The Best Shows on Netflix (May 2023)

Creator: Donald Todd

Cast: Abbey Lee, Clark Gregg, Edgar Ramírez, Paul Schneider, Anthony LaPaglia

Florida Man is a comedic thriller from creator Donald Todd. Edgar Ramírez (Dr. Death) stars as Mike Valentine, a former police officer on a case to find the runaway girlfriend of a Philadelphia mobster, leading him to reluctantly return to his home state. Starring along with Ramírez are Abbey Lee (Lovecraft Country) and Clark Gregg (Agents of SHIELD). Through the eight-episode mini-series, Florida Man peels back the layers to reveal a twisted odyssey full of wild secrets, allowing Mike Valentine to flounder his way through doing the right thing in a sea of shady characters. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: Nick Santora

Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Monica Barbaro, Fabiana Udenio

Arnold Schwarzenegger (Terminator) and Monica Barbaro (Top Gun: Maverick) play a father-daughter spy duo who realize they know much less about each other than they realized. Fubar is a whacky adventure series that lets Schwarzenegger flex his comedic muscles and feels like a natural next step in his action career as a retiring superstar who’s passing on the torch to the next generation. Barbaro also stands out, initially playing the role of a humble 20-something before fully embracing her inner badass as a more than capable CIA agent who wants to prove she can accomplish her mission without her doting father nagging over her shoulder. The series is a hilarious treat of action and family bonding.

Creator: Jenny Han

Cast: Anna Cathcart, Anthony Keyvan, Minyeong Choi

Anna Cathcart (Odd Squad) takes the lead in this spin-off to the hit Netflix film series To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. Cathcart previously played Kitty, the plucky younger sister who cheered on Lara Jean Song Covey (Lana Condor) as she stumbled her way into love, but now it’s her turn to find romance as she gets back to her roots and pursues her online boyfriend who lives in Korea. Despite being half-Korean, she has no idea how to fit in at this new school in a new country, all the while having to deal with the news that the boyfriend she thought she had actually has a real girlfriend. Jenny Han, writer of the original To All the Boys novels, serves as an executive producer on the series and infuses the story with authenticity and a bit of her own experience as a Korean-American woman herself.

Creators: Robert Carlock, Sam Means

Cast: Nat Faxon, Chrissy Teigen, Tina Fey, Daniel Radcliffe, Kevin Michael Richardson

Mulligan is a hilarious new animated comedy from co-creators Robert Carlock and Sam Means. A satire at its core, Mulligan mercilessly follows the remaining inhabitants of planet Earth after an alien attack as they flounder in their attempt to restart society from scratch. Leading the group of survivors is generic Boston guy Matty Mulligan (Nat Faxon), who becomes president, alongside his first lady, beauty queen Lucy (Chrissy Teigen). Featuring the voices of Tina Fey, Daniel Radcliffe, and Kevin Michael Richardson, Mulligan swings seamlessly from unexpected situations to horrific implications, drenched in raunch and sci-fi and providing genuine chuckles along the way. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: Shonda Rhimes

Cast: India Amarteifio, Adjoa Andoh, Michelle Fairley

A prequel series to the beloved regency romance Bridgerton, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story dives into the history, upbringing, and blossoming of the beloved monarch. Also created by Shonda Rhimes (Grey’s Anatomy), Queen Charlotte allows the mini-series to take viewers through a moving romantic journey where India Amarteifio shines as the younger version of the charming royal originally played by Golda Rosheuvel. In line with every other property created by Rhimes, Queen Charlotte builds an epic love story sprinkled with intrigue and excitement from an undeniably steamy cast, like Corey Mylchreest, who plays a young King George. – Yael Tygiel

Creators: Mike Arnold, John Eddie, Priscilla Presley

Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Kaitlin Olson, Johnny Knoxville, Niecy Nash

Agent Elvis is an adult animated comedy series co-created by Priscilla Presley, along with Mike Arnold and John Eddie. Agent Elvis amusingly explores an alternate reality where the musical icon becomes a spy, working with a secret government organization to protect the United States from evil forces. Agent Elvis’ first season is 10 episodes, made beautifully by the artistic team behind Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Featuring a slew of incredible and award-winning voices, including Matthew McConaughey as the King himself, Agent Elvis allows the stellar animation style and raunchy humor to make up for the lackluster plot. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: Debora Cahn

Cast: Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell, David Gyasi

Created by Debora Cahn (Homeland), The Diplomat is an astute drama series starring Keri Russell (The Americans). An intricate political thriller, The Diplomat follows the struggles and successes of Kate Wyler (Russell), whose new role as an Ambassador to the UK has her career on the rise. She’s not only embroiled in international crises and negotiations, but she must also endure life with her demanding husband, Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell), a fellow career diplomat and political star. Through intense situations, turbulent conversations, and clever maneuvering, The Diplomat is a heightened look at relationships, politics, and the inevitable overlap. – Yael Tygiel

Created by: David E. Kelley

Cast: Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Neve Campbell, Becki Newton, Jazz Raycole

The Lincoln Lawyer is everything a great legal drama should be: suspenseful, compelling, and unpredictable. Anchored by Manuel Garcia-Rulfo’s excellent performance as Mickey Haller, a skeptical yet optimistic criminal defense attorney as well as a recovering addict who runs his practice out of his town car, The Lincoln Lawyer is a solid adaptation of the Michael Connelly novel of the same name. Other standouts include Neve Campbell as Maggie McPherson, Halley’s first wife and a criminal prosecutor. If you’re looking for a sleek, sophisticated series, The Lincoln Lawyer is sure to deliver. – Taylor Gates

Creators: Anna Winger, Daniel Hendler

Cast: Gillian Jacobs, Lucas Englander, Cory Michael Smith, Ralph Amoussou, Corey Stoll

Inspired by true historical events and based on Julie Orringer’s The Flight Portfolio, Transatlantic is a dramatization chronicling the story of a couple of heroic Americans during World War II. Transatlantic is a seven-part project adapted into a fascinating limited series by Anna Winger and Daniel Hendler. Starring Gillian Jacobs (Invincible), Corey Stoll, and Cory Michael Smith (Call Jane), Transatlantic reveals how a small but scrappy team saved thousands of people without governmental support. Highlighted by a gorgeous backdrop (the series was shot on location in Marseille, France) and beautiful costumes with impeccable details, Transatlantic wraps an uplifting story of resilience within a devastating moment in European history. – Yael Tygiel

Creators: Travis Taute, Daryne Joshua, Ozgur Onurme

Cast: Gail Mabalane, Brendon Daniels, Hein De Vries

Co-created by Travis Taute, Daryne Joshua, and Ozgur Onurme, Unseen is a dark crime thriller. Starring Gail Mabalane as a cleaning woman searching for her missing husband after his recent release from prison, Unseen deliberately unfolds the carefully crafted mystery at the center of this drama. Showcasing a gorgeous cityscape in South Africa, Unseen layers vivid imagery with harsh criminal enterprises, building a gripping story. Co-starring with Mabalane are Brendon Daniels and Hein De Vries, supporting her captivating performance to make Unseen a beautifully produced series with an enthralling mystery and a hint of danger. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: Shawn Ryan

Cast: Gabriel Basso, Luciane Buchanan, Hong Chau, D.B. Woodside

The Night Agent is a thrilling action series from creator Shawn Ryan, based on Matthew Quirk’s novel. Charged with tension and espionage, The Night Agent follows a rookie agent in the FBI, played by Gabriel Basso. Not too dissimilar to Noah Centineo’s The Recruit, The Night Agent follows a low-level agent who finds himself embroiled in dangerous conspiracies that can take down a government. Supported by a stellar cast, including D.B. Woodside (Lucifer), Eve Harlow (Star Trek: Discovery), and the underrated Hong Chau (The Menu), The Night Agent is a heart-pumping riddle worth diving into. – Yael Tygiel

Created by: Joe Cornish, Jonathan Stroud

Cast: Ruby Stokes, Cameron Chapman, Ali Hadji-Heshmati

Starting a small business is always hard, but it gets even harder when you have to deal with being a teenager, big agencies, and bad ghosts. Lockwood & Co., based on the Jonathan Stroud novels, takes place in a London filled with malicious spirits and specialized agencies to deal with them. After being rejected by all the major agencies, 13-year-old psychically inclined ghost hunter Lucy Carlyle (Ruby Stokes) gets recruited to the small private investigation agency Lockwood & Co. — and by small, we mean a tiny two-man operation consisting of just Anthony Lockwood (Cameron Chapman) and George Karim (Ali Hadji-Heshmati). The three agents try to make a name for themselves by solving a big case before their competition, which spirals into more chaos than they can contain. This vibrant paranormal adventure moves fast and will possess viewers with joy, laughter, and a bit of angst. – Tauri Miller

Created by: Christian Torpe

Cast: Mille Dinesen, Lise Baastrup, Carsten Bjørnlund

Netflix has always had a good eye when it comes to importing international content that is relatable to people all over the world, and the Danish dramedy Rita is no different. The five-season-long show revolves around Mille Dinesen’s Rita Madsen, a no-nonsense teacher who strives to protect her students from their parents by always being straightforward — and oftentimes brutally honest. But being a great — although unorthodox — teacher doesn’t mean she has it all together. Rita has a bit of raunchiness to the humor and is steeped in sass, but at the core of the show, there’s a lot of heart – especially when it comes to Rita and her own kids, who are a constant source of stress, biting wit, and personal growth. – Tauri Miller

Creator: Jang Ho-gi

Created by Jang Ho-gi, Physical: 100 is a fascinating reality series that follows 100 contestants in peak physical shape as they compete in grueling challenges that push their limits in hopes of winning prize money. The South Korean series features obstacle courses more extreme than American Ninja Warrior and activities that rival The Titan Games and Special Forces — Physical: 100 truly puts these athletes to the test. Welcoming a variety of competitors from different backgrounds, including special operations soldiers, National Team gymnasts, and wrestlers, Physical: 100 aims to find the strongest body, regardless of gender, experience, or training. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: Charlie Brooker

Cast: Diane Morgan, Jim Al-Khalili, Shirley J. Thompson, Douglas Hedley

Cunk on Earth is a mockumentary series following Philomena Cunk (Diane Morgan) as she comically explores the history of the world’s greatest inventions. Featuring interviews with experts in their fields, Cunk on Earth asks probing questions that chronicle landmark moments in humanity’s progression from prehistory to the present day. Part investigative journalism, part travel show, Cunk on Earth comes from Charlie Brooker, who invented the hilariously ill-informed reporter. Cunk on Earth is a delightfully witty series, maintaining a tone similar to Sacha Baron Cohen’s Ali G or Who Is America? – Yael Tygiel

Creator: David Schulner

Cast: Ryan Eggold, Janet Montgomery, Jocko Sims, Freema Agyeman, Tyler Labine

Medical drama New Amsterdam found its stride and built an audience by leaning into the interpersonal relationships of the doctors on screen. Creator David Schulner adapted the series from Eric Manheimer’s book Twelve Patients: Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital and unabashedly used the fictional series to reveal real flaws in America’s healthcare system. The show stars Ryan Eggold (The Blacklist) as a new medical director whose intentions to do good require that he and his staff break the rules and uproot the medical system to heal patients in one of the oldest public hospitals in the country. Over the five seasons, New Amsterdam exposes viewers to entertaining medical mysteries, romance, and hope. – Yael Tygiel

Creators: Lauren Iungerich, Jamie Uyeshiro, Jamie Dooner, Eddie Gonzalez, Jeremy Haft

Cast: Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Bryana Salaz, Tenzing Norgay Trainor, Ciara Riley Wilson

Spinning off from the beloved series On My Block, Freeridge sees a new group of four teens in town working together to reverse a curse and end the misfortune they believe has begun to seep into their lives. Starring Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Bryana Salaz, Tenzing Norgay Trainor, and Ciara Riley Wilson, Freeridge connects directly with the original series, building a delightful foundation for this universe and even features charming cameos from characters — and their twins. Cleverly adding to the canon, Freeridge’s first season explains previously unexplored mysteries while setting up a few new questions of its own. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: Cécile Lorne

Cast: Audrey Fleurot, Julie De Bona, Camille Lou, Sofia Essaïdi

Women at War is a fresh perspective on war dramas created by Cécile Lorne. Praised for a non-exploitative approach, Women at War explores stories about wartime brothels, makeshift hospitals, and scandals on top of the expected period drama and romance, featuring layered characters. Those characters include Agnes (Julie De Bona), a nun of a requisitioned convent, a mysterious sex worker from Paris named Marguerite (Audrey Fleurot), Nurse Suzanne (Camille Lou), and Caroline (Sofia Essaïdi), who finds herself running her family’s factory. Diving into a traditionally male-dominated genre, Women at War creatively follows the lives of these very different women in 1914 France over the course of eight enthralling episodes. – Yael Tygiel

Creators: Sara Isabella Jønsson Vedde, Nicolas Winding Refn

Cast: Angela Bundalovic, Andreas Lykke Jørgensen, Li Ii Zhang

Copenhagen Cowboy is an unexpected, riveting, fantasy-leaning thriller series from Denmark that follows a young woman named Miu (Angela Bundalovic) seeking revenge against those who trafficked her as a good luck charm. Created by Nicolas Winding Refn with Sara Isabella Jønsson Vedde, Copenhagen Cowboy has a vividly graphic aesthetic as the heroine, after escaping slavery, travels deeper into Copenhagen’s criminal underworld. Navigating a quest for vengeance, Copenhagen Cowboy’s intriguing mystery unfolds as Miu embarks on an odyssey of morality, weaving between perilous landscapes of both the natural and supernatural world. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: Bonnie Turner, Lindsey Turner, Gregg Mettler

Cast: Callie Haverda, Debra Jo Rupp, Kurtwood Smith, Ashley Aufderheide, Mace Coronel

From Bonnie Turner and Lindsey Turner, with a story by Gregg Mettler, That ‘90s Show is a continuation of the hit comedy series That ’70s Show. Set in 1995, That ‘90s Show follows Leia Forman (Callie Haverda) as she visits her grandparents, Kitty and Red, in Point Place, WI. Reprising their roles as Kitty and Red are Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith. Built on the same premise of teen shenanigans, That ‘90s Show sprinkles in a slew of cameos from the original series, including Mila Kunis as Jackie Burkhart, Ashton Kutcher as Michael Kelso, along with Topher Grace and Laura Prepon as Leia’s parents. – Yael Tygiel