Netflix has its fair share of exclusive titles in the form of Netflix Originals, but of all the titles in the niche library, only a few can truly be recognized for being groundbreaking.Some pioneered new film-making techniques, others raised the bar for animation, and a few have reshaped television today.For every new (and old) Netflix viewer, there are a few shows that I recommend for their excellence.
Here are five game-changing shows that you can only stream on Netflix.Adolescence A tense story told with no interruptions A recent Netflix show that captured a global audience is also one of its shortest ones.is a British psychological crime thriller with a heavy plot.
Set in an English town, the show follows Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), a young boy who is taken into custody on suspicion of the murder of his classmate, Katie Leonard.also shows how Jamie's father, Eddie (Stephen Graham), and his family deal with the news and its repercussions while facing backlash from their community.What stands out about the show's cinematography is that all four episodes were filmed in one continuous shot (including some showstopping tracking shots), which earned it widespread recognition.
The excellent technique only adds to the tension of the story, leveling up the viewing experience by unfolding the story in real time.received an impressive thirteen nominations at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards and won nine, including acting wins for Graham and Cooper.Adolescence TV-MA Crime Drama Release Date March 13, 2025 Network Netflix Directors Philip Barantini Cast Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper, Bidi Iredale, Amélie Pease, Christine Tremarco, Faye Marsay, Ashley Walters, Austin Haynes, Mark Stanley, Jo Hartley, Erin Doherty Writers Stephen Graham, Jack Thorne Main Genre Drama Creator(s) Stephen Graham, Jack Thorne Producers Jo Johnson Seasons 1 Executive Producer(s) Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Mark Herbert, Stephen Graham, Jack Thorne, Jeremy Kleiner, Nina Wolarsky, Philip Barantini, Emily Feller Powered by Expand Collapse House of Cards The leader of the pack is a pioneer in many ways, being the show that pretty much put Netflix Originals on the map.
The political thriller follows ambitious Congressman Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his wife, Claire (Robin Wright), as they scheme, manipulate, and eliminate anyone standing in the way of their climb up the political ladder.As Frank's plans grow bolder after a betrayal, the pair become ruthless in their pursuit of influence, turning Washington politics into their personal chessboard.proved that a streaming service could create a show that took traditional shows head-on: it went on to receive dozens of Primetime Emmy Award nominations and became the first streaming series to earn major Emmy recognition.
It also helped make binge-watching the norm by releasing an entire season at once instead of following a weekly schedule.House of Cards TV-MA Drama Thriller Release Date 2013 - 2018-00-00 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming RENT BUY Network Netflix Cast Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, Amy Lynn Stewart, Michael Kelly, Kristen Connolly, Sebastian Arcelus, Nathan Darrow, Kate Mara, Constance Zimmer, Patricia Clarkson, Neve Campbell, Jayne Atkinson, Sakina Jaffrey, Dominique McElligott, Derek Cecil, Sandrine Holt, Boris McGiver, Mozhan Marnò, Corey Stoll, Gerald McRaney, Kim Dickens, Lars Mikkelsen, Damian Young, Mahershala Ali, Joel Kinnaman Showrunner Beau Willimon Directors James Foley, Alik Sakharov, John David Coles, Agnieszka Holland, Carl Franklin, Tucker Gates, Tom Shankland, Allen Coulter, Charles McDougall, Daniel Minahan, David Fincher, Joel Schumacher, John Dahl, Roxann Dawson, Jakob Verbruggen, Michael Morris, Alex Graves, Ami Canaan Mann, Ernest R.Dickerson, Jodie Foster, Kari Skogland, Louise Friedberg, Thomas Schlamme Writers Andrew Davies, John Mankiewicz, Billy Kennedy, Laura Eason, Kenneth Lin, Tian Jun Gu, Jason Horwitch, Kate Barnow, Bill Cain, Gina Gionfriddo, Sam Forman, David Manson Main Genre Drama Creator(s) Beau Willimon Producers Bill Kennedy, Hameed Shaukat, Iain Paterson, Karen Moore, Karyn McCarthy, Keith Huff, Laura Eason, Sarah Treem, Jay Carson, Boris Malden Seasons 6 Story By Beau Willimon Streaming Service(s) Netflix Executive Producer(s) Andrew Davies, Beau Willimon, Dana Brunetti, Daniel Minahan, David Fincher, David Manson, Eric Roth, Frank Pugliese, John David Coles, John Mankiewicz, Joshua Donen, Kevin Spacey, Melissa James Gibson, Michael Dobbs, Robin Wright, John Melfi Powered by Expand Collapse Roku Ultra $81.95 $99 Save $17.05 Operating System RkuOS Connectivity luetooth, Ethernet, HDMI, USB, Wi-Fi $81.95 at Amazon Expand Collapse Ripley A noir masterpiece in black and white If you've only watched , the story does not have to fully end there.
While the 1999 film introduced many viewers to Patricia Highsmith's iconic con artist, Netflix's returns to the original novel, taking a slower and more psychological tilt.The series follows Tom Ripley, a struggling con artist hired to travel to Italy and convince wealthy heir Dickie Greenleaf to return home.But after getting a taste of Dickie's glamorous lifestyle, Ripley's assignment turns into a dangerous obsession as he spins an elaborate web of lies to capture that life for himself.
Andrew Scott's standout performance makes Ripley's character feel unsettling yet compelling.Shot entirely in stunning black and white, this is one of the most visually striking shows on Netflix today.Ripley TV-MA Drama Crime Thriller Release Date 2024 - 2024-00-00 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming Network Netflix Cast Andrew Scott, Dakota Fanning, Claudio Camilli, Francesco Formichetti, Andrea Fiorillo, Toni Pandolfo, Lorenzo Lazzarini, Giacomo Colavito, Bill Connington, Carola Abdalla Said, Johnny Flynn, Kenneth Lonergan, Simona Senzacqua, Bruno Crucitti, Pernell Walker, Steven Randazzo, Zac Jaffee, Liam Craig, Ann Cusack, Freddy Drabble, Antonio Friello, Francesca Romana Bergamo, Pasquale Esposito, Arcangelo Iannace, Vittorio Viviani Showrunner Steven Zaillian Directors Steven Zaillian Writers Steven Zaillian, Patricia Highsmith Main Genre Crime Creator(s) Steven Zaillian, Patricia Highsmith Producers Andrew Scott, Enzo Sisti Seasons 1 Streaming Service(s) Netflix Where To Watch Netflix Executive Producer(s) Benjamin Forkner, Charlie Corwin, Clayton Townsend, Garrett Basch, Guymon Casady, Philipp Keel, Sharon Levy, Steven Zaillian Powered by Expand Collapse Blue Eye Samurai Revenge is best served stunning is one of Netflix's most visually stunning animated series and shows what animation can achieve on TV.
Unfolding during Japan's traditional Edo era, the show is a classic revenge sotry served with action.The plot, deeply submerged in mystery, takes us through the journey of Mizu, a skilled swordswoman, as she tries to track down and exact vegeance on four men.Born as a half-Japanese, half-European woman in a Japan where borders are closed, and anyone who is not Japanese is shunned as an outcast, Mizu sets off to kill four men (one of whom is her father) while concealing her identity and gender.
won numerous awards across many categories, including writing, animation, editing, and production design.It combines CG animation with hand-painted textures, as well as brushstroke-inspired lighting, creating a sort of hybrid feel that has changed the game for animated shows today.Blue Eye Samurai TV-MA Animation Action Adventure Release Date November 3, 2023 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming Cast Maya Erskine, George Takei, Masi Oka, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Brenda Song, Darren Barnet, Randall Park, Kenneth Branagh Showrunner Michael Green, Amber Noizumi Directors Jane Wu Writers Michael Green, Amber Noizumi Seasons 1 Streaming Service(s) Netflix Powered by Expand Collapse Arcane A new standard for animation We can't talk about animated shows without mentioning the most expensive (and in my opinion, one of the greatest) animated shows ever made.
, which cost an estimated $250 million to produce and promote, is an incredibly visually ambitious show you can stream only on Netflix.Set in the League of Legends universe, this steampunk action animation focuses on the story of sisters Violet and Powder (Jinx) as they navigate conflict amid the tensions between a utopia (Piltover) and an underground dystopia (Zaun).After being orphaned, the two sisters go on a heist in Piltover when they are young, setting off a chain of events that result in something bigger than themselves.
also shows the potential and perils of technology while building some strong side characters that have been set up for future spin-offs.won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program in 2022, becoming the first streaming series based on a video game to do so.The best part is that you can watch even if you are not a League fan; with its stunning visuals and world-building, this series is a bingeworthy watch.
Arcane TV-14 Animation Drama Action Fantasy Release Date 2021 - 2024 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming BUY Network Netflix Cast Hailee Steinfeld, Ella Purnell, Kevin Alejandro, Jason Spisak, Toks Olagundoye, Harry Lloyd, Katie Leung, JB Blanc, Shelby Young, Reed Shannon, Amirah Vann, Mia Sinclair Jenness, Yuri Lowenthal, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Roger Craig Smith, Miles Brown, MIYAVI, Fred Tatasciore, Erica Lindbeck, Krizia Bajos, Bill Lobley, Brett Tucker, Kimberly Brooks, Faustino Duran Showrunner Christian Linke Directors Barth Maunoury, Marietta Ren, Christelle Abgrall Writers Amanda Overton, Nick Luddington, Mollie Bickley St.John, Ben St.John, Giovanna Sarquis, Henry G.M.
Jones Franchise(s) League of Legends Main Genre Animation Seasons 2 Streaming Service(s) Netflix Executive Producer(s) Christian Linke, Brandon Beck, Thomas Vu, Marc Merrill, Jane Chung, Brian Wright, Melinda Wunsch Dilger, Arnaud Delord, Alex Yee, Pascal Charrue Powered by Expand Collapse Some great titles hide in plain sight Apart from these shows, there are some more pioneers (for instance, pop-culture classics like and ) and simply underrated gems that you can only stream on Netflix, so don't dismiss Netflix Originals easily, even if they may constantly flood your recommendations.Netflix Subscription with ads Yes, $8/month Simultaneous streams Two or four Stream licensed and original programming with a monthly Netflix subscription.Live TV No Price Starting at $8/month Visit Netflix Expand Collapse
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