As one of the top online media streaming platforms in the world, Netflix has made a reputation for itself. Their original movies and shows are their biggest selling point and what they are recently most famous for, which is why it is easy to forget sometimes that not every series sporting the brand name is an original production.
In fact, in many cases, Netflix has picked up shows that were originally produced by other networks, then abandoned and then "revived" them. The following list looks at some popular shows that have been met with immense acclaim on the platform but were actually not helmed by Netflix.
You
You, once again, proved that audiences will not shy away from supporting villainous characters if they are well written, even if said characters are serial killers.
The episodes follow Joe Goldberg, a man more than willing to go to extreme lengths that, on the surface, appear to be for the sake of love, but in reality, just feed his psychopathic nature. The first season was produced by Lifetime, and for the second season, it became a Netflix exclusive.
Black Mirror
A British anthology series set in the not-so-distant future, each episode of Black Mirror is a self-contained dystopian horror story about modern life and how it is affected by technology.
Originally created by the British network Channel 4, it was purchased by Netflix after two seasons. While this acquisition has certainly helped the show gain much more popularity, many fans have expressed concern about the quality of the show under Netflix and seasons 4 and 5 have some of the worst episodes in the series.
The Good Place
From The Office to Parks and Recreation, Michael Schur has been involved in the creation of some of the most beloved sitcoms of the century. The Good Place is a sweet and short wholesome story that only ran for four seasons, but fully utilized its short tenure.
Veronica Mars star, Kristen Bell, acts in the role of Eleanor Shellstrop, who is sent to the "Good Place" (hell) after her death where she tries to redeem her soul, along with a group of other eccentric people.
Peaky Blinders
Regarded as one of the best British series available on the platform, Peaky Blinders is a period drama set in early 1900s England and revolves around the Shelby crime family.
With a star-studded cast of famous Hollywood actors, such as Cillian Murphy and Tom Hardy, the first four seasons of the show were produced by BBC Two and later seasons by BBC One. Netflix is the sole holder of the rights to stream Peaky Blinders in the U.S., which is why many fans associate the two.
Breaking Bad
While it is seen as one of the best TV shows of all time, like many of its kind, Breaking Bad wasn't as popular at the beginning of its journey. As the drama and plot intensified with the later seasons, so did its fame, and Netflix played a significant part in its rise, as the show started streaming with the platform from its fourth season.
With the Netflix boost and by its own merit, viewer numbers for the final season were double that of the previous seasons. Furthermore, Netflix partnered up with AMC, the network that originally produced the show, to make a sequel film by the name of El Camino, which remains a Netflix exclusive.
How To Get Away With Murder
How to Get Away with Murder is a legal drama about a law professor and her students, who are, as hinted at by the title, trying to get away with murder.
For her acting in the role of Annalise Keating, actress Viola Davis became the first Black woman to win the "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series" Emmy award, alongside a handful of other accolades. The series originally premiered on ABC, but as always, Netflix helped it flourish in terms of success.
Bodyguard
Featuring Game of Thrones actor Richard Madden in the lead, Bodyguard is a British crime thriller about a war veteran who is assigned to the security detail of a politician. Viewer numbers for the series peaked at 11 million during its season finale, which made it the most viewed BBC drama in recent years after Doctor Who.
Similar to Peaky Blinders, Netflix handles the distribution of the show on an international scale outside of the UK and is responsible for much of its popularity.
Schitt’s Creek
Schitt’s Creek was developed by Canadian Network CBC Television and created by its lead stars real-life father and son duo, Eugene and Dan Levy. Although Netflix didn't play a part in its creation or production, it was only after it started airing on Netflix after its third season, that it found widespread popularity and acclaim.
At 2020's Primetime Emmy Awards, it became the first comedy or drama series to win all seven major awards, and consequently, become a record holder for the most Emmy's won by a comedy series.
Lucifer
Tales revolving around religion and mythology, specifically those including gods, the devil, angels, and such entities, are a staple of pop culture media. While the TV series Lucifer isn't directly based on the biblical devil, it is an adaptation of the character of the same name from DC Comics created by Neil Gaiman in the pages of The Sandman.
Developed by Fox, the critical reception of the show increased in later seasons, but the viewership decreased, which ultimately led to its cancellation. Its revival at the hands of Netflix brought it back and now it's more successful than ever before.
Cobra Kai
Cobra Kai premiered on and was originally created for YouTube Red, so for its first two seasons, this sequel series to the iconic Karate Kid franchise remained somewhat obscure and ranked well below its potential. It wasn't until YouTube canceled the series and Netflix picked it up that its popularity shot through the sky and it almost instantly became the top viewed show on Netflix.
Being respectful of the legacy of the older films, while at the same time being enjoyable for newer audiences, is presumably what has made Cobra Kai such a hit.