Netflix is almost synonymous with what is widely considered binge-worthy entertainment thanks to its expansive library of original series, acquired TV shows, and films. From gripping crime dramas to mind-bending sci-fi thrillers, the streaming giant has delivered many stories that continue to captivate audiences and spark global conversations.
Whether you’re a fan of intense character studies, nostalgic adventures, or thought-provoking dystopias, this curated list of Netflix’s top 12 greatest series showcases the very best the platform has to offer.
Although it was particularly challenging to narrow down this selection, as Netflix boasts numerous shows that are favorites of many (making the final decisions especially difficult), we’ve attempted to rank each show based on a combination of critical acclaim, audience ratings, cultural influence, and binge-worthy storytelling.
Without further ado, onto the list!
12. Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 57% Critics Score, 4.1/5 Audience Rating | IMDb: 7.9/10
Genre: Biographical Crime Drama Anthology
Ryan Murphy’s chilling true-crime series offers a haunting portrayal of one of America’s most notorious serial killers. Evan Peters delivers a disturbingly transformative performance as Jeffrey Dahmer, who murdered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991.
The series attempts to focus on the victims’ perspectives and the systemic failures that allowed Dahmer to continue his killing spree for so long. It also examines how factors like racism, homophobia, and police negligence contributed to these tragedies. Despite controversies surrounding the show and mixed reviews from critics, the series became one of Netflix’s most-watched series, with over 1 billion hours viewed.
11. Wednesday (2022–Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 73% Critics Score, 4.2/5 Audience Rating | IMDb: 8.0/10
Genre: Black Comedy, Coming of Age, Gothic, Mystery, Supernatural, and Thriller
This darkly comedic spinoff off of The Addams Family centers on Wednesday Addams as a sleuthing student navigating life at Nevermore Academy while solving a murder mystery. Jenna Ortega’s portrayal of the emotionally reserved and eternally morbid character captivates and delights, while the show’s quirky humor and eerie aesthetic earned it over 1.23 billion hours viewed in its debut season. Season 2 is expected to premiere later in 2025.
10. Squid Game (2021–Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: Overall 89% Critics Score, 3.7/5 Audience Rating | IMDb: 8.0/10
Genre: Dystopian, Survival, Thriller, and Horror
This South Korean survival drama became so wildly popular upon its release that it still stands as Netflix’s most-watched series ever, racking up 1.65 billion viewing hours in its first 28 days. Created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, the series follows desperate contestants who risk their lives playing deadly children’s games for a chance to win a life-changing cash prize — at the center of it all is Seong Gi-hun/Player 456 (played by Lee Jung-Jae), a financial struggling chauffeur.
The show expertly blends edge-of-your-seat thrills with sharp social commentary on wealth inequality and capitalism. It’s got almost everything going for it, including intense storytelling and shocking twists, all the while exploring the depths of human desperation.
The series’ distinctive visual style—featuring players in green tracksuits and masked guards in pink—is recognizable even to folks who haven’t even watched the show. Its success shattered barriers for non-English content and earned multiple Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Lead Actor for Lee Jung-jae, the first Asian actor to win in the category. Squid Game is confirmed to conclude with its third season in June 2025.
9. Money Heist (2017–2021)
Rotten Tomatoes: Overall 94% Critics Score, 4/5 Audience Rating | IMDb: 8.2/10
Genre: Heist, Crime Drama, and Thriller
Originally titled La Casa de Papel, this Spanish crime thriller, with its intricate heists and charismatic characters, pretty much became a global sensation, especially during its final two parts, released in 2020 and 2021. The drama follows a mysterious man known as “The Professor,” who recruits a group of specialists to carry out ambitious, meticulously planned heists on the Royal Mint of Spain and, later, the Bank of Spain.
The show’s iconic imagery, whether it is with the distinctive red jumpsuits or Salvador Dalí masks, and its blend of high-stakes action, emotional character development, and social commentary on capitalism made it Netflix’s most-watched non-English series.
Money Heist’s cultural impact has extended beyond the screen, with the Italian protest song “Bella Ciao” featured in the show becoming a global hit.
8. Cobra Kai (2018–2025)
Rotten Tomatoes: Overall 94% Critics Score, 4.5/5 Audience Rating | IMDb: 8.4/10
Genre: Comedy, Drama, and Martial Arts
A sequel to the first three “The Karate Kid” films, this comedy-drama revisits Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) thirty-four years after their iconic rivalry began.
Cobra Kai expertly blends nostalgia with fresh storytelling and deftly explores themes of redemption, mentorship, and generational conflict while delivering thrilling martial arts sequences, effectively charming audiences across generations. Originally released on YouTube Red before moving to Netflix in 2020, the show has earned critical acclaim with several awards and nominations, concluding its six-season run in February 2025.
7. The Queen’s Gambit (2020)
Rotten Tomatoes: 96% Critics Score, 4.7/5 Audience Rating | IMDb: 8.5/10
Genre: Period Drama and Coming of Age
This limited series took the world by storm with its captivating story of chess prodigy Beth Harmon. Set during the Cold War era, the show follows Beth (Anya Taylor-Joy) from her childhood in an orphanage to her rise as a chess grandmaster while battling addiction and personal demons.
The show’s stunning visual style, meticulous attention to period detail, and Taylor-Joy’s mesmerizing performance, The Queen’s Gambit, managed to make chess thrilling for millions of viewers. It became Netflix’s most-watched scripted limited series, with 62 million households watching in its first month. The show’s flawless blend of character study and sports drama earned it praise from critics, a renewed interest in chess worldwide, and numerous awards, including 11 Emmy wins.
6. Marvel’s Daredevil (2015-2018)
Rotten Tomatoes: Overall 92% Critics Score, 4.4/5 Audience Rating | IMDb: 8.6/10
Genre: Action Adventure, Crime Drama, Legal Drama, and Superhero
This gritty superhero series brings Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil, to life in a way that resonates deeply with fans. Charlie Cox’s portrayal of a blind lawyer by day and masked vigilante by night—who fights crime in Hell’s Kitchen while grappling with his Catholic guilt and moral dilemmas captures the character’s complexity, while Vincent D’Onofrio’s chilling performance as Wilson Fisk (Kingpin) is all the more reason to get hooked to the show.
The series’ dark tone, intense action sequences, and exploration of morality pretty much set the standard for Marvel’s Netflix universe. Despite its cancellation, Daredevil remains beloved for its layered storytelling and unforgettable performances.
5. The Crown (2016-2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: Overall 81% Critics Score, 4.6/5 Audience Rating | IMDb: 8.6/10
Genre: Historical Drama
Peter Morgan’s lavish period drama chronicling the reign of Queen Elizabeth II stands as one of Netflix’s most prestigious productions, spanning six seasons, with three different actresses portraying the monarch (Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Imelda Staunton).
Although there’s much debate about how much of the show is historically accurate, The Crown offers a fascinating glimpse into the private lives of the British royal family against the backdrop of major historical events.
The show’s impeccable production values, subtle yet nuanced performances, and thoughtful exploration of duty versus personal desire have earned it praise from critics and numerous awards and nominations (a whopping 170 awards and 451 nominations!). The Crown’s ability to humanize these iconic figures makes it worth the watch.
4. Black Mirror (2011-Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: Overall 83% Critics Score, 4.4/5 Audience Rating | IMDb: 8.7/10
Genre: Anthology, Speculative Fiction, Sci-Fi, and Dystopia
A dystopian anthology series created by Charlie Brooker, Black Mirror explores humanity’s relationship with technology through darkly satirical and thought-provoking episodes.
Each standalone presents a dystopian or speculative scenario that challenges viewers to reflect on humanity’s dependence on innovation. From the haunting “San Junipero” to the unsettling “Nosedive” and overtly comedic episodes like the “USS Callister,” the show’s ability to tap into contemporary anxieties while delivering gripping narratives makes it one of Netflix’s most daring acquisitions after it took over production from Channel 4 in 2016.
3. Stranger Things (2016–Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: Overall 91% Critics Score, 4.7/5 Audience Rating | IMDb: 8.7/10
Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror, Mystery, and Drama
The Duffer Brothers’ blend of science fiction and horror in Stranger Things has made it somewhat of a pop culture phenomenon. Set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, the series follows a group of kids battling otherworldly forces while in pursuit of their friend who disappears.
Between its lovable ensemble cast, including breakout star Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), and its pitch-perfect recreation of 1980s aesthetics, the show has managed to tap into collective nostalgia while also creating something fresh.
The series has consistently ranked among Netflix’s most-watched shows, with Season 4 accumulating over 1.35 billion viewing hours in its first 28 days. As it approaches its highly anticipated fifth and final season, set to release later this year, Stranger Things is continuing to be one of Netflix’s defining originals.
2. Dark (2017-2020)
Rotten Tomatoes: Overall 95% Critics Score, 4.7/5 Audience Rating | IMDb: 8.7/10
Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller, Mystery, and Tragedy
This German science fiction thriller manages to create a complex, mind-bending narrative across three perfectly crafted seasons. Set in the small town of Winden, Dark explores the interconnected lives of four families across multiple time periods following the disappearance of several children.
The show’s intricate plotting, philosophical themes, and stunning visual aesthetic reward attentive viewing like few others. Dark’s deep dive into determinism, free will, and the cyclical nature of time makes for a uniquely satisfying puzzle box that comes together in a remarkable conclusion. It stands as proof that Netflix’s international productions are very much on par with and, dare we say, even rival their American counterparts.
1. Narcos (2015-2017)
Rotten Tomatoes: Overall 89% Critics Score, 4.75/5 Audience Rating | IMDb: 8.7/10
Genre: Crime Drama and Biographical
This riveting crime drama chronicling the rise and fall of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar floors audiences with its single-minded portrayal of the international drug trade. With Wagner Moura’s mesmerizing performance as Escobar and strong supporting work from Boyd Holbrook and Pedro Pascal as DEA agents, Narcos combines historical events (mostly) with dramatic storytelling to create a tense, immersive experience.
The series’ documentary-like approach, including the use of archival footage and narration, lends authenticity to its dramatization. The show’s success led to the spinoff Narcos: Mexico (2018-2021), further expanding its examination of global drug trafficking operations.