The Best Shows on Netflix (September 2023)

Cast: Arón Piper, Almudena Amor, Cristina Kovani, Manu Rios, Ramiro Blas

Netflix has an eye for international content that American audiences will enjoy, and they continue that streak with the Spanish psychological thriller Muted. The six-episode series follows Sergio Ciscar (Arón Piper), who is fresh out of prison for the murder of his parents and hasn’t uttered a word since. Sergio is being closely watched by the police and a psychiatrist who still believe he could be a danger to society, so he has to work around them to find his sister and discover the truth of what happened that fateful day. We could tell you more, but you honestly wouldn’t believe the twists and turns that come about in the series. It’s best you go in knowing as little as possible.

Creators: Eiichiro Oda, Steven Maeda, Matt Owens

Cast: Iñaki Godoy, Mackenyu, Emily Rudd, Romero Gibson

A live-action adaptation of the beloved manga by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece was developed by Steven Maeda and Matt Owens. One Piece centers on a ragtag group of adventurers calling themselves the Straw Hat Pirates as they search for the One Piece, which will garner the title of King of the Pirates for their captain, Monkey D. Luffy (Iñaki Godoy). Bringing colorful 2D visions to the screen, One Piece is truly a feast for the eyes and clearly leans heavily into the whimsical elements of the source material, providing a gorgeous backdrop for the playful and exciting storyline. – Yael Tygiel

Cast: Evin Ahmad, Sean Teale, Indica Watson, Susannah Fielding

Who is Erin Carter? is an excitingly fast-paced thriller series about a British schoolteacher (Evin Ahmad) who may not be as plain as she seems to be. Who is Erin Carter carries a Salt vibe mixed with Pieces of Her suspense mystery, providing a gorgeous journey across Barcelona through the heart-pumping story. Co-starring with Ahmad is Sean Teale, allowing their chemistry to unravel the espionage-style action adventure together. In addition to the incredible stunts, including hand-to-hand combat sequences, car chases, and explosions, Who is Erin Carter cleverly weaves a captivating story of a family with secrets. – Yael Tygiel

Cast: Gabriel Macht, Patrick J. Adams, Meghan Markle, Sarah Rafferty, Gina Torres

Aaron Korsh’s Suits began as a legal drama before evolving into an addicting series filled with workplace romances and interpersonal tension. Launching from the story of an intelligent college drop-out (Patrick J. Adams) landing a job at an elite law firm, Suits excels at building captivating storylines about office politics with beloved characters that audiences either root for or love to hate. Co-starring Gabriel Macht, Gina Torres (9-1-1: Lone Star), Sarah Rafferty, and Meghan Markle, Suits allows each actor to shine with witty banter, intriguing mysteries, and rich layers drawing audiences to come back for more. – Yael Tygiel

Creators: Micah Fitzerman-Blue, Noah Harpster

Cast: Uzo Aduba, Matthew Broderick, West Duchovny, Taylor Kitsch

Uzo Aduba (In Treatment) stars in Painkiller, a dramatic interpretation of real-life events. Similar to the award-winning mini-series Dopesick, Painkiller explores the horrific realities of America’s recent opioid epidemic. Co-starring with Aduba is Matthew Broderick as Richard Sackler, as well as Taylor Kitsch (True Detective) as a victim of OxyContin, with West Duchovny (Saint X) playing one of the pharmaceutical reps responsible for furthering the Sackler family’s greed. Inspired by a true story, Painkiller is a six-episode mini-series focusing not only on Purdue Pharma’s involvement in hurting a country but also those complacent in letting it happen. – Yael Tygiel

Cast: Kate Higgins, Sean Hankinson, Paula Bodin, Paula Rhodes, Laura Gerow

Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse is an adorable series of animated short stories revolving around the iconic blonde. Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse is set in a fictional Malibu inhabited by sentient dolls, taking place in a distant future after the human race went extinct. Starring Kate Higgins as the voice of Barbie, Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse also features Barbie’s sisters, Skipper (Paula Rhodes), Stacie (Rhodes), and Chelsea (Laura Gerow), along with her boyfriend, Ken (Sean Hankinson), amongst other doll friends. Geared towards younger audiences, the series follows the toys on their various adventures. – Yael Tygiel

Cast: Jason Ritter, Anthony Carrigan, Lesley-Ann Brandt, Christopher Meloni

Jason Ritter (Raising Dion) stars in this adult animated comedy about a dim-witted captain who is recruited to helm a cruise ship that’s being used for smuggling by a dangerous cartel. Captain Fall is vulgar, violent, and very hilarious, and the humor is perfectly complemented by the underdog story of a kind and overly trusting loser who just wants to accomplish his dream of being a ship captain. The series is also filled to capacity with a host of character actors like Anthony Carrigan (Barry), Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit), and Cedric Yarbrough (Black Dynamite), who lend their voice talents to larger-than-life characters to keep the audience laughing all the way through the credits. – Tauri Miller

Creator: Issa Rae, Larry Wilmore

Cast: Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, Natasha Rothwell, Amanda Seales, Jay Ellis

The immensely talented Issa Rae (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) co-creates and stars in an adaptation of her hit web series Awkward Black Girl. Insecure is a comedic drama about the experience of Black women and the daily absurdities that come with it. The series does a great job tackling the multifaceted experience from many different angles through the main cast of seasoned Black comedians and actors, including Yvonne Orji (The Blackening), Amanda Seales (Get Your Life), and Natasha Rothwell (The White Lotus). Each of the characters has their own struggles and emotional arcs surrounding themes like relationships, fitting into Black spaces, and social pressure in the workplace, which makes the show feel well-rounded and nuanced. – Tauri Miller

Creator: Michelle Buteau, Danielle Sanchez-Witzel

Cast: Michelle Buteau, Tone Bell, Tasha Smith

Survival of the Thickest is a hilarious and heartwarming comedy series starring comedian Michelle Buteau (Always Be My Maybe) based on her memoir of the same name. The story follows Buteau as Mavis Beaumont, a plus-size black woman in her mid-thirties who finds herself back in the dating pool after she finds her long-term boyfriend in bed with another woman. The series is a marvelous milestone for the body-positivity movement, featuring women of all sizes, shapes, and colors at the forefront of the cast while exploring the struggles that women of color face when trying to find love, advance in their careers, and feel accepted for who they are.

Cast: Kgomotso Christopher, Nat Ramabulana, Thapelo Mokoena, Prince Grootboom

Fatal Seduction is a sensual thriller from South Africa about a married woman (Kgomotso Christopher) who goes on a trip with her best friend that ends in a torrid affair with an alluring young man (Prince Grootboom). Unfortunately, the affair follows her back from vacation, and her husband doesn’t take the threat to their marriage lightly, leading to a whirlwind of events that make her question everything she knows about her closest friends and the man she married. This drama has all the passionate love scenes and melodrama you could want from a romance thriller, and the twists just keep on coming.

Cast: Kim Cattrall, Miss Benny, Jade Payton, Diana Maria Riva, Ayesha Harris

Created by Jordon Nardino, Glamorous is a charming workplace dramedy about the beauty industry with vibes reminiscent of fashion-focused properties like Ugly Betty, The Bold Type, and The Devil Wears Prada. Like the aforementioned stories, Glamorous builds on the progressive nature of these industries by focusing the series on a non-binary queer character named Marco Mejia (Miss Benny), who lands a dream job working for a terrifyingly gorgeous icon in the cosmetics field, played to perfection by the legendary Kim Cattrall. The charm of Glamorous is balancing the series’ focus with a delicate blend of workplace shenanigans, Emily in Paris-style drama, and swoon-worthy budding romances .– Yael Tygiel

Cast: Nicolas Cantu, Darren Barnet, Benjamin Bratt, Mae Whitman, Betty Gilpin

Skull Island is a colorful adult animated series from writer Brian Duffield, which follows an intriguing group of global explorers who find themselves shipwrecked on a mysterious island. Set in the MonsterVerse universe, Skull Island unfolds as these well-meaning humans stumble through dangerous circumstances, attempting to survive the perilous landscape of uncharted land. Starring the talented voices of Nicolas Cantu, Darren Barnet (Never Have I Ever), Benjamin Bratt, Mae Whitman (The Owl House), and Betty Gilpin, Skull Island is a blend of heart-pumping adventure, animated gore, and a fun variety of giant monsters and prehistoric creatures alongside Kong himself. – Yael Tygiel

Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Cameron, Jamie Lee Curtis, Danny DeVito

Directed by Lesley Chilcott (An Inconvenient Truth), Arnold is a three-part documentary series that explores three different aspects of the larger-than-life Austrian icon. Arnold Schwarzenegger (Kindergarten Cop) brings viewers into his life by focusing on different facets of his journey, starting with his upbringing and introduction to competitive bodybuilding before veering into his acting career. Arnold features famous friends like Twins co-star Danny DeVito, as well as director James Cameron and True Lies co-star Jamie Lee Curtis, allowing colleagues to share stories in the intimate documentary. Wrapping up the journey focused on his political career without shying away from his scandals, Arnold provides an unexpectedly raw glimpse at the living legend. – Yael Tygiel

Cast: Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas, J.R. Ramirez, Luna Blaise, Parveen Kaur

Manifest is a supernatural drama about the passengers of a flight that went missing, reappearing five years in the future. The premise is similar to series like Lost, The 4400, or Phase 4 of the MCU where people lost in time must readjust to a world that moved on without them, but this series has an interesting religious bent to it that separates it from the others. As the passengers start to get visions of the future, Detective Michaela Stone (Melissa Roxburgh) and her brother Ben Stone (Josh Dallas) take the lead to try to figure out the significance of their disappearance and why they were chosen for this higher calling.

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

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.

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

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