3 Best Netflix Shows To Binge-Watch This Weekend – #1 Is A Surprise Hit Crime Thriller Trending Worldwide

6 days ago 9

Published Apr 17, 2026, 2:42 PM EDT

Greg is a Lead TV Writer & Critic at Screen Rant with expertise in new streaming releases. He's published over 2800 articles at SR, including weekly recommendation guides and dozens of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. He previously worked in Development at ABC Television & Lawrence Bender Productions.

Greg majored in Film Production at Chapman University's Dodge College. Greg also has years of broadcast TV production experience at major networks such as NBC, TNT, and ESPN. He currently lives in Greater Boston.

Netflix's three best new shows to binge-watch this weekend, April 17–19, 2026, include a hidden gem legal thriller with a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score, the season 2 return of a star-studded Emmy-winning masterpiece, and a surprise hit crime thriller that's currently the #1 most-watched series on the platform. If you're looking for the most popular and critically acclaimed new Netflix shows to start and finish this weekend, you've come to the right place.

Last week, Netflix released a wide slate of new releases, such as the gripping heist thriller Crooks season 2 and season 2 of the hit reality series Million Dollar Secret. Other notable mentions include Ronaldinho: The One And Only, a 3-part docuseries about one of the world's most skilled and famous soccer players, Alpha Males season 5, a long-running raunchy comedy series, and Full Swing season 4, a docuseries that chronicles several of the best professional golfers in the world. While all these shows remain strong streaming options, the following three Netflix series are among the very best to binge right now.

The Law According To Lidia Poët

The Law According to Lidia Poët quietly released its third and final season on Wednesday, April 15, dropping six new episodes for a new total of 18. Based on real events, the legal thriller series chronicles the rise of Italy's first female lawyer in the late 19th century, Lidia Poët, serving as both a period piece drama and a detective crime series. The series maintained a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score across three seasons and is a true hidden gem on Netflix.

Matilda De Angelis (Citadel: Diana, Dracula) shines in one of her career-best performances as the titular protagonist, who is introduced in the first season of the series after a corrupt judicial system bans her from practicing the law due to her gender. Determined to put her skills to the test, Lidia works for her brother's law firm and quickly becomes a great yet hidden asset, cracking cases and defending innocent persons who are accused of life-shattering crimes. For a thrilling yet decorative binge, watch The Law According to Lidia Poët this weekend.

Beef

Beef season 2 has finally arrived following the enormous success of its debut season in 2023, which went on to win 8 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. Featuring a brand new cast of supremely talented actors that includes Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton, and Cailee Spaeny, Beef season 2 is bound to be one of, if not the, most-watched Netflix new series by the end of the weekend.

While Beef season 1's theme was all about rage, season 2 narrows its focus on the destructive force of envy. The story follows a young couple who witness a startling fight between their boss and his wife, which creates a lingering tension in their elitist, insular community. Although Beef season 2 has not achieved the near-perfect critical acclaim that season 1 did, it has earned a strong Rotten Tomatoes score of 87%, which could improve as the series strives to gain that #1 global spot this weekend.

Bandi

Netflix's new French-Canadian crime thriller Bandi is a surprise streaming hit heading into the weekend, claiming the platform's #1 trending spot worldwide as of Thursday, April 16. Consisting of just 8 episodes, all roughly an hour each, Bandi is also #8 on Netflix's U.S. streaming list and is surging on regional viewership charts around the world. Bandi follows a group of orphaned siblings in Martinique, one of the islands in the French West Indies, who are forced to pursue a life of crime following the sudden loss of their mother. Bandi was released on Thursday, April 9, and has emerged as the most-watched Netflix series heading into the weekend, making it worth a quick binge.