One thing we’ve often been able to predict is that a splashy original series will debut on top of the list of the most popular shows on Netflix charts. As of today (December 6), that hasn’t happened yet for the new British spy action thriller Black Doves. But we expect that to change by the weekend, especially since Netflix has already renewed the series for a second season.
Our other addition this week is The Empress, a drama series that returned for its second season on Netflix in late November. Despite some strong competition, The Empress has also muscled its way into Netflix’s top 10 shows, which is an impressive feat for a lesser-known series.
There are only a handful of Netflix originals slated to debut before the end of 2024, but the streamer usually has something fresh to watch every week. That’s why we update this list of the best shows on Netflix every Friday morning in order to help you stay on top of every prominent new addition, as well as some fan-favorite series.
We’ve also rounded up all the best new shows to stream this week, 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
Black Doves
Black Doves may start during the holidays, but this is no feel-good Christmas story. Instead, this spy thriller turns into a revenge story for Helen Webb (Keira Knightley), a Black Doves operative who has spent years undercover as the wife of Britain’s defense secretary, Wallace Webb (Andrew Buchan). She may have kids with Wallace, but her heart is with another man named Jason (Andrew Koji).
When someone kills Jason, Helen is ready to throw her life away in a bid to avenge his death. Her mentor and spy master, Mrs. Reed (Sarah Lancashire), sends Helen’s closest friend in the Black Doves, Sam (Ben Whishaw), to watch her back. Yet, Sam’s real mission may be to ensure that Helen’s revenge doesn’t compromise her clandestine organization.
Genre: Thriller, Drama
Stars: Keira Knightley, Sarah Lancashire, Ben Whishaw, Andrew Koji, Andrew Buchan
Seasons: 1
The Empress
The Empress is a German historical drama about Elisabeth von Wittelsbach (Devrim Lingnau), who was the Empress of Austria in the middle of the 19th century. Elisabeth didn’t intend to marry Emperor Franz Joseph (Philip Froissant). Once they’re together, their relationship is challenged by the demands of the throne and by Franz’s mother, Sophie (Melika Foroutan).
Season 2 picks up a few years after the first season, with Elisabeth’s position in court and as Franz’s wife still in jeopardy. Elisabeth’s saving grace is that she has a connection to the common people of her country that none of the other royals share. It just may not be enough to save her or preserve her position of power.
Genre: Drama
Stars: Devrim Lingnau, Melika Foroutan, Johannes Nussbaum, Elisa Schlott, Jördis Triebel
Seasons: 2
Drama
The Madness
Fear the Walking Dead and Rustin‘s Colman Domingo plays Mauncie Daniels in Netflix’s thriller, The Madness. Aside from some drama with his family, Muncie is living the dream as a progressive activist turned budding media superstar. However, things take a turn for the worse when Muncie stumbles upon the murder of Mark Simon (Tahmoh Penikett), a far-right personality.
Suddenly, Mauncie’s entire life is turned upside down. He’s the convenient fall guy for the crime and now targeted by law enforcement agencies and radical fringe groups. If Mauncie wants to reclaim everything he had before Simon’s murder, he’ll have to prove his innocence and figure out who wanted the victim dead and why.
Genre: Thriller, Drama
Stars: Colman Domingo, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Gabrielle Graham, John Ortiz, Tamsin Topolski
Seasons: 1
The Diplomat
Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) already had her hands full in The Diplomat season 1 while trying to keep a crisis situation in the U.K. from leading to a war. At the beginning of season 2, viewers learn whether Kate’s husband, Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell), or her deputy chief of mission, Stuart Hayford (Ato Essandoh), survived a car bombing attempt on their lives.
In the meantime, Kate suspects that U.K. prime minister Nicol Trowbridge (Rory Kinnear) may have been behind both the car bombing and the terrorist attack that has brought his nation to the brink of war. Proving that may be extremely difficult, if not impossible, since Kate is also being vetted as a potential replacement for Vice President Grace Penn (Allison Janney). But if Kate can’t unravel this conspiracy, there’s far more on the line than her diplomatic career. And her options are running out.
Genre: Thriller
Stars: Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell, David Gyasi, Ali Ahn, Rory Kinnear
Seasons: 2
Territory
Territory is essentially Australia’s answer to Yellowstone and Succession. Anna Torv (Fringe and The Last of Us) stars as Emily Lawson, a woman who married into the Lawson family when she wed Graham (Michael Dorman) despite the objections of his father, Colin Lawson (Robert Taylor). That’s why Colin made his youngest son, Daniel (Jake Ryan), the heir to Marianne Station, the biggest cattle station in Australia … and possibly the world.
When Daniel winds up missing and potentially dead, it sets off a fresh fight for the future of Marianne Station both within the Lawson family and outside it as well. The Lawson’s enemies and rivals smell blood in the water, and the remaining family members will have to fight to hold on to what’s theirs.
Genre: Western, Drama
Stars: Anna Torv, Michael Dorman, Robert Taylor, Sam Corlett
Seasons: 1
Escape at Dannemora
Ben Stiller directed every episode of Showtime’s Escape at Dannemora, which dramatizes the real events that happened in 2015 at the Clinton Correctional Facility. Benicio del Toro and Paul Dano star as Richard Matt and David Sweat, respectively, the two escaped murderers who are at the center of this story. But these two couldn’t have escaped without inside help, and that’s where prison worker Joyce “Tilly” Mitchell (Patricia Arquette) comes into the plan.
New York State Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott (Bonnie Hunt) has to unravel this plan after it’s been executed. Plus, there’s still a manhunt for Matt and Sweat after they’ve escaped prison. They can run, but they can’t hide. Regardless, both men are going to fight rather than meekly return to prison, which may lead to some fatal consequences.
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Stars: Benicio del Toro, Patricia Arquette, Paul Dano, Bonnie Hunt, Eric Lange
Seasons: 1
The Lincoln Lawyer
Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) is back in the third season of Netflix’s legal thriller The Lincoln Lawyer. And yes, Mickey is still operating out of the back of his Lincoln Navigator rather than an office. This season’s primary case has very personal stakes for Mickey because his friend, Glory Days (Fiona Rene), has been murdered. And the only credible suspect is Glory’s friend, Julian La Cosse (Devon Graye).
Mickey wants to believe in Julian’s innocence, if only for the sake of the woman they both cared for. Proving that in court may be the challenge, as Mickey still has lingering feelings that he might be helping a killer … and it wouldn’t be the first time.
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Stars: Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Neve Campbell, Becki Newton, Jazz Raycole, Angus Sampson
Seasons: 3
Yellowjackets
Who would have thought that a series about a girls’ soccer team would be one of Showtime’s most popular series? But the team in Yellowjackets does not get to spend much time on the field. Instead, they find themselves trapped in the wilderness following a plane crash that killed most of the adults who accompanied them. And while these girls are resilient, the first episode teases some very dark and desperate times ahead of them.
There’s also a parallel narrative set in the present, as the now-adult Yellowjackets struggle to get by in their daily lives. More than anything else, the women don’t want the secrets of what they did to survive to come out. Only the first season is available on Netflix for now, so you’ll have to get Paramount+ with Showtime if you want to see season 2 immediately.
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Stars: Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, Sophie Thatcher, Christina Ricci, Sophie Nélisse, Juliette Lewis
Seasons: 1
S.W.A.T.
There wasn’t supposed to be a seventh season of S.W.A.T., as CBS canceled the show after season 6. Viewers promptly shared their displeasure with CBS, and the network soon reversed course by adding a seventh and final season. However, S.W.A.T. has once again escaped cancellation, as season 8 will premiere on October 18.
In the meantime, S.W.A.T. season 7 is now on Netflix, and it plays like the closing chapter of the series. Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson Jr. (Shemar Moore) and the rest of the Special Weapons and Tactic Unit face some of their toughest challenges to date, and the team will not be entirely intact by the end of the season.
Genre: Drama
Stars: Shemar Moore, David Lim, Patrick St. Esprit, Anna Enger Ritch, Rochelle Aytes, Jay Harrington
Seasons: 7
Heels
By now, almost everyone knows that professional wrestling is scripted entertainment, or “sports entertainment,” as they say in the industry. Heels fully embraces that by depicting the behind-the-scenes drama, as well as the personas that the main characters have to adopt in the ring. Arrow star Stephen Amell headlines the series as Jack Spade, the owner of a minor wrestling property known as Duffy Wrestling League. Jack is also one of his company’s top talents. He plays a “heel,” the wrestling term for villain.
Jack’s younger brother, Ace Spade (Alexander Ludwig), is a rising star in their organization and plays the role of a “face,” or a hero character. But when it comes time to relinquish the spotlight to his brother, Jack pushes back and sparks a real conflict that tests their familial bond.
Genre: Drama
Stars: Stephen Amell, Alexander Ludwig, Alison Luff, Mary McCormack, Kelli Berglund
Seasons: 2
Dark Winds
AMC’s Dark Winds isn’t a monster hit on cable, but it clearly has an audience online. This brilliant and dark crime thriller is based upon Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn & Chee novels, and it features an underrated actor, Zahn McClarnon, who finally gets to lead his own series.
The show takes place in Navajo County in the ’70s, with McClarnon playing Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn of the tribal police. He’s got more than enough problems trying to solve a double homicide while taking care of a young pregnant teenager who isn’t his own child. But since the FBI believes that armored truck thieves are hiding out in Leaphorn’s territory, Agent Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon) has been sent undercover as a new deputy. Together, Leaphorn and Chee not only have to solve the murders but also discover how the deaths are linked to the robbery.
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Stars: Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten, Deanna Allison, Rainn Wilson
Seasons: 2
Fire Country
Bates Motel star Max Thieriot headlines Fire Country as Bode Leone, a young man who is serving a prison sentence in California. But because the state routinely has devastating fire seasons, Bode gets a chance to join the inmate assisted firefighter program, he potentially has the chance to shorten his time behind bars and redeem himself.
This show is one of the few current broadcast network dramas on Netflix, and that works out in favor for the streamer. Netflix only has the first season of Fire Country at the moment, but that’s 22 fresh episodes for anyone who hasn’t seen it before. It’s a solid drama, and there’s even a third season coming to CBS this fall.
Genre: Drama
Stars: Max Thieriot, Kevin Alejandro, Jordan Calloway, Stephanie Arcila, Jules Latimer
Seasons: 2
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
Wednesday’s Emma Myers gets her own franchise with A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, which is based on Holly Jackson’s novel series. Pippa Fitz-Amobi (Myers) is the titular good girl, but she’s not that good of a detective. That’s part of the fun, as Pippa throws herself into solving the disappearance of Andie (India Lillie Davies), which is a crime that was pinned on her late boyfriend, Sal Singh (Rahul Pattni).
Sal’s younger brother, Ravi (Zain Iqbal), is one of the few who sees Pippa’s investigation as a chance to clear his brother’s name. Almost everyone else is less than amused by her investigation, especially when she gets uncomfortably close to the truth.
Genre: Drama, Mystery
Stars: Emma Myers, Zain Iqbal, Asha Banks, Raiko Gohara, Jude Morgan-Collie, Yali Topol Margalith
Seasons: 1
Prison Break
Netflix really went all-in on Prison Break, as it now has the original four-season run, the extra season 4 episodes that were released as a standalone film, The Final Break, and the 2017 fifth season revival. But it’s really the first season that has the most thrills as Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) faces the death penalty for a murder he didn’t commit. Lincoln’s brother, Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller), can’t let that happen. So Michael gets himself arrested for armed robbery and sent to the same prison as Lincoln.
Michael also has audacious plans to break himself and Lincoln out of prison. But that’s more than just a two-person job. To get out, the brothers need allies. What they soon find is that not everyone surrounding them can be trusted, and if they get caught, prison is the least of their worries. The lives of their loved ones outside of the prison are also in danger, and they can’t help them from behind bars.
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Stars: Dominic Purcell, Wentworth Miller, Sarah Wayne Callies, Peter Stormare, Amaury Nolasco
Seasons: 5
Vikings: Valhalla
Vikings: Valhalla has a lot of ground to cover in its third and final season. Seven years after the events of season 2, Leif Eriksson (Sam Corlett), Freydís Eiríksdóttir (Frida Gustavsson), and Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter) each have new challenges to face. For Freydís, her life is largely about keeping her tribe alive and determining if they need to find a new home. Her brother, Leif, is given over to wanderlust as he contemplates what may be his last journey.
Elsewhere, an ideological battle is taking place between King Canute the Great (Bradley Freegard) and the Christians whose influence has spread far and wide. By the end of the season, the world of the Vikings is a very different place than when Valhalla began. And not everyone is going to get the ending they want.
Genre: Drama
Stars: Sam Corlett, Frida Gustavsson, Leo Suter, Bradley Freegard, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson
Seasons: 3
Suits
The summer of 2023 was the summer of Suits on Netflix. But the streamer only had the first eight seasons of Suits, which were largely about attorney Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht), and his associate lawyer, Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams). Mike never actually went to law school or passed the bar, but his legal knowledge was so impressive that Harvey hired him and agreed to keep it a secret.
By the time season 9 of Suits arrived, Mike had already been written out the show along with his on-screen lover, Rachel Zane (Meghan Markle). That left Harvey, Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman), and others to contend with Faye Richardson (Denise Crosby), a named partner in their firm whom they desperately want to force out. Mike does show up a few times in the ninth season, leading to one last team-up with Harvey. But not before they go head-to-head in court.
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Stars: Gabriel Macht, Patrick J. Adams, Rick Hoffman, Meghan Markle, Gina Torres
Seasons: 9
Bridgerton
Against all odds, Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) have found the love that they so desperately needed in Bridgerton season 3. But before this couple can get their happy ending, they’ve got a few more trials ahead. Love may conquer all, but secrets have bad habit of turning up and ruining everything.
Penelope pursued a relationship with Colin without revealing that she’s Lady Whistledown, the anonymous gossipmonger who has scandalized the Ton. Penelope was playing with fire when she made up that alter ego, and now she may get burned as one former friend demands that she tell her lover the truth while a false friend also blackmails Penelope over the revelation. Events are coming to a head as Bridgerton season 3, part 2 closes out this chapter of the story.
Genre: Romance, Drama
Stars: Luke Newton, Nicola Coughlan, Adjoa Andoh, Simone Ashley, Golda Rosheuvel
Seasons: 3
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
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
Comedy
A Man on the Inside
Ted Danson has been headlining sitcoms since Cheers debuted in 1982, so he basically has TV comedy down to a science. A Man on the Inside reunites Danson with The Good Place co-creator Michael Schur for a comedic mystery in a retirement community. Danson plays Charles, a retired widower who needed something more out of his golden years. So, when private investigator Julie (Lilah Richcreek Estrada) needed a mole to infiltrate the Pacific View Retirement Home, Charles was all for it.
The biggest problem with sending Charles undercover is that he has no experience as a detective, and he’s prone to mistakes. The community’s residents accept Charles at face value, with most embracing him as one of their own. That also complicates Charles’ agenda because he has to lie about his true purpose, and he may not be able to stay among the residents once the case is finished.
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Ted Danson, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Lilah Richcreek Estrada, Stephanie Beatriz
Seasons: 1
Cobra Kai
Buckle up, because there’s a lot happening in Cobra Kai season 6, part 2. The Sekai Taikai, the world championships of karate, is underway in Spain. Additionally, John Kreese (Martin Kove) has a new Cobra Kai to challenge Miyagi-Do, and Tory (Peyton List) is now representing Kreese’s dojo in the tournament. Meanwhile, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) experiences a crisis of faith when he learns more about his mentor, Mr. Miyagi, and his time in the Sekai Taikai decades earlier.
There’s still plenty of conflict among the Miyagi-Do students. Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) is particularly irritated by the dojo’s new rivals, the Iron Dragons, as well as their leader, Sensei Wolf (Lewis Tan). Since this is the final season, this tournament will be the last of its kind on this show. There are still a lot of surprises left before Cobra Kai season 6 part 3 arrives sometime in 2025.
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Stars: Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan
Seasons: 6
A.P. Bio
If you were expecting A.P. Bio to be a heartwarming comedy about a teacher bonding with his students, then you’re going to be disappointed. This show goes to some darker places because Jack Griffin (Glenn Howerton) doesn’t particularly love teaching high school kids. Coming back to his hometown wasn’t Jack’s idea. He was set on making it as a philosophy professor at Harvard until his rival, Miles Leonard (Tom Bennett), brought him down.
Principal Durbin (Patton Oswalt) hired Jack to teach Advanced Placement Science, but he has better ideas for his big-brained students. Jack wants to enlist their help so he can get his revenge on Miles before finding a way to restore his reputation in the ranks of Ivy League academia. Unfortunately for Jack, most of his plans are doomed to end in disaster.
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Glenn Howerton, Lyric Lewis, Mary Sohn, Jean Villepique, Tom Bennett
Seasons: 4
Nobody Wants This
Two decades ago, Kristen Bell and Adam Brody each had their own YA teen dramas, Veronica Mars and The O.C., respectively. Now, they’re sharing the stage as would-be lovers in Nobody Wants This. Bell plays Joanne, a woman with a podcast where she gets to vent about her terrible dating life. Brody portrays Noah, a rabbi who has just left a long-term relationship that could have led to marriage.
Despite her openly agnostic views about religion, Joanne finds herself romantically drawn to Noah, and the feeling is mutual. While a happy relationship could impact Joanne’s podcast, their romance has potentially larger consequences for Noah. His family doesn’t seem to be very happy that he’s not dating a Jewish woman, and his choice may harm his career as a rabbi.
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Stars: Kristen Bell, Adam Brody, Justine Lupe, Timothy Simons
Seasons: 1
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
Mystery and Crime
The Perfect Couple
Nicole Kidman may headline the series, but The Perfect Couple centers on Amelia Sacks (Eve Hewson), a young woman who is about to marry into a very wealthy family. After the wedding rehearsal dinner, a dead body is discovered nearby, and the entire Winbury family must speak with the police.
Greer (Kidman) is the ruthless matriarch of the Winbury family, as well as the wife of Tag (Liev Schreiber) and the mother of their children, Benji and Tom (Jack Reynor). There are secrets that the Winbury family, and Greer in particular, will do almost anything to keep from getting out. And this murder thrusts a harsh light onto the family as it suddenly faces scrutiny from the law.
Genre: Drama, Mystery
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Eve Hewson, Billy Howle, Meghann Fahy
Seasons: 1
Dexter
When it comes to pretending to be normal, Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) is not very good at being human. On Dexter, the title character is just ordinary enough to operate as a serial killer under the noses of his co-workers at the Miami Metro Police Department. Years before the series began, Dexter’s late adoptive father, Harry Morgan (James Remar), realized what Dexter was becoming and used that knowledge to channel his killer instinct into something “good.”
Good is a relative term, since Dexter murders bad people like killers and rapists who might otherwise get away with their crimes. But as good as Dexter is at cleaning up his messes, his secret has a bad habit of coming out. And he’s far from the only serial killer hanging around in Miami. Some of Dexter’s rival killers are even more dangerous than he is.
Genre: Thriller
Stars: Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, Lauren Vélez, David Zayas, James Remar
Seasons: 8
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
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
Evil
What’s a Paramount+ original series doing on Netflix? It’s here because Evil wasn’t always exclusive to Paramount+. It was originally on CBS, and now two seasons are available on Netflix, while the third and fourth seasons remain exclusive to Paramount+.
Think of this show as a religious take on The X-Files. Dr. Kristen Bouchard (Katja Herbers), priest-in-training David Acosta (Mike Colter), and atheist Ben Shakir (Aasif Mandvi) are hired by the Catholic Church to look into potential supernatural events. Their ongoing investigations cause Kristen’s natural skepticism to be challenged. The group also draws the attention of Dr. Leland Townsend (Michael Emerson), a man who seems to be in league with the evil forces that the team opposes.
Genre: Supernatural, Thriller
Stars: Katja Herbers, Mike Colter, Aasif Mandvi, Kurt Fuller, Marti Matulis
Seasons: 4
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
Mayfair Witches
Anne Rice’s children of the night may reign in Interview with the Vampire, but the author’s witches are more popular on Netflix. As part of the yearlong AMC+ invasion, Rice’s Mayfair Witches, which shares a universe with her vampire show, introduces viewers to Rowan Fielding (Alexandra Daddario), a young neurosurgeon who had no idea that she was born into a family of witches before she was adopted.
As Rowan’s deadly abilities begin to manifest, she discovers that she’s not only a Mayfair witch — she’s also the heir to the family’s power. But with that power comes the family curse, in the form of a shape-shifter known as Lasher (Jack Huston). Lasher has a long history of seducing the Mayfair women, and there may be dire consequences if he manages to do the same with Rowan.
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Stars: Alexandra Daddario, Tongayi Chirisa, Jack Huston, Harry Hamlin, Beth Grant
Seasons: 1
Lost
Nearly two decades ago, Lost was a cultural phenomenon for ABC on a scale that’s rarely seen, especially among genre shows. The series dropped a very large ensemble cast on a remote island following a harrowing plane crash. With little hope of rescue, Jack Shepard (Matthew Fox), Kate Austen (Evangeline Lilly), John Locke (Terry O’Quinn), Sawyer (Josh Holloway), and the rest of the group have to make some hard choices to survive. And it only gets harder when they aren’t on the same page.
Those characters were a large part of Lost‘s appeal, but so were the mysteries of the island itself. There’s more happening than meets the eye, and this uncharted paradise has more than a few deadly secrets. One of the biggest obstacles awaiting the survivors are the Others, a group of people who have been living on the island for decades. Once the two sides come into conflict, only one faction can come out on top.
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Stars: Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Terry O’Quinn, Josh Holloway, Dominic Monaghan, Naveen Andrews
Seasons: 6
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
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
Our Oceans
Former President Barack Obama produces and narrates Our Oceans, a five-part Netflix original documentary series. This show features some jaw-dropping footage of life beneath the sea as it explores the connections between what’s happening in the water and how it affects everything on land.
Our Oceans starts with breathtaking glimpses of sea life in their natural environment before shifting gears to demonstrate how climate change and human-created pollution have impacted these creatures. Some of the sea life have even found inventive ways to adapt to the presence of plastics in their oceans. The series also explores the ways that these underwater dwellers find mates, which seems to amuse Obama at times.
Genre: Documentary
Stars: Barack Obama
Seasons: 1
This is the Zodiac Speaking
The Zodiac Killer remains an enthralling mystery because the serial killer who terrorized California in the 1960s was never caught. No one was ever formally charged with being the Zodiac killer, but the cops did have at least one suspect: Arthur Leigh Allen. This is the Zodiac Speaking focuses on David and Connie Seawater, a pair of siblings who were close to Allen when they were children.
The Seawaters share their recollections of Allen, contending that he not only confessed that he was the killer to them, but he also brought them along on some of his murder sprees. Both Seawater siblings are convinced that Allen was behind this reign of terror, but delivering definitive proof may take more than vivid memories shared over three decades after Allen died.
Genre: Documentary, True Crime
Stars: J.C. Smith, David Seawater, Connie Seawater
Seasons: 1
Mr. McMahon
If you don’t know Vince McMahon, you’re about to get a crash course in Mr. McMahon. The documentary series was originally produced with the full cooperation of McMahon and his former company, WWE. Back when it was called the World Wrestling Federation, McMahon found a way to take his promotion to a national stage while loading up on stars like Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant.
Forty years later, McMahon’s reputation has been irreparably shattered by sexual misconduct accusations that forced him out of the WWE for good. This series features a variety of wrestling personalities from the past and present, as well as McMahon himself, as they talk about his life in the industry. But this time, McMahon doesn’t get to have the last word or the final say on how his legacy will be remembered.
Genre: Documentary
Stars: Vince McMahon, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Hulk Hogan
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
Pantheon
If the world as we know it is going to end, you can blame the UIs. Uploaded Intelligences may be the next stage of merging man and machine, and the company known as Logorhythms has nearly perfected the process of transferring a human mind into computer code. Pantheon‘s animation brings this sci-fi idea to life in startling fashion, with an A-list voice cast that includes Paul Dano, Aaron Eckhart, Rosemarie DeWitt, Daniel Dae Kim, William Hurt, and Ron Livingston.
Maddie Kim (Katie Chang) is thrust into this insane new world when a UI intervenes in her life to protect her from bullies at school. While trying to unravel the mystery, Maddie becomes convinced that the UI is her late father, David Kim (Kim). Meanwhile, another teenager, Caspian Keyes (Dano), is looking into the UIs as well, unaware that Logorhythms is manipulating his entire life.
Genre: Sci-fi, Thriller, Drama
Stars: Katie Chang, Paul Dano, Aaron Eckhart, Rosemarie DeWitt, Daniel Dae Kim
Seasons: 1
Arcane
Arcane is reportedly the most expensive animated series ever created, and every dollar shows up onscreen. The jaw-dropping first season was released in 2021, and now the show has returned for its second and final season, which will be stretched out over three weeks.
In a steampunk sci-fi fantasy world, the wealthy city known as Piltover has lorded over the poor people of Zaun for decades. Two sisters, Violet (Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (Fallout‘s Ella Purnell) find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. Jinx wanted a war between the cities, and she got her wish in the season 1 finale. Now, the consequences of Jinx’s choice have come home as open warfare breaks out. And the sisters will have to confront each other at least one more time before the end.
Genre: Sci-fi, fantasy, action
Stars: Hailee Steinfeld, Ella Purnell, Kevin Alejandro, Katie Leung, Jason Spisak
Seasons: 2
Terminator Zero
For the first time in its 40 years of existence, the Terminator franchise is finally getting an animated series of its own. Terminator Zero is ignoring everything but the first two movies and setting the clock back to 1997, shortly before Judgment Day. In Japan, scientist Malcolm Lee (André Holland) has created Kokoro (Rosario Dawson), an AI program that may be able to counter Skynet and prevent the end of the world.
From Skynet’s future perspective, that’s why Malcolm has to die. Toward that end, a new Terminator (Timothy Olyphant) has been dispatched to the past to kill Malcolm. Meanwhile, the human resistance sends Eiko (Sonoya Mizuno) to protect Malcolm. But if the Terminator can’t find Malcolm, it will move on to its next targets: his children.
Genre: Sci-fi
Stars: Timothy Olyphant, André Holland, Sonoya Mizuno, Rosario Dawson, Ann Dowd
Seasons: 1
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
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
