5 Netflix Original shows that got over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes


If your Netflix queue has been feeling a little repetitive lately, it might be time to revisit some of the platform’s most critically acclaimed original shows and refresh your watch list.

From emotionally devastating dramas to gripping psychological thrillers and heartfelt coming-of-age stories, Netflix has a strong catalog of shows that have scored high on review aggregator sites. Here are five Netflix Original shows that scored more than 90% on Rotten Tomatoes that you need to stream.

BoJack Horseman

Comedy meets woe in this animated program

This show is the perfect blend of tragedy and comedy, delivering some character writing and plot lines that make you want to binge-watch its multi-season run.

BoJack Horseman starts off looking like a ridiculous Hollywood comedy about a washed-up sitcom actor (who is also an anthropomorphic horse), but it peels back to reveal something bigger, as the show goes on. The story follows BoJack, who was once the star of a hugely popular 1990s sitcom and now spends most of his time drifting through self-destructive habits, failed relationships, and attempts to stay relevant. As he tries to rebuild his career with the help of his ghostwriter Diane, his agent Princess Carolyn, roommate Todd, and rival Mr. Peanutbutter, the show slowly digs into depression, addiction, and loneliness.

Throughout its run, BoJack Horseman received numerous accolades, including three Saturn Award nominations for Best Animated Series on Television, four Critics’ Choice Television Awards for Best Animated Series, and two Creative Arts Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Animated Program.

Rotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer) score: 93%

Mindhunter

The hunt begins on the road

One of the best and most highly rated Netflix Original shows to date, Mindhunter is a psychological crime thriller that will have you hooked on its plot and performances in the first episode. Directed by David Fincher, the show is based on the book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit.

The show follows two FBI agents, Holden Ford and Bill Tench, who teach “Road School,” where they hit the road and go to various precincts across the US to teach police officers about the psychology of killers. The two embark on a dangerous journey when they begin to have conversations with brutal killers to gain insights about their minds and behavior. The stakes increase once a third member joins in on their mission. How they lay the groundwork for modern-day serial killer profiling and how it affects their personal lives makes up the rest of the series.

Mindhunter has two seasons, and despite the potential for a third, it was unfortunately canceled after a spectacular run.

Rotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer) score: 97%

Russian Doll

The layers peel back slowly

If you love the time loop trope with a generous serving of comedy, then Russian Doll is the perfect watch for your next Netflix streaming session. Created by Amy Poehler and Natasha Lyonne, Russian Doll stars Lyonne as Nadia, a woman who is stuck in a time loop on the night of her 36th birthday party. The loop is reset every time she dies, restarting in a washroom where she is looking into the mirror. As she navigates the time loop and dies in various, gruesome ways, she meets a man named Alan, who seems to be stuck in a similar time loop as Nadia.

Russian Doll won three Creative Arts Emmys, with Lyonne being nominated for her role as Nadia at the Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. The second season takes the audience through another eccentric adventure — Nadia time travels into her mother’s young body a few days away from her 40th birthday. A third season is speculated to be in the works.

Rotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer) score: 97%

Heartstopper

A sweet, heartwarming high school love story

This has been one of my personal favorite romance dramas on Netflix since its very first season. Based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novel and web comic of the same name, Heartstopper is a British queer romance drama that dances between the coming-of-age and young adult romance genres. It takes you through the sweet love story between Charlie Spring (Agatha All Along’s Joe Locke) and his classmate Nick Nelson (Kit Connor) as they navigate the highs and lows of school and young love. The lives of Charlie’s and Nick’s friends, along with their sexualities and identities, are also explored.​​​​​​​

Heartstopper became one of the most-watched Netflix series at the time of its release. With animation elements drawn from its source material and a soundtrack that fits its setting and story, Heartstopper is a feel-good romance that is a must-watch if you’re interested in LGBTQ+ media. While it has been confirmed that there will not be a fourth season of the series, a feature film is in the works and will be released on Netflix.

Rotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer) score: 98%

Unbelievable

An incredible true story of human resilience

This might be a heavy watch, but Unbelievable is a true story that will stay with you long after you finish the show. The limited series is based on the Pulitzer-winning news article An Unbelievable Story of Rape by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong. The article explains the Washington and Colorado serial rape cases. Personally, it’s one of the best investigative journalism pieces I have ever read.

It follows Marie, a woman who was charged with a crime for reporting that she was raped, and two detectives who are tracking the case of serial attacks committed by Marie’s rapist. As the detectives slowly piece together evidence, the show shifts between Marie’s isolation and the methodical police work that finally begins uncovering the truth. The story heavily focuses on the emotional weight of the crime, removing any sensationalism, with strong performances led by Kaitlyn Dever (Apple Cider Vinegar), Toni Collette (Hereditary), and Merritt Wever (Godless).

Rotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer) score: 98%


unbelievable


Unbelievable



Release Date

2019 – 2018

Directors

Michael Dinner





Apart from these incredible shows, Netflix has a lot to offer in terms of award-winning titles, from Oscar-winning films to Emmy-winning shows and documentaries. You can browse the entire collection by searching for award names or browsing through categories like Oscars Spotlight.

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Recent Reviews


When it comes to content, there’s little I love more than a good, gritty crime drama. From their dark, cynical, often realistic portrayals of criminal underworlds, violence, and justice systems to their heavily flawed, obsessed, anti-hero protagonists and intense, gritty tones, it all sucks us in, and it’s why we can’t look away. These types of criminal shows have carved out a powerful space in television by refusing to glamorize the worlds they depict and being willing to confront uncomfortable truths.

This weekend on Amazon Prime Video in the U.S., we’re exploring three immensely popular, critically acclaimed criminal shows that will hook you from the get-go with their honesty, and my top pick is a must-see that reinvented the police procedural genre.

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City on a Hill

A Wire-like look at corruption, race, and justice

Based on a story by Ben Affleck and author Charlie MacLean, the underrated crime drama City on a Hill revisits a charged moment in Massachusetts history known as The Boston Miracle. For 18 months in the mid-90s, gang-related violence dropped 63% as the result of a community-wide initiative developed in collaboration with the Boston Police Department, street workers, juvenile corrections officers, churches, and neighborhood programs. Kevin Bacon (Footloose), Aldis Hodge (Cross), and Jonathan Tucker (Kingdom) headline the cast.

Set in early 1990s Boston, corruption, violent criminals, and racism are normal parts of life, and to make matters worse, they’re backed by local law enforcement agencies. The series focuses on an unlikely alliance between hardened, corrupt, charismatic FBI agent Jackie Rohr (Bacon) and idealistic Assistant District Attorney Decourcy Ward (Hodge) as they work together to navigate the city and take down a family of armored car thieves, aiming to overhaul the broken criminal justice system.



















Quiz
8 Questions · Test Your Knowledge

Prime Video movies
Trivia challenge

From thrillers to tearjerkers — see how well you know these Amazon Prime Video films.

DramaThrillerTrue StoryComedySports

In Crime 101, what profession does the main character use as cover while pulling off elaborate heists?

That’s right! The protagonist poses as a real estate agent, using the job’s access and mobility as a convenient front for criminal activity. The film plays with how ordinary professions can mask extraordinary deception.

Not quite — the correct answer is real estate agent. The film uses this cover cleverly, showing how a respectable-seeming profession can provide the perfect camouflage for a career criminal operating in plain sight.

In Saltburn, which prestigious English university does protagonist Oliver Quick attend when he befriends Felix Catton?

Correct! Oliver and Felix meet at Oxford, where the stark class divide between scholarship student Oliver and the aristocratic Felix is immediately established. That university setting is crucial to the film’s themes of privilege and obsession.

Not quite — it’s Oxford where Oliver and Felix first cross paths. Director Emerald Fennell deliberately chose Oxford’s world of old money and social stratification to set up the film’s exploration of class envy and manipulation.

In The Tender Bar, based on J.R. Moehringer’s memoir, who plays Uncle Charlie, the bartender who becomes a father figure to young J.R.?

Spot on! Ben Affleck plays the warm and charismatic Uncle Charlie, earning considerable praise for the role. Affleck’s performance was seen as one of the film’s greatest strengths, bringing real depth to a man who shapes a fatherless boy’s entire worldview.

The correct answer is Ben Affleck. His portrayal of Uncle Charlie was widely praised as a career highlight, capturing the rough charm of a bartender who becomes the most important male role model in J.R.’s life.

In the 2024 Prime Video remake of Road House, who plays ex-UFC fighter Elwood Dalton, the new bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse?

That’s right! Jake Gyllenhaal steps into the role made famous by Patrick Swayze, playing a disgraced MMA fighter hired to clean up a rowdy bar in the Florida Keys. Gyllenhaal underwent intense physical training to prepare for the action-heavy role.

The correct answer is Jake Gyllenhaal. He took on the iconic role previously played by Patrick Swayze in the 1989 original, with the remake shifting the setting from Missouri to the Florida Keys and updating the protagonist’s fighting background to MMA.

Thirteen Lives depicts the dramatic 2018 rescue of a youth soccer team trapped in a cave in which country?

Correct! The film recreates the harrowing rescue of the Wild Boars youth soccer team from the Tham Luang cave in Thailand. The real-life operation captivated the world and involved expert cave divers from across the globe.

The answer is Thailand. The real rescue took place in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Chiang Rai province, where 12 boys and their coach were trapped for 18 days before a multinational team of divers managed to bring them all out safely.

In Manchester by the Sea, what unexpected event forces Lee Chandler to return to his hometown and become guardian of his teenage nephew?

That’s right! Lee’s brother Joe dies suddenly from congestive heart failure, pulling Lee back to a town filled with painful memories. Casey Affleck won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of the grief-stricken, emotionally closed-off Lee.

Not quite — Lee returns because his brother Joe dies of congestive heart failure. The film, written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan, won two Academy Awards including Best Original Screenplay, and is celebrated for its unflinching portrayal of grief and guilt.

In American Fiction, what pen name does frustrated author Thelonious ‘Monk’ Ellison use when he writes a satirical novel pandering to racial stereotypes?

Correct! Monk writes his outrageous satirical manuscript under the pseudonym Stagg R. Leigh, a name that itself plays on stereotypes. The film, based on Percival Everett’s novel Erasure, won Cord Jefferson the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

The pen name Monk uses is Stagg R. Leigh. The choice of pseudonym is itself part of the satire — a name loaded with cultural baggage. Jeffrey Wright received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his nuanced portrayal of Monk.

In Air, the film about Nike signing Michael Jordan, which actress plays Jordan’s mother Deloris, who plays a pivotal role in negotiating his landmark deal?

That’s right! Viola Davis plays Deloris Jordan with commanding presence, portraying her as the savvy negotiator who helped secure the revolutionary contract that gave Michael unprecedented royalties. The real Deloris Jordan is widely credited with shaping the deal that changed sports marketing forever.

The correct answer is Viola Davis. She received widespread praise for capturing the intelligence and determination of Deloris Jordan, whose behind-the-scenes negotiations were instrumental in creating the Air Jordan brand that would go on to generate billions of dollars.

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Expect a thick atmosphere of 90s Boston authenticity, compelling power dynamics, character-driven narratives, and exceptional acting, particularly from Bacon, who gives a career-best performance. The show offers a serious, slow-burn exploration of one city’s criminal justice system while blending police corruption with family drama and social issues. Though fictionalized, it’s a fascinating look at Boston’s transition from a corrupt era to a new system and is executive produced by Affleck and Matt Damon.

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River

A traditional “whodunit” investigation

Boasting a perfect critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, River is a six-part British police procedural and psychological crime drama about a haunted detective investigating his partner’s murder while also struggling with his mental health. Stellan Skarsgård (Good Will Hunting) and Nicola Walker (Unforgotten) star.

Detective Inspector John River (Skarsgård) is brilliant at what he does, but his fractured mind keeps him trapped between the living and the dead, haunted by “manifests,” or visions of murder victims, including his recently deceased partner, Stevie. Under enormous pressure from the media and psychiatric evaluation for his hallucinations, River works hard to navigate his guilt and, in the process, discovers the shocking truth about Stevie’s death.

Unlike typical crime shows, River focuses heavily on its protagonist’s mental states in the wake of his criminal experiences. The slow-burn, dramatic crime thriller is characterized by intense psychological scenes, a traditional “whodunit” investigation, and a masterful performance from Skarsgård. Expect a deeply human study of loss with smart writing, a genuinely creepy atmosphere, and a unique, emotional take on the police procedural drama.

1

The Shield

One of the best cop shows ever made

One of this century’s best crime dramas, The Shield is a multi-Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy Award winner. Michael Chiklis (The Commish), Walton Goggins (The White Lotus), Kenny Johnson (Ray), and Michael Jace (The Replacements) star alongside an enormous cast that includes Forest Whitaker, Katey Sagal, Kurt Sutter, CCH Pounder, Glenn Close, Benito Martinez, and more.

The hit FX show follows the corrupt activities of rogue cop Vic Mackey (Chiklis) in an experimental criminal division task force of the Los Angeles Police Department. He’ll go to any lengths to take down the criminals he and his team are chasing, including breaking the law and working with other criminals, and eventually he ropes his team into doing the same. Everything is set in a district rife with gang-related violence, drug trafficking, and prostitution.

Highly regarded for reinventing the police procedural and setting the standard for modern anti-hero dramas, the show paved the way for “prestige” television on basic cable with its raw, unflinching tone full of twists and thrills that explores the fine line between right and wrong. Over the course of 88 episodes, you’ll experience fast-paced action, moral ambiguity, high-stakes tension, and more riveting, gritty crime drama in one continuously solid storyline than you can stand. When viewing turns to obsession, don’t say I didn’t warn you. This one is a true gem.


Each of these hit criminal shows stands out for its realism and complexity, offering a much darker, thought-provoking take on crime storytelling that burrows into our brains and leaves us craving more. The platform has plenty of excellent crime dramas to choose from, so once you finish these three, stick around and see what else is there to transport you to the criminal underworld. Before you leave, though, be sure to check out everything coming to Prime Video in May 2026.

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