16 best Netflix shows to watch right now (April 2024)

Our team at Netflix Life put together the shortlist of the best Netflix shows to watch right now. We’re watching all the great new Netflix originals and licensed TV shows and only sharing the best of the best for our readers to watch. 

The list was updated in April 2024 to include a few of the best new shows of the year, including Baby Reindeer, The Gentlemen, and more. The good news is that Netflix has even more good shows coming later this month and into May, including Dead Boy Detectives, Bodkin, Eric, and of course, Bridgerton season 3. 

We’ll continue updating the list of the best Netflix shows to watch right now as new shows are added to the streamer. Let’s get the list started with the show everyone’s talking about, Baby Reinder.

Baby Reindeer 

• Seasons: 1 
• Created by Richard Gadd 
• Cast: Richard Gadd, Jessica Gunning, Nava Mau, Tom Goodman-Hill, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Oluwakemi Nina Sosanya, and more 

Baby Reindeer is based on the true story of Richard Gadd’s life and one-man show. Gadd stars in the series as Donny, a fictionalized version of himself. As a bartender and aspiring comedian, Donny becomes the victim of a violent stalker. As the stalking continues, Donny is forced to confront his past in order to move forward. 

Baby Reindeer is the best new show released in April 2024. It’s easily one of the best Netflix shows of all time. It’s so devastating, though. It’s not a show for everyone. There are many disturbing scenes, including multiple instances of sexual assault. 

The Gentlemen 

• Seasons: 1 
• Created by Guy Ritchie 
• Cast: Theo James, Kaya Scodelario, Daniel Ings, Joely Richardson, Vinnie Jones, Giancarlo Esposito, Ray Winstone, and more 

The Gentlemen is one of the best new shows on Netflix. It’s a spin on Guy Ritchie’s 2019 movie of the same name. It tells the story of Eddie, played by Theo James, who inherits his family estate and booming drug business after his father dies. Eddie tries to hold the business and his eccentric family together during new challenges. 

The Gentlemen is the perfect crime show to watch on Netflix right now. If you like Guy Ritchie, it’s a must-watch, but if you just like solid performances, an interesting story, and, well, crime, this is the show for you. 

The series just premiered on Netflix on March 7, but there are already talks about The Gentlemen season 2 ongoing. Hopefully, Netflix and all the parties involved will make it happen. 

Avatar: The Last Airbender 

• Seasons: 1
• Created by Albert Kim 
• Cast: Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio, Ian Ousley, Dallas Liu, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Ken Leung, Daniel Dae Kim, Maria Zhang, Elizabeth Yu, and more 

Avatar: The Last Airbender is based on the animated series of the same name. Netflix’s live-action version had been years in the making before it dropped to huge viewership numbers on Feb. 22. It’s one of the biggest shows of the year so far, and Netflix already picked up the series for season 2 and season 3 in a surprising move for the streamer. 

The series tells the story of Aang, the young Avatar, who must save the world after the Fire Nation’s conquest to wipe out the Air Nomads, Water Tribe, and Earth Kingdom. 

It sounds like Avatar: The Last Airbender exceeded expectations of most fans of the original series. It’s not my favorite Netflix adaptation, but it looks cool, features good performances, and brings the story to life in a way that we haven’t seen before. 

Stay tuned for more news about season 2 and season 3 on Netflix. It’s going to be a while until the new seasons are released. 

3 Body Problem 

• Seasons: 1
• Created by David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo
• Cast: Benedict Wong, Jovan Adepo, John Bradley, Rosalind Chao, Liam Cunningham, Eiza González, Jess Hong, Marlo Kelly, Alex Sharp, Sea Shimooka, Zine Tseng, Saamer Usmani, Jonathan Pryce, and more 

3 Body Problem is well on its way to becoming Netflix’s biggest sci-fi hit of all time! The series is based on the book series by Liu Cixin. David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, who you might know for developing a lil’ show called Game of Thrones, developed 3 Body Problem with Alexander Woo. 

3 Body Problem is one of the more confusing Netflix series, so if you’re not interested in paying attention or have a tendency to fall asleep watching any and all TV shows (it’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me), this is not the show for you. 

I haven’t read the books that the series was based on, but I can’t wait to see where the story goes from here.

The Crown

The Crown is one of the best and most expensive Netflix shows of all time. The series follows the life of Queen of Elizabeth II beginning just before her coronation through modern times. There are six seasons of the series on Netflix right now, and the final half of season 6 is coming on Dec. 14. The show is ending after the sixth season. Each of those seasons covers about a decade of the Queen’s reign. The series won’t catch all the way up to the 2020s, though. It’s going to end around the 2010s, most likely.

If you’re looking for an acting masterclass, The Crown is the show for you. These performances from Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, Imelda Staunton, and others are truly extraordinary. Foy starred as the Queen for the first two seasons, while Colman starred in season 3 and 4 followed by Staunton in season 5 and season 6.

When it’s all over in a few weeks, The Crown is going to be recognized as one of Netflix’s best achievements to date. Sure, it might not be as popular as Stranger Things, Wednesday, Bridgerton, or some of the other Netflix shows, but it’s quality is relatively unmatched.

Lupin

• Seasons: 2
• Created by George Kay and François Uzan
• Cast: Omar Sy, Ludivine Sagnier, Clotilde Hesme, Antoine Gouy, Soufiane Guerrab, Vincent Londez, and Shirine Boutella

Lupin premiered on Netflix in January 2021, and it was a massive success for Netflix. Fast forward a few years, and the third season of Lupin is coming to Netflix on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. Fans have been waiting more than two years since the second season, and we know fans are excited to check out the new season.

The series tells the story of Assane Diop (Omar Sy), who uses the fictional hero and gentleman’s thief Arsene Lupin as inspiration to pull off elaborate heists. Assane is trying to prove his father’s innocence after his father was framed for a crime and died in prison.

If you like mystery series or shows about the heists, you absolutely have to watch Lupin on Netflix right now. There are only 10 episodes in the first two seasons, so you can catch up quickly.

Prior to the release of season 3, it’s unclear if Lupin is coming back for a fourth season. Based on how popular this show is and how much potential story there is, it’s hard to imagine Lupin ending after season 3, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

Virgin River

• Seasons: 4
• Created By: Sue Tenney
• Starring: Alexandra Breckenridge, Martin Henderson, Colin Lawrence, Jenny Cooper, Lauren Hammersley, Annette O’Toole, Tim Matheson, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Grayson Gurnsey, and Sarah Dugdale

Virgin River is based on the book series of the same name by Robyn Carr. When big-city nurse, Mel Monroe, played by Alexandra Breckenridge, moves to the small town of Virgin River after tragedy and tries to move on with her life. The town is full of interesting characters, and Mel starts to fall for the local bar/restaurant owner, Jack, played by Martin Henderson.

Virgin River is a must-watch on Netflix for anyone looking for a romantic, heartfelt series. The show is jam-packed with drama. It’s not necessarily a feel-good series, but it has a lot of heart. You’re going to fall in love with Alexandra Breckenridge, who you might recognize from the hit series This Is Us.

There are four seasons of Virgin River on Netflix. The latest season was released on July 20, 2022, and made for an awesome summer binge.

Virgin River season 5 premiered on Netflix on Sept. 7, 2023. Two Virgin River Christmas specials were released on Netflix on Nov. 30, and Netflix also confirmed that Virgin River season 6 is happening on Netflix. Unfortunately, it's not coming until 2025.

Stranger Things

• Seasons: 4
• Created By: Matt and Ross Duffer
• Starring: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Natalia Dyer, Cara Buono, Charlie Heaton, Matthew Modine, Joseph Quinn, Maya Hawke, and more

Stranger Things is Netflix’s best original series, and you have to check out this series as soon as you can!

Stranger Things is a supernatural thriller that tells the story of Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), a young boy who goes missing from his small Indiana town. As the community searches for him, supernatural forces enter the mix.

The first season consists of eight episodes, so it’s a relatively quick binge-watch. If you are into supernatural shows, you should definitely watch the first episode of Stranger Things!

The second season of Stranger Things is just as good or better than the first season. It’s amazing TV, and if you are into ’80s nostalgia, fantasy and sci-fi and just great TV in general, you have to see this series. The third season is one of the best! The finale is such a tear-jerker.

Stranger Things season 4 was broken up into two parts, with the first releasing on May 27, 2022, and the second half coming out on July 1, 2022. The season exceeded our expectations, and we can’t wait for the next one. Stranger Things season 5 will mark the end of the series, but it's not coming to Netflix until 2025.

Bridgerton

• Seasons: 2
• Created By: Chris Van Dusen 
• Starring: Regé-Jean Page, Phoebe Dynevor, Jonathan Bailey, Julie Andrews, Adjoa Andoh, Lorraine Ashbourne, Ruby Barker, Sabrina Bartlett, Harriet Cains, Bessie Carter, Nicola Coughlan, Ruth Gemmell, Florence Hunt, Claudia Jessie, Ben Miller, Luke Newton, Golda Rosheuvel, Luke Thompson, Will Tilston, and Polly Walker

Bridgerton premiered on Netflix on Christmas Day 2020. It was one of the biggest Netflix new releases to date as fans fell in love with the new romance TV series.

The Netflix original series is based on the book series of the same name by Julia Quinn. The first season, more or less, follows the first book of the series, The Duke and I.

The series is set in Regency Era London and follows several families, including the Bridgertons as Daphne is in her first season. She strikes up a bargain with Simon Basset, and then the real sparks start to fly. Meanwhile, a gossip columnist known as Lady Whistledown is tearing things down around the ton.

Season 2 follows the second book of Quinn’s series, The Viscount Who Loved Me. Sex Education star Simone Ashley stars as Kate Sharma, who plays the love interest of Anthony Bridgerton.

Bridgerton season 3 is coming to Netflix on May 16, 2024. The first four episodes of season are available to stream that day. The second batch of season 3 episodes will arrive on Netflix on June 13. The new season focuses on the romance of Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington.

You can also watch Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, which premiered last year, too.

Ginny and Georgia

• Seasons: 2 
• Created by Sarah Lampert 
• Starring Brianne Howey, Antonia Gentry, Diesel La Torraca, Jennifer Robertson, Felix Mallard, Sara Waisglass, Scott Porter, Raymond Ablack, Katie Douglas, and Chelsea Clark

If you’re into teen shows, Ginny and Georgia is the show for you! It’s funny, emotional, dark (at times), and entertaining all the way through. It also has a great cast. There are two seasons of the series streaming on Netflix.

The series follows Ginny and Georgia, a mother-daughter duo, as they manage their lives in a new town. Things aren’t as nice as they seem on the outside.

Ginny and Georgia premiered on Netflix in early 2021, but it was one of the most popular teen shows of the year. Netflix quickly picked up the series for season 2, and fans had to wait for a very long time until the second season was added to Netflix in January 2023.

Ginny and Georgia is one of the most popular Netflix shows of all time. Netflix officially renewed Ginny and Georgia for season 3 AND season 4 in May 2023. Fans can’t wait to see TWO NEW SEASONS of the hit Netflix original series, especially after that season 2 cliffhanger. 

Unfortunately, season 3 isn't coming to Netflix until 2025.

Wednesday

• Seasons: 1
• Created By: Alfred Gough and Miles Millar
• Starring: Jenna Ortega, Gwendoline Christie, Emma Myers, Percy Hynes White, Hunter Doohan, Christina Ricci, Riki Lindhome, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzmán, and more

Chances are, you’ve at least heard of Wednesday on Netflix. The teen supernatural show debuted just in time for Thanksgiving in 2022 and was an instant hit. Not only did the series break viewership records, but received generally positive reviews, with Jenna Ortega’s performance as the titular character being applauded.

The eight-episode drama follows Wednesday Addams of the Addams Family as she’s shipped off to boarding school at a place for outcasts and freaks called Nevermore Academy. Her parents, Morticia and Gomez, met there as kids and fell in love. Though Wednesday isn’t eager to make friends or fit in, she learns about a prophecy at Nevermore that proves to her she has a place there. Even if others around her start to lose doubt.

It took a few months, but Wednesday was renewed for a second season at the start of 2023, exciting fans everywhere. Wednesday season 2 is starting filming in the spring of 2024, but it will not be released until 2025.

If you haven’t seen Wednesday yet, you’re seriously missing out. It’s so fun, quirky, and a great addition to Netflix’s family-friendly library.

The Night Agent

• Seasons: 1
• Created by Shawn Ryan
• Cast: Gabriel Basso, Luciane Buchanan, Fola Evans-Akingbola, Sarah Desjardins, Eve Harlow, Phoenix Raei, Enrique Murciano, D. B. Woodside, and Hong Chau

The Night Agent premiered on Netflix on March 23, 2023, and there’s no doubt it’s one of the most popular Netflix shows of the year so far. The series is created by Shawn Ryan, and it’s based on the book of the same name by Matthew Quirk.

The series tells the story of Peter Sutherland, the son of a disgraced FBI agent, who saves lives during the bombing of a metro train in Washington D.C. Following the bombing, he’s assigned to a phone in the basement of the White House for spies to call when they’re in trouble. When he’s called by a civilian, Rose, whose aunt and uncle were just murdered, Peter and Rose try to get to the bottom of a mystery with national security implications.

The Night Agent gets a little bit ridiculous, and it’s not the tightest story. There are a few storylines that could be cleaned, but overall, it’s a fun new Netflix show to binge-watch soon!

The Night Agent is officially coming back for season 2 on Netflix! Netflix confirmed it's coming to the steamer in 2024.

Outer Banks

• Seasons: 3
• Created By: Jonas Pate, Josh Pate, and Shannon Burke 
• Starring: Chase Stokes, Madelyn Cline, Madison Bailey, Jonathan Daviss, Rudy Pankow, Austin North, Charles Esten, and Drew Starkey

Outer Banks is the next best teen show on Netflix! The series focuses on a group of four friends living on the Outer Banks, a group of islands off the coast of North Carolina. It premiered on Netflix in April 2020, and it’s easily one of the most successful shows on the platform ever.

After John B’s (Chase Stokes) father goes missing at sea, John B, JJ (Rudy Pankow), Kiera (Madison Bailey), and Pope (Jonathan Daviss), also known as Pogues, get caught up in the hunt for shipwrecked gold lost off the coast of the Outer Banks.

Outer Banks season 3 was released on Feb. 23, 2023, and Outer Banks season 4 is officially in the works on Netflix. It's filming all over the world in early 2024, but Netflix also announced it's coming in late 2024!

You

• Seasons: 4
  Created By: Sera Gamble and Greg Berlanti 
  Starring: Penn Badgley, Elizabeth Lail, Luca Padovan, Zach Cherry, Shay Mitchell, John Stamos, and many more

You is one of the best new Netflix original shows. It was a huge hit upon release in December 2018. The weird thing was that the show had already aired on Lifetime, but people didn’t hear about it. Then, after it hit Netflix, the show became a massive success.

In the series, Joe, played by Badgley, and Beck, played by Lail, meet at Joe’s bookstore in New York City. Joe becomes obsessed with her and will do anything to be with her. It takes a weird turn!

If you like thrillers, this is the show for you. It’s based on a book of the same name by Caroline Kepnes.

You season 2 arrived on Netflix in December 2019 and You season 3 premiered on Netflix in October 2021.You season 4 was broken up into two parts, with the first coming out on Feb. 9, 2023 and the second on March 9, 2023. You is definitely one of the most popular shows on Netflix.

You season 5 is also in the works on Netflix, and it will be the final season. Unfortunately, production on You season 5 just started in early 2024, so we'll be waiting until 2025 to see the final season.

Emily in Paris

• Seasons: 3
• Created By: Darren Star
• Starring: Lily Collins, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, Ashley Park, Lucas Bravo, Samuel Arnold, Bruno Gouery, Camille Razat, and William Abadie

Emily in Paris is one of the most popular shows year after year whenever there’s a new season, and it’s easily one of the best comedy series from the streaming network so far.

The Netflix original series tells the story of Emily (Lily Collins), an American who moves to Paris and works for a marketing company. We see Emily as she struggles to adapt to the job, the culture, the city while pursuing various friendships and relationships along the way.

The series was nominated at the Emmys and the Golden Globes.

Emily in Paris season 2 hit Netflix on Dec. 22, 2021, and fans were so happy to see their favorite characters back on their screens. The streamer must really believe in this show and its fanbase, because soon after, they renewed it for seasons 3 and 4! That’s right — Emily isn’t going anywhere soon. Emily in Paris season 3 came out in Dec. 2022. Emily in Paris season 4 is coming to Netflix in 2024.

Squid Game

• Seasons: 1 
• Created By: Hwang Dong-hyuk
• Starring: Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Wi Ha-joon, Jung Ho-yeon, O Yeong-su, Heo Sung-tae, Anupam Tripathi, and Kim Joo-ryoung

Squid Game was definitely the Netflix show of the fall of 2021! The show premiered in September 2021, and as we learned from Ted Sarandos, Squid Game is one of the biggest Netflix shows of all time, along with Bridgerton, Stranger Things, The Witcher, and others.

The Korean series tells the story of more than 400 people who start playing twisted games based on Korean children’s games for the ultimate grand prize of more than $100 million (US).

Squid Game season 2 is happening on Netflix. Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk confirmed the second season in November 2021.

It’s unclear when the Squid Game season 2 release date will be, but it definitely will not be released anytime in 2023, unfortunately. Ted Sarandos recently confirmed that Squid Game season 2 will be released on Netflix sometime in 2024.