Since Netflix‘s early days of diving into the world of original content with shows like Lilyhammer and House of Cards, the streaming powerhouse has built a reputation for creating some of the finest programming the world has ever seen. Part of Netflix’s charm is their commitment to telling diverse stories that reflect the modern world. This, of course, includes telling stories reflective of Black culture.
Over the last decade, Netflix’s commitment has truly cranked out some wonderful comedies and dramas with Black leads and Black stories, that have clocked in millions of hours from millions of subscribers. With that being said, below is a list of the best Black shows on Netflix, most of which have new seasons in the works. Take a look at what shows made the cut.
10
‘Bad Influencer’ (2025 – Present)
Bad Influencer is a newer entry on Netflix, but has proven to be must-watch show. While the concept of a single woman doing anything, including illegal activity, to provide for her child isn’t necessarily nuanced onscreen, this South African drama places a modern spin on the story. Jo-Anne Reyneke’s BK uses her artistic eye and skill set to create counterfeit bags and partners with an influencer to advertise them on social media. It diversifies the world of onscreen scams.
What also adds to the show’s allure is the fact that while Bad Influencer is a drama, it’s littered with comedic scenes that tend to break up the heavier moments. Those scenes come compliment of the onscreen influencer, Cindy Mahlangu’s Pinky, who is a breath of fresh air with her ridiculous antics. Her confronting her boyfriend in the series premiere is certainly captivating.
On a final note, from an American perspective, it’s lovely to see a show based in South Africa take to the spotlight. Each episode of Bad Influencer feels like a mini lesson on South African culture, which is pretty nice to watch.
9
‘Beauty in Black’ (2024 – Present)
Another Tyler Perry production, Beauty in Black is a unique series that puts a whole new spin on the ideas of greed, family drama, and pulling yourself up by the bootstraps. For Tyler Perry fans, his writing is instantly recognizable, and his characterizations, as always, definitely make viewers take note. However, what makes the drama really stand out on Netflix is the sheer provocative nature of the series. Whether it’s the tense confrontations, the adult romps in the hay, or the murderous storylines sprinkled throughout the show, it’s hard not to binge through the episodes to figure out what happens next.
Now critics may not necessarily be in love with Beauty in Black, but that hasn’t deterred Netflix subscribers from watching it. Whenever new episodes are released, the drama immediately claims the top spot on the Netflix streaming chart. So it’s safe to say Perry has a loyal fan base that can’t get enough of Beauty in Black.
8
‘Family Reunion’ (2019 – 2022)
One of two family comedies on the list, Family Reunion had many things going for it during its five-season run. It had TV/film vets Tia Mowry, Richard Roundtree, and Loretta Devine leading the cast, and their comedic timing was spot on. In particular, the onscreen love/hate dynamic between Mowry and Devine is a source of many of the show’s funny moments.
Family Reunion is also a nice watch because it made a point to discuss many issues that Black families can relate to, whether that be discussing discrimination and colorism, or something of the lighter variety like certan dance styles and music. Regardless of the subject matter brought up, the series always infused the episodes with comedy for family members of almost any age. With that being said, for those who prefer things of the drier and wittier variety, Family Reunion doesn’t quite fit the bill.
7
‘Supacell’ (2024 – Present)
Netflix’s Supacell is already a winner in the fact that it focuses on super-powered humans who don’t hail from the world of Marvel or DC Comics. In a world where the superhero trope can sometimes feel overdone, this series adds a fresh take on the subject matter given the powers of the cast stem from family histories of sickle cell anemia. A disease that disproportionately impacts people of African descent. Speaking of the cast, the show should get a lot applause for having another group of Black super humans who don’t hail from the Black Panther world of Wakanda. In fact, they’re rooted in South London.
Beyond its unique premise, the show is well-written and tries hard to stay in the confines of realism, despite characters teleporting, becoming invisible, and exhibiting unbelievable strength. Additionally, Tosin Cole does a great job anchoring the show as the series lead, adding just enough complexities to the scenes to make a person take note. Critics tend to agree with these points, exemplified in its perfect Rotten Tomatoes score.
6
‘The Vince Staples Show’ (2024 – Present)
The Vince Staples Show has proven to be quite the witty gem on Netflix. Rapper-turned-actor Vince Staples plays a fictionalized version of himself as he navigates life and his California roots. In many regards, the show is reminiscent of the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning series Atlanta. Both shows dabble in dark comedy and exhibit realism that many viewers can relate to, before throwing in some preposterous scenarios that one can’t help but find funny. When it comes to The Vince Staples Show in particular, there is one occasion in season 1 that comes to mind where he has a very relatable run-in with an old high school acquaintance, but that somehow leads to an inconceivable foot chase that leaves Vince running for his life. (Spoiler alert, given there’s a season 2 of the comedy, he obviously manages to survive.)
Zooming out beyond just the show’s premise, The Vince Staples Show has some pretty good writing. It doesn’t try too hard to force laughs, and while it does put viewers in the mind of Atlanta, it does enough to be remembered as its own great body of work. Additionally, Vince Staples shines as the series lead and happens to have chemistry with every cast member he’s in a scene with. One of the standout dynamics he has is with Vanessa Bell Calloway, who portrays his onscreen mother, Anita. Her inability to hold back when it comes to her son and her son’s girlfriend is nothing short of hilarious.
5
‘The Upshaws’ (2021 – Present)
For fans of The Jeffersons‘s George (Sherman Hemsley) and Florence (Marla Gibbs) bickering dynamic, or Martin‘s Pam (Tichina Arnold) and Martin (Martin Lawrence) verbal sparring, then The Upshaws is a must-watch. World-class comedians Mike Epps and Wanda Sykes are brilliant as Bennie and Lucretia, in-laws and business partners, who take every chance they can to insult each other. They make sport of seeing who can get the best of the other in almost every scene, with Living Single alum Kim Fields serving as Regina, the de facto referee.
The show is also a comfort to watch because it gives nods to comedies of yesteryear. For example, super producer Norman Lear built a legacy of placing working-class families at the center of his comedies, whether that be All in the Family, Good Times, or Sanford and Son. The Upshaws follows in the vein, telling the story of a working-class family in Indiana. On that note, while outside problems definitely come into play, like the Norman Lear shows mentioned, the drama and laughs of The Upshaws largely originates from each of the family member’s decision-making. If looking for a comedy, this NAACP Image Award winner is a solid choice.
4
‘Blood and Water’ (2020 – 2024)
Another product hailing from South Africa, Blood and Water is an interesting take on a coming-of-age story, because in addition to following the usual angst of teenagers, it follows two sisters reconnecting after one of them was abducted years prior. That’s not a storyline one sees every day in the streaming universe, and largely for that reason, it’s why fans remained so engaged.
The series is also engaging because the scenes feel so high-stakes. With the spot-on pacing of the drama, enough angst is built among viewers from scene to scene, yet when the big moments hit, viewers don’t feel overwhelmed by conflict. Plus, Ama Qamata and Khosi Ngema do a great job portraying the roller-coaster dynamic between onscreen sisters, Puleng and Fiks, as they try to explore a newfound sisterhood, while getting to the bottom of how their early childhoods were turned upside down. And like Bad Influencer, it’s an insight into South African culture.
3
‘Survival of the Thickest’ (2023 – Present)
While the comedic story of a Black woman trying to enter the next chapter of her life post break-up is interesting to watch, what makes Survival of the Thickest such a great show is the series star, Michelle Buteau. The stand-up comedian is absolutely hilarious as the series lead, Mavis. She strongly drives the narrative of the show with her awkward, yet funny, responses to the hurdles she faces in life. And while no hurdle is off limits when it comes to this series, it’s Mavis’ dating life that offers up the best laughs.
Besides Survival of the Thicket actually being humorous, it also happens to be one of the most inclusive Black series currently airing on any platform. There’s a purposeful commitment to reflecting the voices of the Black LGBTQIA+ community in the series, exemplified in the storylines of Tasha Smith’s Marley as she explores her sexuality, and the fact that many scenes and dramatic moments originate in Mavis’ favorite spot to hang out, a New York City queer bar. By the way, Mavis occasionally designs clothes for drag performers on the series.
2
‘Lupin’ (2021 – Present)
Lupin doesn’t consist of a predominantly Black cast, but it’s led by the fearless leader Omar Sy, who portrays the titular character. The series is incredibly well-written with one plot twist after another, so there’s never really a dull moment, making one feel obligated to binge episodes as they’re released. Additionally, because the character Lupin is so clever as he tries to prove to the world who the real bad guys are and clear the reputation of his deceased father, every time viewers assume his quest will come to a dramatic end, he pulls another rabbit out of the hat that leaves fans wanting to applaud. And for those who don’t speak French, don’t worry, the series has been dubbed in English, making it easy to follow along.
Backing the claim that Lupin is one of the best are the opinions of critics and fans. It’s made history as the ninth most-watched non-English series on Netflix, it has a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, and a host of award nominations. Anyone looking for a thrilling joyride to delve into, Lupin offers just that.
1
‘Forever’ (2025 – Present)
Based on Judy Blume’s novel, Forever propelled itself into the hearts of millions with one season. The episodic brainchild of super producer, Mara Brock Akil, Forever is a reminder for many fans about what it felt like to fall in love for the first time, and how complicated that journey can be when one is still trying discover who they are. Although this reminder is told in a coming-of-age narrative centered around teens, Justin (Michael Cooper Jr.) and Keisha (Lovie Simone), it’s still very relatable to viewers of any age. The complexities of both Justin and Keisha make them entertaining to watch on their own, and maddening to view together (in the best of ways) when they’re in one of their lover’s quarrels.
Additionally, while the primary story is fascinating to digest, the B-story of the dynamic between Justin’s parents is just as intriguing. A couple married for years, still madly in love, but bumping heads over the future of their firstborn. Honestly, if there was a spinoff with this pair at the heart, there would be an audience for it.
Oh, and it’s worth mentioning, Forever is “Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes with a whopping 97%. Considering the series is on the newer side, it doesn’t have a lot of gold hardware to speak of at the time of publication. However, if it doesn’t at least rack up some nominations, it will be a true crime.