10 of the best and 10 of the worst Netflix shows that came out this year, so far

Netflix has had many successful originals this year, but a few weren’t total home runs for critics.
Netflix
This year, Netflix dropped a new slate of comedies, dramas, docuseries, and animated shows.
“Long Story Short” and “Death by Lightning” are among the streamer’s most praised hits.
However, critics agreed that shows like “Miss Governor” and “With Love, Meghan” failed to impress.
Netflix debuted dozens of new original series in 2025.
The streaming platform — which has more than 300 million subscribers — creates, produces, and exclusively distributes a wide range of TV shows, from sitcoms and docuseries to compelling dramas.
Here are 10 of the best and 10 of the worst
shows Netflix premiered in 2025
, according to critic scores on Rotten Tomatoes.
The animated series “Long Story Short” earned perfect scores across the board.
Courtesy of Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score
: 100%
Summary
: Three Jewish siblings, Avi (Ben Feldman), Shira (Abbi Jacobson), and Yoshi (Max Greenfield), navigate adulthood as they look back on their upbringing.
The show, made by
“BoJack Horseman
” creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg, was hailed as inventive and remarkably heartfelt.
“‘Long Story Short’ is a bitingly funny and thoughtful animated comedy that further proves the brilliance of creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg,” Allyson Johnson wrote for InBetweenDrafts.
Critics said “Forever” captured the magic of Judy Blume’s novel.
Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score
: 97%
Summary
: Two childhood friends, Keisha Clark (Lovie Simone) and Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.), reunite as teenagers and experience the highs and lows of first love.
Critics agreed that “Forever” was a thoughtful adaptation of Judy Blume’s beloved novel.
“Watching this show, with strong performances, a solid soundtrack and romantic undertones, feels like curling up under a warm blanket on a rainy day,” Amber Dowling wrote in a review for The Globe and Mail.
“Devil May Cry” was praised for its wild, bombastic flair.
Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score
: 96%
Summary
: Based on the video-game franchise of the same name, this animated series follows demon hunter Dante (voiced by Johnny Yong Bosch) as he seeks vengeance for his family.
The high-octane series, which was created in the style of Netflix’s “Castlevania” adaptation, was praised both by fans of the original video-game series and newcomers.
“Having zero knowledge of ‘Devil May Cry,’ I had a great time with Netflix’s new anime of the video game franchise without feeling like I was missing out on key information,” Lyra Hale wrote for Fangirlish.
“Death by Lightning” was anchored by phenomenal acting.
Larry Horricks/Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score
: 91%
Summary
: This historical drama traces the lives of President James Garfield (Michael Shannon) and Charles Guiteau (Matthew Macfadyen), the man who shot him.
The series, which was helmed by
“Game of Thrones” creators
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, was praised as their next big hit.
“Perhaps fittingly for a show about a bunch of forgotten names, ‘Death by Lightning’ is a delightful showcase for undersung character actors,” Inkoo Kang wrote for The New Yorker.
“House of Guinness” was applauded as a thrilling saga.
Courtesy of Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score
: 90%
Summary
: In 1860s Ireland, the four grown children of Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness — played by Anthony Boyle, Louis Partridge, Emily Fairn, and Fionn O’Shea — jockey for wealth and control after their father suddenly dies, leaving the famed brewery in their hands.
Filled with intrigue and riveting power plays, critics said “House of Guinness” was easy to recommend.
“‘House of Guinness’ is full of intense confrontations and unexpected complications — and anyone who enjoyed ‘Peaky Blinders’, or ‘Succession’, or ‘The Gilded Age’, should find ‘House of Guinness’ very satisfying to watch,” David Bianculli said in a review for NPR.
The likable dramedy “Boots” was filled with heart.
“Boots” is based on a memoir.
Courtesy of Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score
: 90%
Summary
: In the early 1990s, Cameron Cope (Miles Heizer) comes to terms with his sexuality after he and his best friend, Ray McAffey (Liam Oh), are recruited for the Marine Corps.
Based on the memoir “The Pink Marine” by Greg Cope White, “Boots” had a personal touch that wowed reviewers.
“‘Boots’ doesn’t just entertain — it opens a door. It reminds [us] that sometimes the loudest battles happen in silence. That surviving the system doesn’t mean it didn’t leave marks,” Denise Zubizarreta wrote for Latina Media Co. “It asks what happens when obedience and identity collide — and who do we become when the marching stops?”
The gritty crime thriller “Dept. Q” kept critics coming back for more.
Courtesy of Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score
: 88%
Summary
: In this
British crime thriller
, detective Carl Morck (Matthew Goode) returns to work after a tragic shooting.
Critics said that “Dept. Q” set itself apart from other crime thrillers thanks to its unique tone and masterclass acting.
“The vibes are creepy and gritty, the characters are gruff and direct, the puzzle is properly intriguing, and the English are frequently mocked,” Wenlei Ma wrote in her review for The Nightly.
“Splinter Cell: Deathwatch” has been described as a video-game adaptation that packs a punch.
“Splinter Cell: Deathwatch” is based on a video-game series.
Courtesy of Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score
: 86%
Summary
: Based on Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell video-game series, this animated show follows legendary spy Sam Fisher (Liev Schreiber) as he helps field operative Zinnia McKenna (Kirby) unravel a vast conspiracy.
Critics said that fans of the original “Splinter Cell” franchise would appreciate nods to its source material.
“Starring sardonic, neck-snapping super spy Sam Fisher, the show puts a fresh spin on the games’ formula while retaining the appeal of the beloved stealth-action franchise,” Matt Cabral wrote in a review for Common Sense Media.
The dark drama “Untamed” had gorgeous backdrops.
Ricardo Hubbs/Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score
: 83%
Summary
: Kyle Turner (Eric Bana), a federal agent for the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch, takes on a harrowing murder case in Yosemite.
Although a few critics said that “Untamed” lacked substance at times, they said it had style in spades.
“If you’re willing to turn your brain off and go along for the ride, ‘Untamed’ is likely to serve as a welcome distraction,” Tyler Doupe wrote for Dread Central.
Critics called “Running Point” a bingeable, if slightly shallow, comedy.
Kate Hudson in “Running Point.”
Katrina Marcinowski/Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score
: 79%
Summary
: When a scandal forces her eldest brother into early retirement, Isla Gordon (
Kate Hudson
) steps up as the new manager for the Los Angeles Waves, one of the biggest teams in the NBA.
The humor was hit-or-miss with critics, but it was hard for them to resist the charm of Hudson as the show’s star.
“‘Running Point’ is far from perfect, but it still has Hudson and she’s sinking three pointers every time,” Randy Myers wrote in a review for San Jose Mercury News.
Though not perfect, “The Four Seasons” was buoyed by the star power of its cast.
Tina Fey and Will Forte in “The Four Seasons.”
Jon Pack/Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score
: 78%
Summary
: Three sets of married couples navigate the shifting relationships in their friend group as one of them abruptly divorces their spouse.
The plot may have meandered at times, but critics said that the show’s acting performances — from stars like Tina Fey, Will Forte, Colman Domingo, and
Steve Carell
— kept them glued to their seats.
“No matter the plot, Tina Fey knows how to bring in heavy hitters, which could be the saving grace for all of these friends and the show itself,” Megan Lachinski wrote for Next Best Picture.
The voice actors of “Haunted Hotel” helped the show stand out.
Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score
: 77%
Summary
: Katherine (Eliza Coupe) raises her two kids — Esther (Natalie Palamides) and Ben (Skyler Gisondo) — in a haunted hotel, with the help of her recently deceased brother (Forte).
Critics said that, despite treading familiar territory, “Haunted Hotel” was somewhat elevated by its steady stream of jokes and stand-out acting performances
“You get stand-up comedians that really get to show their stuff. And Will Forte, I think, really does a great job in this series,” Walter Chaw said in NPR’s “Pop Culture Happy Hour.” “But I can’t overcome this feeling of familiarity.”
“Leanne” benefited from its titular star.
Kristen Johnston and Leanne Morgan in “Leanne.”
Patrick McElhenney/Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score
: 71%
Summary
: Leanne (Leanne Morgan) picks up the pieces of her life after her husband of 33 years leaves her for another woman.
Critics said the sitcom worked best when it let Morgan, a popular stand-up comedian, take the spotlight.
“Like Reba McEntire’s venture, ‘Leanne’ relies heavily on its star and the one-liners she’s good at dishing out,” Bruce R. Miller wrote for the Sioux City Journal.
Critics were ultimately let down by the gambling drama “Bet.”
Miku Martineau in “Bet.”
Courtesy of Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score
: 67%
Summary
: Adapted from a Japanese manga, this story follows Yumeko (Miku Martineau) as she transfers to St. Dominic’s, an elite boarding school where the social order is dictated by the school’s underground gambling ring.
“Bet” takes enough big swings to keep viewers engaged, but critics said it ultimately didn’t live up to its potential.
“This teen psychological thriller could say some interesting things about class, wealth, and power, but it doesn’t quite get there,” Danae Stahlnecker wrote in a review for Common Sense Media.
“WWE Unreal” ran out of mileage early on.
WWE/Courtesy of Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score
: 67%
Summary
: This docuseries takes viewers behind the scenes of professional wrestling in the WWE, with appearances from John Cena, Cody Rhodes, Charlotte Flair,
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
, and more.
Though some reviewers found “WWE Unreal” to be an accessible entry into the
world of wrestling
, others felt like its material was a little thin.
“While the series offers plenty of technical, surface-level insights, there aren’t any revelations in ‘WWE: Unreal’ that can’t be found in the average wrestler’s backstage vlog,” Lauren Coates wrote for Nerdspin.
“Bad Thoughts” was simply too outrageous for critics.
Tom Segura in “Bad Thoughts.”
Shaun Nix/Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score
: 54%
Summary
: Stand-up comedian Tom Segura brings outlandish ideas from the stage to the screen in this series of vignettes and sketches inspired by his comedy.
“Bad Thoughts” completely divided critics, with many turned off by Segura’s puerile sense of humor.
“‘Bad Thoughts’ isn’t just a bad show—it’s a patience test,” Abhishek Srivastava wrote in a review for The Times of India. “It’s crude, juvenile, and completely unhinged.”
Tyler Perry’s “Miss Governor” was dismissed as superficial.
Terri J. Vaughn as Antoinette Dunkerson in “Miss Governor.”
Charles “Chip” Bergmann/Netfli
Rotten Tomatoes score
: 50%
Summary
: Mississippi politician Antoinette Dunkerson (Terri J. Vaughn) adjusts to life in the public eye after she becomes the state’s first Black lieutenant governor.
The series, which was originally titled “She’s the People,” pulled in some negative reviews for its approach to politics.
“Despite some interesting elements and the steadying presence of Vaughn, the sillier elements of Tyler Perry’s [show] overwhelm what could have been a funny story about messy families and racial politics,” Joel Keller wrote for Decider.
“Ransom Canyon” proved too hokey for most critics.
Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly in “Ransom Canyon.”
ANNA KOORIS/Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score
: 45%
Summary
: In this
Western romance
, Staten Kirkland (Josh Duhamel) falls for longtime family friend Quinn O’Grady (Minka Kelly) while he still reels from a heartbreaking loss.
Critics couldn’t help but draw comparisons between “Ransom Canyon” and better melodramas.
“‘Ransom Canyon’ has almost as much ‘
Friday Night Lights
‘ in its DNA as ‘Yellowstone,'” Chris Vognar wrote in his review for the Boston Globe. “But where those shows were light on their feet, this one is merely lightweight. In the parlance of the region, it’s all hat, no cattle.”
“Billionaires’ Bunker” was a resounding flop.
Tamara Arranz/NETFLIX
Rotten Tomatoes score
: 33%
Summary
: As a nuclear war looms, a group of billionaires seeks shelter in a bunker, where close quarters stoke the flames of resentment between the two rich families.
Despite an interesting premise, the Spanish-language show was written off as completely forgettable.
“‘Billionaires’ Bunker’ is marketed as a survival dystopia, but it ends up playing as a glossy soap opera with a bargain-bin apocalypse,” Juan Pablo Russo wrote for EscribiendoCine.
Lifestyle reality show “With Love, Meghan” fell flat for many critics.
Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score
: 27%
Summary
: Former royal
Meghan Markle
shares her favorite recipes and lifestyle tips while welcoming famous guests into her California home.
Despite already premiering two seasons (and having a holiday special slated for December),
“With Love, Meghan”
hasn’t been a hit with most critics, who found the show to feel shallow and unrelatable.
“‘With Love, Meghan’ is a dusting of flower sprinkles that can’t hide the blandness of the cookie—a polite but distant dispatch from a rented kitchen down the road in lieu of truly welcoming us into her life,” critic Judy Berman wrote for Time.
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