Beef scored very highly with the audience (Picture: ANDREW COOPER/NETFLIX)
When it comes to choosing between the endless list of movies and TV shows available on streaming platforms, thousands of viewers turn to Rotten Tomatoes for some much-needed guidance.
The film and TV ratings website provides an official judgement from its experts using its ‘Tomatometer’, and also lets us amateurs give our opinions to create an average audience score.
The site has become so trusted among its loyal fans that it now wields the power to make and break multi-million dollar productions overnight.
So as the year comes to a close, let’s do a countdown of the top 10 Netflix shows of 2023 according to Rotten Tomatoes and see what we should start binging immediately…
10. The Diplomat
The political drama divided the Rotten Tomatoes experts and those watching at home (Picture: Netflix)
Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) is the United State’s newly-appointed ambassador to the United Kingdom who faces a battle to balance the high-pressure role amid the backdrop of an international crisis while also trying to keep her turbulent marriage on course.
Although this one scored highly with the Rotten Tomatoes experts and sneaked into their top 10 of the year, it received a far more mixed reaction from the armchair critics at home.
Average Tomatometer: 83%
Average audience score: 51%
9. The Fall of the House of Usher
The drama is full of dark twists (Picture: EIKE SCHROTER/NETFLIX)
Two siblings, Roderick (Bruce Greenwood) and Madeline Usher (Mary McDonnell) have built a pharmaceutical company into a global empire – but secrets are revealed when the heirs to the business start dying.
Rotten Tomatoes critic Leila Latif said: ‘Mike Flanagan’s final Netflix offering is a spooky, grisly, sumptuously gothic treat.’
Average Tomatometer: 90%
Average audience score: 80%
8) Beckham
The series gives a behind-the-scenes look at the rise of David Beckham (Picture: Netflix)
A documentary following the ups and downs of David Beckham, from his career on the football pitch as England captain and Galactico, to life off it as a husband, dad and global brand.
The four-part series was a hit on both Rotten Tomatoes ratings, with critic Matt Neal writing: ‘The highs are remarkable and the lows even more stunning… it makes for a heady combination of glamour and glory.’
Average Tomatometer: 91%
Average audience score: 96%
7. You
Be prepared to be creeped out (Picture: Netflix)
A bookstore manager’s crush on an aspiring writer quickly becomes an obsession that spirals into dark places with devastating consequences. Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) uses any means necessary to get what he wants, removing anything – and anyone – who gets in the way.
The series first hit our screens in 2018 and became an overnight sensation, with the fourth series being released on Netflix earlier this year.
Average Tomatometer: 91%
Average audience score: 73%
6. Sex Education
The growing relationship between Adam Groff and his father Michael is a fan favourite (Picture: Samuel Taylor/Netflix)
High school student Otis (Asa Butterfield) may not have had much romantic experience himself, but it doesn’t stop him setting up a business dishing out advice to his fellow pupils using the knowledge he’s picked up from his sex therapist mum, played by the brilliant Gillian Anderson.
The final series, released in September, offers a bittersweet farewell and finds success in pushing characters like Adam Groff (Connor Swindells) and Ruby Matthews (Mimi Keene) to centre stage.
Average Tomatometer: 94%
Average audience score: 78%
5. Transatlantic
The incredible story is based on real-life events (Picture: Netflix)
Inspired by a true story, an international gang of young superheroes risk their lives to save refugees – many on the Nazi’s most-wanted list – from occupied France.
Critic Joanne Laurier said: ‘The creators have chosen to set a story of determined opposition to cruelty and authoritarianism at one of the most tragic moments in history. The series brings out some of the worst in humanity and some of its best.’
Average Tomatometer: 95%
Average audience score: 77%
4. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Golda Rosheuvel appears as Queen Charlotte in the hit series (Picture: LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX)
Chronicling the young queen’s marriage to King George of England, the show follows the young couple’s epic love story as it transforms high society.
Rotten Tomatoes said: ‘A resplendent romance between two of the most interesting characters in the Bridgerton saga, Queen Charlotte is a spin-off that arguably perfects the primary series’ formula.’
Average Tomatometer: 95%
Average audience score: 73%
3. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
The animation follows the success of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Picture: Netflix)
Following the success of the original film, Scott Pilgrim becomes animation to tell the story of a young musician’s attempts to fend off an army of his new love interest’s ex-boyfriends.
Critic Rohan Naahar said: ‘Nothing — not the marketing material, the disarmingly familiar opening episode, even the much-publicised decision to get each cast member from the live-action movie to return — can prepare you for the sheer burst of originality that you’re in for.’
Average Tomatometer: 96%
Average audience score: 86%
2. Heartstopper
The show makes it to number two on the list (Picture: Rachel Lightsey)
Teen Charlie (Joe Locke) finds himself growing closer to his classmate Nick (Kit Connor), a popular school rugby hero – but their unlikely connection blossoms into something more as they attempt to navigate school bullies, friendships, and love.
Season two, released in August, has been hailed ‘as heartwarming and wonderful as the first series’ as the young couple deal with the obstacles that come with making their relationship public.
Average Tomatometer: 98%
Average audience score: 96%
1. Beef
And the winner is… (Picture: ANDREW COOPER/NETFLIX)
Topping the charts for the best show on Netflix in 2023 is Beef. The 10-parter follows perfect strangers Amy Lau (Ali Wong) and Daniel Cho (Steven Yeun) who go to extreme lengths to enact revenge on each other after being involved in a road rage incident.
Rotten Tomatoes said: ‘Ali Wong and Steven Yeun are a diabolically watchable pair of adversaries in Beef, a prime cut comedy that finds the pathos in pettiness.’
So, if you haven’t seen it yet, put it straight to the top of your list.
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Here’s all the series worth a proper binge.