What Are The Best Series On Netflix Right Now?
- 01. What Are the Best Series on Netflix Right Now?
- 02. Top 10 Best Netflix Series in May 2026
- 03. 2026's Newest Must-Watch Netflix Series
- 04. Netflix Series Comparison by Genre and Rating
- 05. Award-Winning & Critically Acclaimed Netflix Series
- 06. International Hits on Netflix
- 07. Unscripted & Documentary Series Worth Watching
- 08. How to Choose Your Next Netflix Binge
What Are the Best Series on Netflix Right Now?
The best series on Netflix right now include top-rated originals like The Chestnut Man (100% Tomatometer), Arcane: League of Legends (100%), Beef (94%), One Piece (93%), Stranger Things (90%), The Lincoln Lawyer (season 4), The Night Agent (season 3), and 2026 newcomers like Run Away, His & Hers, and Vladimir. These shows span thriller, sci-fi, drama, and action genres, with many receiving critical acclaim and audience praise for compelling storytelling and strong performances.
Top 10 Best Netflix Series in May 2026
Based on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer rankings and current streaming availability, here are the highest-ranked Netflix originals you should watch immediately:
- The Chestnut Man - 100% Tomatometer, Danish crime thriller with gripping murder mystery
- Dark Winds - 100%, Navajo Nation police procedural set in 1971 Monument Valley
- Arcane: League of Legends - 100%, animated sci-fi masterpiece following two champions' origins
- Blood of Zeus - 100%, Greek mythology animation about Zeus' illegitimate son
- The Dragon Prince - 100%, fantasy adventure in the magical land of Xadia
- Supacell - 100%, South London superpowers drama with social commentary
- Carol & the End of the World - 100%, apocalyptic animated comedy about finding meaning
- Pokémon Concierge - 100%, heartwarming stop-motion series at Pokémon Resort
- Cyberpunk: Edgerunners - 100%, dystopian anime with 95% audience score
- Love on the Spectrum - 100%, uplifting documentary series about autism and dating
2026's Newest Must-Watch Netflix Series
Netflix launched 2026 with a killer selection of original shows that immediately captured audience attention. These fresh releases represent the platform's continued investment in star-driven grownup fare and twisty thrillers:
- Run Away - Released January 1, 2026; Harlan Coben adaptation about a father searching for his daughter with painful family secrets
- His & Hers - Starring Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal as estranged spouses colliding over a murder case in Georgia
- Vladimir - Rachel Weisz dramedy about a college professor pursuing an attractive young colleague; premiered early 2026
- The Night Agent (Season 3) - Premiered March 2026; Gabriel Basso returns for globe-trotting Istanbul investigation
- The Lincoln Lawyer (Season 4) - Adapts Michael Connelly's 2020 novel The Law of Innocence; Mickey Haller fights for his own freedom from behind bars
- Beef (Season 2) - Returned April 16, 2026; continues the road rage chaos story
- One Piece (Season 2) - Titled "Into the Grand Line," dropped March 10, 2026; 93% Tomatometer, 95% audience score
Netflix Series Comparison by Genre and Rating
The following table compares critical scores and audience reception across major Netflix series categories, helping you choose based on your preferences:
| Series Title | Genre | Tomatometer | Audience Score | Release Year/Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Chestnut Man | Crime Thriller | 100% | 75% | 2021 |
| Arcane: League of Legends | Animated Sci-Fi | 100% | 87% | 2021-2024 |
| One Piece | Adventure/Fantasy | 93% | 95% | 2023-2026 |
| Beef | Dark Comedy-Drama | 94% | 74% | 2023-2026 |
| Stranger Things | Sci-Fi/Horror | 90% | 83% | 2016-2025 |
| The Lincoln Lawyer | Legal Drama | 92% | 84% | 2022-2026 |
| Cyberpunk: Edgerunners | Anime/Sci-Fi | 100% | 95% | 2022 |
| Bridgerton | Period Romance | 83% | 72% | 2020-2026 |
| Dark Winds | Crime Procedural | 100% | 75% | 2022-2026 |
| Jo Nesbo's Detective Hole | Nordic Noir | 91% | 76% | 2026 |
Award-Winning & Critically Acclaimed Netflix Series
Netflix continues to dominate with award-winning originals that establish the platform as a serious competitor to traditional television networks. These series have received Emmy nominations, Golden Globe wins, and critical recognition:
- Better Call Saul - 98% Tomatometer, 96% audience; final season completed Saul Goodman's transformation from Breaking Bad prelude to standalone masterpiece
- The Queen's Gambit - 96% Tomatometer, 94% audience; Cold War-era chess prodigy story with Anya Taylor-Joy's breakout performance
- Baby Reindeer - 99% Tomatometer, 80% audience; Richard Gadd's trauma-driven stalker drama that became a cultural phenomenon
- Blue Eye Samurai - 97% Tomatometer, 93% audience; Edo-period Japan revenge animation with masterful swordwork
- Peaky Blinders - 93% Tomatometer, 94% audience; post-WWI British criminal gang drama starring Cillian Murphy
International Hits on Netflix
Netflix's global content strategy has produced breakout international series that resonate across Latin America, Europe, and Asia:
- Kingdom (Korea) - 98% Tomatometer; zombie plague political thriller set in朝鲜 era
- Lupin (France) - 98% Tomatometer, 79% audience; Omar Sy as gentleman thief Arsène Lupin
- Bloodhounds (Korea) - Season 2 ongoing; ex-soldiers turned amateur boxers fighting underground fight leagues
- All of Us Are Dead (Korea) - 89% Tomatometer; high school zombie outbreak survival
- One Hundred Years of Solitude (Colombia) - Part 2 coming August 2026; Gabriel García Márquez adaptation
Unscripted & Documentary Series Worth Watching
Netflix's behind-the-scenes docu-shows have become unexpectedly addictive, revealing drama in sports and entertainment industries:
- Formula 1: Drive to Survive (Season 8) - Chronicles 2025 F1 Championship, Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari move, and six rookies proving mettle
- WWE: Unreal (Season 2) - Behind cameras at WWE, featuring John Cena's heel turn, SummerSlam 2025, Becky Lynch, Rhea Ripley, and Penta
- Love on the Spectrum - 100% Tomatometer; seven autistic adults navigating dating and relationships
- Our Planet - 96% Tomatometer, 91% audience; David Attenborough-narrated WWF nature documentary
How to Choose Your Next Netflix Binge
Selecting the right series for your mood depends on genre preference, critical scores, and time commitment. For twisty thrillers, choose Run Away or The Chestnut Man; for animated masterpieces, Arcane or Cyberpunk: Edgerunners deliver visuals and storytelling excellence. If you want ongoing stories with multiple seasons, The Lincoln Lawyer, The Night Agent, and One Piece offer substantial content with renewed seasons.
Netflix's original content game remains a pretty attractive commodity in 2026, with something worthwhile for every viewer regardless of taste. The platform's investment in international productions, star-driven dramas, and innovative animation continues to set the standard for streaming excellence across Latin America and globally.
Key concerns and solutions for What Are The Best Series On Netflix Right Now
What are the best Netflix series for 2026?
The best Netflix series for 2026 are Run Away, His & Hers, Vladimir, The Night Agent Season 3, The Lincoln Lawyer Season 4, One Piece Season 2, and Beef Season 2, all released or renewed in 2026 with strong critical reception.
Which Netflix series has the highest Tomatometer score?
The Chestnut Man, Dark Winds, Arcane: League of Legends, Blood of Zeus, The Dragon Prince, Supacell, Carol & the End of the World, Pokémon Concierge, and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners all have 100% Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes as of May 2026.
Are Stranger Things still on Netflix?
Yes, Stranger Things is still on Netflix with a 90% Tomatometer and 83% audience score; the final season aired in 2025, and an animated spin-off Stranger Things: Tales From '85 premiered spring 2026.
What new Netflix series premiered in January 2026?
Run Away premiered on New Year's Day 2026 (January 1), adapting Harlan Coben's 2019 novel about a father searching for his missing daughter with twisty family secrets.
Which Netflix series are best for families and younger viewers?
Family-friendly top picks include Arcane: League of Legends (100%), The Dragon Prince (100%), Pokémon Concierge (100%), One Piece (93%), and Love on the Spectrum (100%), all with high critical scores and appropriate content.