The 8 Best Netflix Series of 2026 So Far, Ranked by Critics
Netflix has had a quietly impressive run in the first half of this year, delivering a remarkably varied lineup of originals spanning sci-fi, horror, mystery, comedy, and thriller. The streaming service has released several acclaimed and popular series, with the promise of more to come, offering more hits than misses so far. For subscribers wondering what is actually worth their time, critics have started to draw a clearer picture of which titles rose above the rest.
The roundup, pulled from a Collider ranking of 2026 Netflix shows from worst to best, spans a wide range of genres and tones, reflecting just how broad the streamer’s ambitions have become.
The eight titles span science fiction, horror, drama, and comedy, making it one of the more eclectic midyear snapshots in recent streaming memory. Below is a quick overview of every entry, ranked from lowest to highest.At the lower end of the rankings sit a pair of solid if familiar entries.
‘Finding Her Edge’ follows Adrianna Russo, a skater from a dynastic family who returns to competitive ice skating to help her family through financial hardship, while ‘Run Away,’ adapted from a Harlan Coben novel, stars James Nesbitt as a father searching for his runaway daughter.
Higher up, ‘His & Hers,’ adapted from Alice Feeney’s novel and starring Tessa Thompson as a former news anchor drawn back to her hometown by a murder, earned praise for Thompson’s performance.
The animated Las Vegas legal comedy ‘Strip Law’ features Adam Scott as Lincoln Gumb, an uptight lawyer who partners with a flashy magician to tackle the Strip’s most ridiculous cases.
The back half of the list is where things get genuinely exciting. ‘Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials,’ inspired by the 1929 novel, centers on the unlikely sleuth Lady Eileen “Bundle” Brent, played by Mia McKenna-Bruce, with Helena Bonham Carter also starring.
Just above it sits ‘Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen,’ a horror series created by Haley Z. Boston and executive produced by the Duffer Brothers, following a bride and groom during the chaotic week before their ill-fated wedding, with Camila Morrone and Jennifer Jason Leigh among the cast.
The second-place entry is one that critics have been raving about since February. ‘How to Get to Heaven from Belfast,’ created by ‘Derry Girls’ mastermind Lisa McGee, premiered on Netflix in February and follows three close Belfast friends who travel to County Donegal after the mysterious death of an estranged fourth member of their teenage group. The series balances dark humor with emotional reckoning and feels distinctly Northern Irish while remaining universally resonant, and critics have called it one of the sharpest genre-blending dramas of the year.
Topping the entire list is ‘The Boroughs,’ which premiered on May 21 and marks the first major series from showrunners Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews under the executive production banner of the Duffer Brothers. The supernatural mystery unfolds in a seemingly peaceful retirement community in New Mexico, where residents face an otherworldly threat stealing the one thing they do not have: time.
The eight-episode series earned a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes from professional critics, with reviewers specifically praising its willingness to center older characters in what is traditionally a genre dominated by younger casts. Geena Davis, who plays Renee in the series, described it to the LA Times as “such a special project, so well-written,” and spoke warmly of the ensemble cast she joined.
With a lineup this strong just halfway through the calendar, the pressure is on for whatever Netflix releases next to even come close. Which of these eight series have you already binged, and does ‘The Boroughs’ deserve its crown?
