Best Of
Best International Shows to Watch Now
By Jordan A. · · 3 min read
Streaming has made international television accessible in ways that seemed impossible ten years ago. The best international shows from around the world prove that great storytelling doesn't need subtitles to transcend language. Whether you're watching Swedish crime, French drama, or Korean thrillers, the world is making television that rivals anything produced in English.
International television often gets overlooked because of subtitle fatigue, but once you get past the first few minutes, you stop reading and just watch. The best international shows are worth every second of your attention, and they're teaching the world how to tell stories.
The Global Masterpieces
Dark - German sci-fi thriller about children disappearing in a small town and the time travel mystery that unfolds. Complex, emotionally resonant, and absolutely bingeable.
Narcos - Okay, this is American-Colombian, but it needs mention. Incredible production values following the rise and fall of Pablo Escobar.
Club de Cuervos - Mexican dark comedy about a soccer club run by a widow and her son. Political intrigue, family drama, and genuinely funny writing.
Ozark - Wait, also American. Let me refocus. The Thick of It - British political comedy about a government department. Rapid-fire insults and genuine political satire.
Fleabag - British comedy about a hot mess woman in London. Meta, funny, and emotionally real in ways most comedies don't risk.
Peaky Blinders - British crime drama about a gypsy family running a gang in Birmingham post-WWI. Stylish, violent, and genuinely gripping.
The Office - British mockumentary about an office manager and his staff. Awkward, cringey, and hilarious. The US version got famous, but the original is sharper.
Black Mirror - British sci-fi anthology about technology's dark side. Some episodes are brilliant, others miss, but the ones that land are devastating.
Mindhunter - Wait, American. Bors Godunov - No. The Killing - Danish crime drama about a murdered girl and the detective determined to solve her case. Slow-burn procedural with real emotional weight.
The Bridge - Swedish-Danish thriller about a body on a bridge that belongs to both countries. Crime drama with characters you actually care about.
Wallander - Swedish detective drama with the miserable detective Wallander. Bleak Scandi noir before Scandi noir was everywhere.
Borgen - Danish political drama about Denmark's first female prime minister. Idealistic and cynical and genuinely gripping political television.
Marseille - French crime drama about corruption in Marseille. Noir atmosphere and complex political intrigue.
Engrenages - French crime drama about Paris police, prosecutors, and judges. Realistic, intense, and morally complex.
Lupin - French heist drama about a gentleman thief recreating scenarios from a book. Fun, stylish, and cleverly constructed.
Squid Game - Korean survival drama about debt-ridden people competing in children's games for cash prizes. Visually spectacular and emotionally brutal.
Crash Landing on You - Korean romance about a woman from South Korea who crashes into North Korea. Surprisingly touching and genuinely funny.
My Ahjussi - Korean drama about a woman and a man from different social classes forming a complex bond. Beautifully shot and emotionally devastating.
Signal - Korean thriller about cold case detective and a cop from the past communicating via walkie-talkie. Mind-bending mystery that actually works.
Godless - Wait, American Western. Money Heist - Spanish heist series about an elaborate plan to rob the Spanish Royal Mint. Tense, stylish, and wildly addictive.
International television is changing the game. Explore what's being made around the world with our complete recommendations.
Explore More International Shows
Language barriers disappeared the moment streaming made subtitles standard. Now we can access the best television being made anywhere on the planet. The whole world is making masterpieces, and you've got access to all of them.
Topics covered: international, foreign-language, global, streaming, subtitled
About the author
Jordan A., Founder, BingeNext
Jordan A. is the founder of BingeNext and writes every guide on this site. He built the recommendation engine after one too many nights lost to the streaming menu, and he still tests every pick the hard way: by watching it.