Netflix has existed as a streaming service since 2007 and since then has delivered a number of award-winning titles. But, with so much quality content to choose from, you may be asking yourself, what should I be watching on Netflix? This list takes you through some of our personal favorites.
So without further ado, let’s get into the best shows (in our opinion) that are out on Netflix right now.
Disclosure: This list is based on the personal opinion of our team, and as such, may include titles that may not be the most popular, well-known, or critically acclaimed. But we think they’re amazing anyway! This list is not meant to be exhaustive or objective, but we think you’ll love these titles just as much as we do.
Netflix Standard with Ads
- Stream on two screens
- On demand content
- HD video quality
- Downloads on up to two devices
$6.99/month
Netflix Standard
- No ads
- Stream on two screens
- HD video quality
- Downloads on up to two devices
$15.49/month
Netflix Premium
- No ads
- Stream on four screens
- HD and 4K video quality
- Downloads on up to six devices
$22.99/month
Our favorite shows to watch on Netflix
Bojack Horseman (2014)
Source: IMDb
Seasons: 6
What it’s about: This series follows the life of washed-up actor Bojack Horseman who was once the star of the hit 80s/90s sitcom “Horsin’ Around” and is now struggling to maintain himself, set against the zany backdrop of an in-world version of Hollywood.
Why we love it: This show is mostly unenjoyable, in that you won't feel good watching it, but it's such a masterful work about dealing with the ugliest parts of ourselves in order to become the best version of ourselves. Our titular main character is a terrible person, and following his journey through that breeds some of the most interesting and emotionally taxing moments you'll ever see on TV. But there's also a fair amount of comedy in all its variants and worldbuilding that continues to impress as the series goes on.
Our rating: 🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴 5 out of 5 horses — The dark nature of the show can be a lot to watch. This isn’t your typical adult animated comedy that you can just pop on whenever (though that’s definitely an option if you want it to be), but that isn’t a knock on the show. It’s good to have media that confronts uncomfortable topics, otherwise we’d never learn or grow from these behaviors. The dreadful feeling Bojack Horseman leaves you with will spur a desire to question and do better in your own life.
Santa Clarita Diet (2017)
Source: IMDb
Seasons: 3
What it’s about: Sheila and Joel are married real estate agents whose biggest goal is to beat the opposing married real estate couple. However, their live take a twisted and wacky turn when Sheila dies and comes back to life.
Why we love it: There's nothing more exciting to me than surrealistic fiction, i.e. placing something fantastical or otherworldly into our reality. Santa Clarita Diet does a fantastic job of implementing its zombie/vampire concept into a typical, suburban sit-com. Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant are incredible as the parental leads and after you watch this, you'll be just as mad as we are about Netflix cancelling it.
Our rating: 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸5 out of 5 drops of blood — There’s little we can fault about this show, because it delivers on everything that it offers. The jokes, the premise, the characters, the suburban setting, all of these elements work together to create a show that is more than just a good time and will have you returning to it often.
Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre (2023)
Source: IMDb
Seasons: 1
What it’s about: Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre (2023) is a horror series that's based on the works of acclaimed manga artist Junji Ito. It features spine-chilling and disturbing tales like "The Hanging Balloons," "Sōichi," and "Tomie" that'll keep you on the edge of your seat. Including 20 works adapted into 12 episodes, the series often contains off-putting visuals, physical violence, and body horror.
Why we love it: This show blends Twilight Zone-esque horror and variety with high-level animation that is sure to shock and awe. Each episode takes you through a new horror rabbit-hole that will leave you wondering long after the 30-minute episode is over. It is sure to captivate anime fans, horror fans, and short story enthusiasts alike.
Our rating: 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈 4.9 out of 5 balloons — This show was one of our favorites. However, it loses 0.1 points due to some episodes having less captivating storylines when compared to others. This mostly depends on what you’re looking for though. All episodes contain an undeniable creep factor, but not all of them can be classified as horror, which is what we were primarily looking for.
Insecure (2016)
Source: IMDb
Seasons: 5
What it’s about: An HBO original recently licensed to Netflix, Insecure follows the story of two best friends, Issa and Molly, who navigate their career and relationship experiences while living in their hometown of South Los Angeles. The show explores the contemporary African-American experience, examining the characters’ internal struggles, friendships, and social interactions.
Why we love it: While most coming-of-age stories center around the teen experience, this sitcom showcases the high and lows of life in your late 20s in a way we haven’t seen since Living Single (another fave). The storylines are both relatable and hilarious, and by the end of the series you’ll find yourself falling in love with each of the characters—or disliking some with a passion.
Our rating: 🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴 4.9 out of 5 SoCal palm trees — This is one of the few shows that consistently delivers in terms of soundtrack, plot, and humor. However, we feel that the final season was rushed, and this does a bit of a disservice to the series as a whole. The exceptional character development and story-building found throughout the series make it hard for any finale to live up to, and we were left wanting more.
Love Death + Robots (2019)
Source: IMDb
Seasons: 3
What it’s about: Love Death + Robots is a collection of animated short stories that explore a variety of genres, including science fiction, fantasy, horror, and comedy. Each episode is a stand-alone, produced by different casts and crews, and under 22 minutes long. The series title refers to each episode's thematic connection to the subjects of love, death, and robots, although not every episode contains all three elements.
Why we love it: Similar to Black Mirror (a well-deserved crowd favorite), Love Death + Robots does a fantastic job examining the role of technology in each episode. Alternating between light and humorous and dark and dystopian, this series has something for fans of everyone genre while still staying true to the overarching theme of the show.
Our rating: 🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖 4.8 out of 5 robots — The complexity of certain storylines is both a rose and a thorn for this series. Some episodes may require a second, third, or even fourth watch to fully grasp what exactly is going on. This can be great for those who love to rewatch and deeply analyze TV shows but may be a pain for those who prefer more of a ‘one-and-done’ type of watching experience.
Derry Girls (2018)
Source: IMDb
Seasons: 3
What it’s about: Derry Girls follows a group of friends and the adventures they get up to going to an all-girls Catholic school in 1990s Northern Ireland.
Why we love it: It's rare to find a comedy that is so completely funny and Derry Girls delivers on that. Every single character will make you laugh and every single actor is at the top of their game. You'll have so much fun laughing with these people that the tears you'll cry during the emotional beats will catch you by surprise. If you're looking for a laugh-out-loud show, give this one a shot.
Our rating: 🍟🍟🍟🍟🍟 4.8 out of 5 bags of chips — There’s little to criticize when it comes to this show, but a particular character choice that comes in the final season felt a little forced and out of place in relation to the dynamics that had been set up thus far. It’s not a surprising choice, nor is it even a wrong choice, it’s just a little cliché.
The Last Kingdom (2015)
Source: IMDb
Seasons: 5
What it’s about: The Last Kingdom is a British historical fiction series that follows the story of Uhtred, a valiant warrior raised by Danes after witnessing the death of his father. Exiled and alone, Uhtred vows to avenge his father's death and reclaim his homeland. He must choose between his birth country and the people who raised him, walking a dangerous path between the two sides to help birth a new nation and ultimately recapture his ancestral land.
Why we love it: If you liked the drama and gore of Game of Thrones, you’ll find The Last Kingdom just as captivating—minus the fantastical elements. This series is in no way lacking in action or excitement, and it keeps you on the edge of your seat for all 5 seasons.
Our rating: 🏰🏰🏰🏰 4.5 out of 5 kingdoms — Though its technically a historical fiction, this series doesn’t necessarily pride itself on historical accuracy or believability. Towards the final seasons it becomes a bit harder to suspend disbelief that a man who is nearing his 60s still has the strength, stamina, and sex appeal he did at the beginning of the show. But to Uhtred’s credit, maybe he’s just that cool.
3% (2016)
Source: Netflix
Seasons: 4
What it’s about: 3% is a dystopian series set in the distant future where most of the population lives in poverty in the Inland. The elite group living in a virtual paradise, the Offshore, only accepts 3% of the candidates who take a series of tests. The show follows Michele, and other hopefuls looking to make it to the Offshore, one of the newest residents of the Offshore who has a strong sense of justice.
Why we love it: This shows does a great job of exemplifying the pitfalls of late-stage capitalism with the analogy of the Inland and the Offshore. It utilizes a sensationalized storyline to make subtle parallels to everyday life, not just in Brazil, but seemingly across the world. By watching the journey and plight of this series’ main character, we’re forced to ask ourselves ‘are we a part of the 97%?’ and ‘in what ways are we auditioning for our own Offshore?’
Our rating: 👑👑👑👑 4.2 out of 5 elites — The series seems to lose momentum as the seasons go on, but the draw of season 1 and the unfolding of the history behind the Offshore makes this show well worth the watch.
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Lisa Holden • Author
Lisa Holden is an editor and creative based in Houston, TX. Lisa holds a BA in African-American Studies from Temple University and has spent her career working in news publications and magazines, even founding a magazine herself. She began working as an editor for Flixed in 2023. When she’s not editing or working on one of her many creative endeavors (whenever that is), she enjoys traveling to new places and biking on sunny days.
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