, a kind of modern version of Seinfeld about an amoral group of friends who run a bar together. Then season 2 brought some big star power, with Danny De Vito joining for a 10-episode run that was extended because he loved it so much.
The antics of Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Mac (Rob McElhenney), Charlie (Charlie Kelly), and Sweet Dee (Kaitlin Olson) won't be for everyone – at its darkest the show's 'comedy' themes range from nazism to drug abuse – but stick with it and this deliciously depraved classic will reward you.
Watch it's Always Sunny in Philadelphia on Netflix.
Russian Doll
RT score: 97% (critics); 77% (audience)
Seasons: 2
Age rating: 18
A trippy, Groundhog Day-style dark comedy, Russian Doll stars Natasha Lyonne (Orange Is The New Black, Poker Face) as Nadia, a wisecracking New Yorker who keeps dying and reliving her 36th birthday party in a never-ending time loop.
Buoyed by Leslye Headland's creative spark, Russian Doll switches rapidly between witty hilarity and heart-wrenching sadness. The fact that it explores existential and philosophical topics, including what it means to be alive, through a sci-fi lens only adds to its laugh-out-loud and brain-scratching spectacle. One of the best Netflix series, from a first-party viewpoint, to date.
Watch Russian Doll on Netflix.
Sex Education
RT score: 94% (critics); 78% (audience)
Seasons: 4
Age rating: 18
Set in picturesque, rural British, Sex Education delivers a young adult (YA) show that's as raunchy as it is diverse and progressive. In it, the students, faculty, and parents of Moordale Secondary School as they navigate the turbulent waters of sexuality, with its younger cast members confronting the onset of puberty and the adults forced to contend with how said tutees are changing before their eyes.
With equilibriously touching character evolution and it informative approach to LGBTQ-plus matters, gendered power structures, and family dynamics, Sex Education is a blast from start to finish. Gillian Anderson and Asa Butterfield are among its main characters, but new Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa, among others, steal the spotlight from their more illustrious peers.
Watch Sex Education on Netflix.
The Office
RT score: 81% (critics); 89% (audience)
Seasons: 9
Age rating: 12
The US version of The Office is built on the bones of the UK original, but it spins off in entirely different directions almost straight away, and is definitely less emotionally challenging to rewatch.
With 20-minute episodes, compelling season-long arcs, and memorable characters, you can easily lose an entire weekend to watching The Office on repeat. Later seasons aren't nearly as strong as the ones starring Steve Carell, but you've got well over 100 must-see episodes to watch here.
Best crime series on Netflix
Better Call Saul
RT score: 98% (critics); 96% (audience)
Seasons: 6
Age rating: 15
Breaking Bad is one of the best crime shows of its generation, but there's an argument to be made that Better Call Saul, a pre-sequel that explores the murky backstory of garishly-dressed attorney Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman, is just as good if not better.
Following Jimmy's descent into the criminal, drug-infested circles of Albuquerque, Better Call Saul is surprisingly engaging, while its less-than-well-meaning cast of characters are as equally unpredictable and absorbing as Breaking Bad's line-up. A slower burn than its contemporary, sure, but a nonetheless wildly entertaining and thrilling one.
Watch Better Call Saul on Netflix.
Breaking Bad
RT score: 96% (critics); 97% (audience)
Seasons: 5
Age rating: 18
We alluded to it above, but Breaking Bad is a masterful piece of television that fans of the small screen have to watch once at the very least.
Walter White's journey from insipid chemistry tutor-cum-cancer patient to a cold and calculating drug lord is enough of a hook to draw you in, but it's the show's other major players (and how they're personally impacted by Walter's increasingly unhinged state) who help turned Breaking Bad into a stone-cold classic.
The gullible and quotable Jesse Pinkman is a heart-breaking delight, Skyler White will infuriate and beguile you, and Gus Fring will make you wonder if your favourite chicken shop really is a front to a criminal empire. A multi-award-winning show that deserves its spot on our best Netflix series list.
Watch Breaking Bad on Netflix.
Money Heist
RT score: 94% (critics); 81% (audience)
Seasons: 3 (divided into five parts), plus two spin-offs in Korea and Berlin
Age rating: 18
Silly name notwithstanding, Money Heist (La Casa del Papel in Spanish-speaking countries) is a captivating, balls-to-the-wall heist drama about criminals who, under the watchful eye of the so-called Professor, make plans to rob Spain's biggest bank.
Full of dense characterization, unexpected twists, and career-defining performances, Money Heist in a subversive TV show that'll force you to watch another episode (okay, maybe three more) before you finally succumb to your sleep-heavy eyelids. If you want a more authentic experience, we suggests enabling the subtitles for this one.
Ozark
RT score: 82% (critics); 85% (audience)
Seasons: 4
Age rating: 18
A Breaking Bad-style crime thriller, Ozark was pretty popular series without being a breakout Netflix hit. Overnight, that changed with the arrival of its third season, which surprisingly supercharged interest in its family-first storytelling approach.
Jason Bateman is its main star and he plays Marty Byrde, a financial advisor whose wife and kids get pulled into his fraudulent dealings out in the Missouri Ozarks. Laura Linney plays his significant other Wendy, who becomes the show's most compelling and evolved characters throughout its four-season run. It's unsettling at times, but we couldn't not include it in our best Netflix series guide.
Best drama series on Netflix
Bridgerton
RT score: 83% (critics); 73% (audience)
Seasons: 3 (4 with the Queen Charlotte spin-off)
Age rating: 15
A smash hit that earned many viewers' *ahem* royal seal of approval, Bridgerton is a daring and sexually-charged period drama that takes inspiration from Julia Quinn's romantic book series of the same name.
Each season features a new cast of nobles who traverse the upper class rituals of masquerades, marital engagements, and the odd (okay, many) surprise revelation in 18th century London.
For the most part, Bridgerton is a steamingly fun, with intense screenwriting, costumes, and backdrops bursting with colour. It helps that its soundtrack is bolstered by covers of Taylor Swift or Ariana Grande's songs, too, which get runouts on a wide-ranging number of musical instruments. There's the odd blot on its paper in the form of less welcome sequences, such as an episode containing a sexual assault scene. Aside from the justifiable discourse this created, though, Bridgerton deserves a spot on our best Netflix shows list.
Cobra Kai
RT score: 94% (critics); 92% (audience)
Seasons: 5
Age rating: 15
A YouTube original that was acquired by Netflix after two seasons, this Karate Kid continuation TV show has become a streaming mainstay on many fans' watchlists.
Set 34 years after Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) was defeated by Danny LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), Cobra Kai sees the former opens the titular dojo once more to teach a new generation of kids how to fight and/or defend themselves from harm. The reopening of the dojo catches the attention of Danny, reviving the pair's rivalry upon which the series' overarching narrative is built.
Fans of The Karate Kid will revel in the pair duking it out once more, while newcomers will find a show as engrossing, action-packed, and drama-fuelled as any other on Netflix. One of the best Netflix series around that you'll need to catch up on before Cobra Kai season 6 brings the entire show to an end.
Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
RT score: 57% (critics); 82% (audience)
Seasons: 1
Age rating: 18
Rooted in tragic real-life events, Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is a harrowing series about racial inequality and police incompetence in the face of clear evidence. The unsettling crime biopic dramatizes events that saw notorious mass murderer Jeffrey Dahmer macabrely kill 17 innocent victims. Given his headcount, Dahmer got away with every single crime for almost 15 years, too, despite the increasingly distressed pleas of those who knew he'd committed the heinous acts.
You don't need us to tell you, but Dahmer is a misery-inducing and grisly miniseries. Evan Peters delivers an incredibly disconcerting performance as the titular individual, while the supporting cast are equally captivating as those caught up in a gruesome tale of inhumanity, dereliction of duty, and a malfunctioning justice system.
The Lincoln Lawyer
RT score: 85% (critics); 84% (audience)
Seasons: 2
Age rating: 15
Based on Michael Connolly's underappreciated novels, The Lincoln Lawyer tells the story of Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Ruffalo), a defence attorney and recovering drug addict who tackles L.A-based criminal cases from the back of his Lincoln Town car.
Released to little fanfare in mid-2022, The Lincoln Lawyer's popularity exploded overnight and ended up being one of the best Netflix series of 2023. Indeed, it was the second most-watched show on the streamer three days after its initial release; a show that managed to its own against the sheer might of Stranger Things season 4 volume 1.
Just like its protagonist, then, The Lincoln Lawyer was something of an underdog before it achieved its undeniable success. The Lincoln Lawyer season 3 is currently in active development.
Watch The Lincoln Lawyer on Netflix.
Squid Game
RT score: 95% (critics); 84% (audience)
Seasons: 1
Age rating: 15
A series that broke all kinds of records that even Stranger Things couldn't beat, Squid Game is Netflix's biggest ever TV hit. That's a feat all the impressive when you consider creator Hwang Dong-hyuk struggled to sell his idea for years before he was given a chance to bring it to the masses on the streaming giant.
A spin on cult classic film Battle Royale (it also influenced The Hunger Games), Squid Game follows 456 contestants who are convinced to fight it out, via numerous child-friendly games with life-threatening twists, for a $4.56 million prize. It's a concept that plays on the trope of class division as a catalyst for violence, albeit one viewed through a satirical lens, which certainly helped to catapult it to the very top of the TV charts.
Given its unparalleled success, it'll come as no surprise to learn that Squid Game season 2 is coming this year. Ironically, a satirical series (from Dong-hyuk) about the show's actual development is also in development. Lastly, Squid Game: The Challenge, a real-world adaptation of the show, also debuted in November 2023 and proved popular enough to warrant a second season of its own.
Suits
RT score: 91% (critics); 87% (audience)
Seasons: 9
Age rating: 15
A show that earned a remarkable new lease of life on Netflix following its June 2023 arrival, Suits became such a huge hit for Netflix that its success vexed its writers. Indeed, they weren't happy to see Suits continually break records on Netflix and Peacock during last year's Hollywood writers strike, but we suspect their mood has changed, now that they'll earn more money from streaming residuals.
But we digress. Suits' storming success was mostly down to millions of TikTok users sharing clips online, but it was also aided to the fact that Suits is just a solid show. The Patrick K. Adams and Meghan Markle-fronted production has enough courtroom (legal dramas are always popular on Netflix) and relationship drama to be engaging.
The Crown
RT score: 81% (critics); 92% (audience)
Seasons: 6
Age rating: 15
The talk of the town for many a year before it ended in late 2023, The Crown puts a melodramatic spin on the British Royal Family's history throughout the late Queen Elizabeth II's seven-decade reign. At the time, it was one of the most expensive TV series ever made and, while it's no Downton Abbey, the heightened level of theatrics was ample enough to keep millions engaged.
A controversial series for many reasons – not least its final two seasons, which seemingly exaggerated the breakdown in relations within the British Royals amid the whirlwind of press that enveloped Princess Diana – The Crown was still a smash hit and is electrifying enough to warrant a place on our best Netflix series list.
The Queen's Gambit
RT score: 96% (critics); 94% (audience)
Seasons: 1
Age rating: 15
The subject of chess might not sound like a money-spinning idea that'll draw in viewers, but The Queen's Gambit proved that, with its prodigious tale of romance, drug addiction, and gender discrimination, it can be as astonishing as any other drama.
Anya Taylor-Joy (The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga) plays Beth Harmon, the series' protagonist and an orphan trained to play chess by a talented janitor. After honing her skills, she enters the male-dominated chess world with the view to knocking its stuffy and egotistical players off their proverbial perches.
You don't need to know the ins and outs of chess to appreciate such a show – indeed, The Queen's Gambit's competitive scenes are riveting without being overly complex. Taylor-Joy does a stellar job of giving life to someone whose undeniable talents mask her drug dependency, too.
Watch The Queen's Gambit on Netflix.
Best fantasy series on Netflix
One Piece
RT score: 85% (critics); 95% (audience)
Seasons: 1
Age rating: 15
Netflix's live-action adaptation of One Piece, aka Eiichiro Oda's massively popular manga (it's also been turned into an animated show), is a lot better than we thought it would be. Indeed, you only need to look at how successful it's been among general viewers to realize how pleasingly authentic and fun it actually is.
In it, we watch protagonist Monkey D Luffy embarks on a quest (with his assembled crew of misfits) to search for a mysterious, legendary item that'll help him realize his dream of becoming King of the Pirates. With tons of sea-faring combat, quips aplenty, and plenty of awe-inspiring world-building, Netflix's take on one of the best anime ever made should be treasured. Given its popularity, Netflix didn't take long to greenlight One Piece season 2.
The Sandman
RT score: 88% (critics); 80% (audience)
Seasons: 1
Age rating: 18
The Sandman is a near-perfect example of how studios should approach adaptations of iconic comic book series – or any literary works, for that matter. Largely inspired by its source material, aka Neil Gaiman's iconic dark fantasy works, The Sandman follows Morpheus (Tom Sturridge), aka Dream/the titular Sandman who is also one of the of seven immortal beings known as the Endless and the ruler of the Dream Dimension. Season 1 sees Morpheus journey to retrieve his all-powerful items and rebuild his kingdom after he spends a century imprisoned by cultists on Earth.
The Sandman's story might sound pretty straightforward, but it's not. A multi-narrative tapestry that's packed with melodrama, fascinating characters, imbued with horror, and universal themes, it's a towering achievement. The Sandman season 2 is in development – but, before it arrives, be sure to read our review of The Sandman season 1.
The Witcher
RT score: 80% (critics); 54% (audience)
Seasons: 3 (4 including The Witcher: Blood Origin)
Age rating: 15
Based on Andrzej Sapkowski's best-selling The Witcher books, Netflix's live-action retelling of The Witcher stars Henry Cavill (well, up until season 4) as the monster hunter Geralt of Rivia, who gets pulled into a story concerning the entire universe's existence by fate.
The Witcher isn't as fantastically spectacular as similar genre fare, such as Game of Thrones, but it's not a complete wash out. It's still pretty enjoyable, occasionally funny, action-packed and dramatic, although it's not as epic or thrilling as it could potentially be. Read our review of The Witcher season 2, review of The Witcher season 3 to find out more about why that's the case, and follow up that reading with our Witcher season 3 ending explainer to see what might happen in The Witcher season 4.
A spin-off series (Blood Origin) and a prequel film (The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf) are also available to stream. Read our Blood Origin review to see what we thought of it.
Best history series on Netflix
The Last Kingdom
RT score: 91% (critics); 95% (audience)
Seasons: 5
Age rating: 18
Based on Bernard Cornwell's The Saxon Stories book series, The Last Kingdom is a bloody, fictional take on the, well, British Saxon era. It largely follows Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon), but The Last Kingdom's stacked cast of characters reads like a historical who's who. Just try not to get attached to anyone, in case they end up dying.
Overall, The Last Kingdom is a bloody great watch. It's visually arresting, packed with magnificent action sequences, multidimensional characters who you'll love (and love to hate), and highly satisfying historical drama for you to lap up through its five-season run. A feature-length film, Seven Kings Must Die, wrapped the series up in April 2023.
Watch The Last Kingdom on Netflix.
Vikings Valhalla
RT score: 95% (critics); 56% (audience)
Seasons: 2
Age rating: 15
Set 100 years after events depicted in Vikings, the joint History Channel-Prime Video series, Vikings Valhalla focuses on the final decades of the Viking era, which will culminate in their final defeat during the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066.
Netflix's quasi-sequel doesn't reinvent much of what viewers will have previously seen. However, if you were a fan of Vikings' historical drama, regular clashing of metal, and study of character and sociopolitics, it's worth checking out. And so is our season 1 chat with the show's cast, as well as our exclusive season 2 talks with showrunner Jeb Stuart and the series' main actors. Season 3 arrives on July 11.
Watch Vikings Valhalla on Netflix.
Best reality series on Netflix
Queer Eye
RT score: 93% (critics); 83% (audience)
Seasons: 8 (11 if you count the spin-offs in Germany, Brazil, and Japan)
Age rating: 12
Few reality TV shows have been as influential in recent years as the eponymous Queer Eye. In the show, the so-called 'Fab Five' – Tan France, Antoni Porowski, Karamo Brown, Bobby Berk, and Jonathan Van Ness – spend a week of their lives applying their various skills and expertise to help someone improve their life and achieve greater satisfaction in the process.
With a strong focus on earnestness and style, plus its strong representation of the LGBT community and people of color, Queer Eye has had a huge impact on the cultural and sociopolitical landscape. It can feel a tad formulaic at times, sure, but there's a reason why it's endured where so many other reality shows have faltered: it's just really good television.
Best rom-com series on Netflix
Heartstopper
RT score: 98% (critics); 96% (audience)
Seasons: 2
Age rating: 12
Based on Alice Oseman's graphic novel series of the same name, Heartstopper is a romantic coming-of-age tale that's been hailed as one of the best Netflix series. Heartstopper stars Joe Locke as Charlie Spring, a gentle schoolboy who strikes up an unlikely friendship with Kit Connor's rugby-obsessed Nick Nelson. It isn't long before the pair realize that a blossoming romance is developing between them, however, forcing them to confront (and accept) who they are and what they want out of life and a relationship.
It's an empathetic, sweet, relatable, and emotional tale about self-discovery, friendship, teen love, and queerness. Based on its immense popularity, it seems that Heartstopper is worth the hype. Good job a third season has officially entered full production, then.
Watch Heartstopper on Netflix.
One Day
RT score: 91% (critics); 84% (audience)
Seasons: 1
Age rating: 15
Based on David Nicholls’ novel of the same name, One Day is a romantic drama that dominated the Netflix TV charts in February and is still going strong now.
Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall play Emma and Dexter, a pair of late 80s college students who fall for each other in the final days of their studies. After graduation, though, they go their separate way – only to find their lives continue to intersect at key moments in the years that follow.
A bold and emotionally sweeping tale about the impact people – particularly potential romantic partners – have on us, One Day is a giddy, occasionally melancholy, and swoon-filled romp that wears its love-filled heart on its sleeve. One of the best Netflix shows of early 2024.
Best sci-fi series on Netflix
3 Body Problem
RT score: 78% (critics); 77% (audience)
Seasons: 1
Age rating: 15
3 Body Problem, the first Netflix offering from Game of Thrones' TV creators is a hugely ambitious, expensive, and mind-melting sci-fi epic that demands your attention (despite what its RT scores suggest). Based on Liu Cixin's brain-expanding book series, it follows the interweaving stories of numerous humans who get caught up in – and attempt to thwart – an invasion from a technologically advanced alien race who are still 400 light years away from reaching Earth.
If its many trailers have piqued your interest, read our review of 3 Body Problem's first season, before checking out our exclusive chat with 3 Body Problem's cast about telling an emotionally gripping story within a mind-bending, abstract sci-fi series. Netflix renewed 3 Body Problem in mid-May, and it'll get two more seasons to tell its full story.
Watch 3 Body Problem on Netflix.
Black Mirror
RT score: 83% (critics); 80% (audience)
Seasons: 6 (plus an interactive special called Bandersnatch)
Age rating: 18
Charlie Brooker's seminal sci-fi series Black Mirror has been making us feel incredibly uneasy since its initial Channel 4 debut in 2011. The anthology show, whose episodes are set in numerous near-future dystopian landscapes, feels like a natural successor to The Twilight Zone, with its unsettling and prescient exploration of technology, important socio-political issues, deep themes, and starry ensemble casts.
A marvellous series made up of stories that'll occupy your mind for days – 'San Junipero', 'Nosedive', and 'USS Callister' are three of our favourites – Black Mirror is a must-watch for any sci-fi fan. Black Mirror season 7 was confirmed in November 2023 and it'll be on Netflix far earlier than you think.
Watch Black Mirror on Netflix.
Sweet Tooth
RT score: 92% (critics); 77% (audience)
Seasons: 3
Age rating: 12
This post-apocalyptic fantasy series is about a half-human, half-deer boy who travels across the ruined world with a hardened protector – searching for a new life amid the ruins of America. If you're in the mood for something that just about counts as warm family viewing but has an edge, don't miss Sweet Tooth. If you enjoy it, check out Jeff Lemire's wonderful comics that the show is based on afterwards.
It's become a monster hit for Netflix and, unsurprisingly, Sweet Tooth seasons 2 and 3 have performed just as admirably as the first. A sci-fi show with tons of heart and a surprisingly dark tale at its heart, this is one I can heartily recommend to genre fans.
Best spy series on Netflix
The Night Agent
RT score: 74% (critics); 78% (audience)
Seasons: 1
Age rating: 15
The Night Agent is, despite its plot being pretty simplistic, one of Netflix's most-streamed TV Originals ever. In it, FBI agent Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso) is tasked with manning a White House phone that never rings. That's until, one night, it does so, sending Sutherland on a nationwide mission full of political intrigue and a thrilling conspiracy that goes right to the top of the US government.
The Night Agent has become Netflix's 2023 TV show darlings, with its suspense-riddled story and captivating characters helping it to amass over 300 million hours viewed in its first two weeks post-release. Little wonder The Night Agent season 2 was greenlit just days after its predecessor's launch and recently wrapped filming. Expect it to arrive sometime in 2025, then.
Watch The Night Agent on Netflix.
The Recruit
RT score: 68% (critics); 84% (audience)
Seasons: 1
Age rating: 15
Another Netflix spy series that, based on its trailer, doesn't seem all that interesting, The Recruit proved to be another unexpected success for the streaming giant in late 2022. Noah Centineo plays Owen Hendricks, a fledgling attorney for the CIA who gets more than he bargained for when, after crossing paths with a scorned former asset of said institution, he becomes entangled in an increasingly suspense-filled geopolitical situation.
Lightweight and light-hearted in some of its narrative execution, The Recruit isn't a bona fide espionage thriller, but it'll scratch that spy-based itch if you're craving some new genre fare. Season 2 is currently in development so, if you enjoy season 1, you'll be pleased to hear Hendricks will be back for more adventures.
Best superhero series on Netflix
Titans
RT score: 89% (critics); 67% (audience)
Seasons: 4
Age rating: 18
A DC Extended Universe (DCEU) series that originally aired on DC Universe before transitioning to Max stateside, Titans is a gritty, Batman spin-off TV show that puts some of DC's lesser-known heroes in the spotlight.
Led by Brenton Thwaites' Dick Grayson/Nightwing, Titans follows the eponymous young superhero group as they combat threats from DC supervillains and other evil-doers. Rather than simply fight crime in Gotham City and Nightwing's Bludhaven haunt, Titans takes our heroes to multiple cities, including Detroit and San Francisco.
It's been largely well received for its more mature take on DC's source material, and really begins to shine once its superpowered beings start working together towards the end of season 1.
The Umbrella Academy
RT score: 86% (critics); 76% (audience)
Seasons: 3
Age rating: 15
Based on the comic books written by My Chemical Romance's Gerard Way and illustrated by Gabriel Bá, The Umbrella Academy is Netflix's self-developed superhero original. And it's a fantastic watch to boot.
After 43 babies are born to women who showed no signs of pregnancy, seven are adopted by billionaire Sir Reginald Hargreeves, who trains them to save the world using their powers. After the family becomes estranged, they are reunited once more when their father dies and are forced to come to terms with their past and the danger that lurks in their future.
The Umbrella Academy is flamboyant, dark, and gratifyingly violent: all the ingredients you need for a great superhero series. Read our review of The Umbrella Academy season 2 and our review of The Umbrella Academy season 3 before learning everything we know about The Umbrella Academy season 4 – the show's final season that's due out in August.
Watch The Umbrella Academy on Netflix.
Best supernatural series on Netflix
The Fall of the House of Usher
RT score: 90% (critics); 81% (audience)
Seasons: 1
Age rating: 18
Horror icon Mike Flanagan bows out on Netflix – he signed a first-look TV deal with Amazon MGM Studios late last year – with The Fall of the House of Usher, a gothic horror series that critics have labelled his best work yet.
Based on Edgar Allen Poe's legendary short story of the same name, The Fall of the House of Usher follows the titular family – led by corrupt pharmaceutical CEO Roderick Usher – as they start getting unceremoniously murdered by a mysterious entity. Long-time Flanagan collaborators including Carla Gugino and Rahul Kohli, plus Star Wars legend Mark Hamill, are among its starry cast.
Critics have called it a cinematic masterpiece, while we couldn't help but draw horror-tinged parallels between it and hit Max show Succession. Scary yourself silly with this one ASAP.
Watch The Fall of the House of Usher on Netflix.
Midnight Mass
RT score: 87% (critics); 79% (audience)
Seasons: 1
Age rating: 15
Midnight Mass is about a young man (Zach Gilford) who returns to his secluded island home of Crockett to serve a parole sentence. At the same time, a new priest (Hamish Linklater) arrives just as miraculous events start occurring across the island – leading the whole community to embrace religion in an unprecedented fashion. Something dark, however, lurks beneath the surface of this place.
There's a touch of Wicker Man-esque folk horror to this series, which honestly takes a little too long to start getting scary (three episodes, in fact), but it's well worth atching. Even though some of its discussions around religion are entirely played out, the characterization here is sharp – and Linklater absolutely steals scenes as a new community leader who you don't feel like you can trust.
Watch Midnight Mass on Netflix.
Stranger Things
RT score: 92% (critics); 90% (audience)
Seasons: 4
Age rating: 15
Stranger Things is a brilliant homage to '80s pop culture. Leaning heavily on Spielberg, John Carpenter and Stephen King – so much King, in fact – the story revolves around a small town, a group of friends, a missing person, and a dodgy science lab. Writing anything else would give away the myriad twists in a show that is full of creepy fun, superhero-esque action, thrilling mysteries, and devilishly gruesome horror.
Filming on Stranger Things season 5, which is set to be the final installment in the main show, began in January. It's one of the best Netflix series ever and, once you're hooked, we're sure you'll agree. Be sure to read our review of Stranger Things season 4 once you've seen the first three.
Watch Stranger Things on Netflix.
Wednesday
RT score: 73% (critics); 85% (audience)
Seasons: 1
Age rating: 12
Positioned as a pseudo-sequel to the beloved live-action Addams Family movies, Wednesday is a gothic, sinister and comedy-based sleuth-style series that's become the second most-watched Netflix English language show of all-time.
Jenna Ortega (Scream VI) stars as the titular character, who must use her quirky skillset to solve a murder mystery plot and a secret concerning her own family at Nevermore Academy, all the while trying to fit in with her classmates and deal with the plight of being a teenager.
Ortega revels in her role as the antisocial but intelligent Wednesday, though some critics have suggested its teen romance and murder mystery fare are slightly formulaic. Still, it's a terrific watch if you're a fan of The Addams Family, dark comedy, or Tim Burton (who directs the series). One of the most successful Netflix shows ever, you won't be shocked to read Wednesday season 2 is in development. Filming began on Wednesday's second season in May, too.
Best thriller series on Netflix
Baby Reindeer
RT score: 98% (critics); 80% (audience)
Seasons: 1
Age rating: 18
Netflix’s biggest TV hit of 2024, Baby Reindeer arrived to little fanfare in mid-April but quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Supposedly inspired by true events that saw comedian-actor Richard Gadd stalked by an unnamed individual for years, the autobiographical dark comedy-thriller stars Gadd as Donny Dunn, a struggling comedian who becomes the object of a deeply unsettling obsession of a woman named Martha (Jessica Gunning).
An emotionally punishing watch led by stunning performances from Gadd and Gunning, Baby Reindeer tackles very uncomfortable themes through its engrossing but disturbing plot. It’s not been without its controversies, though, with amateur internet sleuths determining the identity of Gadd’s stalker in the weeks after its initial release. That's led to an increasingly tense situation (one played out in public) that, according to the BBC, has seen Gadd’s alleged stalker sue Netflix for defamation, privacy violations, and negligence.
Watch Baby Reindeer on Netflix.
Lupin
RT score: 98% (critics); 79% (audience)
Seasons: 3
Age rating: 15
Lupin might make you think of a million anime movies, and this French series literally uses thief character Arsène Lupin as a point of inspiration for its protagonist.
Omar Sy plays Assane Diop, the son of a Senegalese immigrant who was wrongly imprisoned for theft, at the behest of his powerful employer. Decades after his father commits suicide, Assane plots revenge on the employer's family, using 'gentleman thief' skills inspired by the Lupin character. The Incredible Hulk director Louis Leterrier is behind this series.
Ripley
RT score: 85% (critics); 81% (audience)
Seasons: 1
Age rating: 15
A stylish remake of Patricia Highsmith's 1955 neo-noir crime novel The Talented Mr. Ripley, which was also turned into a Matt Damon-starring 1999 film, Netflix's Ripley is a sumptuously constructed reimagining that makes full use of Andrew Scott's incredible talents. The aforementioned star plays the titular character, aka Tom Ripley a down-on-his-luck grifter who's employed by a wealthy man to track down and convince his son to return home. Little does the show's protagonist know, however, that this is the start of his new crime-riddled life.
As the above trailer shows, Scott oozes menacing charm in Ripley; a series drenched in visually appealing and opulently monochromatic hues that comes packaged with a captivating tale of deceit, murder, and unsettling entertainment. Stick it on your best Netflix series watchlist now.
You
RT score: 92% (critics); 74% (audience)
Seasons: 4
Age rating: 18
You tells the story of Joe Goldberg, a New York bookstore manager who becomes infatuated with aspiring writer Guinevere Beck. What ensues is a toxic behavioral journey where Goldberg removes any obstacle in his way in his pursuit of Beck – a chase that winds up turning Goldberg into a city-jumping, identity-changing individual who constantly tries to escape his past, only to find himself falling into old habits.
Just know that this knotty, twist-heavy and sometimes outrageous show is perfect if you're in the right frame of mind for it. Somehow, despite focusing on a character that's so toxic on paper, it manages to keep you engaged with every beat.
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