Netflix snuck up on consumers and quickly became the model streaming service. At this point, everyone has cornered the market on something, but Netflix will always be a pioneer. The service began producing original content way back in 2012. Since that time, Netflix has offered countless movies, scripted shows, documentaries, cooking shows, and reality programs.
There are endless options on Netflix for a movie night at home, but there are also plenty of original shows to binge on. Check these out to see which one had the longest shelf life in production (not including the ever-increasing body of children's programming). Since Netflix seasons are designed a little differently than those on primetime, the shows are ranked in increasing number of episodes.
Updated on February 2nd, 2021 by Kristen Palamara: Netflix continues to create new and exciting original series on its streaming platform from sitcoms to dramas to Marvel series to animated series. Although there are some great original shows from Netflix, there aren't that many that have a high amount of episodes as Netflix also chooses to produce miniseries or anthology shows that tell a full story in one season instead of over several seasons. There are some series that are still airing and will continue to have more episodes added to the series, but here are the Netflix series that have the most episodes right now.
Daredevil: 39 Episodes, 3 Seasons
Daredevil was the first Marvel series to air on Netflix and although fellow Marvel show Jessica Jones has the same amount of episodes, because Daredevil aired first, it deserves a spot on this list.
Daredevil follows blind attorney Matt Murdock in Hell's Kitchen, New York as he defends clients by day with his partner Foggy Nelson and becomes a vigilante hero at night saving people in distress.
Big Mouth: 41 Episodes, 4 Seasons
Nick Kroll and John Mulaney star in this awkward comedic animated series about a group of teens going through puberty.
The characters go through typical awkward middle school situations while also having a fantastical element to the show as puberty monsters show up in their lives to help them through puberty. The Shame Wizard appears when they're feeling shameful and guilty, and the Anxiety Mosquito appears whenever a character is overwhelmed with anxiety.
One Day At A Time: 46 Episodes, 4 Seasons
One Day at a Time is an interesting case, as Netflix Originals go. The series is a reboot of the 1970s/1980s Norman Lear show, and it began in 2017.
In 2019, Netflix pulled the plug on the show, but it was picked up by Pop TV. This marks an extremely rare occasion in which a streamed series goes to cable instead. Focusing on a Cuban-American family, the show is known for its breakthroughs in representation on television.
Queer Eye: 47 Episodes, 5 Seasons
The emotional Netflix reboot of Queer Eye focuses on a new cast who help "heroes" on each episode who need assistance adjusting to healthy living along with increased confidence and improved outer appearance.
Jonathan Van Ness is the grooming expert who helps with hair and facial care, Tan France is the fashion consultant who helps style each hero, Karamo Brown is the culture expert who helps with self-confidence and more, Antoni Porowski is the food/wine expert who helps the hero cook healthy meals in the kitchen, and Bobby Berk is the interior designer who helps re-style and clean up the hero's entire home.
13 Reasons Why: 49 Episodes, 4 Seasons
The 2017-2020 drama was based on Jay Asher's books about a teenager's journey to suicide. Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford) has ended her life, and her classmates are led on a twisted scavenger hunt to find out exactly why based on clues Hannah has left behind.
While some viewed the original as a motivational force in suicide prevention, others felt that it glorified suicide and was especially dangerous for young viewers.
The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: 51 Episodes, 4 Seasons
The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, is about a woman named Kimmy (Ellie Kemper) who emerges from a doomsday cult.
After 15 years of being held captive by the Reverend in Indiana, Kimmy begins a new life in New York. Her story ran from 2015 to 2019 and is a highly regarded program on Netflix.
She-Ra And The Princesses of Power: 52 Episodes, 5 Seasons
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power is a Netflix Original series reboot of the 1980s series. The animated series ran for five seasons and recently ended in 2020. It centered on Adora, who finds a magical sword that has the power to transform her into the warrior She-Ra. She chooses to use this power to lead a rebellion against an evil overlord ruling power.
There are several other engaging characters like Adora's new best friends and allies Glimmer and Bow and her ex-best friend turned enemy turned love interest Catra.
Trollhunters: Tales Of Arcadia: 52 Episodes, 3 Seasons
Trollhunters was a fantasy animated series from Guillermo del Toro that followed high school student Jim Lake Jr. as he teams up with his fellow students to help protect an underground society of trolls.
Jim finds an amulet and is chosen to be the next troll hunter and help protect trolls who can't protect themselves. He must help end a war between two factions of trolls that has been waged for years. Trollhunters is a great fantasy adventure series with a lot of laughs and a lot of heart.
House Of Cards: 73 Episodes, 6 Seasons
House of Cards (not to be confused with the British series) is one of the darker televisual texts in the political genre. The drama is often compared to The West Wing, but without the sunny outlook.
The series began in 2013 and concluded in 2018. It featured Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, and Kevin Spacey, to name a few. Many viewers found the ruthless politicians gripping throughout, though complications brought on by serious assault allegations made against Spacey made the final season a messy experience for others.
Fuller House: 75 Episodes, 5 Seasons
2016 brought the reboot Full House fans everywhere were waiting for, and it lasted for five seasons. Fuller House centered around DJ Tanner as the matriarch of the extended family after her husband passes away. DJ needs some help with her three children, so Stephanie, Kimmy, and Kimmy's daughter, Ramona, move in.
Danny, Jesse, and Joey make periodic appearances, but most of the action revolves around DJ's love life as she decides between Matt and Steve. The series ended with a triple wedding, and Netflix subscribers definitely think of it as an early original for the platform.
BoJack Horseman: 77 Episodes, 6 Seasons
BoJack Horseman is a human-like horse who happens to be a hit 90s celebrity. In the adult animated series, BoJack is trying to make his comeback in the entertainment industry.
While being hilarious, the show also dealt with serious topics such as depression, addiction, and the darker side of show business. The unlikely concept and its anthropomorphic horse really took off, and the series ran from 2014 to 2020.
Grace And Frankie: 78 Episodes, 6 Seasons
In 2015, Netflix introduced a new kind of story in Grace and Frankie. The comedy is about two women (played by Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin) whose husbands are law partners who fall in love with one another.
After learning of their husbands' sexuality, Grace and Frankie must learn to get along and live with one another. The series is not finished, but production was pushed to 2021 for further episodes.
The Ranch: 80 Episodes, 8 Seasons
The Ranch first released episodes in 2016, and the final season's last installment has been completed. Ashton Kutcher is Colt Bennett, a football player who decides to stay with his family and help them run the ranch.
Kutcher's That '70s Show co-star plays his brother, Jameson "Rooster" Bennett; their father, Beau Bennett, is played by Sam Elliott. Debra Winger plays Maggie Bennett, Kutcher's character's mother.
Orange Is The New Black: 91 Episodes, 7 Seasons
Jenji Kohan's Orange Is the New Black is one of the most talked-about Netflix Originals of all time. The series opened in 2013 and concluded in 2019, and it is based on Piper Kerman's 2010 memoir, Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison.
Taylor Schilling portrays Piper, a New Yorker who is convicted of a drug felony and sentenced to fifteen months in an upstate New York penitentiary.
Chelsea: 120 Episodes, 2 Seasons
Netflix has jumped in to create their own version of pretty much everything. Chelsea Handler got her own talk show in 2016. Even though it was only on for about a year, Chelsea finished with 120 episodes.
Chelsea Handler interviewed countless celebrities including Melissa McCarthy, Lea Michele, Reese Witherspoon, Florence Henderson, David Spade, Jessica Alba, Blake Shelton, Kevin Hart, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and more.