8 Unforgettable Netflix Shows Everybody Needs to Watch at Least Once

Like it or hate it, you can’t deny that Netflix is one of the biggest forces in the world of entertainment today. The streaming service has effectively redefined the landscape of the field over the last decade or so, and that’s largely thanks to its impressive collection of extremely bingeable shows. Of course, not all of the streamer’s many offerings are really worth your time, but the service is home to a handful of truly amazing shows that rank among the greatest ever made.

These are the shows that have successfully entertained legions of fans around the world and raised the bar for TV shows everywhere with their quality storytelling, compelling performances, and original narratives. And they’re not restricted to any one genre either, running the gamut from gritty dramas and true crime shows to comedies, adventure, and everything in between. Read on to discover our handpicked selection of the greatest Netflix shows that everyone should watch at least once in their lives, including several that have been hailed as modern classics.

1

‘Narcos’ (2015–2017)

Pedro Pascal as Javier Pena, wearing sunglasses with a cold expression, in an image from 'Narcos.' — Pedro Pascal as Javier Pena, wearing sunglasses with a cold expression, in an image from ‘Narcos.’

Created by Chris Brancato, Carlo Bernard, and Doug Miro, Narcos reimagines the true story of Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, chronicling his rise to the top of the cocaine trade in 1980s Colombia and eventual fall. Starring Wagner Moura as the notorious drug lord, the crime drama focuses on how Escobar grew the drug trade and expanded his empire, while lawmakers and justice seekers attempt to bring him down. Other major characters are played by Boyd Holbrook, Pedro Pascal, Damián Alcázar, Alberto Ammann, and Maurice Compte.

A fast-paced crime drama full of twists and turns, Narcos is a compelling dramatization of dark and unsettling historical events, presented in a raw and grungy style, that stays largely true to actual people, entities, and events while providing endless thrills. During its run, the series was highly acclaimed for its grounded perspective on real-life events and characters, but also criticized for romanticizing violence. Since its premiere, Narcos has become a true television legacy and one of the most successful crime shows ever, thanks to its remarkable cinematography, art design, and performances.

2

‘Orange Is the New Black’ (2013–2019)

Natasha Lyonne in Orange is the New Black crouched down talking to someone at the table.

Adapted by Jenji Kohan from Piper Kerman’s memoir, Orange Is the New Black is a fictionalized retelling of Kerman’s personal experience told as a black comedy-drama. The series follows Piper (Taylor Schilling) as she serves her sentence at Litchfield Penitentiary for aiding and abetting her friend in drug smuggling, navigating various hardships and heartbreaks while forging new connections. Laura Prepon, Uzo Aduba, Michael Harney, Kate Mulgrew, Laverne Cox, and Natasha Lyonne star in other main roles.

One of the first 10 original shows on Netflix, Orange Is the New Black became one of the streamer’s longest-running original series, earning several Primetime Emmy Awards and Golden Globe nominations. During its original run, Orange Is the New Black quickly rose to popularity by addressing hard-hitting social topics, feminist issues, and the harsh realities of prison life. Though billed as a comedy-drama, the show’s construction is very dramatic, with great helpings of dark humor, tragedy, loss, and pathos that make this series a truly satisfying and engaging watch.

3

‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ (2023)

Bruce Greenwood as Roderick Usher looking behind him while at church in Netflix's The Fall of the House of Usher — Bruce Greenwood as Roderick Usher looking behind him while at church in Netflix’s The Fall of the House of Usher

Following the success of his Haunting anthology series, master of horror and slow-burn scares Mike Flanagan surprised and thrilled audiences with The Fall of the House of Usher, an adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s most famous stories, poems, and novels, including the 1839 short story. The Netflix original series follows twin siblings, Roderick (Bruce Greenwood) and Madeline Usher (Mary McDonnell), the ruthless and corrupt owners of a pharma empire whose past returns to brutally haunt them, exposing their most horrible secrets. Carla Gugino, Carl Lumbly, Kate Siegel, Zach Gilford, Mark Hamill, and more star in other main roles.

The Fall of the House of Usher is a fantastic horror miniseries that combines Flanagan’s signature storytelling style with a classically gothic horror atmosphere, reinventing the legendary source material into a dark, modern-day tale of retribution, reckoning, and redemption. The show does complete justice to the spirit of Poe’s works, connecting its original narrative to his most famous creations through numerous references, motifs, and characters. The series premiered at the 2023 Fantastic Fest to a very positive reception and garnered massive viewership numbers during its run, earning praise from fans and critics alike for its rich production values, direction, writing, and the performances by Gugino, Greenwood, and Hamill.

4

‘Ripley’ (2024)

Marge Sherwood (Dakota Fanning) sitting in Episode 2 of Netflix's Ripley — Marge Sherwood (Dakota Fanning) sitting in Episode 2 of Netflix’s Ripley

Based on Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 novel The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley is a neo-noir psychological thriller series created, written, and directed by Steven Zaillian. The second adaptation of the book after the 1999 film, the show is set in the 1960s and stars Andrew Scott as Tom Ripley, a grifter hired by a wealthy businessman to bring his prodigal son back home from Italy, unwittingly setting him on a diabolical path full of cunning, deceit, and murder. Johnny Flynn, Eliot Sumner, Dakota Fanning, Margherita Buy, and Maurizio Lombardi play other main characters, with Bokeem Woodbine and John Malkovich in supporting roles.

Sleek, stylish, and elegantly artful, Ripley is a visually rich and conceptually intense story of love, lust, and betrayal that’s sure to leave any viewer in a state of pure awe. Zaillian delightfully combines subtle Hitchcockian elements with Giallo motifs and classic noir elements to create a suspenseful narrative, propelled by nuanced characters, which makes this thriller an immersive watch. On its release, Ripley earned widespread acclaim with several awards and nominations for the distinguished cinematography and acting, especially Andrew Scott’s terrific performance as the titular antihero.

5

‘The Crown’ (2016–2023)

A British historical drama created by Peter Morgan, inspired by his 2006 film The Queen and the 2013 stage play The Audience, The Crown presents a dramatized look at the current ruling British royal family, the Windsors, focusing on the life and reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Starring Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Imelda Staunton as the Queen at different life stages, the series follows her journey from her marriage to Philip Mountbatten to the wedding of Prince (now King) Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles. The Crown’s massive ensemble cast also stars Elizabeth Debicki, Dominic West, Gillian Anderson, Matt Smith, Helena Bonham Carter, and Jonathan Pryce in major roles.

The Crown is unarguably one of the most opulent and cinematic British period dramas on television. Though based on real history, the series is heavily fictionalized in several places, making it as dramatic and entertaining as period dramas can get. During its run, most seasons of The Crown were highly praised for their direction, writing, and performances. The series won a whopping 135 awards, including several Emmys and Golden Globes.

6

‘Stranger Things’ (2016–2025)

STRANGER THINGS, from left: Maya Hawke, Joe Kerry, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, (Season 5, aired Nov. 26, Dec. 25, & Dec. 31, 2025). photo: ©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

Created by The Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things follows a group of young boys in 1980s Hawkins, Indiana, where the sudden disappearance of Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) triggers a series of uncanny and terrifying events. As his friends and family begin investigating, they discover secret government experiments involving an apocalyptic alternate dimension and a strange young girl with telekinetic abilities. Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, and Joe Keery star in key roles.

Rife with ’80s nostalgia, Stranger Things is not only a fantastic showcase of period-apt art design, music, and settings, but it also succeeds in its meta-reference to the popular tabletop game Dungeons & Dragons, which is used as a narrative framework. A heady mix of sci-fi, supernatural, horror, fantasy, and coming-of-age adventure genres, the series is as thrilling and action-packed in every chapter as a sci-fi adventure can be. Since its release, Stranger Things has evolved into a modern pop culture landmark, winning several Emmy, Grammy, and Golden Globe Awards, and it’s widely considered to be one of the best teen shows of the last 10 years.

7

‘Adolescence’ (2025)

Owen Cooper sat back in his chair in 'Adolescence' — Owen Cooper sat back in his chair in ‘Adolescence’

Created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, Adolescence is a psychological crime drama that follows the story of Jamie (Owen Cooper), a 13-year-old boy accused of killing a girl at his school. As the investigation begins, it upends the entire family’s lives, making Jamie’s parents come face-to-face with every parent’s worst nightmare. Graham stars as Jamie’s father, Eddie, with Christine Tremarco, Erin Doherty, Ashley Walters, Faye Marsay, Mark Stanley, and Hannah Walters in supporting roles.

Adolescence is an emotionally devastating story of teenage crime and the resulting trauma, told with a gut-wrenching narrative that leaves a lasting impression on the audience. Arguably one of the best crime drama miniseries of all time, Adolescence is also notable for its brilliant cinematography, where each episode is shot in one continuous take, making it an intense, artful, and bold show that is visually fascinating and tonally heartbreaking. The series premiered in 2025 to critical acclaim, earning praise for its writing, direction, and performances, especially that of Cooper, which made him the youngest male actor to win an Emmy Award and the youngest actor to ever be nominated in the Outstanding Supporting Actor category.

8

‘Black Mirror’ (2011–Present)

Annie Murphy in an episode of 'Black Mirror' — Annie Murphy in an episode of ‘Black Mirror’

Created by English writer-producer and satirist Charlie Brooker, Black Mirror is a British anthology series that follows different stories set in an indefinite future, where various characters navigate state-of-the-art technology and struggle with its dangerous consequences. The series adopts various narrative styles in each episode, like black comedy, political satire, surrealism, psychological thriller, crime, and mystery, to explore the impact of technology on human behavior. The series stars a massive ensemble cast every season, with Miley Cyrus, Salma Hayek, Daniel Kaluuya, Jesse Plemons, Peter Capaldi, Awkwafina, and Benedict Wong appearing in major roles.

Often described as a modern reimagining of The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror takes the best elements of the television classic and combines them with a sharper, more contemporary speculative fiction narrative. Since its debut in 2011, the series has evolved into one of the most innovative sci-fi shows ever made, pushing the boundaries of conventional storytelling and defying genre constraints. It has also been credited with reviving interest in the anthology format. The series has earned multiple accolades, including several Emmy Awards, and is widely hailed as one of the best sci-fi TV shows of the century so far.