A Definitive Ranking of 30 Most Popular Netflix Original Shows

Netflix has everything.

In addition to your favorite cable television shows and popular movies, the streaming service has slowly made a name for itself in the entertainment space by releasing its own original series. Netflix is so committed to original content, in fact, that it feels like they release dozens of new shows each month. How do they have the time?!

Of course, not all Netflix originals are worthy of your attention. While some shows are totally addicting, others are best left unwatched. If you're as obsessed with Netflix as we are, keeping scrolling for our definitive ranking of the 30 most popular Netflix original shows.

(Stranger Things via Netflix)

30. Fuller House 

Fuller House is the Netflix reboot of the '90s classic Full House. While that sounds like a recipe for success, there's just one problem—Fuller House is painfully disappointing for dedicated Full House fans. The show tries to capture the magic of the original series, but it simply falls short. It follows much the same format of Full House, with three best friends living together and raising children as a team. But DJ Tanner, Steph and Kimmy are no match for Uncle Joey, Uncle Jesse and Danny Tanner. The show feels too gimmicky and tries far too hard to tug on the viewer's heartstrings without establishing a real emotional connection. It might be entertaining for a moment, but the hard truth is that it's simply not that good.

(Fuller House via Netflix)

 

29. Grace and Frankie 

Grace and Frankie stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as two older women who decide to live together after their husbands announce their longterm relationship and intention to marry. With stars as big as Tomlin and Fonda, it's no surprise that the series is a success. It has down-to-earth humor that makes you fall in love with Grace, Frankie and their many difficulties as older divorcees. Unfortunately, the story does drag a bit. The humor of the show might keep you interested or it might get boring after a few episodes—it all depends on the individual. While the show is definitely worth watching, it won't appeal to every viewer universally like some other Netflix series.

(Grace and Frankie via Netflix)

 

28. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

When Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt first came out on Netflix, it was an undeniable success. Created by Tina Fey, the quirky humor in the series was laugh-out-loud funny. As the seasons continued, however, the show's initial weirdness lost some of its charm. The characters' steadfast commitment to their singular personality traits gets old after a while. How positive can Kimmy really be when her world is falling apart? Still, the show is guaranteed to make you laugh and it's definitely unpredictable, which makes it a series worth watching.

(Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt via Netflix)

 

27. Glow 

Glow was inspired by a real-life women's wrestling ring in the '80s. It approaches the "fake" sport with plenty of humor, making viewers wonder why other shows about the highs and lows of professional wrestling don't exist. The characters are lovable and hilarious, and the show itself manages to capture exactly why wrestling is so popular, even when fans know it's staged. Glow probably won't turn into your favorite series, but it will certainly keep you occupied if you feel like you've watched everything else Netflix has to offer.

(GLOW via Netflix)

 

26. The Haunting of Hill House  

The Haunting of Hill House was all people could talk about when it first came out, and for good reason. Based on Shirley Jackson's horror novel, the series jumps between past and present as the Crain family recounts their terrifying summer in Hill House. The show is clever and incredibly well-made, especially since it doesn't follow the plot of the novel exactly but instead uses the book as a sort of starting point for the story. While the series is obviously made with care, it's designed to affect viewers on an emotional level. It's not scary because things are popping out at you, it's scary because of the psychological terror the family experienced. It's actually somewhat draining to watch this show, which makes it difficult to commit time to all 10 episodes in the series.

(The Haunting of Hill House via Netflix)

 

25. Santa Clarita Diet 

In theory, Santa Clarita Diet is a good series. The show is a comedic approach to the zombie trope. Instead of scary zombies attacking a city, Santa Clarita Diet follows a suburban mom who transforms into a zombie, but still tries to maintain her normal life. For a funny series, Santa Clarita Diet is actually quite gruesome. It's also difficult to toe the line between funny and horrifying, and Santa Clarita Diet doesn't always strike the balance well. While Sheila Hammond is a suburban mom, she's also a murderous zombie. At times, the lighthearted approach the show takes to her flesh-eating ways feels a little incongruous to what's actually going on. Still, if you're not bored of zombies yet (we are), it's worth giving this show a shot.

(Santa Clarita Diet via Netflix)

 

24. Jessica Jones 

Jessica Jones follows a superhuman private investigator set on unraveling the mysteries of her own past. It's gritty and full of violence, but it also has a certain dark sense of humor that keeps viewers engaged. Season one of the series was absolutely addicting, but later seasons don't have the same appeal. While the first season already dragged a little to find a conclusion to Jessica's story, the second season failed to bring together a cohesive storyline. Things only got worse from there, and the once-beloved series started to lose fans fast. The characters are sometimes too incompetent for their own good and the drama seems so contrived it's not even believable. This show offers an incredible first season, but later installments may leave you feeling disappointed.

(Jessica Jones via Netflix)

 

23. The Umbrella Academy 

The premise of The Umbrella Academy sounds totally ridiculous. The show follows seven children with weird superpowers. They are all adopted by the same man, who transforms them into a crime-fighting superhero team. It sounds like a recipe for disaster, but it's actually quite good. The first few episodes might take a while to grab your attention, but once the show hits its stride it's sure to provide the entertainment you want. The series has an action-filled plot, but it's also full of emotional portrayals of the power of sibling relationships. You'll probably want to hug your siblings after you're done watching this series.

(The Umbrella Academy via Netflix)

 

22. The Witcher 

If you're looking for a good fantasy series to binge, The Witcher is it. The series is based on the books that created the ultra-popular video game. Unlike the video games, however, the show tries to stay true to the original source material. If you're not sold yet, just imagine Henry Cavill running around fighting monsters. The primary fan base of this show, however, consists of people who are already familiar with the video games. Without that knowledge, the show can be incredibly difficult to follow. The world of The Witcher might not be easy to understand, but it can be totally addicting if you can manage to sort through the jumbled plot.

(The Witcher via Netflix)

 

21. Dear White People 

Dear White People follows a group of black students attending Winchester University, a predominantly white college. The series starts with incredibly tense race relations on the campus and follows each member of the black student union as they respond to the insensitive actions of their white peers. The show expertly weaves political and social questions into the landscape of a normal college campus. It's definitely a difficult subject, but the series tackles each new issue with expert sensitivity, creating a show that'll remind you of the progress we still have to make moving forward.

(Dear White People via Netflix)

 

20. Dead to Me 

Dead to Me season one was a true masterpiece. Starring Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini, the show follows a recently widowed woman as she struggles to come to terms with her husband's death. Despite the morbid premise, the show is surprisingly funny. Still, it has an aura of mystery that will keep your attention through each and every episode. Unfortunately, season two isn't quite as engaging. While it's still a good show, it doesn't make viewers feel that they must watch the next episode to see what happens. It will return for a third and final season that might redeem the entire series, but right now the show is just okay.

(Dead to Me via Netflix)

 

19. Never Have I Ever 

Never Have I Ever is a new addition to Netflix that certainly made a splash. It was created by Mindy Kaling, so you already know it's going to be good. It's a sweet teen comedy focused on a first-generation Indian-American girl. The show starts a little slow as it leans into the cliché joke of main character Devi being a total mess. As it continues, however, the audience finds Devi more and more relatable with each episode. Her struggles are real and she's a perfectly imperfect character. She's certainly flawed, which makes her story emotional, moving and totally hilarious.

(Never Have I Ever via Netflix)

 

18. Sex Education

Sex Education is another show geared towards a teen audience. This British dramedy is surprisingly real and, at times, a little too honest. It has some truly weird moments, but all the quirkiness serves the purpose of capturing one fundamental idea—everyone's story is different. The show is beautifully funny, but it also addresses real issues that plague teens on a daily basis. Although the weirdness is a bit over the top at times, the story is complex enough that it's sure to capture and keep your attention.

(Sex Education via Netflix)

 

17. American Vandal 

American Vandal is incredibly addicting, but for a much different reason than most shows on this list. The series is shot and presented like a true-crime documentary, but the offense the documentarians investigate is totally ridiculous. Still, they dive into their inquiry without a hint of sarcasm, which is precisely what makes the series so funny. While it won't hit your heart like some other Netflix originals, it's a perfect parody that will have you laughing the whole way through.

(American Vandal via Netflix)

 

16. House of Cards  

House of Cards is the first original program that Netflix created. It's actually the show that put Netflix originals on the map. The show focuses on the politicians who truly run DC, often through deceitful, wicked means. While the show starts off strong, the plots gradually become more and more ridiculous. Viewers will always be on the edge of their seats waiting to see what happens next, but the massive plot twists are often a little too outlandish to really be taken seriously. The show is definitely worth watching, but you should also expect it to go downhill with each subsequent season.

(House of Cards via Netflix)

 

15. Mindhunter 

Mindhunter is the kind of show that you either love or hate. Directed by the same man who made House of Cards, the series follows three FBI agents tasked with understanding the mind of a serial killer. The agents are the start of the "FBI profiler" department, whose job it is to come up with rational motives that allow them to apprehend criminals. The show balances tense prison interview scenes with action worthy of any cop-centric drama. It will either capture your attention immediately, or it will leave you yawning looking for something else to watch.

(Mindhunter via Netflix)

 

14. BoJack Horseman 

On the surface, BoJack Horseman sounds ridiculous. It's a cartoon about a talking horse—how could that be even mildly entertaining? Despite the appearance of the show, however, it contains a surprisingly honest look at depression and mental health struggles. The main character, voiced by Will Arnett, finds himself on a quest for personal redemption. Along the way, he must face complex truths about himself and others that reveal surprising facets of the human condition. The show strikes the right note between humor and emotion, but you have to be willing to wade through the odd presentation before you discover how incredible this show can be.

(BoJack Horseman via Netflix)

 

13. On My Block

On My Block is a Gen Z dramedy about inner-city kids taking on high school. Together, they tackle the ins and outs of living in a neighborhood plagued by gang violence while simultaneously navigating love, loss and everything in between. Although the show takes on serious subjects, it's surprisingly lighthearted through most of the episodes. Of course, there are moments that will surely have tears running down your cheeks. While the acting is sometimes questionable, the story often makes up for it. The tone of a show is a little hard to read at times, but it's a fresh, interesting and honest look at what it's like to grow up in a high-risk neighborhood.

(On My Block via Netflix)

 

12. Outer Banks 

Outer Banks is another new Netflix addition that quickly became a top hit on the streaming service. Yet another teen drama, Outer Banks focuses on a cast living in a small town in North Carolina with a sharp divide between the rich and the poor. While that sounds interesting enough, Outer Banks takes things up a notch by adding in an intoxicating mystery and a search for buried treasure. While it's a bit cliché and over-the-top in some elements of the plot, it's binge-worthy nonetheless. The show won't win any awards for a realistic storyline, but it will capture your attention for the entirety of each episode.

(Outer Banks via Netflix)

 

11. Ozark

Ozark has been compared to Breaking Bad, so if you like the story of Walter White, you'll be sure to enjoy the tale of Marty Byrde. However, the show has a different feel than the good-guy-turned-bad plot of Breaking Bad. Byrde desperately wants to protect his family, and only wants to involve himself in the criminal world just enough to ensure that they're safe. While the show is somewhat of a slow burn, the complex plot will have you dying to watch the next episode just to see what happens.

(Ozark via Netflix)

 

10. Atypical

In general, Netflix manages to do a pretty good job of infusing diversity into all of their shows. Atypical, focused on 18-year-old autistic Sam, is no different. The series follows both Sam and his family as they navigate life together, including Sam's newfound search for both independence and a girlfriend. The series is touching and emotional, but surprisingly funny at the same time. It sheds light on autism while simultaneously encouraging compassion for all people, despite their circumstances. It's a show you definitely don't want to miss.

(Atypical via Netflix)

 

9. Cheer 

While Netflix's fictional series are incredible, this mini docu-series is truly one of the best things the streaming service has ever created. Cheer focuses on a college cheer team as they fight for first place in the National Cheerleading Competition. Rather than focusing on the pretty, fun elements of cheerleading, the show takes a deep look at what the men and women on the team do to their bodies in order to compete in this sport. More than that, it also focuses on individual members of the team. By following their trials, viewers get an in-depth look at how this sport can truly change someone's life. Parts of the series are uncomfortable and scary, but the honest conversations create an emotional bond with the characters that has you rooting for their success the whole way through.

(Cheer via Netflix)

 

8. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina 

Unlike the lighthearted Sabrina the Teenage Witch, a sitcom that aired in the '90s and early 2000s, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is a much darker look at Sabrina Spellman. In the battle for Sabrina's soul, anyone around her might be a casualty. While the series is at times disturbing, the plot is intricate enough that you simply have to know what happens. The endless drama of the show somehow never feels overplayed, despite the fact that it's often over the top. If you've ever dreamed of being a teenage witch, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina will make you rethink having those powers.

(Chilling Adventures of Sabrina via Netflix)

 

7. When They See Us 

When They See Us focuses on an incredibly difficult subject matter. This miniseries tells the story of a group of young men accused of a crime they didn't commit. The true-crime elements of the series are combined with intimate passages that tell a different tale. The show is only four episodes, but it's long enough to get its point across. Prepare to feel some serious emotions when you watch this series. Even though it will tug at your heartstrings and your sense of morality, it's an important look at the failures of the legal system that disproportionately affect minority communities.

(When They See Us via Netflix)

 

6. The Crown

The Crown is a well-made show focused on the long, long reign of Elizabeth II. The first couple of seasons are characterized by stellar performances from Claire Foy and Matt Smith. Although the show feels buttoned-up and proper, much like the Queen, it also contains a soap opera level of drama. Viewers obsessed with the Royal Family have no problem getting fully immersed in this popular series. The show displays a level of opulence that will have you dreaming of becoming a royal, but it's logical and realistic storyline is made for adult audiences. In short, you certainly won't regret it if you invest your time in watching The Crown. 

(The Crown via Netflix)

 

5. You 

You actually started on Lifetime, but the series was canceled after only one season. When the show made its way to Netflix, it found a new audience that encouraged the streaming service to pick it up for more installments, and we're so thankful they did. While some shows on this list fall apart in the second season, the second season of You is perhaps more addicting than the first. This series is full of over-the-top twists and turns that will shock and surprise you, but they somehow never feel entirely unrealistic. If you start this series, you might as well cancel your plans for the next week—you won't ever want to stop watching.

(You via Netflix)

 

4. Peaky Blinders 

Peaky Blinders is another show that immediately captured the attention of the Netflix audience. Based in England after World War I, the show follows the escapades of the fictional Shelby crime family. It's slow at first and it certainly demands a lot of the viewer's attention, but once you get the feel of the story it's easy to lose more than a few hours watching this series. It's somewhat violent, but full of drama, romance and incredible acting. Once you start watching, you're sure to fall in love with this series.

(Peaky Blinders via Netflix)

 

3. Orange Is the New Black 

Orange Is the New Black aired its last season in 2019, but it's the kind of show you can watch again and again. Based in a women's prison, Orange Is the New Black tackles serious political and social issues—like mass incarceration—in a fun, lighthearted way. While the series contains plenty of drama, it also has some truly heartbreaking moments that dedicated fans will never recover from. It's full of a diverse cast and the plot is constantly changing to keep things fresh and new for the audience. It's a masterpiece of a series that left a lasting legacy. If you haven't watched it yet, you should start watching now.

(Orange Is the New Black via Netflix)

 

2. Queer Eye 

Queer Eye is another masterful Netflix series. There's simply no way you can watch the Fab Five work their magic without a tear coming to your eye. Heck, we feel like we cry in every episode! The people getting makeovers are lovable, but it's the individual personalities of the Fab Five that truly make this show a success. They have honest, difficult conversations, oftentimes with people very different than who they are. Still, they manage to find understanding in a world where seeing another person's point of view is increasingly difficult. If you just need to watch a feel-good show, Queer Eye is definitely it.

(Queer Eye via Netflix)

 

1. Stranger Things 

Stranger Things is undoubtedly the best original show Netflix has ever created. It boasts a retro '80s vibe that attracts older viewers, and a young, relatable cast that brings in the teen audience. The series is simultaneously fresh and full of nostalgia, which is probably why it's such a hit. It truly has something for everyone. Even the less-enticing episodes are still pretty darn good, which we can't say about every Netflix series on this list. Stranger Things is fun, frightening and full of emotion—everything you need in a good TV show.

(Stranger Things via Netflix)

 

Looking for new things to watch on Netflix? Click HERE for the most popular reality TV shows on the streaming service, ranked.