If you feel like you’ve reached the “end” of the internet when it comes to TV recommendations, it’s probably because the algorithms are stuck in a loop. They keep pushing the same massive hits while some of the most visually stunning and well-written series are buried three pages deep. Finding great shows you probably missed is the real win for any cinephile who cares about more than just the latest trending hashtag.
This list of great shows you probably missed focuses on series that prioritize craft—directors who use the camera to tell the story, sound design that actually creates atmosphere, and scripts that don’t treat the audience like they’re distracted by their phones. We’ve skipped the obvious giants we’ve talked about before and dug into the international masterpieces and niche gems that deserve a spot on your 2026 watchlist.
Best for: Cinephiles looking for underrated series and international TV gems that offer elite filmmaking and fresh storytelling beyond the mainstream.
Common cinephile pain points this list solves: Algorithm fatigue / Predictable “American-style” plotting / High-budget shows with no visual soul / Thinking you’ve already seen everything worth watching.
Related Lists: Underrated Series That Are Better Than You’d Expect / Great Shows That Slipped by Most People / Hidden Gem TV Shows You Rarely Hear About / Perfect Shows for a Weekend Binge
What to watch for
When you dive into these overlooked masterpieces, look for visual intentionality. These shows often use color palettes and specific framing to communicate character emotions without a word of dialogue. Pay attention to the pacing—many of these are slow-burns that use the long-form format of TV to build a level of tension that a 2-hour movie just can’t reach. That’s the “pro” level of television.
10 great shows you probably missed
1. Gomorrah (2014–2021) 🇮🇹
Director/Creator: Stefano Sollima / Leonardo Fasoli
Plot: A brutal, hyper-realistic look at the internal power struggles of a Neapolitan crime syndicate, seen through the eyes of a trusted lieutenant and the clan’s heir apparent.
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
Where to Watch: Max / Prime Video (Rent/Buy)
Why it’s a miss: It’s the best crime show you haven’t seen. The cinematography is grimy but gorgeous, and the blocking in the urban environments creates a persistent sense of being hunted. It’s way more realistic and tense than almost anything made in Hollywood.
2. Utopia (2013–2014) 🇬🇧
Director/Creator: Dennis Kelly / Marc Munden
Plot: A group of strangers who meet online are hunted by a shadowy organization after they come into possession of a legendary graphic novel manuscript that predicts global disasters.
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Where to Watch: Prime Video / VOD
Why it’s a miss: We’re talking about the original UK version here. Its use of ultra-saturated colors and a bizarre, electronic soundtrack creates a “comic book” aesthetic that is completely unique. The visual language is so loud and confident it’ll ruin regular TV for you.
3. The Bureau (Le Bureau des Légendes) (2015–2020) 🇫🇷
Director/Creator: Éric Rochant
Plot: Follows the daily lives and missions of agents within France’s most secretive intelligence wing, focusing on an officer who returns home after six years undercover in Syria.
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
Where to Watch: AMC+ / Prime Video (Rent/Buy)
Why it’s a miss: This is surgical spy craft. It avoids the explosions of Bond for the realistic tension of identity management. The directing is restrained and patient, making the small moments of “tradecraft” feel higher stakes than a car chase.
4. ZeroZeroZero (2020) 🇮🇹🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Stefano Sollima / Janus Metz / Pablo Trapero
Plot: Tracks the journey of a massive cocaine shipment from the sellers in Mexico to the buyers in Italy, showing how the global drug trade affects everyone from shippers to power-hungry cartels.
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Where to Watch: Prime Video
Why it’s a miss: It’s a cinematic limited series that spans three continents. The sound design is massive (scored by Mogwai), and the editing bridges the different storylines with an incredible sense of momentum and dread. It’s high-level filmmaking on a global scale.
5. Scavengers Reign (2023) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Joseph Bennett / Charles Huettner
Plot: The remaining crew of a damaged deep-space freighter are stranded on a beautiful but dangerous alien planet, forced to learn the rules of a bizarre ecosystem to survive.
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
Where to Watch: Netflix / Max (Availability varies)
Why it’s a miss: It’s a visual and sonic masterpiece in animation. The creature designs and the way the “camera” observes the alien world feel like a nature documentary from another dimension. It’s pure world-building that respects the audience’s intelligence.
6. Kingdom (2019– ) 🇰🇷
Director/Creator: Kim Seong-hun / Kim Eun-hee
Plot: In Korea’s medieval Joseon period, a crown prince is sent on a suicide mission to investigate a mysterious plague that is bringing the dead back to life.
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
Why it’s a miss: It’s a period-piece horror with world-class cinematography. The use of natural light and massive practical sets makes the action scenes feel heavy and terrifying. It’s much more than a zombie show—it’s a masterclass in political tension and blocking.
7. The Curse (2023) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Nathan Fielder / Benny Safdie
Plot: A newly married couple tries to flip houses and film an HGTV-style show in a small New Mexico community, but a supposed curse begins to unravel their relationship and their sanity.
IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
Where to Watch: Paramount+ / Showtime
Why it’s a miss: It’s cringe-tension at a professional level. The Safdie brothers’ influence is clear in the uncomfortable framing and the overlapping sound design. It’s one of the most daring, “auteur” shows of the decade that a lot of people found too weird to finish.
8. Devs (2020) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Alex Garland
Plot: A software engineer investigates the secretive development division of her employer, a cutting-edge tech company, believing they are responsible for the disappearance of her boyfriend.
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Where to Watch: Hulu / Disney+
Why it’s a miss: Alex Garland (Ex Machina) directs every episode. The architectural production design and the slow, hypnotic pacing turn a sci-fi mystery into a philosophical inquiry. The visuals are standard-setting for prestige sci-fi.
9. Top of the Lake (2013–2017) 🇦🇺🇳🇿
Director/Creator: Jane Campion / Gerard Lee
Plot: A detective specializing in child protection returns to her remote hometown in New Zealand, where she becomes obsessed with the disappearance of a pregnant 12-year-old girl.
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
Where to Watch: Hulu / Prime Video (Rent/Buy)
Why it’s a miss: It’s cinematic noir directed by an Oscar winner. Jane Campion uses the landscape as a character, creating a mood of isolation and atmospheric dread that puts most standard police procedurals to shame.
10. Perpetual Grace, LTD (2019) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Steven Conrad / Bruce Terris
Plot: A young grifter attempts to prey upon a pastor, only to discover that the “man of God” and his wife are far more dangerous and skilled at the con than he is.
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Where to Watch: MGM+ / Prime Video (Rent/Buy)
Why it’s a miss: It has a noir aesthetic and rhythmic dialogue that feels like a Coen Brothers film expanded into a series. The symmetrical framing and deadpan pacing make it a visually striking gem that was sadly cut short.
What to watch next
Next category: Perfect Shows for a Weekend Binge (because once you’ve found the shows you probably missed, it’s time to find the ones you won’t be able to stop watching).