MomSkoop
Scrolling through Netflix can feel overwhelming when you’re staring at the same popular shows everyone’s already watched. But hidden beneath the surface are incredible movies and series that never got the attention they deserved. These underrated treasures offer amazing stories, unforgettable characters, and experiences that will make you wonder why you didn’t discover them sooner.
1. The Fall
Jamie Dornan transforms into a chilling serial killer in this psychological thriller that will keep your heart racing. Gillian Anderson plays the brilliant detective hunting him down through the streets of Belfast. The cat-and-mouse game between them creates unbearable tension that makes every episode feel like a puzzle you can’t stop solving.
What sets this show apart is how it explores the mind of a killer without glorifying his crimes. The storytelling is smart and sophisticated, treating viewers like intelligent observers rather than passive watchers. Each character feels real and flawed, making their decisions both frustrating and fascinating.
Fair warning: this isn’t background TV you can scroll through your phone while watching.
2. Dark
Imagine if time travel actually made sense and wasn’t just a cheap plot trick. This German masterpiece weaves together four generations of families in a small town where children keep disappearing. The mystery unfolds like a perfectly constructed clockwork machine, with every detail mattering more than you initially realize.
You’ll need a notebook or family tree chart to track all the connections, but that’s part of the fun. The show respects your intelligence and never dumbs down its complex narrative. Watching characters meet their past or future selves creates mind-bending moments that spark endless discussions.
Dubbed versions exist, but the original German audio with subtitles delivers the full emotional impact.
3. The Queen’s Gambit
Chess has never looked this exciting or stylish. Anya Taylor-Joy plays Beth Harmon, an orphan who discovers she’s a chess genius while battling personal demons. Her journey from lonely child to international champion feels both inspiring and heartbreaking, showing that talent alone doesn’t guarantee happiness.
The 1960s setting brings gorgeous costumes and set designs that make every frame look like a painting. Even if you’ve never played chess or understand the rules, the emotional stakes pull you in completely. Beth’s struggles with addiction and loneliness feel raw and honest, never sugar-coated for easy viewing.
This limited series proves that slow-burn storytelling can be just as gripping as action-packed blockbusters.
4. Midnight Mass
A mysterious priest arrives on a tiny island and miracles start happening. Sounds uplifting, right? Wrong. This horror series from Mike Flanagan slowly transforms from hopeful to terrifying as the community’s faith gets twisted into something darker. The slow pace might test your patience at first, but stick with it because the payoff is absolutely worth it.
What makes this special is how it tackles big questions about death, faith, and what we’re willing to sacrifice for eternal life. The cast delivers powerful monologues that feel more like intimate conversations than scripted dialogue. By the final episode, you’ll be emotionally exhausted in the best possible way.
Watch it late at night for maximum creepy atmosphere.
5. Arcane
Who knew a show based on a video game could be this gorgeous? Even if you’ve never heard of League of Legends, this animated series stands alone as a stunning work of art. Two sisters get torn apart by their city’s class warfare, creating a tragedy that feels Shakespearean in scope. Every frame looks like a painting that took months to create.
The animation style mixes 2D and 3D techniques in ways that push boundaries and redefine what TV animation can achieve. Characters feel deeply human despite being drawings, with facial expressions conveying emotions that live-action sometimes struggles to capture. Action sequences flow like carefully choreographed dances.
Animation fans and newcomers alike will find something to love here.
6. The OA
Brit Marling disappears for seven years and returns with her sight restored and a wild story about alternate dimensions. This show defies easy categorization, blending science fiction, mystery, and spiritual themes into something completely original. You’ll either become obsessed or completely confused—there’s rarely an in-between reaction.
The interpretive dance movements might seem weird at first, but they become crucial to the plot in unexpected ways. Each episode peels back another layer of mystery while adding new questions you didn’t know you had. The show got cancelled after two seasons, leaving fans devastated, but what exists is still worth experiencing.
Approach it with an open mind and willingness to embrace the strange.
7. Mindhunter
Before criminal profiling became standard practice, two FBI agents had to convince everyone it was worth doing. Set in the late 1970s, this show follows their interviews with imprisoned serial killers to understand how their minds work. The conversations are disturbing, fascinating, and sometimes darkly humorous in ways that feel uncomfortably real.
Director David Fincher brings his signature style to every episode, making even office conversations feel cinematic and tense. The acting is so natural that you forget you’re watching performers rather than actual FBI agents. Real-life killers like Ed Kemper appear as characters, with actors delivering performances that are both chilling and strangely charismatic.
True crime fans will devour this immediately.
8. Russian Doll
Nadia keeps dying and waking up at her 36th birthday party, forced to relive the same night over and over. Unlike other time-loop stories, this one uses the concept to explore trauma, choices, and how our past shapes who we become. Natasha Lyonne brings sharp wit and vulnerability to a character who hides deep pain behind sarcastic jokes.
Each loop reveals new details about Nadia’s life and the people around her, turning what seems like a simple mystery into something much deeper. The show balances dark comedy with genuine emotional moments that might make you tear up unexpectedly. New York City becomes almost like another character, with its energy and chaos reflecting Nadia’s internal state.
Short episodes make this perfect for binge-watching in one sitting.
9. Bodyguard
A war veteran with PTSD becomes the bodyguard for a controversial politician he fundamentally disagrees with. Richard Madden delivers a powerhouse performance as a man barely holding himself together while protecting someone who represents everything he’s come to question. The political intrigue and personal drama create constant tension that never lets up.
British television does thrillers differently than American shows, focusing more on psychological pressure than explosions and car chases. Every conversation feels loaded with hidden meanings and potential danger. The twists come fast but never feel cheap or unearned, respecting the intelligence of viewers who pay attention to details.
Six episodes tell a complete story without unnecessary padding or filler.
10. Maniac
Emma Stone and Jonah Hill participate in a pharmaceutical trial that promises to fix all their problems. Instead, they get trapped in bizarre dream worlds that blend their traumas in unpredictable ways. Each episode feels like a different movie, jumping between genres and time periods while maintaining an emotional core that keeps everything grounded.
The production design creates a retro-futuristic world that feels both familiar and completely alien, like an alternate 1980s where technology evolved differently. Director Cary Fukunaga brings visual flair that makes every frame interesting to look at. Despite all the weirdness, the show ultimately tells a touching story about two damaged people finding connection.
Patience pays off as seemingly random elements click into place beautifully.