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Spending more time scrolling through streaming menus than actually watching a show is a common problem. With so much content available, finding something new to watch can feel like a chore. To help you make the most of your subscriptions, this list sorts through the options to highlight the best shows streaming in Australia right now. From brand-new blockbusters to acclaimed hits you might have missed, this guide will point you towards your next great binge-watch.
Best shows to stream on Netflix
Hostage
In this high-stakes political thriller, Suranne Jones stars as Abigail Dalton, the newly elected British Prime Minister whose tenure begins with a crisis. While on a medical mission in French Guiana, her husband is kidnapped, sparking an international incident. The kidnappers issue an unthinkable demand directly to Abigail: to save her husband, she must resign as Prime Minister. This forces her into a difficult choice between her duty to protect her country and her desire to save her family.
The Four Seasons
This witty comedy from Tina Fey is a modern reimagining of the classic 1981 Alan Alda film. The series follows three long-time married couples whose seasonal holiday tradition is thrown into chaos when one of the men (Steve Carell) announces he’s leaving his wife (Kerri Kenney-Silver). The entire group’s dynamic is upended, forcing them all to navigate the shifting nature of friendship and marriage.
Untamed
Eric Bana stars in this new mystery thriller as Kyle Turner, a special agent for the National Parks Service. While hunting a killer in the vast wilderness of Yosemite National Park, Turner’s investigation becomes a collision course with dark secrets from his own past and within the park itself. From creators Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith, this limited series explores the blurred lines between hunter and hunted in a setting where danger lurks just beyond the scenery.
Best shows to stream on BritBox
Absolutely Fabulous
This iconic British comedy stars Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley as Edina ‘Eddy’ Monsoon and Patsy Stone, two high-powered, hard-partying friends in London's fashion and PR world. Fueled by Bollinger champagne and a desperate desire to stay hip, the self-obsessed duo chase trends and fads with disastrous results. Their hedonistic lifestyle is a constant source of horror for Eddy's sensible, long-suffering daughter Saffron (Julia Sawalha), who acts as the disapproving adult in their chaotic lives.
Broadchurch
This critically acclaimed crime drama follows the investigation into a young boy's murder in a small coastal town. The series, which became a national phenomenon in the UK, stars David Tennant as the abrasive DI Alec Hardy and Olivia Colman in her BAFTA-winning role as the empathetic DS Ellie Miller. As their investigation unfolds under a national media frenzy, the community is torn apart by suspicion. The show received universal acclaim and won the BAFTA for Best Drama Series.
Emma
This four-part BBC adaptation brings Jane Austen’s classic novel to life, starring Romola Garai as the clever and beautiful Emma Woodhouse. Confident in her matchmaking skills, Emma meddles in the love lives of her friends with often disastrous and hilarious results. While there have been a few Emma reimaginings made, this version brings a new level of insight into one of Austen’s most beloved characters.
Best shows to stream on Stan
Bump
This hit Stan Original comedy-drama centers on Oly Chalmers-Davis (Nathalie Morris), an ambitious, high-achieving student with her future perfectly planned out. Her life is spectacularly derailed when she collapses at school and gives birth, having had no idea she was pregnant. The father is fellow student Santi Hernandez (Carlos Sanson Jr.), and the two teenagers, along with their messy and complicated families, must learn to navigate the challenges of unexpected parenthood and forging a new kind of modern family.
Ten Pound Poms
Set in 1956, this acclaimed series follows a group of Brits as they leave a dreary, post-war Britain for a new life in Australia. Lured by the promise of sun, opportunity, and a better quality of life under the Ten Pound Pom scheme, they are instead confronted with the harsh reality of migrant life in a new country. The series charts their struggles as they grapple with poor living conditions in hostels, local prejudice, and their own personal secrets, testing their dreams of a promised land.
Black Snow
This atmospheric Stan Original crime drama stars Travis Fimmel as cold-case detective James Cormack. The series is set in a small North Queensland town, where the 1994 murder of 17-year-old Isabel Baker has remained unsolved for 25 years. When a high school time capsule is opened, it unearths a letter from Isabel that provides new clues and casts suspicion on members of her tight-knit community. Cormack must unravel a web of long-buried secrets to find justice.
Best shows to stream on Amazon Prime Video
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Based on the bestselling book trilogy by Jenny Han, this hit coming-of-age series follows teenager Isabel ‘Belly’ Conklin during her idyllic annual summer holidays at Cousins Beach. The trip is a tradition with her mother's best friend and her two sons: the brooding Conrad and the charming Jeremiah. Over several summers, Belly finds herself navigating a complicated love triangle with both brothers, exploring the highs and lows of first love, friendship, and heartbreak as she grows up.
Ballard
This crime drama, adapted from Michael Connelly's novels, has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It centers on Detective Renée Ballard, who is tasked with reviving the LAPD's neglected and underfunded cold case division, diving into the city's most difficult forgotten crimes. Her pursuit of justice for decades-old victims, however, points to a dangerous conspiracy deep within her own department. To navigate the truth, she must form an uneasy alliance with the legendary retired detective, Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver).
A Very English Scandal
Based on a true story, this acclaimed drama stars Hugh Grant as Jeremy Thorpe, the charismatic and ambitious leader of the British Liberal Party in the 1960s. Thorpe harbours a secret that could destroy his career: his past affair with the younger, unstable Norman Scott (Ben Whishaw) at a time when homosexuality was illegal. As Thorpe’s political star rises, his increasingly desperate attempts to silence Scott escalate from blackmail to a bungled murder plot, culminating in a trial that scandalized the nation.
Best shows to stream on BINGE
Brilliant Minds
Brilliant Minds follows neurologist Oliver Wolf at Bronx General Hospital as he tackles rare and baffling cases inspired by Oliver Sacks’ writings. With a troubled past and a team of eager residents, Wolf navigates complex medical mysteries while confronting personal demons and reconnecting with his estranged father.
Revival
In Wausau, Wisconsin, the dead mysteriously return to life on Revival Day. As the town reels from the shock, Officer Dana Cypress investigates a brutal murder where both the living and the resurrected are suspects. Her sister Em, now a Reviver, searches for answers behind the phenomenon. Supernatural horror meets noir mystery in this eerie, character-driven thriller.
The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer
In 1968, two teenage girls vanish from a beach party in Cape Rock. Decades later, a teacher obsessed with the cold case is murdered while writing a book about it. Her death revives the mystery, and Brett Colby, a seasoned barrister, returns to court to defend the accused. Secrets unravel as the jury confronts past traumas and buried truths.
Best shows to stream on Apple TV+
Platonic
This comedy series stars Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen as a pair of former college best friends who reconnect in their forties. Sylvia (Byrne) is a happily married mother, while Will (Rogen) is newly divorced and navigating a midlife crisis. After a long falling out, their friendship resumes with a manic intensity that hilariously upends their lives and alarms their partners and friends. The series is a chaotic exploration of whether men and women can maintain a truly platonic friendship without destabilizing everything around them.
Slow Horses
Based on Mick Herron’s acclaimed novels, this darkly comedic spy thriller follows a team of disgraced MI5 agents who have been exiled for their career-ending mistakes. They work out of Slough House, a dingy administrative purgatory led by the brilliant but slovenly and misanthropic Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman). These ‘slow horses’ are expected to quit from sheer boredom, but they frequently stumble into dangerous conspiracies, forcing them to outwit the mainstream intelligence service in their own dysfunctional way.
Chief of War
Jason Momoa co-creates and stars in this epic historical drama that tells the story of the unification and colonization of Hawaiʻi from an indigenous perspective. Set in the late 18th century, the limited series follows Kaʻiana (Momoa), a warrior chief who has traveled the world and returns to a land rife with conflict. He becomes a pivotal figure in the brutal and bloody war to unite the warring islands under the rule of Kamehameha the Great.
Best shows to stream on Disney+
Alien Earth
Alien Earth is a sci-fi horror series set two years before the original Alien film. When the spaceship Maginot crashes on Earth, a hybrid woman named Wendy and a team of tactical soldiers uncover a terrifying threat. As cybernetic humans, AI synths, and consciousness-transferred hybrids clash, the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.
Limitless
Chris Hemsworth pushes his body and mind to the edge in this high-concept docuseries. Guided by scientists and wellness experts, he tackles extreme challenges—from icy plunges to memory tests—to uncover secrets to longevity, resilience, and strength. Each episode explores a different aspect of human potential, blending science, adventure, and personal growth.
Abbott Elementary
At a struggling public school in West Philadelphia, idealistic second-grade teacher Janine Teagues leads a group of passionate educators who battle budget cuts, mismanagement, and chaos. Despite an inept principal and daily challenges, the staff remain committed to helping their students thrive. This mockumentary-style sitcom blends heart and humour with sharp social commentary.
Best shows to stream on Paramount+
Dexter: Resurrection
A new chapter in the Dexter saga, this series is a direct sequel to the events of Dexter: New Blood. The show follows Dexter's son, Harrison Morgan (Jack Alcott), as he flees to New York City after the shocking death of his father. Now on his own, Harrison must grapple with the bloody legacy he inherited and the violent 'Dark Passenger' that dwells within him. The series will explore whether Harrison can control his innate darkness or if he is doomed to follow in his father's murderous footsteps.
The Gilded Age
From Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, this historical drama is a lavish spectacle of wealth, ambition, and witty social warfare set in 1880s New York City. The series is known for its spectacular costumes and grand sets, creating opulent escapism for viewers. The plot follows young Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) as she enters the world of her old-money aunts (Christine Baranski and Cynthia Nixon) and is caught in a conflict with their new-money neighbors, the ruthlessly ambitious Russell family.
Landman
Set in the booming oil fields of West Texas, this modern-day drama is a story of fortune-seeking in a rough-and-tumble world. From Taylor Sheridan, the co-creator of Yellowstone, the series follows the ambitious men and women looking to strike it rich in the high-stakes world of oil rigs. Starring Billy Bob Thornton, Demi Moore, and Jon Hamm, the show explores the clash of oil tycoons and desperate wildcatters, delving into a world of greed, ambition, and the harsh consequences of chasing a fortune.
Best shows to stream on HBO Max
The Pitt
Set in a chaotic Pittsburgh emergency room, The Pitt follows Dr. Michael ‘Robby’ Robinavitch and his team through a single 15-hour shift. Each episode captures one hour of high-stakes trauma care, staff shortages, and emotional strain. As new interns and med students join the fray, they face the brutal realities of medicine under pressure, guided by Robby and a resilient crew of ER veterans.
Peacemaker
After surviving The Suicide Squad, jingoistic mercenary Chris Smith—aka Peacemaker—returns for a new mission with a covert ops team. As he battles enemies and confronts his troubled past, Peacemaker’s warped sense of justice collides with unexpected emotional depth. Packed with dark humour, action, and hair metal, this HBO Max series dives into the psyche of a reluctant antihero.
And Just Like That
Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte return to navigate life, love, and friendship in their 50s. Set 11 years after Sex and the City 2, the series explores evolving relationships, personal reinvention, and modern challenges in New York City. With new faces and familiar drama, the women confront change with humour, heart, and resilience.
