The Best 2020 Original Streaming Platform Shows

Updated March 1, 2021 469 votes 100 voters 3.5k views329 items

List RulesOnly shows original series on streaming networks that premiered in 2020.

Original series from Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and YouTube Premium have expanded the range of shows we watch and how we watch them. And in 2020, the options available in streaming channels is almost overwhelming. There’s Disney+ and Apple TV+ already bringing some of the best streaming shows of 2020, but contenders such as Peacock, HBO Max and Quibi wait in the wings for their respective launch dates. There is a daring flexibility to streaming originals that more brands are embracing, and the best streaming series in 2020 are ready to shake up your TV nights.

Streaming TV platforms often acquire shows from other channels, but what they do with their original programming is impressive. The flexibility of streaming services can make it a great place for returns to old favorites, like Star Trek: Picard from CBS All Access. Apple+ brings their first anthology series with Little America and Netflix continues its relationship with the BBC for a fresh adaptation of Dracula.

Although some streaming shows still dole out episodes weekly, others let you binge a new season all at once. There are pros (no waiting for new episodes!) and cons (there are no new episodes!) to each style but however you watch them, these are the best new shows on streaming platforms in 2020. Vote up the best new shows on streaming services in 2020.

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Hillary
Hillary Clinton
Genres (Tv): Documentary Miniseries
Hillary (Hulu, 2020) is a documentary miniseries directed by Nanette Burstein. A look at the... more
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High Fidelity
Zoë Kravitz, David H. Holmes
Genres (Tv): Comedy
High Fidelity (Hulu, 2020) is an American comedy television series adapted from the novel of... more
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Locke & Key
Darby Stanchfield, Connor Jessup
Genres (Tv): Supernatural, Horror, Fantasy, Drama
Locke & Key (Netflix, 2020) is an American drama television series based on the comic book... more
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#11 of 54 The Best New TV Shows With Gay Characters of the Last Few Years#28 of 56 The Best Drama TV Shows Airing Now
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Spinning Out
Kaya Scodelario, Mitchell Edwards
Genres (Tv): Drama
Spinning Out (Netflix, 2020) American drama television series, created by Samantha Stratton.... more
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#138 of 220 The Greatest TV Shows for Women#40 of 124 All The TV Shows That Ended in 2020, Ranked
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Little America
Harvey Guillén, Jamie Gore Pawlik
Genres (Tv): Anthology
Little America (Apple TV+, 2020) is an American anthology television series. Each episode of... more
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#19 of 26 The Best Current Shows That Deal with Race Relations#114 of 117 The Best Shows About Families
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The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia
Paulina Chávez, Reed Horstmann
Genres (Tv): Comedy
The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia (Netflix, 2020), also known as Ashley Garcia: Genius... more
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#19 of 19 The Best Current TV Shows About Space#251 of 284 The Best Female-Led TV Shows
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AJ and the Queen
Izzy G., Tia Carrere
Genres (Tv): Comedy
AJ and the Queen (Netflix, 2020) is an American comedy series created by RuPaul and Michael... more
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#54 of 106 The Funniest Shows Streaming On Netflix#336 of 414 The Best Streaming Netflix TV Shows
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Messiah
Tomer Sisley, Michelle Monaghan
Genres (Tv): Drama, Thriller
Messiah (Netflix, 2020) is an American drama-thriller television series created by Michael... more
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#90 of 506 The Best Netflix Original Series#130 of 187 The Greatest Thriller Shows in TV History
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Star Trek: Picard
Patrick Stewart, Santiago Cabrera
Genres (Tv): Science fiction, Drama
Star Trek: Picard (CBS All Access, 2020) is an American television series featuring the Star... more
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Little Fires Everywhere
Reese Witherspoon, Kerry Washington
Genres (Tv): Drama
Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu, 2020) is an American TV mini-series based on Celeste Ng's... more
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The Best Episodes of 'Little Fires Everywhere'#21 of 87 The Best Hulu Original Series
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Ratched
Sarah Paulson, Alice Englert
Genres (Tv): Drama
Ratched (Netflix, 2020) is an American television series based on Ken Kesey's novel One Flew... more
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The Eddy
André Holland, Joanna Kulig
Genres (Tv): Musical, Drama
The Eddy (Netflix, 2020) is an American musical drama television miniseries created by Damien... more
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#252 of 864 The Best New Shows That Have Premiered in the Last Few Years#482 of 686 The Best Original Streaming Shows of the Last Few Years
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Summer Camp Island
Elliott Smith, Oona Laurence
Genres (Tv): Animation, Comedy, Fantasy, Adventure
Summer Camp Island (Cartoon Network, 2018) is an American animated television series created... more
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#175 of 185 The Best New Shows That Premiered in 2018#12 of 34 The Best Sci-Fi & Fantasy Shows On HBO Max

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Lovecraft Country
Jonathan Majors, Jurnee Smollett-Bell
Genres (Tv): Horror, Drama
Lovecraft Country (HBO, 2020) is a drama horror television series based on the novel by Matt... more
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Utopia
Sasha Lane, Rainn Wilson
Genres (Tv): Drama
Utopia (Amazon Video, 2020) is an American drama television series adapted by Gillian Flynn. A... more
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#24 of 45 The Best New Sci-Fi Shows of the Last Few Years#58 of 605 The Best New TV Shows Of 2020
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Upload
Robbie Amell, Andy Allo
Genres (Tv): Comedy, Science Fiction, Satire
Upload (Amazon Video, 2020) is an American science fiction comedy satire television series... more
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#193 of 301 The Best Sci-Fi Television Series Of All Time#12 of 105 The Best Amazon Original Series
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Warrior Nun
Alba Baptista, Toya Turner
Genres (Tv): Fantasy, Drama, Supernatural
Warrior Nun (Netflix, 2020) is a supernatural drama television series created by Simon Barry,... more
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The Best Characters On 'Warrior Nun', Ranked#127 of 267 The Best TV Shows Returning In 2021
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Close Enough
J. G. Quintel, Jason Mantzoukas
Genres (Tv): Animated, Comedy, Sitcom
Close Enough (HBO Max, 2020) is an American animated sitcom created by J. G. Quintel. The show... more
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#22 of 32 The Best Current Shows That Deal with Millennial Stuff#64 of 94 The Best Comedies On HBO Max
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Home Before Dark
Brooklynn Prince, Jim Sturgess
Genres (Tv): Mystery, Drama
Home Before Dark (Apple TV+, 2020) is an American mystery drama television series created by... more
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Little Voice
Little Voice (Apple TV+, 2020) is an American romantic comedy-drama television series. The... more
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Amazing Stories
Dylan O'Brien, Victoria Pedretti
Genres (Tv): Anthology, Fantasy
Amazing Stories (Apple TV+, 2020) is an American fantasy anthology television series based on... more
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#6 of 39 The Best TV Show Reboots & Returns Of 2020#8 of 29 The Darkest Anthology Series
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Mythic Quest
Rob McElhenney, F. Murray Abraham
Genres (Tv): Comedy
Mythic Quest (Apple TV+, 2020), known as "Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet" for its first season,... more
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#33 of 79 The Funniest Shows on TV Right Now#74 of 144 The TV Shows Most Loved by Hipsters
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Looney Tunes Cartoons
Eric Bauza, Bob Bergen
Genres (Tv): Animated, Comedy, Slapstick
Looney Tunes Cartoons (HBO Max, 2020) is an American animated comedy slapstick television... more
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Helstrom
Tom Austen, Sydney Lemmon
Genres (Tv): Supernatural, Action, Superhero
Helstrom (Hulu, 2020) is an American supernatural action television series, based on the... more
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#64 of 70 The Best Crime Fighting Duo TV Series#99 of 253 The Best TV Shows Streaming On Hulu
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Broke
Pauley Perrette, Jaime Camil
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Family sitcom
Broke (CBS, 2020) is an American sitcom television series. After his wealthy father decides to... more

Ratched