Netflix’s Rapid Rise: 10 Landmark Series That Made Streaming TV a Global Powerhouse

Netflix’s transformation from a DVD-by-mail service to a streaming giant was powered by original series that revolutionised television, changed viewing habits, and drove subscriber growth worldwide. The platform’s early hits established binge-watching, showcased global storytelling, and turned Netflix into the most influential entertainment brand of the last decade.

Netflix’s evolution aligned with its ten foundational series, each representing a strategic leap that redefined TV for a global audience. By releasing entire seasons at once, investing in non-English-language and ambitious genre series, and backing bold creators, Netflix built its market dominance between 2013 and 2021. Below is a breakdown of the shows that led this revolution, with detailed data, context, and impact statements for each series.

The 10 Breakthrough Netflix Originals That Changed Streaming

• Stranger Things (2016— )
  • Direct Impact: Helped define the streaming era’s sci-fi horror genre with a blend of 1980s nostalgia, supernatural storytelling, and a strong ensemble cast.
  • Notable Fact: Premiered in 2016, Stranger Things “quickly became one of Netflix’s defining originals, launching young stars and becoming a pop culture staple.”
  • IMDb Rating: 9.1/10
  • Key Contributors: Created by Matt and Ross Duffer; cast includes Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler).
  • Lasting Legacy: Proved Netflix could create “franchise-level television with lasting appeal,” driving global subscriber engagement and sustaining fandom over several seasons.
• Squid Game (2021— )
  • Global Phenomenon: A South Korean thriller series became the most-talked-about Netflix launch within weeks of release, reaching No. 1 in 94 countries.
  • Cultural Impact: “Squid Game’s success marked a turning point for Netflix’s international programming, proving that global series could dominate mainstream conversation.”
  • IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
  • Creator: Hwang Dong-hyuk
  • Notable Cast: Lee Jung-jae (Seong Gi-hun), Wi Ha-jun (Hwang Jun-ho)
  • Business Outcome: Reinforced Netflix’s commitment to Korean content and demonstrated its unique scale in distributing and popularising international hits.
• Money Heist (La Casa de Papel, 2017–2021)
  • International Breakout: Spanish crime thriller acquired and rebranded by Netflix, quickly achieving global cult status.
  • Key Point: “Money Heist’s popularity helped reshape viewing habits and expanded Netflix’s reach across markets, making it a foundational example of the platform’s global dominance.”
  • IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
  • Showrunner: Álex Pina
  • Significance: Proved to Netflix that non-English titles could drive mass viewership, influencing a major pivot toward international originals.
• The Crown (2016–2023)
  • Prestige Period Drama: Chronicled the reign of Queen Elizabeth II with high-budget production and critical acclaim.
  • Critical Acclaim: Cited as a demonstration that “streaming platforms could sustain long-running, award-winning dramas with cinematic ambition.”
  • IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
  • Notable Cast: Claire Foy, Olivia Colman
  • Impact: Reinforced Netflix’s commitment to quality and production value on par with traditional cable prestige programming.
• Bridgerton (2020— )
  • Wide Appeal: Regency-era romance produced by Shonda Rhimes quickly became “one of the platform’s most-talked-about originals.”
  • IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
  • Key Cast: Jonathan Bailey, Simone Ashley, Ruth Gemmell
  • Business Strategy: Showed Netflix’s capability to blend modern sensibilities with historical drama, expanding reach to global and especially female-led audiences.
• Black Mirror (2016 as Netflix Original)
  • Disruptive Anthology: Acquired in its third season, “quickly became one of the platform’s most recognisable titles” due to its dystopian, tech-focused themes.
  • IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
  • Showrunner: Charlie Brooker
  • Original Edge: Reinforced Netflix’s role in “elevating existing properties and turning them into international phenomena.”
• Narcos (2015–2017)
  • Authentic Crime Epic: Bilingual drama centred on drug kingpin Pablo Escobar; key step in international expansion.
  • IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
  • Quote: “Narcos has been one of the platform’s biggest hits over the past decade, spawning spinoffs and critical acclaim.”
  • Impact: “Its success proved audiences would embrace multilingual shows.”
• 13 Reasons Why (2017–2020)
  • Controversial Teen Drama: Adaptation of the Jay Asher novel, addressed difficult topics and sparked debate.
  • Result: “It became a major cultural moment for Netflix, drawing significant attention and viewership.”
  • IMDb Rating: 8/10
  • Role: Showed Netflix’s ability to “dominate young adult TV and generate global attention.”
• Orange Is The New Black (2013–2019)
  • Comedy-Drama Trailblazer: Based on Piper Kerman’s memoir, set in a women’s prison; debuted the same year as House of Cards (2013).
  • Diversity Model: “Its success showed that unconventional premises and diverse storytelling could drive sustained viewership.”
  • IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
  • Significance: Pioneered long-running, inclusive programming, solidifying Netflix’s bold identity.
• House of Cards (2013–2018)
  • First Prestige Original: American political drama starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright; Netflix’s first major original drama.
  • Pivotal Moment: “House of Cards helped establish Netflix as a serious player in original content.”
  • IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
  • Lasting Value: Validated release of full-season drops, proving binge-watching could sustain a global audience, and that streaming could attract top-tier talent.

Netflix’s Strategy: The Building Blocks of Streaming Supremacy

The data reveals that Netflix’s core strategy has depended on “identifying gaps left by traditional networks, offering shows that felt riskier, more serialised, and designed for long-term engagement rather than weekly sampling.” Providing unbroken access to complex narratives, Netflix shaped audience behaviour and gradually shifted the global industry standard to all-at-once season releases.

• Binge-Friendly Formats: “By releasing full seasons at once, Netflix fundamentally changed viewing habits, encouraging audiences to immerse themselves completely in a story rather than wait week to week.”
• International Ambitions: Investments in “Money Heist” and “Squid Game” signalled that “non-English-language series could become worldwide hits,” inspiring a wave of localised content tailored for global audiences.
• Genre and Talent Diversity: The line-up above covers political drama, crime, romance, speculative fiction, horror, and comedy, each produced or acquired specifically to draw in new demographics and foster loyal engagement.
• Audience Engagement: With shows that “embraced bold premises, controversial subject matter, and high-concept storytelling,” Netflix’s originals“ became cultural lightning rods while others quietly built loyal fanbases.”

Key Summary

• Strategy: Full-season releases shifted global viewing behaviour.
• Original Focus: Series like “Stranger Things,” “House of Cards,” and “Orange Is The New Black” defined prestige streaming in multiple genres.
• Internationalisation: Non-English hits like “Money Heist” and “Squid Game” proved the value of global content investment.
• Binge Model: The Netflix release model became the industry template, shaping both competitor strategy and user expectation.

Netflix’s early programming decisions not only catalysed massive subscriber growth but also “redefined what it meant to watch TV” for a global audience. Each landmark series captured a moment in the platform’s rise, collectively explaining how Netflix outpaced competitors and set new standards for the television industry.