What to watch on Netflix: The best TV shows streaming right now

We’re not statisticians by any means (wait, what do those do again?), but by our count, Netflix adds approximately a billion titles monthly. That’s a lot of shows to sift through, so we got our TV-addled brains together to highlight the best options, including great series from this year like Adolescence, older gems worth a rewatch such as Friday Night Lights, and a whole lot more.

Note: This list was updated on July 11, 2025.   

July spotlight: Too Much

Stars: Megan Stalter, Will Sharpe, Michael Zegen, Rita Wilson, Richard E. Grant, Janicza Bravo

Number of seasons: 1

Series co-creator Lena Dunham returns to her Girls roots for Too Much, which acts as part-rom-com and part-coming-of-age for Jessica (Stalter). After a devastating breakup, she moves to London for a fresh start and begins a complicated relationship with an indie musician. As The A.V. Club‘s review notes, “Too Much isn’t just the kind of short and sweet series that Netflix should be prioritizing, but a testament to Dunham’s strength as a creative and someone who understands the tropes she’s engaging in and, to some extent, challenging.”

Adolescence (Netflix: 2025)

Stars: Owen Cooper, Stephen Graham, Erin Doherty, Ashley Walters, Faye Marsay, Christine Temarco

Number of seasons: 1

Adolescence quickly caught on and became one of Netflix’s most-watched TV shows ever, and for a good reason. In only four installments (each of which unfolds over one single shot), the British drama packs a heavy emotional punch as it unravels the story of a troubled 13-year-old boy and his family.

Arrested Development (Fox: 2003-2005, Netflix: 2014-2019)

Stars: Jessica Walter, Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Portia de Rossi, Jeffrey Tambor, Michael Cera, Alia Shawkat, Tony Hale, David Cross

Number of seasons on Netflix: 5

In Arrested Development, the dysfunctional Bluth family goes broke after patriarch George Sr. (Tambor) is arrested. The iconic comedy was ahead of its time when it premiered on Fox. While Netflix’s reboot doesn’t come close to the show’s original run, it still makes for a long, strange, funny binge thanks to an ace comedic cast, Ron Howard’s narration, and endless running gags: the banana stand, the chicken dance, “Her?” Honestly, we could go on.

Baby Reindeer (Netflix: 2024)

Stars: Richard Gadd, Jessica Gunning, Nava Mau

Number of seasons on Netflix: 1

Richard Gadd turns his horrifying experience of being stalked into one of the most original shows of the year. To quote Saloni Gajjar’s essay on the series: “Its success has pushed the Scottish actor into the limelight in the same way I May Destroy You rightfully did to Michaela Coel. Gadd’s work is tonally similar to HBO’s IMDY—both tackle heavy topics of sexual assault, trauma, and recovery with an empathetic, well-rounded lens.”

Beckham (Netflix: 2023)

Subjects: David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, Fisher Stevens, Gary Neville

Number of seasons on Netflix: 1

Multi-hyphenate Fisher Stevens leaps from in front of the camera for Succession to (mostly) behind it for this frenetic, fun, fascinating, and stylish docuseries. Like The Last Dance, Beckham can feel like an adrenaline shot of a time capsule in its telling of the story of one of the most famous athletes of all time. Similar to that heralded series, this one absolutely delivers when it comes to showing and reliving its main guy’s (in this case, Becks’) biggest moments.

Beef (Netflix: 2023-)

Stars: Steven Yeun, Ali Wong, Joseph Lee, Young Mazino, David Choe, Patti Yasutake

Number of seasons on Netflix: 1

Beef, starring Steven Yeun and Ali Wong as two Angelenos whose lives spiral out of control after a road rage incident, is one of the most exciting TV shows to debut last year. To quote Saloni Gajjar’s review: “Beef’s endearing crux isn’t the suspense, which does keep you on the hook until the end. It’s the daring script that’s elevated by flawless performances from both actors.” Beef season two is in the works.

Better Call Saul (AMC: 2015-2022)

Stars: Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Rhea Seehorn, Patrick Fabian, Michael Mando, Giancarlo Esposito

Number of seasons on Netflix: 6

It’s kind of incredible to think that Bob Odenkirk hadn’t even heard of Breaking Bad when he was asked to take on the role of shady lawyer Saul Goodman. (He says he caught up with the series on the plane ride over to New Mexico before shooting season two.) Since that flight, the character has become iconic and the namesake of this spinoff, which over six remarkable seasons proved to be more patient but just as beautifully shot as the aughts masterpiece from which it sprung, not to mention a real testament to how flesh out a character that at first felt like comic relief.

Black Mirror (Channel 4: 2011-2014, Netflix: 2016-)

Stars: Cristin Milioti, Jimmi Simpson, Issa Rae, Emma Corrin, Paul Giamatti, Rashida Jones, Chris O’Dowd, Tracee Ellis Ross

Number of seasons: 7

Charlie Brooker’s sci-fi anthology remains equal parts scary and addictive in its seventh season, which dropped this year and features six episodes that address topics like AI, subscription services, and other technological advancements. The installments hit hard specifically because of their focus on present-day (as opposed to futuristic) issues, as this A.V. Club essay lays out.

BoJack Horseman (Netflix: 2014-2020)

Stars: Will Arnett, Alison Brie, Paul F. Tompkins, Aaron Paul, Amy Sedaris

Number of seasons on Netflix: 6, plus a special

BoJack Horseman, the brilliant animated dramedy about a has-been ’90s sitcom star who also happens to be an anthropomorphic horse, might just be the deepest series Netflix has ever produced, tackling alcoholism, drug addiction, death, depression, fame, childhood trauma, betrayal, failure, and on and on and on. The series is also, we should add, very, very funny.

Breaking Bad (AMC: 2008-2013)

Stars: Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, Aaron Paul, Dean Norris, Betsy Brandt, RJ Mitte

Number of seasons on Netflix: 5

Even a decade-plus after its finale, Breaking Bad still manages to hit like no other show, making it a perfect rewatch, chock full of white-knuckle, worst-case-scenario moments that are hard to shake. A simple, head-turning premise—a milquetoast, mild-mannered high-school chemistry teacher (Cranston) becomes a murderous meth kingpin—somehow managed to keep all the thrills going season after season as the stakes become increasingly higher. But the show is so much more than tight cat-and-mouse plotting, with some of the most beautiful cinematography ever seen on the small screen.

Bridgerton (Netflix: 2020-)

Stars: Jonathan Bailey, Simone Ashley, Adjoa Andoh, Ruth Gemmell, Polly Walker, Nicola Coughlan, Claudia Jessie, Phoebe Dynevor, Regé-Jean Page, Julie Andrews, Ruby Barker

Number of seasons on Netflix: 3

Based on Julia Quinn’s novels of the same name, Netflix’s Bridgerton elevated Regency-era romance to an unprecedented level of bingeability. Each season of this sparkling series from Shonda Rhimes lets a Bridgerton sibling take the lead and look for love under the eyes of the scrupulous Queen. Applying signature Shondaland finesse, this seemingly staid premise soon gives way to sexy and scandalous adventures that are quite addicting. Production on season four is underway.

Cobra Kai (YouTube: 2018-2019, Netflix: 2019-2025)

Stars: William Zabka, Ralph Macchio, Xolo Maridueña, Courtney Henggelar, Mary Mouser, Peyton List, Tanner Buchanan

Number of seasons: 6

This Karate Kid spin-off bowed out for good in February, with Johnny (Zabka) and Daniel (Macchio) coming together to help their students win the All Valley Tournament where it all started. Here’s a bit from The A.V. Club‘s review: “The return to a familiar setting also signals a larger, much-welcome streamlining for these final five installments. After a bloated part two filled with a whole lot of new—new faces, new cities, new dojo beefs—the last installments wistfully leave space for the old.”

Cunk On Earth (BBC Two: 2022)

Stars: Diane Morgan

Number of seasons on Netflix: 1 

This British import, which originally aired on BBC Two, is one of the funniest series on the streamer, full stop. Diane Morgan, showcasing incredibly deft comedic timing, plays our out-of-her-depth host, Philomena Cunk, who sits down with people who actually know what they’re talking about to take us on a journey through world history. If you’re a fan of any of Alan Partridge’s stuff, this Charlie Brooker-created mockumentary is for you. And luckily, the timely, hilarious special Cunk On Life dropped in January.

Derry Girls (Channel 4: 2018-2022)

Stars: Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Nicola Coughlan, Louisa Harland, Jamie-Lee O’Donnell, Dylan Llewellyn, Siobhán McSweeney, Tara Lynne O’Neille, Tommy Tiernam

Number of seasons on Netflix: 3

Lisa McGee’s electric Irish-teen comedy is specifically set during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, but it has a universal appeal in how it portrays the coming-of-age years of its central heroines. In the show, a group of Catholic school girls navigate school, faith, crushes, and family dynamics, all while being ridiculously funny.

The Four Seasons (Netflix: 2025-)

Stars: Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Colman Domingo, Will Forte, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Marco Calvani, Erika Henningsen

Number of seasons: 1

In Tina Fey, Tracey Wigfield, and Lang Fisher’s comforting update of the 1981 film The Four Seasons, three couples who frequently vacation together have to deal with a new normal (and confront some long-buried issues) when one pair splits up. To its credit, the show remains fairly lighthearted even as it tackles some serious stuff. A second season has been commissioned.

Friday Night Lights (NBC: 2006-2011)

Stars: Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton, Taylor Kitsch, Jesse Plemons, Aimee Teegarden, Gaius Charles, Adrianne Palicki, Michael B. Jordan

Number of seasons on Netflix: 5

This series that transcended both high-school and sports shows (and seemed to be almost tailor-made for viewers who don’t particularly like those genres?) has a lot going for it: some charming young talent, a strong aesthetic thanks to its three-camera-and-minimal-blocking setup, authentic-feeling small-town backdrop, a very good score and soundtrack, and, as just about everyone who enjoys the show has commented, maybe the best married couple on TV in the form of Coach and Tami Taylor. Those locker-room speeches are pretty damn good, too.

Forever (Netflix: 2025-)

Stars: Lovie Simone, Michael Cooper Jr., Xosha Roquemore, Karen Pittman, Wood Harris

Number of seasons: 1

Mara Brock Akil adapted Judy Blume’s 1975 novel, which was often banned for its portrayal of adolescent sex, into this charming TV show about two athletes navigating the highs and lows of an intense relationship. Per The A.V. Club‘s review, “the poignant story highlights Black culture and incorporates modern technology to update its themes for today’s teens.” The series was renewed for a second season.

Gilmore Girls (The WB: 2000-2006, The CW: 2006-2007)

Stars: Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Kelly Bishop, Edward Herrmann, Scott Patterson, Milo Ventimiglia, Keiko Agena, Sean Gunn, Melissa McCarthy

Number of seasons on Netflix: 7, plus reunion miniseries Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life

No place on television feels like home quite the way Stars Hollow feels like home. Set in a quaint Connecticut town, Gilmore Girls unpacks the conversation and coffee-heavy dynamic between a mother-daughter duo navigating the pressures of girlhood and womanhood in tandem. In the periphery, a lovable cast of neighbors ebbs and flows to create a warm snowglobe-type effect that never fails to produce the warm and fuzzies.

Girls5eva (Peacock: 2021-2022; Netflix: 2024-)

Stars: Renée Elise Goldsberry, Sara Bareilles, Paula Pell, Busy Phillips, Daniel Breaker, Andrew Rannels, Ashley Park, Erika Henningsen

Number of seasons on Netflix: 3

Created by Meredith Scardino, Girls5eva is a great time. The musical comedy about four members of a ’90s one-hit-wonder girl band who reunite in the present day for their second shot at fame will have you in splits. Girls5eva is chock-full of hilarious original songs, from “Famous 5eva” to “Dream Girlfriends” to “New York Lonely Boy,” that are instant earworms. And it also carries the effortless energy of co-producer Tina Fey’s other projects, including 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

Heartstopper (Netflix: 2022-)

Stars: Joe Locke, Kit Connor, Yasmin Finney, William Gao, Olivia Colman, Corinna Brown, Kizzy Edgell, Tobie Donovan

Number of seasons on Netflix: 3

Alice Oseman’s adaptation of her graphic novels has a lot going for it: Heartstopper is at once a cute, coming-of-age rom-com and deep drama, tackling weighty issues with realism and, yes, heart. We dare you to stop smiling as Charlie (Locke) and Nick (Connor) find love against all odds. The show’s stirring third season arrived in 2024, and the project will wrap up with a movie.

The Haunting Of Hill House (Netflix: 2018)

Stars: Carla Gugino, Kate Siegel, Michael Huisman, Elizabeth Reaser, Victoria Pedretti, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Henry Thomas

Number of seasons: 1

While there are five “emotionally fucked-up takes on horror” from Mike Flanagan to choose from on Netflix, the best of the lot is still his first venture, The Haunting Of Hill House. This gripping drama about the Crain family has plenty of twists and turns, not to mention deaths, ghosts, and jump scares. Hill House works because it weaves a tragic, moving story into its extremely supernatural setting.

I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson (Netflix: 2019-)

Stars: Tim Robinson, Patti Harrison, Tim Heidecker, Conner O’Malley, Sam Richardson

Number of seasons on Netflix: 3

We love this inventive show so much that we ranked every sketch from the first two seasons. As for season three, which dropped in 2023? That received the coveted A grade in our review, which notes: “It’s not all screaming and big reactions that populate these sketches, although those may stand out most after your first watch. Upon subsequent viewings, be sure to catch the tiny nods, the looks of embarrassment that sweep across the characters’ faces, lines of background dialogue, and the polite group chuckle that swells after each half-joke delivered by workshop leaders, tour guides, and the like.”

The Last Dance (ESPN: 2020)

Subjects: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Steve Kerr, Phil Jackson

Number of seasons on Netflix: 1

Tiger King may have been the docuseries that first took over the culture at the start of the lockdown in spring 2020—but it wasn’t the best. That distinction goes to The Last Dance, which felt like a necessary watch whether or not you cared about the Bulls, Chicago, Michael Jordan, the NBA, very-’90s fashions, or even the notion of organized sports. Packed with never-before-seen footage, the series, which centers on the team’s championship 1997-1998 season, is expertly crafted, engaging, and addicting. We could have watched another 10 episodes, truth be told.

Mindhunter (Netflix: 2017-2019)

Stars: Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, Anna Torv, Hannah Gross, Stacey Roca

Number of seasons on Netflix: 2 

As if Zodiac didn’t already make the case, with Mindhunter, David Fincher reminds us that if he only made titles about serial killers and the stiff-suit-wearing investigators chasing them going forward, that would be just fine by us. The director helmed several episodes of the show, which follows odd-couple agents (Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany) and a psychology prof (Anna Torv) in the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit, and revived a lot of his visual and thematic hallmarks.

Mo (Netflix: 2022-2025)

Stars: Mo Amer, Farah Bseiso, Omar Elba, Teresa Ruiz, Cherien Dabis, Lee Eddy

Number of seasons: 2

Loosely based on star/series creator Amer’s life as a Palestinian refugee in the U.S., Mo tackles timely issues with a warm, funny, and palatable hand. The show centers on the Najjar clan, who wait for asylum status while living in Houston and try to make their family olive oil business a success. Mo wrapped up its second and last season in January with a bittersweet love letter of a finale.

Never Have I Ever (Netflix: 2020-2023)

Stars: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Poorna Jagannathan, Richa Moorjani, Darren Barnet, Jaren Lewison, Lee Rodriguez, Ramona Young, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Niecy Nash

Number of seasons on Netflix: 4

Mindy Kaling and Louie Lang’s Never Have I Ever is the rare fun teen dramedy with an Indian American family that also subverts South Asian stereotypes. Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) is a high schooler struggling with grief after her father’s death. NHIE handles her coming-of-age issues with relatable vulnerability and relieving bouts of humor. Plus, Ramakrishnan is just an ingenious breakout star.

Nobody Wants This (Netflix: 2024-)

Stars: Adam Brody, Kristen Bell, Justine Lupe, Timothy Simons, Jackie Tohn, Sherry Cola, Tovah Feldshuh

Number of seasons: 1

It’s about damn time Adam Brody got to play a charming romantic lead. In Nobody Wants This, he portrays hot rabbi Noah, who falls head over heels for Joanne (Kristen), a provocative podcast host. As their relationship gets serious, both of them must contend with what it takes to make this unlikely romance last, even if it means battling their family’s expectations. Nobody Wants This has received a season-two renewal.

O.J.: Made In America (ESPN: 2016)

Subjects: O.J. Simpson, Nicole Brown, Ron Goldman, Marcia Clark, Mark Fuhrman, Barry Scheck

Number of seasons on Netflix: 1

Ezra Edelman’s captivating docuseries—one that, with its nearly eight-hour runtime, is the longest Oscar winner ever—is a masterclass in scope and somehow turns its dissection of the murder trial that gripped a nation into a portrait of something much deeper, larger, and more complicated.

The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix: 2020)

Stars: Anya Taylor-Joy, Marielle Heller, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Bill Camp, Moses Ingram, Harry Melling, Rebecca Root

Number of seasons on Netflix: 1

Based on Walter Tevis’ 1983 novel of the same name, this coming-of-age dramedy chronicles the evolution of the (regrettably fictional) chess prodigy Beth Harmon. Combining the pulsing intensity of ambition with the interiority of strategy games, The Queen’s Gambit is one of those pandemic sensations that holds up stunningly well in the metaphorical light of day. At just seven episodes, it’s a tight story with a flourishing finish you won’t soon forget.

Ripley (Netflix: 2024-)

Stars: Andrew Scott, Dakota Fanning, Johnny Flynn, Eliot Sumner, Margherita Buy, Maurizio Lombardi

Number of seasons on Netflix: 1

The Night Of’s Steven Zaillian cooks up another thrilling adaptation with Ripley, a sumptuous, tense, striking take on Patricia Highsmith’s famed novel The Talented Mr. Ripley. Here’s a bit from our review: “Zaillian gives the work texture through Oscar-winning cinematographer Robert Elswit’s striking black-and-white photography, which is so achingly crisp that lines on each actor’s face are as craterous as the cracks along the walls of Atrani’s decaying architecture.”

Russian Doll (Netflix: 2019-)

Stars: Natasha Lyonne, Charlie Barnett, Yul Vazquez, Elizabeth Ashley, Greta Lee, Rebecca Henderson, Dasha Polanco

Number of seasons on Netflix: 2

In this killer series, Natasha Lyonne stars as Nadia, a snarky New York City woman who finds herself trapped in a Groundhog Day-style time loop. This puzzle box of a show delivers a never-ending treasure trove of questions to be answered and matches that surface-level satisfaction with some real emotion. Check out our review of the show’s stellar second season.

Seinfeld (NBC: 1989-1998)

Stars: Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards, Jason Alexander

Number of seasons on Netflix: 9

Created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, this iconic American sitcom follows four friends living in New York City who—for better or worse—kind of just hang out. Stupidly funny and timelessly recognizable, the show continues to set the bar for comedy years after it last aired. So double-dip that chip. Revel in the joy of Festivus. Take counsel from Sagman, Bennett, Robbins, Oppenheim, and Taft. It’s never too late or early for a Seinfeld watch.

Stranger Things (Netflix: 2016-)

Stars: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink  

Number of seasons on Netflix: 4

The Duffer Brothers’ love letter to ’80s movies and the childhood thrills of that decade took off—and took over the culture—like few Netflix shows have. Here’s a bit from our review of the most recent batch of episodes: “Thanks to a powerhouse ensemble, Stranger Things overcomes its hurdles to punch out season four with an electrifying, tear-jerking finale. Jumping between multiple narratives might seem arduous (and at times, it is), but patience is well-rewarded here.” The show will end with its upcoming fifth season.

Squid Game (Netflix: 2022-2025)

Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byun-hun, Wi Ha-joon, Park Hae-soo, Anupam Tripathi, Heo Sung-tae, Kang Ae-shim, Im Si-wan

Number of seasons: 3

South Korean hit Squid Game took the world by storm with its debut and broke viewership records with its third and final season, which arrived in June 2025. The survival series centers on a group of people participating in competitions to win prize money, even if it means watching their fellow players die brutally. An American spin-off is apparently on its way.

When They See Us (Netflix: 2019)

Stars: Michael K. Williams, Vera Farmiga, Felicity Huffman, Niecy Nash, Blair Underwood, John Leguizamo, Christopher Jackson, Joshua Jackson

Number of seasons on Netflix: 1

Ava DuVernay devastated audiences in 2019 with her painful yet poignant dramatization of the infamous Central Park jogger case, the stain on the American justice system that saw five Black and Latino teenagers wrongly accused of assaulting and raping a woman in Manhattan in 1989. Their stories remain as timely as ever, and DuVernay’s retelling delivers a uniquely gut-wrenching blend of sobering realism and cinematic sensationalism that should leave practically every viewer moved.