Between new hits and old favorites, 2024 was a big year for Netflix.
Baby Reindeer won big at the Emmys. Andrew Scott and Ripley offered up a phenomenal Patricia Highsmith adaptation. KAOS gave us the Greek myth-inspired show of our dreams — only to be ripped away by the cancellation gods. And when it comes to returning series, Arcane Season 2 staked its claim as the best fantasy show of the year, while Heartstopper Season 3 grew up in spectacular fashion.
But there's so much more where that came from! If you're looking for a great new binge to close out the year, read on for our picks for the top Netflix shows of 2024.
22. Dead Boy Detectives
Adapted from the comic book series by Neil Gaiman and Matt Wagner, Dead Boy Detectives' premise is pretty self-explanatory: Two teen ghosts solve crimes.
Specifically, Edwin Payne (George Rexstrew) and Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri) are an odd couple: the former a 1918 prep school student, the latter a 1989 punk. But together — with the help of psychic gal pal Crystal Palace (Kassius Nelson) and a uniquely plagued neighbor Niko Sasaki (Yuyu Kitamura) — they crack the cases that the living can't. While each episode follows a Buffy the Vampire Slayer monster-of-the-week model, the overarching plotline has the pair dodging Death (The Sandman's Kirby Howell-Baptiste), matching wits with the mischief-making Cat King (Lukas Gage), combatting a gnarly witch known as Esther Finch (Jenn Lyon), and confronting their own confusing teenage longings. If you like your teen drama with a touch of gallows humor and scads of supernatural mayhem, you'll revel in this charmingly creepy series. But be warned: The slow-burn romance at its core burns a bit too slow — especially considering the series got canceled after Season 1. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor
How to watch: Dead Boy Detectives is now streaming on Netflix.
21. Bridgerton, Season 3
First, there was Daphne and the Duke. Then came Kate and Anthony and Queen Charlotte and George III. Now, with Season 3, Shondaland's beloved adaptation of Julia Quinn's romance novels brings us Penelope and Colin's love story, the slowest-burn romance yet — she's been burning for him since Season 1! It took traveling around the world for Colin Bridgerton to get a glow-up and realize what a great girl he had back home. Thankfully by the end of part one, he showed her his deep, probing affection in a carriage scene that left fans hot and bothered.
Part two throws these lovers into each other's arms amidst fresh drama. And we're here for every moment, because Nicola Coughlan is our queen. Admittedly, there are other plotlines this season, some spicy, some bewildering boring, and one involving a vegetarian who deserves better! Is it the worst of this franchise so far? Indubitably. But it's Coughlan and her grace, her comedic timing, and her swoon-inducing charms that make Bridgerton Season 3 still utterly worth watching. — K.P.
How to watch: Bridgerton Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.
20. Avatar: The Last Airbender
After M. Night Shyamalan's horrendous 2010 live-action movie adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender hit fans like a fire fist to the face, we were rightly dubious about Netflix's live-action reboot of the masterful Nickelodeon animated series. And the results from showrunner Albert Kim were admittedly mixed. As Belen Edwards wrote in her thoughtful review of Season 1, "As if torn between its predecessors, Avatar: The Last Airbender alternates between high highs and low lows, both of which stem from adaptation choices that range from fresh and exciting to dull and bewildering."
Frustratingly, this live-action series seemingly aimed at fans of the original shaved off much of the complexity of its most compelling heroes. (Let Katara be mean onscreen again!) But it also created curious new interpretations of past canon and offered an array of action scenes and re-envisioned monsters that were undeniably thrilling. Plus, the casting of Ian Ousley as Sokka is cosmically terrific, from the jutting jaw to his awkward flirtations with Suki! Still, we're hoping the series will course-correct for Season 2. Because to do Toph (Miya Cech) and Azula (Elizabeth Yu) justice, you've got to let these girls sink their heels into their mean streaks. It's a big part of why we love them! — K.P.
How to watch: Avatar: The Last Airbender is now streaming on Netflix.
19. Eric
If you miss the Sherlock days, when Benedict Cumberbatch was a broody misanthrope on a mission to solve a confounding case, you should check out Eric.
This miniseries created by Abi Morgan stars the British leading man as Vincent, a grumbling puppeteer in 1980s New York. While at work, it's his job to perform warmly; at home, he's callous with his wife (Gaby Hoffmann) and son Edgar (Ivan Morris Howe). But when his kid goes missing on the walk to school, Vincent is determined to find him — with the help of an imaginary monster named Eric. Mixing family drama with crime procedurals and Sesame Street, Eric weaves together narratives of cops, criminals, suspects, and the guilt-stricken father that kicks this story off. If you're seeking something with twists and thrills, consider this show for your next binge-watch. — K.P.
How to watch: Eric is now streaming on Netflix.
18. The Law According to Lidia Poët, Season 2
If you love stories of lust and murder, you'll want to get wise to The Law According to Lidia Poët. The Netflix import is sure to fill the hole in your heart left by the conclusion of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. Like that superb sleuthing series out of Australia, this Italian show is a period piece that focuses on a determined heroine who is often underestimated by the sexist men around her. By day, she's solving homicide cases; by night, she's cozying up a dashing lover.
In this case, Lidia Poët (the beguiling Matilda De Angelis) is a certified lawyer in late 19th-century Turin — a very rare thing for a woman at the time! Stranger still, she pursues groundbreaking detective work like fingerprint analysis and lie detector tests to help her defend her clients. And all this while unmarried! With each episode, Lidia fights back against injustice, misogyny, and the tiresome gender norms that would confine her talents and interests. But don't let the setting have you expecting something quaint. Lidia curses like a sailor. The corpses uncovered are ghastly spectacles. And this sexy show offers full-frontal male nudity by its second episode. Something saucy and sinister fun is afoot! (And if you're not one for subtitles, I can vouch for the wonderfully entertaining English overdub.) — K.P.
How to watch: The Law According to Lidia Poët Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
17. The Brothers Sun
Academy Award–winner Michelle Yeoh gets bloody in The Brothers Sun, a family drama/crime thriller/comedy caper about two very different brothers. Charles (Justin Chien) is a world-renowned assassin with a big role to play in the family's Taiwanese crime syndicate. Bruce (Sam Song Li) loves improv, slacks off in school, and doesn't know a thing about the family business. But when an attack on their father brings the estranged brothers together, it's up to this unlikely pairing — and their fierce mother Eileen (Yeoh) — to take down their enemies. Featuring some kick-ass fighting, heartfelt musings on different immigrant experiences, and a surprising amount of churros, The Brothers Sun is an action-packed treat. It's a shame Netflix canceled it. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: The Brothers Sun is now streaming on Netflix.
16. The Diplomat, Season 2
If you can't handle the diplomatic heat, get out of the streaming service. Debora Cahn's (The West Wing, Homeland) addictive, superbly scripted political thriller The Diplomat picks up in the chaotic fallout from Season 1 — with the calls coming from inside the house and characters' fates uncertain after a deadly attack. Once again, Keri Russell is electric as Kate Wyler, the U.S. ambassador to the UK, trying to get to the heart of an insidious government conspiracy and carefully, politically navigate unmasking the Big Bad. The show's razor-sharp cast includes Ali Ahn, Ato Essandoh, Rufus Sewell, David Gyasi, and Rory Kinnear, who all devour that script, and the arrival of Allison Janney as the U.S. vice president is pure, dramatic TV gold. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor
How to watch: The Diplomat Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
15. Penelope
From Mark Duplass and Mel Eslyn, the creative team behind the undersung sci-fi dramedy Biosphere, comes a coming-of-age series unlike any you've seen before. Penelope centers on the titular teen (Little Fires Everywhere's Megan Stott) who abruptly decides to go off-grid, leaving behind her family, her SAT prep course, and all ties to the internet to find herself in the forest.
While admittedly this could be the starting point for a horror movie (or a true crime documentary), Eslyn and Duplass offer viewers instead a peaceful meditation on what it could mean to go on such a retreat of solitude. Over the course of eight episodes under 30 minutes each, Penelope learns to build a fire, purify water, protect her food from bears, and make friends (human and animal) as she camps in a sprawling park. Conversations with strangers touch on faith, identity, and philosophy, with Penelope a willing recipient to unfurling thoughts and feelings. But be warned, where some episodes play like a daydream of communing with nature, the later episodes tear into some dangerous new experiences, both from the wild animals of the forest and from the world she left behind. — K.P.
How to watch: Penelope is now streaming on Netflix.
14. No Good Deed
Emmy–winning creator and showrunner Liz Feldman previously gifted us the twisted pleasures of Dead to Me, a dramedy that intoxicatingly blended crime and comedy. Now she's back at it with No Good Deed, another enticing Los Angeles series co-starring Linda Cardellini.
Ray Romano and Lisa Kudrow star as a married couple looking to sell their beautiful Los Feliz home. The interested — and nosy — buyers are played by a crackling ensemble cast that includes Cardellini, Luke Wilson, Abbi Jacobson, Poppy Liu, Kate Moennig, Teyonah Parris, and O-T Fagbenle. Beyond buyer rivalry and family drama, there are also skeletons in the closet to be uncovered, and plenty of socially awkward shenanigans to boot. Funny, addictive, and sharply cast, No Good Deed is a no-brainer to add to your watch list. — K.P.
How to watch: No Good Deed premieres Dec. 12 on Netflix.
13. Nobody Wants This
Netflix's Nobody Wants This filled the rom-com shaped hole in our lives as we descended into cuffing season. The show tells the story of an unusual pairing: Noah (Adam Brody) a "hot rabbi" who meets Joanne (Kristen Bell), an agnostic sex and dating podcaster. In a break with typical rom-com tropes, Noah is the beguilingly unproblematic and validating partner that rarely makes an appearance on our screens. In one particular scene, Noah tells a spiraling Joanne: "I'm on your side. I can handle you."
Another refreshing detail: The fact the characters are a little bit older than your average rom-com protagonists. Brody and Bell are both 44 years old, and it’s clear their characters are navigating dating post-35. Given that people are getting married later in life and that dating in your late 30s is the norm, it's jarring that most rom-coms focus on twentysomething characters. As a 36-year-old singleton, this show was refreshing and relatable. Bring on Season 2! — Rachel Thompson, Features Editor
How to watch: Nobody Wants This is now streaming on Netflix.
12. 3 Body Problem
Sometimes you want a light comedy; other times, you want to lean into potentially world-ending existential terror. The latter is firmly on offer in 3 Body Problem, a sci-fi epic based on Cixin Liu's trilogy and brought to the screen by Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss and The Terror's Alexander Woo. The series tells the story of an alien race called the San-Ti, who have been forced to leave their home planet and are several hundred years away from landing on their new home: Earth. 3 Body Problem is impressive because it asks some pretty big questions of the universe while also creating a very human story about how people might react when faced with possible future extinction. Oh, and there are some sequences that will never leave your head — hello, episode 5. — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor
How to watch: 3 Body Problem is now streaming on Netflix.
11. The Decameron
This Netflix offering doesn't feel like the result of appeasing some almighty algorithm. It feels like Mad Libs, in the best way possible: Based on 14th-century Italian author Giovanni Boccaccio's collection of short stories, The Decameron is a dark comedy about sex, lies, class conflict, and the Plague — starring your favorites from Girls, Derry Girls, Veep, and Sex Education.
A silly soap opera set in a remote yet opulent Italian villa during the Black Death, The Decameron welcomes audiences into the bizarre games of the wealthy, the sly subterfuge of their servants, and all the hypocritical horniness you can fit into a limited series. There's plenty to marvel at in this deeply binge-worthy show: Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Zosia Mamet as funny and fierce frenemies; gnarly twists; Amar Chadha-Patel as a sexy, often shirtless love interest; shocking trysts; and Tony Hale, funny as always, and also brazenly hot as a butler who's had enough of rich people nonsense. Come for the cast, stay for the schadenfreude! — K.P.
How to watch: The Decameron is now streaming on Netflix.
10. Heartstopper, Season 3
This year, Heartstopper grew up fast. Maintaining the show's signature sweetness, the third season of Alice Oseman's graphic novel adaptation matured in more ways than one, with hormones raging, university choices ahead, and the Paris crew navigating their first sexual experiences. But the show also went deeper into themes of identity and mental health among its core characters, with Joe Locke giving a standout performance conveying Charlie's immensely challenging time with anorexia — a feat not every show achieves with compassion or nuance like this — and Kit Connor gently exploring the relatable sense of helplessness in supporting someone you love through hardship. — S.C.
How to watch: Heartstopper Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.
9. Supacell
A hell of a refreshing take on the modern superhero genre, Supacell was one of the more anticipated British shows on Netflix this year. We'd been waiting for showrunner, creator, and director Rapman's, aka Andrew Onwubolu, series for an age — and the result was an absolute banger of a first season. Set in South London, Supacell sees five strangers — Michael (Tosin Cole), Sabrina (Nadine Mills), Andre (Eric Kofi Abrefa), Rodney (Calvin Demba), and Tazer (Josh Tedeku) — suddenly land superpowers, all while dealing with complications in their own lives. With powerful performances, impressive special effects, and a timely mystery at the show's core, Supacell leaned on realism for a unique take on the genre while turning stereotypes on their head. — S.C.
How to watch: Supacell is now streaming on Netflix.
8. KAOS
Pour a giant glass of Meander water out for Kaos.
The End of the F***ing World writer Charlie Covell's covertly nerdy, overtly soapy Greek mythology-based series was unceremoniously canceled after one brilliant season, despite being one of the best Netflix shows of the year. With directors Georgi Banks-Davies and Runyararo Mapfumo at the helm, Kaos is a satisfying, dark interpretation of the Greek myths set in modern Krete. Thanks to flamboyant and meticulous performances from the stacked cast, detailed production design, and an immensely clever interweaving of several long-told stories, Kaos looked established for multiple seasons of Olympian-caused pandemonium. But alas, it's done for now. — S.C.
How to watch: Kaos is now streaming on Netflix.
7. A Man on the Inside
A Man on the Inside reunites The Good Place creator Mike Schur with star Ted Danson. And wouldn't you know it, this comedy is just as likely to make you laugh and pull at your heartstrings as their first team-up.
Based on the 2020 documentary The Mole Agent, A Man on the Inside follows retired professor Charles (Danson) as he teams up with private investigator Julie (Lilah Richcreek Estrada). His mission? To go undercover at a retirement home and recover stolen jewelry. Of course, hijinks are soon to follow, as Charles bumbles through the challenges of using spy equipment and assimilating into the home's clique-y community. However, it's not long before Charles finds himself opening up to the people around him, leading to the real heart of A Man on the Inside: its deeply affecting portrayal of aging. Throughout the first season, characters reckon with distant family members, dementia, and losing their friends, and Schur and A Man on the Inside's stellar ensemble — which also includes Stephanie Beatriz, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Sally Struthers — ensure that these difficult stories are given the space and gravity they deserve. With its sweetness, sensitivity, and a steady flow of great gags, we can chalk A Man on the Inside up as another win for Schur and Danson. — B.E.
How to watch: A Man on the Inside premieres Nov. 21 on Netflix.
6. One Day
In February, we did a whole lot of TV-induced crying, as Netflix's One Day broke our damn hearts. An ambitious, romantic, and fresh adaptation of David Nicholls' novel, this impeccable, slow-burn series gave the story more room to breathe than Lone Scherfig's 2011 film. Following students Emma and Dex (magnetic, lived-in performances by Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall) across decades of their complex friendship, One Day makes a cinematic epic of long-game love while unpacking the politics of privilege in relationships. Even hearing the name of the series will induce starry-eyed looks into the horizon and a palm to the heart. — S.C.
How to watch: One Day is now streaming on Netflix.
5. Girls5eva, Season 3
If you're looking for a pop culture-savvy sitcom to fill the 30 Rock and The Other Two–shaped hole in your heart, look no further than Girls5eva. Canceled by Peacock after two (great) seasons, Girls5eva moved to Netflix for a stellar Season 3 in which our titular girl group hits the road on tour. The quartet of Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Paula Pell, and Busy Philipps has never been better; the jokes have never flown faster; and the songs are catchy as ever. "Sweet'N Low Daddy"? "Returnity"? "Tap Into Your (Fort) Worth"? All bangers! So, Netflix, please do us a favor and give us more of Girls5eva. To borrow a turn of phrase from our girls, three seasons is just three short. — B.E.
How to watch: Girls5eva Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.
4. Boy Swallows Universe
A dark but genuinely funny tale of suburban crime brimming with magical realism, the Netflix adaptation of Trent Dalton's novel Boy Swallows Universe is one of 2024's unsung heroes — much like its pint-sized protagonist, 13-year-old Eli Bell (played by outstandingly talented youngster Felix Cameron). Chock-full of '80s Australiana, the series is set in the working-class Brisbane suburb of Darra, where Eli navigates school bullies and a turbulent family life as well as he handles hard-edged criminals with his imaginative brother Gus (Lee Tiger Halley). It's a heartfelt, unsettling, and hilarious journey through young adolescence, the reality of addiction, and brutal crime, with a killer Aussie soundtrack.* — S.C.
How to watch: Boy Swallows Universe is now streaming on Netflix.
3. Arcane, Season 2
2024 blessed us with the return of high-profile fantasy series like House of the Dragon and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, but it's Arcane Season 2 that wins this year's fantasy crown.
Netflix's League of Legends–based series returns us to the feuding cities of Piltover and Zaun, with estranged sisters Vi (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (voiced by Ella Purnell) caught smack-dab in the middle. What follows is a brutal examination of how war pushes people to their extremes, and how even well-intentioned actions can have devastating consequences. But that's not all! Arcane goes bolder and weirder in Season 2, yet never skimps on its emotional heft. In one of the season's most poignant, heart-wrenching arcs, the resurrection of Vander (JB Blanc) as the monstrous wolf hybrid Warwick offers Jinx and Vi a chance to reunite their family, broken as it may be. Elsewhere, Viktor (voiced by Harry Lloyd) and his Hextech commune offer up a take on transhumanism that is idealistic and disquieting all at once. All these nuances come to life with breathtaking, fearless animation courtesy of Fortiche Productions, making Arcane one of the most stunning, ambitious series of the year. — B.E.
How to watch: Arcane Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
2. Ripley
Andrew Scott awed TV audiences as the theatrically malicious Moriarty in Sherlock, then as the scorchingly hot Priest in Fleabag. But with Ripley, he plays a very different game.
Adapted from Patricia Highsmith's classic novel The Talented Mr. Ripley, this drama miniseries from Steven Zaillian lures audiences into the seductive world of Thomas Ripley, American social climber turned con man and killer. Offered a free trip to Italy to reclaim an industrialist's expatriate heir, Ripley sees a whole new world open before him: one of privilege, art, and endless opportunities, all tied to status and money. But to claim a bit of it himself, he'll have to get his hands dirty. While you might know the story (or the Matt Damon movie), the patience with which this slow-burn series doles it out allows audiences to luxuriate in Highsmith's high-stakes game of jealousy, deception, and murder. The result is a show that feels like a lost holiday — alluring, surprising, and sure to linger on in your mind, heart, and soul.* — K.P.
How to watch: Ripley is now streaming on Netflix.
1. Baby Reindeer
For better or worse, Baby Reindeer is a show that sticks with you: It's amusing in parts, tense in others, and emotionally shattering overall. Based on creator Richard Gadd's own experience of being stalked, the series follows the budding comedian (who plays a version of himself) as he balances career disappointment with his job in a London pub — until a woman named Martha (a brilliant and terrifying Jessica Gunning) comes in one day and develops an obsession with him. "This isn't the type of show with a clear resolution," I wrote in my review for Mashable. "It's messy, thought-provoking, and — like a dream that's difficult to shake — you'll find your mind going back to it long after the credits have rolled."* — S.H.
How to watch: Baby Reindeer is now streaming on Netflix.
(*) denotes that this blurb has been modified from a different list.
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