In the past, "Netflix and Chill" may have been something you’d suggest when you didn’t want to go out on a rainy Saturday. However, these days, it has become one of the most common pastimes available.
But what do you do when you feel like you’ve consumed all that Netflix has to offer? First, understand that you haven’t done anything of the sort, because this popular streaming platform has lots of great shows worth watching. Second, continue reading to find out how to discover the best new Netflix content, so you never have to get up from your sofa ever again.
1. Utilize All of the Options Within Netflix
Most people will be familiar with the basic recommendations Netflix has to offer on its homepage, such as "Popular on Netflix," "Trending Now," and "Because You Watched [insert TV Show]". Other known options are the Genre pages, as well as the "Latest" tab at the top of the screen.
But if you feel like you’ve browsed endlessly through all of these, and still can’t find anything exciting to watch, don’t worry, you haven’t exhausted all of your options. First, let us introduce you to "More Like This".
When you click on "More Info" for any TV show you’ve enjoyed watching or heard good things about, you can scroll down to view others that are of a similar genre or theme, feature the same actors, or come from the same creators.
The percentage next to each of the shows gives you an indication of whether or not you’ll like the show, as it takes into account your past "thumbs up" ratings and viewings. This is not an exact science, though. The closer it is to 100 percent, the more likely you are to like the recommended show, but anything below is hit-or-miss.
Another feature you may have overlooked is the search bar. You can use it to look for specific titles, but it provides you with so much more than that. Once you type a title into it, you can, like in the previous option, view shows similar to that. You can also search by your favorite actor, director, or screenwriter, and even by your interests, such as "Strong Female Lead."
2. Visit the Netflix YouTube Channel
As a visual content company, it makes sense for Netflix to have an incredibly active YouTube channel, which can act as an additional source for you to explore new and interesting TV shows. There is the main channel or the ones dedicated to different regions, such as Nordic, India, and the UK & Ireland.
The videos range from trailers to new arrivals, recommendations on what to watch this week, behind the scenes features, and even reaction videos to TV shows and full-blown podcasts. Basically, everything you need to pique your interest in new content.
3. Discover the Best-Rated Netflix Shows on IMDb
While its title refers to the Internet Movie Database, IMDb has long been an authority on ratings for TV as well. Every title on this website has a viewer rating between 0 to 10, which can provide you with a pretty good measure of how good that show is.
As tens of thousands of people vote on each show, there can be a world of difference between a 6.5 to a 7.5 rating, for example, and anything that’s rated above 9 is almost sure to be a success. You can even get the IMDb ratings directly on your Netflix app for Android.
Other than searching for specific shows to check on their ratings, you can also check out the numerous charts to find new discoveries. There’s everything from the top-rated TV shows of all times to the most popular TV, top-rated by genre, a "What to Watch" page with all of the editorial recommendations, and a list dedicated to the top-rated content on Netflix.
4. Check Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer
Unlike IMDb, which collects reviews from viewers, Rotten Tomatoes lets the professionals be the judges of quality. Every TV show on the website receives a percentage, based on the positive or negative opinion of TV critics.
If at least 60 percent of critics liked the show, it has a fresh tomato next to it. Under 60 percent, and the show will receive a green splat to showcase its rottenness. The closer it is to 100 percent, the more critics liked it.
The website also features the most popular shows, the newest releases, the top picks, and trending. Shows that have "Certified Fresh status" have a score of 75 percent or higher, and are your best bet at finding your next binge-worthy TV. Rotten Tomatoes also has an article specifically dedicated to the freshest shows and movies on Netflix.
5. Get the Consensus With Metacritic
The next website on our list takes an even more scientific approach to rating critic reviews. Instead of just looking at positive vs. negative reviews, Metacritic provides a numeric score to calculate the bad, the good, and the lukewarm. The closer the number is to 100, the more it was liked by critics---within online and printed media alike.
The stoplight colors also help provide a distinction, with green meaning it was well-liked, yellow suggesting mixed reviews, and red indicating it was not well received at all.
The website has a section dedicated to what to watch on Netflix, as well as the top shows right now, the best new TV shows, and the best TV shows of all time.
6. Stop By Reddit for More Recommendations
Just like everything on the internet, this subject has a subreddit as well, named Best of Netflix. Started in 2010, this sub currently has 141k members, and you can get lost in it for days. And if all of the other sources have failed you---this one is here to help you find good shows on Netflix.
There are Countless Shows Worth Watching on Netflix
When you're endlessly scrolling through Netflix, it can sometimes feel like you keep coming across the same shows over and over again.
This is because the system is built to showcase some shows more than others (especially the Netflix Originals), which means that even if you don’t want to watch them, you’ll keep having those shows recommended for you. But it doesn’t mean that there’s nothing new for you to explore.
There’s a wealth of content on the platform, from across the globe, across a range of topics and genres. You just need to know how and where to find it. And we hope this article helps you to do just that.