Netflix has come a long way since its humble beginnings as an American DVD-by-mail subscription service in 1997. Now its name has become synonymous with streaming, with over 167 millions subscribers worldwide which has doubled in just over two years.
While the introduction of countless new streaming services such as Amazon Prime, Disney+ and NOW TV means there is stiff competition for subscribers, Netflix still has the largest fan base, due in no small part to the amount of fresh new content they bring to the platform each month.
There is an extenstive back catalogue of classic shows and movies, as well as numerous Netflix Original titles released to stream each month. Here are some of the movies and TV shows coming to Netflix UK.
What's new on Netflix UK?
Here's a list of new and upcoming movies and TV shows on Netflix:
- The Last Dance: Season 1
- Cooked with Cannabis: Season 1
- The Midnight Gospel: Season 1
- Space Jam (1996)
- Varane Avashyamund (2020)
- Babmin Ceketi (2018)
- Catfish (2010)
- Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015)
Coming soon to Netflix
- All Day and a Night (2020) N – May 1st
- Casi Feliz (Season 1) N – May 1st
- Den of Thieves (2018) – May 1st
- Fun with Dick & Jane (2005) – May 1st
- Get In (2020) N – May 1st
- Hollywood (Limited Series) N – May 1st
- Masha and the Bear (Season 4) – May 1st
- Medici (Season 3) N – May 1st
- Mrs. Serial Killer (2020) N – May 1st
- Never Stop Dreaming: The Life and Legacy of Shimon Peres (2018) N – May 1st
- The Half of It (2020) N – May 1st
- Thomas & Friends: Marvelous Machinery: World of Tomorrow – May 1st
- Arctic Dogs (2019) - May 4th
- Hangman (2017) – May 6th
- Workin Moms (Season 4) N – May 6th
- Scissor Seven (Season 2) N – May 7th
- Dead to Me (Season 2) N – May 8th
- Restaurants on the Edge (Season 2) N – May 8th
- Rust Valley Restorers (Season 2) N – May 8th
- Sleepless (2017) – May 8th
- The Eddy (Limited Series) N – May 8th
- The Hollow (Season 2) N – May 8th
- The Wrong Missy (2020) N – May 8th
- Valeria (Season 1) N – May 8th
- Bordertown (Season 3) N – May 11th
- Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics (2020) N – May 11th
- Trial by Media (Season 1) N – May 11th
- Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy Vs. the Reverend (2020) N – May 12th
- Riverdale (Season 4) – May 14th
- Chichipatos (Season 1) N – May 15th
- She-Ra and the Princess of Power (Season 5) N – May 15th
- Spelling the Dream (2020) N – May 23rd
- La Corazonada (2020) N – May 28th
- Space Force (Season 1) N – May 31st
Types of Netflix series
Netflix’s content output has expanded rapidly in recent years. Currently, the service offers four different types of content it brands ‘original’, some of which are accessible everywhere and some of which aren’t:
1. Original productions
These are TV programmes or films that have been produced by Netflix and are only distributed via Netflix worldwide.
2. Partnership productions
As you might expect, these programmes or films are created in collaboration with other production houses, including BBC America, ITV, AMC and E4. This content isn’t available on Netflix globally as the partnering broadcaster usually retains the rights for its country.
3. Continuations
These are programmes that previously aired on another network which Netflix either picked up after they were cancelled or outbid the network for the rights to air a new series. Continuations are available globally and are exclusive to Netflix.
4. Acquisitions
Although Netflix lists these programmes as ‘originals’, these are TV shows that are either currently airing or have previously aired in one country which Netflix has bought the rights for exclusive distribution in another market. Whether or not you can watch these series is heavily dependent upon where you’re located.
These may seem like minor differences, but due to international copyright laws and distribution restrictions, it’s important to understand the differences and what you can expect in your home versus when you’re using Netflix abroad.
Netflix original productions
Netflix has dozens of original series. Here are just some of Netflix's best shows:
- The Crown
- Stranger Things
- Sex Education
- Orange is the New Black
- The Witcher
- Messiah
- 13 Reasons Why
- Big Mouth
- BoJack Horseman
- Narcos
- The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance
- When They See Us
- Russian Doll
- The Get Down
- You
- Master of None
- Living With Yourself
Netflix documentaries
Netflix's original documentaries often become a hot topic online — lots of its productions end up going viral, either due to controversial subject matter or just genuinely riveting accounts of memorable moments in history.
Here are some of the best documentaries on Netflix right now:
- American Factory
- The Great Hack
- The Devil Next Door
- Icarus
- Confessions with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes
- Knock Down The House
- Fyre
- World War II In Colour
- Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends
- Hip-Hop Evolution
- Making a Murderer
- Explained
Netflix stand-up comedy specials
The streaming service is fast becoming a hub for stand-up comedy across multiple countries. Here are some notable specials you should see:
- Leslie Jones: Time Machine
- Mo Gilligan: Momentum
- Michelle Wolf: Joke Show
- Dave Chapelle: Sticks & Stones
- Bill Burr: Paper Tiger
- Katherine Ryan: Glitter Room
- Ellen DeGeneres: Relatable
- Russel Brand: Re:Birth
- Trevor Noah: Son of Patricia
- Sarah Silverman: A Speck of Dust
- Ricky Gervais: Humanity
- Reggie Watts: Spatial
Netflix series continuations
- Arrested Development
- The Killing
- Top Boy
- Lucifer
- Black Mirror
- Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
- Shaun the Sheep (yes, really!)
Netflix acquisitions
- Better Call Saul
- Orphan Black
- Once Upon a Time
- Shadowhunters
- Scream
- Archer
- Reign
- Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
- Pretty Little Liars
TV box sets on Netflix
Netflix has a huge collection of TV programmes from all over the world available to stream. Some of these change regularly, but you can expect to see series along the lines of:
- Breaking Bad
- RuPaul’s Drag Race
- Gilmore Girls
- One Punch Man
- The Blue Planet
- It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
- Mad Men
- Glee
- The Thick of It
- Rick and Morty
- Planet Earth
- Absolutely Fabulous
- Fargo
- Blackadder
- How I Met Your Mother
- The IT Crowd
- Jane the Virgin
- Doctor Who
- Fargo
- The Good Wife
- Peep Show
- Attack on Titan
- South Park
- American Horror Story
Netflix movies
Although TV programmes are the main draw for Netflix, the service boasts a staggering collection of films across a wide variety of genres, including:
- A Quiet Place
- Gone Girl
- The Death of Stalin
- The Lord of the Rings trilogy
- Studio Ghibli franchise
- Call Me By Your Name
- The Babadook
- Erin Brokovich
- Birdman
- Dunkirk
- La La Land
- Legally Blonde
- American Psycho
- 12 Years A Slave
- Thelma & Louise
Children’s shows on Netflix
Netflix has a dedicated kid’s profile with heaps of TV series and films for kids of all ages, such as:
- Hotel Transylvania
- Peppa Pig
- The Angry Birds Movie
- Matilda
- The Little Prince
- Walking with Dinosaurs
- The Boss Baby: Back in Business
- Yu-Gi-Oh!
- Minions
- Paw Patrol
- My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
- Sam & Cat
- Shrek
- Peter Rabbit
Looking to change your pay-TV provider? Take a look at our latest TV offers.