Tom’s Guide writer Martin Shore picked seven favorites from 31 shows his December 2025 article says reached Netflix’s No. 1 watch position for at least a week during the year. The tally is the article’s, not an independently verified ranking: it does not specify the chart’s geography or methodology. These recommendations are an opinion list, not a ranked top seven.
What the “31 No. 1 shows” claim means
In a December 23, 2025 roundup, Martin Shore of Tom’s Guide said 31 shows had been Netflix’s No. 1 watch for at least one week in 2025, then named seven personal favorites. The article does not identify the chart’s geographic scope or explain what “No. 1 watch” measures, so the figure should be read as the source’s claim rather than a universal Netflix ranking. Its full list is alphabetical, not a ranking of the 31 titles. Read the Tom’s Guide roundup.
The seven favorites
Adolescence
This four-part limited drama, created by Philip Barantini, follows a family after 13-year-old Jamie (Owen Cooper) is arrested for murdering a fellow pupil. Shore praises the performances and craft, and describes the series as a breakout hit.
Nobody Wants This
Kristen Bell plays Joanne and Adam Brody plays Noah in this romantic comedy. Shore highlights the leads’ chemistry and the supporting cast, while noting that some story beats may feel familiar.
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Sirens
In this five-part dark comedy-drama, Devon DeWitt (Meghann Fahy) visits her sister Simone (Milly Alcock), who works as a live-in assistant to socialite Michaela Kell (Julianne Moore) at the Kells’ estate. Shore calls the series gripping, emotional and entertaining.
Stranger Things
Shore’s December 2025 selection focuses on season five, which returned at the end of November. He describes its first volume as setting up the final confrontation with Vecna. His article speculates that the remaining episodes might put the show back at No. 1 in the final weeks of 2025; that was a prediction at publication, not a confirmed result.
Rank #2
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The Beast in Me
This crime thriller stars Claire Danes as author Aggie Wiggs, who writes about her neighbor, real-estate developer Nile Jarvis (Matthew Rhys). Shore recommends it as a murder mystery.
Untamed
Set in Yosemite National Park, this six-episode mystery thriller follows Investigative Services Branch agent Kyle Turner (Eric Bana) as he hunts a killer amid the park’s secrets and his own past. Shore credits Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith and recommends the show for its character-driven mystery.
Rank #3
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Wednesday
Season two returns Wednesday Addams to Nevermore, where family complications accompany another dangerous mystery. Shore enjoyed its expanded production design and humor, as well as Jenna Ortega’s performance.
The full 31-show list in the article
Shore’s article lists these titles alphabetically. This reproduces that list; it is not an independent audit of Netflix rankings.
Rank #4
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- Adolescence
- American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson
- American Manhunt: Osama Bin Laden
- American Murder: Gabby Petito
- American Primeval
- Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing
- Black Rabbit
- Canelo vs. Crawford
- Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser
- Ginny & Georgia
- Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer
- Katrina: Come Hell and High Water
- Leanne Morgan: Unspeakable Things
- Monster: The Ed Gein Story
- Nobody Wants This
- Ransom Canyon
- Running Point
- Sean Combs: The Reckoning
- Sirens
- Squid Game
- Stranger Things
- Sullivan’s Crossing
- Surviving Black Hawk Down
- The Beast in Me
- The Four Seasons
- The Hunting Wives
- The Night Agent
- The Waterfront
- Untamed
- Wayward
- Wednesday
Which one should you start with?
Choose by mood rather than treating the seven as a ranked list. For a short, tightly focused drama, start with Adolescence or the five-part Sirens. If you want a mystery, try The Beast in Me or the Yosemite-set Untamed. For romance, Shore’s pick is Nobody Wants This; for a return to a continuing story, his choices include Stranger Things and Wednesday.
Availability can change by country and date. Check your local Netflix catalog before planning a watchlist.
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