Best Non-English TV Shows to Watch Right Now

There’s a whole world of television beyond English, with series built by writers’ rooms and filmmakers from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. These shows span crime sagas, historical epics, workplace dramedies, and high-concept thrillers, and they come with fully formed ensembles, showrunners, and production teams worth knowing by name.

Below are 25 standout titles with quick, useful snapshots. For each series you’ll find the core premise, key cast members, and who created or produced it, so you can decide what fits your queue without digging for basic details. Every title here is primarily non-English, and each entry keeps the focus on plot, cast, crew, and production context.

‘Money Heist’ (2017–2021)

This Spanish series—’La casa de papel’—tracks a strategist known as the Professor who recruits specialists to carry out robberies on national institutions, including the Royal Mint of Spain and the Bank of Spain. The ensemble features Álvaro Morte, Úrsula Corberó, Itziar Ituño, Pedro Alonso, Alba Flores, Miguel Herrán, Jaime Lorente, Esther Acebo, and Darko Perić.

Created by Álex Pina and produced by Vancouver Media, the show initially aired on Antena 3 before continuing on a global streaming platform, with key episodes directed by Jesús Colmenar and Álex Rodrigo. Its production uses city-code names for characters and intercuts training flashbacks with real-time operations to map the heists’ phases.

‘Dark’ (2017–2020)

Set in the German town of Winden, this drama follows four families as missing-person cases connect to a system of caves, a nuclear plant, and a time-travel mystery spanning multiple eras. The cast includes Louis Hofmann, Lisa Vicari, Andreas Pietschmann, Maja Schöne, Karoline Eichhorn, and Oliver Masucci.

Created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese, the series was produced in Germany with music by Ben Frost and recurring visual motifs that link generations. Its structure uses parallel timelines, consistent casting across ages, and episode titles that track cause-and-effect loops within a closed cycle.

‘Squid Game’ (2021– )

This South Korean series follows participants who accept invitations to compete in children’s games with lethal consequences, all overseen by masked staff and anonymous organizers. Lee Jung-jae leads the cast with Park Hae-soo, Jung Ho-yeon, Wi Ha-joon, Oh Young-soo, Heo Sung-tae, Kim Joo-ryoung, and Anupam Tripathi.

Created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, the show’s production design stages each round with large-scale sets and clear game mechanics, while episodes reveal contestant backstories and the rules that govern eliminations. Its season layout introduces numbered players, hierarchical staff roles, and the funding source behind the competition.

‘Kingdom’ (2019– )

Set in the Joseon period, this South Korean thriller follows Crown Prince Lee Chang as he investigates a plague that reanimates the dead and intersects with court politics. Ju Ji-hoon stars alongside Bae Doona, Ryu Seung-ryong, Kim Sung-kyu, Kim Hye-jun, and Heo Joon-ho.

Written by Kim Eun-hee and initially directed by Kim Seong-hun, the series draws from the webcomic ‘The Kingdom of the Gods’. Produced in Korea with location shooting and practical effects, it blends historical settings, palace intrigue, and field investigations into the outbreak’s origin.

‘Borgen’ (2010–2022)

This Danish political drama follows Birgitte Nyborg as she becomes prime minister and later returns in a new cabinet role facing energy and foreign-policy challenges. Sidse Babett Knudsen stars, with Pilou Asbæk, Birgitte Hjort Sørensen, Mikael Birkkjær, Lars Knutzon, and Signe Egholm Olsen among the ensemble.

Created by Adam Price and produced by DR, the series depicts coalition building, cabinet negotiations, and media strategy. The 2022 continuation, ‘Borgen – Power & Glory’, reunites principal creatives and expands the story’s international scope while maintaining newsroom and parliamentary threads.

‘Gomorrah’ (2014–2021)

Set in and around Naples, this Italian crime saga follows the Savastano clan and rivals as territory, trafficking routes, and leadership change hands. Salvatore Esposito plays Gennaro “Genny” Savastano, with Marco D’Amore as Ciro Di Marzio and Fortunato Cerlino as Pietro Savastano, joined by Cristiana Dell’Anna and others over later arcs.

Based on Roberto Saviano’s book, the series was developed for television by Saviano with Stefano Sollima among lead directors. Produced by Sky Italia and Cattleya, it uses on-location shooting and multi-season arcs to map alliances, betrayals, and succession within the Camorra.

‘Call My Agent!’ (2015–2020)

Known in France as ‘Dix pour cent’, this workplace dramedy follows the agents at ASK as they handle contract negotiations and crises for film and TV clients. The ensemble includes Camille Cottin, Thibault de Montalembert, Grégory Montel, Liliane Rovère, Nicolas Maury, Laure Calamy, and Assaad Bouab, with guest stars appearing as themselves.

Created by Fanny Herrero and produced for France Télévisions, the series blends episodic client cases with serialized office leadership shifts. Early episodes involved direction and development input from Cédric Klapisch, and later seasons track mergers, rival agencies, and changing industry dynamics.

‘The Bridge’ (2011–2018)

The Scandinavian original—’Bron/Broen’—opens when a body is found on the Øresund Bridge connecting Denmark and Sweden, triggering a joint investigation. Sofia Helin plays Swedish detective Saga Norén, with Kim Bodnia as Danish detective Martin Rohde in early seasons and Thure Lindhardt as Henrik Sabroe later on.

Created by Hans Rosenfeldt and co-produced by DR and SVT, the show structures each season around a major crime with cross-border procedures and jurisdictional coordination. Its format inspired multiple remakes, while the original’s four seasons follow evolving partnerships and casework in the Öresund region.

‘Babylon Berlin’ (2017– )

Set in late-1920s Berlin, this German series follows inspector Gereon Rath and Charlotte Ritter as they investigate crime and political conspiracies during the Weimar era. Volker Bruch and Liv Lisa Fries lead the cast with Peter Kurth, Lars Eidinger, and a large supporting ensemble.

Developed by Tom Tykwer, Achim von Borries, and Henk Handloegten from Volker Kutscher’s novels, the production features large sets, choreography, and original music integrated into nightclub sequences. It uses multi-episode investigations that intersect with economic turmoil, police reforms, and party militias.

‘Pachinko’ (2022– )

Spanning decades, this series follows a Korean family’s path from Japanese-occupied Korea to Japan and beyond, centering on Sunja across different ages. The principal cast includes Youn Yuh-jung, Kim Min-ha, Lee Min-ho, Jin Ha, Anna Sawai, and Soji Arai, with dialogue in Korean, Japanese, and English.

Created for television by Soo Hugh and adapted from Min Jin Lee’s novel, season one was directed by Kogonada and Justin Chon. Production took place across multiple countries with detailed period design, covering markets, boardinghouses, and business settings tied to migration and identity.

‘Fauda’ (2015– )

This Israeli series follows an undercover counterterrorism unit led by Doron Kavillio as operations unfold across the West Bank and Gaza. Lior Raz stars with Hisham Suliman, Rona-Lee Shimon, Tsahi Halevi, Doron Ben-David, and Laëtitia Eïdo in roles that alternate perspectives between the unit and their targets.

Created by Lior Raz and Avi Issacharoff for Yes, the show uses Hebrew and Arabic dialogue and tracks missions, asset handling, and command changes. Multi-season arcs incorporate kidnappings, infiltration, and shifting leadership within both the unit and opposing groups.

‘My Brilliant Friend’ (2018–2024)

Adapted from Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels, this Italian series follows Elena “Lenù” Greco and Raffaella “Lila” Cerullo from childhood through adulthood in Naples. Margherita Mazzucco and Gaia Girace portray Lenù and Lila in early seasons, with narration framing the story from Elena’s later life.

Developed by Saverio Costanzo for HBO and Rai, the production uses period-accurate sets and a large ensemble representing neighborhood families, classmates, and employers. Directors added in later seasons reflect changes in the characters’ locations and careers as the adaptation proceeds through the four books.

‘Lupin’ (2021– )

Inspired by Maurice Leblanc’s gentleman thief, this French series follows Assane Diop as he stages elaborate cons to expose crimes committed against his family. Omar Sy stars with Ludivine Sagnier, Clotilde Hesme, Antoine Gouy, and Hervé Pierre in roles connected to past and present schemes.

Created by George Kay with François Uzan, early parts were directed by Louis Leterrier, with Parisian landmarks integrated as set pieces. Episodes build around heist mechanics, misdirection, and reveals, while flashbacks to Assane’s youth explain skills and motives.

‘Sacred Games’ (2018–2019)

Set in Mumbai, this Indian thriller follows police officer Sartaj Singh after he receives a warning from gangster Ganesh Gaitonde, launching a countdown that revisits decades of crime and politics. Saif Ali Khan plays Sartaj, Nawazuddin Siddiqui portrays Gaitonde, and Radhika Apte appears as intelligence analyst Anjali Mathur, with Pankaj Tripathi in a pivotal role.

Based on Vikram Chandra’s novel, the series was showrun by Vikramaditya Motwane, with direction by Motwane and Anurag Kashyap in season one and additional directors in season two. The production combines period sequences with present-day investigation and uses Mumbai locations tied to film, finance, and law enforcement.

‘3%’ (2016–2020)

Set in a future Brazil split between scarcity and a prosperous offshore society, this series follows candidates who undergo a multi-stage selection process where only a small fraction advances. The cast includes Bianca Comparato, João Miguel, Vaneza Oliveira, Michel Gomes, and Rodolfo Valente.

Created by Pedro Aguilera and produced by Boutique Filmes, the show expands an earlier short pilot into four seasons. Its world-building establishes the Inland, the Process, and the Shell while episodes depict tests, sabotage, and competing ideologies within and against the system.

‘Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories’ (2016–2019)

This Japanese anthology centers on a late-night eatery run by the Master, whose small menu and steady presence anchor stories from customers who drop by after hours. Kaoru Kobayashi leads the cast, with recurring regulars and rotating guest stars whose episodes often revolve around a single dish.

Based on Yarō Abe’s manga ‘Shinya Shokudō’ and directed primarily by Joji Matsuoka, the series uses intimate sets that recreate a Shinjuku alleyway. Episodes follow a consistent structure with brief openings, recipe vignettes, and epilogues that revisit characters’ outcomes.

‘Crash Landing on You’ (2019–2020)

This South Korean drama begins when a South Korean business heiress accidentally paraglides across the border and encounters a North Korean army officer who shelters her. Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin lead the cast, joined by Seo Ji-hye, Kim Jung-hyun, and supporting actors who portray village residents and unit members.

Written by Park Ji-eun and directed by Lee Jung-hyo, the series was produced by Studio Dragon and filmed across domestic and international locations that stand in for border regions and cities. Episodes balance village life, military procedure, corporate disputes, and cross-border logistics.

‘The Bureau’ (2015–2020)

This French espionage series—’Le Bureau des Légendes’—follows DGSE officers who build and maintain deep-cover identities across foreign postings. Mathieu Kassovitz stars with Sara Giraudeau, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Florence Loiret Caille, Zineb Triki, and Léa Drucker.

Created by Éric Rochant for Canal+, the show emphasizes legend building, asset handling, and interagency oversight across multi-season arcs. Later seasons added new directors while continuing storylines that involve field operations, cyber capabilities, and internal security.

‘Alice in Borderland’ (2020–2022)

This Japanese sci-fi thriller follows Arisu and fellow survivors who awaken in an emptied Tokyo and are forced into lethal games categorized by playing-card suits. Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya lead the cast, with Nijirō Murakami, Aya Asahina, and others joining as the rules and administrators are revealed.

Directed by Shinsuke Satō and adapted from Haro Aso’s manga, the production mixes location shooting with large-scale visual effects to depict deserted cityscapes and custom arenas. Across two seasons, the narrative escalates challenge difficulty, introduces face-card bosses, and explains the game world’s structure.

‘Resurrection: Ertugrul’ (2014–2019)

This Turkish historical series dramatizes the life of Ertuğrul Bey, father of Osman I, tracing tribal migrations, alliances, and conflicts across 13th-century Anatolia. Engin Altan Düzyatan stars as Ertuğrul, with Esra Bilgiç as Halime Hatun and Hülya Darcan as Hayme Ana among the principal cast.

Created by Mehmet Bozdağ and broadcast on TRT 1, the production spans multiple seasons with horseback training, large outdoor sets, and costume design reflecting Oghuz traditions. Story arcs involve rival factions, court intrigue, and frontier settlements as the Kayı tribe consolidates power.

‘Signal’ (2016)

This South Korean crime series connects present-day detectives with a cop from the past through a mysterious walkie-talkie, allowing cold cases to be revisited. Lee Je-hoon plays profiler Park Hae-young, Kim Hye-soo appears as detective Cha Soo-hyun, and Cho Jin-woong portrays investigator Lee Jae-han.

Written by Kim Eun-hee and directed by Kim Won-seok, the show adapts real unsolved cases into fictionalized investigations. Produced for tvN, it uses parallel edits and time stamps to show how communication across time alters evidence, suspects, and outcomes.

‘Reply 1988’ (2015–2016)

Set in a Seoul neighborhood in the late 1980s, this series follows five friends and their families through school, sports, and everyday routines. The ensemble includes Lee Hye-ri, Ryu Jun-yeol, Park Bo-gum, Go Kyung-pyo, and Lee Dong-hwi, with parents and siblings central to the cast.

Created by director Shin Won-ho and writer Lee Woo-jung as part of the ‘Reply’ anthology, the production recreates period interiors, street life, and media. Episodes blend neighborhood events with national milestones and long runtimes that cover exams, festivals, and televised sports.

‘The Untamed’ (2019)

Adapted from Mo Xiang Tong Xiu’s novel ‘Mo Dao Zu Shi’, this Chinese xianxia series follows cultivators Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji as they investigate past mysteries involving clans and spiritual threats. Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo lead the cast, supported by an ensemble portraying sect leaders, siblings, and disciples.

Directed by Zheng Weiwen and Chen Jialin, the production features large sets, wire-assisted choreography, and an original soundtrack linked to character themes. Its structure uses extended flashbacks to reconstruct events surrounding the Yin Iron and the cultivation world’s conflicts.

‘Riget’ (1994–2022)

Set in Copenhagen’s Rigshospitalet, this Danish series follows doctors, nurses, and patients as unexplained phenomena ripple through the neurosurgery ward and the hospital’s basement corridors. The ensemble includes Ernst-Hugo Järegård as Dr. Stig Helmer, Kirsten Rolffes as Sigrid Drusse, Holger Juul Hansen as Professor Moesgaard, Baard Owe as Dr. Bondo, and Søren Pilmark among the staff.

Created by Lars von Trier with Morten Arnfred and produced for DR, the show uses handheld camerawork, a sepia-tinted palette, and epilogues delivered by the creator. The second run, ‘Riget II’, continues medical and supernatural threads, and the 2022 continuation ‘Riget: Exodus’ returns to the same hospital setting with new episodes that reconnect past incidents and characters.

‘La Reina del Sur’ (2011–2022)

This Spanish-language crime drama follows Teresa Mendoza’s rise from modest beginnings in Sinaloa to a prominent role in international trafficking networks. Kate del Castillo leads the cast as Teresa, with supporting roles across seasons played by Humberto Zurita, Rafael Amaya, and Alejandro Calva.

Based on Arturo Pérez-Reverte’s novel, the series was produced across Spain, Mexico, and the United States by multiple partners, including Telemundo and Antena 3. Its seasons track relocations, alliances, and betrayals across Europe and Latin America while maintaining continuity in Teresa’s inner circle and adversaries.

Share which non-English series you’d add to this list in the comments so others can discover them too.