Want to tune into the best shows on Netflix? The platform hosts a vast collection of award-winning titles that you can pick from, from Oscar-winning movies to Emmy-winning shows.
I love to explore new and old titles on Netflix, but I always go back to the ones that swept award shows during their run. Here are some award-winning shows to add to your watch list this weekend.
When They See Us
Powerful series about the Central Park Five
Based on the real events of the 1989 Central Park Five case, When They See Us is a four-part miniseries that sketches the events of a wrongful conviction involving five juvenile males of color. After a white female jogger is attacked and sexually assaulted in Central Park, the suspects are tried in court and, despite being innocent, are sentenced to maximum terms. In the real-life case, the group was exonerated years later, when the real attacker was confirmed, after which they were able to sue the city for a wrongful conviction and win a settlement.
When They See Us received critical acclaim and overwhelming positive reviews from critics, winning 11 awards, including a Primetime Emmy for Jharrel Jerome (Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie).
When They See Us
Release Date
2019 – 2019-00-00
Network
Netflix
Directors
Ava DuVernay
Ozark
Jason Bateman and Julia Garner headline crime drama
Starring and directed by Jason Bateman, Ozark is a critically acclaimed crime drama that tells the story of Marty and Wendy Byrde (Laura Linney), who move to the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri when a money-laundering scheme for a Mexican cartel goes wrong, putting them in a sticky debt situation. Here, living with his two children and Wendy, Marty has to continue the operation to appease the cartel’s boss, while the family becomes entangled with local criminals and the mafia.
The series received a staggering 45 Primetime Emmy nominations throughout its run, with Bateman winning Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series and Garner winning Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series thrice. The show was also nominated for 10 Golden Globe Awards, winning one. The show has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics, who have praised the story’s tone, the performances of the main cast, and the production.
Ozark
Release Date
2017 – 2022
Network
Netflix
Showrunner
Chris Mundy
Blue Eye Samurai
A riveting animated series
This is one of my favorite animated shows that Netflix has to offer. Set in Japan’s traditional Edo era, Blue Eye Samurai is a classic revenge story with standout animation and storytelling. The plot, deeply submerged in action and mystery, focuses on Mizu, a skilled swordswoman, as she tries to track down and exact revenge on four men. Born as a half-Japanese, half-European woman in a Japan where borders are closed, and anyone who is not Japanese is shunned as an outcast, Mizu sets off to kill four men (one of whom is her father) while concealing her identity and gender.
The series won four Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards for its animation. A second season is expected to be released sometime this year.
Blue Eye Samurai
Release Date
November 3, 2023
Showrunner
Michael Green, Amber Noizumi
Directors
Jane Wu
Godless
Welcome to a town with no men
If you’re a big fan of Western dramas, then Godless is a must-watch for a short weekend watch. Set in 1884, the story follows Roy Goode, an outlaw chased by his mentor after betraying his brotherhood. He ends up in a small mining town in New Mexico—a place almost fully inhabited and governed by women. The townspeople of the mining town, La Belle, band together to defend Roy against his revenge-thirsty mentor and his gang.
The show has been praised for its unique take on Western dramas, set apart by its female ensemble in a traditionally male-focused genre. Godless won three Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Supporting Actress and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie.
Godless
Release Date
2017 – 2017-00-00
Network
Netflix
Directors
Scott Frank
Adolescence
A family faced with an unspeakable tragedy
One of the best watches on this list that you may have seen everywhere, Adolescence is a British psychological crime thriller with a heavy plot. Set in an English town, the show follows Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), a young boy, as he is taken into custody on suspicion of the murder of his classmate, Katie Leonard. Adolescence also shows how Jamie’s father, Eddie (Stephen Graham), and his family deal with the news while facing backlash from their community.
What stands out about the show’s cinematography is that all four episodes were filmed in one continuous shot (including some impressive tracking shots), which garnered the show a lot of praise. Adolescence received thirteen nominations at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards and won nine, including acting wins for Graham and Cooper.
Release Date
March 13, 2025
Network
Netflix
Directors
Philip Barantini
Writers
Stephen Graham, Jack Thorne
Stephen Graham
Eddie Miller
Amélie Pease
Lisa Miller
To keep up with the latest releases on Netflix, you can keep an eye on the New and Popular section of your app, enable desktop/mobile notifications, and use Netflix Tudum to find titles that align with your preferences.
Subscription with ads
Yes, $8/month
Simultaneous streams
Two or four
Stream licensed and original programming with a monthly Netflix subscription.
