One Of The Best Comedy Series Of All Time Has Arrived On Netflix & It's A Must-Watch

4 days ago 5

Published May 4, 2026, 5:20 PM EDT

Felipe Rangel is a Movie and TV Journalist ScreenRant. He has been writing about movies and TV since 2021. Felipe joined ScreenRant in 2022, working across different teams, covering everything from breaking news to features to reviews and more.

Felipe is a writer who is an avid film and TV fan, with superhero movies and series being his biggest passion. He graduated from college in 2019, having studied Journalism. Before college, he spent a month studying at the Oxford English Centre. His superhero knowledge expands to the comics, with his undergraduate thesis being "Politics Reflected In American Comics."

One of the best comedy series of all time is now available on Netflix, with a twist, and subscribers should check it out for a few reasons. Netflix's biggest original shows usually come from more out-there genres like sci-fi and fantasy, with grounded and dark crime thrillers also becoming quite popular. A few examples are Stranger Things, Squid Game, The Witcher, Black Mirror, and so on.

However, Netflix's library of TV shows also includes a healthy dose of comedies. In 2026, Free Bert emerged as one of the new comedy series that managed to find global success on the streaming service. There have also been several multi-season comedy series on the streamer that went on to become worldwide hits, as is the case for Nobody Wants This, The Good Place, and XO, Kitty.

At the time of writing, Kate Hudson's Running Point, which recently returned with season 2, is the 5th most-watched TV show on Netflix worldwide and the 4th most-watched in the United States, according to FlixPatrol. That just goes to show the power that the genre holds on the platform. Additionally, even licensed comedy series tend to do well on the streaming service, which is the case for a recent arrival.

Ted arrived on Netflix in select regions on April 30. Many will recognize the show as a prequel to the successful Ted movies that starred Seth MacFarlane as the talking teddy bear and Mark Wahlberg as his best friend, John Bennett. An exciting premise, a fresh cast, and more have made Ted a global hit now that it is on Netflix.

Ted Is Now On Netflix In Select Countries

According to FlixPatrol, Ted is currently the 9th most-watched TV show on Netflix worldwide. The comedy series is trending in 17 countries, ranking as high as the 2nd most-watched on the streamer in Italy, Latvia, and Mauritius. Ted is not available to stream on Netflix in the United States, as the show is a Peacock Original, and can thus be streamed on the service nationwide.

According to a report from What's on Netflix?, Ted arrived on Netflix on April 30 in countries like South Africa and certain European nations. Ted has released two seasons so far, with 15 episodes spread across both of them. It is a prequel series to the two hit movies, following the adventures of a younger Ted and a 16-year-old John in a hilarious and heartwarming coming-of-age tale.

John's parents, Matty and Susan, and his cousin, Blaire, complete the family. The basis for the show is Ted being forced to go to high school with John.

Why Ted Is Worth Watching On Netflix

Ted standing next to a boombox in Ted season 2

The Ted movies may be a bit of an acquired taste, but I believe the TV show has a more universal appeal. The comedy series now on Netflix in certain countries strikes the perfect balance between the crude humor of the movies and a strong emotional core centered on the Bennett family. These characters genuinely make one another better throughout the series, with plenty of hilarious hijinks that will leave viewers laughing out loud along the way.

Additionally, the Ted series has fared better with critics and viewers when compared to both movies. On Rotten Tomatoes, the comedy series boasts an impressive 87% critics' score and an even better 90% audience score, both far superior to the reception of the movies. It seems like the family dynamic was the missing factor to unlock the franchise's full potential.

For now, due to how expensive the Ted series is to make, the show available on Netflix outside the United States has no plans of returning for season 3, though MacFarlane would jump at the opportunity for more. Ted movie fans will get a new chapter to enjoy through an announced animated series that brings back Wahlberg as the adult John and premieres in late 2026. To get ready for the franchise's next step, international Netflix subscribers might consider giving the Ted show a go.