50 best Netflix original series
50 best Netflix original series
For over 25 years, Netflix has been a leader in entertainment with innovative ideas that bring film and television into homes worldwide. Founded in 1997, the company launched its website as a mail-order DVD rental service in 1998, later evolving to include streaming services in 2007.
Netflix changed streaming forever in 2012 with the release of their first original series, the crime-comedy "Lilyhammer." It ignited a shift across the industry, as streaming platforms went from simply sharing films and TV shows created by others to producing their own content. A few early Netflix standouts set the bar high: In 2013, "House of Cards" became the first original streaming series to receive major recognition at the Emmys, and the following year "Orange is the New Black" won three Primetime Emmy awards.
Releasing an entire season of these original series all at once revolutionized how viewers consume television. The term "binge-watch" was so popular by 2017, that it was included in the Merriam-Webster dictionary. While the platform's early shows remain household names over a decade later, the volume of new content continues to grow each year. According to the most recent data available, in July 2023, Netflix boasted over 3,600 original titles, including films, series, and specials.
And all that content has led to plenty of recognition every awards season. In September 2024, Netflix bagged 24 Emmy Awards out of 107 nominations, further cementing itself as a worthy contender among legacy production companies. Those wins were across 35 series, including "Baby Reindeer," "Ripley," and the final season of "The Crown," all major hits for the streaming platform. As the year has gone on, Netflix has continued to release buzzy originals like "Nobody Wants This," the hugely controversial "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story," and the critically acclaimed spy thriller "Black Doves," which just debuted on Dec. 5. A few highly anticipated shows are still to come in the last remaining days of 2024, like a new season of the massive hit "Squid Game" on Dec. 26.
As we look forward to these upcoming releases, Stacker compiled a list of the 50 best Netflix original series using data from Reelgood and ranked them according to their IMDb user rating. Although the definition of the term "Netflix original" has been up for debate, this list defines an original series as one where Netflix was a major distributor or involved in production, according to IMDb.
#50. Suburra: Blood on Rome
- IMDb user rating: 7.9 (16K reviews)
- Seasons: 3
- Genres: Drama and Crime
- Cast: Alessandro Borghi, Giacomo Ferrara, and Carlotta Antonelli
- On air: 2017-2020
This Italian series is the prequel to "Suburra," a 2015 film based on the novel by Carlo Bonini and Giancarlo De Cataldo. For three seasons, the show hooked viewers with ongoing drama among Roman politicians, organized crime, and the Vatican.
#49. Marco Polo
- IMDb user rating: 8 (77K reviews)
- Seasons: 2
- Genres: Action & Adventure and Drama
- Cast: Lorenzo Richelmy, Benedict Wong, and Joan Chen
- On air: 2014-2016
To compete with popular action dramas like "Game of Thrones," Netflix spent $10 million per episode on their early original series "Marco Polo." This depiction of the explorer's adventures alongside Kublai Khan in 13th-century Mongolia was largely condemned by critics, but the lush set design—along with plenty of action and sex—kept viewers coming back for more.
#48. Lovesick
- IMDb user rating: 8 (21K reviews)
- Seasons: 3
- Genre: Comedy
- Cast: Johnny Flynn, Antonia Thomas, and Daniel Ings
- On air: 2014-2018
This charming British rom-com—originally given the much less charming title "Scrotal Recall"—follows Dylan (Johnny Flynn) as he braves the task of notifying previous sexual partners that he has chlamydia. Each episode focuses on one of Dylan's former flames, including flashbacks of their relationships juxtaposed against his present-day life.
#47. The End of the F****** World
- IMDb user rating: 8 (210K reviews)
- Seasons: 2
- Genres: Drama and Comedy
- Cast: Alex Lawther, Jessica Barden, and Steve Oram
- On air: 2017-2019
Dubbed best teen heroine of 2018 by Vanity Fair, Jessica Barden stars as a new girl in school, Alyssa, in this adaptation of Charles Forsman's graphic novels. After discovering a kindred spirit in fellow outsider James (Alex Lawther), the duo embark on an impromptu—and darkly comic—road trip to find Alyssa's biological father.
#46. Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
- IMDb user rating: 8 (13K reviews)
- Seasons: 11
- Genres: Family and Comedy
- Cast: Jerry Seinfeld and Jerry Seinfeld
- On air: 2012-present
This unique comedy talk show is exactly what the name implies: a series of conversations between comedian Jerry Seinfeld and various celebrity jokesters that are held while driving around in classic cars and enjoying a cup of joe. The range of guests and lively discussion is what keeps viewers coming back for more—from visiting Manny's Deli with Steve Harvey in Chicago to catching up with former co-star Julia Louis-Dreyfus in an Aston Martin and even touring the White House grounds with President Barack Obama.
#45. Orange Is the New Black
- IMDb user rating: 8 (317K reviews)
- Seasons: 7
- Genres: Drama and Crime
- Cast: Taylor Schilling, Nick Sandow, and Kate Mulgrew
- On air: 2013-2019
It didn't take long for one of Netflix's first original series, "Orange Is the New Black," to become a household name, catapulting actors like Uzo Aduba, Laverne Cox, and Taylor Schilling to star status. Based on Piper Kerman's 2010 memoir about her 13-month-long stint in federal prison for money laundering, the series broke new television ground with its diverse cast and confrontation of social issues across race, body type, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
#44. GLOW
- IMDb user rating: 8 (49K reviews)
- Seasons: 3
- Genres: Comedy and Drama
- Cast: Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin, and Marc Maron
- On air: 2017-2019
"Orange Is the New Black" showrunner Jenji Kohan found another hit with Netflix in the 2010s as executive producer for this comedy-drama. Inspired by the 1980s series of the same name—"GLOW" stands for Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling—the retro vibes of this story about an eccentric group of women turned wrestlers snagged three Primetime Emmys during its three-season run.
#43. Travelers
- IMDb user rating: 8 (62K reviews)
- Seasons: 3
- Genres: Fantasy and Drama
- Cast: Eric McCormack, MacKenzie Porter, and Nesta Cooper
- On air: 2016-2018
This Canadian sci-fi series hooked viewers with a twist on the old time-travel trope. Hundreds of years later, a group of five individuals—a memorable cast headlined by "Will & Grace" star Eric McCormack—is sent back through time to save humanity. Technology allows the consciousness of each so-called "traveler" to be transmitted into the body of a 21st-century human, where they are assigned missions to alter the course of history.
#42. The Keepers
- IMDb user rating: 8 (24K reviews)
- Seasons: 1
- Genres: Crime and Documentary
- Cast: Ben Cotner, Jason Spingarn-Koff, and Jessica Hargrave
- On air: 2017-present
Ryan White's true-crime docuseries, "The Keepers," investigates the 1969 murder of a 26-year-old nun, Sister Catherine Cesnik. The body of Father Joseph Maskell was exhumed for DNA testing the same year this series was released. Although local Catholic high school students confided in Sister Cesnik before her death, reporting Father Maskell raped them, the case remains unsolved because his DNA did not match crime scene evidence.
#41. F Is for Family
- IMDb user rating: 8 (40K reviews)
- Seasons: 5
- Genres: Drama and Animation
- Cast: Bill Burr, Laura Dern, and Justin Long
- On air: 2015-2021
Tapping into the well-established market for adult animated series about dysfunctional families—think "The Simpsons" and "Family Guy"—Netflix launched "F Is for Family" in 2015. Inspired by creator Bill Burr's own childhood, and executive produced by Hollywood heavyweight Vince Vaughn, the series follows the Pennsylvania-based Murphy family through the trials of daily life in the often politically incorrect 1970s.
#40. Derek
- IMDb user rating: 8.1 (34K reviews)
- Seasons: 3
- Genres: Drama and Comedy
- Cast: Ricky Gervais, Kerry Godliman, and David Earl
- On air: 2012-2014
Well known for wearing many hats, entertainer Ricky Gervais takes on more than just the role of Derek in his show of the same name—he also claims the titles of series creator, writer, and director. This comedy-drama follows a group of nursing home workers caring for elderly residents. Gervais says the concept was influenced by family members who worked as real-life caretakers, and calls it his most sincere work.
#39. El marginal
- IMDb user rating: 8.1 (4K reviews)
- Seasons: 5
- Genres: Crime and Drama
- Cast: Martina Gusman, Claudio Rissi, and Nicolás Furtado
- On air: 2016-present
Former officer Miguel Palacios (Juan Minujín) goes undercover in the San Onofre Prison to rescue a judge's kidnapped daughter in this gritty drama. More in the vein of "Narcos" than "Orange Is the New Black," "El marginal" is filmed in what remains of Cárcel de Caseros, a former Buenos Aires prison known for its inhumane conditions.
#38. Mystery Science Theater 3000
- IMDb user rating: 8.1 (4K reviews)
- Seasons: 3
- Genres: Comedy and Drama
- Cast: Joel Hodgson, Felicia Day, and Patton Oswalt
- On air: 2017-2022
Netflix revived Joel Hodgson's cult classic sci-fi comedy—which originally aired from 1988-1999, including a feature film in 1996—with a successful three-season reboot that premiered in 2017. With the same premise as the original, but featuring a new cast, host Jonah Ray (Jonah Heston) is captured and forced to watch B movies in a strange experiment conducted by a pair of scientists (Felicia Day and Patton Oswalt).
#37. American Vandal
- IMDb user rating: 8.1 (32K reviews)
- Seasons: 2
- Genres: Drama and Crime
- Cast: Tyler Alvarez, Griffin Gluck, and Jimmy Tatro
- On air: 2017-2018
Friends and burgeoning documentary filmmakers Peter Maldonado (Tyler Alvarez) and Sam Ecklund (Griffin Gluck) investigate comical high school pranks with utter seriousness in "American Vandal." This satirical play on the true-crime genre garnered a handful of Critics Choice Award nominations and a Primetime Emmy nod in 2018. Season 1 focuses on deducing who is responsible for a parking lot full of cars spray-painted with phalluses, while Season 2 digs into the mystery of the so-called "Turd Burglar."
#36. Samurai Gourmet
- IMDb user rating: 8.1 (2K reviews)
- Seasons: 1
- Genres: Action & Adventure and Fantasy
- Cast: Tetsuji Tamayama, Naoto Takenaka, and Honami Suzuki
- On air: 2017-2017
Described as the "perfect escapism for foodies" by CBR and likened to Anthony Bourdain "with a samurai twist" by Thrillist, "Samurai Gourmet" is an adaptation of Masayuki Kusumi and Shigeru Tsuchiyama's popular manga. Naoto Takenaka stars as Takeshi Kasumi, a quiet retiree whose meals trigger fond memories of the past, giving him great joy. These soothing scenes are juxtaposed against moments where Kasumi imagines an assertive samurai handling various life conflicts for him.
#35. Cooked
- IMDb user rating: 8.1 (3K reviews)
- Seasons: 1
- Genre: Documentary
- Cast: Michael Pollan, Michael Pollan, and Alex Gibney
- On air: 2016-2016
In this brief documentary series—just four episodes—author and journalist Michael Pollan explores the intersection of cooking with the natural world around us. Each episode is named for one of the four elements and delves into different foods and unique cooking styles across the globe. For instance, the episode "Water" focuses on the Indian method of pot cooking and addresses the dangers of processed food, while the "Air" episode studies gluten and the art of bread-making in Morocco.
#34. Terrace House
- IMDb user rating: 8.1 (1K reviews)
- Seasons: 1
- Genres: Drama and Reality
- Cast: Azusa Babazono, Kentaro, and Yoshimi Tokui
- On air: 2015-2016
"Terrace House" is an unscripted Japanese reality series where a small group of strangers, three men and three women, share a home for the summer. The original series, set in Tokyo, led to spinoffs on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, in the Japanese town of Karuizawa, and another two seasons back in Tokyo in 2019. The simplicity makes the series work: Provided with just a house and a car, cast members continue working their regular jobs and living their normal lives, with the freedom to leave the show at any time.
#33. Tales by Light
- IMDb user rating: 8.2 (2K reviews)
- Seasons: 3
- Genre: Documentary
- Cast: Jonathan Scott, Abraham Joffe, and Abraham Joffe
- On air: 2015-2018
This stunning visual masterpiece follows photographers across the globe as they explore nature's beauty, seeking the perfect shot. Each episode chronicles the adventures of a different photographer in a different country. In Season 1, underwater photographer Darren Jew heads to Papua New Guinea to capture a decades-old plane wreck and an active volcano. Documentarian Stephen Dupont explores how death is celebrated in Varanasi in Season 2, and Season 3 pairs photographer Simon Lister with actor and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Orlando Bloom to chronicle the hazardous working conditions of children in Bangladesh.
#32. Sense8
- IMDb user rating: 8.2 (160K reviews)
- Seasons: 2
- Genres: Drama and LGBTQ
- Cast: Miguel Ángel Silvestre, Max Riemelt, and Jamie Clayton
- On air: 2015-2018
The Wachowskis—best known for "The Matrix"—teamed up with J. Michael Straczynski of "Babylon 5" fame for this sci-fi drama about eight strangers inexplicably linked through telepathy. The New York Times likened "Sense8" to shows like "Lost" and "Heroes," with a twist of "Cloud Atlas." The series originally ended on a cliffhanger, but the high-quality production, special effects, and sensitivity to issues from transphobia to racism generated such a dedicated fan base that Netflix added a 2-hour series finale to provide closure.
#31. Chef's Table: France
- IMDb user rating: 8.2 (1K reviews)
- Seasons: 1
- Genre: Documentary
- Cast: Andrew Fried, Brian McGinn, and David Gelb
- On air: 2016-2016
This edition of the Emmy-nominated documentary series "Chef's Table" focuses on the innovative work of four French chefs who elevate food to the level of art. Each episode features a different chef, beginning with Alain Passard of L'Arpège, a restaurant that has been in operation for more than 30 years and boasts three Michelin stars.
#30. One Day at a Time
- IMDb user rating: 8.2 (17K reviews)
- Seasons: 4
- Genres: Comedy and Drama
- Cast: Justina Machado, Rita Moreno, and Isabella Gomez
- On air: 2017-2021
"One Day at a Time" follows three generations of a Cuban American family—a divorced mother (Justina Machado), her children, and her mother (Rita Moreno)—living under the same roof. This remake of the classic Norman Lear sitcom was praised for its LGBTQ+ and Latinx representation, picking up GLAAD Media Award and NAACP Image Award nominations and winning two Primetime Emmys.
#29. Master of None
- IMDb user rating: 8.2 (75K reviews)
- Seasons: 3
- Genres: Drama and Comedy
- Cast: Aziz Ansari, Lena Waithe, and Eric Wareheim
- On air: 2015-2021
Described by The Guardian as a more heartful version of Larry David's "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Master of None" follows up-and-coming Indian American actor Dev (Aziz Ansari), his childhood friend Denise (Lena Waithe), and their inner circle through the ups and downs of life and love in New York City. Series creators Ansari and Alan Yang picked up a Primetime Emmy in 2016 for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, followed by a second win for Ansari and Waithe in 2017.
#28. Money Heist
- IMDb user rating: 8.2 (515K reviews)
- Seasons: 5
- Genres: Drama and Crime
- Cast: Álvaro Morte, Pedro Alonso, and Úrsula Corberó
- On air: 2017-2021
In "Money Heist," a group of eight robbers try to pull off the impossible crime: breaking into the Royal Mint of Spain and walking out with 2.4 billion euros. This Spanish crime drama was so successful that it generated a spin-off in December 2023: "Berlin," a prequel that takes a peek into the title character's life before joining the heist crew.
#27. The Get Down
- IMDb user rating: 8.2 (23K reviews)
- Seasons: 1
- Genres: Music and Drama
- Cast: Justice Smith, Shameik Moore, and Herizen F. Guardiola
- On air: 2016-2017
The short-lived hip-hop musical "The Get Down" was a true spectacle for its brief 11-episode run. Showrunner Baz Luhrmann—well known for over-the-top visual masterpieces like "Romeo + Juliet" (1996) and "Moulin Rouge" (2001)—spared no expense with a $120 million budget for just one season. The show follows a group of kids growing up in the South Bronx during the late 1970s musical revolution—much like Grandmaster Flash, who coined the term "the get down" to describe the genre that later became known as hip-hop.
#26. Grace and Frankie
- IMDb user rating: 8.2 (56K reviews)
- Seasons: 7
- Genres: Drama and LGBTQ
- Cast: Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Martin Sheen
- On air: 2015-2022
Two women bond after their husbands leave them, revealing a secret 20-year relationship with one another, in Netflix's longest-running series "Grace and Frankie." Tallying 94 episodes over seven seasons, this comedy-drama celebrates how older women are "totally active, totally fully human beings," in the words of lead actor Lily Tomlin.
#25. Godless
- IMDb user rating: 8.2 (74K reviews)
- Seasons: 1
- Genres: Drama and Action & Adventure
- Cast: Jack O'Connell, Michelle Dockery, and Scoot McNairy
- On air: 2017-2017
Written and directed by Scott Frank, produced by Steven Soderbergh, and starring Jeff Daniels and Jack O'Connell, "Godless" is set in the 1880s American West. In it, an outlaw gang leader searches for the protege he believes deceived him. Meanwhile, the protégé (O'Connell) hides in a town inhabited almost exclusively by women.
#24. Atypical
- IMDb user rating: 8.2 (99K reviews)
- Seasons: 4
- Genres: Drama and Comedy
- Cast: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Keir Gilchrist, and Brigette Lundy-Paine
- On air: 2017-2021
Jennifer Jason Leigh, Michael Rapaport, and Keir Gilchrist star in this dramedy series following a family with a teenager on the autism spectrum. The final season of this Peabody-nominated series aired in 2021, one of only a few series that lasted four or more seasons. The show's popularity is largely due to its showcasing of underrepresented points of view.
#23. Club de Cuervos
- IMDb user rating: 8.2 (5K reviews)
- Seasons: 4
- Genres: Drama and Comedy
- Cast: Luis Gerardo Méndez, Mariana Treviño, and Stephanie Cayo
- On air: 2015-2019
In Netflix's first Spanish-language original series, "Club de Cuervos," siblings Chava (Luis Gerardo Méndez) and Isabel Iglesias (Mariana Treviño) fight for control of the family's soccer team following their father's death. The show's over-the-top sibling rivalry and dark humor garnered an International Emmy nomination in 2018 and led to two spin-offs the same year: the six-episode mini-series "The Ballad of Hugo Sánchez" and a TV movie, "Yo, Potro."
#22. The Sound of Your Heart
- IMDb user rating: 8.2 (1K reviews)
- Seasons: 1
- Genres: Drama and Comedy
- Cast: Lee Kwang-soo, Kim Dae-myung, and Jung So-min
- On air: 2016-2017
"The Sound of Your Heart" follows the wild antics of aspiring cartoonist Cho Seok (Lee Kwang-soo) and his unique family. The popular series was inspired by "Maeum-ui Sori," Korea's longest webtoon—a type of comic developed for viewing on mobile devices—with over 1200 episodes getting nearly 7 billion views during its 14-year run. Although the Netflix adaptation only lasted one season, the fan base was large enough to warrant a two-season reboot in 2018.
#21. Julie's Greenroom
- IMDb user rating: 8.3 (348 reviews)
- Seasons: 1
- Genres: Comedy and Children
- Cast: Julie Andrews, Giullian Yao Gioiello, and Frankie Cordero
- On air: 2017-present
Oscar-winning actor Julie Andrews, alongside her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton, created "Julie's Greenroom" to share their love of theater with children. The show features Andrews teaching a group of puppets the ins and outs of stage performance, including everything from singing to costumes. Although it lasted 13 episodes, the show featured a string of memorable celebrity guests—Alec Baldwin, Carol Burnett, and Idina Menzel, to name a few—and received three Daytime Emmy nominations.
#20. Shot in the Dark
- IMDb user rating: 8.3 (267 reviews)
- Seasons: 1
- Genre: Crime
- Cast: Howard Raishbrook, Scott Lane, and Zak Holman
- On air: 2017-2017
"Shot in the Dark" documents the work of three Los Angeles freelancers who scavenge the city nightly for crimes, accidents, and other newsworthy stories. This short-lived reality series was action-packed, but received criticism for what The Guardian termed "feeding on human misery"—essentially capitalizing on tragedy without considering the impact of the horrific events captured on film.
#19. Abstract: The Art of Design
- IMDb user rating: 8.3 (5K reviews)
- Seasons: 2
- Genre: Documentary
- Cast: Christoph Niemann, Tinker Hatfield, and Es Devlin
- On air: 2017-2019
Designers from every discipline are showcased in this documentary series, helping to illustrate how art and design can touch and shape every aspect of life. Featured interviews include Platon, Cas Holman, Marcus Engman, and Ruth E. Carter.
#18. Castlevania
- IMDb user rating: 8.3 (75K reviews)
- Seasons: 4
- Genres: Fantasy and Anime
- Cast: Richard Armitage, James Callis, and Alejandra Reynoso
- On air: 2017-2021
Inspired by the gripping video game series, Japanese-style animation meets American voice-overs in this animated fantasy series starring actors such as Richard Armitage, James Callis, and Alejandra Reynoso. Dracula has released an army of demons from hell, and a vampire hunter must fight to save the city.
#17. Fauda
- IMDb user rating: 8.3 (34K reviews)
- Seasons: 4
- Genres: Drama and Action & Adventure
- Cast: Lior Raz, Netta Garti, and Doron Ben-David
- On air: 2015-present
"Fauda"—Arabic for "chaos"—became a surprise international hit when Netflix licensed the series. Creators Lior Raz and Avi Issacharoff drew on their personal experience with the Israel Defense Forces to develop the show and Season 3 was set in the Gaza Strip, the center of the violent Israel-Hamas war that began on Oct. 7, 2023. The show was renewed for a fifth season in Sept. 2023, a month before those events.
#16. Five Came Back
- IMDb user rating: 8.3 (5K reviews)
- Seasons: 1
- Genres: Biography and Documentary
- Cast: Meryl Streep, Steven Spielberg, and Lawrence Kasdan
- On air: 2017-2017
Produced by Steven Spielberg, Scott Rudin, and Barry Diller, and narrated by Meryl Streep, this documentary chronicles the true stories of five legendary filmmakers who served in World War II. Based on the book by Mark Harris, "Five Came Back" examines a time when Americans would get their international news before the start of a movie. It explains how filmmakers Frank Capra, John Huston, William Wyler, John Ford, and George Stevens enlisted in the war to show the real-life story happening overseas.
#15. Last Chance U
- IMDb user rating: 8.4 (7K reviews)
- Seasons: 5
- Genres: Sport and Documentary
- Cast: Brittany Wagner, Buddy Stephens, and Greg Whiteley
- On air: 2016-2020
This documentary follows the story of students and coaches on the field and in the classroom at East Mississippi Community College. The student-athletes at this under-the-radar school attempt to overcome personal obstacles as they aim for future success in the NFL. A fifth and final season aired in July 2020, but a new series, "Last Chance U: Basketball," premiered in 2021.
#14. Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories
- IMDb user rating: 8.4 (4K reviews)
- Seasons: 2
- Genre: Drama
- Cast: Asako Kobayashi, Joe Odagiri, and Kaoru Kobayashi
- On air: 2016-2019
As the title suggests, "Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories" is an anthology series set in a late-night Tokyo diner where individuals cross paths and make connections over their shared love of food. NPR posits that the show's appeal lies in the short episodes—just 24 minutes each—that "unfold with the lazy looseness of happy hour."
#13. Ozark
- IMDb user rating: 8.5 (334K reviews)
- Seasons: 4
- Genres: Drama and Crime
- Cast: Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, and Sofia Hublitz
- On air: 2017-2022
Jason Bateman stars in this story of a typical American family that turns out to be not so typical. Marty Byrde (Bateman) moves his family from Chicago to Missouri's Ozark Mountains when he gets in trouble with a drug boss who's forcing him to launder money. "Ozark" debuted its fourth and final season in two parts in 2022, released in January and April, respectively.
#12. The Punisher
- IMDb user rating: 8.5 (257K reviews)
- Seasons: 2
- Genres: Action & Adventure and Drama
- Cast: Jon Bernthal, Ben Barnes, and Amber Rose Revah
- On air: 2017-2019
Jon Bernthal plays veteran Frank Castle (Marvel's "The Punisher") in this crime drama created by Steve Lightfoot. After his family is murdered, Frank's main goal is to avenge their death, and he'll stop at nothing to do so.
#11. Chef's Table
- IMDb user rating: 8.5 (16K reviews)
- Seasons: 6
- Genres: Documentary and Biography
- Cast: Jeong Kwan, Massimo Bottura, and Dan Barber
- On air: 2015-present
Each episode of the Emmy-nominated "Chef's Table" takes viewers behind the scenes with a different chef, some world-renowned and others largely unknown. This was Netflix's first docuseries, debuting in 2015, and the series remains popular today.
#10. Ask the StoryBots
- IMDb user rating: 8.5 (997 reviews)
- Seasons: 3
- Genres: Action & Adventure and Children
- Cast: Judy Greer, Fred Tatasciore, and Jeff Gill
- On air: 2016-present
Building on the success of the Spiridellis brothers' YouTube shorts, "Ask the StoryBots" features five robots—Bang, Beep, Bing, Bo, and Boop—that entertain kids by answering a different important question in each episode. Not only has the series collected five Daytime Emmy awards, but with special guests like Snoop Dogg and Ed Norton in Season 2, and Jennifer Garner and John Legend in Season 3, who wouldn't want to tune in and learn a little?
#9. Anne with an E
- IMDb user rating: 8.6 (63K reviews)
- Seasons: 3
- Genres: Family and Drama
- Cast: Amybeth McNulty, Geraldine James, and R. H. Thomson
- On air: 2017-2019
A new take on the L.M. Montgomery books about Anne of Green Gables, "Anne with an E" follows an orphan named Anne (Amybeth McNulty) as she adapts to her new life on Prince Edward Island in the 19th century. The series won 13 Canadian Screen Awards.
#8. Making a Murderer
- IMDb user rating: 8.6 (99K reviews)
- Seasons: 2
- Genres: Documentary and Crime
- Cast: Steven Avery, Kathleen Zellner, and Adam Del Deo
- On air: 2015-2018
This crime documentary follows the story of Steven Avery over 10 years. After being wrongly convicted of a crime, Avery is released after 18 years, only to be arrested again as a suspect in a new crime while trying to expose a corrupt legal system. The series stirred major public interest regarding the case—to the tune of more than 500,000 signatures petitioning the White House to pardon Avery. In 2023, "Convicting a Murderer" was released on the streaming platform DailyWire+ as a rebuttal to the Netflix documentary.
#7. Mindhunter
- IMDb user rating: 8.6 (321K reviews)
- Seasons: 2
- Genres: Crime and Drama
- Cast: Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, and Anna Torv
- On air: 2017-2019
In this crime thriller set in the 1970s, investigators interview convicted serial killers in an effort to understand their motives and help solve existing open cases. "Fight Club" director David Fincher directed seven episodes.
#6. Daredevil
- IMDb user rating: 8.6 (468K reviews)
- Seasons: 3
- Genres: Drama and Crime
- Cast: Charlie Cox, Deborah Ann Woll, and Elden Henson
- On air: 2015-2018
Created by Drew Goddard ("Alias," "Lost," "The Good Place"), this Marvel superhero series follows Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), a blind lawyer by day and vigilante by night, who fights crime in New York City. Over its three-season run, the show was nominated for five Primetime Emmys, among other honors.
#5. The Crown
- IMDb user rating: 8.6 (245K reviews)
- Seasons: 6
- Genres: Biography and Drama
- Cast: Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Vanessa Kirby
- On air: 2016-2023
Spanning decades, "The Crown" follows the political rivalries, romances, and events that have shaped England and its people during Queen Elizabeth II's reign. Created by Peter Morgan ("The Queen," "Frost/Nixon," "The Last King of Scotland"), "The Crown'' had its sixth and final season premiere in December 2023.
#4. Stranger Things
- IMDb user rating: 8.7 (1M reviews)
- Seasons: 4
- Genres: Drama, Mystery, and Horror
- Cast: Millie Bobby Brown, David Harbour, and Joe Keery
- On air: 2016-present
The fantasy-horror series created by the Duffer brothers takes place in a small town, where a boy goes missing, and his family and friends must confront supernatural beings to get him back. Despite "Stranger Things" Season 4 being hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the series' two-part summer 2022 comeback had a record turnout for Netflix, becoming the streamer's second title to exceed 1 billion viewership hours within 28 days of its release. The fifth season is currently in production.
#3. Dark
- IMDb user rating: 8.7 (427K reviews)
- Seasons: 3
- Genres: Crime and Drama
- Cast: Louis Hofmann, Lisa Vicari, and Andreas Pietschmann
- On air: 2017-2020
Netflix's first German (subtitled) production, "Dark," tells the story of two children who disappear from a German town in the present-day. However, a turn toward the supernatural takes the story—and its four families—back to the same town in 1986.
#2. House of Cards
- IMDb user rating: 8.7 (523K reviews)
- Seasons: 6
- Genre: Drama
- Cast: Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, and Kevin Spacey
- On air: 2013-2018
When "House of Cards" ended its run after six seasons, it had already been nominated for 49 Primetime Emmy awards. The show originally starred Kevin Spacey as a congressman on a mission to get revenge against those who betrayed his trust. After Spacey's removal, the series' focus shifted to his wife, played by Robin Wright.
#1. Narcos
- IMDb user rating: 8.8 (454K reviews)
- Seasons: 3
- Genres: Drama and Biography
- Cast: Pedro Pascal, Alberto Ammann, and Wagner Moura
- On air: 2015-2017
Centered on the Colombian cocaine kingpin Pablo Escobar, the three-season biographical drama "Narcos" chronicles the true story of international drug cartels and law enforcement's efforts to stop them. The series was nominated for three Primetime Emmys and two Golden Globes over its three-season run.
Story editing by Cynthia Rebolledo. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire.
