Being a Netflix subscriber means you’ll always have plenty of great shows to watch.The streaming service has a seemingly endless supply of new and classic series, as well as plenty of shows you won’t find anywhere else.With so much to offer, though, the size of the Netflix library makes it tough to pick just one series.That’s why we searched through the entire collection to put together this list of the best shows currently available to stream on Netflix.
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.
Recently Added to Netflix Inside Job 2021 Locke & Key tv-14 2020 You tv-ma 2018 Seinfeld tv-14 1989 Squid Game tv-ma 2021 Midnight Mass tv-ma 2021 Inside Job (2021) new 65% 7.8/10 Genre Comedy, Animation Created by Shion Takeuchi Cast Lizzy Caplan, Christian Slater, Clark Duke Seasons: 1 Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix What if all of the loony conspiracy theories were true, and there really was a shadow agency tasked with keeping them secret? This adult animated series takes that premise and runs with it, offering a hilarious spin on workplace comedies as the dysfunctional staff of a secret government organization attempts to keep the world — and all of the weird stuff we’re not allowed to know about — safe from various threats while dealing with their own personal issues.Lizzy Caplan and Christian Slater lead the show’s high-profile cast of voice actors.Locke & Key (2020) new 73% 61% 7.4/10 Genre Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama, Mystery Created by Carlton Cuse, Meredith Averill, Aron Eli Coleite Cast Darby Stanchfield, Connor Jessup, Emilia Jones Seasons: 2 tv-14 Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix When the Locke family moves back to their family’s ancestral home after a tragedy, the three children quickly learn that the old house holds plenty of secrets — and danger — when they discover a set of magical keys hidden around the property.
They aren’t the only ones who know about the keys, though, and a mysterious entity will stop at nothing to collect them.Based on the comic book series created by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez, this dark fantasy will keep you guessing from one episode to the next.Pretend It’s a City (2021) 90% 8.1/10 Genre Social & Cultural Docs, Biographical Documentary Cast Fran Lebowitz, Martin Scorsese Seasons: 1 tv-14 watch on Netflix watch on Netflix Pretend It’s a City is not the first documentary that Martin Scorsese has made about writer and humorist Fran Lebowitz.The first documentary, Public Speaking , came out about a decade ago.Pretend It’s a City takes things even further with a bigger spotlight on Lebowitz herself.
Although Scorsese often engages in conversations with his subject, Lebowitz carries most of the spotlight with her occasionally unconventional opinions.She can be a lot to take in, but Lebowitz never shies away from expressing herself.You (2018) new 88% 74% 7.7/10 Genre Mystery, Crime, Drama Created by Greg Berlanti, Sera Gamble Cast Penn Badgley, Victoria Pedretti, Shalita Grant Seasons: 3 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix One of the more controversial recent entries in Netflix’s list of original series, You follows Joe Goldberg, a bookstore owner whose dark impulses take control when he becomes infatuated with a customer.Penn Badgley portrays Joe, with Elizabeth Lail playing the woman for which he develops a dangerous obsession in the show’s first season.A surprise hit for Netflix, the psychological drama based on Caroline Kepnes’ novel spawned a successful second season — in which Joe relocates from New York to Los Angeles, and The Haunting franchise actress Victoria Pedretti joins the cast — and then a third season that takes the saga to even darker, bloodier places as Joe balances new responsibilities with his sinister past.Disturbing, tense, and twisted, the series keeps generating plenty of buzz with each new chapter in Joe’s story.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005) 97% 9.3/10 Genre Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy Created by Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko Cast Zach Tyler Eisen, Mako Iwamatsu, Mae Whitman Seasons: 3 tv-y7 watch on Netflix watch on Netflix When it comes to animated series, few rival Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender .The beloved series continues to garner a following more than 15 years after its initial release, likely due to the way it deftly balances child-friendly themes with more sophisticated narratives, ones that revolve around war and the oft-ambiguous line between good and evil.The show is centered on the titular Aang, a master of the elements, and four nations, each of which is named after a different element (Earth, Air, Fire, and Water).
The main story follows Aang and his companions in their effort to quell unrest and an ongoing feud with the Fire Nation, but the show’s detailed world-building and character development extend well beyond the scope of any one individual.To this day, it’s still considered a masterclass in storytelling, and considering Netflix is currently working on a live-action adaptation, there’s no better time to watch than now.The sequel series, The Legend of Korra , is also on Netflix now.
Mindhunter (2017) 97% 80% 8.6/10 Genre Drama, Crime Created by Joe Penhall Cast Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, Hannah Gross, Anna Torv Seasons: 2 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix 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) new 89% 84% 8.8/10 Genre Comedy Created by Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David Cast Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Michael Richards Seasons: 9 tv-14 watch on Netflix watch on Netflix 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.The Haunting of Hill House (2018) 93% 79% 8.6/10 Genre Mystery, Drama Created by Mike Flanagan Cast Michiel Huisman, Elizabeth Reaser, Kate Siegel Seasons: 1 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix One dark and ominous night, Hugh Crain (Henry Thomas) gathers his children and flees their vast, gothic mansion, leaving his wife, Olivia (Carla Gugino), behind.
Olivia dies that night, her death ruled a suicide, and the tabloids run wild with stories of the haunted Hill House.The five Crain children — Steven, Shirley, Theo, Nell, and Luke — all grow up dealing with their trauma in varying ways, whether writing a successful memoir about the haunting of Hill House (Steven) or abusing drugs to numb the pain (Luke).As adults, the Crain siblings are barely on speaking terms, until a tragedy forces them all back together, and back to Hill House.Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting of Hill House is a character-driven story, delving into the psychological problems of its many protagonists.
It’s no mere family drama, though.In addition to their personal demons, there are some very real ghosts haunting the Crains, and Flanagan orchestrates some intense scares in the first episode alone, building tension but also knowing when to bust out a jump scare.Digital Trends Streaming Roundup Best shows on Amazon Prime Best shows on Hulu Best shows on HBO Best Movies on Netflix The Ripper (2020) 82% 62% 7.1/10 Genre Documentary, Crime Created by Jesse Vile, Ellena Wood Cast Alan Whitehouse, Keith Hellawell, Bruce Jones Seasons: 1 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix If the cold weather hasn’t chilled you to the bone, then perhaps Netflix’s latest true crime sensation will.The Ripper is a British import documentary that tackles the infamous Yorkshire Ripper, a serial killer whose reign of terror began in 1975 and ran through 1980.
Survivors, investigators, journalists, and even family members of the victims share their tales about this horrific episode in their lives, and what it took to bring the killer to justice.
Squid Game (2021) new 100% 76% 8.3/10 Genre Action, Adventure, Drama Created by Hwang Dong-hyuk Cast Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Oh Yeong-su, Wi Ha-joon Seasons: 1 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix 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 Great British Bake Off/The Great British Baking Show (2010) 89% 8.5/10 Genre Reality-TV Cast Mel Giedroyc, Sue Perkins, Sandi Toksvig, Noel Fielding, Matt Lucas Seasons: 9 tv-pg watch on Netflix watch on Netflix There are many cooking reality competition shows, but there’s only one Great British Bake Off.Although Netflix calls it The Great British Baking Show, it’s the same lovely program that has run for 11 seasons.However, only a selection of episodes from eight seasons are currently available.Regardless, the show still captures the quest of amateur bakers to impress the judges and out-bake each other to win the show’s final prize.
The Baby-Sitters Club (2020) 100% 87% 7.4/10 Genre Comedy, Drama, Family Created by Rachel Shukert Cast Sophie Grace, Momona Tamada, Shay Rudolph, Malia Baker, Alicia Silverstone, Mark Feuerstein, Xochitl Gomez Seasons: 2 tv-pg watch on Netflix watch on Netflix Just released in summer 2020, this television adaptation of the popular children’s novel series of the same name by Ann M.Martin has become an instant hit, with a 100% approval rating on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes and critics calling it “sweet, sincere, and full of hope.” 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.Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer (2021) 73% 72% 7.5/10 Genre Documentary, Crime, Mystery Created by Tiller Russell Cast Gil Carrillo, Frank Salerno Seasons: 1 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix We know who the Night Stalker is now.But from 1984 to 1985, Richard Ramirez horrified California with his violent crime spree that left police baffled.Two detectives played a key role in bringing Ramirez to justice: Gil Carrillo and Frank Salerno.In Netflix’s true crime documentary series, Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer , both Carrillo and Salerno share their stories of how they tracked down Ramirez.Several other key players also recount their part of this living history, but it was the public that ultimately ended the Night Stalker’s reign of terror.
Fate: The Winx Saga (2021) 37% 6.9/10 Genre Action, Adventure, Drama Created by Brian Young Cast Abigail Cowen, Danny Griffin, Hannah van der Westhuysen, Elisha Applebaum Seasons: 1 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix If you’ve never seen the animated series Winx Club on Nickelodeon, then don’t worry.
Fate: The Winx Saga is a live-action adaptation of that show, but it isn’t dependent upon previous knowledge of the characters or their world.
Instead, it’s a reinvention of the Winx storyline with a more YA tone and a much darker take on the material.Abigail Cowen headlines the series as Bloom, a young fairy from Earth who is now on Otherworld and enrolled at Alfea to learn how to control her powers.There’s a definite Harry Potter vibe here for fans who are looking for a magic school fix, and fans can rest assured that a second season is in the works, according to Netflix.Midnight Mass (2021) new 93% 74% 8.5/10 Created by Mike Flanagan Cast Hamish Linklater, Kate Siegel, Zach Gilford, Samantha Sloyan, Rahul Kohli Seasons: 1 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix 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.Surviving Death (2021) 80% 6.1/10 Genre Documentary, Reality-TV Created by Leslie Kean Seasons: 1 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix Death is the natural conclusion to life, but it still raises a lot of questions for those of us who are still alive.
Surviving Death attempts to answer some of those questions by examining near-death experiences, reincarnation, mediums, and whether there truly is life after death.We may never know the actual answers until our time comes, but it’s fascinating to hear what other people think about what lies ahead in the great beyond.Stranger Things (2016) 93% 75% 8.7/10 Genre Drama, Fantasy, Horror Created by Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer Cast Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Winona Ryder Seasons: 3 tv-14 watch on Netflix watch on Netflix 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.Disenchantment (2018) 65% 56% 7.2/10 Genre Animation, Action, Adventure Created by Matt Groening Cast Abbi Jacobson, Eric Andre, Nat Faxon Seasons: 3 tv-14 watch on Netflix watch on Netflix The creative team behind The Simpsons and Futurama reunited for Disenchantment , an animated comedy that tackles the fantasy genre.Unlike its predecessors, Disenchantment also seems to be building toward a larger story for the series.
The focus falls on 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.The latest batch of episodes also sends Bean beyond the confines of Dreamland, in addition to providing some answers to long-standing mysteries within the show itself.Sex Education (2019) 81% 8.3/10 Genre Comedy, Drama Created by Laurie Nunn Cast Emma Mackey, Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa, Connor Swindells Seasons: 3 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix This British blend of comedy and drama follows the teenage students at a fictional secondary school (that’s high school for American audiences) as they deal with issues in their personal lives often tied to their awakening sexuality.Asa Butterfield plays the shy, insecure Otis Milburn, who looks at sex a bit differently from his classmates thanks to his frank, oversharing mother, a sex therapist portrayed by The X-Files star Gillian Anderson.
A critical hit that takes a unique approach to this uncomfortable, emotional time in every teenager’s life, Sex Education deconstructs the typical sex comedy trope with a thoughtful exploration of how our feelings and backgrounds shape our relationships to the people around us.Bridgerton (2020) 88% 75% 7.3/10 Genre Drama, Romance Created by Chris Van Dusen Cast Phoebe Dynevor, Regé-Jean Page, Adjoa Andoh Seasons: 1 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton romance novels have become a buzzy original series on Netflix, thanks to showrunner Chris Van Dusen and mega-producer Shonda Rhimes.This is an alternate history tale that on the Bridgerton family, as well as their eight children, as they vie for position and romantic matches in London’s high society.In particular, Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) is pursued by several potential suitors, even though she may have her eye on Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page), the Duke of Hastings.
But there are some significant obstacles in their way.Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan (2019) 100% 7.4/10 Genre Documentary, Action, Adventure Cast Masayoshi Haneda, Masami Kosaka, Hideaki Itô, Hayate Masao Seasons: 1 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix 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.American Crime Story (2016) 93% 90% 8.4/10 Genre Biography, Crime, Drama Created by Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski, Tom Rob Smith Cast Sterling K.Brown, Cuba Gooding Jr., Sarah Paulson Seasons: 2 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix The real-life legal saga of O.J.Simpson was both a circus and the trial of the century.
The first season of American Crime Story dived into that tale full throttle with The People v.O.J.Simpson .Amazingly, the series offered a very grounded, human take on all of its principal figures.
That’s especially true of Sarah Paulson’s Marcia Clark and Sterling K.Brown’s Christopher Darden, the prosecutors assigned to put O.J.Simpson (Cuba Gooding Jr.) behind bars.The second season, The Assassination of Gianni Versace , is also on Netflix.
But the two stories have been separated, so you’ll have to click here for that season .Lucifer (2016) 86% 49% 8.1/10 Genre Crime, Comedy-Drama, Fantasy Created by Tom Kapinos Cast Tom Ellis, Lauren German, Kevin Alejandro Seasons: 6 tv-14 watch on Netflix watch on Netflix Tom Ellis plays fallen angel Lucifer Morningstar in this loose adaptation of the Lucifer comic book series.
After leaving hell behind to chart a new path in his life, Lucifer encounters Detective Chloe Decker (Lauren German) and quickly falls for her.To remain a part of Chloe’s life, Lucifer helps her solve murders in Los Angeles with his talent for making suspects give up their secrets.
No one can say that Lucifer isn’t open about who and what he is, but it takes a while for Chloe to realize that she really has partnered up with the original fallen angel.The series wrapped up its saga with its sixth and final season.Shameless (2011) 82% 70% 8.5/10 Genre Comedy, Drama Created by Paul Abbott Cast William H.Macy, Emmy Rossum, Cameron Monaghan, Ethan Cutkosky Seasons: 10 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix You don’t need Showtime to catch Shameless , but you will be one season behind.The American incarnation of Shameless follows the Gallagher family as they struggle to get by on the south side of Chicago.William H.Macy stars as Frank Gallagher, the family patriarch who is more interested in feeding his addictions than feeding his family.Emmy Rossum also stars as Frank’s oldest daughter, Fiona, who tries to take care of the family herself.
However, Fiona’s desire for a new life and the poor choices of her dysfunctional siblings often turn the Gallaghers’ lives into a dark comedy.And yet, after 10 seasons, most of the family is still together.Money Heist (2017) 94% 8.3/10 Genre Action, Crime, Mystery Created by Álex Pina Cast Úrsula Corberó, Álvaro Morte Seasons: 5 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix 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.Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018) 81% 74% 7.5/10 Genre Drama, Fantasy, Horror Created by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa Cast Kiernan Shipka, Ross Lynch, Lucy Davis, Tati Gabrielle, Miranda Otto, Gavin Leatherwood Seasons: 4 tv-14 watch on Netflix watch on Netflix Netflix has wrapped up its adaptation of Archie Comics’ horror comic Chilling Adventures of Sabrina .Unlike the previous lighthearted TV series, Chilling Adventures offers a much darker take on Sabrina Spellman (Kiernan Shipka).She’s half-human and half-witch, and Sabrina may be destined to be the dark bride of Lucifer himself.However, Sabrina pulls back against the evil in her life and finds love with Harvey Kinkle (Ross Lynch), a descendent of witch hunters who has picked up some of his family’s skills.
The Crown (2016) 90% 84% 8.6/10 Genre Biography, Drama, History Created by Peter Morgan Cast Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, Matt Smith Seasons: 4 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix Britain’s current and longest-reigning monarch is also one of its most unassuming.Elizabeth II ascended to the throne in the aftermath of World War II, at a time when the monarchy had ceded much of its power to Parliament and the Prime Minister.Despite a lack of governmental power, the Queen remains one of the most important heads of state in the world, and civic duties abound.Netflix’s The Crown traces Elizabeth’s (Claire Foy) life from her marriage to Prince Philip (Matt Smith) in 1947 to the present day, digging into the web of agendas and alliances the Queen must navigate.Heavy on political intrigue, The Crown is sure to satisfy viewers who appreciate Machiavellian television, as well as those who love TV shows like Downton Abbey .
However, the show also has a deeply intimate side, in that it examines Elizabeth’s personal relationships and the toll exacted by her duties as Queen.
The Chair (2021) 87% 70% 7.3/10 Genre Comedy, Drama Created by Sandra Oh, Jay Duplass Cast Amanda Peet, Annie Julia Wyman Seasons: 1 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix 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.Dark (2017) 95% 72% 8.8/10 Genre Crime, Drama, Mystery Created by Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese Cast Louis Hofmann, Andreas Pietschmann, Maja Schöne, Gina Alice Stiebitz Seasons: 3 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix 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.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015) 98% 80% 7.8/10 Genre Comedy, Musical Created by Rachel Bloom, Aline Brosh McKenna Cast Rachel Bloom, Donna Lynne Champlin, Vincent Rodriguez III Seasons: 4 tv-14 watch on Netflix watch on Netflix Musicals are in short supply on television — perhaps because audiences just find song-and-dance a bit too corny.
That same drought makes Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s lavish musical numbers all the more striking, however.The titular ex is Rebecca Bunch (Rachel Bloom), a tightly strung lawyer who abandons her career in New York and moves to West Covina, California, to reconnect with her first crush, Josh (Vincent Rodriguez III).The premise seems like typical rom-com fare, but Crazy Ex-Girlfriend rises above by embracing absurdity.
The musical numbers, of which there are many, are funny and bombastic, paying homage to various genres of music and classic films.We Are the Champions (2020) 80% 7.1/10 Genre Documentary, Game Show Cast Rainn Wilson (narrator) Seasons: 1 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix 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.
The Midnight Gospel (2020) 91% 82% 8.2/10 Genre Animation, Adventure, Comedy Created by Duncan Trussell Cast Pendleton Ward, Duncan Trussell, Joey Diaz Seasons: 1 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix Comedian Duncan Trussell and Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward teamed up for one of the most bizarre animated series on Netflix.The Midnight Gospel is partially inspired by Trussell’s podcast, and he stars in the series as a spacecaster named Clancy Gilroy who interviews guests as their worlds undergo an apocalyptic event by using a universal simulation machine.Few topics are out of bounds, and the comedy goes to some very strange and dark places.That’s par for the course for a series that ends almost every episode with an extinction-level disaster.
And yet, it’s still really fun.
30 Rock (2006) 78% 73% 8.2/10 Genre Comedy Created by Tina Fey Cast Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski Seasons: 7 tv-14 watch on Netflix watch on Netflix Tina Fey turned her time as head writer on Saturday Night Live into this ridiculously popular sitcom that satirized, well … working on a live sketch-comedy show.Across 30 Rock ‘s seven award-winning seasons, Fey portrayed Liz Lemon, head writer and showrunner on the fictional series The Girlie Show (later TGS with Tracy Jordan ) as she navigates behind-the-scenes chaos, overbearing executives, and other troubling elements as she attempts to keep the show — and her career — rolling along.A recurring Primetime Emmy Award winner, 30 Rock teamed Fey with an impressive supporting cast led by Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, and Jane Krakowski, among others.The Umbrella Academy (2019) 83% 63% 8.0/10 Genre Action, Adventure, Comedy Created by Steve Blackman (created for television by), Jeremy Slater Cast Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, David Castaneda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, Mary J.Blige Seasons: 2 tv-14 watch on Netflix watch on Netflix Based on the comic book series of the same name by Gerard Way, this superhero series follows the lives of seven of 43 children born to women who mysteriously never knew they were pregnant until they went into labor.
It turns out they are superheroes, and when these seven children are adopted by an eccentric billionaire, he turns the siblings into a superhero team called The Umbrella Academy.Later, however, the children become estranged from one another and their father.But when they discover he has died, they reconnect for his funeral.Warnings of a pending apocalypse prompt them to band together again to stop it, though it isn’t without clashing personalities and plenty of familial dysfunction.Friday Night Lights (2006) 97% 83% 8.6/10 Genre Drama, Sport Created by Peter Berg Cast Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton Seasons: 5 tv-14 watch on Netflix watch on Netflix H.G.Bissinger’s nonfiction novel about a small Texas town’s high school football team inspired this five-season series that cast Kyle Chandler as the local school’s coach and chronicled the drama of rural life in the show’s fictional town.
A hit with critics and audiences alike, the series was developed by Peter Berg and earned both a Peabody Award and multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations for its cast and creative team.Chandler was joined in the cast by Connie Britton Adrianne Palicki, Taylor Kitsch, Michael B.Jordan, Jurnee Smollett, Jesse Plemons, and other familiar faces.The Lost Pirate Kingdom (2021) 100% 6.6/10 Genre Documentary, Adventure, Drama Cast James Oliver Wheatley, Sam Callis, Tom Padley Seasons: 1 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix This six-episode original documentary series explores the people, personalities, and events that shaped the golden age of piracy in the early 18th century — particularly in and around Nassau, Bahamas, where pirates briefly formed their own republic after the War of Spanish Succession.Using a combination of historians’ accounts and surprisingly well-acted (and occasionally quite graphic) dramatizations, the series depicts the rise and fall of such noted pirates as Edward “Blackbeard” Thatch, Benjamin Hornigold, Charles Vane, Anne Bonny, and Henry Jennings, among other infamous figures.For anyone interested in the real history behind pirates’ adventures, this show hits the sweet spot between history and drama in all the right ways.
American Vandal (2017) 98% 76% 8.2/10 Genre Comedy, Crime, Drama Created by Dan Perrault, Tony Yacenda Cast Tyler Alvarez, Griffin Gluck Seasons: 2 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix 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.The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020) 87% 63% 7.4/10 Genre Drama, Horror, Mystery Created by Mike Flanagan Cast Victoria Pedretti, Henry Thomas, Oliver Jackson-Cohen Seasons: 1 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix First things first: The Haunting of Bly Manor is not the second season of The Haunting of Hill House , despite both being creations of Mike Flanagan.Instead of a sequel to Hill House , Flanagan has envisioned Bly Manor as its own separate story, which was inspired by Henry James’ classic novel The Turn of the Screw .Victoria Pedretti headlines the series as Dani, a young governess who has been hired to watch over “two very unusual children.” Pedretti’s fellow Hill House veterans, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Henry Thomas, and Kate Siegel, will also be back in new roles unconnected to the previous series.The only thing that we can guarantee is that fresh scares are on the way.
And it might be a good idea to watch this new show with the lights on.Don’t F**k With Cats (2019) 67% 8.0/10 Genre Documentary, True Crime Cast Various Seasons: 1 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix The title of this 2019 docuseries references one of the unwritten rules of the internet, and it was the violation of that rule that kicked off a far-reaching investigation by amateur sleuths chronicled in the series.After a shocking homemade video depicting animal cruelty began making the rounds online, a small group of self-described “internet nerds” made it their mission to identify the culprit and bring them to justice.Their investigation soon took on a life of its own, drawing them into an even darker story than they anticipated as their efforts brought the authorities — and their own lives — closer to a killer.As fascinating as it is disturbing, Don’t F**k With Cats is a lesson in the power of crowd-sourced investigations and the dangers they pose.Masters of the Universe: Revelation (2021) 94% 72% 4.7/10 Genre Animation, Action, Adventure Created by Kevin Smith (story editor) Cast Chris Wood, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Lena Hadley, Mark Hamill Seasons: 2 tv-pg watch on Netflix watch on Netflix The classic 1980s cartoon He-Man and the Masters of the Universe gets the revival treatment in this animated series developed by Clerks filmmaker and geek auteur Kevin Smith that picks up where the original animated show left off and tells a new, darker tale set in the magical land of Eternia.
Not only does the series feature modern animation and most of the classic characters from the show (and toy line) that made it so popular, it also assembles an impressive (to put it mildly) cast of voice talent, with Mark Hamill as Skeletor and Sarah Michelle Gellar as Teela.
They’re joined in the cast by Game of Thrones actors Liam Cunningham and Lena Headey, as well as Diedrich Bader, Alicia Silverstone, Stephen Root, Henry Rollins, Jason Mewes, Justin Long, Tony Todd, and Dennis Haysbert, among other familiar faces (or in this case, voices).Never Have I Ever (2020) 95% 80% 7.9/10 Genre Comedy Created by Lang Fisher, Mindy Kaling Cast Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Jaren Lewison Seasons: 2 tv-14 watch on Netflix watch on Netflix 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.Alien Worlds (2020) 100% 6.5/10 Genre Documentary, Animation, Sci-Fi Cast Sophie Okonedo, Leigh Joel Scott, Vahe Alaverdian Seasons: 1 tv-pg watch on Netflix watch on Netflix When is a documentary not a documentary? When it’s Alien Worlds, a new sci-fi series produced in a documentary style.
The show explores four fictional planets and uses input from real scientists to create dramatizations of how life and evolution would play out in those wildly different environments.The creatures and landscapes are all created with CGI, but they are convincing enough that you can almost buy into the illusion that the show is a glimpse of places that have their own rules and reality.
Hilda (2018) 8.6/10 Genre Animation, Adventure, Comedy Created by Kurt Mueller, Luke Pearson (based on the Hilda book series created by), Stephanie Simpson Cast Bella Ramsey Seasons: 2 tv-y7 watch on Netflix watch on Netflix 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.Monty Python’s Flying Circus (1969) 100% 8.8/10 Genre Comedy Created by Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Jones Cast Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam Seasons: 4 tv-14 watch on Netflix watch on Netflix These days, we could all use a good laugh.
Fortunately, Monty Python’s Flying Circus excels at creating laughter.Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam created their legends with this surreal comedy sketch show that refused to obey any rules except its own.The Pythons had such a unique sense of humor that it took a while for American fans to catch on to the British sensation.Now, the series is a classic, and it’s always ready for a new generation to discover it.When They See Us (2019) 97% 86% 8.9/10 Genre Biography, Crime, Data Created by Ava DuVernay Cast Jharrel Jerome, Asante Blackk, Jovan Adepo, Michael K.Williams Seasons: 1 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix 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.Sweet Tooth (2021) 98% 78% 7.9/10 Genre Action, Adventure, Drama Created by Jim Mickle, Beth Schwartz Cast Christian Convery, Nonso Anozie Seasons: 1 tv-14 watch on Netflix watch on Netflix This adaptation of Jeff Lemire’s comic book series of the same name is a dark fantasy set in a world where a terrible virus is quickly whittling down the remnants of human society.
The show follows a half-human, half-deer boy as he embarks on a cross-country journey to find his mother, accompanied by a mysterious loner who saved him from violent poachers.The series balances the naivety and wonder of its title character, portrayed by Christian Convery, with the harsh world outside the only home he’s ever known.Kim’s Convenience (2016) 8.2/10 Genre Comedy Cast Sun-Hyung Lee, Jean Yoon, Andrea Bang, Simu Liu Seasons: 5 tv-14 watch on Netflix watch on Netflix One of the most popular Canadian sitcoms of all time, Kim’s Convenience premiered in 2016 and concluded its award-winning, five-season run in 2021.The show depicts the trials and tribulations of a Korean-Canadian family that runs a convenience store in Toronto and follows the lives and loves of both the family members and various members of their social and professional circles.
Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and Jean Yoon play the family’s father and mother, respectively, while Andrea Ban plays their live-in daughter and Simu Liu plays their estranged son.Heartwarming, hilarious, and surprisingly poignant at times, the series is an ode to the importance of family — both the families we’re born into and the ones we create for ourselves.Waffles + Mochi (2021) 95% 82% 7.6/10 Genre Children’s Television, Family Cast Michelle Zamora, Piotr Michael, Michelle Obama Seasons: 1 tv-y watch on Netflix watch on Netflix 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.Halt and Catch Fire (2014) 90% 75% 8.4/10 Genre Drama Created by Christopher Cantwell,Christopher C.Rogers Cast Lee Pace, Scoot McNairy, Mackenzie Davis Seasons: 4 tv-14 watch on Netflix watch on Netflix How does one of the best shows of the decade get lost on a network? By contending with The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, and Mad Men, Halt and Catch Fire carved out its own identity in this ‘80s period piece that chronicled the rise of personal computing, video games, and the internet.If you’ll pardon the expression, the series really catches fire in the second season when Cameron Howe (Mackenzie Davis) and Donna Clark (Kerry Bishé) launch their own gaming company.
Meanwhile, Donna’s husband, Gordon Clark (Scoot McNairy), and the enigmatic Joe MacMillan (Lee Pace) had compelling stories of their own.This is a show that deserves a second chance to find its audience.
Black Mirror (2011) 84% 8.8/10 Genre Sci-fi, Psychological Thriller, Dystopia Created by Charlie Brooker Cast Daniel Kaluuya, Wyatt Russell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Daniel Lapaine Seasons: 5 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix 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.Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (2020) 100% 8.4/10 Genre Animation, Action, Adventure Created by Bill Wolkoff, Radford Sechrist Cast Karen Fukuhara, Sydney Mikayla, Coy Stewart, Deon Cole Seasons: 3 tv-y7 watch on Netflix watch on Netflix 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.Broadchurch (2013) 92% 84% 8.4/10 Genre Crime, Drama, Mystery Created by Chris Chibnall (showrunner) Cast David Tennant, Olivia Colman, Jodie Whittaker Seasons: 3 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix For anyone in search of a gripping mystery with darkly emotional overtones, Broadchurch is exactly what you’ve been waiting for.It’s centered on the small English town of Broadchurch, which is rocked by the senseless murder of an 11-year-old boy named Danny.Police detectives DI Alec Hardy (David Tennant) and DS Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) are on the case, but they each have secrets of their own.The search for Danny’s killer takes a high toll on both Hardy and Miller, as well as the entire town.But even when the murderer stands revealed, the story is just beginning.
Russian Doll (2019) 97% 88% 7.9/10 Genre Adventure, Comedy, Drama Created by Leslye Headland, Natasha Lyonne, Amy Poehler Cast Natasha Lyonne, Greta Lee, Yul Vazquez, Charlie Barnett, Elizabeth Ashley Seasons: 1 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix 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.Cobra Kai (2018) 93% 70% 8.6/10 Genre Action, Comedy, Drama Cast Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Courtney Henggeler Seasons: 3 tv-14 watch on Netflix watch on Netflix YouTube’s loss is Netflix’s gain! Cobra Kai is the sequel series to the original Karate Kid films, with William Zabka and Ralph Macchio reprising their respective roles as Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso.Three decades earlier, Daniel and Johnny were rivals.
Now, their rivalry has extended to the next generation.The third season forces Johnny and Daniel to pay the price and even reintroduces a few characters from The Karate Kid Part 2.
But even if the kids of the Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do dojos can move past the enmity of the past, John Kreese (Martin Kove) is ready to escalate things even further.Lupin (2021) 97% 7.5/10 Genre Action, Crime, Drama Created by George Kay Cast Omar Sy, Ludivine Sagnier, Clotilde Hesme Seasons: 1 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix Sometimes, finding the best TV shows means going international.For example, the French series Lupin is an exciting update on Maurice Leblanc’s legendary gentleman thief, Arsène Lupin.In a clever twist, the Lupin stories exist within the world of this show, and they inspire a man named Assane Diop (Omar Sy) to adopt the Lupin persona as his own to avenge his wrongfully accused father.Assane certainly has the skills of a master thief, but pursuing his revenge turns out to be far more dangerous and complicated than he anticipated.
Digital Trends Streaming Roundup Best shows on Amazon Prime Best shows on Hulu Best shows on HBO Best Movies on Netflix The Queen’s Gambit (2020) 96% 8.0/10 Genre Drama Created by Scott Frank, Allan Scott Cast Anya Taylor-Joy, Bill Camp, Moses Ingram Seasons: 1 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix A compelling chess drama wasn’t on our 2020 bingo card, but Netflix’s skillfully made adaptation of Walter Tevis’ The Queen’s Gambit has given us the series we didn’t know we needed.Anya Taylor-Joy stars as chess prodigy Beth Harmon, a young woman who is driven to become the very best in the world.Beth’s ability to visualize chess movies in her mind brings the game to life in unexpected ways.
However, Beth’s inner demons may stand in the way of her ambition.Our Planet (2019) 93% 83% 9.3/10 Genre Documentary Cast David Attenborough Seasons: 1 tv-g watch on Netflix watch on Netflix Occasionally, we could all use a reminder of just how beautiful our world is, and how close we are to potentially losing the best things about it.Netflix’s original documentary miniseries, Our Planet, reunites the team behind Planet Earth, Frozen Planet, and The Blue Planet for a fresh look at biodiversity around the globe.The miniseries was filmed in 50 countries and showcases spectacular wildlife imagery, while firmly establishing how climate change is affecting these creatures, and, in turn, everyone on Earth.Heed the warning while you can.Pose (2018) 98% 76% 8.6/10 Genre Drama Created by Steven Canals, Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy Cast Evan Peters, Kate Mara, James Van Der Beek Seasons: 2 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix Pose is one of the rare TV dramas that fully embraces its LGBTQ cast, which is essential to the period and premise of the show.The series begins in the late ‘80s and chronicles the lives of several gay and gender-nonconforming dancers in the ballroom culture scene.
But the series also takes a hard look at the HIV and AIDS epidemic, which hits the community hard just when the subculture begins to go mainstream in the early ‘90s.
It’s truly a TV show like no other.Better Call Saul (2015) 97% 84% 8.8/10 Genre Crime, Drama Created by Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould Cast Bob Odenkirk, Rhea Seehorn, Jonathan Banks Seasons: 4 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix Starring Bob Odenkirk , Better Call Saul takes fans of Vince Gilligan’s Breaking Bad 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 Gilligan and company remain at the top of their game.The Good Place (2016) 97% 82% 8.2/10 Genre Comedy, Drama, Fantasy Created by Michael Schur Cast Kristen Bell, William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil Seasons: 4 tv-pg watch on Netflix watch on Netflix 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.The 50 best movies on Netflix right now The best movies on Disney+ right now The best TV shows on Amazon Prime Video right now The 68 best shows on Hulu right now The 95 best movies on HBO Max right now.
