If you've been scrolling through your Netflix queue in the middle of the night, you're not alone.
Between the 2024 presidential election and tax season, the overall climate crisis, the war on reproductive rights, and war around the world, society can feel like a waking nightmare. No one would blame you for overlooking your best judgment and finding comfort wherever you can. Yes, falling asleep with the TV on isn't "great" for us. (Blue light, we know.)
Still, it's been a help during rough times. So, while we're not recommending you pick up this habit, we are happy to help those of you who are already doing it. Better than counting sheep, by a wide margin, here are 30 of the best shows on Netflix to fall asleep to.
30. Cunk on Earth
Philomena Cunk is, I am sad to say, not a real person. Over the five episodes of Cunk on Earth, I truly began to wish that I shared a world with such a profoundly insightful individual. Alas, she's a character created by the actress and comedian Diane Morgan. First appearing on the BBC series Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe, she was immediately recognized for her singular genius, and so Cunk spun off into her own series — first there was Cunk on Britain, and then in 2022 came Cunk on Earth.
The series sees Cunk explaining the history of the world as only she could, from "Beginnings" up through "The Arse End of History," mostly by interviewing unsuspecting scientists and thinkers and asking a series of absolutely deranged questions that stagger the mind. It's probably the funniest show on Netflix right now. So why is it good to fall asleep to? Because she's British, obviously. Everything said in that accent is straight-up sweet-dreams lullaby-land. Even this assortment of uproarious buffoonery. — Jason Adams, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: Cunk on Earth is now streaming on Netflix.
29. Derry Girls
I cannot be the only person completely enchanted by the voices of the Derry Girls. Set in '90s Northern Ireland, this heartwarming portrayal of teenage friendship is one of the rowdiest selection on this list — so if you really need to sleep, the show shouldn't be your first pick. But if you think you could do with a few laughs before drifting off, look no further than this bunch. They're the best. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Writer
How to watch: Derry Girls is now streaming on Netflix.
28. Worn Stories
Shirts! Shoes! Jockstraps! Oh my. This eight-episode 2021 docuseries gets a wide collection of people telling the stories of the items of clothing they've loved and lived in, and it's by turns funny and poignant, but most of all, like so many of the clothes it depicts, comforting. We've all got that sweater or that pair of socks there's a funny tale behind and that we could never ever in a million lifetimes get rid of. This series is here to tell us we're not alone. Well, maybe the nude woodworker is alone. Those are a lot of sharp tools and blunt instruments swinging around your genitals, if you ask me. — J.A.
How to watch: Worn Stories is now streaming on Netflix.
27. History 101
I don't know about you, but history class in high school was where I took all my best naps. Methuselah, I hardly knew ya. And the 20-or-so-minute-long nugget-sized episodes of History 101 are perfect when you need a hard wallop of cold facts and figures to knock you into sweet-dream-land. Tackling fascinating subjects like "GPS" and "High Fructose Corn Syrup" (yes, really) using animated charts and graphs… well, I can barely finish that sentence without nodding off. It's melatonin for the eyes! — J.A.
How to watch: History 101 is now streaming on Netflix.
26. Samurai Gourmet
Based on Masayuki Kusumi's manga series about a retired man named Takeshi who awakens his inner samurai by finding good local food to eat, this 12-episode series stars longtime character actor Naoto Takenaka, whose immensely genial presence will make you feel warm and welcome right from the start. And that's before you even get lost among his simple adventures, spanning around 20 minutes each, which see him take up walking for a hobby, or wondering how his new sunglasses make him look. It doesn't get more low-key, low-stakes, and highly delightful. — J.A.
How to watch: Samurai Gourmet is now streaming on Netflix.
25. The Hidden Lives of Pets
There is a bunny rabbit that paints! I repeat: a bunny rabbit that paints! If you’re not sold on that alone, I’m not sure we speak the same language. In these four half-hour episodes, all narrated by Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville, The Hidden Lives of Pets takes a look at the things our little furry, feathery, or otherwise feeling friends can do besides your typical fetch and squawk. Come for the dancing cockatoo, laugh with the racing tortoises, but live for that painting bunny rabbit. — J.A.
How to watch: The Hidden Lives of Pets is now streaming on Netflix.
24. Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
I'm halfway to sleep-town by the time I finish reading the entire title Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, never mind the show itself, which is indeed just an excuse for some comedians to get some coffee and ride around in cars.Truth in advertising for once! Specifically it's Jerry Seinfeld of television's Seinfeld who's driving, and then some random funny person joins him for the episode's ride — everybody from Eddie Murphy to Kristen Wiig has hopped into Jerry's passenger seat (it's less dirty than that sounds) and for 15-ish minutes they chat about whatever nonsense strikes their fancy. No high stakes, just cordial chit-chat, a quick in and out like a nighttime talk show without the grinning band-leader blowing his saxophone in your face. — J.A.
How to watch: Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee is now streaming on Netflix.
23. Queer Eye
If you want to get the most out of Queer Eye, you should definitely pay full attention to each and every minute of this delightful reality series. But if you're rewatching the show like us, feel free to doze off mid-hero narrative. Journey with the Fab 5 to see the series' lucky participants master self-love through grooming, cooking, fashion, interior design, and whatever Karamo Brown has been up to lately. It's just lovely. — A.F.
How to watch: Queer Eye is now streaming on Netflix.
22. Cat People
My boyfriend likes to watch cat videos right before falling asleep, and Cat People is basically that catty concept on steroids. Each half-hour episode focuses on one obsessed cat owner and their corresponding feline, and it's 30 mainlined minutes of soothing purr-fection. There's a cat who surfs! A cat rapper! A woman who crafts 3D-felt portraits of her three favorite furbabies! It's a paw-rade of good feels that'll send you straight off to cat-nap heaven. — J.A.
How to watch: Cat People is now streaming on Netflix.
21. Chimp Empire
So much of what makes a nature show relaxing comes down to its narrator. This is why David Attenborough is a thing. And Chimp Empire struck gold thanks to the smooth, dulcet tones of two-time Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali. Otherwise, it's just a bunch of chimpanzees screeching at each other! But Ali makes it all go down like the smoothest AM radio you've ever heard. Set amid the largest group of chimps on the planet, who live in the Ngogo rainforest of Uganda, the four-episode series deep dives into their day-to-day routines, their rivalries, their loves. These are the days of the chimp's lives, and we're living for it, baby. — J.A.
How to watch: Chimp Empire is now streaming on Netflix.
20. Seinfeld
Perhaps my New Yorker self is showing by putting this one on this list, but the local affiliate station here in New York used to play reruns of this classic '90s sitcom every weeknight from 11 p.m. til midnight, and I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve fallen fast asleep to the soothing sounds of Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer asking what’s the deal with those little bags of peanuts they give you on airplanes. And since cutting the cord and relying on streaming only, this is as close as I’ll ever get to that sense of city-boy comfort ever again.
All nine seasons of our foursome’s legendary antics doing nothing are here for the bingeing; just pick a random episode, curl up on the couch, and before you can say "master of my domain," I’ll be snoring in your ear. And not even Frank Costanza’s most unhinged rant could shake me! — J.A.
How to watch: Seinfeld is now streaming on Netflix.
19. Heartstopper
We're now three seasons deep into Alice Oseman's sweet queer teen romance, and neither the sweetness nor the romance has soured the slightest. Based on Oseman's own webcomic and transferred to Netflix in 2022, this tale of shy boy Charlie (Joe Locke) falling for the hot and popular rugby hunk Nick (Kit Connor) has captured hearts and imaginations across the spectrum. The series is almost too sweet for its own good, but its corny embrace of its own youthful swoon feels 1) appropriate to what love felt like at that age, and 2) will most certainly send you off smiling into the sweetest dreams imaginable. — J.A.
How to watch: Heartstopper is now streaming on Netflix.
18. Life in Color with David Attenborough
There are few voices more soothing than David Attenborough's, and there are few visuals more soothing than the beauty of nature. In Life in Color with David Attenborough, you get both! Attenborough guides us through the different uses the animal kingdom has for color in this three-part docuseries, which features truly glorious footage — and beautiful colors, of course. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: Life in Color with David Attenborough is now streaming on Netflix.
17. Alien Worlds
If you want to have some really bonkers dreams, there’s no better way to get that imagination churning than Alien Worlds, a four-part docuseries that uses CG and the ramblings of scientists to imagine what the life-forms of other planets could look like, given other factors in their development. Narrated by Sophie Okonedo, the show depicts the rise and fall of civilizations of strange creatures on four imagined planets, demonstrating how our scientific laws here on Earth would get applied to some very different, theoretical circumstances. Mostly it’s just weirdo creature nirvana, like the bar in Star Wars on steroids. — J.A.
How to watch: Alien Worlds is now streaming on Netflix.
16. Babies
Few things are as spectacularly infectious as the joy of little kids. In Netflix's Babies, documentarians observe a whole bunch of cuties during their first years of life — examining how these tiny humans learn, grow, and explore our world. If you find babies cute, you'll love this show. But fair warning, you may struggle to sleep through the night if you don't put your TV on a timer. You know, with the crying and all. — A.F.
How to watch: Babies is now streaming on Netflix.
15. Abstract: The Art of Design
Good filmmakers know that an excellent way to capture a viewer's attention is to show someone fully engaged with a practical activity right in front of them. It's incredibly easy to get hypnotized watching Anthony Perkins clean the bathtub in Psycho, or Delphine Seyrig washing dishes in Jeanne Dielman. That same mindset applies to Abstract: The Art of Design, which will captivate you through its interviews with seriously talented craftspeople just talking about and showcasing their exquisite craft. Whether it's Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth Carter (the Black Panther movies) or the legendary Danish artist Olafur Eliasson, there's such a rich attention to precision and detail on display that your entire day and all of your worries will just melt away. — J.A.
How to watch: Abstract: The Art of Design is now streaming on Netflix.
14. Hilda
You should definitely give Hilda your full attention, but once you've made your way through this charming animated show, it's one you'll want to come back to over and over for warm fuzzy comfort. Hilda (voiced by Bella Ramsey) is a young explorer whose neighbors just happen to be creatures from folklore — elves, trolls, rat kings, and more. From its adorable animation style to its all-around cozy vibe, Hilda is an excellent watch for when you're awake or for when you want to be lulled off to dreams of gentle adventure. — B.E.
How to watch: Hilda is now streaming on Netflix.
13. Gudetama: An Eggcellent Adventure
When exhausted yourself, who better to vibe on than the world’s most exhausted sentient egg? Created in Japan in 2013 for an animated series, Gudetama (aka the little egg yolk who couldn’t be bothered) finally made the defeated, depressed leap to the U.S. with the 10-episode series An Eggcellent Adventure in 2022. Most episodes, which plop the beautifully animated little fella into the real world alongside a baby chick who befriends them, are no longer than 10 minutes — just enough time to shrug your worries off into the frying pan of sleepy oblivion. — J.A.
How to watch: Gudetama: An Eggcellent Adventure is now streaming on Netflix.
12. The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals
If tourism slash real estate porn is your drug of choice, you won’t find more dopamine than you do out of The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals. Each 30-minute-ish episode is usually based around a theme — modern homes, eco-friendly homes, homes built into trees. It then sends its three hosts (Luis D. Ortiz, Jo Franco and Megan Batoon) to a variation on each theme, kind of like the three bears in Goldilocks. Luis finds the luxury version, Jo finds the best budget, while Megan susses out the weirdest, most singular examples. But mostly you’re just oohing and ahhing at the truly gorgeous locations. — J.A.
How to watch: The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals is now streaming on Netflix.
11. Gilmore Girls
The "comfort" in "comfort TV" doesn’t get much more comfortable than it does in the land of Stars Hollow, the setting of Amy Sherman-Palladino’s series Gilmore Girls. Following the trials and tribulations of Lorelei (Lauren Graham) and her teen daughter Rory (Alexis Bledel) as they try to find self-realization and romance across its seven seasons, the show (and Stars Hollow) feels like home to a lot of people who watched the characters grow and change and talk real fast at one another for those seven years. There is even something comforting about that quick patter, the rhythm of which eventually blurs everything into a soft white noise. It’s the box fan of serial aughts storytelling, basically. — J.A.
How to watch: Gilmore Girls is now streaming on Netflix.
10. Night on Earth
The majestic scenery of a good nature documentary always pairs well with a nap. Night on Earth, narrated by Orange Is the New Black's Samira Wiley, is an especially good TV choice as it documents what many other species are up to while we're all in bed. It's beautiful but a little touchy with volume, so keep this one on low lest you be surprised by a roar or growl. — A.F.
How to watch: Night on Earth is now streaming on Netflix.
9. The Mind, Explained
Generally speaking, all of the Explained docuseries are good picks for falling asleep. The episodes are evenly paced, engaging but not overly so, and easy to start over should you nod off and decide you want to catch it at a later time. In the order of this reporter's personal experience, the Explained series from most to least easy to fall asleep to are: The Mind, Sex, the main Explained series, and then ... Coronavirus. (Yeah, I don't recommend that one. Not for sleeping, anyway.) — A.F.
How to watch: The Mind, Explained is now streaming on Netflix.
8. Grace and Frankie
Let these two fierce, fearless, fabulous females guide you into a relaxing slumber. Join Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as the titular Grace and Frankie, plus Martin Sheen, Sam Waterston, June Diane Raphael, Ethan Embry, Baron Vaughn, and Brooklyn Decker in the warmest, most loving sitcom available on Netflix. Nothing says comfort TV like a half hour with the Hanson-Bergsteins. — A.F.
How to watch: Grace and Frankie is now streaming on Netflix.
7. Our Universe
I’ll see your David Attenborough and raise him one Mr. Morgan Freeman! The voice of God himself narrates this six-part docuseries that attempts to tell the story of everything, from the Big Bang all the way down to Everything Everywhere All at Once or thereabouts. (And it does so without a single bagel in sight! Top that, Michelle Yeoh.) Themed around itty-bitty little subjects like gravity or the elements, each episode tries to capture the magnificence of creation, from star to shining star. But under Freeman’s dulcet tones unfathomable enormity somehow becomes absolute solace. — J.A.
How to watch: Our Universe is now streaming on Netflix.
6. Down to Earth with Zac Efron
As our critic Alison Foreman wrote in her review of the series, it's a "trip worth taking if you love Zac or believe you have the capacity to love Zac, but you must love Zac to love Down to Earth." Thankfully for Down to Earth, a lot of people have remembered that they do indeed love Zac Efron after his critically acclaimed turn in the wrestling drama The Iron Claw hit last year, so now's the perfect time to go back and watch this climate-science-concerned travelogue series.
Each episode sees Efron tackling a new place, from spas in Iceland to beehives on NYC rooftops. The Hairspray star makes the rounds, doling out healthy living advice in between all the "dude"s and "woah"s and flashes of abs. Point being, just when you think Zac might ask too much of us, he brings it back down to Earth, and it's all smooth as can be. — J.A.
How to watch: Down to Earth with Zac Efron is now streaming on Netflix.
5. Get Organized with The Home Edit
Bask in the satisfaction of symmetry, order, and all things categorization with this home-makeover show led by the ladies of The Home Edit. A cheery, less philosophical Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, Get Organized follows professional organizers Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin as they change lives (typically with stuff from The Container Store). — A.F.
How to watch: Get Organized with The Home Edit is now streaming on Netflix.
4. How to Change Your Mind
Drugs! We all love 'em! And now we can find out everything there is to know about them thanks to this 2022 four-episode docuseries based on Michael Pollan's 2018 book of the same title. The four episodes focus in on the major hallucinogens: LSD (aka acid), psilocybin (aka mushrooms), MDMA (aka ecstasy), and mescaline (here, specifically peyote). Instead of the usual nannying "Just say no" mindset, the series actually dives in deep across its hour-long episodes to look at the drugs' histories and benefits. Pollan speaks to scientists and experts and it's all fascinating, and then, like its own little microdose of serotonin, it'll have your eyes rolling back in your head all on its own. — J.A.
How to watch: How to Change Your Mind is now streaming on Netflix.
3. The UnXplained With William Shatner
Anybody who knows anything about anything knows there's nothing better built to fall asleep to than The History Channel. Just ask your grandfather — oh wait, you can't, he's sleeping in front of The History Channel right now. And so this series, which began airing on History in 2019 and has had half of its six seasons ported over to Netflix in the past couple of years, is just some of that slumber magic sprinkled over onto the streamer.
Hosted by Star Trek legend William Shatner (yes, the very one who gets his name in the title and everything), each episode dives into a few of our greatest mysteries — things like, "Hey, what's the deal with the pyramids?" and "Blood rain? No thank you!" And it does so with all the goofy energy Shatner's been slathering over science-fiction for decades. So move over, Grandpa. You've got company. — J.A.
How to watch: The UnXplained With William Shatner is now streaming on Netflix.
2. The Great British Baking Show
I've said it once and I'll say it again: Cooking shows are the best genre of television to fall asleep to, bar none. The mouth-watering visuals, inviting sounds, and typically cheery talent form a cocoon of comforting content, perfect for drifting off to Snoozeville. (Cooking shows are so ideally suited to falling asleep, we have a whole list dedicated to that specific streaming need.) If you're looking for the best of the best, go with none other than The Great British Baking Show. Sweet dreams, bakers. — A.F.
How to watch: The Great British Baking Show is now streaming on Netflix.
1. Headspace: Guide to Sleep
If all else fails, why not go straight to the source? A seven-part series created in 2021 for Netflix by the sleep-aid app Headspace, these animated shorts (each one runs at under 20 minutes) will lull your brain with smoothly delivered facts about dreams or sleeping pills or meditation. And each episode ends with a "guided wind-down" designed to carry you straight into slumber-town. There’s also an interactive version called "Unwind Your Mind" and an eight-episode series called "Guide to Meditation" if you need to call in the big guns. — J.A.
How to watch: Headspace: Guide to Sleep is now streaming on Netflix.
UPDATE: Nov. 15, 2024, 3:18 p.m. EST This article has been updated to reflect the current selection on Netflix.
Topics Netflix Streaming Watch Guides
