It can be overwhelming to pick a new show, considering how many Netflix alone has to offer. Without some help, it can be impossible to wade through all the shows on the streaming service and determine which ones are worth checking out. Luckily, that’s where we come in.
We’ve handpicked a list of the best series to stream right now to help you spend more time on Netflix binging shows. You can also check out our list of the best Hulu series, best Amazon Prime series, best Disney+ series, and best Netflix movies for more options to fill your time on the couch.
Added to the list this month
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Raising Dion2019
30 Rock (2006)
7 Seasons
Genre
Comedy
Cast
Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracey Morgan
Created by
Tina Fey
Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) is the head writer of a sketch comedy show for a major television program, which means she has to deal with needy, arrogant, relentless, and outright ridiculous actors and superiors. This show — which was created and largely written by Fey — is loosely based on her experience as the head writer for Saturday Night Live, painting hilarious parallels that are left up to the audience to interpret.
Sweet Tooth (2021)
1 Season
Genre
Action, Adventure, Drama
Cast
Christian Convery, Nonso Anozie
Created by
Jim Mickle
In the midst of an apocalyptic pandemic, children suddenly are born as hybrids, somewhere between human and animal. A little boy known as “Sweet Tooth” or Gus (Christian Convery) is the focus of this show, detailing the discrimination and evil of humankind as one of the most astonishing events in human history takes place. The performances and pace of events are what make this show, beside it being a great and new concept that comes from the DC Comics series.
Breaking Bad (2008)
5 Seasons
Genre
Crime, Drama
Cast
Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn
Created by
Vince Gilligan
After an Albuquerque high school chemistry teacher named Walter White (Bryan Cranston) is diagnosed with terminal cancer, the real question is how long he has to live. Driven by his talents and his responsibility as a family provider, he becomes one of the most powerful players in the underground methamphetamine trade.
The Queen’s Gambit (2020)
1 Season
Genre
Drama
Cast
Anya Taylor-Joy, Bill Camp, Moses Ingram
Created by
Scott Frank, Allan Scott
The most popular limited series to hit Netflix, The Queen’s Gambit is one of the best shows to binge right now. Orphaned at age 9, introvert Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) discovers her love and unexpected mastery of chess thanks to a janitor at her orphanage. After becoming a child prodigy, she goes on to break gender norms and defeat grandmasters. However, child stardom comes at a price as she struggles with alcoholism and substance abuse on her way to the top.
Squid Game (2021)
1 Season
Genre
Action, Adventure, Drama
Cast
Lee Jung-jae, Greg Chun, Stephen Fu
Created by
Hwang Dong-hyuk
The newest big hit to come to Netflix, Squid Game is a dark story that is originally in Korean but also available with English dubs. With the promise of a large sum of money paid to the winner, a group of strangers participate in a series of kids games with a deadly twist.
Arrested Development (2003)
5 Seasons
Genre
Comedy
Cast
Jason Bateman, Michael Cera, Portia De Rossi
Created by
Mitchell Hurwitz
The Bluths, a very wealthy family, finally discover that their wealth has been founded on lies and deceit as Michael Bluth’s (Jason Bateman) father is arrested. Seemingly the only sane one in the family, he must attempt to keep them all above water as their way of life crumbles around them. This comedy series on Netflix is one of the best and features some of the most quotable lines from the colorful cast of characters who are the Bluths.
Peaky Blinders (2013)
5 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Crime, Historical Fiction
Cast
Cillian Murphy, Paul Anderson, Helen McCrory
Created by
Steven Knight
Incredibly acted and shockingly graphic, Peaky Blinders is a period-piece crime drama loosely based on the real Shelby crime family. Shortly after World War I, an infamous Irish crime family, the Shelbys, infiltrate and uproot high-class society during the peak of its riches and splendor. Focused on Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy), the leader of Peaky Blinders, who must establish and maintain power by means of fear and brutality. Disclaimer: This is not at all a show for kids.
The Manual streaming roundup
Big Mouth (2017)
5 Seasons
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Romance
Cast
Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Jesse Klein
Created by
Jennifer Flackett, Andrew Goldberg, Nick Kroll
With the recent release of its fifth season, this two-time Emmy-winning cartoon is back again to push the envelope with its horny pre-teen narrative. Following a group of confused adolescents and their individual journeys through the process of growing up, we are subject to their strange, dark fantasies and mythical creatures such as “hormone monsters,” a “shame wizard,” and a “depression kitty” that make learning about the world that much harder.
Love, Death + Robots (2019)
2 Seasons
Genre
Sci-fi, Animation, Short
Cast
Scott Whyte, Nolan North, Steven Pacey
Created by
Tim Miller
In this sci-fi anthology series on Netflix, you never know what you’re going to get. With every episode ranging from six to 18 minutes, each storytelling effort is compacted into one visual and mind-bending spectacle. Each episode is created by a different team from a number of countries around the world, all provided with three words of inspiration for their short sci-fi story: Love, Death + Robots.
The Great British Bake Off/The Great British Baking Show (2010)
9 Seasons
Genre
Reality-TV
Cast
Mel Giedroyc, Sue Perkins, Sandi Toksvig, Noel Fielding, Matt Lucas
Created by
Andy Devonshire
Many competitive food shows tend to feature intense, cut-throat culinary challenges, but The Great British Baking Show is the exact opposite of that. This lovely Netflix cooking show is full of sweet treats and calming British accents, all set amid the beautiful English countryside.
The Crown (2016)
4 Seasons
Genre
Biography, Drama, History
Cast
Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, Imelda Staunton
Created by
Peter Morgan
Chronicling a dramatized portrayal of the royal family history, we learn about the political happenings and overall attitudes present in the royal drama, with some real-life historical details added for emphasis. Wonderfully acted and dazzlingly told, the story of this royal family dives into the divisive nature and petty rivalries that have the potential to turn into major wars and scandalous secrets, with simple indifference and little effort to alleviate the twisted monarchical mayhem.
Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj (2018)
6 Seasons
Genre
Comedy, News, Talk-Show
Cast
Hasan Minhaj, Joyelle Johnson, Arnab Goswami
Created by
Hasan Minhaj, Prashanth Venkataramanujam
If you’ve seen and enjoyed Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, you gotta check out Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj, which is a bit more harshly pointed at the corporations and politicians of today’s world. Minhaj wanted to create a show that was “timely and timeless. Unfortunately, this show seemed to bite a bit too hard as Netflix canceled it after six seasons, despite it winning an Emmy, a Peabody Award, and two Webby Awards.
Cobra Kai (2012)
4 Seasons
Genre
Action, Comedy, Drama
Cast
Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Xolo Maridueña
Created by
Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg
Based on the iconic ’80s trilogy starting with The Karate Kid in 1984, Cobra Kai revives all the old rivalries and fighting styles that made it so memorable. Plagued by his embarrassing loss in the All Valley Karate Tournament against Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) half-drunkenly revives the once-dead Cobra Kai karate studio in an attempt to take his life back.
The Last Dance (2020)
1 Season
Genre
Documentary, Biography, History
Cast
Phil Jackson, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen
Created by
Jason Hehir
Following the rise of the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s with unaired footage, The Last Dance has quickly become one of the best documentaries you’ll want to watch. With commentary from Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, and many others, it’s full of new insight and worth watching. You can also check out our list of the best documentaries on Netflix for more options.
Umbrella Academy (2019)
2 Seasons
Genre
Action, Adventure, Comedy
Cast
Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda
Created by
Steve Blackman, Jeremy Slater, Gerard Way
If you’re looking for a great Netflix series, Umbrella Academy is a good place to start. The story follows a family of former child heroes who has grown apart and are now in their 30s. But when their adoptive father Sir Reginald Hargreeves dies, they realize they must reunite to save the world.
Raising Dion (2019) new
2 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Sci-Fi
Cast
Alisha Wainwright, Ja'Siah Young, Ali Ahn
Created by
Carol Barbee, Dennis Liu
After a critically mixed response to a first season, Raising Dion is back for its second season to continue the curious story of a very young and gifted individual. Raised by a single mother going through rough times, Dion (Ja’Siah Young) is a second-grader who is struggling with an abnormal set of problems: Learning to deal with newfound superpowers.
Norsemen (2016)
3 Seasons
Genre
Comedy
Cast
Kåre Conradi, Nils Jørgen Kaalstad, Jon Øigarden
Created by
Jon Iver Helgaker, Jonas Torgersen
According to Viking experts, Norsemen is one of the most accurate depictions of what life might have been like for these people. On top of that, the show is absolutely hilarious. It’s a good series to watch even if it isn’t in Netflix’s top 10 list right now.
Stranger Things (2016)
3 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Cast
Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Winona Ryder
Created by
Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
Set in the 1980s, this sci-fi series takes place in a small town in the middle of nowhere, where spooky happenings start to unfold. When a boy goes missing, the residents of a small Midwest town start to panic. Meanwhile, a seemingly mute girl appears, and is sheltered by a group of young, nerdy boys who soon find that she has special powers — and must fight off a dark force lingering in their town.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005)
3 Seasons
Genre
Animation, Action, Adventure
Cast
Zach Tyler Eisen, Mako Iwamatsu, Mae Whitman
Created by
Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko
Originally from Nickelodeon, this animated series follows the story of Aang, a boy who has been trapped in ice for over a hundred years. The world has fallen into chaos in his absence, and as the Avatar, he is the only one who can restore the balance between the four elements: Earth, fire, air, and water. He has many challenges to overcome to do so, but he finds strength with the help of those who believe in him.
Queer Eye (2018)
5 Seasons
Genre
Reality-tv
Cast
Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France, Antoni Porowski, Jonathan Van Ness
Created by
David Collins
More than 10 years after the original series went off the air, Netflix decided to reboot it with an entirely new Fab Five in Atlanta. Rather than just offering fashion tips, recipes, and a makeover, however, the style experts provide apt social commentary to everyone they work with. All in all, it’s an easy show to binge on and will likely leave you with a good feeling on the inside. We’ve also found even more fashion documentaries on Netflix if you’re interested.
The Legend of Korra (2012)
4 Seasons
Genre
Animation, Action, Adventure
Cast
Janet Varne, J.K. Simmons, P.J. Byrne, David Faustino
Created by
Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko
Set well after the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra follows the adventures of the latest Avatar as she struggles to find her place in the world. With technology suddenly at the center of everything, this series is more about the struggles between benders and non-benders than ever before. Looking for more like this? We’ve found the best animated series on Netflix right now.
Ozark (2017)
3 Seasons
Genre
Crime, Drama, Thriller
Cast
Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, Sofia Hublitz
Created by
Bill Dubuque, Mark Williams
The Byrdes are just an ordinary family living in Chicago with nothing to hide. Except for the father, Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman), who just so happens to be the top money launderer for one of the largest drug cartels in Mexico. When things go south, Marty and the family are forced to relocate to the Missouri Ozarks.
BoJack Horseman (2014)
6 Seasons
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Drama
Cast
Will Arnett, Amy Sedaris, Alison Brie
Created by
Raphael Bob-Waksberg
If you’re looking for an adult cartoon comedy that does more than just make fun of itself, BoJack Horseman scratches that itch. The story follows the life of a washed-up sitcom star who made his claim to fame with a popular sitcom from the late 1980s and 1990s. BoJack (Will Arnett) struggles with depression, addiction, and maintaining relationships in this witty but dark comedy.
The Chef Show (2019)
Genre
Documentary
Cast
Jon Favreau, Roy Choi
Created by
Jon Favreau
This wonderful show all began during the filming of Favreau’s hit movie, Chef. Roy Choi had been brought on as a consultant for the film, and during that time, the two ended up bonding over the cooking process. Throughout the series, the lighthearted food duo travels around the country cooking with celebrities, famous chefs, and more. They also showcase a variety of delicious recipes, taking you step-by-step through the creative process. The Chef Show is also one of our top picks for the best cooking shows on Netflix right now.
Mindhunter (2017)
2 Seasons
Genre
Crime, Drama, Thriller
Cast
Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, Anna Torv
Created by
Joe Penhall
True-crime podcasts and true-crime shows are great, but adding a bit of theatrics into the mix never hurts anyone. Mindhunter is a Netflix Original drama based on the true story of the people at the forefront of the then-emerging science of profiling serial killers. The show follows FBI agent Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) as he and his team interview serial killers across the U.S. in an attempt to understand why they do what they do.
Dark (2017)
3 Seasons
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery
Cast
Louis Hofmann, Karoline Eichhorn, Lisa Vicari
Created by
Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese
When a young boy in a small German town goes missing, his family and the people of the town start to notice some strange coincidences and patterns in the town history. While this show has some incredible performances and a well-written plot, it requires a lot of attention to understand what is going on since there are so many characters and setting changes.
The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
1 Season
Genre
Drama, Horror, Mystery
Cast
Henry Thomas, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Kate Siegel
Created by
Mike Flanagan
You can only watch classic horror movies so many times before your blood thirst demands something fresh. The Haunting of Hill House is a horror/mystery series that follows the lives of a family struggling with haunting memories of their childhood home. The plot jumps between past and present, revealing more and more of the terrors that dwell inside Hill House.
Schitt’s Creek (2015)
6 Seasons
Genre
Comedy
Cast
Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Dan Levy, Annie Murphy
Created by
Eugene Levy, Dan Levy
This nine-time Emmy-winning comedy follows a rich video store franchise owner, Johnny Rose (Eugene Levy), as he and his family suddenly find themselves completely broke. They are forced to uproot their lives and regroup to a podunk town called Schitt’s Creek that Rose originally purchased as a joke. Though the first season starts out a bit slow, each short episode expands the dynamic of the characters to new and hilarious heights.
GLOW
3 Seasons
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Sport
Cast
Alison Brie, Marc Maron, Betty Gilpin
Created by
Liz Flahive, Carly Mensch
This dramedy follows the personal and professional lives of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, or GLOW for short, in Los Angeles during the 1980s. Although this Netflix original series is entirely fiction, it is based on the actual GLOW girls from the mid-1980s.
Black Mirror (2011)
5 Seasons
Genre
Sci-fi, Psychological Thriller, Dystopia
Cast
Daniel Kaluuya, Wyatt Russell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Daniel Lapaine
Created by
Charlie Brooker
In a wild mix of sci-fi themes and terrifyingly not-so-distant-future technology, Black Mirror will thrill, entice, and possibly scare you. Each episode is entirely different, meaning you can watch them completely out of order and still enjoy a gripping short film with guest stars and eerie concepts. Even if this show has been around for a while, it still challenges your comfort level with the new and top-of-the-line technology that you may have seen glimpses of in pop culture, generally showing its potentially ugly side.
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