Let’s imagine you want nothing more than to spend the day somewhere between sitting up and laying down while watching the best TV shows that Netflix has to offer for hours on end. But sometimes finding the best TV shows to binge watch is easier said than done and you end up wasting half the day arguing with yourself and the platform’s labyrinthian library of shows and genres.
Well, my friend, you’ve come to the right place. While there are plenty of great movies on Netflix to watch, we have put together a list of the best shows Netflix has to offer, some of which are even going to be popping up on the 2024 Netflix TV schedule, all of which you can get with a Netflix subscription, which is arguably one of the best streaming services to have in 2024.
And, even though this list is admittedly a lot to take in, where else are you going to find the best sci-fi, musical comedies, and racy period dramas the streaming world has to offer?
One Piece (2023 - Present)
Are you ready to be King of the Pirates? One Piece is the long-awaited adaptation of the legendary manga of the same name. The show follows Monkey D. Luffy as he assembles a crew in order for him to sail the sea and find the legendary One Piece, a treasure unlike anything else left by one of the greatest pirates of all time. In doing so, he would become King of the Pirates. The series was the adaptation fans wanted and more, and now, Season 2 has been confirmed.
Stranger Things (2016 - Present)
Stranger Things, or the Duffer brothers love letter to all things ‘80s, has all the makings of a show you can lose yourself to if you’re not careful. With four seasons to enjoy, filled with sci-fi horror, a large ensemble cast featuring some of the best actors, and a gripping story about a group of friends trying to avert disaster in their small Indiana town, there’s a lot to enjoy here. Season 5 is slowly coming along, and filming has finally started.
Stream Stranger Things on Netflix.
Breaking Bad (2008 - 2013)
There are few shows that changed the trajectory of a lead actor’s career more so than what Breaking Bad did for series lead, Bryan Cranston. Over the course of the show’s five seasons, Cranston’s Walter White transforms himself from an unassuming high school chemistry teacher to a notorious drug lord known simply as “Heisenberg.” Watch out, because this show will suck you in and won’t let you out until hours later. It will be coming off of Netflix in 2025, so you better get your binges in now. Also, if you love Breaking Bad, you should check out Better Call Saul, a prequel that tells the rise – and fall – of Saul Goodman, who is Walter White’s lawyer in the show.
Stream Breaking Bad on Netflix.
Also try: Better Call Saul.
Ozark (2017 - 2022)
If you’re looking for a series that will truly blow your mind from the first episode, check out Ozark. This series tells the tale of a financial advisor who has to move from Chicago to the Missouri Ozarks when he gets caught up in the drug business, and is forced to launder money so his family doesn’t get hurt. With fantastic performances from Jason Bateman and the fabulous Julia Garner, Ozark is a thrilling adventure.
One Day (2023)
One Day is the limited series that will truly knock your socks off after making you cry for hours before. This series, hailing from the United Kingdom, tells the story of a friendship for two decades after they meet as young adults, and the love story that unfolds. It’s beautifully done and will seriously make you believe in love once you’re done watching.
Wednesday (2022 - Present)
They're creepy and they're kooky – well, at least Wednesday certainly is. In this Netflix original show, we get the story of the eldest child in the Addams family and her time at Nevermore, a school for outcasts, as she tries to solve a monster case that has been plaguing the town of Jericho.
Wednesday has become one of the biggest shows on Netflix, even surpassing the records that Stranger Things once had for the most hours streamed in one week. And honestly, it's for good reason. Jenna Ortega is fantastic in the lead role, and the rest of the Wednesday cast is full of stars. Now we only need to wait for Season 2 to come - and hopefully have some changes to the character as a whole, thanks to Ortega. There are even cute clothes to wear from the show.
Suits (2011 - 2019)
Suits has been having a hell of a time on Netflix the last few months – so much so that it’s getting a new series set in the same world after the original blew up on streaming. Suits, starring Gabriel Macht and Patrick J. Adams, is a legal drama that takes place in New York City, and mainly follows Mike, a man who has a photographic memory and is able to use it to get a job at a law firm, despite never completing law school. With eight seasons on Netflix, there’s plenty to watch.
Maid (2021)
This is a miniseries that will have you captivated from the first episode. Maid, starring Margaret Qualley, is a show that follows the story of a young woman who works as a maid in order to support her family and escape from an abusive relationship. She struggles to make an income, but will not give up hope in keeping her family safe.
You (2018 - Present)
Ever wonder what it’s like if someone is obsessively in love with you? That’s just part of what You is about. This popular series has run for four seasons, following the life of Joe Goldberg, a seemingly normal man with a hankering for love…and the willingness to kill those that get in the way. The fourth season finished airing in February 2023, Season 5 is confirmed, and we have plenty of questions about Joe Goldberg and his life.
Blue Eye Samurai (2023 – Present)
If you’re looking for the best animated show on the platform, then Blue Eye Samurai is the series to watch. The show follows a young woman hiding as a boy while also hiding her blue eyes, a telltale sign that she’s a mixed child from a white man in 1600s Japan. She makes it her mission to find the man who sexually assaulted her mother and kill him. Blue Eye Samurai is one of the best animated adult shows out there and a must-watch.
Stream Blue Eye Samurai on Netflix.
Love Is Blind (2020 – Present)
Do you believe love is blind? Because I think some of these contestants do. Love is Blind is a Netflix reality show that follows the lives of several singles who go on dates between a wall where they can’t see the other, and by the end of the experiment, they must be engaged in order to finally see what the other looks like – testing if love is truly blind. With a sixth season currently airing, this is a drama-filled show that will, perhaps, be the best way to spend a Saturday afternoon with your besties.
Stream Love Is Blind on Netflix.
Warrior (2019 – 2023)
With three seasons, Warrior is an excellent martial arts crime drama show that follows the story of Ah Sahm, a martial arts prodigy who immigrates for one sole purpose – to find his long-lost sister. But because of his skills, he finds himself entwined in the criminal world all too quickly.
The Good Place (2016 – 2020)
Running for four seasons, The Good Place follows the story of a woman welcomed into the supposed “good place” after she dies, wondering why on earth she is there because she wasn’t really the best person while she was alive. However, she tries to hide her past and instead try to become good, while making unlikely allies all around her as secrets are revealed.
Stream The Good Place on Netflix.
Community (2009 - 2015)
For six seasons, Community was one of the funniest and most unique comedies on television and the cult favorite ended up helping to launch the careers of everyone from Alison Brie to Donald Glover and Gillian Jacobs to even the Russo brothers in a way. There is a certain quality and charm to the show about the students and faculty at Greendale Community College that makes them feel like family to the viewer, family you don’t mind spending hours with on the couch. And now, we're going to be getting that Community movie we've been craving.
Arcane (2021 – Present)
I’ll be the first to say that you do not need to be into League of Legends to enjoy Arcane. This fantastic animated series on Netflix follows two sisters who grow up in vastly different worlds after the death of their adoptive father. And one day, everything comes crashing down when they reunite in a world that is split into two classes – the above, and the below. Arcane Season 2 is confirmed, so you better check out the first season.
Grey’s Anatomy (2005 - Present)
Grey’s Anatomy is the longest-running show on this list, with a total of nineteen seasons available to watch. Originally, the premise was all about Meredith Grey, a first-year intern working at Seattle Grace Hospital, and the people she met there who changed her. But, as time has gone on, there have been so many other major storylines and characters that you’d have to have several marathons to somehow catch up on the series after all this time. If you’re up for the challenge, though, it’s certainly one that will hold your attention.
Stream Grey’s Anatomy on Netflix.
Seinfeld (1989 – 1999)
I mean, I really can’t have a list without putting this show on here. Seinfeld is a classic comedy starring Jerry Seinfeld as a fictionalized version of himself, living in New York City during the 1990s, and tells the hilarious stories of him and his adult friends, as well as the hijinks they get into. If you want a great comedy series, this is the one to watch, whether while paying full attention as you relax or just have it on in the background.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015 - 2019)
If you’re wanting a hilarious romantic comedy musical series, then Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is the one to watch. This show, starring Rachel Bloom, is mainly about a young lawyer who moves all the way to California from New York in order to follow her high school summer camp boyfriend, but in doing so, it turns her life upside down in hilarious fashion.
Stream Crazy Ex-Girlfriend on Netflix.
Never Have I Ever (2020 - 2023)
If you’re looking for a sweet teen dramedy to watch, check out Never Have I Ever. This series, starring Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, tells the story of Devi, a teenager who is just trying to find her place in the world and become popular at school. But, like with any teen dramedy, she runs into her own personal and relationship problems, including those with her Indian-American family. With four complete seasons, this is the perfect binge for a week to laugh and have fun.
Stream Never Have I Ever on Netflix.
Narcos (2015 - 2017)
Narcos is a crime series that focuses on the story of Pablo Escobar and his rise to fame when he became the leader of the Medellin Cartel and started to distribute cocaine throughout all of Mexico and later on, North America in general. It also stars Pedro Pascal in one of his best roles as Javier Peña, one of the DEA agents assigned to bring down Escobar.
Bridgerton (2020 - Present)
With two seasons to watch (and Bridgerton Season 3 on the way), the Netflix original series Bridgerton has all the makings of a binge-worthy show. With an outstanding and diverse cast, an engaging story about families in England’s Regency era seeking love, fortune, and power, and a clever way of incorporating modern music and culture into a long ago period, the show is a fascinating addition to the Netflix library.
If you want more of the Bridgerton universe, check out Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story which came out in May 2023. It’s a great way to learn about everyone's favorite queen.
Dead To Me (2019 – 2022)
Dead to Me takes black comedy-drama to a whole other level. This Netflix original series stars Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini as women who both attend a group grief therapy session, only to discover that their losses are somehow connected in a much darker way than they imagined.
Jane The Virgin (2014 - 2019)
Jane the Virgin is the best romantic comedy show you could check out. Starring Gina Rodriguez, the series is a satirical telenovela dramedy that follows a young woman who is accidentally inseminated when she goes to visit her gynecologist, and from there, her life is turned upside down completely. Not only is the show fun, but the Jane the Virgin cast is incredibly talented.
Stream Jane the Virgin on Netflix.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005 - 2008)
While there’s a new live-action series based on the animation, we’re talking about the original animated Avatar: The Last Airbender here. In a world that has four different nations separated by elemental powers, the Fire Nation is looking to take over everything, but one person, known as the Avatar, master of all four elements, is the only one who can stop them. The only problem is that he’s a 112-year-old novice who has been frozen in an iceberg for a century.
Truly, Avatar: The Last Airbender is a gem of a show, and if you’ve never seen it, you need to.
Stream Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix.
Also, check out The Legend of Korra on Netflix.
Netflix’s Live-Action Avatar: The Last Airbender (2023 – Present)
If you also want to check out the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender, the first season is available to stream right now, with Seasons 2 and 3 confirmed. The live-action series begins as the first season of the animated series did, where Avatar Aang awakens from a 100-year slumber in an iceberg, and must team up with new friends in order to learn all four elements to take down the Fire Nation.
Stream the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix.
Heartstopper (2022 - Present)
I dare you not to cry your eyes out while watching this series. Heartstopper, based on the graphic novel series of the same name, follows the story of Charlie, a young man who falls in love with his classmate, and how he struggles to be fully himself, while also looking at the life of his friends and his family. With two seasons, this show is such a gem – and yes, there’s already a Heartstopper Season 3 on the way.
Stream Heartstopper on Netflix.
The Witcher (2019 - Present)
Journey through dangerous realms and magical places alongside Geralt of Rivia, a being known as a Witcher, whose job is to slay monsters and humans alike for coin. Played by Henry Cavill, The Witcher is a fantastic fantasy show with plenty of surprises, twists, and moments that will make you wish you were a controller of chaos magic. Three seasons are available to watch, and this will be the last time anyone sees Cavill as Geralt because he will be replaced by Liam Hemsworth in The Witcher Season 4.
Stream The Witcher on Netflix.
The OA (2016 – 2019)
What would you do if someone suddenly appeared after being missing for years? That’s what The OA is all about. A mystery, this two-season show tells the story of a young woman who reappears after her disappearance seven years ago – and this time, she comes back with sight and calls herself “the OA,” despite being blind before she vanished, creating more mysteries than anything else.
The Brothers Sun (2023)
I will never forgive Netflix for canceling Brothers Sun because it really is that good. This series, starring Michelle Yeoh, is an action comedy that tells the story of an average man who is forced to adapt to the the life of a gangster when he discovers that his brother and his family in general have connections to the mafia of Taipei, Taiwan, and now, he has to try and keep his family safe in America.
Stream The Brothers Sun on Netflix.
The Walking Dead (2011 - 2022)
Looking for one of the most iconic horror shows of all time? Check out The Walking Dead. Running for eleven seasons, this popular drama shows that sometimes, zombies are the last thing the humans in an apocalypse need to worry about. With compelling characters such as Negan or Rick Grimes to root for, and some truly gnarly zombie action, The Walking Dead is the perfect show to binge for the horror enthusiast.
All eleven seasons are on the platform, concluding with its emotional finale. I'm sure that as the new spinoffs come out, we're only going to get more The Walking Dead content to add onto this list.
Stream The Walking Dead on Netflix.
The Crown (2016 - 2023)
The Crown is one of those shows that almost has to be binged to get the full experience. With so many characters coming in and out of Buckingham Palace (and 10 Downing Street) over the course of each of the show’s six seasons, there’s a lot to keep track of, but it pays off handsomely. From the final days of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II taking over the throne up to the late 1980s, Peter Morgan’s tireless efforts to unfold the drama of the royal family make for one of the most engaging and enchanting shows of the modern era.
The 100 (2014 - 2020)
The 100 is hands down one of the best CW shows, and I stand by that even with its divisive last season. The 100 is a series that follows a group of delinquents who are sent down from a space station to see if the earth can be rehabilitated years after a nuclear disaster. What they find will shock the humans and more.
The Queen’s Gambit (2020)
There are few limited series that grabbed a hold of the Netflix subscriber base more than The Queen’s Gambit in late 2020. Seriously, the story of a young chess prodigy with all sorts of demons and personal struggles to overcome, told over seven episodes, is a masterpiece in television drama. From the early days of Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) learning to play chess in an orphanage’s basement to the show’s fulfilling ending, The Queen’s Gambit is damn near perfect from top to bottom.
Stream The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix.
The Sandman (2022 - Present)
If you want another amazing fantasy show, check out The Sandman. In this series from Netflix, we follow Morpheus, a personification of dreams who was locked away for 106 years after an occult ritual. He is finally freed, and takes it upon himself to restore his place in his world, called The Dreaming. With eleven episodes to watch, it’s a fun fantasy time for sure. And now, it's finally getting a Season 2.
Stream The Sandman on Netflix.
The Get Down (2016 – 2017)
Taking place in the 1980s, The Get Down is the series that will make you dance with every single episode. The show mainly follows the rise of young teenagers living in the Bronx who want to make it big in the music industry, but trying to get out of the hood and show their talents is harder than it looks when even the music world is corrupt.
Stream The Get Down on Netflix.
Insecure (2016 – 2021)
Who said that feeling insecure was just a teenage thing? Created by Issa Rae, this HBO original series follows the life of Issa Dee, a young African American woman just trying to find her way in life and running into the most awkward situations possible. Running for five seasons, this is a great show to binge.
All Of Us Are Dead (2022 – Present)
While The Walking Dead is a great long-time horror show, All Of Us Are Dead is the perfect example of a zombie series that jumps straight into the terror of what a zombie apocalypse would be like. This South Korean series follows a group of teenagers trying to survive in a high school that ends up being Ground Zero for a zombie epidemic. Truly, this is one of the best zombie shows. You have to watch it.
Stream All Of Us Are Dead on Netflix.
Black Mirror (2011 - Present)
There are few shows as fun or terrifying as the sci-fi anthology series Black Mirror. Over the course of the six available seasons on Netflix, you can watch characters face a reality in which the advancement of technology and the ease it brings to their lives can also be their downfall. Plus, some of today’s biggest stars of film and television got their big break here, like Daniel Kaluuya. Black Mirror Season 7 is happening, so might as well check out the first six seasons.
Stream Black Mirror on Netflix.
Peaky Blinders (2013 - 2022)
If you’re looking for a gangster epic that will surely hold your attention, Peaky Blinders is the way to go. This popular British series takes place not that long after the first World War, and focuses on the Peaky Blinders gang (hence the title), and all the trials and tribulations of their criminal organization and the enemies they’ve made along the way.
Stream Peaky Blinders on Netflix.
Griselda (2024)
This miniseries is unlike any other. Griselda, starring Sofia Vergara as the titular character, tells the story of the real-life Griselda Blaco, a drug lord of Columbia, and her rise to power – and eventual fall. There’s only six episodes, so it’s a nice quick binge for a Saturday afternoon.
Mike Flanagan’s Horror TV Shows
If, for some reason, you haven’t seen any of Mike Flanagan’s horror miniseries on Netflix, you need to check them out now. The Haunting of Hill House, released in 2018, follows a family returning to their childhood home after a traumatic experience. The Haunting of Bly Manor is about a young woman working as a nanny and discovering strange happenings in their home. Midnight Mass focuses on a remote island and its peculiar priest, who seems to be bringing horror to its residents.
The Midnight Club, which was released in 2022, follows the story of kids with terminal illnesses discovering strange happenings in their hospice home. And The Fall of the House of Usher is based on the poem by Edgar Allan Poe and follows the story of how each member of the Usher family mysteriously passes. Seriously, if horror is your thing, check out these shows.
Stream The Haunting of Hill House on Netflix.
Stream The Haunting of Bly Manor on Netflix.
Stream Midnight Mass on Netflix.
Stream The Midnight Club on Netflix.
Stream The Fall of the House of Usher on Netflix.
Emily In Paris (2020 –)
C’est chic! Emily in Paris is another series from Darren Star, where we follow Emily, an American who gets the chance to work in Paris for her company, and follows her trying to adjust to the lifestyle, the people, and the budding romances she finds herself getting into. With Emily in Paris Season 4 on the way, now is the perfect time to watch the first three seasons.
Stream Emily in Paris on Netflix.
The Umbrella Academy (2019 - Present)
They aren’t your regular superhero team. The Umbrella Academy, based on the comic series of the same name, follows a group of babies who were kidnapped as children for their genetically created superpowers, and became a dysfunctional family. Now, years later, they come back together after the death of their adoptive father, but find out that their lives are nothing like they thought they were. A fourth and final season will be released, so now is the best time to watch all three seasons.
Stream The Umbrella Academy on Netflix.
Cobra Kai (2018 - Present)
Who would have thought a continuation of The Karate Kid decades later would be so much fun? Well, that’s the case for Cobra Kai, the former YouTube original that found a home on Netflix later on. Finally seeing things through the eyes of Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and his transformation over the years adds a nice spin to the decades-old franchise. Five seasons are out now, with each one containing killer fights. And Cobra Kai Season 6 is on the way.
GLOW (2017 - 2019)
This show was canceled far too soon. GLOW is all about the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, otherwise known as GLOW, and their struggles to be taken seriously in the sports world as well as the entertainment world, in the 1980s. This show, starring the wonderful Alison Brie, is such a great original for Netflix, and I will never forgive them for ending it when they did. If you want a great dramedy, this is it.
Squid Game (2021 - Present)
You’d have to have lived under a rock to not hear about Squid Game when it first came out. It became the most popular Netflix series ever, and tells the story of contestants in South Korea who are low on luck and need money, and decide to join a game show in the middle of nowhere for the chance to win cash so their debts can be repaid. The only issue? The games threaten their lives. Truly, already an iconic show that you need to watch before Squid Game Season 2 comes along.
Alice In Borderland (2020 – Present)
If you end up liking Squid Game, then you have to check out Alice in Borderland. This Japanese sci-fi thriller follows the story of two allies trapped in Tokyo who have to somehow find a way out while competing in dangerous games that are all represented by playing cards – otherwise, they can say goodbye to their lives if they lose.
Stream Alice in Borderland on Netflix.
Shameless (2011 - 2021)
You want to see what a real dysfunctional family is like? Check out the Gallaghers from Shameless. This hit Showtime series that lasted for a decade follows the family from the Southside of Chicago, and how, no matter what, they always have each other’s backs. The series finale aired in 2021, so with eleven seasons to watch, this is a show that you’ll surely love.
Well, that is certainly more than enough Netflix to hold you over for days, weeks, and possibly even months. If you want even more television, however, you can always check out CinemaBlend’s 2024 TV schedule for all the latest information.
