Netflix may be responsible for kicking off the streaming trend, but by this point, there are plenty of competitors vying for viewers' attention and countless shows on each service doing the same. It can be dizzying trying to decide what to watch, so we did the work for you. If you have any of these five services and you haven't seen these shows, cozy up and smash the binge button ASAP.
Netflix - Naruto
It's a pretty bold move to begin a recommendation list with the mother of all recommendations, but if you're looking to binge away as much time as possible, then there's no better bet than Naruto. Totaling over 200 episodes in the original series, with over twice that in the sequel, Naruto Shippuden, and even more hours of magic ninja fun in the movies, this could be the binge of a lifetime you've been looking for.
Centered around the titular character growing up in a village that idolizes the magical arts of the ninja, Naruto sweeps the viewer away on an expansive journey as they watch a full and detailed cast grow up, switch sides and die in heart-wrenching climaxes. There's something for everyone in Naruto, and if you've ever wanted to try out an anime, this could be the best jumping on point for prospective fans.
Amazon - The Wire
It's hard to believe that this is the first time you had HBO's The Wire recommended to you. It's a recurring entry on lists just like this one, and if anyone you know has seen it, they've likely eagerly told you about it. So, just what is it that everyone has been raving about since the showed premiered in 2002?
The Wire is simultaneously one of the most realistic and entertaining television shows ever to hit television, taking the familiar setup of the cops 'n' robbers story and fleshing it out into a grounded and immersive look at the War on Drugs in Baltimore. With five seasons that each center on a different facet of the city as an organism, The Wire may not be a unique recommendation, but it's one you absolutely have to take if you have the time.
Hulu - High Fidelity
Newer than the other picks on the list, the Hulu series High Fidelity manages to modernize and gender-swap the novel (and its former filmed adaptation starring John Cusack) without changing a single drop of its spirit. Starring Zoë Kravitz as the owner of a vinyl record store obsessing over her "Top 5" worst breakups of all time, the show features humor and wit that both music fans, in particular, and nerds of any stripe will find immediately engaging. With only one season so far, there may not be much to binge, but you may want to watch it now before you feel like you're missing out on the party a few seasons down the line.
Disney+ - Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Another entry on the "you've probably been recommended it before" list, Star Wars: The Clone Wars proved popular enough with fans that the creators brought it back for a seventh and final season just this year. With tons of episodes to watch and a massive cast of characters, the show's structure of doing movie-length arcs makes the pacing completely binge-able.
For as divisive as the Star Wars fandom can get, and as much as a turn-off 3D animation may seem at first to those unfamiliar with it, once you settle into the groove of The Clone Wars, there will be no turning back as you plow through season after season of straightforward fun. It may just be the best Star Wars property out there, but you'll need to watch it before you can really argue one way or the other about that.
DC Universe - The DCAU
Rather than narrowing it down to one single show, why not make binging the DCAU at large its own project? Starting with Batman: The Animated Series and the brighter Superman: The Animated Series, the DCAU encompassed multiple shows and movies that are all available on DC's very own streaming service.
Watching one show right after the other fully pays off with Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, which were kind of the MCU of their day with callbacks to previous characters and plot points that only get better and better each time they come back. Finish the binge out with Batman Beyond to take a look at that future ahead of the characters you grew to love, and you couldn't ask for a more immersive and all-encompassing viewing experience.