Top 5 Must-Watch Netflix Shows This Week: March 2–6, 2026

1 week ago 11

Published Mar 2, 2026, 6:08 PM EST

Greg is a Lead TV Writer & Critic at Screen Rant who also covers Movies and Music. He's published over 2500 articles at SR, including weekly binge 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 did not add many new series to kick off March 2026 with a bang, but there are still dozens, if not hundreds, of great shows worth diving into this week. The five below represent the very best Netflix series to binge-watch for a week-long binge.

Southland

Southland was added to Netflix in the United States in mid-January 2026 and has since become one of the best modern classic series to binge on the platform. Featuring a star-studded cast led by Regina King, Ben McKenzie, Shawn Hatosy, and Michael Cudlitz, this is a must-watch for fans of cop dramas.

Consisting of 43 episodes across five seasons, Southland originally aired on TNT from 2009 to 2013, following the lives of a few LAPD officers. Known for its gritty realism, Southland was an acclaimed hidden gem for years, winning 2 Emmys and earning a Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 97%. It still holds up to this day as a phenomenal and immersive police procedural.

Black Sails

Black Sails is another fantastic streaming option on Netflix this week. The action adventure period drama follows Captain Flint (Toby Stephens) and his pirates who hunt treasure and fight to survive on New Providence Island in the early 18th century.

Black Sails consists of 38 episodes across four seasons and won 3 Emmys, all for sound and special effects. The series also earned a strong 84% Rotten Tomatoes audience score. If you love the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise, add Black Sails to the top of your Netflix watchlist this week.

The West Wing

The West Wing will forever be one of the greatest political drama series ever crafted. Created by the masterful screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, The West Wing is undoubtedly one of the best TV shows ever made, spanning 155 episodes across seven seasons and winning a remarkable 26 Emmys.

The West Wing ranks #55 on IMDb's Top 250 TV Shows of All Time, and rightfully so. The series stars Martin Sheen as President Josiah Bartlett, who is supported by one of the best TV ensembles ever that includes Rob Lowe, Allison Janney, Bradley Whitford, John Spencer, and more. If you love The Diplomat and House of Cards, go back to where it all began with The West Wing this week on Netflix.

Shameless

Shameless has been hailed as one of the best modern dramedy series about a dysfunctional family ever made. Blending elements of dark comedy with psychological drama, Shameless ran for 134 episodes and nine seasons from 2011 to 2021.

Shameless originally aired on Showtime and followed the wild Gallagher family out of Chicago. Led by William H. Macy's Frank and Emmy Rossum's Fiona, Shameless gave rise to stars like Jeremy Allen White, Cameron Monaghan, and more, and is filled with hilarious, shocking, and memorable moments worth watching on Netflix.

Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad has been called the best TV show ever made and is, by most accounts, the definition of a 10/10 masterpiece. Streaming exclusively on Netflix, the iconic original series created by Vince Gilligan features one of the greatest protagonist arcs in TV history, Walter White, who takes on a new life as a feared drug supplier after being diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Between the jaw-droppingly good writing and the legendary supporting cast that includes Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, Bob Odenkirk, Giancarlo Esposito, Jesse Plemons, and Jonathan Banks, Breaking Bad is truly a must-watch series for all TV lovers. If you can't decide what to watch on Netflix this week, pressing play on Breaking Bad is always a safe bet.