For fans of the supernatural and the extraordinary, exploring the best web series on Netflix like Stranger Things offers a journey into diverse, imaginative worlds. These series, including The OA, Dark, and Locke & Key, charm with their unique blend of mystery, fantasy, and suspense.
Shows like The Umbrella Academy and The Witcher weave complex narratives with intriguing characters, akin to the beloved elements in Stranger Things. Whether you’re drawn to the enigmatic plots of Black Mirror or the eerie settings of American Horror Story, these selections promise to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
The OA
- IMDB RATING: 7.8
- CREATORS: Zal Batmanglij, Brit Marling
- CAST: Brit Marling, Jason Isaacs, Emory Cohen
Plot Summary:
The OA revolves around Prairie Johnson, a young woman who returns after being missing for seven years. Now calling herself “The OA” and with her eyesight restored (she was blind when she disappeared), she recruits a group of locals to share her story of captivity and teach them her new mystical abilities, claiming they can access other dimensions. The series blends science fiction, fantasy, and mystery, pulling viewers into its enigmatic storyline.
Dark
- IMDB RATING: 8.8
- CREATOR: Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese
- CAST: Louis Hofmann, Karoline Eichhorn, Lisa Vicari
Plot Summary:
Set in the German town of Winden, “Dark” delves into the ripple effects of child disappearances which expose the relationships among four families and a time-travel conspiracy that spans several generations. This series is known for its intricate plot and dark atmospheric tone, making it a mind-bending exploration of time and its impact on human nature.
Locke & Key
- IMDB RATING: 7.4
- CREATOR: Carlton Cuse, Meredith Averill, Aron Eli Coleite
- CAST: Darby Stanchfield, Connor Jessup, Emilia Jones
Plot Summary:
After their father’s mysterious murder, the Locke siblings move to their ancestral home, Keyhouse, with their mother. They discover several mysterious keys throughout the house that can be used to unlock various doors in magical ways. However, a devious demon also seeks the keys for its own malevolent purposes. “Locke & Key” combines elements of fantasy, horror, and family drama.
The Umbrella Academy
- IMDB RATING: 8.0
- CREATOR: Steve Blackman
- CAST: Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda
Plot Summary:
On the same day in 1989, forty-three infants were inexplicably born to random, unconnected women who showed no signs of pregnancy the day before. Seven of these children are adopted by a billionaire who creates The Umbrella Academy, preparing his “children” to save the world. Now grown up, the family reunites upon the news of their father’s death, only to find themselves working together to solve a mystery surrounding his passing, all while dealing with their divergent personalities and abilities.
I Am Not Okay With This
- IMDB RATING: 7.5
- CREATORS: Jonathan Entwistle and Christy Hall
- CAST: Sophia Lillis, Wyatt Oleff, Sofia Bryant
Plot Summary:
Sydney is a teenage girl who is grappling with the typical challenges of high school. At the same time, she’s navigating complex family dynamics and her emerging sexuality. Additionally, she’s beginning to discover mysterious superpowers that are awakening deep within her.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
- IMDB RATING: 7.4
- CREATOR: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
- CAST: Kiernan Shipka, Ross Lynch, Miranda Otto
Plot Summary:
This dark reboot of the “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” tale follows Sabrina Spellman as she navigates her dual nature as a half-witch, half-mortal while fighting the evil forces that threaten her, her family, and the daylight world humans inhabit. With her 16th birthday nearing, Sabrina must choose between the witch world of her family and the human world of her friends, all while battling dark forces in the supernatural world.
Supernatural
- IMDB RATING: 8.4
- CREATOR: Eric Kripke
- CAST: Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles
Plot Summary:
Supernatural follows the Winchester brothers, Sam and Dean, as they travel across the USA in a black 1967 Chevy Impala, hunting down and defeating supernatural creatures. Both horror and drama are expertly woven into the narratives, along with familial and personal conflict, as the brothers confront ghosts, monsters, demons, and gods that roam the earth.
Twin Peaks
- IMDB RATING: 8.8
- CREATOR: David Lynch, Mark Frost
- CAST: Kyle MacLachlan, Sheryl Lee, Michael Ontkean
Plot Summary:
In the small town of Twin Peaks, the sudden murder of a young woman named Laura Palmer unravels a web of secrets that lead to the heart of the town. Special Agent Dale Cooper is called in to investigate and discovers that beneath the town’s seemingly quaint surface lies a range of supernatural beings and dark secrets. The show combines crime, horror, and mystical elements in a slow-burning, stylistically bold narrative.
Black Mirror
- IMDB RATING: 8.8
- CREATOR: Charlie Brooker
- CAST: Various actors for different episodes
Plot Summary:
Black Mirror is a series of standalone dramas – sharp, suspenseful, satirical tales that explore techno-paranoia. It’s set shortly, and each story is a self-contained narrative exploring themes of contemporary techno-anxieties and cultural shifts. The series is both disturbing and insightful, providing a dark and thought-provoking critique of modern society’s relationship with technology.
American Horror Story
- IMDB RATING: 8.0
- CREATOR: Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk
- CAST: Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Jessica Lange
Plot Summary:
This anthology series centers on different characters and locations, including a house with a murderous past, an insane asylum, a witch coven, a freak show circus, a haunted hotel, a possessed farmhouse, a cult, the apocalypse, and a slasher summer camp. With a unique storyline each season, it explores horror themes and human vices in a style that’s visually striking and storylines that are both disturbing and enticing.
The Witcher
- IMDB RATING: 8.2
- CREATOR: Lauren Schmidt Hissrich
- CAST: Henry Cavill, Anya Chalotra, Freya Allan
Plot Summary:
Based on the popular book by Andrzej Sapkowski, “The Witcher” follows Geralt of Rivia, a solitary monster hunter, as he struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts. The story intertwines his destiny with a powerful sorceress and a young princess with a dangerous secret, navigating their way through the volatile Continent filled with kings, elves, witches, and beasts.
Sense8
- IMDB RATING: 8.3
- CREATORS: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski
- CAST: Doona Bae, Jamie Clayton, Tina Desai
Plot Summary:
This series explores the story of eight strangers from different parts of the world who suddenly become mentally and emotionally linked. As they try to figure out how and why this connection has happened, they must find ways to survive being hunted by those who see them as a threat to the world’s order. “Sense8” spans a variety of cultures and explores themes of identity, connectivity, and humanity.
The Society
- IMDB RATING: 7.1
- CREATOR: Christopher Keyser
- CAST: Kathryn Newton, Gideon Adlon, Sean Berdy
Plot Summary:
In “The Society,” a group of teenagers is mysteriously transported to a facsimile of their wealthy New England town without any trace of their parents. As they struggle to figure out what has happened and how to get home, they must establish order and form alliances to survive. The series is a modern take on “Lord of the Flies,” showing how society can quickly break down and evolve when cut off from the rest of the world.
A Series of Unfortunate Events
- IMDB RATING: 7.8
- CREATOR: Mark Hudis, Barry Sonnenfeld
- CAST: Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Warburton, Malina Weissman
Plot Summary:
This adaptation of the popular book series by Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler) follows the tragic tale of the Baudelaire orphans — Violet, Klaus, and Sunny — whose evil guardian Count Olaf will stop at nothing to get his hands on their inheritance. As they manage to evade Olaf’s devious plots and disguises, they discover familial secrets and a deeper conspiracy regarding a mysterious organization.
The Midnight Club
- IMDB RATING: 7.4
- CREATOR: Mike Flanagan, Leah Fong
- CAST: Iman Benson, Adia, Igby Rigney
Plot Summary:
At a hospice with a mysterious history, eight terminally ill teenagers gather every night at midnight to tell each other stories — and make a pact that the first of them to die would make an effort to contact the others from beyond the grave. This series blends elements of horror, supernatural, and poignant drama to explore themes of mortality, hope, and the supernatural.
Wrapping Up
These series, each with its unique storytelling and thematic elements, provide a varied viewing experience while holding some essence similar to “Stranger Things.” Whether it’s the supernatural, the exploration of human nature, or simply the exciting narrative, each best web series on Netflix like Stranger Things has something special to offer.
