We all know the hunt for the next Netflix binge never ends. To make your search a little easier, we've rounded up a slew of the best shows to watch on Netflix right now.
Grab the snacks and get comfy, here are the best shows on Netflix NZ.
BEEF
BEEF follows the aftermath of a road rage incident between two strangers. Danny Cho (Steven Yeun), a failing contractor with a chip on his shoulder, goes head-to-head with Amy Lau (Ali Wong), a self-made entrepreneur with a picture-perfect life. Watch it from April 6.
Translatlantic
Transatlantic is inspired by the true story of Varian Fry, Mary Jayne Gold and the Emergency Rescue Committee. Risking their lives to help more than 2000 refugees escape occupied France, including many artists on the Nazis’ most-wanted list. Watch it from April 7.
Peaky Blinders
Don your best tweed suits, Peaky Blinders season six is here. If you haven’t watched this one yet, firstly—shame on you. Secondly, it’s basically about a notorious gang in 1919 Birmingham, England, led by the fierce Tommy Shelby, a crime boss set on moving up in the world no matter the cost. Season six kicks off at Norfolk Prison where Michael is released and obviously, wants some hardcore revenge on ol’ TShelby. We’re also due to see whether Lizzie and Tommy and stick it out after last season’s scandalous reveal. Watch it here.
Wellmania
We mean, there's not much comedian, actress and writer Celeste Barber can't do. Now, the queen has launched her very own series with Netflix. When human tornado and food critic Liv (Barber) is diagnosed with ‘catastrophic health’, trapping her in Australia and jeopardising her dream job in New York, she throws herself body-first into a radical wellness journey, hell-bent on getting well to return home. Watch it here.
Formula 1: Drive To Survive
No doubt you'll have heard someone raving about Drive To Survive. This docuseries (which now spans five seasons) is a gripping, high-octane insight into one of the biggest racing comps in the world (which is a mammoth multi-billion dollar industry). It goes into the world of Formula 1 driving, behind the families, the teams and the drivers in the ultimate fight to be number one. The best part? There are five big energy seasons to binge. Wet your whistle, here.
YOU
For those still playing at home, season four of Netflix's famed psychological thriller about a bookstore manager who becomes unconscionably infatuated with a multitude of women is here. You needs no introduction, starring Penn Badgley as the aforementioned stalker with a toxic obsession for pursuing all-in-or-nothing relationships, complete with a part one and part two drop. This time, Joe Goldberg takes up yet another new identity for himself known as Professor Jonathon Moore (lord help us). Binge part one here and part two will drop on March 10.
African Queens: Njinga
From Executive Producer Jada Pinkett Smith comes a new documentary series exploring the lives of prominent and iconic African Queens. The first season will cover the life of Njinga, the complex, captivating, and fearless 17th-century warrior queen of Ndongo and Matamba, in modern-day Angola. The nation’s first female ruler, Njinga earned a reputation for her blend of political and diplomatic skill with military prowess and became an icon of resistance. Watch it from February 15.
The Witcher: Blood Origin
Set in an elven world 1200 years before the world of The Witcher, Blood Origin is the story about one of seven outcasts who unite against a mega power that seemingly took everything from them. Watch it from December 25.
Wednesday
From acclaimed director Tim Burton, Wednesday follows a sarcastic, smart and a little dead inside Wednesday Addams as she investigates a supernaturally-infused murder spree at her new school Nevermore. Wednesday's attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorised the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago—all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships at Nevermore. Expect an unexpectedly wild ride. Binge it here.
Emily In Paris
Indeed, season three of Emily In Paris is finally here. One year after moving from Chicago to Paris for her dream job, Emily finds herself at a crucial crossroads in every aspect of her life. Faced with two very different paths, Emily will have to decide exactly where her loyalties lie—at work or in her romantic life. Watch it here.
Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet Of Curiosities
In Cabinet Of Curiosities, acclaimed Academy Award-winning filmmaker and creator, executive producer and co-showrunner Guillermo del Toro has pulled together a collection of unprecedented and genre-defining stories meant to challenge our traditional notions of horror. From macabre to magical, gothic to grotesque or classically creepy, these eight sinister tales are bound to keep you up at night (so lock your doors). Watch it here.
The Watcher
After the Brannock family moves into what was supposed to be their suburban dream home, it quickly becomes a living hell. Ominous letters from someone calling themself “The Watcher” (creepy, right?) are just the beginning as the neighbourhood’s sinister secrets come spilling out. To make things even worse this series is Inspired by the true story of the infamous “Watcher” house in New Jersey. Watch it here.
DAHMER
Okay, not to be confused with Conversations With A Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes which (you can find more info on that one in our best Netflix documentaries)—DAHMER is the series-take on one of America's most notorious serial killers. Between 1978 and 1991, Jeffrey Dahmer gruesomely took the lives of seventeen innocent victims and this show is set to centre around the victims and their communities impacted by the systemic racism and institutional failures of the police that allowed Dahmer to continue his murderous spree in plain sight for over a decade. Watch it from September 21.
Heartbreak High
The reimagining of the 90s Australian YA series, which ran for seven seasons, follows Amerie who forges a mysterious and very public rift with her ride-or-die Harper at Hartley High. With her new friends, outsiders Quinni and Darren, Amerie tries to repair her reputation, while navigating love, sex, and heartbreak. We are swooning hard. Watch it from September 14.
Cobra Kai
Following the shocking results of the All Valley Tournament, season five finds Terry Silver expanding the Cobra Kai empire and trying to make his "No Mercy" style of karate the only game in town. With Kreese behind bars and Johnny Lawrence setting karate aside to focus on repairing the damage he’s caused, Daniel LaRusso must call on an old friend for help. Watch it here.
The Sandman
If you're obsessed with myths, dark fantasy and historical dramas then you'll want to get all up in The Sandman. The show follows the people and places affected by Morpheus, the Dream King, as he mends the cosmic and human mistakes he's made during his vast existence. Watch it from August 5.
Never Have I Ever
In season three of the coming-of-age comedy Never Have I Ever, teenager Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) continues to deal with the everyday pressures of high school and drama at home, while also navigating new romantic relationships. It's brilliant and, unsurprisingly, the brainchild of Mindy Kaling—TV royalty. Watch it here.
Stranger Things Season 4, Volume 2
It's been a hot minute since we binged the entirety of Stranger Things season four, volume one but fear not—volume two is close. In case you haven't caught up (you'll want to get on that, stat), we won't drop any spoilers from the end of volume two however, we did have some tissues nearby. The quest to end Vecna's curse however continues. Volume two will bring about two new episodes, you can watch them here.
The Umbrella Academy
After putting a stop to 1963's doomsday, the Umbrella Academy return home to the present, convinced they prevented the initial apocalypse and fixed this godforsaken timeline once and for all. But after a brief moment of celebration, they realise things aren’t exactly how they left them. Enter the Sparrow Academy. Smart, stylish, and about as warm as a sea of icebergs, the Sparrows immediately clash with the Umbrellas in a violent face-off that turns out to be the least of everyone’s concerns. Watch it here.
Love, Death & Robots
In our eyes, Love Death & Robots is quite possibly one of the best TV series around. If you’ve been watching since season one, you’ll know exactly why. If you’ve never been into animation, LDR is the one show that will change your mind. This gem brings us a compilation of animated short stories, spanning across multiple genres such as, fantasy, fiction, horror and comedy. Each episode was produced with the intention of being easy to watch, but hard to forget and range from five to 17-minute stories. Watch it here.
Love On The Spectrum US
For a show guaranteed to deliver the warm fuzzies, this insightful docu-reality series follows people on the autism spectrum as they navigate the world of dating and relationships. Following the success of the multi-award-winning Australian series, this US-based series tells the stories of a unique and diverse cast of characters searching for something we all hope to find, love. Simply delightful. Binge it here.
Clark
Fictional drama series Clark follows the man behind the expression “The Stockholm syndrome” on his life journey as he fooled all of Sweden to fall in love with him, despite several counts of drug trafficking, attempted murder, assault, theft and dozens of bank robberies. Based on the truths and lies revealed in Clark Olofsson’s autobiography and directed by Jonas Åkerlund, the series provides a fictional take on one of the most controversial personalities in contemporary Swedish history. Watch it right here.
The Sound Of Magic
Netflix’s latest fantasy K-drama is a non-negotiable on your binge list. The Sound Of Magic tells of a magician living in an abandoned theme park who makes troubles disappear for a disenchanted teen enduring some pretty harsh realities of debt and academic success. Watch it from May 6.
Anatomy Of A Scandal
If you’ve read the bestselling novel of the same name by Sarah Vaughn, you’ll know this is a big deal. A psychological thriller and gripping courtroom drama, the series infiltrates Britain's elite through a personal and political scandal. James and Sophie Whitehouse live in a blissful world. A Minister in Parliament, a loving family at home, James' trajectory appears without limits. Until a scandalous secret suddenly comes to light. Barrister Kate Woodcroft has a trajectory of her own, and her prosecution threatens to tear into Westminster and the Whitehouse marriage. This is a juicy series you can't afford to miss. Watch it here.
Heartstopper
While most high school series these days delve into sex and drugs (and rock 'n' roll?), Heartstopper is a new-age show bound to bring some heartwarming scenes to a weekend Netflix binge. The show, an adaptation of Alice Oseman's webcomic and graphic novel of the same name, spans eight episodes whereby teenagers Charlie and Nick discover their unlikely friendship might be something a little bit more as they navigate their way through the cesspit of high school drama and young love. Watch Heartstopper from April 22.
Russian Doll Season 2
Set four years after Nadia (Natasha Lyonne) and Alan (Charlie Barnett) escaped mortality’s time loop together, season two of Russian Doll will continue its humorous and sci-fi take. This season finds Nadia and Alan delving deeper into their pasts through an unexpected time portal located in one of Manhattan’s most notorious locations. At first, they experience this as an ever-expanding, era-spanning, intergenerational adventure. Watch it here.
Bridgerton Season 2
From Shondaland and Creator Chris Van Dusen, Bridgerton follows Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor), the eldest daughter of the powerful Bridgerton family as she makes her debut onto Regency London’s competitive marriage market. While the end of season one (warning: spoiler alert) saw Daphne Bridgerton and Simon AKA the Duke Of Hastings in wedded bliss, welcoming their first child together, season two will centre around big brother Lord Anthony. In particular, the series will focus on his quest for true love—perhaps he might take some tips from his younger sister Daphne. Watch Bridgerton season two here.
Human Resources
From the inventive minds that brought us the award-winning adult animation, Big Mouth comes the even edgier and adult-ier Human Resources. The spin-off pulls back the curtain on the daily lives of the creatures—Hormone Monsters, Depression Kitties, Shame Wizards and many more, helping humans journey through every aspect of life from puberty to parenthood to the twilight years. Featuring an all-star voice cast—including Nick Kroll, Maya Rudolph and David Thewlis reprising their Big Mouth roles. Watch Human Resources here.
Vikings: Valhalla
Set over a hundred years after the end of the original Vikings series (you’re all over that, right?), this spinoff chronicles heroic adventures of some of the most famous Vikings who ever lived—the legendary explorer Leif Eriksson (Sam Corlett), his fiery and headstrong sister Freydis Eriksdotter (Frida Gustavsson) and the ever-ambitious Nordic prince, Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter). At this point in history, tensions between the Vikings and English royals are at breaking point. Watch it here.
The Cuphead Show!
Based on the award-winning video game of 2017 that smashed onto the scene with a stunning retro animation style (inspired by the likes of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Fleischer Studios), The Cuphead Show! is a character-driven comedy series following the unique misadventures of loveable, impulsive scamp Cuphead and his easily swayed brother Mugman. The two spend their days exploring their surreal home of the Inkwell Isles and getting up to all sorts of mayhem. And yes, this Netflix show is indeed made for adults.
Inventing Anna
If you haven’t heard the story of convicted fraudster Anna Delvey (more notably known as the ‘Soho grifter’), you’re in for a treat. Inventing Anna, written by Shonda Rhimes, is based on the real-life events of the aforementioned con woman who basically went out and convinced all of New York’s high society and socialite scene that she was a German heiress. The truth? Her name was Anna Sorokin and was a con artist from Russia. In Inventing Anna, a journalist with a lot to prove investigates the case of Anna Delvey, the Instagram-legendary German heiress who worked her way up the social ranks of New York and scammed hotels, banks, art dealers—the lot. Anna and the reporter form a dark, funny love-hate bond as Anna awaits trial and our reporter fights the clock to answer the biggest question in NYC: who is Anna Delvey?
All Of Us Are Dead
We hate to make parallels to Squid Game but let's just say All Of Us Are Dead is the new K-series that will fill that void. A group of students trapped in a high school find themselves in dire situations as they seek to be rescued from a zombie invasion of their school. It’s heinous, it’s messy and it’s damn amazing.
Murderville
Murderville is comedy meets crime and we’re absolutely here for it. Meet Senior Detective Terry Seattle (Will Arnett), Homicide Division. For Terry, every day means a new murder case and a new celebrity guest star as his partner. But here’s the catch: each episode's guest star isn’t being given the script. They have no idea what’s about to happen to them. Together, the guest star and Terry Seattle will have to improvise their way through the case and we guarantee you’ll be rolling on the floor with actual laughter.
The Sinner S4
The Sinner season four is here and look, regardless of your season three thoughts—you’re going to watch it. As always, Detective Harry Ambrose finds himself investigating atrocious murder cases, this time, within the mysterious happenings of a small fishing town.
Getting Curious With Jonathan Van Ness
Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness is a quirky exploration of topics and questions that make the iconic JVN curious. From skyscrapers to bugs, or from gender identity to snacks, each episode follows Jonathan as he meets with experts in various fields to uncover complexities in a wide range of subjects.
The Journalist
Get ready to sink your teeth into Netflix's new must-watch Japanese thriller. An adaptation of the 2019 hit theatrical feature film of the same name, this show is a mega bucket of Japanese political crimes and scandals, all of which have actually happened in recent years.
The House
We’re calling it, this is the year animation will truly shine so set your sights on Netflix’s fresh animated dark comedy, The House. This series is, unsurprisingly, about a house and the three wacky tales of the individuals that made it their home. The stop-motion anthology has been making big headlines so make sure you don’t miss it.
Cheer Season 2
It feels like an eternity since we first set our sights on the nationally-ranked Navarro College Bulldogs Cheer Team from Corsicana, Texas. The docuseries was an Emmy-winning breakout sensation and our non-athletic souls were privy to learning all things mat talk, the difference between spotters and flyers and every intricate detail of the cheer-lebrity world.
Now, season two is here (January 12) and this time there’s buzz around Navarro’s newfound stardom that threatens to alter the dynamic of the cheer team, COVID-19 upends the 2020 cheer season and a serious criminal accusation is levied at one of the teammates. Against that dramatic backdrop, the new nine-episode season expands to showcase Navarro’s fiercest rival as well—Trinity Valley Community College.
Stay Close
With trademark thrills, gripping suspense and secrets of past crimes beginning to unravel, Stay Close questions how much you really know someone. Four people each conceal dark secrets from those closest to them; Megan (Jumbo) a working mother of three, Ray (Armitage), a once-promising documentary photographer, Broome (Nesbitt) a detective unable to let go of a missing person’s cold case, and Lorraine (Parish), an old friend of Megan's. As the past comes back to haunt them, threatening to ruin their lives and the lives of those around them, what will be their next move? This one drops 31 December.
Queer Eye
The Witcher
Season two of The Witcher is finally here. Convinced Yennefer’s life was lost at the Battle of Sodden, Geralt of Rivia brings Princess Cirilla to the safest place he knows, his childhood home of Kaer Morhen. While the Continent’s kings, elves, humans and demons strive for supremacy outside its walls, he must protect the girl from something far more dangerous: the mysterious power she possesses inside.
Money Heist
High octane Spanish Emmy-award-winning show Money Heist is back for the second release of part five and we discover the professor is for once out of a plan. For the uninitiated (where have you been?) arguably the most popular Netflix show in the world goes like this. Eight thieves specifically selected for their individual criminal smarts take hostages and lock themselves in the Royal Mint of Spain as a criminal mastermind manipulates the police to carry out his plan. Best watched with subtitles, expect plenty of action interspersed with flashbacks and character revelations along the way that’ll soon have you rooting for the ‘bad guys’. Strap in.
Lost In Space
In the third and final season of Lost in Space, the stakes are higher than ever and the Robinson family's survival instincts will be put to the ultimate test. After a year of being trapped on a mysterious planet, Judy, Penny, Will and the Robot must lead the 97 young Colonists in a harrowing evacuation—but not before secrets are unearthed that will change their lives forever. Meanwhile, John and Maureen must battle overwhelming odds as they try to reunite with their kids. The Robinsons will have to grapple with the emotional challenge of not just being lost—but being separated from the ones they love... as they face the greatest alien threat yet.
School Of Chocolate
Eight top pastry and chocolate professionals are coming to School of Chocolate to take their skills and careers to the next level. Their teacher is world-renowned chocolatier, Amaury Guichon, known globally for creating mind-blowing chocolate showpieces and unbelievable pastries. One lucky student who manages to prove themselves ‘Best in Class' after eight episodes will win a prize package that includes a career-changing opportunity. Pro tip: keep the sweet snacks close for this one.
True Story
From the team behind Narcos, comes True Story, an epic drama starring Kevin Hart as you’ve never seen him before. It follows Kid (Hart), a recovering addict who is fast on his way to becoming the world’s most famous comedian—his new superhero movie is nearing a billion dollars at the box office and he’s about to kick off a sold-out stand-up tour in his hometown, Philadelphia. But things take a seriously dark turn when he wakes up after a night of partying next to a dead woman. His older brother Carlton (Wesley Snipes) promises to help Kid out but where Carlton goes, trouble always follows.
Tiger King 2
With Joe Exotic behind bars and Carole Baskin closing in on ownership of his disreputable zoo, the Emmy-nominated saga continues its twisted course with Tiger King 2 as newfound revelations emerge on the motivations, backstories, and secrets of America’s most notorious big cat owners. Old enemies and frenemies, including Jeff Lowe, Tim Stark, Allen Glover, and James Garretson return for another season of murder, mayhem, and madness. Thought you knew the whole story? Just you wait.
Cowboy Bebop
Based on the beloved anime series Cowboy Bebop is an action-packed space Western about three bounty hunters, aka “cowboys,” all trying to outrun the past. As different as they are deadly, Spike Spiegel (John Cho), Jet Black (Mustafa Shakir), and Faye Valentine (Daniella Pineda) form a scrappy, snarky crew ready to hunt down the solar system’s most dangerous criminals—for the right price. But they can only kick and quip their way out of so many scuffles before their pasts finally catch up with them.
Hellbound
Unbelievable demonstrations of hell take place in the middle of Seoul right in front of crowds. Mysterious beings condemn individuals to be Hellbound, and otherworldly beings appear exactly at the specified time to kill the condemned in a brutal burning. Rising above the utter chaos resulting from these inexplicable supernatural occurrences is the commanding voice of Jung Jinsu, the leader of an up-and-coming religious organization, The New Truth. He claims that only sinners are marked for condemnation and that these occurrences represent the divine will to make humans righteous. A group of his followers with blind faith, the Arrowhead, take into their own hands the punishment of those who go against the divine will.
Narcos: Mexico
Set in the 90s, when the globalization of the drug business ignites, Season three examines the war that breaks out after Felix’s arrest. As newly independent cartels struggle to survive political upheaval and escalating violence, a new generation of Mexican kingpins emerge. But in this war, truth is the first casualty - and every arrest, murder and take-done only pushes real victory further away…
YOU
Season three is finally here and we find Joe and Love, now married and raising their baby in the balmy Northern California enclave of Madre Linda. Surrounded by privileged tech entrepreneurs, judgmental mommy bloggers, and Insta-famous biohackers, Joe is committed to his new role as a husband and dad but fears Love’s lethal impulsiveness. And then there’s the matter of his heart. Could the woman he’s been searching for all this time live right next door? Breaking out of a cage in a basement is one thing. But the prison of a picture-perfect marriage to a woman who’s wise to your tricks? Well, that’ll prove a much more complicated escape.
MAID
Inspired by the New York Times best-selling memoir, Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive by Stephanie Land, MAID follows the story of Alex, a single mother who turns to housecleaning to—barely—make ends meet as she escapes an abusive relationship and overcomes homelessness to create a better life for her daughter, Maddy. Seen through the emotional yet humorous lens of a desperate but determined woman, this series is a raw and inspiring exploration of a mother’s resilience.
Squid Game
It’s the twisted and dark K-drama that is absolutely ruining the internet right now and if you can handle some serious gore and brutality (like, a lot of it), this epic show is for you. The premise of Squid Game is a battle royale-type situation, the ‘Hunger Games’ for hundreds of people in mass debt. Contestants basically compete in various rounds of mysterious and deadly survival games, which are actually sick twists on childhood games (like Redlight, Greenlight, tug-o-war and marbles) to win 45.6 billion won prize money to pull them out of their massive debt. The only thing is, when you lose a game, you die.
And here are all the best movies to watch on Netflix right now.
Image credit: Netflix.