These TV shows prove that not all adaptations disappoint fans of the source material. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 best live-action Netflix adaptations.
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00:00 "Draw the hats! All hands on deck for a cast-off ceremony!"
00:04 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10
00:09 best live-action Netflix adaptations.
00:12 We'll just be sticking to TV this time around.
00:15 We're looking at universally beloved works,
00:17 so divisive works like 'The Witcher' and 'Avatar' won't be included this time around.
00:22 Watch out for minor spoilers ahead.
00:25 "If you were interested in stories with happy endings,
00:28 then you would be better off somewhere else."
00:29 Number 10. 'Wednesday'
00:33 Nearly 60 years after the Addams Family was first adapted to live-action,
00:38 the kooky and spooky characters returned for a hit series.
00:42 Season 1 of the show mainly focused on Wednesday Addams,
00:45 as she tried to find a killer that hunted prey near a school for outcasts.
00:49 "We need to do this. Xavier didn't get those scratches from fencing. He's hiding something."
00:56 Despite its dark premise, the show still had the black comedy and
01:00 quirky characters that made the source material famous.
01:03 Jenna Ortega was particularly praised for her portrayal of the gloomy series' lead.
01:08 "You look..."
01:09 "Unrecognizable. Ridiculous. A classic example of female objectification for the male gaze."
01:15 Her strong performance and an extremely viral dance scene helped the show become
01:20 massively popular. Since Wednesday gets visions of the future,
01:24 maybe she can predict if the gothic series will continue to be a massive hit in the years to come.
01:30 "We both know that there's a monster out there. If we're going to stop it,
01:33 I think it's time we both put our differences aside and began to work together."
01:36 Number 9. 'All of Us Are Dead'
01:38 [Screaming]
01:48 Based on a South Korean webtoon, this horror series follows a group of students that are
01:54 forced to deal with a zombie outbreak. While there are plenty of great scares and action sequences,
01:59 the show's cast really shines. The actors make each of their characters so distinct and interesting,
02:06 that you really care whether they live, die, or become undead.
02:20 They all starred in a zombie drama that scared up millions of hours of viewership within just a
02:25 month. After making a strong debut, 'All of Us Are Dead' secured itself a second season on the
02:30 platform. We're willing to bet that fans will continue to run, not shamble towards more
02:36 installments of this zombie story.
02:38 Number 8. 'The Queen's Gambit'
02:45 "For Christ's sakes, Harry, it'll be check once the pawn moves and the knight trades.
02:49 Can't you see that?"
02:50 "No I can't, I can't find it that fast."
02:53 "Well, I wish you could."
02:55 How did a massive streaming service get general audiences interested in chess?
03:00 First, Netflix made the bold move of adapting 'The Queen's Gambit' novel.
03:05 Secondly, the streamer got the talented Anya Taylor-Joy to play an excellent chess player
03:10 who struggled with personal demons. Netflix also gave the series a limited run that lets the story
03:16 take its time to build up to a climactic final match without overstaying its welcome.
03:21 "Dick Evans from time, do you have a minute?"
03:22 "It depends. Will you put me on the cover?"
03:24 "Hmm, are you going to beat him?"
03:26 "I haven't made any mistakes so far."
03:27 "Neither has he."
03:29 The combination of an engrossing lead, unique subject matter, and perfect length led to a
03:34 series of massive wins for the platform. Not only did Anya Taylor-Joy earn a Golden Globe,
03:40 but Netflix won an Emmy for the series. Years later, 'Queen's Gambit' still stands as one of
03:46 the streamer's most beloved miniseries.
03:48 "So far, Elizabeth Harmon's proving to be the biggest attraction since the Youth Festival in
03:52 1957. Some in Moscow are even calling her an ambassador of sorts."
03:57 Number 7. Sweet Tooth
03:59 "There are no kids like me. I'm the only one left."
04:02 "That's what he told you?"
04:06 Within the world of 'Sweet Tooth,' human babies with animal characteristics were born around the
04:11 same time a virus devastated this world. This led many people to believe that the kids may be the
04:16 source of the Earth's problems. After everything falls apart, a 10-year-old hybrid named Gus
04:22 sets on a journey to see if he has any family left in this embattled world.
04:26 "How long are you going to follow me?"
04:28 "Til I get there, I guess."
04:30 "Til where?"
04:31 "Colorado. That's where she is."
04:34 "Who?"
04:35 "My mom."
04:35 The story takes cues from the more mature comics, while also adding lighter scenes.
04:40 It also became more poignant in the wake of the real-life 2020 pandemic.
04:45 Throughout its run, 'Sweet Tooth' received warm reviews and several awards. Its high quality and
04:51 resonance with modern times made it into a big treat for fans of the fantasy genre.
04:56 "Sorry I called you weird."
04:58 "It's okay. Sorry about all the dead people."
05:04 Number 6. The Sandman
05:06 "The dreams and nightmares no longer seem to recognize their master.
05:10 I will remind them and take from them what I require."
05:16 After decades of failed attempts to bring this fantasy to life,
05:19 fans got the adaptation of their dreams. The Sandman shows a world thrown out of balance
05:25 because the ruler of the sleeping realm was imprisoned for a century.
05:28 "And you have any idea what it was like? Confined in a cage for over a century."
05:34 "Do you understand the damage you've done to your world?"
05:40 Upon escaping from his jail, Morpheus journeys to reclaim what he's lost,
05:44 and to stop a terrible nightmare. Thanks to excellent production design,
05:49 viewers get scenes that look like they were ripped right out of the comics.
05:53 The Sandman also has an incredible ensemble cast that embodies and elevates beloved characters
05:58 from the original comics. When the show debuted, it quickly climbed the ranks and enjoyed a
06:04 three-week reign on the top of the most watched list. This Sandman adaptation was definitely worth
06:10 the wait. "I give you this, the gift of eternal sleep."
06:18 Number 5. Bridgerton
06:21 "For today is the day London's marriage-minded missus are presented to her majesty, the queen."
06:29 The romance genre got a big boost with the release of this steamy drama. Set in the 1800s,
06:35 the series follows members of the Bridgerton family trying to find love while dealing with
06:39 societal norms. Audiences were drawn in by the chemistry between the leads, period setting,
06:45 and strong performances. "If this is to work, you must appear madly in love."
06:50 "It is an absurd plan." "I find it quite brilliant."
06:53 After taking the world by storm in season one, the show soared to the top of the Netflix charts
06:58 when it returned in 2022. Bridgerton also picked up a number of Emmy nominations,
07:04 and managed to spawn a highly successful spinoff as well. At this rate, it doesn't seem like
07:09 anything can stop this romantic dynasty from continuing to rule the platform.
07:14 "What is it, your majesty?" "Edwina Sharma, my diamond.
07:18 It seems she will need to do more for me this season than simply sparkle."
07:24 Number 4. Alice in Borderland
07:27 "Game?" "Game. Live or die.
07:31 Difficulty. Club 3." "Club 3? What does that mean?"
07:38 A typical day for a trio of friends in Tokyo got turned upside down when they walked out into the
07:44 city and appeared to be the only ones left. To make matters stranger, they're then forced to
07:50 play high-stakes games in order to stay alive. The tense and mysterious atmosphere of the show
07:55 perfectly reflects the feel of the original manga series. Meanwhile, the actors deliver
08:00 outstanding performances that keep us invested in the outcome of each game.
08:21 Both viewers and critics showered the thriller with praise. Thanks to a strong debut,
08:26 Alice in Borderland was renewed for a second season just a few weeks after it arrived on Netflix.
08:31 Who knew that bringing this series into live action would be such a sure bet?
08:35 Number 3. A Series of Unfortunate Events
08:45 "My name is Lemony Snicket. It is my solemn duty to bring to light the sorry history of the
08:49 Baudelaire children as it happened so many years ago." While the thought of turning an iconic
08:54 children's series into a show sounds daunting, the creative team for A Series of Unfortunate
08:58 Events made it look easy. The show nimbly adapted 13 novels in just three seasons. It covered an
09:05 impressive amount of material without compromising any character development. Throughout the series,
09:10 the orphaned trio of Sunny, Klaus, and Violet each get to grow and accept their ever-changing lives.
09:17 "Our parents wanted us to be safe." "We don't know what they wanted. Not anymore. We don't know
09:22 why they were in Poultryville. We don't know why there are so many things they never told us.
09:24 But we do know how we remembered them." At the same time, Neil Patrick Harris constantly
09:31 entertained as the devious Count Olaf. They're all tied together in a narrative with an offbeat
09:36 tone that feels wonderfully fresh. During its run, the series got tons of rave reviews from
09:41 fans and critics. It's safe to say that fortune smiled upon this adaptation. "It's the end of the
09:47 season, um, semester, so you're gonna have to work very hard to catch up. It won't be easy,
09:51 but I promise you it will build character." Number two, The Umbrella Academy. "There are some among
09:58 us gifted with abilities far beyond the ordinary. I have adopted six such children." Upon hearing
10:07 that their guardian pseudo-father figure died, a family of extremely dysfunctional superheroes
10:13 reunited after years apart. Shortly after coming together, the students of The Umbrella Academy
10:18 learned that they must use their abilities to prevent the end of the world. "Ironically,
10:23 the six survivors of the apocalypse were the very siblings who brought it on."
10:27 The show wonderfully balanced big stakes with smaller scenes of family drama. Although the
10:32 heroes make lots of mistakes, all The Umbrella Academy students are incredibly lovable and
10:37 endearing. The stellar character arcs ensured that each of the powerful heroes felt human
10:42 throughout the show's run. Umbrella Academy managed to receive consistent critical acclaim
10:47 even after it went further than its source material had. And judging by its extraordinarily
10:52 high viewership numbers, audiences everywhere kept wanting to enroll in this superhero school.
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11:18 Number 1. One Piece. "I'm Monkey D. Lookie." "Never heard of you." "Well, remember the name,
11:25 because I'm gonna be King of the Pirates." Fans were incredibly skeptical that the large and
11:31 legendary story about a ragtag group of pirates could be properly adapted into live action.
11:36 Fortunately, all doubts were erased once this show set sail. Throughout season one,
11:41 the writers of One Piece expertly condensed sprawling plotlines into smaller adventures.
11:47 The shorter stories managed to preserve the impact and emotion of its source material.
11:52 "Nami isn't some tool to be used. She's a person with wants and dreams of her own,
11:58 and you took those away from her." They're also full of great action scenes that were brought
12:04 to life with a great combination of special effects and practical stunts. And last but not
12:09 least, Inaki Godoi won everyone over with his positively perfect portrayal of Monkey D. Lookie.
12:16 He and his fantastic cast members led a strong adaptation that definitely did One Piece justice.
12:22 What's your favorite live-action Netflix show? Shout it out in the comments below.
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12:47 [Music]