Looking for a few new shows to binge this winter? We've got it covered — or should we say, Netflix has it covered? There are dozens and dozens of fantastic Netflix Original series available on the streaming service covering a multitude of genres, from sitcoms to true crime docuseries, and everything in between. There are so many shows, which Netflix either produced from the beginning or took over after they were dropped from other networks, that it can be hard to sort the chaff from the wheat.
Thankfully, Rotten Tomatoes has curated the best of the best Netflix Original series, according to its vast database of reviews, and we're sharing the top 20 here — because honestly, what mom has time to decide between 175 shows? All of the shows listed here received more positive feedback than negative on the film and TV review site, and have been reviewed enough times to determine a consensus, so we can be sure that it's not just a rando here and there enjoying each of them. Just keep in mind that as more reviews are added, the list may change and some shows may even drop off entirely.
Either way, our readers can rest assured that each of these shows is worth checking out at least once if not binge watching straight through on the ubiquitous streaming service. Check them out below.
20. 'American Vandal'
Viewers obsessed with true crime should enjoy American Vandal. It's actually a true-crime satire about a high-school prank gone wrong, leaving the cars of over two dozen faculty members emblazoned with phallic symbols. It's definitely a fun way to lighten up the mood after watching any real true crime series. Even the the most gluttonous consumer of those real-life spooky stories needs a laugh sometimes.
19. 'Mindhunter'
Currently two seasons in, Mindhunter is a highly rated drama set in the 1970s. It's about two FBI agents who go on a mission to interview serial killers to help them solve open cases by uncovering the psychological motives of the criminals they are trying to capture. By focusing on figuring out the inner workings of the minds of the killers, they unwittingly develop a completely new method of tracking murderers.
18. 'Alias Grace'
Released as a six-episode mini-series in 2017, there are no new episodes of Alias Grace, but people are still talking about it. The series is based on the Margaret Atwood (A Handmaid's Tale) novel of the same name, and is about a psychiatrist in 19th-century Canada who must decide whether a female murderer should qualify for a pardon due to her mental state.
17. 'Big Mouth'
Cue the inappropriate adult humor. Big Mouth is an animated series for grown ups about a group of teenagers navigating the physical and emotional changes and challenges of puberty. With characters voiced by the likes of Fred Armisen, John Mulaney, Nick Kroll, Maya Rudolph, and Jordan Peele, how could it not be good?
16. 'One Day at a Time'
Starring Justina Machado and Rita Moreno, One Day at a Time is a reboot of the 1976 CBS series of the same name. It's about a single mother raising her tween and teenager with the help of her traditional Cuban mother. The sitcom chronicles the challenges of living in a multi-generational household, in the most knee-slapping, wholesome way.
15. 'Crazyhead'
There are only a handful of episodes of this Netflix horror-comedy series, but despite its short duration, the show made quite the impact on those who've seen it. It's about two young women who unexpectedly find themselves tasked with hunting demons while simultaneously wading the murky waters of transitioning into adulthood.
14. 'Middleditch & Schwartz'
Not so much a series as a collection, Middleditch & Schwartz is actually recordings of the two-man comedy show by Thomas Middleditch of Silicon Valley and Ben Schwartz of Parks and Recreation. During the brand-new, three-part Netflix special, the duo turn ideas into full-on hilarity using long-form improvisation.
13. 'Dash & Lily'
New in 2020, Dash & Lily is essentially the TV series version of a cheesy Christmas movie, except younger and much more irreverent, but just as romantic. Produced in part by singer and actor Nick Jonas, the show is about two young people who develop a romance by passing a notebook full of ideas, hopes and dreams back and forth to each other at locations throughout New York City.
12. 'Blood of Zeus'
The anime genre has certainly been making a valiant attempt at going mainstream over the past several years, and the popularity of Netflix's Blood & Zeus, will certainly aid the effort. The animated fantasy series is about a commoner living in Ancient Greece who discovers that he's actually the son of Zeus and destined to save the world from an army of demons.
11. 'Lenox Hill'
Lenox Hill is a nine-episode docuseries that follows four physicians from New York City's Lenox Hill Hospital as they strive to balance their personal lives with their ambitious and demanding careers. It debuted on Netflix in June. It's basically a real-life Grey's Anatomy, and made all the more fascinating and timely by the current visibility of health care workers not just in the US, but worldwide.
10. 'The Confession Killer'
America just can't seem to get enough of true crime documentaries, and to be honest, we totally get it. These stories chronicling grisly crimes and the criminals who committed them are fascinating and addictive to watch. The Confession Killer is a docuseries about serial killer Henry Lee Lucas whose confessed to hundreds of murders, some of which are now believed were not his doing.
9. 'Dirty Money'
Clearly aware of the American public's growing need for information, Netflix released the docuseries Dirty Money early in 2020, and it quickly became one of the streaming service's trending titles. It focuses on uncovering crime, corruption, and greed not just in corporate America, but throughout the worldwide economy. It's an eye-opening series that likely opens up just as many questions as it answers.
8. 'Immigration Nation'
Lauded by critics and regular viewers alike, Netflix's Immigration Nation is a limited docuseries about the procedures and challenges of immigration enforcement during President Donald Trump's administration. The series offers a close-up view into the inner workings of ICE, and how officers operate as they crack down on illegal immigration under Trump's policies.
7. 'Giri/Haji'
Originally airing on Britain's BBC2, Giri/Haji (Duty/Shame) is a crime drama dually set in Tokyo and London. It's about a Japanese detective who travels to London to find his brother, who's presumed dead and accused of being involved with a murder connected to the Yakuza gang. The series follows the detective as he digs deeper into the city's corrupt underworld.
6. 'Ugly Delicious'
James Beard award-winning chef David Chang hosts Ugly Delicious, a travel show food documentary in which he visits some of the top culinary spots in the world. The show takes a look at culture, food trends, unusual ingredients, and more, with special guests including Jimmy Kimmel and Nick Kroll.
5. 'Feel Good'
With just a half dozen episode's Feel Good is a new 30-minute dramedy about a comic who's recovering from a drug addiction while managing her career and a new relationship. This series is actually a semi-autobiographical take on real-life comedian Mae Martin who stars in the show and is meant to document the struggles of dealing with an addictive personality.
4. 'Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return'
A couple of years ago, Netflix brought a reboot of the classic sci-fi show Mystery Science Theater 3000 back to its subscribers, and people clearly love it. In this nostalgia-inducing show, Kinga Forrester continues her father's experiments by capturing a man name Jonah whom she forces to watch B movies aboard the satellite of love.
3. 'The Baby-Sitter's Club'
It shouldn't come as much of a surprise that another nostalgic show is among the top-rated Netflix series. The Baby-Sitter's Club reboot is excellent and brings both important modern themes and plenty of life lessons alongside a hefty dose of humor to the girls of The Baby-Sitter's Club, who are just as charming if not more so, as their original iterations in the young adult novels and the original television series.
2. 'The Queen's Gambit'
Netflix's spanking new series The Queen's Gambit has been a runaway hit. Based on the novel of the same name, it's about a girl living in an orphanage in the 1950s. When she reveals her unusual talent for the game of chess, she becomes a star, but her quest to become the best chess player in the world ends up leading her to an addiction that threatens to take over.
1. 'Master of None'
Aziz Ansari's Master of None is apparently just what the doctor ordered. It's a half-hour comedy that offers a deep-dive into the life of a comedic actor named Dev who's trying to make it in New York. The show is loosely based on Aziz's own experience and sees the lead character struggle to figure out what he really wants from his life as he works through his past and manages his social life. It's essentially a coming-of-age story for people already well into adulthood.
