Got a free weekend and no idea what to watch? With Netflix, HBO, Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Hulu all stacked with content, the options can feel endless. This list cuts through the noise with 10 shows worth your time in 2026, from completed series you can binge in one go to weekly releases currently dropping new episodes. Supernatural thrillers, post-apocalyptic adventures, steamy period romances, or workplace dramedies, they’re all here!
Top 10 Shows to Binge-Watch in 2026
- Stranger Things (Netflix)
- Fallout (Prime Video)
- The Bear (FX/Hulu)
- Bridgerton (Netflix)
- Severance (Apple TV+)
- The White Lotus (HBO)
- The Last of Us (HBO)
- Euphoria (HBO)
- The Boys (Prime Video)
- Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
1. Stranger Things (Netflix)
After nearly a decade of keeping audiences on the edge of their seats, Stranger Things closed its chapter on December 31, 2025. The timing couldn’t be better for binge-watchers, the complete story is now available without years of waiting between seasons.
The fifth and final season delivered an epic showdown where the Hawkins gang united against Vecna and the Mind Flayer. The season rolled out in volumes throughout late 2025: Volume 1 premiered November 26, Volume 2 dropped on Christmas Day, and the finale arrived on New Year’s Eve. The finale drew such massive viewership that special cinema events were held across the US and Canada, with cast appearances at select screenings.
The complete series runs approximately 42 hours across five seasons. Stranger Things ranks as Netflix’s most-watched original, pulling in 115 million views for Season 5 alone. The series maintained its 90% Rotten Tomatoes score with an 83% audience rating.
2. Fallout (Prime Video)
This adaptation of the beloved video game franchise has become one of Prime Video’s biggest success stories. Season 2 is currently airing weekly, with new episodes dropping every Wednesday through February 4, 2026. Binge Season 1, then catch up on Season 2 as it unfolds.
The series follows vault dweller Lucy (Ella Purnell), ghoul bounty hunter Cooper Howard/The Ghoul (Walton Goggins), and Brotherhood of Steel squire Maximus (Aaron Moten) through the irradiated wasteland. Fallout has earned a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score from both critics and audiences.
The second season heads to the iconic location of New Vegas. Macaulay Culkin and Kumail Nanjiani have joined the cast, adding more star power to an already impressive ensemble. Unlike Season 1’s all-at-once release, Season 2 is adopting a weekly format, building anticipation between episodes.
Season 1 has 8 episodes (approximately 8 hours), with Season 2 adding another 8 episodes. Episodes 1-5 of Season 2 are already available, with the finale being released last February 4, 2026.
3. The Bear (FX/Hulu)
This Emmy-winning dramedy follows Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), a fine-dining chef who returns to Chicago to run his family’s sandwich shop after his brother’s death. The story begins as a restaurant transformation but evolves into an exploration of grief, ambition, and family dynamics.
Four complete seasons are available, with Season 5 beginning production in January 2026. The ensemble includes standout performances from Ayo Edebiri as Sydney and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Richie.
The show doesn’t follow typical television pacing. Episodes range from 30 to 60 minutes, with the format allowing for creative variations that serve the story rather than arbitrary time slots. Season 5 will likely premiere in June 2026, maintaining the show’s yearly release schedule. The first four seasons offer approximately 18-20 hours of content.
4. Bridgerton (Netflix)
Since its 2020 debut, Bridgerton has consistently ranked in Netflix’s global Top 10. The series combines period drama with modern sensibilities through diverse casting, contemporary music covers, and steamy romance alongside social commentary.
Season 4 is currently releasing in two parts: Part 1 premiered January 29, 2026, with Part 2 arriving February 26, 2026. This Cinderella-inspired season focuses on Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) and Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha).
Benedict, the bohemian second son, has long been skeptical about settling down. His perspective shifts at his mother’s masquerade ball when he becomes captivated by a mysterious Lady in Silver. He embarks on a quest through high society to find her, only to discover his true desire lies not among the elite but with a clever maid named Sophie Baek.
The show explores themes of class conflict, forbidden romance, and women’s lives. Katie Leung plays Sophie’s harsh mistress and stepmother. With Seasons 1-3 plus the Queen Charlotte prequel, viewers can enjoy approximately 31 hours of content before Season 4. The show has already been renewed for Seasons 5 and 6.
5. Severance (Apple TV+)
This psychological thriller presents a world where Lumon Industries employees undergo a “severance” procedure that surgically separates their work memories from their personal memories. Mark Scout (Adam Scott) leads a team whose work identities (“innies”) have no knowledge of their outside lives, while their outside selves (“outies”) have no memory of what they do at work.
Season 2 is currently airing weekly on Apple TV+, having premiered January 17, 2025, with new episodes dropping every Friday through the March 21 finale. The season picks up after the shocking Season 1 finale where the innies briefly experienced the outside world through the “Overtime Contingency.” New cast additions include Alia Shawkat, Merritt Wever, and Gwendoline Christie.
Creator Dan Erickson and director Ben Stiller have crafted one of television’s most visually distinctive shows. The sterile, retro-futuristic production design creates an unsettling atmosphere. Adam Scott delivers a career-best performance, conveying two distinct personalities. Season 1 has 9 episodes and Season 2 has 10 episodes, totaling approximately 19 hours.
6. The White Lotus (HBO)
This anthology series has earned multiple Emmy Awards and become one of HBO’s most acclaimed shows for its darkly comedic exploration of wealth, privilege, and human nature.
Season 3 is currently airing on HBO, having premiered February 16, 2025, with weekly Sunday episodes at 9 PM ET through the April 6 finale. The action moves to Thailand, where series creator Mike White promises a “supersized” edition that’s “longer, grander, and more outrageous.” The tagline: “You will leave an entirely different person.”
This season’s ensemble cast includes Lisa as the resort manager, Carrie Coon, Leslie Bibb, Michelle Monaghan, Parker Posey on a girls’ trip, Walton Goggins, and Aimee Lou Wood.
Each season stands alone as an anthology, so viewers can start anywhere. Season 1 (Hawaii) runs about 6 hours, Season 2 (Sicily) about 7 hours, and Season 3 (Thailand) will be approximately 8 hours. HBO has already renewed the show for Season 4.
7. The Last of Us (HBO)
This adaptation of the acclaimed video game series has proven that game-to-screen adaptations can achieve prestige television status.
Season 2 concluded on May 25, 2025, after premiering April 13, 2025. The first season introduced Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), forming an unlikely bond as they traverse a fungal-infected America. Season 2 adapts The Last of Us Part II, jumping five years forward and exploring the consequences of Joel’s choices from Season 1.
The second season consists of 7 episodes, a departure from Season 1’s 8-episode structure. The season introduces new characters and expands the world, showing different communities that have survived the apocalypse.
Both seasons combined offer approximately 14-15 hours of content. Each episode runs 45-80 minutes.
8. Euphoria (HBO)
After a four-year hiatus, Euphoria Season 3 premieres April 12, 2026, with the finale on May 31, 2026. This gives viewers time to binge or revisit Seasons 1 and 2 before the return.
The series follows a group of high school students navigating addiction, relationships, identity, and trauma. Zendaya’s Emmy-winning performance as Rue Bennett centers the show, Rue is a teenager struggling with drug addiction following the death of her father. The series doesn’t soften its subject matter. Episodes deal directly with addiction, abuse, toxic masculinity, gender identity, body image, and mental health, often in ways that are difficult to watch.
The eight-episode third season will see most of the main cast returning, including Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, Hunter Schafer, Eric Dane, Alexa Demie, and Maude Apatow. Creator Sam Levinson stated, “I am excited that we are set to begin production on Euphoria in January.”
Seasons 1 and 2 each have 8 episodes, plus 2 special episodes released during the pandemic that focused individually on Rue and Jules. That’s approximately 16 hours of content before Season 3 arrives.
9. The Boys (Prime Video)
The fifth and final season premieres April 8, 2026, with two episodes, followed by weekly releases culminating in the series finale on May 20, 2026.
The series presents “heroes” as corrupt, egomaniacal celebrities while following a group of vigilantes determined to expose their crimes. Antony Starr portrays Homelander, a patriotic Superman figure with psychopathic tendencies.
In Season 5, “it’s Homelander’s world, completely subject to his erratic, egomaniacal whims.” Hughie, Mother’s Milk, and Frenchie find themselves imprisoned in a “Freedom Camp,” while Annie struggles to mount resistance. When Butcher reappears with a virus that could wipe all Supes off the map, events are set in motion that will forever change the world.
Filming wrapped in July 2025, with creator Eric Kripke confirming post-production is progressing smoothly. Seasons 1-4 offer approximately 32 hours of content, with Season 5 adding another 8 episodes.
10. Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
This mystery-comedy follows Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin), Oliver Putnam (Martin Short), and Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez)—three true crime podcast enthusiasts who investigate murders in their exclusive Upper West Side apartment building, the Arconia. Season 5 is currently airing on Hulu, having premiered September 9, 2025.
This season centers on the death of longtime doorman Lester (Teddy Coluca), whose body was discovered in the courtyard fountain during the Season 4 finale. Charles, Oliver, and Mabel refuse to believe it was an accident, launching an investigation that stretches beyond the Arconia’s walls. The season introduces secret billionaires, old-school mobsters, and secret residents.
The guest star roster includes Meryl Streep, Téa Leoni, Bobby Cannavale, Renée Zellweger, Christoph Waltz, Logan Lerman, Keegan-Michael Key, Richard Kind, and Paul Rudd (as the voice of L.E.S.T.R.).
With 5 seasons of 10 episodes each, the show offers approximately 25 hours of content.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best show to binge-watch right now in 2026?
Stranger Things offers 42 hours of content with a complete ending. For currently airing shows, Severance Season 2 and Fallout Season 2 are generating significant buzz.
Which streaming platform has the best shows to binge?
Netflix has Stranger Things and Bridgerton. HBO has The White Lotus, The Last of Us, and Euphoria. Apple TV+ has Severance. Prime Video has Fallout and The Boys. Hulu has The Bear and Only Murders in the Building.
How many hours does it take to watch Stranger Things?
The complete series runs approximately 42 hours across five seasons.
Is Severance worth watching?
Severance has received critical acclaim for its unique premise and visual style. Season 2 is currently airing on Apple TV+ with new episodes every Friday through March 21, 2026.
What shows are ending in 2026?
The Boys concludes with Season 5, premiering April 8, 2026, and ending May 20, 2026. Stranger Things wrapped up on December 31, 2025.
Are weekly releases better than binge drops?
Weekly releases allow for fan discussions and sustained buzz, while binge drops let viewers experience a story at their own pace. Shows like Fallout Season 2 and Severance use weekly formats, while Black Mirror dropped all episodes at once.
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