If you’ve ever felt like modern streaming is starting to look a little too “clean” and predictable, you’re not alone. Most networks play it safe, but A24 series that feel different are the exact opposite—they lead with grimy textures, experimental structures, and a total refusal to explain themselves. In 2026, the A24 brand has become the sanctuary for visually authored TV that feels like it was made by a person with a pulse, not a marketing algorithm.
These A24 series that feel different are chosen specifically because they break the traditional “television” rules. We’re talking about docuseries shot like art films, comedies that lean into high-confrontation energy, and thrillers that prioritize mood over easy answers. We’ve scoured the archives to ensure there are zero repeats from any of our previous 30+ lists—no Beef, The Curse, Mo, or Euphoria here. This is the “deep cut” guide for cinephiles who want the true A24 aesthetic on the small screen.
Best for: Cinephiles hunting for indie TV series, experimental formats, and shows with unique directing voices that challenge the mainstream.
Common cinephile pain points this list solves: “Samey” streaming looks / Predictable sitcom beats / Shows that talk down to the audience / Flat, uninspired digital cinematography.
Related Lists: The Best A24 TV Shows / A24 Movies That Define the Studio / The Best A24 Movies / Hidden Gem TV Shows You Rarely Hear About
What to watch for
When a show “feels different,” the secret is usually in the narrative economy and the tonal discipline. Look for how these series use blocking and lens choice to make standard rooms feel alien or unsettling. Pay attention to the surgical sound design—A24 creators often use audio texture to build a “vibe” that tells more of the story than the dialogue does. That’s the hallmark of an auteur-driven series.
10 A24 series that feel different
1. Such Brave Girls (2023– ) 🇬🇧
Director/Creator: Kat Sadler (Directed by Marco Alessi)
Plot: A deeply dysfunctional family of three women navigates life, love, and their own mental health struggles in a grimy, unglamorous version of modern Britain.
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Where to Watch: Hulu / BBC iPlayer
Why it feels different: It is the best A24 series for fans of “cringe-tension.” The show uses surgical comedic timing and tight, uncomfortable framing to make the characters’ bad decisions feel physically awkward. It’s a raw, visually authored comedy that avoids the polished look of typical family sitcoms.
2. The Eric Andre Show (Season 5– ) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Eric Andre / Kitao Sakurai (A24 began producing in Season 5)
Plot: A chaotic, nightmare-logic version of a late-night talk show where the host subjects guests and himself to surreal pranks and psychological warfare.
IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
Where to Watch: Max / Hulu
Why it feels different: This is anarchic editing at its most extreme. The show uses rapid-fire cuts, distorted sound design, and bizarre blocking to create a persistent sense of panic. It’s a stylized visual achievement that treats the “talk show” format as a playground for experimental horror-comedy.
3. The Confidant (La Confidente) (2024– ) 🇫🇷
Director/Creator: Alice Winocour
Plot: Following a terrorist attack in Paris, a woman finds herself pulled into a community of survivors, only to realize that the “truth” of the event is far more fragile than it seems.
IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
Where to Watch: Max / Prime Video (Selection varies)
Why it feels different: It features pro-level psychological blocking. The show uses the cold, industrial architecture of Paris and surgical sound design to represent the protagonist’s disorientation. It is a high-stakes thriller that values silence and internal pressure over standard action tropes.
4. Home (2020–2022) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Doug Pray / Matthew Weaver
Plot: A docuseries that travels the world to find the most imaginative and unique homes ever built, exploring the vision and history of the people who created them.
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Where to Watch: Apple TV+
Why it feels different: It proves that a documentary can have cinematic visual authorship. Each episode is shot with architectural framing and a patient camera that treats the houses like characters. The atmospheric lighting and score turn a “design show” into a series of visual poems.
5. Ziwe (2021–2022) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Ziwe Fumudoh (Directed by Jamund Washington)
Plot: A hyper-saturated, stylized variety show that uses high-stakes interviews and sketches to confront race, class, and social issues with a sharp satirical edge.
IMDb Rating: 6.1/10 (A cinephile favorite for its bold tone)
Where to Watch: Showtime / Paramount+
Why it feels different: It features aggressive, visually authored production design. The show uses a bright, neon-pink aesthetic and uncomfortable close-ups to mirror the tension of the interviews. The rhythmic editing and bold color palette create a world that feels like a high-fashion fever dream.
6. Survival of the Thickest (2023– ) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Michelle Buteau / Danielle Sanchez-Witzel
Plot: After a messy breakup, a struggling stylist attempts to rebuild her life and career in New York City, navigating the world with a loud personality and a unique visual style.
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
Why it feels different: It features vibrant, naturalistic blocking and incredible costume design. While it looks like a standard comedy, the surgical scene economy and specific, lived-in world of NYC fashion make it feel much more authored. It’s a smart, high-energy handpicked gem.
7. The Carmichael Show (2015–2017) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Jerrod Carmichael / Nicholas Stoller
Plot: A young man and his girlfriend navigate their lives in North Carolina, dealing with his opinionated family and the complex social issues of the day.
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
Where to Watch: Hulu / Prime Video (Rent/Buy)
Why it feels different: It set the standard for theatrical blocking in a sitcom. The show uses a multi-cam format but directs it like a stage play, focusing on long dialogue scenes and surgical debate rhythm. It avoids the “joke-joke-laugh” structure for a properly made, thoughtful look at real conversation.
8. See It Loud: The History of Black Television (2023) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Produced by LeBron James / Maverick Carter / A24
Plot: A comprehensive look at the evolution of Black representation on television, from the early days of sitcoms to the modern era of prestige drama.
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
Where to Watch: Hulu / CNN
Why it feels different: This is meta-historical storytelling. The show uses surgical editing to blend archival footage with new interviews, treating the history of TV with the same visual weight as a feature film. It’s a masterclass in narrative density for the documentary format.
9. Jon Benjamin Has a Van (2011) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: H. Jon Benjamin / Leo Allen (Directed by various)
Plot: An investigative journalist travels across the country in a van, reporting on trivial or non-existent stories that inevitably spiral into surreal, high-stakes disasters.
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Where to Watch: Paramount+ / VOD
Why it feels different: It is low-fi surrealism at its best. The show uses a handheld, “breaking news” camera style to ground its bizarre premises. The awkward blocking and deadpan pacing make it an early example of the “A24 vibe”—small, weird, and technically sharp.
10. The G Word with Adam Conover (2022) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Adam Conover (Produced by A24 / Higher Ground)
Plot: A documentary-comedy hybrid that investigates the inner workings of the US government, showing how the massive bureaucracy impacts everyday life in surprising ways.
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
Why it feels different: It features inventive visual information. The show uses stylized production design and practical sets to explain complex government systems, turning data into visually stunning sketches. It’s a smart, high-momentum series that values rhythmic editing and clear communication.
What to watch next
Next category: TV Shows You’ll Finish Faster Than You Expect (because once you’ve seen these A24 series that feel different, you’ll want a high-momentum show to crush in a single weekend).