Literally Just 18 Netflix Shows That Deserve Your Immediate, Undivided Attention

Get ready to binge!

1. Elite (2018–present)

Netflix

Language: Spanish

What it's about: Three students from a lower-income area earn the opportunity to attend a prestigious private school on the other side of town. Let's just say not everyone is excited about their arrival. Their immersion into the new school unearths family secrets, tests friendships, and explores sexuality — and leaves someone dead.

You'll enjoy this if you like: teen dramas, rich people dealing with rich people problems, thrillers, and mystery.

2. Cable Girls (2017–present)

Netflix

Language: Spanish

What it's about: While working at a cable operating company, four women form an unexpected friendship. Alba is drowning in secrets, Marga is learning to stand up for herself, Carlota refuses to be tamed, and Angeles just wants to be independent. The series navigates through generational stereotypes, infidelity, sexual identity, and self-care. And because it's a Spanish soap opera, of course there's an identical twin who causes mischief.

You'll enjoy this if you like: period pieces, friendship, social issue dramas, badass women, romantic dramas, the Roaring '20s, and women-led series.

3. Dark (2017–present)

Netflix

Language: German

What it's about: A local boy goes missing while five kids are hanging out in the woods. The boy's disappearance shakes up the small German town and ultimately opens up old wounds of broken relationships, double lives, and a mysterious town secret. A wormhole becomes the link between fixing the past and understanding the present.

You'll enjoy this if you like: time travel, psychological thrillers, mystery, science fiction, teen drama, dysfunctional families, and mental health.

4. Hello, My Twenties! (2016–2017*)

JTBC

Language: Korean

What it's about: Five housemates navigate life, love, and college, while learning about themselves and each other.

You'll enjoy this if you like: drama, friendships, college comedies, coming of age stories, and different personalities colliding.

*Hello, My Twenties! (also known as Age of Youth) is being considered for a third season, but nothing has been confirmed.

5. A Love So Beautiful (2017)

Tencent Video

Language: Mandarin

What it's about: A quirky girl tries to win the affection of her neighbor and classmate. Although her desperate attempts often backfire, they don't go unnoticed.

You'll enjoy this if you like: teen drama, manga, puppy love, shows based on books, coming of age, quirky humor, friendships, school drama, and hopeless romantics.

6. 3% (2016–present)

Netflix

Language: Portuguese

What it's about: The upper class inhabit a private island paradise known as "Offshore," far away from those living in squalor (the inland society). Those living in the impoverished area are given the opportunity to compete in what's known as "The Process," a cutthroat competition with one prize: a life in the Offshore society. But there's a catch: Only 3% will make it there, dead or alive.

You'll enjoy this if you like: The Hunger Games, dystopian thrillers, sci-fi, survival of the fittest, puzzles, underdog stories, and teen dramas.

7. Terrace House (2016–present)

Netflix

Language: Japanese and English

What it's about: Six strangers agree to live in a house together, some come to pursue their dreams, while others are determined to find love. Once someone leaves the house, they're immediately replaced with a new housemate.

You'll enjoy this if you like: The Real World, reality shows, coming of age, finding love, personalities colliding, teen dramas, teen comedies, and teen romance.

8. Rita (2012–2017)

TV 2, Netflix

Language: Danish

What it's about: The series follows Rita, a teacher and single mother who decides to work at the school she attended when she was younger.

You'll enjoy this if you like: hard-working single moms, school dramas, dysfunctional families, and unconventional teachers.

9. Money Heist (2017–present)

Netflix

Language: Spanish

What it's about: Eight thieves take hostages inside the Royal Mint of Spain and lock themselves inside, while another criminal manipulates the police to execute his plan.

You'll enjoy this if you like: thrillers, Law & Order, crime dramas, betrayal, and crime TV shows.

10. The Hookup Plan (2018–present)

Netflix

Language: French

What it's about: Two years after a breakup, Elsa is still having a hard time getting over her ex. Tired of seeing her embarrass herself, Elsa's BFF pays a guy to go out with her, but what she didn't expect was to see Elsa fall in love with him. That's when things get messy.

You'll enjoy this if you like: friendships, BFF comedies, BFF dramas, romantic comedies, feel-good shows, dating, dysfunctional friendships, and breakups.

11. Selection Day (2018–present)

Netflix

Language: Hindi

What it's about: Two young cricket prodigies try out for the chance to be the next big cricket batsmen, but when they meet a rival, things take a turn for the worse. The young boys are stuck trying to please their strict, overbearing father, while also learning who they are as individuals, outside of the sport.

You'll enjoy this if you like: sports dramas, cricket, teen dramas, family dramas, dysfunctional families, father-son dynamics, coming of age, heartfelt dramas, rivals, and underdog stories.

12. Osmosis (2019–present)

Netflix

Language: French

What it's about: Tech engineers develop a dating app called Osmosis. It has the ability to find your true love by digging deep into a user's brain data and activity. But how much trust can you put into a product that uses an algorithm and your deepest secrets to find your perfect match?

You'll enjoy this if you like: Black Mirror, sci-fi dramas, ominous shows, dating apps, true love, science experiments, romance dramas, fantasy dramas, and mind-bending shows.

13. The Rain (2018–present)

Netflix

Language: Danish

What it's about: When a virus, spread by rainfall, wipes out almost everyone in Scandinavia, two siblings lock themselves in a bunker away from harm. After six years of isolation, they set out to look for their father and any other survivors who may be able to help them.

You'll enjoy this if you like: survival shows, thrillers, family dramas, gritty shows, and Lost.

14. Bordertown (2016–present)

Netlix

Language: Finnish

What it's about: A lead detective decides to take a job in a small town, with hopes of spending more time with his family. But he soon gets sucked into trying to solve a string of murder cases.

You'll enjoy this if you like: murder-mystery dramas, thrillers, suspense, dark dramas, Law & Order, crime solving, crime dramas, unsolved mysteries, and forensics.

15. Babylon Berlin (2017–present)

Netflix

Language: German

What it's about: After a Soviet train gets highjacked, a cop and a typist set out to take down a political extortion ring in Berlin 1929.

You'll enjoy this if you like: TV shows based on books, period pieces, corruption, political dramas, cat-and-mouse dramas, criminal dramas, detectives, murder mysteries, gritty shows, and thrillers.

16. Gomorrah (2014–present)

Sky Italia

Language: Italian

What it's about: After the head of a prominent mafia family is imprisoned, illegal activity increases in Naples.

You'll enjoy this if you like: The Sopranos, The Wire, crime shows, mob shows, mafias, gangs, violent dramas, gritty dramas, thrillers, and TV shows based on books.

17. Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories (2016)

Netflix

Language: Japanese

What it's about: The series follows the head chef (better known as The Master) of a popular restaurant and his personal interactions with his customers.

You'll enjoy this if you like: TV shows based on manga, cooking shows, food, Japanese cuisine, restaurant dramas, and feel-good shows.

18. Suburra: Blood on Rome (2017–present)

Netflix

Language: Italian

What it's about: Inspired by real-life events, the series is about a developmental property near Rome that caused a deadly clash between gang members, political figures, and real-estate developers.

You'll enjoy this if you like: TV shows based on books, corruption, political dramas, exciting dramas, gritty dramas, thrillers, and crime dramas.

Looking for more binge options? Check out all of our coverage of what's streaming now!

And if you don't see your favorite international or foreign-language show on the list, tell us about it in the comments below.