Summary

• Netflix has a diverse catalog with the best TV shows, including documentaries, comedy, horror, and family-friendly options.
• Some top shows on Netflix right now include ”
  The Crown,
  ” ”
  Squid Game,
  ” ”
  Better Call Saul,
  ” and ”
  Grey’s Anatomy.
  ”
• ”
  Band of Brothers
  ” and ”
  Griselda
  ” are also highly recommended shows available on Netflix.

Netflix‘s giant TV show catalog can be daunting, and the real question most subscribers will want answered is what the best shows on Netflix right now are. Naturally, such is the value of the platform that it includes some of the greatest TV shows of all time, alongside hidden gems and overlooked classics. Whether you’re looking for the best documentary series, the best comedy TV shows, the best horror shows or something for the whole family to enjoy together, you’re covered.

And good news, we’ll be updating this list regularly to keep all recommendations fresh. So, whether subscribers are looking for a selection of the best TV shows ever, or something more specific in a genre, our guide has it all. Netflix’s library of content is regularly changing, with many shows arriving and leaving the platform weekly, but with Screen Rant’s picks of the best 30 shows to watch right now, subscribers will never be short of high-quality small screen entertainment on Netflix with minimal searching involved.

Best Drama TV Shows On Netflix

The Crown (2016-2023)

Netflix’s epic, Emmy-winning drama The Crown is a dramatic retelling of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. The show is part historical time capsule, as it covers the various political and world events in the British monarchy, from the Cold War to the unemployment crisis under Margaret Thatcher’s administration. However, The Crown is also an intense family drama that delves deeply into the royals’ personal lives from Elizabeth’s rocky marriage to Prince Philip to her conflict with Princess Margaret over marrying Peter Townsend.

Three actresses play Queen Elizabeth II at various stages in her life — Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Imelda Staunton — and they all leave their mark playing the world’s most famous woman. The Crown has faced numerous controversies for historical inaccuracy, but when taken at its intent, as a dramatization, it is an utterly enthralling, binge-able series that shows that indeed, heavy is the head that wears the crown.

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Squid Game (2021-Present)

Capitalism critique has never been more violent or visually stunning than it has with Squid Game. Released in the fall of 2021, this South Korean Netflix series took the pop culture zeitgeist by storm. It sees 456 financially strapped contestants compete in a series of lethal children’s games in the hopes of winning the big cash prize. Class warfare has become an increasingly popular subject of film and TV, but many offerings in this subgenre have a decidedly “eat the rich” slant whereas Squid Game is all about the brutality of being on the losing side of capitalism, which most are.

While Squid Game‘s violence is difficult to stomach, it’s impossible to look away as the sets, costumes, and cinematography show what a work of art the series is. And the brutal deaths aren’t what’s terrifying about Squid Game — it’s the lengths the contestants will go to for the smallest chance of getting out of debt, a struggle that is all too relatable.

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Better Call Saul (2015 – 2022)

When Breaking Bad’s ending drew a close to the stories of Walter White, Heisenberg and occasionally unwilling sidekick Jesse Pinkman, whatever came next was always going to have a Herculean task. But Better Call Saul was never interested in being an over-hyped pretender, and the spin-off focused on Bob Odenkirk’s slippery lawyer actually managed the unthinkable for many, surpassing the greatness of the original. It did so by never stooping so low as to imitate what came before it.

Odenkirk’s Jimmy McGill — an early prototype of what Goodman would become by the time of Breaking Bad – wasn’t the most obvious spin-off character, but his own Breaking Bad journey is as compelling and outrageous as that of Mr White. And while Better Call Saul does rely on favors from returning characters, and eventually overlapped with Breaking Bad, it stands on its own merits with incredible performances and a subtler take on the underworld it so revels in exploring.

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Band Of Brothers (2001)

The highest praise that Band of Brothers deserves is that it is unquestionably the gold standard of HBO’s TV show history. With an ensemble cast playing versions of real-life figures, it is as profoundly affecting more than twenty years after its release as it ever was. Stunningly executed with a provocative, precise portrayal of World War II military campaigns, it is easily one of the greatest mini-series of all time and its appeal is far from limited by its military genre.

Produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, Band Of Brothers tells the story of the 506th’s legendary Easy Company throughout World War II. Led eventually by Richard D. Winters (the stunning Damian Lewis), the company see action at the very forefront of the US’ military campaign in Northern Europe. But it’s about so much more than the war, and fundamentally, Band Of Brothers is a stunning achievement, with an incredible cast, and some of the best storytelling you’ll ever witness. The fact that it is now on Netflix makes its celebration as the best TV show on the platform simple.

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Grey’s Anatomy (2005-Present)

The show that launched the Shondaland empire, every season of Grey’s Anatomy is available to stream on Netflix. Medical dramas have long been a staple of network TV, but when the brilliant Shonda Rhimes released Grey’s Anatomy in 2005, she captured lightning in a bottle. The series begins with Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) beginning her medical internship at Seattle Grace Hospital (now Grey Sloan Memorial), and from there Grey’s Anatomy gives viewers a peek behind the surgical curtain at the personal and professional lives of Meredith and her colleagues.

As seen in her other shows like Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, and Bridgerton, Rhimes is a master at creating steamy, soapy romances that also feel grounded and real. And while Grey’s Anatomy is beloved for its enthralling romantic storylines, it also deftly tackles sensitive subjects from abortion to sexual assault. There’s a reason Grey’s Anatomy has achieved such success — it’s not only one of Rhimes’ best shows but also one of Netflix’s.

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Griselda (2024)

Netflix kicked off 2024 with a bang thanks to the arrival of the now-hit show Griselda, starring Modern Family’s Sofia Vergara — although the two shows couldn’t be more different. Vergara leads the cast as the titular Griselda, a former sex worker turned cocaine-smuggler in Columbia. After an argument leads to the death of her husband and business partner, Griselda flees Columbia with her children and a kilo of high-quality cocaine. Griselda follows Vergara’s intriguing and complex character as she attempts to establish herself as a formidable presence in Miami in the 1970s.

Like many of Netflix’s grittiest crime dramas, Griselda is loosely based on a true story. Griselda Blanco was a real drug lord, and Vergara’s lauded performance brings her story to life in a way that Netflix subscribers who enjoy shows like Breaking Bad and Narcos will find incredibly gripping.

Griselda
was the #1 most streamed show on Netflix in multiple territories when it released
(via
Netflix
).

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Suits (2011-2019)

Witty, slick, and addictive, Suits is a USA Network legal drama that all starts with college dropout Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) using his photographic memory to talk his way into a job at a law firm despite having no legal experience. He’s hired by powerful “closer” attorney Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht), and together they take on cases and navigated the sharkwater politics of Pearson Hardman. Suits also notably stars Meghan Markle as whipsmart paralegal Rachel Zane, and was the actress’ first role before she became the Duchess of Sussex.

The show made headlines in the summer of 2023 when Suits broke records after arriving on Netflix, as it became the highest-viewed acquired show in a single week, clocking 3.674 billion hours of watch time. While Markle’s star power likely has something to do with this, in an era of intense, serialized prestige TV drama, sometimes viewers just want an easy watch, and with its procedural format, Suits delivers just that, while still maintaining an intelligent, fresh tone.

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Best Comedy TV Shows On Netflix

Dead Boy Detectives (2024)

Netflix has had success with adapting the works of Neil Gaiman as The Sandman has proved, and in 2024 they brought another one of the author’s DC Comics properties (this time one co-written by Matt Wagner). Dead Boy Detectives instantly found a fanbase, likely helped in no small part that it takes place in the cinematic The Sandman universe with Kriby reprising her role as Death and Donna Preston back as Despair. However, the premise of Dead Boy Detectives also drew interest, as it’s about two ghosts who decline the afterlife to hang around on Earth solving crimes.

George Rexstrew and Jayden Revri star as Edwin Payne and Charles Rowland, two deceased detectives who are spending their life beyond death solving supernatural crimes that threaten the living. They are joined by Kassius Nelson as Crystal Palace, a psychic medium. Ruth Connell also reprises her role from Doom Patrol as Night Nurse, further linking Dead Boy Detectives to other live-action shows based on DC Comics. The show is an incredibly entertaining mix of fantasy, comedy, romance, and drama — all ingredients that make for a great show on Netflix.

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Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)

Creator Amy Sherman-Palladino ensured her creative legacy with Gilmore Girls. This comforting series is the ultimate binge-watch as it follows the titular mother-daughter and best friends duo Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel) as they bond over dreams, relationships, movies, and too much coffee. Whether it’s spending time at Luke’s Diner, at a town festival in their quaint home of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, or at a Friday Night Dinner with Lorelai’s rich, snobby parents Richard (Edward Herrmann) and Emily (Kelly Bishop), the Gilmore girls are always having a fast-talking adventure full of heart.

There is truly no show like Gilmore Girls, as the series cemented itself in TV history with its trademark rapid-fire, pop culture reference-heavy dialogue and warm tone, which makes every viewer wish they could move to Stars Hollow (particularly in Gilmore Girls‘ autumn episodes). The series’ popularity is enduring, with Netflix releasing a four-part revival special Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life in 2016 and Luke actor Scott Patterson hosting a rewatch podcast called I Am All In. So grab a blanket, a coffee, and your favorite junk food, and tune into the best show on Netflix.

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Sex Education (2019-2023)

Sex Education was a breath of fresh air when it debuted on Netflix in 2019. It’s not easy to make a TV show about teens, especially one that feels simultaneously as of-the-moment yet somewhat timeless as Sex Education. Many get it wrong, and fall anywhere between pandering, condescending, cringe-worthy, or trying too hard. Netflix deftly finds the balance, though, with a show that’s sweet and heartfelt, utterly hilarious (often grossly so), emotional, risk-taking, and has strong messaging on a wide variety of issues, but weaves them organically into its plot.

What makes Sex Education work so well, ultimately, are its characters. Even when the plots get a little absurd, they keep it all grounded. The show is authentic and honest, and its characters are very much like real teenagers — their struggles either relatable or providing a teaching moment or two, and often both. Sex Education‘s cast is entirely great, and full of actors who are already breaking out into bigger things (Ncuti Gatwa could power the TARDIS on his megawatt smile and pure charisma alone).

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Seinfeld (1989-1998)

Netflix struck gold when the “show about nothing” arrived in its catalog. What started as one of the simplest premises ever, courtesy of Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, became one of television’s most iconic and influential series. The sitcom follows the mundane happenings of comedian Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld in a fictionalized version of himself), his insecure and cheap best friend George (Jason Alexander), his sarcastic ex-girlfriend turned platonic friend Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), and his wacky neighbor Kramer (Michael Richards).

Across its nine seasons, Seinfeld is a treasure trove of classic episodes, including “The Chinese Restaurant”, “The Soup Nazi”, “The Marine Biologist”, and of course, “The Contest”. The sitcom is full of hilarious one-liners and pop culture terms that are still quoted to this day, from “Serenity now!” to “spongeworthy” to “double-dipping“. The Writers Guild of America has honored Seinfeld as the second-best written television show of all time, behind only The Sopranos, making it truly the master of Netflix’s domain.

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Best Sci-Fi & Fantasy TV Shows On Netflix

3 Body Problem (2024)

Netflix released a new entry into the sci-fi genre that’s already creating conversations in 2024 thanks to its deep and intricate plot — 3 Body Problem. The show is based on the acclaimed novel of the same name by Chinese author Liu Cixin. However, 3 Body Problem isn’t just known for its complex and enriching sci-fi elements. The show opens with young astrophysicist Ye Wenjie witnessing her father being executed by the Chinese Communist Party during one of the infamous Struggle Sessions in the Cultural Revolution, a harrowing moment that sets the stage for the themes at play throughout the story.

To say the sci-fi elements of 3 Body Problem are fantastical is an understatement, as the show deals with concepts and technologies that redefine the laws of physics themselves (which, of course, means some incredibly awe-inspiring visual effects). What’s more, the show was created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the creative minds behind Game of Thrones, working alongside True Blood screenwriter Alexander Woo. The eight episodes of 3 Body Problem’s first season set up an intriguing story that, should the show continue to be a success, will doubtless be discussed by viewers for years to come.

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Black Mirror (2011-Present)

The 21st century’s answer to The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror is a sci-fi staple on Netflix. It’s an anthology series that shows the darkest of humanity through its social commentary on technology and the media. Black Mirror began as a series on Channel 4 in the UK, but upon its move to Netflix, its scope increased along with its budget, with its haunting visuals and roster of A-list cast members, including Jon Hamm, Jesse Plemons, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Annie Murphy.

What makes Black Mirror so terrifying is that it doesn’t blame technology for the atrocities of its storylines, it blames humanity. The show explores that the more technology evolves and develops, the more opportunities people have to tap into their most disturbing impulses. While some dystopian sci-fi stories are comfortingly far-fetched, viewers will find themselves questioning whether the events of Black Mirror episodes could happen — and will more often than not be horrified at the answer.

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One Piece (2023-Present)

Based on the hugely popular manga and anime (which started in 1997 and is still going), Netflix’s live-action One Piece is both a respectful adaptation and also a great starting point for new fans. Given the weight of lore behind One Piece‘s cast of characters, that’s no small feat, and it’s down to a well-executed, entertaining story that packs in oceans of heat. The swash-buckling story follows the colorful Straw Hat Pirates as they search for the fabled “One Piece” treasure. It’s trope-heavy, but there’s a beautiful simplicity to it that should give anime fans hope that other series could follow to live-action.

Thanks to the episodic story set-up, with adventure-of-the-week chapters that take the pirates, under Iñaki Godoy’s Monkey D. Luffy, to new islands for new emerging challenges, it’s also a Netflix show that can be dipped into and not necessarily hungrily binged at once. And while there are changes to the source material, they are largely smart, and the aesthetic commitment to making it feel like it came from the anime world may massage some of the bruises purists feel because of them.

One Piece
the anime has over a thousand episodes, and is still running.

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The Witcher (2019-Present)

While screen adaptations of video games are slowly shedding their bad reputation thanks to shows like The Last of Us, The Witcher also had literary help, as it is based on the fantasy book series of the same name by Andrezej Sapkowski. The show centers on stoic monster hunter Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) and his adventures, as he is eventually tasked with protecting Crown Princess Ciri of Cintra (Freya Allan). The Witcher season 1 beautifully establishes the show’s fantastical world, and seasons 2 and 3 expand upon it and the characters’ complex relationships.

Universally praised, The Witcher has been especially highlighted for its strong performances, which makes Cavill’s departure after season 3 all the more disappointing. Liam Hemsworth will step in to play Geralt in The Witcher season 4, and he has big shoes to fill, but hopefully, fans will give him a fair shake. But regardless of the series’ future, The Witcher has three excellent seasons under its belt.

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Stranger Things (2016-Present)

Along with House of Cards, Stranger Things is arguably the most important Netflix Original that the platform has ever released. Responsible for a huge uplift in interest in the streaming giant when it debuted in 2016, the horror fantasy blend perfectly blends Amblin-like 1980s nostalgia with an undeniable Stephen King vibe that proves to be a winning formula. With a twisty narrative that draws heavily on Dungeons & Dragons lore, Stranger Things is a far more street level success than its high concept might suggest, mostly thanks to its excellent cast.

Trope-heavy, Stranger Things marries multiple genres in a heady blend that appeals across all genre quadrants: its horror is successfully creepy (particularly after the introduction of Vecna); its coming-of-age elements are pitch-perfect; and the plot never disappears under its own weight as other shows with such longevity like Lost and Heroes. Impressively, the show has successfully reinvented itself even as it escalates its original ideas and the upcoming Stranger Things season 5 is easily one of the most hotly anticipated TV seasons in recent memory.

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Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024 – Present)

Netflix’s latest live-action adaptation of a classic animated show is 2024’s Avatar: The Last Airbender, and it’s already being touted as one of the best fantasy shows on the platform. While fans of the original animated series (also available on Netflix) have debated certain elements of the show, the live-action Avatar remains a delight to those who have no stock in adherence to the source material — although, despite some minor tweaks, the latest iteration of Aang’s story remains incredibly faithful.

Avatar: The Last Airbender takes place in a fantasy world where nations are built around their ability to bend elements. The Fire Nation are the antagonists of this world, and the only hope for peace is the reemergence of the Avatar, a “bender” who can manipulate all four elements. This is where the show’s hero, Aang, enters the scene, a young Airbender who has spent years frozen in a block of ice. The live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender is an original fantasy on an epic scale, providing visually stunning moments that Netflix subscribers won’t be able to forget.

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The Umbrella Academy (2019 – Present)

While Stranger Things is probably Netflix’s more famous sci-fi-like ensemble cast show, The Umbrella Academy is even better, increasing in quality with each release. Based on the incredible comics series by My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way, the show deals with the small problem of the end of the world. Repeatedly. Centered on a group of exceptional misfits with the kind of superpowers you won’t see in Marvel or DC Comics, The Umbrella Academy is as funny as it is subversive, exploring incredibly dark material while throwing in must-see dance numbers.

The character performances are delightful and irresistibly meme-able, and the looming shadow of destiny means there’s barely time for a misplaced step or pause in the plot, which throws in some of the most unexpected twists you’d ever imagine. And many you couldn’t possibly. With The Umbrella Academy season 4 promising to bring the complex, time travel story to its inevitably explosive conclusion, there’s still a lot to look forward to. Just make sure you’re there for the ride by catching up first.

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Best Romance TV Shows On Netflix

Bridgerton (2020-Present)

Shonda Rhimes arrived with a bang on Netflix with Bridgerton, the first scripted show on the streaming platform from Shondaland, her production company. Based on the Julia Quinn novels of the same name, Bridgerton takes place in high-society Regency era London and centers upon the eponymous noble family. Each season focuses on one Bridgerton sibling falling passionately and vexingly in love while the anonymous writer Lady Whistledown reports the steamiest scandals of the ton in her scandal sheet.

Bridgerton is famous for its steamy storylines and passionate love scenes, but they’re also full of romance and heart, making it the perfect show for lovers of the genre. And while a period piece, Bridgerton is an alternate history show, as people of color are among the nobility, finally bringing the period genre into the 21st century.

The
Bridgerton
prequel,
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story,
is also available to stream on Netflix.

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Heartstopper (2022-Present)

Created by Alice Oseman, and based on her webcomic and graphic novel of the same name, Heartstopper is a heartfelt British teen series about two high school boys, Nick (Kit Connor) and Charlie (Joe Locke), who fall in love with each other and form a romantic relationship. It also explores the boys’ other friends as they too come of age, explore their sexuality, and decide who they want to be in the world.

The show has been lauded for its positive representation, as it depicts many issues LGBTQ+ teens face, from being outed to discovering sexuality. Heartstopper also stands out from other teen shows because it doesn’t base Nick, Charlie, or any of their friends’ experiences in suffering; rather, the show is a celebration of being young and in love, whatever the characters’ sexual orientations may be.

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Best Horror TV Shows On Netflix

Baby Reindeer (2024)

Netflix is renowned as a streaming platform for releasing original shows that capture the cultural zeitgeist, and in 2024 they did it again with Baby Reindeer. The show is relatively difficult to define as far as genre goes. While technically classed as a dark comedy-drama, Baby Reindeer has more than enough tension to satisfy the most ardent thriller, horror, and true-crime fans alike. The story is based on the real experiences of creator Richard Gadd and adapted from his play of the same name — all of which detail his experiences being stalked and sexually assaulted.

Shines an unflinching light on a truly harrowing experience and many of the societal issues which enabled it.

Gadd also stars in the show as a fictionalized version of himself, though the (chilling) star of the show is undoubtedly Jessica Gunning as Martha Scott. Martha is a lawyer who becomes obsessed with Gadd to the point that she more-or-less destroys his sanity. Baby Reindeer is incredibly dark and many Netflix subscribers have found it a difficult watch, though it shines an unflinching light on a truly harrowing experience and many of the societal issues which enabled it.

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Parasyte: The Grey (2024)

There are plenty of K-Dramas on Netflix, and 2024’s Parasyte: The Grey instantly became the latest must-watch on the platform. Loosely based on the anime Parasyte: The Maxim, this horror show on Netflix details the invasion of Earth by deadly parasites who inhabit the bodies of their unsuspecting victims. However, it’s what these aliens do to the human form that makes Parasyte: The Grey so disturbing, as the invaders are able to turn their hosts into David Cronenberg-esque monsters at will.

This makes for an action-packed, visceral, and at times visually disturbing show. Jeon So-nee leads the cast as Jeong Su-in, a young woman who’s harboring a parasite of her own. However, the process fails to work, and Su-in is able to retain her free will (unlike the other victims). With high-end CGI effects and some absolutely incredible action scenes throughout — not to mention some of the best body-horror to hit the small screen for many years — Parasyte: The Grey is sure to satisfy Netflix subscribers seeking a new horror fix.

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The Fall Of The House Of Usher (2023)

From The Haunting of Hill House to Midnight Mass, acclaimed horror director Mike Flanagan has become a Netflix mainstay, offering terrifying miniseries that promise to give viewers more than a few thrills every spooky season. Flanagan’s 2023 contribution is The Fall of the House of Usher, based on the works of Edgar Allen Poe. The Fall of the House of Usher has a stacked ensemble cast full of Mike Flanagan actors who regularly show up in his work.

The drama centers around tyrannical pharmaceutical CEO Roderick Usher (Bruce Greenwood) who must contend with a demon haunting the family and killing off his children, the heirs to his company. With this premise, which could be described as Succession meets the slasher genre, Flanagan taps into the best of both worlds. The Fall of the House of Usher entertainingly explores themes of greed, capitalism, and family dysfunction that are seen in many prestige dramas while the scares are chilling and memorable enough to strike fear into the heart of even the most seasoned horror fan.

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Wednesday (2022-Present)

Based on the cartoons by Charles Addams, The Addams Family franchise has been gracing TV screens since the 1960s. The creepy and kooky family has also appeared in movies, and a young Christina Ricci is responsible for popularizing the macabre pig-tailed Addams daughter, Wednesday, when she first played her in The Addams Family (1991). And nobody was more perfect than Tim Burton to bring Wednesday Addams back to TV with Wednesday. The series sees Jenna Ortega playing Wednesday as she’s shipped off to the mysterious Nevermore Academy. There, she must solve a decades-old murder mystery.

While it’s impossible to say who’s a better Wednesday between Ricci and Ortega, the latter roots the character firmly in Gen-Z while still maintaining Wednesday’s dark, deadpan demeanor. Ortega’s Emmy-nominated performance, along with Wednesday‘s talented supported cast make the Addams Family franchise feel as lively as it ever was, and the mystery at the core of season 1 makes Wednesday perfect for a binge-watch. Wednesday broke Netflix’s record for most hours viewed in a week for an English-language series at 341.2 million hours, dethroning Stranger Things season 4.

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Best Crime TV Shows On Netflix

The Gentlemen (2024)

Guy Ritchie’s 2019 movie The Gentlemen starred Matthew McConaughey and Charlie Hunnam alongside an all-star cast, and proved so popular that, in 2024, the writer-director partnered with Netflix to bring the TV show The Gentlemen to the streaming platform. Set in the same universe as the movie, the Netflix show The Gentlemen stars Theo James as Eddie Horniman who, upon the death of his father, inherits the title of Duke Of Halstead and — more importantly — an estate that sits above a secret cannabis-growing factory.

While the cast isn’t as star-studded as the movie, James stars alongside the likes of Breaking Bad’s Giancarlo Esposito and Skins’ Kay Scodelario. Additionally, long-time Guy Ritchie collaborator Vinnie Jones is back as Geoff, the wildlife-loving no-nonsense groundskeeper of the Halstead Estate. The script and action are just as slick as Netflix subscribers can expect from a Guy Ritchie project, and whether fans of the movie or simply seeking a solid crime-based comedy drama, The Gentlemen is sure to satisfy.

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Top Boy (2011–2023)

With the likes of Gangs of London and the near-iconic Peaky Blinders, the UK has a rich vein of recent crime TV shows, but Top Boy deserves just as much attention. Considered the British answer to The Wire, the comparison may seem generous from outside, but it’s a fitting parallel: both shows deal with shifting power dynamics, the cut-throat world of underworld crime, and the relationships of the main characters and rivals.

Uneasy rivalries, stunning betrayals and often stunning performances punctuate everything, as Top Boy‘s cast was something of a proving ground for talents as rich as Benedict Wong, Laetitia Wright and Michaela Coel, with Barry Keoghan appearing briefly, but memorably. It’s still incredible to think Channel 4 initially canceled Top Boy after just two seasons, but Netflix swooped in after rapper Drake led a campaign to boost the show. And everyone should be thankful for the fact.

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Mindhunter (2017-2019)

Unfortunately, Mindhunter‘s development story might be one of the most frustrating tales of missed opportunity in TV history, as the show was given only a disappointingly short run. That said, the disappointment is directly correlated to just how great the Netflix Original series is. Offering true-crime fans a dive into some of real-life history’s most notorious serial killers, Mindhunter charts the rise of the FBI’s dedicated serial murder department (Quantico’s Behavioral Science Unit). Far more than a who’s who of killers, the show’s exploration of the personal relationships of the main characters and their struggles adds huge depth.

Drawing on creator David Fincher’s movies, Mindhunter is compellingly dark, exploring the depths of human depravity without edging into exploitation. If you’re a fan of The Silence of the Lambs, or Se7en, or movies of that ilk, Mindhunter is a must-see, particularly thanks to the unnervingly precise portrayals of some of the most notorious serial killers ever.

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Best Animated TV Shows On Netflix

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023)

With its eye-popping visuals, irreverent sense of humor, and stacked cast, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is a veritable cult hit, and it’s back in an alternate reality animated sequel series, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. In Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, Scott (Michael Cera) must still defeat the seven evil exes to win the object of his affection, Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). This time, however, Scott fatally loses his battle against Matthew Patel (Satya Bhabha). But when Ramona finds out Scott might still be alive, she sets out on a quest to find him.

Both the Scott Pilgrim TV show and movie are based on the graphic novels by Bryan Lee O’Malley, and while the movie’s visuals give it a cartoon feel, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off actually is a cartoon, and is thus able to evoke such delight with the feats of imagery it pulls off. Many fans agree that Scott, though likable, is possibly the least interesting element in his own story, so putting Ramona front and center is a welcome way to freshen up this beloved franchise.

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Big Mouth (2017-Present)

With bodies changing at an uncontrollable rate and hormones running wild, experiencing puberty can often feel like living the life of a cartoon character, and Big Mouth takes this concept literally. Nick Kroll’s hilarious animated Netflix series follows a group of middle schoolers as they experience adolescence, many with the guide of their “hormone monsters” — creatures who offer advice and guidance based on their charge’s hormonal temperament.

Big Mouth is raunchy and vulgar, but it’s every bit as sweet as it is salty. It’s a sex- and body-positive show that refuses to sanitize puberty, which is often incredibly messy business, both literally and figuratively. The animated nature of the show allows Big Mouth to really explore what these young teenagers are going through, all while treating them with kindness. The series may be called Big Mouth, but it’s also got a big heart.

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BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)

For a show about a talking horse, BoJack Horseman can be almost too real. Will Arnett stars as the titular anthropomorphic protagonist, a has-been actor famous for starring in a ’90s sitcom. Wanting to stage a comeback, BoJack plans to write an autobiography with the help of ghostwriter Diane Nguyen (Alison Brie). This forces BoJack to confront his failures, demons, and a whole lot of existential dread.

Adult animated shows have been popular since the 2000s, and while many of them are over-the-top and outrageous, BoJack Horseman is one of the more grounded offerings, despite its surreal premise. BoJack Horseman tackles many serious, real-life issues with such authenticity it can be uncomfortable to watch, but the show maintains its acerbic sense of humor throughout. There’s truly no show like it, and it’s one of the best on Netflix.

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