Top 10 Netflix Live Action Adaptations

Nearly 60 years after the Addams Family was first adapted to live-action, the kooky and spooky characters returned for a hit series. Season 1 of the show mainly focused on Wednesday Addams as she tried to find a killer that hunted prey near a school for outcasts. Despite its dark premise, the show still had the black comedy and quirky characters that made the source material famous. Jenna Ortega was particularly praised for her portrayal of the gloomy series lead. Her strong performance and an extremely viral dance scene helped the show become massively popular. Since Wednesday gets visions of the future, maybe she can predict if the gothic series will continue to be a massive hit in the years to come.

Based on a South Korean webtoon, this horror series follows a group of students that are forced to deal with a zombie outbreak. While there are plenty of great scares and action sequences, the show’s cast really shines. The actors make each of their characters so distinct and interesting that you really care whether they live, die, or become undead. They all starred in a zombie drama that scared up millions of hours of viewership within just a month. After making a strong debut, “All of Us Are Dead” secured itself a second season on the platform. We’re willing to bet that fans will continue to run, not shamble towards more installments of this zombie story.

How did a massive streaming service get general audiences interested in chess? First, Netflix made the bold move of adapting “The Queen’s Gambit” novel. Secondly, the streamer got the talented Anya Taylor-Joy to play an excellent chess player who struggled with personal demons. Netflix also gave the series a limited run that lets the story take its time to build up to a climactic final match without overstaying its welcome. The combination of an engrossing lead, unique subject matter, and perfect length, lead to a series of massive wins for the platform. Not only did “Anya Taylor-Joy” earn a Golden Globe, but Netflix won an Emmy for the series. Years later, Queen’s Gambit still stands as one of the streamer’s most beloved miniseries.

Within the world of “Sweet Tooth”, human babies with animal characteristics were born around the same time a virus devastated this world. This led many people to believe that the kids may be the source of the earth’s problems. After everything falls apart, a ten-year-old hybrid named Gus sets on a journey to see if he has any family left in this embattled world. The story takes cues from the more mature comic books while also adding lighter scenes. It also became more poignant in the wake of the real-life 2020 pandemic. Throughout its run, “Sweet Tooth” received warm reviews and several awards. Its high quality and resonance with modern times made it into a big treat for fans of the fantasy genre.

After decades of failed attempts to bring this fantasy to life, fans got the adaptation of their dreams. “The Sandman” shows a world thrown out of balance because the ruler of the sleeping realm was imprisoned for a century. Upon escaping from his jail, Morpheus journeys to reclaim what he’s lost and to stop a terrible nightmare. Thanks to excellent production design, viewers get scenes that look like they were ripped right out of the comics. “The Sandman” also has an incredible ensemble cast that embodies and elevates beloved characters from the original comics. When the show debuted, it quickly climbed the ranks and enjoyed a three week reign on the top of the most watched list. This “Sandman” adaptation was definitely worth the wait.

The romance genre got a big boost with the release of this steamy drama. Set in the 1800s, the series follows members of the Bridgerton family trying to find love while dealing with societal norms. Audiences were drawn in by the chemistry between the leads, period setting, and strong performances. After taking the world by storm in season 1, the show soared to the top of the Netflix charts when it returned in 2022. “Bridgerton” also picked up a number of Emmy nominations and managed to spawn a highly successful spin off as well. At this rate, it doesn’t seem like anything can stop this romantic dynasty from continuing to rule the platform.

A typical day for a trio of friends in Tokyo got turned upside down when they walked out into the city and appeared to be the only ones left. To make matters stranger, they’re then forced to play high stakes games in order to stay alive. The tense and mysterious atmosphere of the show perfectly reflects the feel of the original manga series. Meanwhile, the actors deliver outstanding performances that keep us invested in the outcome of each game. Both viewers and critics showered the thriller with praise. Thanks to a strong debut, “Alice In Borderland” was renewed for a second season just a few weeks after it arrived on Netflix. Who knew that bringing this series into live-action would be such a sure bet?

While the thought of turning an iconic children’s series into a show sounds daunting, the creative team for “A Series of Unfortunate Events” made it look easy. The show nimbly adapted 13 novels in just three seasons. It covered an impressive amount of material without comprising any character development. Throughout the series, the orphaned trio of Sunny, Klaus, and Violet each get to grow and accept their ever changing lives. At the same time, Neil Patrick Harris constantly entertained as the devious Count Olaf. They’re all tied together in a narrative with an offbeat tone that feels wonderfully fresh. During its run, the series got tons of rave reviews from fans and critics. It’s safe to say that fortune smiled on this adaptation.

Upon hearing that their guardian/pseudo father figure died, a family of extremely dysfunctional superheroes reunited after years apart. Shortly after coming together, the students of the Umbrella Academy learn that they must use their abilities to prevent the end of the world. The show wonderfully balanced big stakes with smaller scenes of family drama. Although the heroes make lots of mistakes, all the Umbrella Academy students are incredibly loveable and endearing. The stellar character arcs ensured that each of the powerful heroes felt human throughout the show’s run. “Umbrella Academy” managed to receive consistent critical acclaim even after it went further than its source material had. And judging by its extraordinarily high viewership numbers, audiences everywhere kept wanting to enroll in this superhero school.

Fans were incredibly skeptical that the large and legendary story about a ragtag group of Pirates could be properly adapted into live-action. Fortunately, all doubts were erased once this show set sail. Throughout season 1, the writers of “One Piece” expertly condensed sprawling plotlines into smaller adventures. The shorter stories managed preserve the impact and emotion of the source material. They’re also full of great action scenes that were brought to life with a great combination of special effects and practical stunts. And last but not least, Iñaki Godoy won everyone over with his positively perfect portrayal of Monkey D. Luffy. He and his fantastic cast members led a strong adaptation that definitely did “One Piece” justice.


What’s your favorite live-action Netflix show? Shout it out in the comments below.