What Is The Best Series To Watch On Netflix? The Answer Surprises
What Is the Best Series to Watch on Netflix Right This Minute
The best series to watch on Netflix right now is The Chestnut Man, which holds a perfect 100% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes as of May 2026. For viewers seeking completed stories with critical acclaim, Better Call Saul (98% Tomatometer) offers a flawless conclusion to its six-season run, while Beef (94% Tomatometer) delivers a gripping limited series about road rage that won multiple Emmy Awards.
Top-Rated Netflix Series by Critical Score
Editors at Rotten Tomatoes ranked over 100 Netflix original series according to their Tomatometer scores, with 15 shows achieving 100% as of May 4, 2026. These perfection scores represent series where every critic review was positive, making them the safest bets for quality viewing.
- The Chestnut Man - 100% Tomatometer, Danish crime thriller with two detectives hunting a killer
- Dark Winds - 100% Tomatometer, 1970s Navajo Tribal Police mystery starring Zahn McClarnon
- Arcane: League of Legends - 100% Tomatometer, animated series about two champions' origins
- Cyberpunk: Edgerunners - 100% Tomatometer, futuristic action anime with 95% audience score
- Beef - 94% Tomatometer, Emmy-winning limited series about road rage chaos
Most-Watched Shows Globally Right Now
Netflix publishes an official Top 10 Shows on Netflix Right Now list updated daily based on global viewing hours. While critical scores measure quality, viewing numbers reveal what audiences are actually binge-watching this week.
| Show Title | Genre | Tomatometer | Seasons Available | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Chestnut Man | Crime Thriller | 100% | 1 | Critical acclaim lovers |
| Beef | Dark Comedy-Drama | 94% | 1 (Limited) | Emmy Award fans |
| Bridgerton | Period Romance | 83% | 4 | Romance enthusiasts |
| Stranger Things | Sci-Fi Horror | 90% | 4 (Completed) | 80s nostalgia fans |
| Squid Game | Survival Drama | 86% | 3 | Global phenomenon viewers |
| One Piece | Adventure | 93% | 2 | Adventure seekers |
New Releases Worth Your Time This Week
TV Guide's May 29, 2026 update highlights The Boroughs as the newest addition-a sci-fi mystery from the Duffer Brothers (Stranger Things) starring Alfred Molina and Geena Davis in a retirement community facing supernatural threats. Also newly added is The Four Seasons, Tina Fey's first regular TV role since 30 Rock, featuring Colman Domingo and Steve Carell as college friends on quarterly vacations.
- The Boroughs - Sci-fi mystery with Boomer cast, Duffer Brothers executive producing
- The Four Seasons - Tina Fey comedy about middle-aged college friends
- Nemesis - Power creator's cat-and-mouse thriller with Y'lan Noel
- Man on Fire - Action thriller starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
- Running Point - Kate Hudson NBA comedy produced by Mindy Kaling
How Netflix's Recommendation System Works
Netflix's algorithm processes terabytes of data daily for 280+ million subscribers, with over 80% of content watched coming from algorithmic recommendations rather than user searches. The system considers your viewing history, time of day, preferred languages, devices used, and how long you enjoyed titles.
When you create an account, Netflix asks you to choose titles you like to "jump start" recommendations, but your actual viewing behavior quickly supersedes these initial preferences. Titles you engage with more recently outweigh older viewing history in driving recommendations.
Helpful tips and tricks for What Is The Best Series To Watch On Netflix The Answer Surprises
What is the #1 show on Netflix right now?
The #1 show by critical score is The Chestnut Man with 100% Tomatometer, while the most-watched show varies daily based on Netflix's official Top 10 list.
What is the best Netflix series of all time?
Better Call Saul holds the highest combined critical+audience score at 98% Tomatometer and 96% Audience Score, representing the complete six-season arc.
What shows are ending soon on Netflix?
Stranger Things has officially concluded after nine years with all four seasons available to binge completely, making it ideal for new viewers who want a finished story.
Which Netflix series has won the most Emmys?
Beef won multiple Emmy Awards including Outstanding Limited Series, with its 94% Tomatometer confirming critical recognition.
