There are currently 100 scripted Netflix Original series.
The company that made Blockbuster obsolete, Netflix revolutionized the television landscape by offering a subscription-based streaming service online. Fuelled by its subscriber money, the company began premiering its own original shows, starting with House of Cards in 2013. It was the company’s first hit with many more to follow, as mentioned there are currently 100 scripted Netflix Originals present day.
With the resources of a Hollywood studio, the company has been putting out some of the best streamable shows online. The company spent $6 billion on original content alone this year, with over 100 million people around the world subscribing, there’s sure to be something for everyone.
While many have been frustrated with Netflix’s lack of transparency in their viewership numbers, it hasn’t stopped data mining companies from trying. Recently, Parrot Analytics "a company that estimates online demand for shows by tracking social chatter, file sharing, and (where available) streaming data," managed to put a list together of the top 10 most streamed TV shows. In this report, Netflix dominated the charts holding 8 out of the 10 places.
Having premiered some truly amazing original shows and movies so far, Netflix has been on a roll this year. In October, Netflix released 29 different original movies, specials, and full seasons of shows. They turned up the volume even higher in November, offering 32 different originals. With one more month left in 2017, we just found out yesterday what will be making its debut on the service (as well as what will be getting the boot).
With this ridiculous amount of original content being released regularly, it's nearly impossible to keep up with them all. Digging into the dark corners of Netflix, we took the liberty of rounding up the best Netflix Original TV series for you to binge on in the cold months quickly approaching. For the purpose of this list, we've excluded: foreign shows, miniseries, or non-fiction - as well as shows that didn’t begin as Netflix Originals (sorry, Arrested Development).
Now that it’s cuffing season, we’ve optimized your Netflix-and-chill routine by putting together a list of the 10 Netflix Originals for you to cuddle up to, whether it's with a joint, with a girl, or (better yet?!) with both.
House of Cards
5 seasons, 65 episodes
Creator: Beau Willimon
Stars: Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, Kate Mara, Corey Stoll, Michael Kelly
Premiered: 2013
One of Netflix’s first original series, it popped off with a bang instantly. Highly binge-able, the political thriller is an adaptation of BBC’s show by the same name (also worth checking out). Starring Kevin Spacey, the first season will have you hooked on Frank Underwood’s rise to power from Speaker of the House to (eventually/spoiler alert) President of the United States. Filled with twists and turns, and even a rough season, Spacey doesn’t disappoint, especially when his wife Claire (Robin Wright) is by his side.
Spacey has been nominated for three Emmys for his work in the show. It's coming to a rather controversial close, in light of the recent sexual allegations against Spacey.
Orange Is The New Black
5 seasons, 65 episodes
Creator: Jenji Kohan
Stars: Taylor Schilling, Laura Prepon, Michael J. Harney, Michelle Hurst, Kate Mulgrew, Jason Biggs
Premiered: 2013
Continuing on the topic of the American judicial system is Orange is the New Black (OITNB). Quirky, diverse, and full of social commentary - Taylor Schilling stars as Piper Chapman, a woman whose past as a drug mule for her lover Alex Vause (Laura Prepon) finally catches up to her. Based on real-life events, Vause gave Chapman up in a plea deal which then led to her arrest and time spent in Lichfield prison. The narrative is full of hard characters that challenge common stereotypes - while there are too many strong supporting cast members to name, OITNB makes us appreciate that we all sometimes make poor decisions because we’re all human.
The Get Down
2 seasons, 11 episodes
Creators: Baz Luhrmann, Stephen Adly Guirgis
Stars: Justice Smith, Herizen F. Guardiola, Shameik Moore, Jaden Smith, Skylan Brooks, Tremaine Brown Jr., Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jimmy Smits
Premiered: 2016
Created by Baz Luhrmann, best known for The Great Gatsby and Moulin Rouge, this musical drama explores the burgeoning hip-hop scene in South Bronx during the 70s. Each season was broken up into two sides, Season 1A and Season 1B. While the ambitious show is slow to start, once all the major characters are introduced it improves dramatically. The show tells the story of a group of mostly black and Latino classmates, neighbors, and friends who all have major aspirations in the music scene, whether it be disco or hip-hop. Almost like a TV version of Singin’ in the Rain, the musical aspect often acts as comedic relief to the sociopolitical issues.
If musicals aren’t for you, you should, at least, check out The Get Down’s killer soundtrack on Spotify.
F is for Family
2 seasons, 16 episodes
Creators: Bill Burr, Michael Price
Stars: Bill Burr, Laura Dern, Justin Long, Hailey Reinhart, Sam Rockwell, Debi Derryberry
Premiered: 2015
A cross between King of the Hill and Family Guy, F is for Family is an animated comedy set in 1973 in Massachusetts. Based off the experiences of its creator and star Bill Burr, the show follows the story of the Murphy family. A dysfunctional family with all the classic stereotypes: stay at home mom, rebellious children, wacky neighbors, etc. While it's not the most original family sitcom - it's witty, hilarious, and profane. The show would appeal to anyone who appreciates Burr’s cynical and unapologetic view of the world.
Making A Murderer
1 season, 10 episodes
Creators: Laura Ricciardi, Moira Demos
Premiered: 2015
From podcast to Netflix Original Series, the true story of Steven Avery is a docudrama miniseries called Making a Murderer. Filmed over a period of 10 years, the 10-part docu-series chronicles Avery’s story of wrongful accusation for sexual assault and attempted murder and the 18 years in prison he spent serving for it. The series explores the circumstances related to Avery’s arrest, trial, and the misuse of power. Making A Murderer series is an enthralling yet regular view of the issues facing the American justice system.
Bojack Horseman
4 seasons, 48 episodes
Creator: Raphael Bob-Waksberg
Stars: Will Arnett, Aaron Paul, Amy Sedaris, Paul F. Tompkins
Premiered: 2014
Another animated Netflix Original, Bojack Horseman is one of the most underrated series on Netflix. Set in a world where anthropomorphic animals and humans live side-by-side, the thoughtful comedy documents the sad drunken decline of network sitcom star Bojack Horseman, voiced by Will Arnett. The show analyzes the harsh realities of life in a rollercoaster of events that will have you tangled in a love/hate relationship with Bojack. While his character is a horse and not a human, Bojack Horseman is one of the most honest examinations of depression filled with witty banter and sharp writing.
Luke Cage
1 season, 13 episodes
Creator: Cheo Hodari Coker
Stars: Mike Colter, Mahershala Ali, Alfre Woodard, Simone Missick, Erik LaRay Harvey, Rosario Dawson, Theo Ross
Premiered: 2016
Marvel’s third Netflix venture is bold and ballsy - a product of its creator Cheo Hodari Coker, Marvel’s Luke Cage is a raw discussion of what it means to be black in America in 2016. The hyper-stylized badass action scenes follow a man with superhuman strength and bullet-proof skin, indebted to protect the people of Harlem. The show manages to be culturally conscious while being fast-paced and full of action.
Narcos
3 seasons, 30 episodes
Creators: Chris Brancato, Carlo Bernard, Doug Miro
Stars: Wagner Moura, Boyd Holbrook, Pedro Pascal, Joanna Christie, Maurice Compte, Stephanie Sigman, Manolo Cardona, André Mattos, Roberto Urbina, Diego Cataõ
Premiered: 2015
Narcos is one of the most successful Netflix original series - taking on the history of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar and the Medellin cartel, the show splices actual news footage with dramatized scenes. While many have said that Narcos romanticizes the violence that occurred in the Colombian drug wars, this documentary-style series dedicates itself to the Colombian drug trade and the spread of cocaine to the United States in the 1980s as well as its effects on both criminals in Colombia and authorities in the US. The show fleshes out some very dark characters all while providing a riveting examination of the drug trade.
Stranger Things
2 seasons, 17 episodes
Creators: The Duffer Brothers
Stars: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Cara Buono, Matthew Modine
Premiered: 2016
A throwback to 80s nostalgia and a revival of old-school sci-fi, Stranger Things is a gripping, heart-pumping, perfectly constructed series with a strong cast of mostly-child actors. The show is about a boy named Will, who is captured by a creature and trapped in a Poltergeist-type of world. While his mother (Winona Ryder) teams up with the local sheriff to investigate, Will’s dorky best friends do some sleuthing of their own. They befriend 11, or Elle (played by Millie Bobby Brown, becoming a star of her own), a young girl with telepathic powers who aids them on their journey to find Will. The second season recently released and is perhaps even more binge-able than the first, but what really sets apart Stranger Things from other series is its cinematic direction and the amazing soundtrack.
Ozark
1 Season, 10 Episodes
Creators: Bill Dubuque, Mark Williams
Stars: Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, Sofia Hublitz, Skylar Gaertner, Julia Garner, Jordana Spiro, Jason Bulter Harner, Esai Morales, Peter Mullan, Lisa Emery
Premiered: 2017
Part of the team behind Ben Affleck’s The Accountant, Ozark stars Jason Bateman - a money launderer who has to convince the drug cartel he works for not to kill him and his family. As a compromise, Bateman and his wife (Laura Linney) move the family from Chicago to the backwoods of Missouri to Lake Ozark, where he attempts to clean $8 million dollars in three months or face death. Comparable to Breaking Bad or Bloodline, the show is not necessarily entertaining but its anxiety provoking plot twists will have you hooked and itching for more.
