Over the last decade,Netflixhas slowly taken over the entertainment industry, going from a mail-order movie rental service to one of the biggest players in film and television. The streaming giant started this game, andNetflix is still kingof the streaming wars due in part to its clever use of streaming technologies, strong leadership, and highly successful original content.FromHouse of Cardsback in 2015to the recent hitSquid Game, there is always a Netflix Original show being talked about around the world.
With multiple Emmys and Golden Globes to its name (winning more than any other streaming platform), Netflix’s shows have not only been globally popular, they have also been critically acclaimed. There are also a ton of them — Netflix Originals now make up more than 40% of their streaming library. With all that content to browse through, here are the 23 best Netflix Original series, ranked. Keep in mind that we won’t be including titles that originated elsewhere (such asCobra KaiandBlack Mirror).
Updated June 06, 2025: To keep up with new and emerging shows, this list is updated regularly, most recently by Lauren Perry.
23Bridgerton (2020 — Present)
Bridgerton
From Shondaland and creator Chris Van Dusen, Netflix’sBridgertonis based on the romance novels of the same name by author Julia Quinn. The series follows the eight Bridgerton siblings, Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth, as they search for love during the social season and navigate life in Regency-era England.
Bridgertonbecame the most-watched series on Netflix at the time of its premiere in 2020, and is currently the 6th-most-watched original show on the streaming platform. Rightfully so, as Season 1 was full of delights — one of which, of course, was Regé-Jean Page. His performance helped skyrocket the English actor to stardom, which led to a well-received hosting gig at NBC’sSaturday Night Live. Fans were then disappointed, to say the least, when it was confirmed Page wouldn’t return for Season 2.
A Regency Romance
Nevertheless,Bridgerton Season 2 proved that the success of Season 1 wasn’t a fluke. This time, the story follows Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and his romance with Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley). Season 2 alsoexpanded on the Regency-era worldviewers have grown to love.
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22Heartstopper (2022 — Present)
Heartstopper
A genuinely sweet but relatable British dramedy with lovable characters,Heartstopperhas become a surprise hit, launching Kit Connor and Joe Locke to stardom. The show chronicles their developing relationship at the Truham Grammar School, making for one of the great TV romances around. But don’t underestimate the wonderful supporting characters, whose relationships are so much more than B-story subplots.
A Sweet Comfort Watch
The series has a sunny and colorful aesthetic that makes for a great comfort watch. It avoids much of the tired melodrama of many young adult romances, and focuses on joy and pride. Plus, Olivia Colman and Stephen Fry utterly shine in supporting adult roles. This one’s addicting.
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21Wednesday (2022 — Present)
In a unique take onThe Addams Familystory,Wednesdaybecame an instant success on the streaming platform. The show follows Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) as she tries to solve the mystery haunting Evermore school and her family’s past. While the show was far from flawless, both in its production and final product, people were swept away by Ortega’s spot-on performance as the dreadfully dark teen.
That Viral Wednesday Dance
Part of the popularity of the show is due to a viral dance performed by Ortega, which garnered a lot of attention on social media (even more impressive because she had Covid at the time). Although the show shakes up the formula of the nostalgic Addams Family that many people are accustomed to,Wednesdaykeeps the creepy fun of the oddball family alive. The highly anticipated Season 2 ofWednesdayis tentatively set to release in 2025, andpromises more horror and less romance.
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Dead to Me
Netflix’sDead to Metells the story of Jen, a recently widowed woman who seeks to solve her deceased husband’s hit-and-run case. While at a grief group, Jen (played by Christina Applegate) meets Judy (played by Linda Cardellini), and the two quickly become friends. As they grow closer, the dark secrets between them are slowly revealed, increasing the tension in their lives.
Exploring the Friendship of Women
The show is a drama with touches of dark comedy, but at the very heart sits a story of women’s friendship. Even though Jen and Judy have almost nothing in common and their personalities clash at times, the two form a bond and come to need one another. Thethird and final season ofDead to Mewraps the series up by returning to the core roots of the original plot.
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19F for Family (2015 — 2021)
F Is for Family
Stand-up comedian andactor Bill BurrandSimpsonswriter Michael Price created the wonderful little sitcomF for Family, which hearkens back to Norman Lear-style ’70s shows like All in the Family but with a lot more profanity. It follows a suburban family in the Rust Belt of Pennsylvania and has the same set-up of animated sitcoms likeKing of the Hill, The Simpsons, and Family Guy.
A Sitcom About What the American Dream Used to Be
The difference (aside from being co-created by one of the funniest stand-up comics of all time) is that the series investigates a lot of the latent issues of the decade which would go on to influence society in the future. This includes the end of labor and union power and the beginning of economic stagnation, gender norms and sexuality, and the changing dynamics ofthe American Dream. The fact that the show tenderly tackles these themes while also being hilarious and creating three-dimensional characters is a testament to its writing and excellent cast (Burr, Laura Dern, Justin Long, Sam Rockwell, Haley Reinhart, and Debi Derryberry).
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18Love, Death & Robots (2019 — Present)
Love, Death & Robots
Love, Death & Robotsis an anthology show on a heavy dose of adrenaline, like a bite-sized version ofBlack Mirror. With 35 episodes across three seasons so far, there is something for everyone here, from wacky comedy to disturbing horror and everything in between. Like every anthology, it’s hit-and-miss, but has a great batting average and some truly phenomenal shorts.
An Anthology That Embraces Different Styles
Some of the best segments of the series feature truly groundbreaking animation, such as the jaw-dropping “Jibaro.” Then there is the only consistent story throughout the series, once a season, featuring the apocalyptic adventures of K-VRC, XBOT 4000, and 11-45-G, three robots wandering the devastated remains of a post-human world. It’s hilarious and creepy, perfectly epitomizing the best ofLove, Death & Robots.
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17Russian Doll (2019 — 2022)
Russian Doll
Russian Dollis a perfectly constructed show. The story follows Nadia Vulvokov (hilariously played by Natasha Lyonne), a game developer stuck in a time loop where she keeps dying and reliving the same night on her birthday. Each moment over both seasons is significant, and every piece of dialogue is crucial to decoding the mystery at the heart of the story.
An Intelligent Comedy About Depression and Choices
Russian Dollis not a cerebral tale filled with mind-bending twists, but it is also a surprisingly funny show, thanks to the work of female comedians like Amy Poehler, Leslye Headland, Rebecca Henderson, and Greta Lee. The show is a triumphant black comedy that plays between feelings of ecstatic joy and nihilistic depression in equal measure.
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Related:Netflix’s 10 Most Expensive Original Series Ever Made
16The Queen’s Gambit (2020)
The Queen’s Gambit
Released during the height of the quarantine in 2020,The Queen’s Gambitwas timed perfectly to be a successful, binge-worthy miniseries. Set in the late-’50s and early-’60s, the show focuses on the young chess prodigy Beth Harmon (played by Anya Taylor-Joy), who grows up in an orphanage where she develops an addiction to tranquilizers. Created by Scott Frank, the show balances emotionally resonant storytelling with moments of glamour and romance.
An Acclaimed Chess Story Introduces Anya Taylor-Joy
The Queen’s Gambitmade the intellectual challenge of chess more engaging and interesting with its dynamic editing, elaborate set pieces, and a Golden Globe-winning performance by Taylor-Joy. The show cemented its place in history when it won 11 Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, becoming the first show on a streaming service to win the category.
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15Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015 — 2019)
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
30 RockwithUnbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,another fast-paced sitcom that she co-created with Robert Carlock. Thanks to the stellar performance of Ellie Kemper,Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidtdeveloped its own signature blend of quirky humor and hilarious performances. The absurd plot is focused on the titular Kimmy, a “mole woman” who escapes an underground cult only to find the world is not destroyed. She attempts to rebuild her life, with her unstoppable optimism and her youthful mentality that is stuck in the ’90s.
The First Great Streaming Comedy
Millions of viewers connected with the show’s absurdism, its endless stream of witty jokes, and the classic heartwarming messages that Fey is known for.Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidtearned over a dozen Emmy nominations, and was called the first great sitcom of the streaming era byThe Week.It’s considered one ofthe funniest shows on Netflix, and remains criminally underrated.
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14One Piece (2023 — Present)
Netflix’s One Piece
One Piecewas the show that finally proved that live-action adaptations of anime shows can be successful. It was a highly ambitious attempt for Netflix, considering the past failures of such adaptations, likeDeath Note. The original anime was not positioned to be an easy adaptation either — as one of thelongest-running anime series of all time, the show was known for having a large amount of filler, and a lot of ridiculous powers and situations.
The Rare Adaptation That Truly Succeeds
One Pieceis centered around Monkey D. Luffy, a pirate with the ability to stretch his body like rubber after eating a fruit imbued with power. Along with his fellow pirates and friends, Luffy searches for the “One Piece,” a legendary pirate treasure that will make him King of the Pirates. The successful Netflix adaptation managed to capture the heart of the original anime, which was charming, silly, and also epic on a large scale. It’s no surprise that the streaming service was quick to renewOne Piecefor a second season.
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