Every streaming service has its massive hits. Netflix has Stranger Things, Amazon Prime has Fallout, and HBO Max has the Game of Thrones franchise. But every streaming service also has excellent series that have sadly fallen into obscurity, despite being great. Many of these shows are even critically praised and award-winning, but for some reason, they’ve been overlooked.
Maybe they just aren't flashy enough, or they’re too smart for viewers who are mindlessly watching on their phones—an audience group so large that Netflix even has a name for them: “casual viewers.” Whatever the reason, the outcome is the same.
These 10 shows are amazing and deserve your attention. This list will focus on original series since acquired and syndicated programming can usually be found in various places. Read on to discover the most criminally underrated original series from all 10 of the major streaming platforms.
Netflix – Lady Dynamite (2016-2017)
Netflix’s Lady Dynamite is a meta, autobiographical series about comedian Maria Bamford. The show tells the story of her wild life and the challenges (and hilarities) of trying to go through it all with a severe mental illness. From briefly being the Target Lady to her failed attempts at landing sitcoms, and even her journey back to her hometown in Minnesota, where she was institutionalized, Lady Dynamite never shies away from the triumphs and struggles Bamford went through.
But this isn’t some melodramatic trauma porn series. Lady Dynamite is seriously laugh-out-loud funny, and Bamford knows how to perfectly turn her life into a giant joke. There’s a reason why the show holds a lofty 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. Plus, the series is loaded with Bamford’s famous friends, from Ana Gasteyer to Jenny Slate, Patton Oswalt, and Bridget Everett, among many others. If you liked HBO’s biographical comedy Crashing (2017-2019), but want it with a madcap, almost Muppet-like vibe, check out Lady Dynamite.
Apple TV+ – Schmigadoon! (2021-2023)
The musical comedy series Schmigadoon! on Apple TV+ spoofs old-school musicals and follows two travelers (Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key) who accidentally stumble upon the town of Schmigadoon, where everyone lives their lives like it’s a musical. Schmigadoon!’s soundtrack even won an Emmy and got nominated for a Grammy, proving that the songs aren't just funny, they’re also super catchy.
If you’re a Broadway fan, you’re definitely going to love this series. But even if you aren't, the show is so smart and witty that you’re still going to have a great time. Plus, the supporting cast is phenomenal and includes everyone from Dove Cameron to Martin Short, Kristin Chenoweth, and Jane Krakowski.
HBO Max – Enlightened (2011-2013)
A decade before The White Lotus, Mike White launched his show Enlightened on HBO. The series stars Laura Dern as a compulsive, somewhat manic woman who loses everything and is demoted to an entry-level data job in the basement of her Fortune 500 company. Throughout the show, it’s revealed just how corrupt the company is, and she decides it’s time to take them down.
White co-stars with Dern, and the show keeps audiences on their toes, constantly wondering if this might be the episode where she finally takes down the corporation. Plus, Dern expertly played the role and showed how manic people aren't just delusional, but are deeply hurt and conflicted by their own actions. Enlightened even earned Dern an Emmy nomination and Golden Globe win. If you love the mix of drama and comedy in The White Lotus (2021-Present), you’ll find lots to love in Enlightened.
Hulu – Mid-Century Modern (2025)
What happens when three aging gay men (played by the fabulous Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, and Nathan Lee Graham) all move in with one of their mothers (played by the late, great, and even more fabulous Linda Lavin)? You get a sassy, modern homage to The Golden Girls (1985-1992) that would have made Bea Arthur proud. Mid-Century Modern is loaded with witty quips and brassy retorts, making it the perfect show to watch with a nice glass of wine and good friends.
If you love The Golden Girls or other hodgepodge housemate sitcoms, like Hot in Cleveland (2010-2015) or Grace & Frankie (2015-2022), then Mid-Century Modern is sure to become your new comfort show on Hulu. It even scored a Best Directing Emmy nomination. For someone looking for a show filled with heart and humor, this is it.
Paramount+ – Halo (2022-2024)
The TV adaptation of Halo was wild, ridiculous, and insane, almost bordering on camp. And that’s exactly why it’s so great. Listen, this show has everything. Master Chief getting naked, Master Chief having sex with a Covenant spy, space witches, impoverished space teens doing drugs, a space pirate who lives in an asteroid…the list goes on and on. Halo is a wonky, bonky wonderland.
The show was, obviously, panned by Halo gamers, who are mostly of the middle-aged, grumpy incel variety, so not really the type to enjoy campy, corny, bombast…especially in a franchise that they associated with their own masculinity for so many decades. But in 2025, the show hit Netflix from Paramount+ and shot to the Top 5 chart, proving that, with a broader audience, Halo could have been a success all along.
Peacock – Girls5eva (2021-2024)
Girls5eva follows the life of a former girl group who, now firmly in their 40s and 50s, decide to regroup and search for fame. The ensemble cast is amazing, with Sara Bareilles being joined by Busy Phillips, SNL’s Paula Pell, and Hamilton’s Renee Elise Goldsberry. The show was created by Meredith Scardino, who is best known for creating The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015-2020), so if you love her colorful, vibrant style of humor, you are going to love Girls5Eva on Peacock.
The show is loaded with laughs, and Pell is especially great in the series, using her experience as a writer for SNL to bring tons of perfectly-timed comedy. It’s also perfect for anyone who wants some 90s bubble pop nostalgia, since the show does lots of flashbacks to the band’s initial rise to fame during that period.
Disney+ – Goosebumps (2023-2025)
In 2023, Goosebumps returned to Disney+, but this time for a bit of an older audience. No longer a kids show, Goosebumps came back with a more mature cast, some great scares, and even a bit of foul language (gasp!) Aimed more at teenagers this time around, the series was surprisingly good, offering up nostalgia while also creating a fun story of its own.
If you loved the scarier classic Goosebumps episodes, like “The Haunted Mask,” you’re going to love this new take. Plus, it even snagged some big names like Justin Long, Rachael Harris, and David Schwimmer, and its Pacific Northwest setting brought tons of great eerie vibes, almost like an homage to Twin Peaks.
Prime – Homecoming (2018-2020)
Prime’s fantastic thriller Homecoming starred Julia Roberts as a therapist who works at a secret government facility intended to help “rehabilitate” soldiers who are struggling with PTSD and returning to everyday life. But how are they accomplishing these things? Is it safe…or ethical?
Fans of Netflix’s Wayward (2025) will see lots of similarities in Homecoming and love the questions that arise, the mystery that unfolds, and the danger that develops. Plus, c’mon, it’s Julia Roberts, who is absolutely fantastic as always. She even scored a Golden Globe nom for her role.
Starz – Shining Vale (2022-2023)
Starz might be best known for Power and Outlander, but it also takes risks most other streamers won’t and produces some seriously fun, compelling, and unique shows. Shining Vale is easily one of the streamer's best and follows a struggling writer (Courteney Cox) who is either completely delusional, or is in a battle with Satan himself. Even worse, she’s surrounded by cultists who do everything they can to make her feel like she’s going crazy.
For horror fans, Shining Vale is a must-watch thanks to its numerous nods to horror classics like The Shining (1980) and Rosemary’s Baby (1969). Plus, it’s loaded with fantastic performances, not just by Cox, but also Greg Kinnear, Mira Sorvino, and Judith Light. Tragically, Starz dropped the show, and for a brief period, it wasn’t available to stream anywhere. But in early 2025, HBO Max picked it up, and it quickly became a success on the streamer. Thanks HBO Max for saving this hidden gem!
Shudder – Cursed Films (2020-2022)
Right now, Shudder is best known for Mark Duplass’ found-footage horror series, The Creep Tapes. But an often overlooked series that deserves some praise is their docuseries, Cursed Films. From The Omen to The Wizard of Oz, each episode centers around a movie that had a disastrous, and sometimes deadly, production. All of these movies have spawned legends that their productions were cursed, and Cursed Films investigates what really happened.
Trust me…you won’t believe the things that happened on these movie sets, and for a few of these films, you’ll truly walk away wondering if their productions were indeed cursed. If you love horror docs like Room 237 (2012) or terrifying documentaries like The Nightmare (2015), check out Cursed Films.
