3 Best New Netflix Series To Binge-Watch This Weekend (October 2–4, 2026)

Published Oct 2, 2026, 4:54 PM EDT Greg is a Lead TV Writer & Critic at Screen Rant with expertise in new streaming releases. He's published over 3000 articles at SR, including weekly recommendation guides and dozens of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. He previously worked in Development at ABC Television & Lawrence Bender Productions. Greg majored in Film Production at Chapman University's Dodge College. Greg also has years of broadcast TV production experience at major networks such as NBC, TNT, and ESPN. He currently lives in Greater Boston. The three best new Netflix series to binge-watch this weekend, October 2–4, 2026, include the return of a celebrated anime series, the debut of a massive multi-franchise collaboration, and a modern adaptation of one of the greatest American novels ever written. While Netflix's most-watched shows worldwide right now are Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story and Not A Stranger, these three series are the greatest current and upcoming options that Netflix has made available within the past few days for viewers at home to enjoy. The first series centers on a boy-meets-girl story with sports elements, somewhat similar to romantic dramas with competitive elements like Netflix's recent #1 hit, Crew Girl. The next series is a major animated streaming event that brings together a historic anime franchise with one of the most beloved toy and entertainment franchises existing today. The final series, and our top recommendation to binge this weekend, is a well-crafted adaptation of a monumental classic novel that hasn't been adapted for the screen in roughly 45 years. Blue Box After two years, Blue Box finally returns with its highly anticipated second season on Netflix this weekend, Sunday, October 4. The anime series combines elements of sports and romance, which casts a wide net for audiences who are looking for a more elevated love story. Blue Box season 1 brilliantly maintained its shared focus on both the competitive sports and budding romance, which season 2 will hope to continue. The series centers on a slow-burn romance between Taiki, a new badminton player, and Chinatsu, a star basketball player. Blue Box season 1 consists of 25 episodes, each 24 to 25 minutes long, for a total runtime of approximately 10 hours. Blue Box season 2 should follow a similar format and release schedule, dropping new episodes every Sunday exclusively on Netflix. While the series does not have an official Rotten Tomatoes score, it did earn an 8.0 IMDb score based on nearly 9500 ratings, which proves that it has a supportive and dedicated pre-existing fan base. If you consider yourself a fan of romantic anime, binge Blue Box season 1 ahead of season 2's debut. LEGO ONE PIECE LEGO ONE PIECE is a very short new animated series that just premiered on Netflix on Tuesday, September 29. With a total runtime of just over one hour, viewers can easily enjoy it from start to finish in just one sitting. LEGO ONE PIECE offers a retelling of the first two seasons of Netflix's ONE PIECE series, a live-action adaptation of what is considered to be one of the greatest anime ever made. While the LEGO series doesn't offer anything new narratively, it does bring its signature humor, style, and charm to the ONE PIECE universe. LEGO ONE PIECE surged to Netflix's #3 worldwide viewership spot in just a matter of days and should continue to hold its strong performance outlook throughout the first weekend of October. What's more, the animated series features many of the actors from the Netflix ONE PIECE series, adding a deeper sense of authenticity to the project. With its TV-Y7 rating, LEGO ONE PIECE is one of the best new streaming options on Netflix this weekend for the entire family to enjoy. East Of Eden East of Eden is by far and away the top new Netflix series to binge-watch this weekend. Consisting of seven episodes, East of Eden features a star-studded ensemble cast led by Florence Pugh, Mike Faist, Christopher Abbott, Hoon Lee, and more. Created by Zoe Kazan, the granddaughter of legendary filmmaker Elia Kazan, who directed the 1955 film adaptation of John Steinbeck's classic novel that helped make James Dean a nationwide icon, Netflix's East of Eden offers a more expansive and detailed portrayal of the source material. East of Eden debuted to strong reviews on its premiere date on Thursday, October 1, earning an 86% Rotten Tomatoes score and a 75% audience score. The series currently sits at Netflix's #4 worldwide spot and #2 in the U.S. and has a great chance of securing the #1 spot in both categories this weekend. With a total runtime of just under 7 hours, a fantastic ensemble, and a promising early reception, East of Eden is undoubtedly the best new series to binge-watch on Netflix this weekend.