Ten years ago, Netflix wasn’t just a streaming service — it was becoming a television studio. In 2016, the platform crossed 75 million subscribers and dropped some of the most iconic originals in its history. Here’s a look back at the shows and films celebrating their 10th anniversary in 2026.
Table of Contents
All 11 Netflix Originals Turning 10
| Title | Genre | Notable Cast/Note |
|---|---|---|
| Stranger Things | Sci-Fi Thriller | Millie Bobby Brown; Netflix’s biggest franchise |
| The Crown | Historical Drama | Claire Foy; Emmy-winning prestige drama |
| Black Mirror (S3) | Anthology Sci-Fi | San Junipero, Nosedive; only active show on list |
| Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life | Drama/Comedy | Lauren Graham; revival with famous final four words |
| Fuller House | Family Sitcom | Ran 5 seasons; nostalgia hit |
| The Ranch | Comedy Drama | Ashton Kutcher; 80 episodes — longest-running Netflix Original |
| Chelsea | Talk Show | Chelsea Handler; 3x weekly global release |
| 3% | Dystopian Thriller | Netflix’s first Brazilian Original |
| Marseille | Political Drama | Gérard Depardieu; Netflix’s first French Original |
| The Fundamentals of Caring | Dramedy | Paul Rudd; hidden gem road trip film |
| Tallulah | Drama | Elliot Page, Allison Janney; Sian Heder’s directorial debut |
The Shows That Defined a Streaming Era
Stranger Things is the headline act. When the Duffer Brothers’ love letter to the 80s dropped on July 15, 2016, nobody could have predicted the cultural phenomenon it would become. A decade later, after concluding its main run in late 2025, it remains Netflix’s biggest homegrown franchise and turned its young cast into superstars.
The Crown represented Netflix’s biggest prestige gamble at the time. With a rumoured budget of $100 million for its first season, the show brought high-end British drama to a global audience — Claire Foy’s portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II set a gold standard that the series maintained across multiple cast refreshes and Emmy wins.
Black Mirror Season 3 holds a special distinction on this list. Originally a Channel 4 series from 2011, it made a massive jump to Netflix in 2016 with some of its best-ever episodes — including Nosedive, San Junipero, and Shut Up and Dance. It remains the only active show on this list, with a Season 8 renewal already confirmed.
3% quietly changed everything. As Netflix’s first Brazilian original, this dystopian thriller proved that high-concept sci-fi didn’t need a Hollywood address to find a global audience — paving the way for future hits like Squid Game and Dark.
Tallulah deserves more recognition. Starring Elliot Page and Allison Janney, it marked the directorial debut of Sian Heder — who would later win an Academy Award for CODA — and showed Netflix was a genuine contender on the awards circuit. whats-on-netflix
The Ranch quietly became one of the platform’s most resilient shows. Reuniting That ’70s Show stars Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson, it uniquely blended a laugh-track multi-cam sitcom format with dark, adult themes — ultimately running for 80 episodes, making it one of Netflix’s longest-running originals ever. whats-on-netflix
Netflix crossing 75 million subscribers in 2016 wasn’t just a stat — it was the moment the streaming wars truly began.
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FAQs
Q1. Which Netflix Original from 2016 is still active in 2026?
Black Mirror is the only show from the 2016 class still producing new content — with Season 8 confirmed, making it the longest continuously running Netflix Original from that era.
Q2. What was Netflix’s biggest achievement in 2016?
Beyond launching iconic shows, Netflix simultaneously switched on service in 130 new countries in January 2016 and crossed 75 million subscribers — the year that truly transformed it from a distributor into a global production powerhouse.
