Binge-Worthy: EW's Top 45 Shows to Watch in One Sitting

The streaming era has transformed the habit of finishing an entire season in one go into almost a cinematic experience. Entertainment Weekly's updated list (July 3, 2026), by Robert English and Kevin Jacobsen, compiles the 45 most suitable shows for binge-watching. Below is EW's full list in alphabetical order, along with a brief English summary of each title.

1. Abbott Elementary (2021–)

Quinta Brunson's mockumentary comedy set in a Philadelphia public school. Warm, smart, and 22 minutes per episode: classic binge fuel.

2. Adolescence (2025)

A four-part Netflix drama starring Stephen Graham, filmed in a single shot. A harrowing work exploring adolescence, social media, and the father-son relationship around a murder investigation.

3. Baby Reindeer (2024)

Richard Gadd's harassment-trauma drama adapted from his own story. A 7-episode Netflix shocker, notable for Jessica Gunning's Emmy-winning performance as Martha.

4. Bait (2026)

A Prime Video drama starring Riz Ahmed. It follows an actor, a candidate for the James Bond role, as he grapples with identity and shame.

5. The Bear (2022–2026)

Jeremy Allen White's Carmy; an FX series set in a Chicago sandwich shop, transforming kitchen stress into a poetic drama of anxiety. Completed in 4 seasons.

6. Black Doves (2024–)

A Netflix spy thriller starring Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw. A fast-paced assassination opera set on Christmas-themed London streets.

7. Bodyguard (2018)

A BBC thriller starring Richard Madden. A 6-episode prototype for "finishes in one night," raising heart rates by the minute.

8. Chernobyl (2019)

Craig Mazin's HBO miniseries. It meticulously recounts the bureaucracy and human error behind the 1986 nuclear disaster with precise horror.

9. The Comeback (2005; 2014; 2026)

Lisa Kudrow's Valerie Cherish is back. The new season of HBO's cult cringe comedy completes the trilogy.

10. Death Note (2006–2007)

An anime classic adapted from Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata's manga. The duel of wits between Light and L concludes in 37 episodes.

11. Dying for Sex (2025)

An FX miniseries starring Michelle Williams. It adapts a true podcast about a woman diagnosed with terminal cancer who embarks on sexual liberation.

12. Enlightened (2011–2013)

Mike White's early masterpiece. Laura Dern's Amy Jellicoe paints a portrait of an "enlightened" midlife crisis. 18 episodes.

13. Firefly (2002–2003)

Joss Whedon's space-western. Though canceled after one season, it became a cult classic; 14 episodes + the Serenity movie make an ideal weekend package.

14. Fleabag (2016–2019)

Phoebe Waller-Bridge's two-season miracle that redefined television with her fourth-wall breaks. 12 episodes, a perfect Saturday.

15. Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000)

Judd Apatow and Paul Feig's short-lived classic set in a 1980 Michigan high school. A legendary cast featuring young Seth Rogen, James Franco, Linda Cardellini.

16. The Girlfriend (2025)

A Prime Video psychological thriller starring Robin Wright. It tells the power struggle between a mother and her son's girlfriend from two perspectives.

17. Hacks (2021–2026)

Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder's intergenerational comedian duo. HBO Max's Emmy magnet, concluded with its fifth and final season.

18. The Haunting of Hill House (2018)

Mike Flanagan's Shirley Jackson adaptation. A 10-episode Netflix assignment combining family drama with horror.

19. Heartstopper (2022–2024)

A Netflix romantic teen series adapted from Alice Oseman's graphic novel. A warm world completed in three short seasons.

20. Heated Rivalry (2025–)

A Crave adaptation of Rachel Reid's queer ice hockey novel. The secret, years-long relationship between two rival NHL stars.

21. I May Destroy You (2020)

Michaela Coel's HBO/BBC masterpiece, which she wrote, directed, and starred in. It dissects consent and trauma in 12 episodes.

22. Jury Duty (2023–)

Freevee's improvised fake jury experiment. A social experiment comedy where Ronald Gladden is completely unaware.

23. Love Story (2026–)

An FX series by Ryan Murphy. Sarah Pidgeon and Paul Kelly as Carolyn Bessette and JFK Jr.

24. Mare of Easttown (2021)

Kate Winslet's Emmy-winning Delaware County detective. A 7-episode HBO miniseries, a textbook example for "small-town noir."

25. Margo's Got Money Troubles (2026–)

An Apple TV+ adaptation of Rufi Thorpe's novel. Elle Fanning and Michelle Pfeiffer in a story about a young mother with a wrestler father.

26. The Night Of (2016)

Riz Ahmed's breakout 8-episode HBO crime drama. A claustrophobic X-ray of the American justice system.

27. Normal People (2020)

Hulu/BBC adaptation of Sally Rooney's novel. The duo of Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones, the year's most meticulous love story.

28. Over the Garden Wall (2014)

Patrick McHale's 10-episode Cartoon Network miniseries. Autumn atmosphere, Elijah Wood's voice, and a timeless fairy tale tone.

29. Overcompensating (2025–)

Benito Skinner's Prime Video comedy series. It tells the story of coming out in his freshman year of college with sharp humor.

30. Paradise (2025–)

Dan Fogelman's Hulu thriller starring Sterling K. Brown. A post-assassination political conspiracy meets science fiction.

31. The Pitt (2025–)

Noah Wyle's HBO Max series, depicting a 15-hour shift in a Pittsburgh emergency room in real-time. The strongest new drama of 2026.

32. Pluribus (2025–)

Vince Gilligan's new Apple TV+ sci-fi with Rhea Seehorn. The only person resisting a global happiness epidemic.

33. The Queen's Gambit (2020)

A Netflix miniseries starring Anya Taylor-Joy. The 7-episode rise of a female chess prodigy during the Cold War era.

34. Schitt's Creek (2015–2020)

Eugene and Dan Levy's Canadian comedy. The warm transformation of a family fallen from wealth over six seasons.

35. Sense8 (2015–2018)

The Wachowski sisters' psychological bond epic spanning eight continents on Netflix. A visual feast and a cult classic.

36. Severance (2022–present)

Dan Erickson's Apple TV+ series. Adam Scott's "innie/outie" employees at Lumon Industries, the most original concept of the 2020s.

37. Shōgun (2024–)

An FX adaptation of James Clavell's novel. Anna Sawai, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Cosmo Jarvis's 17th-century Japan epic swept the Emmys.

38. Shrinking (2023–)

Bill Lawrence, Brett Goldstein, and Jason Segel's Apple TV+ comedy-drama. Harrison Ford's late-career surprise.

39. Squid Game (2021–2025)

Hwang Dong-hyuk's Netflix phenomenon. A class struggle allegory completed in three seasons, it became a global event.

40. The Studio (2025–)

Seth Rogen's Apple TV+ Hollywood satire. It tells the chaotic first year of a studio head with Kathryn Hahn and a large ensemble cast.

41. Survivor (2000–present)

Jeff Probst's CBS reality classic. With 45+ seasons, it's the only show on the list that requires "making time to binge."

42. The Traitors (2023–)

Alan Cumming-hosted Peacock reality thriller. A social deception game, paced to be finished in two nights.

43. Twin Peaks (1990–1991)

David Lynch and Mark Frost's mysterious town drama on ABC that changed the grammar of television. Who killed Laura Palmer?

44. The White Lotus (2021–)

Mike White's HBO anthology. A class satire set in a different luxury resort each season; three star-studded casts in three seasons.

45. Widow's Bay (2026–)

Matthew Rhys's Apple TV+ mystery. A new discovery with a foggy-noir aesthetic, tracking a missing girl in a coastal town.

Source: Entertainment Weekly — "The 45 best TV shows to binge-watch right now" (Robert English & Kevin Jacobsen, 3 Temmuz 2026).