Netflix is kicking off April with a splashy new series, Ripley, which re-imagines the antihero who was created by Patricia Highsmith in 1955. Sherlock and Fleabag‘s Andrew Scott is stepping into the title role this time, and we’ll soon learn if audiences take to him in the same way they did for Matt Damon’s incarnation of the character in the popular 1999 film The Talented Mr. Ripley.
Vikings is also back on Netflix this week, and to no one’s surprise, it’s also returned to the list of the most popular shows on Netflix. Last month’s new shows, 3 Body Problem and The Gentlemen, are both high on the list as well, which should hopefully lead to good news about future seasons. And with so many good shows to watch, there’s rarely been a better time to be a Netflix subscriber.
Keep reading for our complete roundup of the best shows on Netflix right now. Your next favorite series is somewhere below.
We’ve also rounded up all the best movies on Netflix, the best shows on Hulu, the best shows on Amazon Prime, and the best shows on Disney+ because we take our streaming seriously. Watching while traveling abroad? Use a Netflix VPN to access your country’s catalog from anywhere in the world.
New this week
Ripley
If you’ve ever seen Matt Damon’s 1999 film, The Talented Mr. Ripley, then you know the story of Ripley, which is also an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel. The key change here is that the show is filmed in black and white, and the characters are much older than they were in the film.
All of Us Strangers star Andrew Scott takes over the role of Tom Ripley from Damon, and he proves to be just as underhanded on the show as he was in the movie. In 1960, Ripley is hired by the wealthy father of Dickie Greenleaf (Johnny Flynn) to convince his playboy son to come home after an extended period abroad. But after meeting Dickie and his girlfriend, Marge Sherwood (Dakota Fanning), Ripley becomes enamored with their lifestyle and with Dickie himself. And Ripley will do just about anything to make sure that their good fortune becomes his.
Genre: Drama, Crime, Thriller
Stars: Andrew Scott, Johnny Flynn, Dakota Fanning, Vittorio Viviani, Bokeem Woodbine
Seasons: 1
Vikings
The Viking Age has begun again, now that Vikings has returned to Netflix. The wildly popular historical drama was a big hit for History, as it chronicled the story of a Viking legend, Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel), and his heirs during the 8th and 9th centuries.
At the start of the series, Ragnar is a farmer who simply wants to provide for his family. As the series progresses, Ragnar’s exploits and raids help him climb the ranks of the Vikings until he becomes not only their leader, but the King of Denmark as well. However, it’s a dangerous way to live, and even Ragnar’s good fortune can only last for so long.
Genre: Drama
Stars: Travis Fimmel, Katheryn Winnick, Clive Standen, Jessalyn Gilsig, Gustaf Skarsgård, Gabriel Byrne
Seasons: 6
Drama
The Resident
Fox canceled The Resident in 2023, but it’s found a bigger audience on Netflix, where fans can watch all six seasons at their leisure. While there is romance on The Resident, it’s a more focused medical drama that features doctors, nurses, and executives, some of whom make morally questionable decisions that have both positive and negative consequences for their patients.
Matt Czuchry leads the cast as Conrad Hawkins, a resident at Chastain Park Memorial Hospital who is thrown in on the deep end of the broken health care system before navigating his way into higher positions. Conrad’s not the only one who cares about the patients under his care, but it’s incredibly difficult to overcome the bureaucracy that keeps the hospital buried in red tape.
Genre: Drama
Stars: Matt Czuchry, Emily VanCamp, Manish Dayal, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Bruce Greenwood
Seasons: 6
The Tourist
During the first season of The Tourist, the man (Jamie Dornan) had no idea who he was, why he was in Australia, or why somebody tried to kill him in the Outback. Now that season 2 has arrived, the man has learned that his real name is Elliot Stanley. Or is it?
But just because Elliot has some of the answers, it doesn’t mean that some very bad people aren’t gunning for him. This season, Elliot and Probationary Constable Helen Chambers (Danielle Macdonald) are heading to Ireland to unravel the mystery of his identity. And they may not like what they find there.
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Stars: Jamie Dornan, Danielle Macdonald, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Genevieve Lemon
Seasons: 2
The Blacklist
For 10 years, a master criminal, Raymond “Red” Reddington (James Spader), has helped the FBI take down even bigger targets on his blacklist. The Blacklist’s 10th season is now on Netflix, and the criminals that Reddington betrayed to the feds are looking for their revenge. But even the members of Reddington’s team don’t fully understand his motives or endgame.
Ironically, the crusading Congressman Arthur Hudson (Toby Leonard Moore) may prove to be a bigger threat to Reddington and his task force than any individual criminal. Hudson is convinced that there’s corruption on the team, and his efforts to expose it may mean more trouble than even Reddington can handle.
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Stars: Jamie Dornan, Danielle Macdonald, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Genevieve Lemon
Seasons: 10
Warrior
Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji) didn’t migrate from China to San Francisco to fight, but he’s going to put his martial arts skills to the ultimate test in Warrior. The show is set in the 1870s, as two rival Chinese Tongs edge closer to an all-out gang war. Ah Sahm’s fighting prowess soon brings him to the attention of the Hop Wei Tong, who recruit him to their ranks. Ah Sahm also befriends Young Jun (Jason Tobin), the man who will inherit leadership of their Tong.
What Ah Sahm doesn’t initially realize is that his long-missing sister, Mai Ling (Dianne Doan), doesn’t need saving. Instead, she’s the de facto ruler of the Long Zii Tong, which forces Ah Sahm to choose between his family and his newfound comrades.
Genre: Drama, Crime
Stars: Andrew Koji, Olivia Cheng, Jason Tobin, Dianne Doan, Kieran Bew
Seasons: 3
This Is Us
For six seasons, This Is Us was one of the top dramas on television. Now, Netflix subscribers will meet the Pearson family and fall in love all over again. This Is Us embraces nonlinear storytelling, with the present-day storylines focusing on the grownup versions of Kate (Chrissy Metz), Randall (Sterling K. Brown), and Kevin (Justin Hartley), who are collectively called “the Big Three” by their parents.
In the flashback sequences, Jack Pearson (Milo Ventimiglia) and his wife, Rebecca Pearson (Mandy Moore), do their best to provide a loving home for all three of their children. There are a lot of heartfelt moments to be had, but also tragedies in the past, the present, and the future that threaten to tear this family apart.
Genre: Drama
Stars: Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz, Justin Hartley, Susan Kelechi Watson
Seasons: 6
The Crown
Diana (Elizabeth Debicki) is gone when the second half of The Crown’s final season begins, and Queen Elizabeth II (Imelda Staunton) is feeling her own mortality at the start of the 21st century. Now, it’s time for Diana’s sons, Prince William (Ed McVey) and Prince Harry (Luther Ford), to come to the forefront.
This half of the season recreates William’s courtship of Kate Middleton (Meg Bellamy), while Prince Charles (Dominic West) finally gets to wed Camilla Parker Bowles (Olivia Williams) as Elizabeth wonders what her legacy will be, and how the royal family will endure. Now that the series is over, you can also go back and check out the best performances in The Crown.
Genre: Drama
Stars: Imelda Staunton, Jonathan Pryce, Lesley Manville, Dominic West, Olivia Williams, Elizabeth Debicki
Seasons: 6
Lupin
Omar Sy headlines Lupin as Assane Diop, a criminal who models his methods on the gentleman thief Arsène Lupin. While Assane has a lot of style, he doesn’t always consider how his life of crime will affect his estranged wife, Claire (Ludivine Sagnier), and their son, Raoul (Etan Simon).
This season, Assane is desperate to reunite with Claire and Raoul. Before he can do that, he will have to deal with a new enemy who is directly targeting his family. And this time, the gentleman thief may be out of options.
Genre: Crime, Drama
Stars: Omar Sy, Ludivine Sagnier, Clotilde Hesme, Antoine Gouy
Seasons: 2
The Lincoln Lawyer
The Lincoln Lawyer season 2 began with Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) taking a brutal beating, and that’s also where part 1 of the season left us. Season 2 part 2 picks up from there as Mickey finds himself in quite a bind. His new client Lisa Trammell (Lana Parrilla), is facing murder charges that may land her in prison for life. And the evidence that she may have done it keeps piling up.
To make matters worse for Mickey, he’s falling hard for Lisa. But a true crime podcaster named Henry Dahl (Matt Angel) seems determined to get between them so he can exploit Lisa’s story for his own gain.
Genre: Drama
Stars: Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Neve Campbell, Becki Newton, Jazz Raycole, Angus Sampson
Seasons: 2
Suits
It says a lot about Suits’ enduring popularity that the show has been at the top of Netflix’s most-watched charts despite ending four years ago. The series follows the unlikely partnership between prominent attorney Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht), and a brilliant con man, Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams). Harvey is so impressed by Mike’s legal knowledge that he hires him on the spot to be his associate despite knowing full well that he never went to law school.
Harvey and Mike’s efforts help the firm win several high-profile cases, even as Mike’s secret threatens to emerge. Meanwhile, Mike catches the eye of Rachel Zane (Meghan Markle), an ambitious paralegal with her own plans to advance in the legal world.
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Stars: Gabriel Macht, Patrick J. Adams, Rick Hoffman, Meghan Markle, Gina Torres
Seasons: 9
Black Mirror
Each episode of the dark sci-fi anthology series, Black Mirror, has a self-contained story, and the first installment of the sixth season actually targets Netflix itself! Schitt’s Creek‘s Annie Murphy stars as Joan, a woman who discovers that the Netflix of her world, Streamberry, is essentially stealing her life in real-time with Salma Hayek portraying Joan’s fictional self in the original series, Joan is Awful.
As with the previous seasons, series creator Charlie Brooker has attracted a lot of big-name performers to share the small screen in his stories. And each episode of Black Mirror is a mind-bending experience.
Genre: Sci-fi, Drama
Stars: Annie Murphy, Salma Hayek, Aaron Paul, Josh Hartnett, Zazie Beetz
Seasons: 6
The Diplomat
Keri Russell has played everything from the all-American girl in Felicity to a deadly Russian spy in The Americans. So it seems fitting that Netflix has put Russell in the lead of its political drama, The Diplomat, which plays like Homeland by way of The West Wing. That’s appropriate because series creator Debora Cahn worked on both of those shows.
Russell plays Kate Wyler, a seasoned crisis management expert who is named the new American ambassador to the U.K. as her marriage to Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell) is falling apart. Before Kate can even catch her breath, she is thrust into a high-stakes position when Britain is attacked, and Hal’s decisions appear to undermine her duties.
For more on the Netflix show, be sure to read The Diplomat‘s ending explained.
Genre: Drama
Stars: Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell, Rory Kinnear
Seasons: 1
Beef
If you’ve ever had a moment of road rage, you know that what follows is not usually your best self. In Netflix’s black comedy, Beef, Danny Cho (Steven Yeun) and Amy Lau Nakai (Ali Wong) have a road rage encounter that transforms their lives, and not for the better.
Despite being strangers to each other before the incident, Danny and Amy’s lives become intricately tangled as their mutual rage for each other intensifies. This is not going to end well for either of them, but it’s almost impossible to look away from the carnage they leave in their wake.
Genre: Drama/Comedy
Stars: Steven Yeun, Ali Wong
Seasons: 1
Comedy
The Conners
If you know your network sitcoms, then you’re probably aware that The Conners is essentially Roseanne without Rosanne Barr. Almost the entire cast from the original Rosanne reprised their roles from the 1988 sitcom, including Barr, until she was fired for making numerous offensive posts on social media.
It turns out that The Conners‘ brand of blue-collar comedy works just as well without Barr, and the loss of Rosanne gives her widowed husband, Dan (John Goodman), a lot of interesting material before he and his now adult children get on with their lives and start something new. ABC is currently running the sixth season of The Conners, but fans of this series can catch it from the beginning.
Genre: Comedy
Stars: John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert, Lecy Goranson, Michael Fishman
Seasons: 5
Girls5eva
Netflix has rescued canceled shows from other networks before, but Girls5eva is one of the rare times that Netflix has uncanceled a series from another streamer. The former Peacock original series follows Dawn (Sara Bareilles), Summer (Busy Philipps), Gloria (Paula Pell), and Wickie (Renée Elise Goldsberry). Together, along with their late bandmate Ashley (Ashley Park), they were once the ’90s girl group known as Girls5eva.
In the present, the glory days of Girls5eva are long behind them, and none of the women are happy with their lives. That’s why they reunite the band to get a second chance at stardom. The first two seasons were produced for Peacock, but the recently arrived third season is brand new.
Genre: Comedy, Musical
Stars: Sara Bareilles, Busy Philipps, Paula Pell, Renée Elise Goldsberry
Seasons: 3
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
There are plenty of police procedurals on TV, but rarely any police sitcoms. Brooklyn Nine-Nine is one of those exceptions. This show occasionally has some serious moments, but for the most part it’s a gloriously unhinged comedy led by Saturday Night Live veteran Andy Samberg as Jack Peralta, a detective in the NYPD’s 99th Precinct.
Jake and his fellow misfits in the Nine-Nine are unconventional, but they get the job done … eventually. The late Andre Braugher co-stars as Captain Raymond Holt, the straightest straight man a comedian like Samberg could ever hope for, even though Holt himself is gay. For some reason, only the first four seasons are currently on Netflix, but the remaining four seasons will presumably be added later.
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Andy Samberg, Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, Joe Lo Truglio, Andre Braugher
Seasons: 8
Monk
Can Monk follow in Suits’ footsteps and become a hit streaming series? During both shows’ time on USA Network, Monk was arguably more of a crossover hit. Tony Shalhoub stars as Adrian Monk, a brilliant detective for the San Francisco Police Department who completely unravels after the murder of his wife, Trudy (Stellina Rusich and Melora Hardin). Monk was already suffering from OCD and phobias before Trudy’s death, and his isolation only makes them worse.
Monk’s first nurse, Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram), and her eventual replacement, Natalie Teeger (Traylor Howard), actually make a lot of progress with him by getting him back out into the world as a consulting detective to his former colleagues. And Monk’s various quirks often lead to hilarious situations.
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Mystery
Stars: Tony Shalhoub, Bitty Schram, Jason Gray-Stanford, Ted Levine, Traylor Howard
Seasons: 8
Loudermilk
Loudermilk flew under the radar when it originally aired on the Audience Network, but it’s getting a shot at a larger audience on Netflix. The series stars Sex and the City‘s Ron Livingston as Sam Loudermilk, an ex-movie critic and seemingly recovered alcoholic who has reinvented himself as a substance abuse counselor. Sam also has quite a way with words and sharp quips, which is why he’s not exactly known for his good bedside manner with the people in his support group.
Sam is very much a work in progress when it comes to his own life, but he has found some purpose in sponsoring Claire Wilkes (Anja Savcic). Will Sasso also stars as Sam’s sponsor, Ben Burns. There’s a lot of dark comedy in this series, and you’ll laugh a lot if you’re willing to go with it.
Genre: Comedy, Drama,
Stars: Ron Livingston, Will Sasso, Anja Savcic, Laura Mennell
Seasons: 3
Sex Education
Netflix’s breakout comedy hit, Sex Education, is back for its fourth season as Otis (Asa Butterfield), Eric (Ncuti Gatwa), and their friends adjust to their new school, Cavendish Sixth Form College. It’s a big change from their days at Moordale, and Otis is particularly unsettled by the way that Eric goes off to join the popular students. Even Otis’ talents as a sex therapist may not be needed at such an open and accepting school environment.
Meanwhile, Otis’ longtime crush, Maeve (Emma Mackey) is off at school in the U.S. and charting her own academic path. But will Otis and Maeve be able to find their way back to each other before they take the next step in their lives?
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey, Connor Swindells
Seasons: 4
Never Have I Ever
After four seasons, Never Have I Ever wraps up the story of Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) and her high school trials Season 4 picks up with Devi in a weird and awkward space with her sometimes boyfriend, Ben Gross (Jaren Lewison), before she potentially finds new love with Ethan Morales (Michael Cimino).
Devi also has to deal with her efforts to get into the college of her choice, find emotional closure for her time in high school, and move past the death of her father. This is where Devi has to choose who she wants to be and what it will take to make her happy as she finally becomes an adult.
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Stars: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Poorna Jagannathan, Richa Moorjani, Darren Barnet, Jaren Lewison
Seasons: 4
Wednesday
Tim Burton turns his attention to Wednesday Addams in this spinoff from the Addams Family franchise, Wednesday, which focuses on the elder Addams sibling. Jenna Ortega portrays the title character, who is sent off to prep school after an incident involving a high school water polo team and two bags of piranhas. While attending the school, she soon becomes wrapped up in a series of local murders, all while trying to come to terms with her own destiny and her parents’ legacy.
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Jenna Ortega, Christina Ricci, Catherine Zeta-Jones
Seasons: 1
Cobra Kai
The hit sequel series to the original Karate Kid films, Cobra Kai brings back William Zabka and Ralph Macchio to reprise their respective roles as Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso, teenage rivals whose feud has extended into adulthood. Set three decades after the first film’s events, the series has down-on-his-luck Johnny attempt to start a new Cobra Kai dojo, only to have his ambitions reignite his rivalry with Daniel.
Over the course of several seasons, the series has followed the pair as they take on new students, deal with enemies and allies from their past, and eventually face a common threat — all while the teenagers under their care attempt to navigate their own high school trials and tribulations. Season 5 of Cobra Kai premiered in September 2022.
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Stars: Ralph Macchio, William Zabka
Seasons: 5
Mystery and Crime
Bandidos
Bandidos – or Bandits, if you prefer – is a new Mexican crime comedy starring Alfonso Dosal as Miguel, a con artist who has fallen on hard times. While getting drunk at a bar, Miguel meets an acquaintance of his father’s who has a lead on a long-missing Mayan treasure. Miguel quickly realizes that the treasure could be his if he can get a team together fast enough.
With so little time to act, Miguel gathers his ex-partner and ex-girlfriend, Lilí (Ester Expósito), as well as Wilson (Juan Pablo Medina) and Lucas (Juan Pablo Fuentes). The group thinks pretty highly of themselves, but their particular talent appears to be getting in way over their heads before finding some way to slink out of treasure. What they don’t know is that someone dangerous is also on the trail of the treasure, and they’ve already killed the man whom Miguel met in the bar to set off this treasure hunt.
Genre: Crime
Stars: Alfonso Dosal, Estar Exposito, Juan Pablo Medina, Mabel Cadena, Juan Pablo Fuentes, Andrea Chaparro
Seasons: 1
The Gentlemen
Much like FX’s Fargo, The Gentlemen is a spinoff of the feature film that shares its name. The key difference is that Guy Ritchie directed the movie and created the TV series, which acts as a standalone story with a brand new cast of characters. Theo James stars as Eddie Halstead, the new Duke of Halstead … but only because his older brother, Freddy Halstead (Daniel Ings), is hopelessly addicted to drugs.
Eddie’s new title comes with a catch because his recently passed father was deep in business with an incarcerated gangster, Bobby Glass (Ray Winstone), who runs an illegal marijuana empire. Now, Eddie has a piece of that empire as well, whether he likes it or not. And he definitely likes Bobby’s daughter, Susie Glass (Kaya Scodelario), even if they’re not always on the same page.
Genre: Crime, Drama
Stars: Theo James, Kaya Scodelario, Daniel Ings, Joely Richardson, Giancarlo Esposito, Vinnie Jones
Seasons: 1
Fool Me Once
Netflix’s adaptation of Harlan Coben’s Fool Me Once features Michelle Keegan as Maya Stern, a former special ops pilot who is reeling from the death of her sister, Claire (Natalie Anderson), and the murder of her husband, Joe Burkett (Richard Armitage). Now, Maya is left to raise her young daughter, Lily (Thea Taylor-Morgan), by herself.
Or so she thought. When Maya spots Joe hugging their daughter in a nanny cam video, she is thrust into a conspiracy that makes her wonder who she can trust. Meanwhile, Maya’s niece and nephew, Abby (Dänya Griver) and Daniel (Daniel Burt), begin their own investigation into their mother’s death. The secrets they discover will lead them back to Maya as they attempt to unravel the twin mysteries.
Genre: Thriller
Stars: Michelle Keegan, Adeel Akhtar, Natalie Anderson, Jade Anouka, Richard Armitage, Joe Armstrong
Seasons: 1
Berlin
The title character of Berlin doesn’t let a little thing like death get in the way of a good story. This Money Heist prequel spinoff throws the spotlight on Andrés de Fonollosa (Pedro Alonso), the man who went by Berlin during the early seasons of the previous series. This show adds some new layers to Berlin as he leads his own team of thieves, including Kella (Michelle Jenner), Damián (Tristán Ulloa), Cameron (Begoña Vargas), Roi (Julio Peña Fernández), and Bruce (Joel Sánchez).
What brings this motley crew together under Berlin’s stewardship? A multimillion Euro heist, of course. But even the best-laid plans tend to unravel in the Money Heist universe, and there will be complications ahead.
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Stars: Pedro Alonso, Michelle Jenner, Tristán Ulloa, Begoña Vargas, Julio Peña Fernández
Seasons: 1
The Night Agent
It took The Night Agent less than a day to race to the top of Netflix’s TV series rankings, and it seems likely to make its leads, Gabriel Basso and Luciane Buchanan, into much bigger stars. As adapted for television by The Shield creator Shawn Ryan, this intense action thriller follows FBI Agent Peter Sutherland (Basso) after he stumbles upon clues that reveal a Russian mole is working inside the U.S. government.
Realizing that the fate of the country may be at stake, Peter will stop at nothing to unravel the conspiracy and unmask the mole. He also has an unlikely ally in Rose Larkin (Buchanan), a young CEO who has already been marked for death by their mutual enemies.
For more on this Netflix show, check out The Night Agent‘s ending explained.
Genre: Mystery
Stars: Gabriel Basso, Hong Chau, Luciane Buchanan
Seasons: 1
Horror
The Fall of the House of Usher
Horror maestro Mike Flanagan has one last miniseries for Netflix before he heads off to Prime Video. Flanagan’s final bow is The Fall of the House of Usher, a modern adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s short story and a few other works by Poe. In this incarnation, Roderick Usher (Bruce Greenwood) and his sister, Madeline Usher (Mary McDonnell), own a powerful pharmaceutical company, and they’ve passed on their ruthless streak to the next generation.
That is if there is a next generation. An enigmatic woman named Verna (Carla Gugino) may be behind the gruesome deaths of members of the Usher family. Everything that the Ushers have built is crashing down, and there may be something supernatural behind it.
Genre: Horror, Drama
Stars: Carla Gugino, Bruce Greenwood, Mary McDonnell, Carl Lumbly, Samantha Sloyan
Seasons: 1
Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities
Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro curated this collection of short films from some of horror’s most visionary, creative directors and writers. The eight stories in the series’ first season hail from a wide range of filmmakers, including Vincenzo Natali (Cube), Ana Lily Amirpour (A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night), Jennifer Kent (The Babadook), and Del Toro himself.
Genre: Fantasy/Horror
Stars: Ben Barnes, Andrew Lincoln, Rupert Grint
Seasons: 1
The Midnight Club
Mike Flanagan, the creator of The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, and Midnight Mass, turns his attention to young-adult scares with The Midnight Club, inspired by Christopher Pike’s 1994 novel of the same name. The 10-episode series follows a group of young, terminally ill residents of a hospice who gather each night to tell each other spooky stories. The members of the “Midnight Club” make a pact that whoever dies first will try to send a message from the afterlife. With Flanagan at the helm of this show, be prepared for big scares.
Genre: Horror/Mystery
Stars: Iman Benson, Heather Langenkamp, Igby Rigney
Seasons: 1
Sci-Fi and Fantasy
3 Body Problem
Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss’ new Netflix series, 3 Body Problem, is a sci-fi drama based upon the Chinese novel The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin. This is not a conventional story, although it’s not hard to guess that alien life is at the heart of the show’s premise.
Without giving too much away, a woman named Ye Wenjie (Rosalind Chao) made a decision decades ago that will eventually have grave consequences for everyone on Earth. An alien threat is coming that is beyond mankind’s ability to handle, and there’s a real question about whether anyone can do anything about it because the arrival may not take place for decades, if not longer. The only advantage that humanity has is time, and even that may not be enough to find a solution.
Genre: Sci-fi, Drama
Stars: Benedict Wong, Jess Hong, Jovan Adepo, Eiza González, John Bradley, Alex Sharp, Rosalind Chao
Seasons: 1
The Signal
Netflix’s The Signal may be flying under the radar, but this German sci-fi miniseries is worth catching. The story follows Sven (Florian David Fitz) and his daughter, Charlie (Yuna Bennett), the family who has to wait on Earth while Seven’s wife, Paula (Peri Baumeister), undertakes a mission as an astronaut on the International Space Station. Paula’s presence in space is at the behest of a billionaire named Mudhi (Sheeba Chaddha), who wants to uncover the existence of extraterrestrials.
Whatever Paula discovered in space must have been big, because upon her return to Earth, her flight home crashes and she’s given the blame in the media. Now, it’s up to Sven and Charlie to unravel the riddle that Paula left behind before someone takes them out as well.
Genre: Sci-fi, Mystery
Stars: Florian David Fitz, Peri Baumeister, Yuna Bennett, Hadi Khanjanpour, Sheeba Chadha
Seasons: 1
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Nickelodeon’s beloved animated series gets a second chance in live-action with Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender. In this fantasy world, a young boy named Aang (Gordon Cormier) awakens after 100 years on ice to learn that the Fire Nation has completely wiped out his people in the Air Nation.
As the Avatar, Aang is the only living person who can bend fire, water, earth, and air — and potentially bring peace back to the world. Two waterbenders, Katara (Kiawentiio) and Sokka (Ian Ousley), join Aang on his quest, but the trio is pursued by the exiled Fire Nation prince, Zuko (Dallas Liu), who desperately wants to capture the Avatar and reclaim his place in the kingdom.
Genre: Fantasy
Stars: Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio, Ian Ousley, Dallas Liu, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Ken Leung
Seasons: 1
Resident Alien
Meet Harry Vanderspeigle (Alan Tudyk). In Resident Alien, he’s just a normal small-town doctor who’s secretly an alien plotting to exterminate humanity. No big deal, really. Harry could actually succeed in his mission, too, if these pesky human emotions weren’t giving him feelings that are completely alien to him. Harry is also so bad at pretending to be human that he fails to blend in with the crowd.
However, Harry’s most immediate problem is Max Hawthorne (Judah Prehn), the young son of the mayor who can see through his human disguise. As for Max, he’s going to have a hard time convincing anyone that Harry is out to get him.
Genre: Sci-fi, Comedy
Stars: Alan Tudyk, Sara Tomko, Corey Reynolds, Alice Wetterlund, Levi Fiehler
Seasons: 3
The Sandman
Neil Gaiman’s celebrated comic book series comes to life in this adaptation that casts Tom Sturridge as Morpheus, the lord of the world of dreams. When a cruel dabbler in the occult accidentally imprisons Morpheus, it begins a tale that unfolds across multiple generations and through myriad realms and ultimately puts the future of humanity at risk.
In development for more than two decades, The Sandman is a project long thought impossible to adapt faithfully, but the series somehow manages to weave together the enthralling stories and powerful themes of Gaiman’s acclaimed fantasy saga.
Genre: Fantasy
Stars: Tom Sturridge, Boyd Holbrook, Jenna Coleman
Seasons: 1
The Witcher
Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) and Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra) now know who’s been pulling their strings in the Continent, but that knowledge might not be enough to save them as The Witcher returns with the final three episodes of season 3.
With Geralt waylaid and fighting for his life, Ciri (Freya Allan) is off on an adventure of her own that may prove to be a transformative experience. But all roads lead back to Geralt as the series faces a turning point and a very, very long wait until the fourth season arrives.
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Action, Drama
Stars: Henry Cavill, Freya Allan, Anya Chalotra, Eamon Farren
Seasons: 3
Stranger Things
One of the most popular original series on Netflix, Stranger Things has become a cultural touchstone in the short time since its 2016 debut. The series’ opening sequence lays out its sci-fi aspirations clearly: A scientist flees down an empty hallway, pursued by some unseen force that eventually nabs him as he waits for elevator doors to close; it then cuts to a group of kids playing D&D in a suburban basement.
The series is rooted in ‘80s genre nostalgia, from the mysterious creature terrorizing the fictional Indiana town to the secret government agency chasing the group of kids who encounter it. There are pieces of Stephen King, Steven Spielberg, and John Hughes strewn throughout Stranger Things, and the result is a show that will feel immediately familiar to people who grew up with that source material.
For more info on the final season, check out Stranger Things season 5: Plot, date, and casting rumors.
Genre: Sci-Fi
Stars: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown
Seasons: 4
True crime and Docuseries
Homicide: New York
Dick Wolf has been mining true crimes for decades as material for all of his Law & Order shows and beyond. Now, Wolf is diving back into an actual true crime series, Homicide: New York, which features five real cases that are explored with reenactments and contemporary interviews with the men and women who investigated them.
This season’s episodes focus on the East Harlem serial killer, a decades-long cold case, and the Carnegie Deli Massacre. But there are plenty of other stories to explore should the series get additional seasons.
Genre: True Crime, Documentary
Stars: N/A
Seasons: 1
American Nightmare
Netflix’s true crime documentary American Nightmare is aptly named because it’s the true story of how Denise Huskins and her boyfriend, Aaron Quinn, were victimized by both a home invader and the police in 2015. Huskins was kidnapped, and Quinn was almost immediately accused of murdering her and hiding the body.
When Huskins was released, the police then openly accused her of staging the kidnapping. With Quinn and Huskins under intense pressure from law enforcement, the case was finally broken by a completely different police department, even after the damage had already been done to Huskins and Quinn.
Genre: True Crime
Stars: Denise Huskins, Aaron Quinn
Seasons: 1
Life on Our Planet
Not many documentaries can boast of having Steven Spielberg as a producer and Morgan Freeman as the narrator, but Life on Our Planet is special. Unlike many documentaries, Life on Our Planet isn’t showing viewers the present or the recent history of our species, it’s going all the way back to the beginnings of the Earth, long before humans showed up.
CGI is used for sequences that could never be filmed, including the rise and fall of the dinosaurs, mass extinction events, and the eventual arrival of humans who may yet manage to destroy themselves without any outside help.
Genre: Documentary
Stars: Morgan Freeman
Seasons: 1
Beckham
It’s not an exaggeration to say that David Beckham is one of the most famous sports icons on the planet, even if his fame in America doesn’t match the same intensity it has everywhere else. But given that the documentary Beckham, has topped the list of the most popular shows on Netflix, it’s safe to say that some of that popularity still extends to the U.S.
Beckham runs for four episodes, and it features David and his wife, Victoria Beckham, sharing stories that range from the beginning of his professional career, through some difficult years in their union, and up until his playing days came to an end.
Genre: Documentary
Stars: David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, Fisher Stevens
Seasons: 1
Predators
There are several world-class nature documentaries on Netflix, and the latest addition to that genre, Predators, is all about some of the deadliest hunters in nature. Actor Tom Hardy narrates the series, and naturally, three of the episodes focus on the big cats: cheetahs, lions, and pumas. The remaining two episodes focus on polar bears and wild dogs.
This miniseries offers a rare opportunity to watch these wild creatures facing real challenges to their survival beyond hunting down their next meal. Unfortunately for these magnificent creatures, climate change and natural disasters may prove to be even deadlier than they are.
Genre: Documentary
Stars: Tom Hardy
Seasons: 1
Our Planet II
After a four-year hiatus, Our Planet is back for another season on Netflix, and it remains one of the most stunningly beautiful nature documentaries on the streamer. David Attenborough returns as the narrator of Our Planet II, which once again explores the impact that climate change has had on the environment and the creatures that live all over the world.
One of the major themes of this season is migration, as animals struggle to find new places to survive and thrive as they deal with both predators and pollution. As in the first season, the visuals are breathtaking and this is a unique look at the world that most people have never seen in person.
Genre: Documentary
Stars: David Attenborough
Seasons: 2
Animation
Masters of the Universe: Revolution
There’s a crisis on Eternia in the next chapter of He-Man’s story in Masters of the Universe: Revolution. For the first time in his life, Prince Adam (Chris Wood) must choose between being the king of his people and being their champion as He-Man. Meanwhile, Teela (Melissa Benoist), undergoes a startling metamorphosis as well.
But those may be the least of Adam and Teela’s problems, as Skeletor (Mark Hamill, one of the best Joker actors ever) reemerges as the harbinger of Motherboard and the Horde. A revolution is coming, and this time He-Man and his allies are badly outnumbered.
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Stars: Chris Wood, Mark Hamill, Melissa Benoist, Liam Cunningham, Lena Headey
Seasons: 1
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
Nearly two decades ago, Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim graphic novels had Harry Potter-like success. However, that success did not extend to the Scott Pilgrim vs. the World movie that was directed by Edgar Wright. Now, the franchise is getting a second chance in the anime series, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off.
This time, the story is being retold in O’Malley’s original art style, with Wright executive producing the show. Almost all of the main cast members reprised their roles for this series, including Michael Cera as Scott, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead as the girl who wins his heart, Ramona Flowers. Unfortunately for Scott, he won’t be able to woo Ramona until he defeats her seven evil exes in battle. And we mean video game style battles to the death, not a game of Parcheesi.
Genre: Anime, Fantasy, Romantic Comedy
Stars: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, The Marvels star Brie Larson
Seasons: 1
Blue Eye Samurai
Sometimes, a show can sneak up on you and become a breakout hit when you least expect it. That’s what’s happening right now with Blue Eye Samurai, Netflix’s unconventional anime series. Logan and Blade Runner 2049 screenwriter Michael Green teamed up with his wife, Amber Noizumi, to create the series set in Japan’s Edo period when the country was closed off from the world.
Mizu (Maya Erskine) is the titular blue-eyed samurai, a distinctive physical trait that she goes to great lengths to hide in her quest for revenge. Mizu’s skills quickly make her a lot of powerful enemies, even though her greatest secret is that she’s a woman, despite passing herself off as a man. She also tends to leave behind a lot of collateral damage in her wake, because she lets nothing get between her and her deadly goal.
Genre: Anime, Drama
Stars: Maya Erskine, Masi Oka, Brenda Song, Darren Barnet
Seasons: 1
Castlevania: Nocturne
The first Castlevania anime was a crossover hit for Netflix that appealed to fans of the video games that inspired it, as well as horror and animation lovers. Castlevania: Nocturne, picks up a few centuries later and thrusts the story into the middle of the French Revolution. With Dracula out of the picture, the Vampire Queen, Erzsebet Báthory (Franka Potente), is planning an apocalypse that could bring about the end of the world.
It’s going to take some new heroes to defeat Báthory, including Richter Belmont (Edward Bluemel), Maria Renard (Pixie Davies), and a former slave-turned-sorceress named Annette (Thuso Mbedu). Each of the trio has a personal stake in this conflict, but none more than Richter. A vampire killed Richter’s mother, Julia Belmont (Sophie Skelton), and he wants his revenge.
Genre: Fantasy, Horror
Stars: Edward Bluemel, Pixie Davies, Thuso Mbedu, Franka Potente
Seasons: 1
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
This edgy, high-octane anime series is inspired by the Cyberpunk 2077 video game, but you don’t need to know anything about its source material to appreciate the brutal, bonkers adventure it offers. The series follows a young street kid in the neon- and chrome-filled Night City who falls in with a crew of mercenaries and soon finds himself struggling to hold on to his humanity in a world obsessed with cybernetic augmentation.
Genre: Animation
Stars: n/a
Seasons: 1
Arcane
You don’t need to know anything about the League of Legends game franchise to enjoy this critically-acclaimed adult animated series set in a steampunk world where magic and technology shape the simmering relationship between a utopian metropolis and the oppressed city in its shadow.
Full of gorgeous animation and compelling characters, Arcane follows a pair of sisters whose tragic childhood puts them on opposite sides of the war to come, set against a stirring, powerful score. Once you dive into the first season, it’s difficult not to see it through to the end in one shot — which is probably why Netflix green-lit a second season premiering sometime in 2023.
For more info on the next season, please read everything we know so far about Arcane season 2.
Genre: Animated/Sci-fi
Stars: Hailee Steinfeld, Ella Purnell, Harold Lloyd
Seasons: 1
Editors' Recommendations
- The best animated movies on Netflix right now
- The 28 best sitcoms on Netflix right now (April 2024)
- The best thrillers on Hulu right now
- The best Amazon Prime original series right now
- The best movies on Max right now
