TV & Movies

We all know the hunt for the next Netflix binge never ends. To make your search a little easier, we at Urban List have rounded up a slew of the best Netflix Series available in NZ right now. Grab the snacks and get comfy, here are the best shows on Netflix NZ.

Buttering up the popcorn and firing up Netflix has got to be our favourite thing ever. If you’re anything like us we know you don’t relish in spending hours scrolling for something half decent to kick back to.

So, whether you want to reminisce about Game of Thrones and The O.C. or find out hot gossip from The Sopranos and The Office–we’ve rounded up the best rewatch podcasts available for listening now.

Home to some of the best series from HBO Max, Warner Bros, Sony, NBCU, FX and BBC content you can now work your way through the likes of The Office, The Wire, The Walking Dead and True Detective, Neon is the home of the types of show everyone talks about. 

Best present ever.

We’re not going to lie, Netflix is taking no rest days this year when it comes to bringing you fresh true crime content. 

But why?

The mega franchise could see an actual television series coming to light with HBO Max.

TVNZ on Demand is home to some of the best tantalising dramas, riveting docos, sitcoms and epic comedies.

We’re not ovary-acting, these are the absolute best.

We've rounded up the best Netflix documentaries you need to watch right now. From the intriguing to the shocking, it’s all here.

If there's one thing hip-hop group, 0800 Collective is going to do—it's keep things fresh. 

When your faith in humanity is yet to be restored, it means it’s time to throw your feet up and hit the best feel-good movies on Netflix.

Crank out the festive treats and pop on your Christmas jammies (don't own a pair? You're lying)—there's a whole lotta holiday goodness for you to feast your eyes on right now thanks to Neon.

Between free bottomless popcorn, in-film snack deliveries and a Tarantino-approved space, we’ve found the very best of Auckland’s bustling boutique cinema scene. 

Buckle up, Yellowstone is officially back. Since the fifth season was announced in February, we've been on the edge of our seats, waiting to see what's next for the Dutton Family. 

Auckland crew listen up! In some hugely exciting news, it’s been revealed that Ponsonby is (finally) getting a cinema complex all of its own for the first time in more than 50 years, and it’ll be of the luxury boutique variety that we absolutely stan.

It's time you watched Seaspiracy.

Scare yourself stupid the best horror movies streaming on Netflix right now.

Movie lovers and entertainers, we’ve got just the thing to level up your next binge-watching session or weekend crew hang. 

We’ve got just the thing to see you through the last few weeks of this dreary winter. Throw some popcorn in the microwave, chuck on your Oodie and light a candle—it’s time for a cosy weekend of binge-watching. 

Just when we thought we'd seen it all—The Midwich Cuckoos, your next mind-blowing binge, has just landed on Sky's SoHo Channel and Neon.

Nestled in the beating heart of Surfers Paradise, we’ve found the perfect place for the ultimate fun day out. Think: epic games, live sport and a total foodie nirvana. So where can you find this awesome spot? Perched on the corner of Surfers Paradise Boulevard and Cavill Mall, boasting a 100-metre frontage opposite the world-famous Surfers Paradise Beach, is Paradise Centre. Home to over 90 stores, an alfresco dining precinct and a buzzing entertainment hub, gather your crew and make tracks here stat.

We're just going to come right out and say it. Amazon Prime Video is a mammoth vault of epic TV series you won't be able to stop watching. From murder mysteries to killer comedies and new sci-fi plots to cult favourites, there are so many brilliant shows worth binging your way through.

If you’re looking for something to watch as it gets colder to cosy up in a cinema or at home, the full Doc Edge Festival programme is now live with over 100 feature length and short films to sink your teeth into.

Mute your phone, round up your snacks and get comfy, HBO's latest drama The Staircase is coming to Sky's SoHo, and we're already hooked.

Only go 15-minutes to spare? We’ve got you.

There’s been a glitch in the Netflix.

Oh, home isolation. So much free time, so little motivation. Whether you’ve ended up feeling under the weather or you’re just starting to get stir-crazy, we’ve put together some affordable additions to make life stuck at home more bearable.

We’re not in Hawkins anymore.

The quest for love continues.

If you’re after all the warm and fuzzies that you get from a good romance flick, then we’ve got you covered and then some.

Don't shoot the messenger.

Following The Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) and The Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017), The King’s Man is the third installment in the beloved Kingsman franchise and is the prequel origin story we never knew we needed. 

To the surprise of perhaps no one but to the joy of many, Netflix’s biggest show of all time (yes, it even beat out Bridgerton), Squid Game, has been renewed for a second season.

They say that deux is always better than un, and that's certainly the case when it comes to Netflix series Emily In Paris. 

The only thing that’s trending harder than the pandemic right now is Netflix’s banger of a series, Squid Game. From the 7,800% increase in sales that Vans reported on their white slip-on shoes, to the influx of Squid Game memes filling up your feed, The nine-part action/thriller/mystery anxiety inducer has infiltrated almost every corner of pop-culture—and very soon, it’s about to take over your kitchen. 

There’s a good chance that you, your housemate, your nana, and even your dog have all watched the popular Korean drama, Squid Game. The show follows hundreds of desperate contestants playing a series of deadly children’s games, risking their lives for a cash grand prize. 

Well if you’ve been wanting to fill the GoT-shaped hole in your heart (and Shadow and Bone just ain’t cutting it), then you’ll be stoked to know that the highly-anticipated prequel, House of the Dragon, is finally happening.

Goldberg is back baby!

Here are eight of the best Asian cultural films and TV shows on Netflix NZ to take you into the buzzing metropolises of Asia.

Housing a number of huge documentaries on some of the biggest athletes, teams, races and scandals, you’ll find pretty much all you need to fill that sporting void in your life right now.

If 2021 is the year of book to TV adaptations then Liane Moriarty’s Nine Perfect Strangers is getting our vote as the MVP. Featuring a seriously stacked A-list cast, a twisted storyline that will have your mind racing and a chilling trailer—this series is quite possibly one of the most addictive shows you’ll ever see. 

It seems like an age ago that we fell hard and fast for Geralt of Rivia, AKA The Witcher, AKA a jacked Henry Cavill in armour and a white wig. Since The Witcher's debut back in 2019, and the series’ epic cliffhanger, fans (read: us) have been left hanging for any news on the sequel… until now that is.

From real stories of coaches who changed games forever to the fictional rags to riches trajectory, these movies never get old.

Every once and while a crime flick comes along that shocks us to our core, leaving a cold feeling in the bottom of our belly long after the credits roll. Which is exactly what happened when we binged Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey. 

While you might think you’ve moved on from Exotic and his wild ways, the King is back… with a Hollywood TV series full of A-listers and yes, you’re going to want to tune in.  

Whether you’re a 90's baby who watched the high school drama play out live on TV or a newbie who has fallen in love with the Upper East Side via Netflix, Gossip Girl fans assemble because the highly anticipated reboot is nearly here. 

It’s the long-awaited reunion the people wanted and now, we’re finally getting what we deserve. That’s right, the one where there’s a Friends reunion is finally here and to get us extra pumped, they’ve gone and dropped the trailer, so bring on the tears of joy.

Not since Priscilla has New Zealand and Australia seen something as bloody fabulous as RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under. Coming this September the absolute dazzling line-up will descend upon Australia for a spanking live tour featuring all ten of the Queens from season one of the show.

Big, no make that, massive news: Netflix has ordered a new Bridgerton spinoff series about young Queen Charlotte. 

We’re getting you up to speed with every MCU phase four film to expect between 2021-2023–what storylines are confirmed, who will be starring or directing and any general gossip or buzz around each movie.

Just when we thought we were about to run out of epic shows to binge, Netflix went and gifted us Lupin, a French crime series that has proved so popular, it’s starting to rival Bridgerton viewing numbers—yes, really!

Based on Walter Dean Myers’s 1999 award-winning novel of the same name, the movie originally premiered at Sundance Film Festival back in 2018 but on 7 May, the whole world will be able to feast their eyes on this incredible flick. 

Can’t get enough of the latest and greatest movie shows? Neither can we and with so many blockbusters shifting to streaming services, there’s never been a better time to treat yourself to a lush at-home theatre experience with your mates. 

Some flip teenage angst on the head and some, or a lot rather, are undeniably out-of-this-world whacky. 

If, like us, you demolished Netflix’s Ginny & Georgia in a single weekend then you’re going to want to hear this. The dramedy has officially been renewed for a second season and we cannot bloody wait to see what becomes of our favourite mother-daughter duo—sorry Gilmore Girls, you’ve been replaced.

Calling on all Aussie queens, RuPaul’s Drag Race is finally headed down under! That’s right, the uber popular reality show, which already has a UK spin-off, is finally getting an Australian version.

We have big, no, make that HUGE news to deliver care of Lady Whistledown herself, everyone’s favourite sexy historical drama Bridgerton will return to our screens for seasons three and four.

There are few things we love more than an excellent book to big screen adaptation, and honestly, we reckon we’ve uncovered the best one yet. Enter: the highly anticipated, The Woman In The Window.

We’re all about celebrating and amplifying women’s voices here at Urban List—and that’s certainly the case when it comes to entertainment. Fortunately, there is a slew of incredible, female-led shows that hero women in all aspects of life—from bossing it in the boardroom and the powerful tales of friendship to crime-fighting queens. 

In news that will devastate Bridgeton fans, the show has just confirmed that the Duke of Hasting, played by mega babe Regé-jean Page will not be returning for season two of the historic drama.

Elizabeth Moss, aka our fave red cloak-wearing hero June, announced back in December that The Handmaid’s Tale was returning for another two epic seasons. What we didn’t know was when we’d see the dystopian thriller hit our screens again—thanks to COVID we expected major delays…

In 2020 we consumed a shedload of podcasts, and the one that truly stuck out for us, was The Dropout. Not familiar? The true crime series chronicled the insane life of Elizabeth Holmes, the former billionaire turned fraudster and jail dweller. 

As long as movies and TV shows have existed, books have been used as source material. That’s essentially why the Academy Awards has a Best Adapted Screenplay category–with so many of our favourite movies being based on the words of talented authors. 

Clear your viewing calendars for Friday 9 April, because the new terror anthology series, Them, will be dropping on your screens and trust us when we say you’re going to want to devour it in a single sitting.

When the docu-series, Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, dropped on Netflix back in March, the world was equal parts enthralled and confused by the peroxide mulleted, gun-toting, occasional country singer turned big cat keeper. 

First off, let's start with some sad news—producers of Killing Eve have just announced that after four seasons, the series will officially wrap. But, wipe those tears away guys because the great news is that a spin-off series is already in development.

We're more than ready for this.

Just watched Oprah interview Meghan and Harry? We got you.

From horror and docos to action and comedy, every day of the year—including IWD—is a good day to check out the brilliant work of female filmmakers. Here are 9 epic films directed by women available on Netflix.

LGBTQI+ stories on screen have become more prevalent in recent years (and rightly so), giving a historically silenced community a proud voice. From confronting and necessary stories of hardship depicting the queer community’s history and current realities to ones of hope and joy which celebrate and normalise LGBTQI+ sexuality and relationships. Lucky for us, streaming platforms are now dedicating more of their libraries to sharing tales of romantic love, friendship, family, self-love, and community.

First of all—it’s going to be epic.

Giving fans a real, raw look at their life behind the spotlight, we’ve rounded up the best celebrity documentaries you need to know about.

Picture this; your eyes are glued to the T.V. set watching your latest Blockbuster rental, Fruju tropical snow in hand, McCain Potato Smiles are the only food group that matters and your most prized possession is a portable CD player—feeling nostalgic yet? Us too. 

If there’s one thing Netflix just absolutely nails, it’s a solid documentary. While they’ve been dominating the true crime genre lately (we dig), their latest offering chronicles one of music's biggest stars, the late, great Notorious B.I.G.

Our obsession with true crime-inspired series knows no end, which is why we want to do a solid for our fellow dark hearts out there by introducing you to Inventing Anna, Netflix’s new binge-worthy show.

Time to crack open a bottle of Butterbeer.

Strap yourself in, 2021 is going to deliver quite possibly the most intense, binge-worthy Netflix series yet. Yep, we know it’s a big call but trust us, Behind Her Eyes is the perfect mix of psychological thriller meets twisted romantic drama with just a touch of supernatural fantasy. Yes it’s hectic and yes, you’ll love it.

Get your political fix post US inauguration.

We can’t lie, we’re big old geeks when it comes to the Marvel Comic Universe (MCU) and while we don’t like to play favourites… Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff is right up there with the best. Which is why we’re seriously stoked that Maximoff’s very own spin-off series, WandaVision, finally hit our screens this week. 

You can stop holding your breath because the final movie in the romantic comedy trilogy, To All The Boys: Always and Forever, has finally got a release date, and it’s right around the corner...

If you’re anything like us, you devoured Bridgerton on Boxing Day whilst on the couch stuffing yourself silly with leftover Christmas ham and BBQ prawns. It was but a blissful eight hours that ended in tragedy when you realised you’d finished the entire season of Shonda Rhimes binge-worthy Netflix series in just one day. While we patiently wait for news of a second season (don’t worry, it will happen), we’ve done you a serious solid and found 17 juicy, historical shows to fill the Bridgerton-shaped hole in your life. 

We’re a sucker for a good playlist, allowing our favourite Netflix series to live on, way after the credits roll.

4K All The Way.

 And just like that, we have a new TV series on the horizon.

Just when you thought Netflix was about to run out of the goods—after all, we well and truly binged the crap out of its entire suite of programs in 2020—it’s come through with a new movie, and it’s a straight up piece of art.

It's set to be a big year.

When thinking about matches made in entertainment heaven, it doesn’t get much greater than Netflix and Shonda Rhimes. The powerhouse producer is responsible for a slew of award-winning series—like Scandal, How to Get Away With Murder and Grey’s Anatomy—and now, thanks to a rumoured nine-figure deal she’s inked with the streaming giant, we can expect a whole lot of Shondaland goodness coming our way.

We don't care what anyone says, we can't get enough of festive flicks. Fortunately, the streaming gods have gifted us with yet another sleigh load of feel-good Christmas movies, from old school classics to rom-com newbies, all you need to do is organise bulk snacks for a mammoth viewing marathon. 

How many have you seen?

We're just going to come right out and say it. Amazon Prime Video is a mammoth vault of epic TV series you won't be able to stop watching. From murder mysteries to killer comedies and new sci-fi plots to cult favourites, there are so many brilliant shows worth bingeing your way through.

As if you needed further proof that vampires were well and truly trending in 2020, this is it—HBO has revealed they’re rebooting cult classic True Blood. That’s right, the vamps are coming outta their coffins.

We’ve rounded up some of the most progressive shows out there at the moment which all champion a greater movement to normalise so many aspects of sexuality, be it identity, consent or practising safer sex.

Goldberg is back baby!

If you’ve ever dreamed of going to a drive-in cinema—and frankly, who hasn’t?—now’s your chance. On November 26, Cinema at the Stadia will be turning Mt Smart Stadium into the country’s biggest drive in cinema and screening four killer movies.

If you’re a fan of movies that cause you sleepless nights and make you question everything you thought you knew about the paranormal, then you’ll want to mark 5 December in your diary because Netflix is about to drop the scariest movie of the year—and even better, it was filmed in Australia. 

 Just like Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber, Six60 are sharing their story on the big screen. Till The Lights Go Out hits cinemas 26 November and trust me when I say the boys don’t hold anything back. From each member's origin story to internal struggles within the group, they give fans a true insight into their lives. 

Ah, vampires—love them or hate them, these fanged, sexy and sometimes sparkly creatures have captured the hearts of readers and viewers for years. 

Guaranteeing all the cosy, Christmassy feels we’re desperately craving.

Pedro Pascal is somehow still insanely attractive even while wearing a helmet the entire time.

He’s back.

Bloody brilliant.

If there’s one thing Disney has mastered over the years, it’s appealing to one of our most powerful emotions: nostalgia. Its streaming service, Disney+, is nothing if not an endless library of fond reminiscing and eternal enjoyment. Leading up to 31 October, their Halloween collection is no different. 

The advisory flags that the films contain wrongful depictions of cultures and racist stereotypes.

And no surprise, it’s set in Sydney’s flashy Eastern Suburbs.

Sure, streaming that remastered 1958 Russian drama will give you some clout when chatting film, but we’re here to tell you that watching Keanu mid-gunfight on horseback in a shopping mall is absolutely fine, just as staring aimlessly at Samuel L. Jackson fighting terrorists and snakes on a plane is, too.

If we told you someone made a movie about free speech, peaceful protesting, deploying the national guard and the radical left–you’d be forgiven for thinking it was about 2020. As it has so many times before, “the whole world is watching” the United States, amidst a chaotic election year, with continuing protests against systemic racism and police brutality. It’s fitting then, that The Trial of the Chicago 7, and its historically resonant ideas be released now on Netflix for all to see. 

You may vaguely recall the NXIVM cult in news reports over the past decade. If you don’t, HBO are about to mainline you all the gory details, warts and all, via a nine-part docuseries called The Vow.

You know a movie has reached a certain iconic status when nearly 50 years later, the guys upstairs at Hollywood HQ want to make a film, on the making of a film. Well, this is exactly what’s happening with Francis Ford Coppola’s genre-defining The Godfather.

 The definitive OG line-up.

“That’s hot.”

Anyone patiently waiting for the sequel to 1977 indie horror, Grizzly, will rejoice in the good news that Grizzly 2. Revenge is set for release after being filmed almost 40 years ago. For the few who may not have been twiddling their thumbs in anticipation for the past several decades, the cast—which consists of a young Laura Dern, George Clooney, and Charlie Sheen—should be enough to catch your attention.

The film basically culminates with her insane wind-powered voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to speak at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York City and to be honest, we’re still very much lost for words.

And it tales the most infamous case in UK criminal history, that of serial killer Dennis Nilsen.

You may have seen the buzz about town for Netflix’s book-to-film adaptation of The Devil All The Time, a grim small-town thriller bloated with more than a few trending Hollywood names. At the helm is Robert Pattinson, who’s joined by the likes of Tom Holland, Bill Skarsgård, Jason Clarke along with Aussies Mia Wasikowska and Eliza Scanlen.

Your worst lockdown fears just came true.

And it’ll be directed by Olivia Wilde.

It’s been praised as the best drama of 2020, and as with many good things, New Zealand has had to wait a little longer for its release compared to other western countries. The good news is that all 12 episodes of HBO’s I May Destroy You are available to stream in New Zealand right now.

A weekend in Westeros anyone?