8 Netflix Series That Are So Good, You’ll Want to Binge Them in One Weekend

As one of the earliest successful streaming services, Netflix has played a significant part in creating “binge-watch” culture, particularly as a result of how the streaming service releases its shows all at once. While the platform has plenty of long-running shows that can keep you entertained for weeks at a time, its catalog also features several great series that are practically designed for a weekend watch, including some true modern masterpieces.

Whether you’re looking for a short and sweet miniseries or an ongoing show that’s still entertaining enough to keep you engaged through multiple seasons, Netflix’s library boasts an abundance of titles to choose from, which can honestly make it a little difficult to zero in on your next weekend binge. But fret not — here’s our handpicked selection of the very best Netflix series that are so good, you’ll want to binge them in one weekend.

1

‘Baby Reindeer’ (2024)

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Created by Scottish actor and comedian Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer is a black comedy thriller inspired by his semi-autobiographical one-man show, starring Gadd as a fictionalized interpretation of himself named Donny Dunn. A struggling comedian and bartender, Donny tries to extend some goodwill and support to a distressed customer named Martha, but his life is upended when she becomes increasingly obsessed with him, forcing him to face his personal demons. Besides Gadd, the series also stars Jessica Gunning as Martha, with Nava Mau, Tom Goodman-Hill, Nina Sosanya, Michael Wildman, and Shalom Brune-Franklin in supporting roles.

Baby Reindeer was an instant success when it was first released in 2024, garnering critical acclaim for Gadd’s writing and acting and for Gunning’s breakout performance. Darkly funny, highly thrilling, and intelligently crafted, the series is so engaging that you would want to watch all seven of its episodes in one go. The miniseries stands out with its gripping and complex take on themes of dangerous obsession, and it has been widely hailed as one of the best miniseries of the 2020s.

2

‘Bodies’ (2023)

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Adapted from Si Spencer’s DC Vertigo graphic novel, Bodies is a British sci-fi mystery thriller created by Paul Tomalin that revolves around the discovery of an anonymous dead body in the same London neighborhood at different times between 1890 and 2053. When detectives in their respective timelines begin an investigation, each of them finds puzzling clues, all connecting to a time and space-bending conspiracy that threatens the existence of mankind. The show stars Stephen Graham, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Shira Haas, Amaka Okafor, Kyle Soller, Greta Scacchi, and more in key roles.

A high-concept sci-fi thriller, Bodies is a fantastic combination of murder mystery, time travel, historical conspiracies, and period drama that would instantly appeal to hard sci-fi fans. Even though the story unfolds slowly and gradually, the narrative successfully maintains high tension and unpredictability throughout, making it a highly addictive thriller that demands non-stop viewing. Bodies has been critically acclaimed for its elevated narrative, anchored by compelling performances, and it’s often compared to other confoundingly complex sci-fi shows like Dark and 3 Body Problem.

3

‘The Residence’ (2025)

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Inspired by Kate Anderson Brower’s non-fiction book, The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House, The Residence is a mystery comedy-drama created by Paul William Davies that centers on the scandalous murder of White House Chief Usher, A.B. Wynter. The entire White House staff and their schedule are thrown into disarray, and eccentric detective Cordelia Cupp is called in to investigate, uncovering all their sinister internal conflicts and backdoor politics. Uzo Aduba stars as Cordelia Cupp and Giancarlo Esposito as A.B. Wynter, with Randall Park, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Susan Kelechi Watson, Edwina Findley, and Ken Marino in lead roles.

An investigative exploration of the “upstairs, downstairs, and backstairs” of the world’s most prestigious house, The Residence delivers a refreshingly different whodunit story where every episode leaves you wanting to watch more. Aduba’s stoic birder-sleuth Cordelia Cupp is an inventive reimagination of the conventional “oddball detective” trope, translated brilliantly through the actor’s performance. Come for the murder mystery, stay for the quirky characters, dark satire, and Wes Anderson-esque visual aesthetics.

4

‘The Gentlemen’ (2023–Present)

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Created and directed by Guy Ritchie, and loosely inspired by his 2019 film, The Gentlemen is a Netflix crime thriller series starring Theo James and Kaya Scodelario that follows Edward “Eddie” Horniman, an English nobleman who inherits his family’s crumbling estate and businesses after his father’s death. When Eddie discovers a secret cannabis business involving dangerous drug lords and career criminals, he unwittingly becomes a part of the seedy underworld. The ensemble cast also includes Daniel Ings, Ray Winstone, Joely Richardson, Vinnie Jones, Giancarlo Esposito, and more.

In his first television directorial project, Guy Ritchie brings the hallmarks of his storytelling style to the small screen, seen in The Gentlemen’s production values, visual style, and character designs. The Netflix original series is as slick and sleek as the original film, and arguably darker in its humor, with more eccentric characters and witty dialogue. Packed with excellent performances, family drama, high-speed action, and comedy, The Gentlemen makes for a highly satisfying watch that’s perfect for binging over a weekend.

5

‘Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials’ (2026)

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Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials is a murder mystery miniseries created by Chris Chibnall and adapted from Christie’s 1929 novel, The Seven Dials Mystery. The series kicks off with the mysterious death of Gerry Wade, a guest at Lady Caterham’s country estate. Lady Eileen “Bundle” Brent, Lady Caterham’s daughter and Gerry’s love interest, sets out to investigate, uncovering a chilling plot involving secret organizations and a long-drawn conspiracy. Mia McKenna-Bruce stars as Bundle and Helena Bonham Carter as Lady Caterham, with Edward Bluemel, Iain Glen, Martin Freeman, and more in key roles.

With its high-end production and compelling performances by McKenna-Bruce and Bonham Carter, Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials is a lighthearted, cozy mystery that would delight genre fans. Now, to be very fair, the Netflix miniseries is not one of the best screen adaptations of Agatha Christie’s novels, which are better found with shows like Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? or Poirot. However, the miniseries packs plenty of suspense, drama, and rabbit-hole investigation into its three episodes, making it a breezy, satisfying mystery.

6

‘Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency’ (2016–2017)

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Created and primarily written by Max Landis, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency is a sci-fi mystery comedy series based on the novel series by Douglas Adams. The show follows a down-on-his-luck bellhop, Todd, who indirectly gets connected to a murder at his workplace, encountering the titular eccentric detective and becoming his reluctant sidekick in solving bizarre cases. Elijah Wood and Samuel Barnett play Todd and Dirk, respectively, with Hannah Marks, Fiona Dourif, Jade Eshete, Mpho Koaho, and Dustin Milligan in key roles.

An absurdist sci-fi mystery-comedy, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency is a fun and exciting show with interesting themes. It’s a very different interpretation of the original novels, but like them, the series is quite innovative and time-agnostic, with an unpredictable, madcap narrative that demands non-stop watching. One of a handful of shows available on Netflix to get a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score for one of its seasons, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency earned critical acclaim for its writing and narrative style, but remains heavily underrated within its genre.

7

‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ (2023)

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Inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe, particularly his short story, The Fall of the House of Usher is a gothic horror drama created and directed by Mike Flanagan that chronicles the rise and fall of siblings and corrupt entrepreneurs, Madeline and Roderick Usher. When a mysterious woman named Verna reappears in their lives, and Roderick’s children begin to die, the Ushers are forced to come to terms with their doom. Bruce Greenwood and Mary McDonnell star as Roderick and Madeline, with Carla Gugino as Verna. The show also features Carl Lumbly, Henry Thomas, Kate Siegel, Zach Gilford, Mark Hamill, and more in notable roles.

With The Fall of the House of Usher, Mike Flanagan reaffirms his mastery of gothic horror, delivering his best television production yet in this thriller miniseries that reimagines Edgar Allan Poe’s 19th-century American classics. Combining psychological horror, gruesome killings, and supernatural mystery, The Fall of the House of Usher is terrifying in every episode. The show’s well-knit story, suspended tension, remarkable visuals, and impeccable performances make it a horror miniseries masterpiece that is highly binge-worthy.

8

‘Beef’ (2023–Present)

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A dark comedy anthology series created by Lee Sung Jin, Beef explores stories involving different characters that share common themes of rage, existential crises, and pressing psychosocial issues of the contemporary world. The first season centers on a road rage incident between a man and a woman that leads to deadly outcomes, while the second season follows a young couple who blackmail an older couple with a compromising video. The show features a new ensemble cast in each season as well, featuring Steven Yeun, Ali Wong, Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, and more.

With each season depicting a new story with a different set of characters, Beef makes for a perfect double feature for a weekend binge. The show is an exceptional social thriller that expertly shifts between black comedy, crime thriller, and personal drama, and its first season earned universal praise for the terrific performances of Steven Yeun and Ali Wong, as well as their fiery chemistry. A second season followed in April 2026. Both seasons are highly incisive and intriguing, going beyond exploring the “what” and diving deeper into the “why” of the human condition, and seeing past the chaos of its characters to the pathos within.

Release Date

April 6, 2023

Network

Netflix

Showrunner

Lee Sung Jin

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