Shows likeMarianne, a haunting French horror series, and the recently debutedRunning Point, a comedic and witty sports dramedy, may not have topped global charts, or received the attention they wholly deserved, but their dedicated fan bases champion them as supreme standouts—more often than not, ahead of many big names on the streaming platform. These two shows, as well as those featured on this list, sit quietly on the Netflix platform, awaiting fans to discover their brilliance.These are the most underrated Netflix original shows that deserve way more attention.
10’Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts' (2020)
Created by Radford Sechrist and Bill Wolkoff
This vibrant animated adventure is an imaginative series that garnered the hearts of viewers of all ages.Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeastsis set in a post-apocalyptic future where the surface of the Earth is ruled by mutated animals known as “mutes,” while humans have been surviving underground. At the center of the story is 13-year-old Kipo Oak (Karen Fukuhara), who is forced out of her home and then embarks on a harrowing journey in search of her father.
With a catchy soundtrack and a strikingly colorful art style,Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeastsboasts several qualities that make a great animated series, including a fantastic story.The show excellently balances between heartfelt messages about friendship and inclusion and exciting monster-of-the-week antics. Despite its brilliance,Kipolacks mainstream attention, likely overshadowed by bigger-named animated series, leading it to find itself on this list of underrated Netflix originals.
Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts
9’Teenage Bounty Hunters' (2020)
Created by Kathleen Jordan
Teenage Bounty Huntersis a hilarious dramedy that is consistently praised for its humor and heartby those who have seen it. The series follows fraternal twin sisters, Sterling (Maddie Phillips) and Blair (Anjelica Bette Fellini), as they unexpectedly find themselves thrust into the world of bounty hunting while still navigating their everyday lives at an elite Christian high school.
The whip-smartteen drama Netflix seriesis a fresh and fast-paced story that has some surprisingly layered characters. There are deep themes of faith, girlhood, and identity that captivate fans with widely entertaining antics. Despite all of its great features,Teenage Bounty Hunterswas abruptly canceled by Netflix, leaving those who found the show completely outraged. To add to the burn of the incredible series being so underpromoted during its run, the show is now buried in Netflix’s algorithm, leaving it to make this list of underappreciated favorites.
Teenage Bounty Hunters
8’Lockwood & Co.' (2023)
Created by Joe Cornish
ThisBritish supernatural TV seriesis host to many likable characters, spooky thrills, witty banter, and an imaginative world.Lockwood & Co.is an adaptation ofNathan Stroud’s novels, which is set in an alternate London where deadly ghosts roam, and only young people are able to sense them. At the helm of the story is Lucy Carlyle (Ruby Stokes), who joins Lockwood & Co.—a tiny independent ghost-hunting agency run by charming Anthony Lockwood (Cameron Chapman) and his nerdy friend George (Ali Hadji-Heshmati).
Lockwood & Co.easily captured the chemistry and charm of its source material, drawing fans of the books almost instantly.The series is well-balanced with humor, character depth, and spooky ghostly antics. Despite its nicely crafted story, which lacks basic tropes and overdone clichés,Lockwood & Co.received minimal promotion globally, which led to it not only going undiscovered by many but also getting the boot by the Netflix platform. This lands the series firmly among Netflix’s hidden gems.
Lockwood & Co.
7’Marianne' (2019)
Created by Samuel Bodin
Marianneis a terrifying French horror series that completely captures fans of the horror genre. The show follows Emma Larsimon (Victoire Du Bois), who returns to her hometown and finds that an evil spirit—a witch known as Marianne—from her childhood stories, is materializing.
Many fans of the series found it to be one ofNetflix’s best and scariest works brought to life.Marianneis lauded for its emotional storytelling and supernatural dread, effectively traumatizing its viewers with both its scares and depth. Netflix only provided one season, and then quickly canceled the series, which never got the attention it deserved due to the severe lack of promotion. WithMariannenever making it mainstream, the underrated gem sits as an unknown to many, leading it to make this list.
6'3%' (2016–2020)
Created by Pedro Aguilera
3%stands as Netflix’s first Portuguese-language original, which featured a sleeper hit story. The series is set in future Brazil, where a majority of the population lives in poverty inland, while the lucky 3% live happily in Offshore. But with all things, there is a catch: to be part of the 3%, young adults must undergo a series of harrowing tests called “The Process,” and only the top candidates make it out.
Anyone who loved theHunger Games-type dystopian story is sure to get a kick out of3%. While the series is low budget, it works well for the show, asit offers viewers tension from clever challenges and psychological drama, instead of basic flashy effects. While the word-of-mouth push is strong for3%, it is still seen as one of Netflix’s most underrated series, because of the lack of the same marketing push as most U.S. shows, leaving it to hang out on this list of great but underrated favorite Netflix originals.
5’Anne with an E' (2017–2019)
Created by Moira Walley-Beckett
This heartwarming drama is praised for its incredibly wholesome yet startingly progressive story.Anne with an Eis a brilliantadaptation of the beloved book series,Anne of Greenwritten byLucy Maud Montgomery. The show is set in 1890s Canada, following a young orphan girl, Anne Shirley (Amybeth McNulty), as she is adopted by siblings Matthew (R.H. Thomson) and Marilla Cuthbert (Geraldine James).
Anne with an Ebeautifully expands on Lucy Maud’s cherished story, adding more modern themes around empowerment, identity, and prejudice. The series is family-friendly, providing its viewers with heartbreaking emotion, laughter, and lessons.Despite the series’ excellence and a devoted fan base, the delightful show was met with cancellation.Anne with an Estands as underrated due to its potential going unrealized by Netflix, eventually being pushed aside by bigger names on the platform. This is a sure reason that the Canadian series has found itself on this list of underrated gems.
Anne With an E
4’Running Point' (2025)
Created by Ike Barinholtz, Mindy Kaling, Elaine Ko, and David Stassen
This series stars the iconicKate Hudson as Isla Gordon, a woman put on the back burner because she happened to be born a girl.Running Pointfollows Isla’s story, as her brother, due to a scandal, is forced to resign as President of the Los Angeles Waves basketball team. When the opportunity arises, the ambitious yet always overlooked Isla takes the president’s seat, determined to prove she not only belongs there but is the best choice, even over her three bull-headed brothers.
Running Pointhas an engaging story that is actually very funny. The series, though recently debuted, continues to fly under the radar, despite its great storytelling and strong performances.Running Pointoffers a fresh approach to sports management, TV shows, and family dynamics, effortlessly blending heaping amounts of comedy and effective drama.The series' exploration of gender roles in leadership positions makes it a compelling watchthat deserves far more attention, leaving it to sit among this list of Netflix’s hidden gems.
Running Point
3’The Get Down' (2016–2017)
Created by Stephen Adly Guirgis and Baz Luhrmann
The Get Downis a well-crafted musical drama that has an impeccable soundtrack. The series chronicles the rise of disco and hip-hop in the late 1970s Bronx. At the center of the story is Ezekiel “Zeke” Figuero (Justice Smith), a talented teen who is an aspiring MC/poet, and Mylene Cruz (Herizen Guardiola), an aspiring disco singer, as they reach for their dreams during a tumultuous era.
The Get Down
2’Sense8' (2015–2018)
Created by J. Michael Straczynski, Lana Wachowski, and Lilly Wachowski
From theWachowskis,Sense8is a sci-fi series that stands out among the litter of basic TV shows in the genre. The show follows eight strangers around the world as they discover a deep connection to each other. The eight individuals find themselves not so alone in the very big world, as they face life’s challenges together.
The diverse brilliance that isSense8provides audiences with innovative sci-fi, global representation, and emotional storytelling. Despite a passionate and slightly obsessive fanbase, the series never quite hit trending charts. Netflix found the series to be too big for its small audience, leading it to be cut short, much too early. While it was heavily talked about during its run, conversations about the incredible show, quite frankly, evaporated. Still, fans ofSense8urge others to take a chance onthe canceled Netflix show, making it a clear pick for this list of underrated gems that remain beloved by those who have seen it.
1’One Day' (2024)
Created by Nicole Taylor
One Dayis atouching romantic drama seriesbased on the bestselling novelOne Day, written byDavid Nicholls. The series follows two friends, Emma Morley (Ambika Mod) and Dexter Mayhew (Leo Woodall), as they reconnect and sometimes disconnect on the same day—July 15th—yearly, for over two decades.
One Daydelivers an emotional blow to all those who’ve watched it. From bittersweet goodbyes to tearful hellos,One Daycompletely captivates its audience with a moving story. Despite its strong performances and even stronger story that invokes such emotional responses,One Daydid not dominate the charts on Netflix for very long. The intimate story is a bit of a slow burn, so more often than not, viewers hold a lot of skepticism. But for those who stick with the series past its first episode, find the tale hauntingly beautiful, and wholesomely gut-wrenching, cementing its status as the most underrated Netflix original on this list.
