4 insane Netflix series you must watch before school starts

Published Aug 15, 2026, 12:15 PM EDT After graduating from Marist University with a degree in communications and journalism, Dan Girolamo has over 10 years of experience writing about entertainment and sports. Dan's work can be seen in various publications, including Digital Trends, SportsCasting, and Tom's Guide. Throughout his career, Dan has interviewed several high-profile filmmakers and creatives, including Brendan Fraser, Jamie Lee Curtis, Caitriona Balfe, Frank Grillo, Miranda Cosgrove, Jai Courtney, Chris Columbus and James Cameron. Dan joins How-To Geek as a Senior Editor. When he's not writing about entertainment, Dan is either watching a movie or praying for the New York Knicks to win a championship. Nothing starts a conversation faster with high school or college kids than an addictive Netflix series. These shows will spark debates that should spread across campus. It's the kind of show where, if you don't watch, you'll feel completely left out. I felt that way when Stranger Things first premiered and it became a true word-of-mouth show. Which insane Netflix series will everybody be talking about this school year? Some of these shows have already come out and occupied spots in the weekly top 10. Others have premiere dates coming up, which is perfect for those who haven't started classes yet. Either way, add these four shows to your Netflix queue so you're ready to discuss when the time is right. I Will Find You Harlan Coben is back with another mystery At this point, Netflix's tagline should be "Harlan Coben makes shows here." The prolific author's novels have inspired over a dozen Netflix shows, and they typically revolve around mysteries and thrillers. His latest show, I Will Find You, might be his craziest to date. David Burroughs (Sam Worthington) is currently serving a life sentence for murdering his son. The only problem? David did not commit this crime. David's ex-sister-in-law, Rachel Mills (Britt Lower), visits him in prison with a shocking revelation—David's son might still be alive. The small chance that his son might still be alive is enough for David to break out of prison, find his boy, and figure out who might have wanted him behind bars. These eight episodes fly by as you'll be racing to the finish to get answers. I Will Find You is now the ninth-most-watched English-language show on Netflix, so there's a strong likelihood one of your friends at school has seen this show. I Will Find You Release Date 2026 - 2026-00-00 Outer Banks Pogues for Life Outer Banks is two shows combined into one. One part of the show is a coming-of-age journey for some scrappy high school kids, known as the Pogues. These Pogues love to spend their days surfing, drinking, and messing with the rich residents ("Kooks") of the town. The other show is a treasure-hunting adventure that channels the spirit of a 1980s Amblin movie. I thoroughly enjoy both versions of the series. The Pogues are set to embark on one last adventure in the fifth and final season. After the death of JJ in Morocco, John B (Chase Stokes) and the Pogues have reached rock bottom. The group faces threats on multiple fronts as they try to get back home. However, what the Pogues really want is Chandler Groff (J. Anthony Crane), who killed JJ and has the Blue Crown. Outer Banks is the perfect thrill ride to cap off the summer before school starts. Outer Banks season 5 premieres on August 20, 2026. The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare Tragedy rocks the campus Unfortunately, true crime documentaries that deal with tragedy often trend on Netflix. I remember when Making a Murderer first premiered in December 2015. It was all anyone could talk about during the holiday season. While not as popular as Making a Murderer, The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare has sparked powerful discussions, propelling it to No. 1 in Netflix's most recent Top 10. In November 2022, college students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin were found dead in an off-campus home near the University of Idaho. Authorities launched an investigation, eventually arresting a suspect nearly two months later. It's interesting to see this documentary focus on grief and trauma instead of glorifying the perpetrator. It's a fascinating documentary, especially if you're watching it as a current college student. Subscription with ads Yes, $8/month Simultaneous streams Two or four The Gentlemen Guy Ritchie's movie gets a wild TV adaptation Calling all Guy Ritchie fans—the filmmaker is thriving on television. Prime Video's Young Sherlock was a fun chapter in the story of the world's most famous detective. On Netflix, Ritchie has The Gentlemen, a TV adaptation of his 2019 crime comedy of the same name. Don't worry—the show still features Ritchie's witty dialogue, fast pacing, and hilarious quips. After the death of his wealthy father, Eddie Horniman (Theo James) returns home and inherits the family estate. Thinking he'll just sell the estate and move on with his life, Eddie discovers that his father was part of a lucrative cannabis business, where a farm beneath the estate is being used to grow cannabis. With the help of Susie Glass (Kaya Scodelario), Eddie quickly becomes embroiled in a criminal empire, but much to his dismay, he comes to like being a gangster. This is another example of me calling my shot, because season 2 premieres this September. That means you can use Labor Day weekend to binge the series, so you're ready to talk about the madness Eddie experienced in the show's second season. The Gentlemen season 2 premieres on September 3, 2026. Shows outside Netflix that you need to add to your watchlist One of the new shows I'm looking forward to most is Lanterns, which will air on HBO Max. Though it's a DC Universe show, it feels more grounded and resembles one of my favorite TV seasons, True Detective season 1. Elsewhere, I'm heading to Prime Video to watch Reacher season 4, which promises to be explosive and action-packed.