3 Best Netflix Series To Binge-Watch This Weekend

Published Aug 21, 2026, 4:52 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. The top three shows to binge-watch on Netflix this weekend, August 21–23, 2026, include a period drama, a dark thriller, and an iconic coming-of-age story. Earlier this week, ScreenRant's list of the best shows to binge on Netflix featured trending hits like My Life with the Walter Boys, Ransom Canyon, and Tires, as well as exciting new additions such as The Audacity. This weekend, Netflix has even more great streaming options to offer, two of which are just six episodes or less and perfect for a quick one-night watch. The first Netflix series we recommend watching on Netflix this weekend takes place in 1900s Australia, where a young woman dreams of becoming an independent writer while battling strict family expectations. The second series, which just dropped on Netflix on Thursday, August 20, is a dark Swedish serial killer thriller that is perfect for fans of movies like Se7en and shows like Mindhunter. The final series we recommend watching on Netflix this weekend marks the end of one of the most talked-about coming-of-age dramas of the 2020s. My Brilliant Career My Brilliant Career is currently the #1 series on Netflix's worldwide charts following its release on August 13. The 6-part series was developed by Liz Doran based on the celebrated 1901 semi-autobiographical novel of the same name written by Miles Franklin. The story follows Sybylla Melvyn, played by Philippa Northeast, an ambitious farm girl who rebels against her family's wishes for her to marry and live a traditional life, chasing her lifelong dream of becoming a professional writer. My Brilliant Career earned a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, making it one of the most critically acclaimed Netflix shows of the summer. The series earned more than 3 million views during its first four days on Netflix and should remain one of the most-watched series on the platform this weekend. At just six episodes, each between 39 and 48 minutes each, My Brilliant Career has a brief total runtime of just 4 hours and 34 minutes and is one of the easiest – and most popular – new Netflix shows to binge right now. Blood Sacrifice Blood Sacrifice was quietly added to Netflix on Thursday, August 20, and is already gaining momentum as one of this weekend's top new streaming hits. The 5-part Swedish thriller series follows a detective in Stockholm who must work together with his estranged father, who is also a former police officer, to identify and capture a skilled serial killer who targets other cops. While the plot remains focused on finding and stopping the murderer, it also explores the damaged relationship between the father and the son as they try to see eye to eye again. At just five episodes, each between 44 and 58 minutes, Blood Sacrifice is another great streaming option this weekend for viewers looking to start and finish an entire series. The total runtime is just 4 hours and 8 minutes, making it possible to binge the entire show in just one sitting. Blood Sacrifice was created by writer/producer George Kay, best known for his work on Lupin and Criminal: UK. If you can't get enough of dark crime thrillers, consider Blood Sacrifice a must-watch this weekend. Outer Banks Outer Banks is the most anticipated new release on Netflix heading into the weekend, with the fifth and final season just added on Thursday, August 20. After originally premiering back in 2020, Outer Banks evolved to become one of Netflix's most reliable and watched coming-of-age drama series of the 2020s. Throughout its first four seasons, the viral series achieved more than 2 billion hours streamed, an enormous figure that should only go up this weekend as it looks to take over Netflix's #1 global spot. Outer Banks begins with a group of teenage friends in coastal North Carolina known as the Pogues who go on various treasure hunts. Over the course of the series, buried secrets, love triangles, and budding rivalries emerge, setting the stage for tension and drama. Outer Banks season 5 received universal acclaim on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing and will continue with a prequel series called Kildare, which is currently in development. See what all the hype is about by tuning into Outer Banks on Netflix this weekend. Outer Banks 8/10 Release Date 2020 - 2026-00-00 Network Netflix Cast Chase Stokes John B. Routledge Madelyn Cline Sarah Cameron Showrunner Jonas Pate, Shannon Burke, Josh Pate