Picture Credit: Netflix
It’s hard to believe, but 2026 marks exactly one decade since Netflix truly transitioned from a “content distributor” to a global production powerhouse, significantly ramping up in all areas. While the platform had hits before, 2016 was the year that changed everything—introducing us to the Upside Down, the Royal family, and its first major steps into international local-language originals.
2016 also had a few other remarkable events in Netflix’s history. On January 6, 2016, Reed Hastings famously took the stage at CES in Las Vegas and pulled off one of the biggest “drop the mic” moments in tech history. While he was speaking, Netflix officially switched on its service in 130 new countries simultaneously.
The company crossed the 75 million subscriber milestone early in the year and neared 90 million by the end of it. Revenue topped $2 billion in a single quarter for the first time ever in Q3, fueled largely by the breakout success of a little show called Stranger Things, which we’ll speak about below. Netflix’s DVD business was on the decline by this point, and it was rebranded to DVD.com, A Netflix Company.
2016 was also the first year subscribers could download titles to devices for offline viewing, and it was the year that Netflix’s first-window deal with Disney began in the United States.
It was also the year the red ribbon N letter was introduced, which is still used today, every time you open the app or begin watching a Netflix Original.
Awards-wise, Netflix scooped up 56 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, going on to win 9, with Making a Murder being the biggest winner. Netflix received two Academy Award® nominations across two films.
If you missed our equivalent article for 2025, we covered all the 2015 Originals celebrating a decade, including The Ridiculous 6, Beasts of No Nation, Grace and Frankie, Daredevil, and more.
But what major Netflix Originals are turning 10 in 2026? Let’s take a look at the most notable.
Black Mirror (Season 3)
Picture Credit: Netflix
It was in 2011 when Black Mirror officially aired its first episode on Channel 4 but 2026 will mark the 10-year anniversary of when it made the massive jump to Netflix with the arrival of the third season of the show which featured some of the show’s best all-time episodes including Nosedive with Bryce Dallas, San Junipero with Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Mackenzie Davis and Shup Up and Dance with Alex Lawther and Jerome Flynn.
Black Mirror on this list holds the record as the only active show and, technically, the oldest ongoing show on Netflix, following its season 8 renewal at the beginning of this year and the conclusion of Stranger Things last year.
Stranger Things
Picture Credit: Netflix
The summer of 2016 belonged to Hawkins, Indiana. When the Duffer Brothers’ love letter to the 80s dropped on July 15, nobody could have predicted the cultural phenomenon it would become. A decade later, the series has concluded its main run, but its impact on the streaming landscape is permanent and is still regarded as Netflix’s biggest homegrown franchise, at least on the English-language side. It turned its young cast into superstars and proved that Netflix could create a massive “tentpole” franchise from scratch and concluded with an almighty bang in late 2025.
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
Picture: Warner Bros Television / Netflix
Nostalgia was a major theme in 2016, and nothing hit quite like the return to Stars Hollow. This four-part revival brought Lorelai and Rory back ten years after the original series ended. While it remains a point of debate among fans (those final four words!), it was a massive viewership win and proved that Netflix was the premier destination for reviving beloved “dormant” IPs. As we’ve been covering, the rights to both this reboot and the initial series are coming up for renewal later this year – it’ll be interesting to see if Netflix opts to renew or not.
Fuller House
Picture Credit: Netflix / Warner Bros. Television
Speaking of nostalgia, Fuller House debuted in early 2016. While critics weren’t always kind, the “Fannerinos” showed up in droves. It was a massive hit for the platform’s family programming, running for five seasons and setting the stage for how Netflix would approach multi-cam sitcoms in the years to follow. Similar to Gilmore Girls, this was another early pickup Netflix made, relying on IP from the Warner Bros. vault.
The Crown
Picture Credit: Netflix
In November 2016, Netflix took its biggest “prestige” gamble yet. With a rumored budget of $100 million for its first season, The Crown brought high-end British drama to a global audience. Claire Foy’s portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II set a gold standard for the series, which would go on to win dozens of Emmys and navigate decades of Royal history before finally bowing out with a cast that refreshed every two seasons.
The Ranch
Picture Credit: Netflix
Another major sitcom experiment from 2016 was The Ranch. Reuniting That ’70s Show stars Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson (initially), the series was notable for its unique format: a multi-cam sitcom with a laugh track, but with the “adult” language and dark themes usually reserved for prestige dramas. It was one of the first shows to really target the “Red State” demographic and it worked. The show, not without a few bumps along the way, ultimately ran for 80 episodes, which leaves it still to this day as one of the longest-running Netflix Originals. Sam Elliott and Debra Winger were among the other well-known faces that appeared.
Chelsea
Picture Credit: Netflix
Netflix’s attempt to disrupt the late-night talk show circuit began with Chelsea Handler. Chelsea was a massive logistical undertaking, airing three times a week across the globe simultaneously. While the format was eventually retired in favor of stand-up specials and documentaries, it represented the platform’s early ambition to own every corner of the television dial, which it’d revisit, unsuccessfully, a few more times in its history, and arguably, it’s still never nailed. While the show no longer resides on Netflix itself, many of the clips can be found on YouTube, which is kind of illustrative of where this content performs best.
3%
Picture Credit: Netflix
This was a monumental release as Netflix’s first-ever Brazilian original. This dystopian thriller proved that high-concept sci-fi didn’t need a Hollywood zip code to find a global audience. Its success paved the way for future global hits like Squid Game and Dark, showing that subtitles were no longer a barrier for the “Netflix Generation.”
Marseille
If 3% was the success story, Marseille was the learning experience. As Netflix’s first French original, starring Gérard Depardieu, it was a major swing at political drama. While it received a chilly reception from French critics, it was an essential step in Netflix’s journey toward becoming a truly localized global studio.
The Fundamentals of Caring
Picture Credit: Netflix
This is widely considered one of Netflix’s best early “indie-style” acquisitions. It features a great performance by Paul Rudd and helped establish the platform as a home for heartwarming, high-quality dramedies. A decade later, it remains a “must-watch” hidden gem in the library for those looking for a grounded, emotional road-trip story.
Tallulah
Starring Elliot Page and Allison Janney, this film premiered at Sundance and brought serious “prestige” energy to Netflix’s library. It’s a heavy-hitting drama that showed the platform was a serious contender for awards-circuit content and marked the directorial debut of Sian Heder, who would later win an Oscar for CODA (for Apple TV).
What’s your favorite show from 2016 still streaming on Netflix? Let us know in the comments.
