Best Shows on Netflix Australia Right Now (February 2026)

Netflix remains the heavyweight of Australian streaming for good reason. With the largest library of any service available here, it consistently delivers blockbuster originals alongside a deep back catalogue that puts rivals to shame. Plans range from $9.99/mo (Standard with Ads) to $28.99/mo (Premium), making it flexible enough for most budgets. Whether you want prestige drama, bingeable reality telly, or world-class docos, Netflix is still the platform most Australians reach for first.

Our Top Pick: Adolescence

If you watch one thing on Netflix this month, make it Adolescence. This British miniseries landed like a thunderclap in early 2025 and remains absolutely essential viewing. Each episode is filmed in a single, unbroken take, following a 13-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of murder and the ripple effects on his family, his school, and the investigating officers. It is devastatingly acted, technically audacious, and the kind of show that leaves you sitting in silence when the credits roll. Nothing else on any Australian streaming platform right now matches its combination of craft and emotional punch.

The Full List

1. Adolescence - A one-take-per-episode British crime drama that dissects youth violence and online radicalisation with unflinching honesty. It is the most talked-about limited series in years for a reason. Drama, Crime, Limited Series

2. Squid Game (Seasons 1-2) - The South Korean phenomenon that broke every record returns with a second season that doubles down on the moral dilemmas. Season 2 ramps up the political commentary while delivering set pieces that are even more nerve-shredding than the original. Thriller, Drama, Korean

3. Black Doves - Keira Knightley stars as a spy embedded in political high society in this slick, London-set thriller. The dialogue crackles, the action is brutal, and Ben Whishaw steals every scene he appears in. Thriller, Espionage

4. Stranger Things (Seasons 1-4) - With the final season on the horizon, now is the perfect time to revisit Hawkins, Indiana from the start. It remains one of the best genre shows of its generation, blending 1980s nostalgia with genuinely frightening horror. Sci-Fi, Horror, Drama

5. Nobody Wants This - Kristen Bell and Adam Brody have magnetic chemistry in this romantic comedy about a podcaster falling for a rabbi. It is sharp, warm, and refreshingly grown-up without ever being dull. Comedy, Romance

6. Ripley - Andrew Scott is mesmerising in this black-and-white adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s classic. Shot on location in Italy, it is a slow-burn masterclass in tension and moral decay that rewards patient viewers. Thriller, Drama, Limited Series

7. Love Is Blind (Australian Season) - The local adaptation brings all the chaotic energy of the original format with a distinctly Aussie flavour. It is trashy, addictive, and surprisingly moving in places. Reality, Entertainment

8. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s supposedly unfilmable novel gets a lavish, Spanish-language adaptation that actually pulls it off. The magical realism translates beautifully to screen, and the Colombian cast is extraordinary. Drama, Literary Adaptation

9. The Diplomat (Seasons 1-2) - A political thriller that puts Keri Russell in the role of the US Ambassador to the UK navigating international crises. Season 2 raises the stakes considerably and ends on a genuine jaw-dropper. Political Thriller, Drama

10. Blue Eye Samurai - An animated series set in Edo-period Japan following a mixed-race swordswoman on a quest for vengeance. The animation is stunning, the fight choreography is among the best on any platform, and the storytelling is far more nuanced than you might expect. Animation, Action, Drama

New This Month

• Apple Cider Vinegar - An Australian true-crime limited series starring Kaitlyn Dever as Belle Gibson, the wellness influencer who faked a cancer diagnosis. Filmed partly in Melbourne and absolutely gripping.
• Sakamoto Days - A stylish anime adaptation about a retired hitman running a corner shop who gets dragged back into the underworld. Fast, funny, and wildly inventive action sequences.
• The Residence - A murder mystery set inside the White House from Shonda Rhimes. Uzo Aduba leads a stacked ensemble in what plays like Clue meets The West Wing.

Is Netflix Worth It?

For most Australian households, Netflix is still the single most justifiable streaming subscription. The Standard with Ads plan at $9.99/mo is genuinely good value if you can tolerate the interruptions, while the $18.99 Standard plan hits the sweet spot for most. The library is unmatched in breadth, the originals pipeline is relentless, and the interface remains the best in the business. If you are only paying for one service, this should probably be the one.