Good Shows On Netflix And Hulu Worth Your Sunday Night
- 01. Good Shows on Netflix and Hulu: The Best Critically Acclaimed Series to Watch Now
- 02. Top Netflix Shows Critics Love in 2026
- 03. Stranger Things - The Sci-Fi Horror Phenomenon
- 04. Beef - Netflix's Best Original Comedy
- 05. The Diplomat - Political Thriller Excellence
- 06. Squid Game - Global Cultural Phenomenon
- 07. Top Hulu Shows Critics Quietly Love
- 08. Only Murders in the Building - Hulu's Highest Profile Hit
- 09. The Bear -Kitchen Drama Intensity
- 10. High Potential - Crime Comedy Drama
- 11. Shōgun - Feudal Japan Epic
- 12. Comparative Analysis: Netflix vs Hulu Quality Metrics
- 13. How to Choose Based on Your Viewing Preferences
- 14. For Comedy Lovers
- 15. For Drama Enthusiasts
- 16. For International Content Fans
- 17. For Binge-Watchers Seeking New Series
- 18. Frequently Asked Questions
Good Shows on Netflix and Hulu: The Best Critically Acclaimed Series to Watch Now
The best shows on Netflix and Hulu right now include Only Murders in the Building on Hulu (100% Rotten Tomatoes for Season 5), Stranger Things on Netflix (39.54 billion minutes viewed in 2025), Beef on Netflix (98% Certified Fresh, 8 Emmy wins), The Diplomat on Netflix (94% for Season 3), Squid Game on Netflix (22.41 billion minutes viewed), and Nobody Wants This on Netflix (89% critics score). These series represent the highest-quality streaming content that critics quietly love while delivering measurable viewer impact.
Top Netflix Shows Critics Love in 2026
Netflix continues dominating streaming with six of the top 10 most-watched original series in 2025, establishing unmatched content depth across genres. The platform's strategic investment in original programming has produced award-winning series that blend artistic excellence withmassive audience reach.
Stranger Things - The Sci-Fi Horror Phenomenon
Stranger Things Season 5 dominated 2025 with 25.1 billion minutes of viewership alone, contributing to 39.54 billion total minutes. This sci-fi horror series concluded its run as Nielsen's biggest original series, proving legacy franchises still deliver when executed with quality storytelling.
Beef - Netflix's Best Original Comedy
Beef earned 98% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and won eight Emmy Awards including Outstanding Limited Series. Starring Ali Wong and Steven Yeun (both individual Emmy winners), this psychological comedy-drama about road rage rivals represents Netflix's comedic masterpiece released in 2023 that remains unmatched.
The Diplomat - Political Thriller Excellence
The Diplomat Season 3 achieved 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, surpassing Season 1's 84% and approaching Season 2's 96%. Keri Russell's performance as U.S. Ambassador Kate Wyler demonstrates stellar critic reviews for this political series with overall 91% critic rating.
Squid Game - Global Cultural Phenomenon
Squid Game finished 2025 as the most-watched original series in streaming history with 22.41 billion minutes viewed. The South Korean thriller's final season concluded in June 2025, cementing international content dominance on Netflix's platform.
- Stranger Things: 39.54 billion minutes
- Squid Game: 22.41 billion minutes
- Wednesday: 20+ billion minutes
- Beef: 98% Rotten Tomatoes, 8 Emmys
- The Diplomat: 94% Season 3, 91% overall
- Nobody Wants This: 89% critics score, Season 2
Top Hulu Shows Critics Quietly Love
Hulu's curated excellence strategy focuses on fewer but higher-quality original series, with FX partnerships producing prestige television that critics consistently praise. The platform's 2026 lineup features perennial favorites alongside fresh critical darlings.
Only Murders in the Building - Hulu's Highest Profile Hit
Only Murders in the Building Season 5 achieved a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics, making it one of Hulu's best shows with seven Emmy wins and 49 total nominations. Steve Martin, Selena Gomez, and Martin Short's true-crime podcast mystery continues delivering consistent new seasons annually since 2021.
The Bear -Kitchen Drama Intensity
The Bear Season 4 debuted June 2025 on FX/Hulu with all ten episodes available simultaneously. While Season 4 holds 77% critic rating (lowest in series history), Seasons 1-3 remain highest-rated, and audience reception improved to 81% fresh on Popcornmeter. Jeremy Allen White's performance demonstrates kitchen crew dynamics revealing chosen family themes.
High Potential - Crime Comedy Drama
High Potential features Kaitlin Olson as Morgan, a single mom with exceptional intellectual potential who becomes police consultant. The show ended its season with series-best ratings, running approximately 43 minutes with commercials. This ABC crime drama combines unusual detective team dynamics with accessible 25-30 minute episodes.
Shōgun - Feudal Japan Epic
Shōgun achieved Universal Acclaim with 85 Metacritic score from 41 critic reviews. Set in 1600 Japan, Hiroyuki Sanada and Cosmo Jarvis star in this FX limited series adaptation now streaming on Hulu. The hour-long episodes deliver prestige production values with civil war stakes.
- Only Murders in the Building: 100% RT Season 5, 7 Emmys
- The Bear: 77% RT Season 4, улучшенное audience 81%
- High Potential: Series-best ratings, 2 seasons/31 episodes
- Shōgun: 85 Metacritic, Universal Acclaim
- Grotesquerie: FX/Hulu horror anthology
Comparative Analysis: Netflix vs Hulu Quality Metrics
| Show Title | Platform | Critic Score | Awards/Recognition | Viewership (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stranger Things | Netflix | N/A | Nielsen #1 Original | 39.54B minutes |
| Squid Game | Netflix | N/A | Most-watched streaming | 22.41B minutes |
| Beef | Netflix | 98% RT | 8 Emmys | 5.8M opening |
| The Diplomat S3 | Netflix | 94% RT | 91% overall | Top original |
| Nobody Wants This | Netflix | 89% RT | Global #1 Netflix | Biggest rom-com |
| Only Murders S5 | Hulu | 100% RT | 7 Emmys, 49 noms | Hulu's best |
| The Bear S4 | Hulu/FX | 77% RT | Multiple nominations | Fresh audience 81% |
| Shōgun | Hulu/FX | 85 Metacritic | Universal Acclaim | Prestige limited |
How to Choose Based on Your Viewing Preferences
Selecting the right show depends on your specific genre preferences and viewing priorities. Netflix offers volume and variety with six top-10 shows, while Hulu provides curated prestige with higher average critic scores per title.
For Comedy Lovers
Choose Beef for dark psychological comedy with relationship depth, or Only Murders in the Building for lighter murder-mystery humor with celebrity guests. Beef's road rage premise creates complex soulmate dynamics while Only Murders delivers eccentric neighbor chemistry.
For Drama Enthusiasts
The Diplomat offers high-stakes political maneuvering with marriage tension, while The Bear provides intense kitchen drama with family themes. Stranger Things balances sci-fi horror with coming-of-age elements for broader appeal.
For International Content Fans
Squid Game remains the definitive Korean thriller experience, and Shōgun delivers authentic feudal Japanese historical drama. Both shows demonstrate global storytelling excellence with subtitle-friendly formats.
For Binge-Watchers Seeking New Series
Nobody Wants This Season 2 offers accessible romantic comedy with Kristen Bell and Adam Brody. High Potential provides procedural crime drama with fresh detective partnership dynamics in shorter episodes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Helpful tips and tricks for Good Shows On Netflix And Hulu Worth Your Sunday Night
What are the best shows on Netflix right now?
The best shows on Netflix right now are Stranger Things (39.54 billion minutes viewed in 2025), Squid Game (22.41 billion minutes), Beef (98% Rotten Tomatoes, 8 Emmys), The Diplomat (94% Season 3), and Nobody Wants This (89% critics).
What are the best shows on Hulu right now?
The best shows on Hulu right now are Only Murders in the Building (100% Rotten Tomatoes Season 5, 7 Emmys), The Bear (77% RT Season 4, FX partnership), High Potential (series-best ratings), and Shōgun (85 Metacritic, Universal Acclaim).
Which Netflix show has the highest critic score?
Beef has Netflix's highest critic score at 98% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, winning eight Emmy Awards including Outstanding Limited Series. The Diplomat Season 3 follows at 94%, and Nobody Wants This Season 2 at 89%.
Which Hulu show has the highest critic score?
Only Murders in the Building Season 5 achieved a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics, making it Hulu's highest-rated current series. The show has seven Emmy wins and 49 total nominations since 2021.
Are these shows appropriate for families?
Most top-rated shows carry TV-MA ratings (Beef, The Bear, Shōgun, The Diplomat) due to mature content, while Only Murders in the Building is TV-MA for crime themes. Stranger Things is TV-14, making it more family-accessible with parental guidance.
How many seasons are available for each show?
Only Murders in the Building has 6 seasons, Stranger Things has 5 seasons (completed 2025), The Bear has 4 seasons, Beef has 2 seasons, The Diplomat has 3 seasons, and Nobody Wants This has 2 seasons.
