These Are The Highest-Rated Netflix Originals You Can’t Help But Binge

25. Altered Carbon

Taking place in the year 2384, 360 years in the future, the world of Altered Carbon is defined by an eerie technological advancement called a cortical stack. Inserted into the vertebrae at the base of the neck, cortical stacks can download a person’s memories and consciousness. After they die, it can be replanted into a new body, theoretically making people immortal.

The series follows the story of Takeshi Kovacs, the only survivor of a rebel group. Takeshi’s sleeve is reactivated after 250 years and he is given a second chance at life — if he can solve his own murder. Reactions have varied, and the show has received accolades on IMDb, whose voters gave it an impressive score of 8.1, Forbes, and Vox. The series begs the haunting question: what truly makes up an individual?

Yes – Season 2 expected in first half of 2020.

24. American Vandal

American Vandal lets you know that Netflix has a sense of humor about itself. Filmed with the same amount of suspense as any gritty Netflix true crime documentary, this company original follows Dylan. He’s expelled from high school after being found guilty of having graffitied, um, a certain body part on every car in the school parking lot.

Investigative reporter Peter Maldonado and friend Sam Ecklund intervene, determined to prove Dylan’s innocence and shine light on what they believe to be a cover-up. Audiences and critics praised the shows’ subtle humor and satirical look at modern entertainment. Its first season was given a whopping 98 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and an IMDb score of 8.2. I t was also honored with a Peabody Award.

No – Netflix will not include any future seasons, but CBS TV might have a potential series revival. 

23. One Day At A Time

One Day At A Time reads as though it could be a dark family drama. A divorced Latina veteran with PTSD is plagued with problems in her personal life: her ex-husband has rejected their lesbian daughter, her best friend is in AA, and her overbearing mother is stashing guns in their shared apartment. But don’t let those heavy plot themes fool you.

In fact, this Netflix original is wonderfully lighthearted and fun. It’s a colorful, multi-camera, sitcom-styled show giving its audiences some laughs along with warm and beautiful moments. Despite its stellar ratings and an impressive score of 8.2 on IMDb, fans were floored when Netflix announced its cancellation on June 2019. Thankfully, Pop has stepped up to the plate and announced their own continuation of the series.

No – Netflix will not include any future seasons, but Pop TV will release a new 13-episode Season 4 in March, 2020.

22. Master of None

The phrase “Jack of all trades, master of none,” was the inspiration behind the title of this comedy-drama. Played by much-beloved comic Aziz Ansari, commercial actor Dev’s best work seems to be behind him. The series takes a look at his personal and professional life, often shining light on important social issues but not without including some light humor.

Master of None has received a seemingly unending stream of critical acclaim. Considered to be among the highest-rated Netflix series, many publications have called it one of the best shows of the decade. With an IMDb score of 8.3, the Netflix original has managed to sweep up three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe.

Maybe – Netflix is keen make Season 3, but only time will tell.

21. Atypical

Praised for its cast and writing staff, who themselves have autism, Atypical follows 18-year-old protagonist Sam Gardner. Sam is on the autism spectrum, and he learns the complicated social nuances of dating after falling in love with Julia, his 26-year-old therapist.

As explained in a review by Vulture, the series excels at putting the audience inside Sam’s head, like in a scene where he has a meltdown after becoming overwhelmed by sensory overload. In addition to its unique perspective, Atypical’s humor, combined with heartwarming and awkward moments, has kept audiences eager for more, keeping it among the highest-rated Netflix series. It also scored an impressive 8.3 on IMDb!

Maybe – No official announcement has been made by Netflix for Season 4, but there is a strong chance we’ll be hearing about it in early 2020.

20. Ozark

A money laundering scheme involving a Mexican cartel forces economic adviser Marty Byrde to head for the Ozarks. There, Marty (played by Jason Bateman) and his wife Wendy (played by Laura Linney) begin setting up a new money-laundering operation, all while trying to avoid running afoul of the cartel, police, and local criminal organizations.

Fans have often compared the show to Breaking Bad, with Marty being a white-collar family man who finds himself involved deeply in the criminal underworld. Both season one and two received high ratings on IMDb (8.3 to be exact, with season two in particular being praised for its use of strong female characters.

Yes – Expect a 10-episode Season 3 around mid-2020. 

NEXT: These upcoming highest-rated Netflix shows are both fan favorites and critically acclaimed!

19. Sex Education

With season two coming out January 17, 2020, if you haven’t started watching Sex Education, it might be time to move this to the top of your list. Premiering in January 2019, it’s easy to see why the British series is one of the highest-rated Netflix shows: it was streamed an astounding 40 million times by viewers eager to laugh at the gags delivered by the talented cast.

Yes, a high school student doubling as a sex therapist is embarrassing, but the show masterfully turns that awkwardness into funny and heartwarming situations. What’s more, it manages to take high school character archetypes and completely turn them on their head: the gay best friend is far more than a prop, the jock is actually highly intelligent and sensitive, and so much more. With a score of 8.3 on IMDb, fans seem to agree.

Yes – Get ready for an eight-episode Season 2 on January 17, 2020.

18. Sense8

Created by the same sibling couple behind The Matrix, Sense8 follows eight very different strangers from around the world who suddenly find themselves mentally linked to each other. They are able to share knowledge and information, and soon find out that they are being hunted by a shadowy government organization known as the Biological Preservation Organization.

Sense8 received positive critical reception, an IMDb score of 8.3, and even a Primetime Emmy nomination. In spite of this, the series was cancelled after a dramatic season two cliffhanger, prompting outrage among its fans. Apparently Netflix felt guilty leaving their fans hanging: a year after the cancellation announcement, they produced a two-hour special wrapping up the season.

No – Despite many petitions, Season 3 will not be returning to Netflix.

17. Godless

Produced by prolific filmmaker Steven Soderbergh (Oceans franchise, Magic Mike) and directed by Scott Frank (Get Shorty, Minority Report) comes the Western series for a new generation of Netflix viewers. Godless follows many of the traditional Western tropes: the outlaw, the gunman, violence and heists, cowboys and ranchers. But beyond that, it manages to subvert the genre in several ways.

With an IMDb score of 8.3, Godless is described as a feminist Western. Much of the plot takes place in a mining town run by women after all the men die in an accident. The women’s existence is threatened by armed outlaw Frank Griffin, played by Jeff Daniels, whose performance on the show received mountains of praise. Released in 2017, the series was considered one of the year’s 10 best by publications like The Washington Post and Vanity Fair.

No – There hasn’t been talk about Season 2, so it seems unlikely that the show will be renewed.

16. Grace and Frankie

It’s been a number of years since Oscar-winner Jane Fonda and legendary comedic actress Lily Tomlin worked together in the seminal 1980 comedy 9 to 5, but their on-screen chemistry is as strong as ever in Grace and Frankie. This comedy presents two women who aren’t very fond of each other, but are eventually forced to live together after they discover that their husbands are in love with each other.

Receiving consistently high ratings from fans and critics, Fonda and Tomlin’s acting have been the epicenter of the show’s praise. There are more than enough laughs to go around, so much so that Netflix just renewed the show for a final seventh season, making it not only one of the highest-rated Netflix series with an IMDb score of 8.3, but also one of the longest-running Netflix originals.

Yes – The series was renewed for a sixth season to be released on January 15, 2020.

15. Narcos: Mexico

Whereas the original Netflix series Narcos focused on the rise of the narcotics trade in South America, Narcos: Mexico moves the focus to the rise of modern trafficking as we know it. Starting from a loose confederation of Mexican gangs, the series shows us how they were united, forming an organized group known as the Guadalajara Cartel.

The show focuses primarily on two men: Felix (Diego Luna), the man in charge of the Guadalajara Cartel, and his foil Enrique “Kiki” Camarena (Michael Peña), the DEA agent trying to take him down. Much like its predecessor, focusing on Pablo Escobar, the series was well-received by fans, who gave it an 89 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.4 on IMDb.

Yes – Season 2 will be released on February 13, 2020.

NEXT: Forget wasting time trying to decide what to watch, these upcoming shows will keep you binging until the morning!

14. The Punisher

Taking place primarily in New York City, The Punisher mostly focuses on Frank Castle, played by Jon Bernthal. In the series, Castle is a former special forces commander who, after his family is killed, decides to take matters into his own hands as he hunts down those responsible.

Like many of the Marvel shows produced by Netflix, this original series was praised for its departure from traditional comic book based storytelling. The show is dark and gritty, with fans and critics reveling in how the line between good and bad is often blurred, so much so that it even calls into question the moral integrity of the title character himself. IMDb voters gave The Punisher an impressive 8.5.

No – Netflix canceled the series after two seasons.

13. Unbelievable

Based on a true story, Unbelievable stars Toni Collette, Merritt Wever, and Kaitlyn Dever as they follows the horrifying true story of a serial rapist who was able to evade capture between 2008 and 2011. Unbelievable was lauded by critics for its grim yet credible depiction of trauma, as well as the injustices that many victims are forced to deal with.

There is something else that sets Unbelievable apart. Unlike many crime dramas focusing exclusively on the police, the series puts its lens on the victims, allowing the audience to see how survivors manage to push forward. Barely a month after the series was released, Netflix reported that 32 million people had already streamed it, scoring it an impressive 8.5 on IMDb.

Maybe – If given the go-ahead, the series will arrive in summer 2020.

12. Mindhunter

Based on the true-crime book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit, this seminal series debuted in October 2017 to positive reviews from critics and audiences. This psychological crime drama takes place in the early days of criminal psychology and profiling in the FBI, during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

This series doesn’t go by the books. The show takes an introspective look at itself, and through it examines the audience, by questioning our relationship with crime and how we are both simultaneously enthralled and mortified by it. Rooted in actual crimes that took place in the United States, Mindhunter is one of the most entertaining crime dramas available. With an IMDb score of 8.6, fans definitely agree.

Maybe – Netflix has yet to officially confirm Season 3, but owing to all the buzz around it, there’s a very strong chance there will  be.

11. BoJack Horseman

Viewers of season one of the animated series BoJack Horseman probably weren’t expecting much of a run from this Netflix original. It was initially met with mixed reviews from critics and viewers alike. But season two proved to everyone that this show about an anthropomorphic washed-up 80s sitcom star’s struggles in Hollywood was far, far more than what it appeared to be on the surface.

Getting a 100 percent review from Rotten Tomatoes and 8.6 on IMDb, the show was praised for its take on social and mental health issues, along with its deeply philosophical, sometimes hilarious, sometimes bitterly painful exploration of the human experience. Beyond being one of the highest-rated Netflix original shows, numerous publications from Vanity Fair to the tv.av club have counted BoJack Horseman among the best TV series of the 2010s.

Yes –  Season 6, and the final one, was released on October 25, 2019. Part two will premiere on January 31, 2020.

10. Marvel’s Daredevil

Although Netflix was forced to cancel the series after the emergence of Disney+, as Disney owns the rights to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel’s Daredevil was so good that critics even compared it to classics like The Wire. Viewers were enthralled by the series as well, giving season one a 99 percent review on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.6 on IMDb.

Daredevil is the story of a blind lawyer who, after becoming frustrated with the slow pace and corruption of the legal system, leaves the courtroom and hits the streets to fight for justice on his own time. This isn’t your average origin story/superhero movie though. Daredevil raises the bar, with Forbes being one of many publications to describe it as “fresh and unpredictable.”

No – Netflix canceled Daredevil on November 29, 2018 after Season 3.

NEXT: With new seasons coming up, better start watching these Netflix shows sooner rather than later!

9. Love, Death & Robots

Consisting of 18 short stories, each put together by a different animator, Love Death & Robots is not your average Netflix show. Put together by David Fincher (Fight Club, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) and Deadpool director Tim Miller, each episode from the show is a stand-alone and follows at least one, sometimes all three, of the title elements.

Make sure to watch this show after putting the kids to bed. As the title might suggest, the show contains a lot of adult themes and images, everything from cyborg violence to strange versions of activity that is usually saved for the bedroom. That being said, Love Death & Robots is still one of the highest-rated Netflix series earning an IMDb score of 8.6, and is still-streaming to rave reviews.

Unknown – The animated series was renewed on March 15, 2019, and there has been no talk of Season 3 yet.

8. The Haunting of Hill House

Having premiered in October 2018, The Haunting of House Hill became the ghost story fit for an audience looking for more than just jump scares and gore. While the series makes use of all those popular horror tropes, what sets it apart is its ability to interplay family drama with a past continually haunting the characters and affecting their relationships with one another.

The nightmare-inducing series is one of the highest-rated Netflix originals, snagging 93 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.1 on IMDb, along with 79 out of 100 on Metacritic. For anyone still harboring doubts, even legendary horror writer and seminal authority Steven King was impressed about the series, calling it “a work of genius.”

Yes – Season 2, with a different story and characters called The Haunting of Bly Manor, will be released in 2020.

7. Dark

Dark has been compared by critics to another wildly-popular Netflix original, Stranger Things. It has also been called compelling, hard to watch, yet impossible to turn off. Vox described Dark as more of a puzzle rather than a show, forcing viewers to focus as they try and solve the mystery of this sci-fi thriller.

Taking place in the fictional German town of Winden, Dark follows the story of how a child’s disappearance results in the exposure of a strange and twisted mystery. As the story unravels, four families are brought together in a heart-pounding time travel conspiracy, taking place over the course of three generations. A Netflix fan favorite, the show earned a score of 8.7 on IMDb.

Yes – The series is being renewed for a third and final season. but there is no official release date yet.

6. The Crown

Claire Foy and her season three replacement Olivia Colman lead a miraculously-polished cast in a series chronicling the life of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. Beginning with her marriage to Greek prince and future Duke of Edinburgh, Philip Mountbatten, the series presents a relatively accurate historical account of one of the most famous women on Earth.

Engrossed viewers took to their devices to read up on the accuracy of the historical events depicted in the series. In what has since been dubbed “second-screening,” Wikipedia editors noticed that after the release of season two in 2017, Queen Elizabeth II’s Wikipedia page became the third most-visited English-language entry of that year. Look out for spell-binding performances from such seasoned veterans as John Lithgow and Helena Bonham Carter. Loved by viewers and critics alike, the show earned a score of 8.7 on IMDb.

Yes – The series was renewed for a third and fourth season, with Season 3 released on November 17, 2019. 

5. Narcos

Narcos is a nail-biting series focusing on the rise and fall of Colombian narcotics kingpin, Pablo Escobar. Viewers perhaps thought they could breathe after season two’s devastating finale, a gun battle on the rooftops of Medellín, Colombia. But then, season three came in with an even greater menace, the Cali Cartel, in what audiences and critics described as the best of all three seasons.

This fan-favorite Netflix original doesn’t just take a one-sided, Scarface-style approach to the notorious international criminal. The series shines light on the actions of law enforcement, both the corrupt and the lawful, and even adds in actual archival footage from the time. This impressive feat earned Narcos an IMDb score of 8.8.

No – Season 4 was reset as Season 1 of Narcos: Mexico.

NEXT: These Netflix originals are some of the streaming company’s highest rated shows ever!

4. House of Cards

With themes of ambition, power, manipulation, and betrayal, House of Cards follows the story of power couple Frank and Claire Underhill. After Frank is passed on the position of Secretary of State, he and his wife develop an elaborate plan for the two of them to elevate themselves all the way to the top in Washington, D.C.

People with too much political optimism should maybe avoid watching this one. House of Cards has a dark and cynical portrayal of the American political system, where pragmatism beats ideals and cruelty is rewarded with authority. That said, viewers of this Netflix original absolutely loved it: after six whole seasons the show got an IMDb rating of 8.8 out of 10.

No – Season 6 was the final season for the show.

3. Peaky Blinders

Season one of Peaky Blinders takes place only a few months after the end of the First World War. It tracks the criminal exploits of the Shelby family and their gang, the Peaky Blinders, as they fight police and rival gangs for control of Birmingham, England.

Not only is the series a Netflix original favorite, it’s also the receiver of several British Academy Television Awards, with praise lavished primarily on the cast, led by Cillian Murphy. History buffs will particularly appreciate the series: while not strictly following the story of the actual gang, the series is based on an actual notorious English gang who controlled Birmingham for 20 years. For this, the historical crime drama earned an impressive 8.8 on IMDb.

Yes – We can definitely expect Season 6, and probably Season 7, but there are no release dates yet.

2. Stranger Things

Stranger Things hits harder than a suitcase-sized boombox with its ’80s nostalgia. The series reminds audiences of a time when kids would ride their bikes across town with a sense of freedom from responsibility, without cell phones in their pockets. But that lifestyle comes crashing down with the emergence of an otherworldly monster, followed by a mysterious girl with powers who only goes by the ominous name, Eleven.

Filled with pop culture references from the era, Stranger Things has enthralled Netflix audiences since season one, receiving consistently high ratings. Better jump on board soon if you want to be apart of the craze: recently, creators the Duffer brothers announced that next season may be the show’s last.

Yes – Season 4 is returning, but the release date is TBA.

1. When They See Us

Described as “hard to watch” but impossible to look away from, Ava DuVernay (Selma, A Wrinkle in Time) directs this gripping miniseries about the loss of innocence, based on the infamous 1989 “Central Park Five” case. During that legal battle, five young African-American boys were coerced in to making false confessions by police and subsequently convicted of attacking a jogger in Central Park.

This extraordinarily raw and painful re-examination of one of the most contentious and charged cases of the past thirty years received the highest rating on IMDb on any Netflix original (9/10), along with eleven nominations at the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards, a 95% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and 9.0 on IMDb. When They See Us is an absolute must watch.

No- The mini-series covered everything in four episodes.

Honorable Mentions:

Bloodline 

Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner Ben Mendelsohn stars in this Netflix original thriller about a man who returns to his family hotel business, upending everyone’s lives, revealing their secrets, and putting everyone in danger. The show was so well-received that The Playlist called it the “normative successor to Breaking Bad.”

Season one of Bloodline was praised by critics, many of whom referred to the show as the best Netflix original. Subsequent seasons were met with rather mixed reviews, Uproxx noted that the show seemed designed to induce a panic attack rather than entertain viewers. That said, overall the show received an 8.0 on IMDB, making it one of the best Netflix originals.

No – Season 3 was the final season.

Orange is the New Black 

Piper Chapman is a normally law-abiding citizen who, after being convicted of transporting drugs for an ex-girlfriend some years prior, winds up in facing a year and a half long sentence in Litchfield Penitentiary. This Netflix original, while mainly a comedy, uses the show’s humor to shine light on serious real-life issues surrounding the penitentiary system, and later the prison-industrial complex.

Critics were practically tripping over themselves as they rushed to shower Orange is the New Black with numerous accolades, and it became the first show in history to earn an Emmy for both a comedy and a drama series. It’s no wonder why, by season four, the show had become the most watched Netflix original series.

No – Season 7 was the last.

Russian Doll 

Fans of Russian Doll may be reminded of the Bill Murray film, Groundhog Day, when watching this Netflix original. Russian Doll follows the story of Nadia Vulvokov, played by Orange is the New Black star Natasha Lyonne, who is forced to relive the last day of her life over and over as she tries to solve her own murder.

While this whole “time loop in a movie thing” has been done before, Russian Doll still manages to separate itself from the pack with a combination of dark humor with an unpredictable plot. With IGN and Time considered it one of the best shows of 2019 and IMDB reviewers gave this Netflix newcomer a 7.9 out of 10.

Maybe – There are talks about Season 3 being the last and final season of the series, with no release date on the horizon yet.

Glow 

Based on the real-life all-women’s wrestling circuit, Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (GLOW) the series was created by Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch, two protegees of the Emmy Award winning writer and creator of the incredibly popular series, Orange is the New Black.

While the organization is real, the show takes a fictional look at the personal and professional lives of the women involved in the women’s professional wrestling circuit. Fans and critics on IMDB happily awarded the series an 8.0 out of 10, and with a talented and diverse cast led by Golden Globe nominee Alison Brie can anyone really blame them?

No – The fourth and final season was released on September 20, 2019.

Umbrella Academy 

At first glance Umbrella Academy seems to follow the usual story of a superhero team up that has already been beaten half to death by Marvel and DC. But soon after being immersed in this Netflix original it becomes clear that this superhero series is unlike any other. The plot: after being born to women who didn’t know they were pregnant, seven children grow to use their mysterious powers to fight evil.

But their chaotic upbringing seriously affects their personal growth, and the team are left to deal with personal issues in dysfunctional ways. This artistic creativity might be expected from a show created by My Chemical Romance lead singer Gerard Way, and he doesn’t fail to deliver, with the show resulting in an IMDB rating of 8.0.

Yes – Season 2 is expected to land towards the end of 2020.

Big Mouth 

Created by funnyman and former star of his own Comedy Central series, Kroll Show, Nick Kroll brings to Netflix a show that is both uproariously hilarious as it is painfully awkward. Big Mouth is about the problems that many of us face while going through one of the most uncomfortable moment of our lives – puberty.

This one is definitely not one to watch with the kids, complete with all the traumatizing moments familiar to teenagers, Big Mouth’s hormone fueled three seasons was described as both smart, mature, and painfully awkward. IMDB gave the show an 8 out of 10, making it one of the best Netflix originals available for streaming.

Yes – Netflix has renewed the series through to Season 6.

On My Block 

Taking place in the rough inner city of South Central Los Angeles this coming of age teen drama follows four friends trying to both navigate high school and the dangerous streets of LA. On My Block was praised for balancing the teen dynamics of high school; romance, parents, parties, all with the larger themes surrounding illegal immigration and gang violence.

First premiering in 2018, this Netflix original has since been renewed twice, with the third season set to be released in early 2020. On My Block was also the receiver of a Teen Choice Award for Choice Breakout TV Show. With an IMDB rating of 8.1, this show has quickly become a Netflix original favorite.

Yes – Expected around March, 2020.

A Series of Unfortunate Events

Based on the books by Lemony Snicket, A Series of Unfortunate Events follows the journey of the Baudelaire children as they fight to survive the antics of the greedy and eccentric Count Olaf. In this Netflix original series Olaf is played by none other than Emmy Award winner Neil Patrick Harris, who is also responsible for writing the show’s opening theme.

The series recently wrapped up in early 2019, with its third season finishing the adaptation of all thirteen books. All three seasons were critically acclaimed, particularly with the show’s ability to balance “absurd humor with deeper questions of morality.” A Series of Unfortunate Events was awarded a 7.8 on IMDB, and even though it’s over it still stands as one of the best Netflix originals.

No – Season 3 was the last of the show’s installments.

Love

Presented as a “down-to-earth look at dating, Love is an anti-romcom that isn’t afraid to take a deeper dive into the complexities of modern dating. Together the two main characters, Mickey and Gus, must deal with the complexities of intimacy, commitment, jealousy, and many other things that the two have spent much of their lives running from.

Created by Judd Apatow (Anchorman, Knocked Up, The 40 Year Old Virgin) the series was given a 7.7 on IMDB and a high ranking 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Credited with its excruciating honesty in ways many other shows avoid, Love’s three seasons have only left audiences desiring more.

No – Netflix announced that the third season would be its last.

Sources: The Atlantic, The Guardian, Telegraph