TV shows by Black creators to watch on Netflix

Representation matters. It’s not enough for our favorite television shows to feature actors of color. We need representation behind the scenes as well, to ensure that the stories and experiences of underrepresented groups are being told with honesty, complexity, and respect.

Netflix’s bottomless library features many wonderful shows — from gripping dramas to fluffy comedies — created, produced, written, or directed by Black artists. The best way to lift these creatives up is to call out their names, so in no particular order, here’s a sampling of our favorite Netflix television shows with talented Black creators at their helm. Go forth and binge.

1. Top Boy

Credit: Netflix

Created by Ronan Bennett, Top Boy first aired in the UK from 2011 to 2013, originally set in the fictional Summerhouse public housing estate in East London, and drug dealers Dushane and Sully (Ashley Walters and Kane Robinson). Drake revived the show for Netflix alongside Adel Nur, Maverick Carter, and Jamal Henderson in 2019, with Walters and Robinson returning to their roles, and Lover’s Rock star Micheal Ward joining as new gang leader Jamie.

This meaty drama, which has been compared to HBO’s The Wire, is startlingly grounded, anchored by a young, talented cast that radiates with vulnerability. This is television at its best.

How to watch: Top Boy is streaming on Netflix.

2. Dear White People

Joelle Brooks (Ashley Blaine Featherson) and Samantha White (Logan Browning).
Credit: Netflix

Created by Justin Simien and based on the award-winning film he wrote and directed, Dear White People follows a group of Black college students as they navigate the highs and lows of attending an Ivy League school. The show contains humor and drama in equal measure, examining systemic racism at Winchester College with grace, insight, and a sharp wit. With Simien himself writing and directing many of the episodes, and featuring one of the best soundtracks on Netflix, it’s no wonder that this clever and endearing show is beloved by audiences and critics alike.

How to watch: Dear White People is streaming on Netflix.

3. When They See Us

Credit: Netflix

The most culturally significant project Netflix released in 2019, Ava DuVernay’s When They See Us revisits the case of the Central Park Five in excruciating detail. Examining the wrongful convictions of five Black and Latino men — Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise — for rape in 1989 (for which they would be exonerated over a decade later) this poignant true-crime miniseries offers a heart-wrenching look at the ongoing flaws in our justice system. A powerful watch, When They See Us highlights the insidious biases that plague our society and the vulnerable people put at risk.* — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: When They See Us is streaming on Netflix.

4. Family Reunion

Credit: Netflix

Meg DeLoatch, a former Family Matters producer, created this bright and lovable sitcom about a family from Seattle who moves to Georgia to be closer to their relatives. Tia Mowry shines as Cocoa McKellan, a mother of four doing her best to make the right choices for her family. A sweet, endearing, G-rated comedy, Family Reunion mines many of its laughs from family discord, but the love between these characters is palpable and deep.

How to watch: Family Reunion is streaming on Netflix.

5. Bookmarks

Jesse Collins Entertainment has teamed up with #1000BlackGirlBooks founder Marley Dias, children’s media consultant Kevin A. Clark, and showrunner Fracaswell Hyman for Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices. Much like Reading Rainbow, Bookmarks features readings of kid’s books, but here, all the readers are Black celebrities, like Tiffany Haddish, Lupita Nyong’o, and Common, and all the books are written by Black authors. This absolutely delightful show seeks to bring more light to stories that showcase the Black experience.

How to watch: Bookmarks is streaming on Netflix.

6. She’s Gotta Have It

Nola Darling (DeWanda Wise) and Mars Blackmon (Anthony Ramos).
Credit: Netflix

Spike Lee’s Netflix series inspired by his 1986 film may have been canned after two seasons, She’s Gotta Have It should be on your list. Joining happily nonmonogamous protagonist Nola Darling (DeWanda Wise) in her daily experiences juggling sex, dating, friendship, politics, misogyny, and making art in Brooklyn comes with one exceptional soundtrack — this is a Spike Lee joint, after all.* — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

How to watch: She’s Gotta Have It is now streaming on Netflix.

7. Yasuke

Credit: Netflix

This LeSean Thomas original anime series is inspired by the story of Yasuke, a real-life 16th-century Black samurai. Through flashbacks, we piece together the events that led Yasuke (LaKeith Stanfield) to abandon his warrior’s life and hole up in a small town. In the present, after years of solitude, impending danger forces him to once again pick up his katana. Set in a mystical feudal Japan, and elevated by a fresh soundtrack from Flying Lotus, this alternate reality story of an actual historical figure is moody, well-paced, and engrossing. Though far too heavy and gory for kids, Yasuke is a cool treat for those adults who love anti-heroes and stunning sword fights.*

How to watch: Yasuke is streaming on Netflix.

8. Zero

Written by Italian author Antonio Dikele Distefano, Zero is a fresh take on the superhero genre. Omar, the son of Senegalese immigrants, lives in public housing on the outskirts of Milan and has a secret: He can become invisible. A relatively shy kid, Omar’s powers are based on his emotions. Whenever he feels something intensely, he vanishes. What’s different from other superhero stories is that in Zero, the main villain is not some crazed megalomaniac but the poverty and gentrification affecting the area where Omar lives.

How to watch: Zero is streaming on Netflix.

9. JIVA!

Cheeeeese!
Credit: Neo Baepi

You’ve got to love a dance drama, and Netflix’s latest series will have you up out of your seat. Created by showrunner Busisiwe Ntintili (Intersexions and Happiness is a Four Letter Word), JIVA! hinges around dancer Ntombi (Noxolo Dlamini), who juggles working at a cheesy marine park and taking care of her family in Umlazi, Durban in South Africa. As the fifth annual Jiva Loxion Dance Competition looms, Ntombi gathers her friends to practice hard and compete for the title. — S.C.

How to watch: JIVA! is now streaming on Netflix.

10. All American

When a South LA high school football player is recruited to play for Beverly Hills High, his world is turned upside down. Based on the life of actual NFL linebacker Spencer Paysinger, All American is a compelling, satisfying drama with an absolutely stellar cast. Taye Diggs sparkles as the head coach at Beverly Hills High, and Daniel Ezra expertly handles his breakout role as the star wide receiver with complete confidence. All American is led by showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll and regularly features Black writers and directors like Benny Boom, Dawn Wilkinson, Kevin Rodney Sullivan, Jameal Turner, Cam’ron Moore, and many more.

How to watch: All American is streaming on Netflix.

11. Everything Now

Credit: Netflix / Left Bank

After a stay at a rehabilitation facility for disordered eating, 16-year-old Mia (Sophie Wilde) is so excited to get back to teen life she makes a “F*ck It Bucket List” of debaucherous activities to make up for time lost. Sex, drugs, partying — she wants to do everything. Now. Ripley Parker’s stunningly confident debut series is about healing, mental health, sexuality, queerness, and more, but it never makes any of these heavy topics a clunky PSA or defining plot point. Instead, we explore these subjects through the characters’ experiences, without need for larger commentary. The result is a sexy, smart, and sophisticated teen comedy-drama that will make you laugh, cry, and click “next episode.”

How to watch: Everything Now is now streaming on Netflix. 

12. Colin in Black & White

Credit: Netflix

In a searing delivery straight to camera, Colin Kaepernick opens his limited series by comparing the dehumanizing process of the NFL Combine, where athletes show off their physical prowess to NFL scouts, to the 19th-century slave auctions, where Black bodies were also inspected and analyzed as products, not people. From there, Kaepernick steps off screen to narrate as we witness his teenage self experience the events that led him to become an activist as an adult. Colin in Black & White is not like any other show you’ve seen before. Created by Kaepernick and Ava DuVernay, this captivating, genre-pushing drama series will force you to confront harsh truths while you root for young Colin, searching for his place in the world. 

How to watch: Colin in Black & White is now streaming on Netflix. 

13. Supacell

Credit: Olly Courtney / Netflix

A hell of a refreshing take on the modern superhero genre, Supacell was one of the more anticipated British shows on Netflix this year. We’d been waiting for showrunner, creator, and director Rapman’s, aka Andrew Onwubolu, series for an age — and the result was an absolute banger of a first season. Set in South London, Supacell sees five strangers — Michael (Tosin Cole), Sabrina (Nadine Mills), Andre (Eric Kofi Abrefa), Rodney (Calvin Demba), and Tazer (Josh Tedeku) — suddenly land superpowers, all while dealing with complications in their own lives. With powerful performances, impressive special effects, and a timely mystery at the show’s core, Supacell leaned on realism for a unique take on the genre while turning stereotypes on their head.* — Shannon Connellan, U.K. Editor

How to watch: Supacell is now streaming on Netflix. 

14. From Scratch

Credit: Aaron Epstein / Netflix

Zoe Saldaña has spent much of the last few years in green makeup (for Guardians of the Galaxy) or in a motion-capture suit (for Avatar). But in this beautiful, heart-wrenching adaptation of Tembi Locke’s memoir, Zoe Saldaña is just a human in love — and it is captivating. 

As Amy, Saldaña travels to Florence to study art against her father’s advice. There she meets Lino, Eugenio Mastrandrea in an electric and swoon-worthy performance as a passionate Sicilian chef who is all in on Amy with his first glance. After a few false starts, a profoundly moving romance ensues, and we watch the pair’s love grow and evolve as life throws challenges their way. From Scratch (created by Tembi and Attica Locke) is enthralling in its intensity, boasts a stellar cast (Danielle Deadwyler, Keith David, Giacomo Gianniotti, and more), and luxuriates in its gorgeous shots of food. You will fall in love with this couple and simply will not be able to stop watching or move on with your life until you find out how their story ends.* 

How to watch: From Scratch is now streaming on Netflix. 

15. Champion

Credit: Netflix

Bosco Champion (Malcolm Kamulete) is an up-and-coming rap artist in South London with his career ahead of him. He couldn’t have found such success without the hard work of his sister, Vita (Déja J. Bowens), who manages his career, writes his songs, coaches him through his panic attacks, and more. But Vita also has dreams… and when she has the chance to record her own music, she seizes it, risking her relationship with her brother and family to take her shot. Created by Candice Carty-Williams (Queenie), Champion is a moody music drama with slick performances, astute social commentary, and of course, a fantastic soundtrack.

How to watch: Champion is now streaming on Netflix. 

16. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story

Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is a lavish, ebullient triumph, and further evidence that Shonda Rhimes just doesn’t miss. Delving into the personal history of the tragic, impulsive, and steely queen we know and love from Bridgerton Seasons 1 and 2, we watch a young girl transform into a formidable monarch — and fall in love along the way. The costumes are sumptuous, the drama juicy, and the romance slow-burning. It checks all the boxes while still making space for a thread of sadness that lends gravitas and complexity to the entire Bridgerton world. An ambitious and beautiful show that fully earns its shining crown as Netflix’s newest darling.*

How to watch: Queen Charlotte is now streaming on Netflix.

17. Blood and Water

Credit: Netflix

When high schooler Puleng (Ama Qamata) suspects a popular teen from another school is the sister who was kidnapped from her family as a baby, Puleng stops at nothing, even transferring to a new school, to get to the truth. Investigation becomes fixation, and Puleng finds there’s more to this mystery than she ever could have guessed. Created by Nosipho Dumisa-Ngoasheng, Blood and Water is a moody, suspenseful teen crime drama from South Africa that has rightfully garnered attention from the likes of Gabrielle Union and Lil Nas X. And now it’s your turn!!

How to watch: Blood and Water is now streaming on Netflix.

18. Bridgerton

Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

Do you want your period romances to have a little less pomp and a little more sex? Shonda Rimes is here for you. A Regency romance filled with classical pop covers, Bridgerton hinges around the titular family, which has a plethora of kids approaching marrying age. Season 1 follows the eldest daughter Daphne’s (Phoebe Dynevor) debut and subsequent love story, while Season 2 sees her brother Anthony (‎An absolute cad! A veritable rake! Played by ‎Jonathan Bailey!) attempt to find himself a suitable wife. All these matches happen under the watchful, indomitable eye of Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel), who herself earned a spectacular spinoff in 2023, and the judgmental commentary of anonymous gossip columnist Lady Whistledown (voiced by Julie Andrews).

Based on Julia Quinn’s popular novels, Bridgerton has all the trappings of a sweeping period romance: suppressed emotions, longing glances, oppressive societal expectations, gorgeous costumes, and dance scenes dripping with hidden meaning. But it adds to the mix a refreshingly modern sexual intimacy and a cheerful willingness to pander — and that’s what makes it so completely irresistible.*

How to watch: Bridgerton is now streaming on Netflix.

19. Insecure

Credit: Merie W. Wallace / HBO

Issa Rae’s whip-smart comedy-drama Insecure is easily one of the best TV series of the recent era. The characters are fresh and fully realized, the plots are relatable and engrossing, the tone is honest and biting, and the cast? Simply spectacular. Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, and Jay Ellis’ careers have skyrocketed since Insecure debuted in 2016, and after watching one episode, you’ll understand why. The actors and script support each other in such a natural, organic way you’ll forget you’re watching TV and feel like you’re checking in with your old friends. Insecure is centered around the friendship between Issa and Molly (Orji) as they navigate careers, relationships, and the unique stressors found in your late 20s. If you somehow have missed this cultural touchstone, take this as your cue: Watch Insecure now!

How to watch: Insecure is now streaming on Netflix.

20. Queen Sono

Queen Sono (Pearl Thusi) is the daughter of an anti-apartheid freedom fighter and a top secret agent for the Special Operations Group, a South African intelligence agency. She deftly carries out dangerous undercover spy missions, all while secretly working to solve the mystery of her mother’s assassination. Kagiso Lediga’s Queen Sono is a stylish spy thriller with juicy relationships and fun action sequences. Everything you need for a great time!

How to watch: Queen Sono is now streaming on Netflix.

21. First Wives Club

A BET+ reboot of the beloved 1996 film, First Wives Club follows the same formula as its predecessor: A group of women reconnect after being let down by the men in their lives and find a new sense of self and purpose through their friendship. Michelle Buteau, Jill Scott, and Ryan Michelle Bathe each sparkle as Bri, Hazel, and Ari, with a lived-in mutual affection that leaps off the screen. It’s a warm, funny, comforting watch that will make you want to call your friends just to say hey.

How to watch: First Wives Club is now streaming on Netflix.

Asterisks (*) indicate the entry comes from another Mashable streaming list.

UPDATE: Jan. 29, 2025, 3:07 p.m. EST This list was first published on May 28, 2022. It has been updated to reflect current streaming options.