Looking for the best shows to binge-watch on Netflix? Never fear. We've compiled a list of the best shows on the platform ready for you to peruse, from the funniest comedies to the most devastating dramas to crime and sci-fi series that'll have you on the edge of your seat. There are quite literally thousands of good shows to watch on Netflix — this article will help you choose which to dive into next.

For more recommendations, check out our list of the best movies on Netflix, best sci-fi shows on Netflix, and best fantasy shows on Netflix.

Editor's note: This article was updated January 2025 to include American Primeval.

‘American Primeval’ (2025)

Written by Mark L. Smith and directed by Peter Berg, American Primeval is a period Western drama miniseries. Set in 1857, the show follows the story of a mother and son fleeing their past in the American West, where they form a found family while struggling to survive a harsh and violent landscape of freedom and cruelty. The series stars Taylor Kitsch, Betty Gilpin, Kim Coates, Jai Courtney, Shea Whigham, Dane DeHaan, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, and more.

Berg’s first project under his first-look deal with Netflix, American Primeval was highly anticipated before its release on January 9, 2025. Though it follows a fictional story, the show is inspired by real events, specifically the Utah War. In this way, the series presents a rather gritty and realistic exploration of the conflict between the US Army, the Mormon Church, and the Shoshone, Southern Paiute, and Ute tribes, as told through the lens of personal struggles.

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‘Missing You’ (2025)

Following the New Year’s Day 2024 success of Fool Me Once, Harlan Coben’s next team-up with Netflix comes exactly one year later, with Missing You releasing on January 1, 2025. The series, another adaptation of Coben’s novels, follows detective Kat Donovan (Rosalind Eleazar), whose professional and private lives are thrown into disarray after discovering her missing fiancé on a dating app. Brimming with twists and turns, Missing You is a favorite novel for many of Coben’s fans, with this adaptation feeling, to some, like a long time coming. Starring Coben regular Richard Armitage, among many other big-name British performers, this is the perfect immersive antidote to the post-Christmas blues. - Jake Hodges

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‘Six Feet Under’ (2001 - 2005)

Rotten Tomatoes: 81% | IMDb: 8.7/10

This critically acclaimed series follows the Fisher family, who, along with the help of friends, run a funeral company in Los Angeles. However, when the family so used to grieving people is suddenly faced with grief of their own, exactly how will they cope? A wonderfully dark and devilish comedy with plenty of thought-provoking themes, Six Feet Under deserves all the sincere praise it so often gets. This praise includes an astonishing nine Primetime Emmys, alongside a mammoth 44 other nominations. - Jake Hodges

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'Cunk on Earth' (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.1/10

This unique mockumentary series produced by Black Mirror’s Charlie Brooker stars Diane Morgan as Philomena Cunk, a character who first appeared on Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe. As she travels the world in typical British travel-show style, Cunk dives into some of the most important historical and cultural periods in our combined history, from the development of agriculture to the rise of religion and beyond.

By creating innovative, dry, witty humor, Cunk on Earth has become a shining light of its own brand of comedy. Diane Morgan is the star of the show, both literally and tonally, with her perfect comedic timing and hilarious cultural ignorance forging a never-ending laugh-out-loud experience. With jokes that perfectly balance the absurd and the crudely real, sometimes it is easy to forget Philomena Cunk is not real, and that is the sheer genius of the series. - Jake Hodges

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‘No Good Deed’ (2024 - Present)

From the mind of Dead to Me’s Liz Feldman, Netflix’s No Good Deed follows three completely different families, each with their own unique troubles, all looking to buy the very same 1920s Spanish-style villa in the hopes that it will solve all their problems. Featuring the likes of Lisa Kudrow, Linda Cardellini, Abbi Jacobson, Poppy Liu, and more, No Good Deed is an intriguing tale full of devilishly dark comedy. Released on Netflix on Thursday, December 12, No Good Deed is the perfect Christmas treat to help you through the cold and dark nights. - Jake Hodges

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‘Black Doves’ (2024 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 100%

This spy thriller from the mind of Joe Barton follows Kiera Knightley’s Helen, a woman for whom one steamy affair looks set to put her entire professional spy life in jeopardy. With her lover a victim of criminal warfare, it is up to Ben Whishaw’s Sam to swoop in and help save the day — although there’s more to this pair’s relationship than first meets the eye. A tense, thrilling ride with two brilliant lead performers, Black Doves is drawing so much attention that it's already been renewed for a second season despite having just premiered. - Jake Hodges

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‘The Madness’ (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes: 71% | IMDb: 6.5/10

2024 Academy Award nominee Colman Domingo stars in conspiracy thriller The Madness, portraying media pundit Muncie Daniels, who accidentally stumbles across a murder in the woods. With attention falling on him, Daniels must fight to clear his name and prove his innocence before it’s too late. Also featuring the likes of Marsha Stephanie Blake, Gabrielle Graham, John Ortiz, and more, The Madness features eight breathless episodes and is one of the more intriguing offerings from Netflix in November 2024. - Jake Hodges

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‘A Man on the Inside’ (2024 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | IMDb: 7.6/10

The newest comedy featuring the brilliant Ted Danson sees the Cheers actor star as a retiree-turned-amateur private investigator, Charles. This new journey for Charles leads him into an undercover investigation deep within the labyrinthine secrets of a nursing home. Danson is as funny as ever in this unique tale that features plenty of recognizable comedic beats. Originally titled A Classic Spy, A Man on the Inside is interestingly based on a 2020 documentary called The Mole Agent, which earned an Oscar nomination. Here’s hoping some of that critically acclaimed sparkle can translate to the series. - Jake Hodges

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'Ripley' (2024 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 85% | IMDb: 8.0/10

Steven Zaillian’s Ripley is a black-and-white period noir thriller that stars Andrew Scott as the titular grifter. Based on Patricia Highsmith’s Tom Ripley novels, the eight-episode miniseries also stars Dakota Fanning, Johnny Flynn, Eliot Sumner, and more. A Manhattan industrialist hires New York conman Tom Ripley (Scott) to go to Italy and convince his son (Flynn) to come home, but once there, Tom begins a journey of deceit, fraud, and violence as he tries to claw his way to wealth and comfort. While the source material has previously been adapted, Zaillian’s Ripley is unlike anything that’s come before. That’s largely thanks to the performances of the lead cast, who present complex, grounded characters who are neither fully good nor bad. The biggest draw of the series, however, is its mindblowing cinematography, which shows a masterful command of light and shadow that elevates the show from a thriller series to high art.

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‘Territory’ (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes: 83% | IMDb: 7.0/10

Created by Ben Davies and Timothy Lee, Territory is an Australian neo-Western drama series that follows the Lawson family dynasty, who own the world’s largest livestock farm. When the family is left without a successor following a suspicious accident, the livestock farm becomes a sought-after prize for rival cattle farmers, local gangsters, landowners, and mining magnates who will stop at nothing to get their hands on the family’s inheritance. Territory stars Anna Torv, Michael Dorman, Robert Taylor, Sam Corlett, and Philippa Northeast in main roles as the Lawson family members. Territory premiered in October 2024, receiving largely favorable reviews from critics and high viewership numbers. The six-part series explores farm life in the remote outback through stunning cinematography and an intense dramatic storyline, drawing favorable comparisons to shows like Yellowstone and Succession. Territory has also been praised for its performances and for the way it brings in the perspectives of Indigenous Australians in its narrative.

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‘The Secret of the River’ (2024)

IMDb: 8.2/10

Created by Alberto Barrera, The Secret of the River is an eight-episode coming-of-age series that explores Mexico’s Zapotec culture and themes of gender identity. Starring Diego Calva and Trinidad González, the series follows the story of two children in a small Oaxacan village who witness a horrific tragedy, which creates a powerful bond between them. When they reunite 20 years later as different people, their friendship is put to the test as they face their shared past. Besides Calva and González, the series also stars Jorge A. Jimenez, Mercedes Hernández, Mauro Guzmán, Frida Sofía Cruz, and more.

The Secret of the River premiered on October 9, 2024, making it onto Netflix’s Top 10 lists. A powerful story about friendship forged by tragedy and the experiences of trans people in Mexican society, the series tackles difficult themes with care and sensitivity. It’s a complex, layered show that gives global audiences a fascinating glimpse into Oaxacan culture, anchored by stellar performances from its talented cast.

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‘Escape at Dannemora’ (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes: 88% | IMDb: 7.9/10

This underrated miniseries from creators Brett Johnson and Michael Tolkin follows Patricia Arquette as Tilly, a married prison officer who becomes romantically involved with two prisoners. However, their connection grows stronger and eventually leads to the trio hatching an escape plan — one that will catch the eyes of the nation. Remarkably, this immersive drama is actually based on a true story, making each jaw-dropping moment even more shocking. Emotionally captivating and full of tension, Escape at Dannemora caught plenty of attention upon its 2018 but isn’t spoken of nearly enough anymore, with its availability now on Netflix hopefully bringing more eyes to it. - Jake Hodges

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‘Monk’ (2002 - 2009)

Rotten Tomatoes: 89% | IMDb: 8.1/10

A classic series with an adoring fanbase even 15 years after its end, Monk follows the titular Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub), a man who develops obsessive-compulsive disorder and loses his detective job following the death of his wife. However, his genius is still worthwhile on a consultancy basis with the San Francisco Police Department, as Monk turns private and shoots to the top of his game. Shalhoub’s career-defining performance, Monk makes for gripping television from the very first moment, never shying away from exploring drama, comedy, and plenty of mysteries. A huge critical and public success, Monk even won an impressive eight Primetime Emmys across its eight seasons and 124 episodes. - Jake Hodges

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‘Yellowjackets’ (2021 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 96% | IMDb: 7.8/10

One of the most popular shows on modern television, Yellowjackets is split between two periods in time, with one exploring the tragic plane crash of a talented girls' high school soccer team as they survive in the deep wilderness and the other the lasting effects said event has had on them 25 years later. A winding, thought-provoking look at trauma through the lens of a brilliantly intense thriller, 10-time Primetime Emmy nominee Yellowjackets has earned itself millions of adoring fans — and for good reason. Featuring an iconic ensemble cast, each with their own endearing and unique traits, this modern, twisted Lord of the Flies-esque tale will keep you hooked from minute one right through to the latest available episode. - Jake Hodges

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‘Penelope’ (2024 - Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 85% | IMDb: 6.1/10