Asian Shows On Netflix That Deserve A Spot On Your List
- 01. Asian Shows on Netflix That Deserve a Spot on Your List
- 02. Top Asian Shows on Netflix by Country
- 03. Korean Dramas Dominating Global Streaming
- 04. Japanese Anime and Thriller Series
- 05. Indian and Southeast Asian Content
- 06. Why These Asian Shows Matter for Educational Context
- 07. How to Choose Asian Shows for Binge-Watching
Asian Shows on Netflix That Deserve a Spot on Your List
Netflix's Asian shows include Squid Game (South Korean survival thriller, released September 17, 2021, with 330 million viewers), Kingdom (medieval Korean zombie series, premiered January 25, 2019), Alice in Borderland (Japanese sci-fi thriller, Season 3 released September 25, 2025), All of Us Are Dead (Korean high school zombie drama, January 28, 2022), Twenty Five Twenty One (Korean romance drama, February 12, 2022), Mr. Sunshine (Korean historical drama, July 7, 2018), Sweet Home (Korean monster horror, December 18, 2020), and Delhi Crime (Indian police procedural, March 22, 2019, first Indian Emmy winner).
Top Asian Shows on Netflix by Country
Netflix's Asian content spans multiple countries, with South Korea leading in global viewership through kdrama现象 that has tripled platform anime viewership over five years.
| Show Title | Country | Genre | Release Date | Viewership/Milestone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Squid Game | South Korea | Survival Thriller | Sept 17, 2021 | 330M viewers, 2.8B hours |
| Squid Game Season 2 | South Korea | Survival Thriller | Dec 26, 2024 | 190M views, 619.9M hours |
| Kingdom | South Korea | Political Zombie Thriller | Jan 25, 2019 | Netflix's first Korean original |
| Alice in Borderland | Japan | Sci-Fi Death Game | Dec 10, 2020 | All 3 seasons in Top 10 Non-English (Sept 2025) |
| All of Us Are Dead | South Korea | High School Zombie | Jan 28, 2022 | Top 10 in 25+ countries |
| Twenty Five Twenty One | South Korea | Romance/Drama | Feb 12, 2022 | Korean fencing drama |
| Mr. Sunshine | South Korea | Historical Romance | July 7, 2018 | 18.129% cable rating (3rd highest) |
| Sweet Home | South Korea | Monster Horror | Dec 18, 2020 | Top 1 in 11 countries |
| Delhi Crime | India | Police Procedural | March 22, 2019 | First Indian Emmy |
| Demon Slayer Season 4 | Japan | Anime | 2024 | 51.1M hours (July-Dec 2024) |
Korean Dramas Dominating Global Streaming
South Korean content represents the largest Asian category on Netflix, with Squid Game becoming Netflix's most-watched series ever and finishing 2025 as the most-watched original series in streaming. The survival drama's second season gathered 87 million views in just six days after its December 26, 2024 debut, making it the most-watched program in Netflix's second-half 2024 report.
Kingdom pioneered Netflix's Korean original investment as the platform's first Korean series, set in medieval Joseon period with crown prince Ju Ji-hoon investigating a zombie plague. Each episode cost roughly $1.78 million to produce, with Season 1 premiering before Season 2 was even commissioned-a rare Netflix endorsement.
Japanese Anime and Thriller Series
Japanese content on Netflix includes Alice in Borderland, a manga adaptation where jobless protagonist Ryōhei Arisu navigates deadly games in empty Tokyo. Season 3's September 25, 2025 release achieved a rare feat: all three seasons simultaneously occupied Netflix's Top 10 Non-English TV Shows for the week of September 29-October 5, 2025, with Season 3 at #1 (46.3M hours), Season 1 at #8 (13.3M hours), and Season 2 at #9 (12.7M hours).
Anime viewership has exploded on Netflix, with over 1 billion global views in 2024 and 33 different anime titles appearing in the Global Top 10 (Non-English)-more than double 2021's count. Demon Slayer Season 4 (Hashira Training Arc) ranked second in July-December 2024 with 51.1 million hours watched. Naruto holds the franchise record with 205 million views since January 2023.
Indian and Southeast Asian Content
Delhi Crime made history as India's first Emmy-winning series, winning Best Drama Series at the 48th International Emmy Awards in 2020. The seven-episode police procedural, based on the Nirbhaya case, premiered globally March 22, 2019, following Delhi Police's investigation.
Other notable Asian shows include Beef (USA/Korean-American), Giri/Haji (Japan+UK crime drama), Photocopier (Indonesia), and Twenty Five Twenty One, a romantic fencing drama starring Kim Tae-ri and Nam Joo-hyuk that premiered February 12, 2022.
- Squid Game - Korean survival thriller, Netflix's most-watched series (330M viewers)
- Kingdom - Korean medieval zombie political thriller (Netflix's first Korean original)
- Alice in Borderland - Japanese sci-fi death game thriller (3 seasons, all in Top 10)
- All of Us Are Dead - Korean high school zombie outbreak drama
- Mr. Sunshine - Korean historical romance (18.129%, 3rd highest cable rating)
- Sweet Home - Korean monster horror (Top 1 in 11 countries)
- Twenty Five Twenty One - Korean fencing romance drama
- Delhi Crime - Indian police procedural (first Indian Emmy winner)
- Demon Slayer - Japanese anime (51.1M hours, July-Dec 2024)
- Dandadan - Japanese anime (96.5M hours, most-watched H2 2024)
Why These Asian Shows Matter for Educational Context
These series demonstrate cultural storytelling excellence with production values rivaling Hollywood, as seen in Mr. Sunshine's "Hollywood cinematography" praised by South China Morning Post. For educators studying global media literacy, these shows illustrate how local narratives achieve universal appeal through authentic representation and high-quality production.
The diversity of genres-from zombie survival to historical romance to police procedural-shows Asian creators' range beyond stereotypes. Delhi Crime's investigative journalism approach and Kingdom's historical accuracy provide teachable moments about real-world events and cultural context.
How to Choose Asian Shows for Binge-Watching
- Identify your preferred genre: Survival thriller (Squid Game), historical romance (Mr. Sunshine), zombie horror (Kingdom, All of Us Are Dead), or sci-fi mystery (Alice in Borderland)
- Check viewing时间和 commitment: Mr. Sunshine has 24 episodes; Kingdom has 12 episodes across 2 seasons; Squid Game has 17 episodes across 2 seasons
- Consider subtitle vs. dub preference: All shows offer both options, with Netflix's Golden platform dedicated to Asian talent discussions
- Review ratings: Mr. Sunshine reached 18.129% (3rd highest Korean cable rating); Sweet Home topped charts in 11 countries
- Start with award winners: Delhi Crime (Emmy), Squid Game (6 Emmys, 1 Golden Globe), Kingdom (critical acclaim)
Netflix's Asian content library continues expanding with when Life Gives You Tangerines, Uprising, and The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call among 2026's award-winning Korean releases. This represents a true golden age of Asian films and TV, with streaming platforms investing heavily in local markets to bring authentic original content globally.
Expert answers to Asian Shows On Netflix That Deserve A Spot On Your List queries
What are the most-watched Asian shows on Netflix?
Squid Game is Netflix's most-watched series ever with 330 million viewers and 2.8 billion hours viewed since September 17, 2021. Squid Game Season 2 earned 190 million views in six days after its December 26, 2024 release, making it only the third season ever to reach that milestone.
Which Korean dramas are available on Netflix?
Top Korean dramas include Squid Game, Kingdom, All of Us Are Dead, Mr. Sunshine, Sweet Home, Twenty Five Twenty One, Strong Girl Nam-soon, Run On, and Mr. Queen. Netflix's K-Drama genre features titles like Tastefully Yours, The Price of Confession, and Heavenly Ever After.
Are there Japanese anime series on Netflix?
Yes, Netflix hosts over 1 billion anime views globally in 2024 with 33 anime titles in the Top 10 Non-English. Top titles include Demon Slayer (51.1M hours), Dandadan (96.5M hours), Jujutsu Kaisen (76.9M hours), Alice in Borderland (live-action), Naruto (205M views franchise), and Spy x Family.
What Indian shows are on Netflix?
Delhi Crime is the standout Indian series, winning the 2020 International Emmy for Best Drama Series-India's first Emmy win. The police procedural premiered March 22, 2019, and follows the Delhi Police investigation into the Nirbhaya case.
When was Kingdom released on Netflix?
Kingdom Season 1 premiered worldwide on January 25, 2019, as Netflix's first original Korean series. The six-episode medieval zombie thriller cost approximately $1.78 million per episode and was so successful that Season 2 was commissioned before Season 1's release.
