While we all gravitate toward different genres and have our own personal favorite series, we can all praise these flawless Netflix shows. The most popular streaming service quickly made a huge name for itself thanks to original dramas like Orange Is the New Black, forever changing the TV landscape.
But not every series on the platform is a total home run, and many have been canceled after a couple of seasons. Still, Netflix has plenty of great original shows from different genres. From horror shows that blend creepy locations with incredible character development to a fresh, vibrant sitcom that would put anyone in a good mood, these Netflix shows are thrilling, interesting, and live up to their hype.
Midnight Mass (2021)
Every single part of Midnight Mass works, from the strong characters to the astonishing twist to the incredible cast members, including Rahul Kohli, Hamish Linklater, Zach Gilford, and Samantha Sloyan. Throw in some beautiful pieces of dialogue and the Crockett Island setting, and you’re bound to have a hit.
Mike Flanagan’s 2021 show was praised when it was released and still proves his awe-inspiring talents in the genre. While he made four scary shows for the platform, this one stands out and has a fairly offbeat premise.
What really makes Midnight Mass one of the most popular horror shows on Netflix is how Flanagan used a classic trope to talk about the things that scare all of us, from dying to not finding love to never truly being happy. It’s a true horror masterpiece.
Bridgerton (2020-)
It was exciting when Shonda Rhimes signed a deal with Netflix in 2017, and the beloved TV storyteller moved into the historical/regency romance genre and made the fascinating and joyful Bridgerton. With high Rotten Tomatoes ratings for all three seasons and big numbers for Netflix, there’s no doubt it’s beloved.
From the opportunity to see some incredible fashion from the 1800s to the competition between characters, along with the exciting love stories, Bridgerton had huge success right away. It’s the kind of show that you have to watch as quickly as possible so you can chat about theories, storylines, and character choices with friends.
BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)
It’s not every day that an animated series has a dark premise, emotional character arcs, and a main character who is dealing with trauma and alcoholism. Capable of making you laugh and cry, BoJack Horseman is still one of the greatest Netflix comedies.
With a captivating voice performance by Will Arnett and an amazing cast including Amy Sedaris, Aaron Paul, Paul F. Tompkins, and Alison Brie, the strange but smart premise of a cartoon horse who became famous for a ’90s TV role is unlike anything else. BoJack Horseman’s popularity lives on thanks to its great six seasons and impressive series finale.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015-2019)
Netflix has released some dull comedies, many of which were canceled after just a couple of seasons. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt was a fun, wild ride from Tina Fey, with some dynamic performances from Jane Krakowski as a rich housewife and Tituss Burgess in the role of an actor.
The sitcom’s charming star, Ellie Kemper, is perfect as the innocent, gullible, and always surprised main character who moves to New York City after leaving a cult. The show has 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and is hilarious from start to finish.
Kimmy and Titus are wonderful, inspiring characters who go after their dreams and help each other, and it’s an optimistic show that seems impossible not to become invested in. While it doesn’t ignore the real trauma Kimmy and the others went through, it shows that a new life is possible.
The Queen’s Gambit (2020)
A strong miniseries tells a succinct, perfect psychological thriller story, shares insight into a real story or person, or, in the case of The Queen’s Gambit, approaches a niche topic like being a professional chess player. The stylish show was one of Netflix’s biggest 2020 releases and has a light-hearted tone, although it does have a darker narrative thread throughout.
The streaming service has a lot of fascinating miniseries, but many of them are about crimes, like Clickbait, The Perfect Couple, and Unbelievable. Anna Taylor-Joy’s show dives into the joy of playing chess, the stress of competition, and how hard it is to cope with loss.
The Haunting Of Hill House (2018)
Horror fans never stop searching for distinct stories that have character development and growth found in dramas, as sometimes, a show is creepy but doesn’t delve enough until it involves people in horrifying scenarios. The Haunting of Hill House has been a huge draw on the platform since its 2018 release, and that’s all thanks to the Crain family.
There’s that one intense twist that everyone talks about, but the show also has slower-burning moments, plenty of ghosts, emotional dialogue, and questions about how trauma during childhood shows up in adulthood. Most scary series don’t make you tear up and cover your eyes, too.
The Crown (2016-2023)
While pop culture’s royal obsession may have resulted in a lot of movies and TV shows, The Crown is perhaps the best one, and definitely one of Netflix’s strongest outings. All six seasons share stories about Queen Elizabeth II, with a particularly great performance from Claire Foy.
Although even the most exciting dramas have some boring episodes or disappointing seasons, The Crown keeps your interest by depicting various political events ranging from Princess Diana’s tragic death to the Suez Crisis. The seasons take place over a long time period, and the show wraps up in 2005 after starting in 1947.
All the drama, tragedy, pain, excitement, happiness, and the pressures of being a royal are explored. The result is a truly fantastic show that even those who don’t watch a lot of historical dramas love.
Mindhunter (2017-2019)
Netflix canceled Mindhunter after two seasons, but we’re all talking about it years after the season 2 finale aired in 2019, and we would have watched a lot more of Holden Ford’s (Jonathan Groff) quest to explore how serial killers think. It’s one of the best shows of the 2010s.
Calling the show “bleak” is not nearly strong enough to describe just how upsetting the cases get. However, because you really feel the all-consuming nature of working for the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit and follow along with Ford as he gets further on his career path, you’re going to keep watching, no matter how disturbing it is.
The talent behind the show, from executive producer Charlize Theron to director David Fincher, adds to its high quality. We’re all hopeful that those potential three Mindhunter movies will be made.
Ozark (2017-2022)
Since Ozark, Netflix has released a lot of crime dramas, including Black Rabbit and many shows based on Harlan Coben’s books. Even so, Ozark is a universally loved entry in the genre as it’s a consistently well-written ride. If Mindhunter shares some unsettling information about the process of serial killers, Ozark is a look at how ordinary people can get caught up in a life of crime.
Every member of the cast is gripping, from Julia Garner’s scrappy and brutally raw Ruth Langmore to Laura Linney and Jason Bateman as a married couple who start working for a cartel and live a terrifying lifestyle. You really aren’t certain where the story is going, although there’s definitely a feeling of dread throughout.
Squid Game (2021-2025)
Netflix’s most-watched show of all time, Squid Game took the world by storm and became more than just a TV series. The show’s massive popularity had a good reason, though, as the Korean series executed its simple yet genius premise with perfection.
Squid Game season 1 was a masterpiece that arguably did not ask for a sequel, but director Hwang Dong-hyuk was still able to deliver a second season that was just as engaging and well-written. Season 3 may have been the weakest of the three, but it can hardly be described as bad, making Squid Game a perfect series from start to finish.