Well, if you’ve arrived here, I know you’re looking for something to watch on Netflix right now, and the options are seemingly endless. But the best shows on Netflix? You might want to consult the critics, as they’ve watched them all.
We’re sticking with Netflix originals here, as we know those are evergreen series that are not going to be taken off the service by the time you read this. Licensing deals come and go, but if something was made by Netflix, it’s staying here. The bad news, however, is that despite these high reviews, some of these series were cancelled before their time, as Netflix cares more about viewership than scores.
But as of August 2025, here are the ten best Netflix TV shows according to Rotten Tomatoes critics:
1) Arcane (100% – 2 seasons)
Widely considered one of the best animated series of all time, Arcane brings the world of the video game League of Legends to life, spotlighting a number of characters from the hit MOBA, and rendering them in a gorgeous, never-before-seen animation style. But it’s more than stylish, the drama, the action are just as worthwhile, and it’s only one of two shows here that retained a 100% score across both its seasons. There are future series set in the world of League of Legends coming in the future, given what a hit this was.
The Baby-Sitters Club
Netflix
2) The Baby-Sitter’s Club (100% – 2 seasons)
This is the second series with double 100%s across seasons, but this one is a bit more of a tragedy. Despite being one of the two highest-scored Netflix original series, it was cancelled after season 2 and not renewed for season 3. It’s a throwback to the classic novels with a young, charming cast who bring that world to life in a pleasant series perfect for the younger crowd and their parents.
3) Giri/Haji (100% – 1 season)
How many tragedies must we endure? The only crime series in the top 10, the Japanese Giri/Haji was a stellar split time between Japan and London, and dives deep into the world of Yakuza. But once again, despite high scores and a lot of praise, it was cancelled after season 1, which is another great tragedy on the list here. However, it’s still very much worth watching.
Cyberpunk Edgerunners
Netflix
4) Cyberpunk Edgerunners (100% – miniseries, 1 season)
The second animated video game adaptation on the list, you could make the argument it’s even better than Arcane. It was announced well before the release of Cyberpunk 2077 and mostly forgotten about in the wake of the disastrous launch of that game. But as 2077 fixed things and improved, Edgerunners finally made it to air and blew everyone away with its story that takes place in the world of the game, without directly connecting to it. Now, it’s been confirmed another, separate Cyberpunk series is heading to Netflix.
Maya and the Three
Netflix
5) Maya and the Three (100% – miniseries, 1 season)
Now we move to an animated kids series, one starring the box office goddess Zoe Saldana, star of Avatar, and a prominent member of the MCU. It’s a series that follows a young princess who teams up with legendary warriors to save the world from evil gods. It’s just nine episodes long and perfect for perhaps not little kids, but a smidge older than that.
6) Cassandra (100% – miniseries, 1 season)
I really love this show. It’s German, so flip those subtitles on, but it’s an incredibly unique horror production that blends a Jetsons aesthetic with a truly terrifying, but ultimately tragic villain in the form of the robotic Cassandra, attempting to steal a family for her own. It’s the only horror series on this list, and I would agree that it’s one of the best on Netflix, which has some solid entries on that front.
7) The Playlist (100% – miniseries, 1 season)
This is one I haven’t seen, but it’s a recreation of the birth of Spotify, which was started by a Swedish tech entrepreneur. We have seen a number of these tech origin story productions, the most famous of which being The Social Network, but this is reportedly one of the best. You won’t know the Swedish cast, but it’s going to be worth watching all the same.
8) Baby Reindeer (99%, miniseries)
The truly bizarre, gripping story of a man stalked by a woman, based on a true story, with the central figure in question played by the actual, real-life person. That’s something you don’t see every day. This spawned a number of Emmy wins and blowback from the alleged real-life stalker who disputes her characterization, and said she was too easily identified.
9) Mo (98% – 2 seasons)
A 98% across two seasons is no small feat, and Mo, a full-on comedy, has pleased critics for years now. The series is newly relevant as it focuses on a Palestinian refugee trying to get US citizenship through asylum. This is a comedy? Yes, yes it is, but it’s able to tackle serious issues through that medium.
10) Unbelievable (98% – Miniseries, 1 season)
Want to see a future Emmy winner? That would be Kaitlyn Dever, the star of a tremendous amount of great series from Dopesick to Apple Cider Vinegar to now The Last of Us. But in this story, she plays a teen who was raped and attempts to prove that in a system that doesn’t want to believe her. It’s based on a true story, and it’s a hard watch, but worth it.
Bonus: Mindhunter (97% – 2 seasons)
You could make the case that it is the single best series in Netflix history, the origin of a nation’s hunt for serial killers. The show is frustrating in the sense that it deserved more than two seasons. It was allegedly cancelled by Netflix for costing too much, but now that the service is spending billions on content, it would seem wise to bring it back, and there are tiny, tiny rumblings that could happen. But it still seems like a long shot.
Those are the critic picks, and I’ll plan to do audiences next.
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