20 Best Original Series on Netflix to Watch Now

From dystopian thrillers to fish-out-of-water comedies, these TV gems are too good — or popular — for Netflix to cancel

Beginning a new TV show is always a toss-up gamble, but with Netflix’s track record, the odds are more in your favor.

The streamer that practically invented the binge-watching model has built a powerhouse library of original series spanning every genre, many of which have become some of the most talked-about pop culture phenomena. Some, like Stranger Things and Bridgerton, are still ongoing with upcoming seasons and episodes to stream. While others, such as Squid Game and You, are available to dive into from start to finish.

If you’re looking for your next TV fixation, these Netflix Originals should be at the top of your must-watch list.

Wednesday

Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams on ‘Wednesday’. Courtesy of Netflix

Cue the finger snaps! Executive produced (and partly directed) by Tim Burton, this gothic crime comedy series stars Jenna Ortega as the deadpanned titular character. Wednesday falls heir to her mom’s psychic powers and uses them to solve a murder at her boarding school, Nevermore Academy. Whether you’re a “normie,” an “outcast” or a disembodied hand, this supernatural show is worth taking a stab at.

Season 2 premiered in two parts. Netflix released the first four episodes on Aug. 6, 2025, followed by the remaining four in the second installment on Sept. 3. Lady Gaga also made a guest star appearance on the season.

Watch Wednesday on Netflix

Squid Game

Lee Jung-jae as Seong Gi-hun on ‘Squid Game’.No Ju-han/Netflix © 2025

Red light, green light! This Korean dystopian thriller show centers around a Hunger Games-style competition, where 456 financially desperate contestants gamble their lives in a series of lethal games for a life-changing cash prize. The third and final season premiered in June 2025, making it the perfect show to binge-watch to avoid the pain of waiting after major twists and finale cliffhangers.

Watch Squid Game on Netflix

You

Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg and Charlotte Ritchie as Kate Lockwood on ‘You’.Courtesy of Netflix

You — the psychological thriller starring Penn Badgley — was an instant hit for Netflix in 2018. Badgley plays Joe Goldberg, a bookstore manager who turns his intense crushes into sinister relationships through social media stalking and dark obsession. All five seasons are available to stream in full.

Watch You on Netflix

Adolescence

Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller on ‘Adolescence’.Courtesy of Netflix

With police pounding at his door at dawn, 13-year-old Jaime Miller (Owen Cooper) is arrested for the murder of a female classmate. What follows are four hour-long episodes — each filmed in one uninterrupted take — exploring the fallout, from the lasting impact on his family to the external forces that shaped his actions and continue to influence young men today.

Watch Adolescence on Netflix

Nobody Wants This

Kristen Bell as Joanne and Adam Brody as Noah on ‘Nobody Wants This’.Stefania Rosini/Netflix

On Netflix’s modern rom-com series Nobody Wants This, thirtysomething podcast host Joanne (Kristen Bell) isn’t exactly a role model for healthy relationships. However, when she meets Noah Roklov (Adam Brody), a Jewish rabbi, love turns her perspective around — despite all the surface-level reasons they shouldn’t work on paper. Season 2 premieres on Oct. 23, 2025, with the primary cast members returning, including Justine Lupe, Timothy Simons, Jackie Tohn and Sherry Cola. Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester, who has been married to Brody since 2014, will make a guest appearance.

Watch Nobody Wants This on Netflix