It was 10 years ago that Netflix jumped into the original programming fray with, no, not House of Cards, but the Norwegian–American crime dramedy Lilyhammer.
The series’ 2012 launch — which came a year before the Kevin Spacey-Robin Wright political thriller debuted — set the stage for the streaming giant to upend Hollywood, ushering in the #PeakTV era in the process.
During that decade, the former red-enveloped movie rental hub (which was founded in August 1997) has churned out hundreds of OG offerings, so, as you can imagine, attempting to narrow that CVS receipt-sized list down to the 25 best ever was, well, not the easiest thing in the world!
Naturally, the following ranked roster comes with a few asterisks. For instance, our Top 25 list does not include unscripted programming. In other words, this list is a Love Is Blind, Tiger King-free zone.
Also not eligible: series that jumped to Netflix after getting cancelled by another network/platform (i.e., Lucifer, Manifest, etc.), or international series that Netflix acquired after the fact (Money Heist, Giri/Haji, End of the F***ing World, etc) vs. coming in at the ground floor of development (i.e. Squid Game, Lupin, etc).
Now, without further delay, we present you with TVLine’s list of the Top 25 best Netflix original series of all time!
-
HOUSE OF CARDS
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix The real-life #MeToo scandal that led to leading man Kevin Spacey’s firing in the sixth and final season (and the Godawful eight episodes that were patched together in the wake of it) will forever cast a shadow over David Fincher’s political thriller. But the show put Netflix on the map, and for good reason. The combustible chemistry between Spacey’s morally rotten politician and Robin Wright’s quietly ambitious wife was the engine that powered — and grounded — those first five occasionally brilliant, albeit uneven, seasons. Theirs was among the most formidable of TV partnerships.
-
OZARK
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix The crime drama’s relatively low ranking reflects our love/hate relationship with this wildly popular show. On the downside, the rinse-repeat feeling of each season, coupled with Marty and Wendy’s almost laughable ability to escape every impossible bind they find themselves in with nary a scratch on their foreheads, grates on our nerves. On the plus side, Ozark introduced us to the wonder that is Ruth Langmore. Julia Garner’s breakout, two-time Emmy-winning performance as the acid-tongued crime mastermind with a heart of gold remains, four seasons in, an absolute marvel.
-
MARVEL'S DAREDEVIL
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix The first of the streamer’s street-level hero series unarguably was also the best. Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio were pitch perfect as the titular vigilante (aka Matt Murdock) and his frequent foil, Wilson Fisk/Kingpin, and they were supported by a solid cast that included Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson and Rosario Dawson (whose Claire Temple would migrate to Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist). Laying the template for the Defenders shows that would follow, Daredevil established a New York that was gritty and grounded, but not unfamiliar with the unusual. Throw in what quickly became his trademark, “oner” fight scenes, and it’s easy to see why The Man Without Fear was such a hit — and is now bound for an encore.
-
LADY DYNAMITE
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix This quirky, colorful oddball took us on a tour of standup comic Maria Bamford’s delightfully skewed brain, with Bamford playing a slightly fictionalized version of herself as she recovers from a mental breakdown. It had a taste for the surreal, complete with lavish fantasy sequences and musical numbers, and she even bit the hand that fed her with a storyline mocking a bizarre, Netflix-like streaming service. But it also took an unflinching look at Bamford’s frustrating struggle to manage her bipolar disorder. It got two seasons, but it should’ve gotten twelve.
-
GLOW
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix A ragtag troupe of lady wrestlers doesn’t exactly scream “prestige TV,” but this bawdy and boisterous ’80s throwback found a surprising amount of emotion inside the squared circle. Alison Brie and Betty Gilpin were both excellent as frenemies Ruth and Debbie, backed up by a colorful ensemble of weirdos highlighted by Marc Maron’s grumpy director Sam and Gayle Rankin’s feral Sheila, aka “the She Wolf.” Plus, with its women trying to break into a stubbornly male field, the writing managed to hit on some serious issues amid all the clotheslines. It goes down as one of Netflix’s most unjust cancellations, too, cut short after just three seasons.
-
LUPIN
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix A dashing and irresistible Omar Sy headlines this French crime caper as Assane Diop, aka Lupin, a confidence man and thief who only nabs priceless treasures to avenge the death of his father. But Sy’s charms aren’t the only selling point. The drama, which seduces us with its beautiful love language, delivers nail-biting tension and high-octane action worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster. There’s also mystery, action, intrigue and a level of diversity that dares to deconstruct France’s African immigrant community, especially when Assane uses his social invisibility to his advantage.
-
THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix Anya Taylor-Joy delivered one of 2020’s very best performances, in a captivating story about a young woman’s torrid love affair with… chess. Co-creator Scott Frank wrote and sumptuously directed all seven episodes of the Netflix limited series, in which scrappy orphan Beth Harmon plotted to rule a male-dominated sport, despite — or perhaps aided by? — a tranquilizer addiction. Add in an A-plus ensemble (led by Marielle Heller, Bill Camp and Thomas Brodie-Sangster), and you have a hugely satisfying binge that made no bad move.
-
ONE DAY AT A TIME
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix Anchored by the terrific Justina Machado, this socially conscious sitcom stood out as the rare reboot with something new to say. Reconceived as the story of a single Cuban-American mother raising her two kids with the help of old-school family matriarch Lydia (EGOT Rita Moreno) and friendly building manager Schneider (Todd Grinnell), ODAAT 2.0 embraced difficult conversations surrounding gender and sexuality, addiction, mental health and immigration without ever talking down to its audience. It struck a perfect balance of humor and heart, and left us wanting so much more when Netflix dropped the axe after three seasons. (A fourth season reprieve at Pop TV proved to be something of a cruel joke; it was cancelled again after six episodes.)
-
THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix The series based on Ann M. Martin’s popular novels did the near-impossible: It took a beloved kids’ book series and turned it into a fun, funny and fulfilling half-hour dramedy that was as entertaining for its intended audience as it was for their parents. The cast was golden. The handling of sensitive topics (first periods, divorce, death) was gentle without being patronizing. The pop culture references were wide-ranging and on-point. Quite frankly: We wanted to be Kristy & Co. when we grew up — which made the show’s unceremonious cancellation after Season 2 all the harder to bear.
-
AMERICAN VANDAL
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix Netflix’s wry sendup of true-crime docuseries and podcasts quietly emerged as one of 2018’s funniest — and, somewhat surprisingly, most thoughtful — series. Featuring a slew of pitch-perfect performances, particularly Jimmy Tatro as the delightfully dim-witted Dylan Maxwell, Vandal‘s eight-episode first season was so cleverly executed, we ended up caring about the phallic central mystery as much as we laughed at it.
-
ON MY BLOCK
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix Balancing the gritty reality of inner-city strife with charming humor and a touch of magical realism, this coming-of-age dramedy from Lauren Iungerich, Eddie Gonzalez and Jeremy Haft never failed to pack an emotional punch. The show’s authentic and entertaining storytelling, which tackled gang and gun violence alongside magical gnomes and high school romances, kept viewers invested across four remarkable seasons. More than its solid story, it was the quality of the writing — every bit as captivating as that RollerWorld mystery — and an exciting roster of memorable characters (including the delightfully laconic Chivo) that solidified the series as one of the streamer’s best.
-
BRIDGERTON
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix Sexy and sumptuous, Shonda Rhimes’ first scripted Netflix series — which returns with its anticipated second season on March 25 — never failed to leave viewers as hungry for more of it as its tempestuous lovers were for more of each other. But what catapulted the period drama into the category of “incomparable” wasn’t merely that it was pretty and hot. Its writing was saber-sharp, its acting as thrilling as its central romance, and its racially integrated reimagining of Regency-era London as bold and brilliant as any of Queen Charlotte’s wigs.
-
SEX EDUCATION
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix This sex-crazed UK comedy is most certainly NSFW, but it’s also one of the most vividly told coming-of-age comedies in years, balancing out its raging hormones with a gentle, bittersweet tone. Dorky teen Otis follows in his sex therapist mom’s footsteps and counsels his peers on their carnal misadventures, with the help of his rebellious crush Maeve. The kaleidoscopic array of sexual desires on display at Moordale Secondary is quietly revolutionary, with one of the strongest LGBTQ ensembles on TV, and all the awkward physical fumbling is matched by equally awkward emotional fumbling — because the heart is a body part, too, you know.
-
UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix This oddball sitcom about a hopelessly naïve woman who emerges from a cult leader’s bunker nearly ended up on the NBC reject pile — but instead, it got four seasons and a movie at Netflix. It’s a miracle! Ellie Kemper was perfect as the charmingly innocent Kimmy, doing her best to navigate a strange new world, and it also introduced us to the many talents of Tituss Burgess as Kimmy’s flamboyant pal Titus. The jokes came fast and furious from Tina Fey and her 30 Rock colleague Robert Carlock, and it managed to find a silver lining in Kimmy’s dark life story, thanks to Kemper’s relentlessly optimistic portrayal.
-
MASTER OF NONE
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix Aziz Ansari’s beautifully shot, leisurely paced rom-com plays like an indie movie, or a missing entry from Woody Allen’s filmography. But its themes are universal, with Ansari’s Dev looking for love — and cooking a lot of great food along the way. The freewheeling approach allows for lots of narratively rich detours, like the poignant episode chronicling the coming-out story of Dev’s pal Denise, played by Lena Waithe. Season 3 took an even sharper detour, leaving Dev entirely to follow Denise and her wife as their marriage slowly disintegrated. Ansari clearly follows his muse wherever it leads… and we’re happy to follow right behind.
-
BIG MOUTH
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix Gloriously obscene and riotously funny, Netflix’s animated comedy goes waaaay beyond what any live-action series could possibly show us… and we’re so glad it does. We follow a gaggle of seventh graders as they awkwardly approach puberty, aided by “hormone monsters” that encourage them to indulge their newfound urges. Yes, it’s shockingly filthy — don’t say we didn’t warn you — but the fearless storytelling is strangely liberating, and the voice cast is flawless, led by Nick Kroll and John Mulaney and boasting an all-time turn from Maya Rudolph as Connie the randy Hormone Monstress.
-
RUSSIAN DOLL
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix It’d be easy to sum up Netflix’s trippy comedy as a twisted take on Groundhog Day: Protagonist Nadia keeps dying on her 36th birthday, only to be resurrected each time in an endless loop. But throughout its eight-episode first season, Russian Doll became one of 2019’s most moving, introspective series, posing uncomfortable questions about a person’s ability to truly change. Season 2 in turn was timey-wimey in a whole new way, as Nadia was faced with a blast from her mother’s past. Anchored by an astounding performance from Natasha Lyonne, the show through two seasons has been all at once heartbreaking and laugh-out-loud funny.
-
SQUID GAME
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix To fully appreciate the South Korean survival drama’s viral success, you have to know this: preview screeners had not been widely distributed to critics, nor was much marketing done Stateside. Instead, Squid Game attracted its millions and millions of eyeballs purely on the merit of its compelling, if often unsettling, narrative, in which 456 strangers are led to compete in deadly versions of playground games. There are characters to cheer for, villians to root against, and one big-ass, creepy doll, all amidst the larger, gripping mystery of who is behind this sick, cruel contest.
-
UNBELIEVABLE
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix This Netflix drama’s opening episode dared you to continue watching, exposing us as it did to the plight of a teen rape victim whose tragic-but-shaky testimony elicited side-eye from the cops, and even earned her condemnation. Yet stuck with it we did, and the reward was a compelling tale of two Colorado detectives who went from being perfect strangers to slightly imperfect partners in crimefighting. With heralded performances from principals Kaitlyn Dever, Merritt Wever and Toni Collette, this eight-episode binge was as engaging as it was emotionally wrenching.
-
WHEN THEY SEE US
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix The Ava DuVernay-helmed miniseries hit hard as it detailed the pursuit of justice — for a brutalized rape victim and for the five teenagers wrongfully accused of the crime. DuVernay’s visionary writing and directing explored the personal feelings of each member of the so-called “Central Park Five” and how they relate to their families, their accusers and each other. Adding to the tragic tale’s power, an outstanding cast delivered gut-punching performances that lingered well after the show’s victorious conclusion.
-
THE CROWN
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix The decades-spanning chronicle of Elizabeth II’s reign as queen of England could’ve easily been another stuffy period piece, but it nimbly sidesteps that cliché by boldly exploring the royal family’s personal lives, revealing the flawed humans behind the grand titles. Every frame is a feast for the eyes, and the idea to recast the characters every two seasons was a masterstroke, allowing the show to reinvigorate itself and bring more great actors into the fold. (We honestly can’t decide if we prefer Claire Foy or Olivia Colman as Elizabeth.) Plus, it keeps getting better, with Season 4 hitting new heights thanks to the addition of Emma Corrin’s Princess Diana and Gillian Anderson’s Margaret Thatcher.
-
THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix Mike Flanagan’s take on Shirley Jackson’s horror novel was the best type of adaptation: It used the gothic tale as a jumping-off point for a fresh, (literally and figuratively) haunting story of a family forever defined by the terrifying events of a single summer. Hill House’s casting was superb, its attention to detail relentless (those background ghosts still make us shiver) and its central message — that love can trump even the scariest of evils — uplifting.
-
ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix Sure, there might have been some bumps along the way, but when this groundbreaking prison dramedy was firing on all cylinders — and those first four seasons were damn near perfect — it was among the finest shows on all of TV. What began as a more straightforward adaptation of Piper Kerman’s memoir evolved into something even greater as the series expanded to tell stories spotlighting Chapman’s fellow inmates and gave up-and-comers Uzo Aduba, Danielle Brooks, Laverne Cox and Samira Wiley a chance to shine. Its final season was a fine return to form, and culminated in a feature-length finale that offered closure to more than four-dozen colorful characters we’d come to love (and, in some cases, loathe) over the course of seven years.
-
STRANGER THINGS
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix Only a real mouth breather would exclude from a list of Netflix’s best original series the Duffer Brothers’ genre-bending 1980s time warp. Much more than a mere nostalgia trip or an homage to the movies that inspired its creators, it’s a heart-stopping thrill ride that confidently toggles between horror (Will’s abduction) and comedy (Operation Child Endangerment), sci-fi (the Upside Down’s creepy, crawly incarnations) and drama (Robin’s coming-out), action (“The Battle of Starcourt”) and romance (we’re rootin’ for ya, Nancy and Steve!). In fact, so sublime is the show — its writing, acting, directing — it upends the concept of a perfect 10 to deliver something even rarer: a bona-fide Eleven.
-
BOJACK HORSEMAN
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix Yes, a cartoon about a talking horse is an unlikely candidate for a list of the best Netflix shows ever, let alone the number one spot. And BoJack did start out as a solid if unremarkable showbiz satire — but then it began digging deeper into the gnarled psyche of former sitcom star BoJack Horseman and became one of TV’s most penetrating portrayals of mental illness, cartoon or otherwise. It wasn’t afraid to get dark… and boy, did it get dark. It was funnier than almost any comedy on TV, too — Mr. Peanutbutter was the gift that keeps on giving — and the voice work was superb from Will Arnett, Aaron Paul, Amy Sedaris and Alison Brie. But ultimately, it was the profoundly honest look at BoJack’s crippling bent towards self-destruction that made the show truly special… and the best original series Netflix has ever produced.
