It's a competitive world out there for the streaming giants these days. Between Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, and more, it's certainly challenging for viewers to keep up with all the acclaimed series that are seemingly available with the push of a button. Netflix in particular has had numerous universally beloved series to its name over the years. Indeed, for many, Netflix was likely the first major streaming service they had subscribed to.
Updated January 12th, 2023: If you are here for Netflix's highest-rated TV shows, you'll be happy to know we've updated this article with new entries.
What's more, Netflix holds the title as the first streaming service to exclusively produce a TV show — this would be House of Cards in 2013. Within the last decade, it's evident that the platform has exponentially increased its production of original TV series, offering an array of shows across genres, languages, and perspectives. There has been so much content, that it's always a blessing to narrow it down by the most critically acclaimed, as Rotten Tomatoes has done. Here's a closer look at the streamer's finest TV shows to date, according to Rotten Tomatoes and its infamous "Tomatometers."
10 Kleo (2022-Present) — 100% Based on 10 Critic Reviews
Kleo is a German spy thriller that is worth a watch for anyone who enjoys shows like Killing Eve. The eight-part series follows a former East German spy killer Kleo Straub (played by Jella Haase), who is imprisoned for a crime she didn't commit. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Kleo is set free and embarks on a revenge spree.
Upon its release, Kleo stunned audiences and critics with an entertaining, highly stylized, and very funny cinematic adventure. The good news is that Netflix renewed the German-language series Kleo for season 2.
9 Katla (2021-Present) — 100% Based on 10 Critic reviews
Created by Baltasar Kormákur and Sigurjón Kjartansson and shot in the Icelandic town of Vik, the dark and mysterious eight-part series Katla tells a story about a community living in the shadow of the catastrophic eruption of the volcano. Soon after the disaster, the survivors realize that unnatural visitors, covered in ash, start showing up from the volcano and cause the community to confront their demons.
Like German Netflix hit Dark, Netflix's first original series out of Iceland will chill you to the core. Fortunately, there is a high probability that there will be Katla season 2.
8 Blood of Zeus (2020-Present) — 100% Based on 20 Critic Reviews
Set in the world of Greek mythology, Blood of Zeus revolves around Heron, the demigod son of Zeus, trying to save Olympus and Earth. Though Heron himself is an original character created exclusively for the show, the existence of such demigods born of the union between a god and a human is implied to be common in the original myths.
The show claims in its prologue to be one of the tales "lost to history" and features gods, giants, demons, and more. The series was released in October 2020 on Netflix, and, in early December 2020, it was renewed for a second season. According to the creators, they have five seasons outlined, and if each of them are made, this could become one of the best animated shows of all time.
7 Feel Good (2020-2021) — 100% Based on 22 Critic Reviews
Feel Good is a queer love story from Canadian comedian Mae Martin and the writer Joe Hampson. The Netflix two-season comedy-drama stars Martin as a fictionalized version of themselves and Charlotte Ritchie as Mae's girlfriend, Georgina "George" Lawson. Lisa Kudrow steps into the role of Mae's mother.
In their brittle and razor-sharp semi-autobiographical series, Martin explores heavy themes, including gender identity, sexual abuse, addiction, and trauma. Variety wrote, "Feel Good feels lowkey, insightful and real in a way that so much of TV tries to be, but rarely achieves quite like this — and yes, it also can feel pretty damn good".
6 Giri/Haji (2019) — 100% Based on 24 Critic Reviews
It's too bad this one was canceled after one season. The sprawling, ensemble-cast series Giri/Haji followed Kenzo (Takehiro Hira), a Tokyo detective who travels to London in search of his brother Yuto, who was previously assumed to be dead. Yuto has been accused of murdering the nephew of a Yakuza member, which threatens to start a gang war in Tokyo.
As Kenzo attempts to navigate the unfamiliar territory of London to uncover whether his brother is alive and guilty, he becomes acquainted with DC Sarah Weitzmann (Kelly Macdonald) of the Metropolitan Police and Rodney Yamaguchi (The White Lotus star Will Sharpe), a young half-Japanese, half-British sex worker. Kenzo's investigation brings him into contact with dangerous elements of London's criminal underworld, which ultimately involves the troubled son of a Pittsburgh gangster (played by the scene-stealing Justin Long). In addition to critics' praise, the show became a bingeworthy favorite early on in the COVID-19 pandemic due to the timing of its streaming release.
5 Arcane (2021-Present) — 100% Based on 26 Critic reviews
Arcane is based on the League of Legends franchise. Released in November 2021, the series tells the origins of Jinx (Ella Purnell) and Vi (Hailee Steinfeld), sisters on opposing ends of a political event in the making. We witness the chaos unfold in the world of Arcane through their eyes as attacks and events boil over.
Upon its release, Arcane became Netflix’s highest-rated series within a week of its premiere. Riot Games and Netflix announced a second season to Arcane shortly thereafter, promising more of what audiences love. The forward-thinking animation alone is simply stunning and not to be missed.
4 Mo (2022-Present) — 100% Based on 33 Critic Reviews
From the creator of Hulu's hit series Ramy, Mo follows the titular character (played by Mohammed Amer) as he straddles the line between two cultures, three languages, and a ton of nonsense as a Palestinian refugee constantly living one step away from asylum on the path to U.S. citizenship. His family, including his resilient and spiritual mother, sister, and older brother, flees to Houston.
Laughing the pain away, Mo learns to adapt to his new world, though getting ahead in life comes with several setbacks. The series has received critical acclaim for being one of the first major American shows to portray a Palestinian-American refugee as the protagonist.
3 Dash & Lily (2020) — 100% Based on 35 Critic Reviews
Set during the Christmas season, Dash & Lily follows two teenagers living in New York City, who develop mutual romantic feelings as they open up to each other by trading messages as well as dares in a notebook around a multitude of locations. Along the way, they deal with how their blossoming romance affects and is impacted by friends, family members, and previous love interests.
A whirlwind holiday romance builds as cynical Dash (Austin Abrams) and optimistic Lily (Midori Francis) trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations all across the Big Apple. The series at large is a Christmas gem for the holiday season, and perfect for anyone seeking out some new classic content in the genre. It's a shame the show was canceled!
2 Heartstopper (2022-Present) — 100% Based on 56 Critic Reviews
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Heartstopper was very much in the news at the end of 2022. First, per Variety, series lead Joe Locke has signed on to star in a WandaVision spinoff. And then, its other lead Kit Connor came out as bisexual following controversial, online backlash. But before all this, Heartstopper hit the masses and was a heartwarming success.
Based on a graphic novel of the same by Alice Oseman, the series was also written by her. The plot centers mainly on Charlie, who falls in love with his classmate Nick, but it also explores other characters, such as Tao, Elle, Tara, and Darcy. And it's been announced that the series has been renewed for a second and third season!
1 The Baby-Sitters Club (2020-2021) — 100% Based on 69 Reviews
Based on Ann M. Martin's book series, The Baby-Sitters Club follows seven friends as they start their own babysitting business. As demand for their club continues to grow, the founders welcome a couple new additions to their ranks. With the new school year comes booming business, new relationships, personal journeys, and important lessons — but through it all, the club is there for each other every step of the way.
The series was sadly canceled at Netflix after a two-season run, with no plans to develop a third season. Maybe a Netflix film down the line? Only time will tell.