Netflix identified gaps left by traditional networks by pursuing serialized, long-form storytelling with bold premises to keep audiences engaged over time.

The Crown exemplifies Netflix’s investment in prestige, high-production-value dramas that reinforce its status as a home for award-winning content, complementary to its broader slate.

House of Cards and Stranger Things are highlighted as milestones that attracted top-tier talent and established franchise-scale series with broad appeal.

Orange Is the New Black and Bridgerton illustrate Netflix’s commitment to diverse, inclusive, and globally resonant storytelling that broadened its audience.

Netflix’s early original hits established it as a prestige global platform, showing streaming could rival premium cable and attract international audiences through multilingual and genre-spanning content.

Global originals like Narcos, Money Heist, and Squid Game demonstrated that non-English series could drive growth beyond the U.S. and validate Netflix’s international strategy.

The service’s rise as a worldwide powerhouse was accelerated by original series that defined its identity, diversified its catalog beyond US-centric content, and popularized binge-watching with complete-season drops.

Black Mirror stands out as a provocative, high-concept series that helped Netflix build a reputation for bold, conversation-starting programming.

Its top ten shows—House of Cards, Orange Is the New Black, 13 Reasons Why, Narcos, Black Mirror, Bridgerton, The Crown, Money Heist, Squid Game, and Stranger Things—reflect a strategy of investing in high-concept, binge-friendly content across genres and markets.