Summary
Marvel and DC might be the biggest names in the superhero genre, but streaming giant Netflix has some fantastic superhero content. Some of these titles do belong to the big two of the genre, but there are many standalone hero shows, too. Superhero stories have a way of inspiring people to be better and instilling hope in audiences, and there are plenty of such shows to stream from the comfort of home and revel in these feelings.
For those looking for some of the best TV shows with action, drama, emotions, and the one character who saves the world, Netflix is a one-stop shop for everything capes and cowls. There is something for everyone its diverse and engaging superhero programming.
Updated on July 24th, 2023 by Fawzia Khan: Netflix had long been home to multiple Marvel shows like Jessica Jones and Daredevil, but their migration to Disney+ has not left the streaming giant without superhero content. There are plenty of refreshing takes on the superhero genre on Netflix that will keep fans engaged for hours. This list has been updated to reflect Netflix's newest content and to reflect CBR's current publishing standards.
DC's Legends Of Tomorrow (2016- 2022)
DC's Legends Of Tomorrow is a subversive superhero show that takes a bunch of characters from the Arrowverse, and turns them on their head in the most enjoyable way possible. It revolves around Time Master Rip Hunter who goes rogue after his family is killed and his organization betrays him. He then puts together an eclectic team of superheroes and villains to save the world.
Villains transform into the good guys, as alternate dimensions, monsters, time travel, and every surrealistic element imaginable appears on the show. It is a freewheeling superhero installment like no other, with some pleasant cameos like Constantine. Quirky and bizarre, it is definitively one of the best comic book TV shows on Netflix.
The Umbrella Academy (2019- )
Based on the comics by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá, The Umbrella Academy revolves around gifted children with superpowers. They are brought together and trained by a billionaire, Sir Reginald Hargreeves, who then parts ways with them. When they get back together after years, these superheroes are bound together by their strange relationship and the responsibility of saving the world from the apocalypse. Reginald Hargreeves may be a controversial TV dad, but the show is full of wonderful performances by its ensemble cast and plotlines that keep audiences coming back for more.
Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers (1993-1996)
The original Power Rangers story, Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers introduced the world to the seriously cool world based on the Japanese tokusatsu franchise Super Sentai. It centered around a set of teens who were handpicked to save the world from evil sorceress Rita Repulsa, trained through special training and a code of conduct. These teens fought their battles heroically in an imaginary Californian town.
This superhero series had the right amount of action, story, and cool bodysuits that captivated fans for generations. It was geared toward a younger demographic, but the Power Rangers franchise has grown quite a bit since then. Fans can revisit the origins of Power Rangers by tuning into the show on Netflix.
I Am Not Okay With This (2020)
Jonathan Entwistle and Christy Hall adapt the eponymous comics into a bombastic, colorful, and engaging show. I Am Not Okay With This was canceled after one season, but it deserved a second season. I Am Not Okay With This followed seventeen-year-old Sydney, who in addition to facing growing pains and adolescent problems, also had to deal with sudden powers of telekinesis that develop in her.
The show offered a nuanced look at the superhero genre as Sydney tackled her newfound powers badly, but also dealt with numerous issues of mental illness and responsibility at home. This show wasn't afraid to get gory, and the last scenes of the finale that ended in a cliffhanger are truly worth looking out for.
Supergirl (2015- 2021)
Shifting the focus from Superman, CBS and CW's Supergirl follows Kara Zor-El, a twenty-four-year-old who happens to be Clark Kent's cousin who escaped Krypton when it was destroyed. When her carefully hidden powers come to light due to extenuating circumstances, Kara's journey as Supergirl begins. Melissa Benoist is a solid lead who plays the part of the superheroine masterfully, and the show itself manages to be smart, funny, and entertaining at the same time. This version of Supergirl and Superman is worth a watch.
Arrow (2012- 2020)
Loosely adapting DC's Green Arrow character, Arrow was the namesake of the Arrowverse continuity of shows it went on to spawn. Before that, however, it was simply a show about playboy Oliver Queen, who returns home after being stranded on an island to save his corrupted city. Heavily inspired by the Dark Knight trilogy, the show also incorporates elements of Green Arrow stories from Mike Grell, Andy Diggle, Jeff Lemire, and others. Its first seasons especially feature incredible hand-to-hand action, making the show, and its hero, truly something else.
The Flash (2014-)
The second Arrowverse show was The Flash, which spun out of the second season of its progenitor. Following forensic scientist Barry Allen after he develops superhuman speed, The Flash sees the Scarlet Speedster take on a litany of Central City's rising metahuman threats.
Diving into the comics and a comic book-y tone more than Arrow, The Flash balances character drama and soap opera elements with high-octane fun and geeky shenanigans. It's now also the longest-running Arrowverse series, so those who've never checked it out should definitely catch up... if they can.
Jupiter's Legacy (2021)
A Netflix-developed series, Jupiter's Legacy adapted the Mark Millar series of the same name. On that note, however, it experimented with its narrative, jumping back and forth like Arrow with flashbacks of how its elder superheroes got their powers.
This sees the series pivoting from the Great Depression to the present day, where a new generation of superheroes debate the ethics and outdated morality of their equivalent to Superman. The series combines the comic book costumes and whimsy of shows such as The Flash and similar series with the grittiness and more adult tone of Arrow and Daredevil.