1. Dark (2017)
Director/Creator: Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese
Plot: When two children go missing in a small German town, it kicks off a mind-bending time-travel mystery that connects four families across three generations. You have to pay close attention to this one it’s smart, confusing, and totally awesome.
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
2. Stranger Things (2016)
Director/Creator: The Duffer Brothers
Plot: Set in the 1980s, a group of kids in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana, discover a secret government lab, a terrifying monster (the Demogorgon), and a girl named Eleven with telekinetic powers. It’s a perfect mix of horror, nostalgia, and genuine friendship.
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
3. Better Call Saul (2015)
Director/Creator: Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould
Plot: This is the prequel to Breaking Bad. It tells the story of how the good-hearted, struggling lawyer Jimmy McGill slowly transforms into the greedy, morally flexible criminal defense attorney Saul Goodman. The acting and writing are flawless.
IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
Where to Watch: Netflix (It airs on AMC first, but all seasons are widely available on Netflix.)
4. Arcane (2021)
Director/Creator: Christian Linke, Alex Yee
Plot: Based on the League of Legends universe, this animated show follows the origins of two iconic sisters, Vi and Jinx, whose paths lead them to opposite sides of a class war between the wealthy city of Piltover and the gritty undercity of Zaun. The animation is unbelievably beautiful.
IMDb Rating: 9.0/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
5. Black Mirror (2011)
Director/Creator: Charlie Brooker
Plot: It’s an anthology series, meaning every episode is a different story, cast, and setting. It looks at how new technology like social media, virtual reality, and AI could mess up our lives, often in deeply disturbing and thought-provoking ways.
IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
Where to Watch: Netflix (Note: It started on Channel 4 in the UK, but is now a Netflix Original.)
The Next 10: Critically Acclaimed & Award Winners
6. Peaky Blinders (2013)
Director/Creator: Steven Knight
Plot: After World War I, a notorious crime family, the Peaky Blinders, rises to power in Birmingham, England, led by the ruthless and sharp Thomas Shelby. It’s full of cool style, amazing music, and high-stakes drama.
IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
7. Ozark (2017)
Director/Creator: Bill Dubuque, Mark Williams
Plot: A Chicago financial advisor (Jason Bateman) is forced to move his family to the Ozarks in Missouri and launder a massive amount of money for a Mexican drug cartel to save his own life. It’s a dark, tense drama about how far a family will go to survive.
IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
8. The Queen’s Gambit (2020)
Director/Creator: Scott Frank
Plot: A limited series about a young orphan, Beth Harmon, who discovers an unbelievable talent for chess. As she rises to become the world’s greatest player, she struggles with addiction and her emotional past. It’s beautifully shot and surprisingly thrilling.
IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
9. BoJack Horseman (2014)
Director/Creator: Raphael Bob-Waksberg
Plot: An animated black comedy/drama following a washed-up 90s sitcom actor (who is literally a horse) trying to make a comeback. It’s funny, yes, but it’s also one of the most honest and deep dives into depression, addiction, and what it means to be a good person.
IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
10. The Crown (2016)
Director/Creator: Peter Morgan
Plot: This stunning historical drama follows the political rivalries and romances of Queen Elizabeth II’s long reign, starting from her wedding in 1947. It’s an epic, luxurious look at the British Royal Family and the events that shaped the modern world.
IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
20 More Binge-Worthy Favorites
The Gritty & Psychological
11. Mindhunter (2017)
Director/Creator: Joe Penhall, David Fincher
Plot: In the late 1970s, two FBI agents start interviewing convicted serial killers to create a profile of their minds, hoping to use that knowledge to catch new criminals. It’s intense and gripping.
IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
12. Narcos (2015)
Director/Creator: Chris Brancato, Carlo Bernard, Doug Miro
Plot: The true story of the rise and fall of infamous drug kingpin Pablo Escobar in Colombia, and the DEA agents who tried to stop him. It’s raw and historical.
IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
13. When They See Us (2019)
Director/Creator: Ava DuVernay
Plot: This powerful four-part miniseries is based on the devastating true story of the Central Park Five—five teenagers falsely accused of a brutal attack in 1989.
IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
14. Baby Reindeer (2024)
Director/Creator: Richard Gadd
Plot: A dark, true-life story about a struggling comedian who shows a small act of kindness to a lonely woman, only for it to spiral into a terrifying and complicated stalking situation.
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
The Thrilling & Action-Packed
15. Squid Game (2021)
Director/Creator: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Plot: Hundreds of people drowning in debt are secretly invited to compete in a series of children’s games for a huge cash prize. The only catch: if you lose, you die. It’s a global sensation for a reason.
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
16. Money Heist (La Casa de Papel) (2017)
Director/Creator: Álex Pina
Plot: A mastermind known as “The Professor” recruits eight criminals for a carefully planned heist of the Royal Mint of Spain. It’s fast-paced, full of twists, and super addictive.
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
17. Lupin (2021)
Director/Creator: George Kay, François Uzan
Plot: A stylish, modern take on the classic French gentleman thief, Arsène Lupin. Assane Diop is a professional thief who seeks revenge on a wealthy family who wronged his father, using Lupin’s books as his inspiration.
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
18. Alice in Borderland (2020)
Director/Creator: Shinsuke Sato
Plot: A young, unemployed video game addict and his friends find themselves in an empty, parallel version of Tokyo where they must compete in deadly games to survive. Think Squid Game with a sci-fi edge.
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
Fantasy, Sci-Fi & Horror
19. The Umbrella Academy (2019)
Director/Creator: Steve Blackman
Plot: A dysfunctional family of adopted superhero siblings reunites after their mysterious father dies. They have to work together to solve the mystery of his death and stop a global apocalypse. It’s weird and wonderful.
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
20. The Witcher (2019)
Director/Creator: Lauren Schmidt Hissrich
Plot: Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter known as a Witcher, struggles to find his place in a medieval-inspired continent where humans and monsters often share the same moral darkness.
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
21. The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
Director/Creator: Mike Flanagan
Plot: Five grown-up siblings who grew up in America’s most famous haunted house must return there as adults when tragedy strikes. It expertly mixes terrifying horror with a deep, emotional family drama.
IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
22. Love, Death & Robots (2019)
Director/Creator: Tim Miller
Plot: A collection of animated short stories, each one totally unique in style, setting, and genre. Expect a wild mix of sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and dark comedy. It’s a visual treat.
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
Comedy & Feel-Good
23. Sex Education (2019)
Director/Creator: Laurie Nunn
Plot: An awkward high school student sets up a secret sex therapy clinic for his peers, using the professional knowledge he picked up from his mother, who is a sex therapist. It’s hilarious, heartfelt, and very inclusive.
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
24. Derry Girls (2018)
Director/Creator: Lisa McGee
Plot: A fantastic comedy about a group of teenage girls (and one English boy) navigating the universal problems of high school, all while living through the political conflicts of Northern Ireland in the 1990s.
IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
25. Beef (2023)
Director/Creator: Lee Sung Jin
Plot: A small road rage incident between two people—a failed contractor and a unhappy entrepreneur—turns into a massive, hilarious, and destructive feud that consumes their entire lives.
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
Historical & Political
26. The Last Kingdom (2015)
Director/Creator: Stephen Butchard
Plot: Set in 9th-century England, the story follows Uhtred, a Saxon noble who was raised by Viking invaders. He constantly struggles between his birth heritage and the Norsemen he was raised with, all while fighting for King Alfred the Great.
IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
Where to Watch: Netflix (It originally aired on BBC, but is on Netflix worldwide.)
27. The Diplomat (2023)
Director/Creator: Debora Cahn
Plot: A career diplomat who is great at dealing with war zones is suddenly appointed the U.S. Ambassador to the UK. She has to manage international crises, forge alliances, and navigate her rocky marriage with another top political star.
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
28. Blood of Zeus (2020)
Director/Creator: Charley Parlapanides, Vlas Parlapanides
Plot: An animated series inspired by Greek mythology. A commoner named Heron discovers he is the illegitimate son of Zeus and is the only person who can save both Heaven and Earth from a demonic army.
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
29. Russian Doll (2019)
Director/Creator: Natasha Lyonne, Leslye Headland, Amy Poehler
Plot: A woman named Nadia keeps dying and reliving her 36th birthday party in a repeating time loop. She must figure out why this is happening before she loses her mind.
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
30. Warrior (2019)
Director/Creator: Jonathan Tropper (Based on a concept by Bruce Lee)
Plot: An action-packed drama set in 1870s San Francisco’s Chinatown. It follows a martial arts prodigy who leaves China for America and becomes a major player in the Tongs’ (Chinese organized crime) turf wars.
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Where to Watch: Netflix (Originally on HBO/Cinemax, now on Netflix.)