Picture Credits: Netflix – Illustration by What’s on Netflix
It’s been over 12 years since House of Cards, the first Netflix Original, debuted on the streaming service. Over the years, we’ve seen some incredible television on Netflix. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve been thrilled, but most importantly, we’ve been entertained. Below, we’ve compiled the list of the 20 best Netflix Originals on Netflix.
Netflix has spent billions of dollars producing new and original content. While there have been plenty to see on the chopping block, many excellent exceptions have entertained audiences for years. Now, everyone will have different opinions on what is the “best” Netflix Original, so if we’ve omitted any of your favourites below, make sure to tell us in the comments section.
Before we look at our favorite Netflix Original series, we’ve decided to exclude any limited series (we cover those in another list entirely), docuseries or TV movies from the list below. Also, as the title suggests, we’ve only selected titles produced by Netflix, so there won’t be Breaking Bad or even internationally licensed originals such as Peaky Blinders or Better Call Saul.
A vampire hunter fights to save a besieged city from an army of otherworldly beasts controlled by Dracula himself. Inspired by the classic video games.Castlevania
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Video-game to television adaptations have always been a great risk. We’ve seen countless live-action film and television adaptations flop. However, an animated title was the perfect choice for a beloved franchise such as Castlevania, which also helped launch the incredible Powerhouse Animation Studio, who, since animating Castlevania, have gone on to animate:
- Seis Manos
- Blood of Zeus
- Masters of the Universe
- Skull Island
- Castlevania: Nocturne
- Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft.
Thanks to its extraordinary animation, story, and phenomenal voice acting, Castlevania gave us four incredible seasons that not only long-time fans of the franchise enjoyed but also introduced millions to the beloved IP and has pioneered and provided the blueprint on how video game adaptations can and should be done.
With his straw hat and ragtag crew, young pirate Monkey D. Luffy goes on an epic voyage for treasure in this live-action adaptation of the popular manga.One Piece
Much like video game adaptations, live-action adaptations of beloved manga/anime have also fallen flat on their face over the years. However, against all odds, the team at Tomorrow Studios produced a stellar first season, and fans are eagerly awaiting the upcoming second season. Unafraid to fully immerse itself in Eiichiro Oda’s crazy world, the casting is fantastic, the music award-winning, and it has now set the bar for live-action adaptations of a shonen manga. With only one season to its name, it will be interesting to see how much higher on this list the live-action One Piece has the potential to climb. A recent showrunner exit casts some doubt about the future, but on the whole, it’s an excellent adaptation thus far.
They're not friends, but when their husbands leave them for each other, proper Grace and eccentric Frankie begin to bond in this Emmy-nominated series.Grace and Frankie
Despite recent success with a string of Netflix comedies, this wasn’t always the case. Netflix has spent years finding a winning formula for its comedy output, and in the process, many were thrown into the cancellation pile. Still, an early trendsetter was Marta Kauffman and Howard J. Morris’s charming enemies-to-friends comedy Grace and Frankie, which starred Hollywood A-listers Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. For 7 seasons and 96 episodes, the pair charmed audiences worldwide with their quick wit and sassy remarks and became one of the few Netflix comedies that audiences were able to see to completion. Heartfelt and infinitely bingeable, it’s still a gem in the Netflix library.
Free-spirited Georgia and her two kids, Ginny and Austin, move north in search of a fresh start but find that the road to new beginnings can be bumpy.Ginny & Georgia
It’s weird to think what may have happened had Taylor Swift not have cottoned onto an opportune joke at her expense in season 1 of Ginny & Georgia. Would it have challenged some of Netflix’s all-time most watched titles had there not been that intervention, or would the series, which is expertly crafted, brilliantly acted, and easy to get invested in, have been overlooked? We’ll never know, but regardless, the show is amongst Netflix’s most watched for good reason, it’s got killer writing that’s relatable to cross-generations and continues to shine. Season 3 looks like it has the potential to be the best season yet, so fingers crossed it’s a banger.
Years after surviving horrific abuse in high school, a woman puts an elaborate revenge scheme in motion to make the perpetrators pay for their crimes.The Glory
Kim Eun Sook crafted a fantastic tale of revenge in The Glory, which is currently one of the best thrillers on Netflix. If it were not for Squid Game, then The Glory would be the most successful K-drama on Netflix. Song Hy Kyo shines as Moon Dong Eun, and Ahn Gil Ho’s directing is nothing short of fantastic, too. If you’re a subscriber who’s never gotten around to watching The Glory, we fully recommend the series as the perfect place to begin your K-drama journey.
Teenage friends find their lives upended by the wonders and horrors of puberty in this edgy comedy from real-life pals Nick Kroll and Andrew Goldberg.Big Mouth
Big Mouth is one of the longest-running Netflix Originals and will soon come to an end with its eighth and final season. Netflix has tried over and over again with adult-animated comedies, but none have had the longevity or success of Big Mouth. The series has a lot of heart, charm, and nudity. However, it also has some of the best musical numbers of any adult-animated show. It does a fantastic job of portraying a teen’s journey through puberty in the most unique and compelling way. The voice acting is great, and you never know what craziness and laughs. It’s often the butt of jokes when a show gets canceled “buuut Big Mouth got renewed” and there’s good reason for that. People love it and keep rightfully returning. Its final season arrives on Netflix in May 2025.
At an elite country club, two young employees film an alarming fight between their boss and his wife -- and ignite a blackmail war neither side can win.Beef
At one point, Beef wouldn’t have qualified for this list, but following a successful Emmy campaign and widespread critical acclaim, Netflix struck a deal with the show’s creator to bring it back for a second season—this time with an all-new cast. The premise of the series is deceptively simple: a road rage incident sparks a chain of events that spirals into an all-out war between two strangers. What makes Beef so compelling is how it hooks you from the start, thanks to well-developed characters with clear motivations, strengths, and flaws, all expertly woven into the narrative. With the upcoming second season set to start fresh with a new cast and storyline, it’ll be fascinating to see whether the show can live up to or even surpass its award-winning debut.
Recruited by a secret U.S. intelligence program, agent Peter Sutherland must unravel a political conspiracy to prevent a terrorist attack.The Night Agent
When The Night Agent was released on Netflix, there was little noise surrounding it. However, that didn’t stop tens of millions of subscribers rushing to their screens to binge on Shawn Ryan’s fantastic action-thriller. Great action thrillers are hard to come by, even more so, fantastic action stars, and Netflix has found its own Kiefer Sutherland in Gabriel Basso. While we’ll concede that the second season wasn’t as strong as the first, that doesn’t stop us from being any less excited for its upcoming third season. Fingers crossed, it won’t be the last, and we’ll see even more of Gabriel Basso as Peter Sutherland.
When aristocratic Eddie inherits the family estate, he discovers that it's home to an enormous weed empire — and its proprietors aren't going anywhere.The Gentlemen
Guy Ritchie is an expert in British crime comedy. From Snatch and Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels to The Gentlemen, some of Ritchie’s best work has been British gangster comedies. The series picks up where the film left off. However, we’re introduced to a new cast of colourful and charismatic characters, featuring actors such as Theo James, Kaya Scodelario, and Daniel Ings. If you’re already a fan of Guy Ritchie, then you know exactly what to expect from The Gentlemen, with a few twists along the way. What makes the series even more remarkable is how it has that big-budget film feel to it spread across eight phenomenal episodes.
Bitter enemies. Warring dojos. New blood. Daniel and Johnny reignite old West Valley rivalries in this follow-up series to the "Karate Kid" films.Cobra Kai
Despite starting out as a YouTube Original, Cobra Kai has spent most of its time as a Netflix Original since switching to the streaming service in 2020. Arguably the most successful continuation in the streaming service’s history, Cobra Kai is the perfect sequel to The Karate Kid, taking everything that made the trilogy tremendous and taking it to the next kick-ass level. Not only are Billy Zabka and Ralph Macchio excellent in reprising their roles as Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso after so many years, but the series also helped introduce exciting new talents such as Xolo Maridueña and Peyton List. Infinitely bingeable and rewatchable, Cobra Kai will have many good years on Netflix to come.
In a new tale from the ton, eternal bachelor Benedict Bridgerton finally meets his match: a captivating lady's maid in disguise at a masquerade ball.Bridgerton
Between the balls and gowns, steamy romance, and one of the most highly romanticised periods in British history, it is no surprise that Bridgerton would be a smash hit on Netflix. Shondaland has outdone itself with the adaptation of Julia Quinn’s novels. The casting on the series has been fantastic, and the minor tweaks to include and diversify the cast have been seamless. Also, compared to many other Netflix Originals currently ongoing, Bridgerton is one of the few titles that continues to grow its audience with each subsequent season.
Woe to all seeking cheer — for at Nevermore, Yuletide flames cast shadows, the decor whispers doom and a hand tends the hearth.Wednesday
The Addams Family has long been a beloved franchise, but after a lengthy break, the spooky family finally got the revival fans had been waiting for. While the recent animated movies proved popular in their own right, they arguably pale in comparison to the phenomenon that became the first season of Wednesday. It currently holds the title of Netflix’s most successful English-language TV show and, if not for Squid Game, would be the platform’s biggest show of all time.
Jenna Ortega’s portrayal of Wednesday Addams took the internet by storm, with social media flooded by fan edits, memes, and compilations celebrating her performance. The series itself is stylishly produced, packed with the gothic aesthetic and quirky charm you’d expect from a Tim Burton-led project. A second season of Wednesday is on the way—but the big question remains: will it finally be the one to unseat Squid Game?
Meet the most beloved sitcom horse of the '90s, 20 years later. He's a curmudgeon with a heart of...not quite gold...but something like gold. Copper?Bojack Horseman
Looking back, it’s kind of wild to think that Bojack Horseman was one of Netflix’s first major swings in the adult animated sitcom space—a genre largely dominated by formulaic and safe shows. Rather than following that formula, Netflix chose to bet on a depressed and deeply complicated horse, which, at least on paper, seemed like a tough sell to audiences. To some extent, it was. But on the other hand, it became one of the most thoughtful and well-developed sitcoms of all time, following Bojack as he navigates life washed up in Hollywood, long after his heyday has passed. The show has its ups and plenty of downs, but what sets it apart is its heart and the gentle, honest way it handles complex topics that most shows in this space wouldn’t dare to touch. Ultimately, for a show about animals, it might just be the most human story you’ll find on Netflix to this very day.
A gritty chronicle of the war against Colombia's infamously violent and powerful drug cartels.Narcos
Next up, we’re going back to one of Netflix’s earliest scripted originals: Narcos. The series not only became a breakout hit but also helped pioneer the multilingual storytelling approach that has since become a signature feature across Netflix’s global slate. Across multiple seasons and a spin-off called Mexico, you’ll follow the real stories of how the authorities brought to justice some of the most recognizable names in the drug trade, with some early performances from various actors like Wagner Moura, Boyd Holbrook, and Pedro Pascal, who have all become household names. It’s gritty, well-produced, and maintains that quality every season, regardless of the subject.
Terrifying creatures, wicked surprises and dark comedy converge in this NSFW anthology of animated stories presented by Tim Miller and David Fincher.Love, Death & Robots
Even after four seasons of Love, Death & Robots, we still can’t get enough. Netflix’s animated Black Mirror is a groundbreaking piece of television, limited only by budgets and the human imagination. While not every episode is for everyone, what’s perfect about the series is that, thanks to each episode’s unique art style and direction, it’s nearly impossible not to find at least one episode you will love.
Hundreds of cash-strapped players accept a strange invitation to compete in children's games. Inside, a tempting prize awaits -- with deadly high stakes.Squid Game
One of the best predictions in the history of What’s on Netflix is that Squid Game would succeed. However, no one could have anticipated that Squid Game would become such a phenomenon, captivating audiences worldwide. Korean titles had already grown in popularity thanks to the likes of Kingdom. Still, Squid Game rocketed through the glass ceiling and straight into the stratosphere, bringing global attention to the talented filmmakers of South Korea. In the first 91 days, both seasons were watched for a combined 456.4 million views. It will take something special for Squid Game to ever be unseated from its throne. The closest any series has come to matching the success of Squid Game by views has been Wednesday, a series already mentioned on this list that similarly took the world by storm.
This rousing documentary series tails jockeys, trainers and owners as they chase titles and triumph in the Triple Crown of thoroughbred horse racing.The Crown
As the most famous monarchy in the world, the British royal family has always been the subject of intrigue and fascination. Arguably, the world never saw a more radical change than during Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign, and Peter Morgan’s six-season story centered on the monarch and her family provides fantastic insight into how an ever-changing world forced the world’s most famous family to change with it.
You would think being forced to change your cast every two years would only hamper a series. However, where other shows would struggle with the changing of the guard, The Crown flourished. From Claire Foy to Olivia Colman and lastly Imelda Staunton, all three actresses were impeccable during their time as Elizabeth, with two out of three earning Primetime Emmy awards for their performances. The Crown is a masterclass in television production, involving casting, sets, costumes, direction, and more.
In the late 1970s two FBI agents expand criminal science by delving into the psychology of murder and getting uneasily close to all-too-real monsters.Mindhunter
Despite only two seasons to its name, what Mindhunter achieved in just two other crime dramas took years and multiple seasons to accomplish. With David Fincher at the helm, Mindhunter was quite simply some of the very best of television Netflix has had to offer, with the series often cited as the one Original subscribers would resurrect from the dead. Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany were fantastic as Holden Ford and Bill Tench, two FBI agents traversing the country to explore the dark minds of America’s most notorious murderers, which began the real-life practice of psychological profiling used by law enforcement today.
A financial adviser drags his family from Chicago to the Missouri Ozarks, where he must launder $500 million in five years to appease a drug boss.Ozark
One of the titles that arrived with virtually no hype but quickly took the world by storm is undoubtedly Ozark. Driven by outstanding, award-winning performances from the likes of Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, and a breakout turn from Julia Garner, the gripping crime drama became Netflix’s closest equivalent to Breaking Bad—and, some would argue, even gives it a run for its money. Across its four seasons, Ozark maintained relentless tension as the Byrde family found themselves sinking deeper and deeper into the dangerous world of a drug cartel, all building towards an inevitable, explosive finale. And when that payoff came, it absolutely delivered.
Stranger Things
Welcome back to Hawkins in the winter of 1985, where our brave party is facing new monsters — and a paranormal mystery — in this epic animated series.
Stranger Things is what you get when you mix The Goonies, E.T., and lashings of horror to create the perfect ’80s nostalgia bomb that has become one of the past decade’s most impactful shows in pop culture history. The Duffer Brothers’ creation was never meant to be a worldwide phenomenon, but against all odds, within a few short years, Stranger Things became Netflix’s flagship title. In the process, the series has launched the careers of several talented young actors and even helped to rejuvenate the careers of others. Watched by tens of millions worldwide, subscribers are waiting patiently for the release of the fifth and final season, which we are confident will not disappoint.
What is your favourite Netflix Original series? Let us know in the comments below!
