15 Addictive Shows on Netflix That No One Talks About

Some shows on Netflix get loads of press and publicity, which turns their stars into household names.

Then some shows remain locked in obscurity, seemingly until the end of time. While viewers will find no shortage of content on any streaming platform, some obscure shows deserve more attention than they have gotten in the past.

But just because a show doesn’t get as much exposure as it should, doesn’t mean it isn’t as good, or as entertaining. If these 15 Netflix shows didn’t get your attention the first time, they should definitely do so now.

1. Red Rose (2022)

British horror series Red Rose focuses on a ragtag group of teenagers who find out, the hard way, that everything isn’t what it seems.

These teens, who obsess over their smartphones, find themselves in more trouble than they initially realized when they downloaded the titular app. Similar to Saw, the Red Rose makes demands on its users that prove deadly if they’re not followed. This little-known Netflix show stars Isis Hainsworth, Amelia Clarkson, Natalie Blair, and Ali Khan.

2. The OA (2016)

The OA enjoyed popularity at the time of its release, but was canceled by the streaming giant after two seasons, leaving behind a cliffhanger ending.

Featuring sci-fi, supernatural, and fantasy elements, The OA starred Britt Marling, Scott Cohen, and Emily Olsen. The show focuses on an adopted girl named Prairie Johnson, who unexpectedly turned up after being mysteriously missing for seven years. The “OA” in the series stands for “original angel,” which is what Prairie calls herself, and is borne out by the wing scars on her back.

3. Alice in Borderland (2020)

Released on Netflix in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, Alice in Borderland adapts the manga series of the same name.

It retells the classic Alice in Wonderland tale as the story of Arisu, a gaming addict who finds himself in a dystopian version of Tokyo, where he must play dangerous, deadly games so he can stay alive. Here, he also meets Usagi, an intriguing woman who’s playing these deadly games by herself.

4. Maniac (2018)

Jonah Hill, Emma Stone, and Sally Field lead an all-star cast in the 2018 miniseries Maniac, loosely based on the Norwegian show of the same name.

Set in a futuristic version of New York City, this obscure Netflix show focuses on two strangers who meet during a clinical trial and trip out together. Twelve people participate in the trial, and Maniac shows just how deep into psychosis people can go while connecting with others.

5. Imposters (2017)

Originally called My So-Called Wife, the black comedy Imposters focuses on Maddie Jonson, a con artist who marries both men and women while stealing their money.

Maddie is part of a con artist’s ring and works for the mysterious “Doctor,” who has a network of similar con artists working for him across the country. But when Maddie’s victims team up and try taking her down, they become con artists themselves.

6. The Trust: A Game of Greed (2024)

Unlike the other obscure Netflix shows on this list, The Trust: A Game of Greed is a game show that features real life people competing against one another for a $250,000 prize pot.

Participants can play games that add money to the pot, and contestants are encouraged to take a “winner-take-all” approach to winning. Confidence games, surprise twists, and double-crosses pepper throughout the series.

7. Dead Boy Detectives (2024)

Neil Gaiman has mastered surreal storytelling, and he further proves his prowess with Dead Boy Detectives, based on the DC Comics series of the same name.

Starring George Rexstrew, Jayden Revri, and Jenn Lyon, Dead Boy Detectives focus on the ghosts of Charles Rowland and Edwin Payne, who don’t enter the afterlife so they can investigate murders and other crimes involving the supernatural.

8. Eric (2024)

A British miniseries featuring a completely unrecognizable Benedict Cumberbatch, Eric tells the story of a popular puppeteer whose son goes missing in New York City in the 1980s.

Cumberbatch’s character, Vincent, then descends into madness, which includes bouts with substance abuse and alienating anyone and everyone in his family. Finally, he believes he can retrieve his son with the assistance of a seven-foot puppet named Eric.

9. Ripley (2024)

Based on the 1955 novel, The Talented Mr. Ripley, this noir series stars Andrew Scott and Dakota Fanning. The show originally planned to air on Showtime, but Netflix snapped it up in February 2023.

Scott stars as the titular character, a con artist hired by a wealthy man for a personal job. The wealthy man’s prodigal son has stomped off to Italy, and it’s Ripley’s job to bring him home. Unfortunately, deceit, fraud, and murder fill the son’s life in Italy.

10. The Outreau Case: A French Nightmare (2024)

The only French miniseries on this list, The Outreau Case: A French Nightmare tells the story of the murder case of the same name, which focused on horrific child abuse reports in the region.

The reports led to false arrests, wrongful convictions, and public outrage at the abortion of justice. In the early 2000s, the Outreau Case uncovered flaws in the French justice system that remain unresolved to this day.

11. The Gentlemen (2024)

Guy Ritchie helms this obscure Netflix series based on his 2019 film of the same name. However, there isn’t any overlap in characters or storyline between the two.

The Gentlemen, which stars Theo James and Joely Richardson, tells the story of an accidental Duke who inherited his father’s vast estate upon his sudden death, and who also makes money from an illegal marijuana empire.

12. Chicken Nugget (2024)

Chicken Nugget comes to Netflix from South Korea and features an absurd premise.

A woman has been turned into a chicken nugget after entering a mysterious machine. The woman’s father and a man who has a crush on her endure all sorts of hijinks as they attempt her recovery but discover many sinister secrets along the way.

13. Supers*x (2024)

This comedic, obscure Netflix miniseries is based on the true story of Italian adult film star Rocco Siffredi and his overly virile, sometimes absurdly energetic, life in front of and behind the camera.

Known as “The Italian Stallion” (not to be confused with the nickname of Sylvester Stallone’s most infamous film), Siffredi was one of only a handful of actors who enjoyed mainstream film success outside his more carnally inclined films.

14. The Tourist (2022)

50 Shades of Grey heartthrob Jamie Dornan ditches his Christian Grey suit for a fluffy wool sweater and an old man’s cap in The Tourist. The series tells the story of a car crash victim who wakes up in Australia with a severe case of amnesia.

Thanks to a lovely woman’s generous assistance, the man (who believes his name is either Elliot Stanley or Eugene Cassidy) realizes his past is one he’s better off forgetting anyway.

15. Young Royals (2021)

This Swedish teen drama, which became one of the most popular shows in its native country upon its release, tells the story of Prince Wilhelm of Sweden and the drama that ensues when he falls in love with his classmate, commoner Simon Eriksson.

Star Wars star Pernilla August (a/k/a Shmi Skywalker) co-stars as Queen Kristina of Sweden, mother of both Prince Wilhelm and his older brother, Prince Erik. Ultimately, Prince Wilhelm abdicates the throne and declares his love for Simon.