The Best TV Dramas On Netflix

Updated February 24, 2021 13.3k votes 1.5k voters 45.5k views178 items

List RulesOnly shows currently streaming on Netflix.

Here are the best television drama series streaming now on Netflix. Whether you're looking for courtroom dramas, police procedural shows, or historical dramas, this list of dramatic shows currently on Netflix is regularly updated with new and popular TV series. What are the best TV dramas to watch on Netflix?

One of the best written TV shows ever, House of Cards is also ranked high on the most popular Netflix original series. Other good TV dramas on Netflix include The Crown, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and Ozark.

Vote up the best drama shows on Netflix, and add your favorites if they're missing from the list.

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Lucifer
Tom Ellis, Lauren German
Premiered: 2015
Lucifer (Fox, 2016) is an American fantasy police procedural comedy-drama television series... more
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The Best Characters On 'Lucifer'#15 of 70 The Best Crime Fighting Duo TV Series
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Breaking Bad
Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul
Premiered: 2008
Breaking Bad (AMC, 2008) is an American neo-Western crime drama television series created by... more
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The Last Kingdom
Alexander Dreymon, David Dawson
Premiered: 2015
The Last Kingdom (BBC America, 2015) is a British historical fiction television series based... more
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Stranger Things
Winona Ryder, David Harbour
Premiered: 2016
Stranger Things (Netflix, 2016) is an American science fiction-horror web television series... more
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The Crown
Claire Foy, Matt Smith
Premiered: 2016
The Crown (Netflix, 2016) is an American-British biographical drama series created by Peter... more
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Wentworth
Danielle Cormack, Nicole da Silva
Premiered: 2013
Wentworth is an Australian television drama series. It was first broadcast on SoHo on 1 May... more
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Dexter
Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter
Premiered: 2006
Dexter (Showtime, 2006) is an American crime drama mystery series developed by James Manos... more
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The Vampire Diaries
Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley
Premiered: 2009
The Vampire Diaries (The CW, 2009) is an American supernatural teen drama television series... more
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Ozark
Jason Bateman, Laura Linney
Premiered: 2017
Ozark (Netflix, 2017) is an American crime drama series created by Bill Dubuque. Financial... more
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Sherlock
Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman
Premiered: 2010
Sherlock (BBC One, 2010) is a British crime television series created by Steven Moffat and... more
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Criminal Minds
Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler
Premiered: 2005
Criminal Minds (CBS, 2005) is an American police-procedural television program. The series... more
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The 100
Eliza Taylor, Paige Turco
Premiered: 2013
The 100 (The CW, 2014) is an American post-apocalyptic science fiction drama television series... more
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Black Mirror
Daniel Kaluuya, Toby Kebbell
Premiered: 2011
Black Mirror (Netflix, 2011) is a British television anthology series created by Charlie... more
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The Walking Dead
Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal
Premiered: 2010
The Walking Dead (AMC, 2010) is an American post-apocalyptic horror television series... more
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Mindhunter
Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany
Premiered: 2017
Mindhunter (Netflix, 2017) is an American crime thriller television series created by Joe... more
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Grey's Anatomy
Ellen Pompeo, Justin Chambers
Premiered: 2005
Grey's Anatomy (ABC, 2005) is an American medical soap opera television series created by... more
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The Originals
Joseph Morgan, Daniel Gillies
Premiered: 2013
The Originals (The CW, 2013) is an American television series created by Julie Plec, and is a... more
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Riverdale
KJ Apa, Lili Reinhart
Premiered: 2017
Riverdale (The CW, 2017) is an American teen drama television series developed by Roberto... more
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Once Upon a Time
Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison
Premiered: 2011
Once Upon a Time is an American fairy tale drama series that premiered on October 23, 2011, on... more
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The Best Once Upon a Time Characters#68 of 339 The Best TV Shows of The Last 20 Years
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Peaky Blinders
Cillian Murphy, Helen McCrory
Premiered: 2013
Peaky Blinders (BBC Two, 2013) is a British television action drama created by Steven Knight,... more
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Bates Motel
Vera Farmiga, Freddie Highmore
Premiered: 2013
Bates Motel (A&E, 2013) is an American psychological horror drama television series based on... more
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#39 of 63 The Best Serial Dramas of the 21st Century#8 of 12 The Most Emotional Final Scenes In TV Dramas
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Better Call Saul
Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks
Premiered: 2015
Better Call Saul (AMC, 2015) is an American television drama series created by Vince Gilligan... more
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Fan Theories For The Final Season Of 'Better Call Saul' That Just Might Be True#38 of 97 The Best Dramedy TV Series
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Longmire
Robert Taylor, Katee Sackhoff
Premiered: 2012
Longmire (A&E, 2012) is an American modern Western crime drama television series developed by... more
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The Best Episodes of 'Longmire'#175 of 640 The Best TV Shows To Binge Watch

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13 Reasons Why
Dylan Minnette, Katherine Langford
Premiered: 2017
13 Reasons Why (Netflix, 2017) is an American television series based on the 2007 novel... more
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Gossip Girl
Blake Lively, Leighton Meester
Premiered: 2007
Gossip Girl (The CW, 2007) is an American teen drama television series created by Josh... more
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