Top 10 Anticipated Netflix Originals of 2020

Netflix isn’t dropping out of the Streaming War anytime soon. Welcome to WatchMojo and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Anticipated Netflix Originals of 2020.

For this list, we’re taking a look at the most anticipated new shows, as well as new seasons of current shows, hitting Netflix in 2020.

#10: “I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson” (2019-) – Season 2

Working on “SNL,” Tim Robinson pitched a bunch of ideas that didn’t make the cut. We can see why, as Robinson’s sense of humor is probably a bit too bizarre for network television. Netflix welcomes the surreal with open arms, however, making it the perfect home for this sketch comedy series. Produced by the Lonely Island, “I Think You Should Leave” can take an everyday scenario and turn it into a calamity of awkwardness. While the first season consisted of only 6 episodes – all of which clocked in at under 20 minutes – few shows packed more laughs per second in 2019. Season 2 is sure to offer more insane humor, surprise guest stars, and mud pies.

#9: “I Am Not Okay with This” (2017-) – Season 1

“The End of the F***ing World” is one of the most underrated shows on Netflix, which isn’t surprising since it’s based on underrated source material. As a matter of fact, series creator Jonathan Entwistle initially discovered Charles Forsman’s graphic novel in the garbage. This resulted in Entwistle and Forsman collaborating on the television adaptation, but their professional relationship didn’t stop there. “I Am Not Okay with This” is another twisted coming-of-age tale from Forsman, which Entistle leapt at the opportunity to direct. Sophia Lillis of “It” stars as a teenage girl who must juggle typical high school drama with her newfound superpowers. Given its young protagonist and supernatural twist, it’s no wonder producer Shawn Levy of “Stranger Things” was drawn to the project.

#8: “Dead to Me” (2019) – Season 2

If you still haven’t binged the first season of this addictive black comedy, we won’t delve too deep into spoilers. Let’s just say that every episode leaves us with a new twist and the Season 1 finale dropped the biggest bombshell yet. Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini make for an irresistible odd couple with one being an extreme pessimist and the other trying to find the silver lining in every situation. When these ladies lose someone close to them, they cope with their grief in polar opposite ways. Yet, both manage to bring out the humor in tragedy. For fans of “Weeds” and “Desperate Housewives,” “Dead to Me” is another series that pulls back the clean-cut curtain of suburbia to reveal the dirty laundry hanging out.

#7: “Cursed” (2020-) – Season 1

“The Witcher” isn’t the only fantasy series Netflix is hoping to fill the “Game of Thrones” void with. “Cursed” takes a page from the story of King Arthur, shifting the focus to the often-overlooked Lady of the Lake. Katherine Langford, who broke out into stardom as Hannah Baker on “13 Reasons Why”, stars as Nimue. Aided by the future king of Camelot, our heroine sets out in the wake of her mother’s death to deliver Excalibur to Merlin. Frank Miller and Tom Wheeler based “Cursed” on their illustrated YA novel, which they wrote simultaneously while developing this show. While we’ve seen various spins on the Arthurian legend before, the creator of “300” and co-writer of “Puss in Boots” are bound to turn in something unique.

#6: “Jupiter’s Legacy” (2020-) – Season 1

Netflix has officially given all of its Marvel shows the axe, but that doesn’t mean they’re giving up on superhero content. Steven S. DeKnight, the showrunner for the first season of “Daredevil,” is returning to Netflix to helm “Jupiter’s Legacy,” an adaptation of the comic series by Mark Millar and Frank Quitely. Josh Duhamel dons a Zeus-like beard and hairdo as The Union, one of several first gen superheroes who acquired their powers in the 1930s. Flash-forward to modern times, the OG heroes are still viewed as super royalty while their children, who also possess powers, live in their shadows. Like Netflix’s “The Umbrella Academy”, “Jupiter’s Legacy” should provide a balance of old-school and new-school to appease comic readers of every generation.

#5: “F is for Family” (2015-) – Season 4

Along with “BoJack Horseman” and “Big Mouth,” “F is for Family” has made Netflix one of the best streaming services for adult animation. When the show premiered in 2015, a cartoon about a dysfunctional American family was nothing new. What sets the Murphys apart from the Simpsons and Griffins, though, is that continuity plays a much larger role in their day to day lives. Season 3, for example, saw the family prepare for the arrival of Sue’s fourth child, who we’re still waiting to be born. The Murphys also developed a strenuous relationship with new neighbor Chet, taking us to some surprisingly dark places for an animated sitcom. Whatever the 1970s have in store for the Murphys next, we hope the show continues to mature.

#4: “Madam C. J. Walker” (2020-) – Season 1

Madam C. J. Walker might not be a household name today. But after this miniseries makes its debut, though, we have a feeling that there won’t be a Netflix subscriber who isn’t familiar with this unsung trailblazer. Through her groundbreaking work in black hair care, Walker became the first African-American woman to be a self-made millionaire. She didn’t get there without facing prejudice, rivalries, and family drama, which will be chronicled over the course of eight episodes. It’s been nearly a decade since Octavia Spencer won an Oscar for “The Help” and she might add a Primetime Emmy to her mantelpiece for her performance as the titular historic figure.

#3: “The Devil All the Time” (2020)

In addition to having a certified Emmy contender, we wouldn’t be shocked if “The Devil All the Time” brought Netflix some Oscar love. This film is based on Donald Ray Pollock’s award-winning novel, bringing a group of colorful characters together in the aftermath of World War II. Antônio Campos directs a promising cast that consists of Tom Holland, Mia Wasikowska, Robert Pattinson, and Sebastian Stan, just to name a few. Our confidence in the project is only strengthened by the producing credits, which includes big names like Jake Gyllenhaal. If the source material is any indication, we should be in store for a bleak and violent, yet compelling, ensemble piece.

#2: “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” (2015-19) Interactive Special

Although its final season wrapped up in 2019, we don’t have to say goodbye to Kimmy Schmidt just yet. Tina Fey has stated that this increasingly weird comedy series will “officially complete” with an interactive special. In the same vein as the “Black Mirror” film “Bandersnatch,” Kimmy, Titus, and the rest are embarking on a choose your own adventure story that’s governed by the viewer’s choices. It’s hard for a series finale to please everyone, as we all have our own ideas of how certain shows should end. This special gives the power to the viewers, potentially letting them decide how to conclude the story. Given what a quirky show “Kimmy Schmidt” is, the interactive angle seems like a natural fit.

Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before 2” (2020)

“Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous” (2020-) – Season 1

“Locke & Key” (2020-) – Season 1

“The Society” (2019-) – Season 2

“Coffee & Kareem (2020)

#1: “The Haunting of Bly Manor” (2020)

“The Haunting of Hill House” was an inspired modern reimagining of Shirley Jackson’s classic ghost story. Since this was a self-contained story, however, fans were unsure if they should bother screaming for more. It was later confirmed that this would be an anthology series with the second season entitled “The Haunting of Bly Manor.” The sophomore season draws inspiration from Henry James’ 1898 horror novella, “The Turn of the Screw.” Keeping with the theme of “Hill House,” this story also centers on children, their caretaker, and an estate that’s more than likely haunted. Similar to “American Horror Story,” “Bly Manor” sees the return of Victoria Pedretti and Oliver Jackson-Cohen in new roles, and we’re eager to see if any other Season 1 regulars pop up.