Do want to watch people fall in love? Do you want to watch people fall off of stuff? Do you want to watch Billy Eichner yell at unsuspecting passersby just trying to live their damn lives in New York City? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you’re in the right place!
Finding quality reality TV can prove difficult for cable cutters, since much of it still airs live. Luckily, Netflix has a huge selection of reality programs ripe for the time wasting.
From The Casketeers to Rhythm + Flow, here are the 15 most binge-worthy reality shows now streaming on Netflix — ranked by just how much we think they’ll consume your life.
Note: All cooking shows (yes, including The Great British Baking Show) have been excluded on the basis that if we had included any of them, they would have to make up at least 10 entries. We’re also not listing any docuseries, because that isn’t “reality TV.”
20. The Big Flower Fight
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You ever want to zone out and look at a bunch of nice flowers? The Big Flower Fight is the show for you. Ten florists-slash-garden-artists compete in a series of whimsical trials that test their ability to make something beautiful into something even more beautiful, which is just as calming and aesthetically satisfying as it sounds.
How to watch: The Big Flower Fight Season 1 is now streaming on Netflix.
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Marie Kondo says it best in a Season 1 episode of Tidying Up: “I love mess.” Rather, she loves creating order out of that mess. Watching Kondo arrive in the houses of some extremely disorganized people and generate harmony from their piles of junk is not only psychologically pleasing — it might even inspire its viewers to make some changes in their own lives.
How to watch: Tidying Up with Marie Kondo Season 1 is now streaming on Netflix.
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The term “surprise wedding” sounds like a complete nightmare, but Say I Do makes the idea of proposing, planning, and springing a wedding on one’s significant other in less than a week seem like the peak of romance. Part of the show’s charm comes from its uplifting message — that true love deserves to be celebrated in all forms — and the rest comes from its amazing three-man panel of experts who create marriage magic for the adorable couples. Grab a pack of tissues and watch the love unfold.
How to watch: Say I Do Season 1 is now streaming on Netflix.
17. Ultimate Beastmaster
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A zanier take on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior, Ultimate Beastmaster pits international athletes against one of the hardest obstacle courses ever constructed. Then, they face each other.
Each episode, the competitor with the highest score is named “The Beast.” Then, at the season’s end, nine Beasts compete on a new course to become [insert intense techno] THE BEASTMASTER. With commentary featuring tons of spectacular hosts from across the globe, Ultimate Beastmaster is essentially the Olympics of reality TV…if the Olympics were pretty dumb.
How to watch: Ultimate Beastmaster Seasons 1-3 are now streaming on Netflix.
16. Billy on the Street
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Chances are you’ve already treated yourself to a Billy on the Street clip binge. Now, enjoy the Funny or Die masterpiece in its full-length format.
With help from celebrities like Stephen Colbert, Amy Poehler, and Keegan Michael-Key, comedian Billy Eichner takes to the streets of New York City to ask people questions they often don’t want to answer. Netflix only has Seasons 2 through 5 of the series, but those are some of its best. Embrace the nostalgia of Eichner’s early 2010s comedy stylings and you’ll have a blast.
How to watch: Billy on the Street Seasons 2-5 are now streaming on Netflix.
15. Next in Fashion
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Next in Fashion takes the fashion-focused competition popularized by Project Runway and throws the curveballs out the window, allowing designers to focus on creating their best outfits possible without anything to hold them back. The designers themselves all have strong backgrounds, although they aren’t quite household names, and they’re competing to win $250,000 and a retail deal.
Hosts Tan France and Alexa Chung bring a fun dose of humor to this series which highlights inclusive fashion. With just one, 10-episode season, Next in Fashion is an easy binge for a lazy weekend.
How to watch: Next in Fashion Season 1 is now streaming on Netflix.
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A social media competition that starts boring and ends batshit, The Circle is an acquired taste.
Split into twelve episodes, this blend of Fox Reality’s Solitary and MTV’s Catfish tasks contestants with winning over strangers through a platform called The Circle. They can play as themselves or play as someone else, all that matters is gaining influence and inching closer to that $100,000 prize.
How to watch: The Circle Season 1 is now streaming on Netflix.
13. Dating Around
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Netflix’s first original dating show may be packaged in romantic cinematography, but make no mistake: Dating Around can get just as a dramatic as ABC’s The Bachelor.
Contestants — diverse in age, race, and sexuality but universally unlucky in love — head out for a night in New York City. Each participant then goes on one date, identical to all others contestants’ (all eat at the same restaurant, go to the same bar, etc.), and focus on sparking a connection with the episode’s eligible bachelor or bachelorette. There are intimate conversations, surprising accusations, and lots of awkward pauses. You’ll fall in love.
How to watch: Dating Around Season 1 is now streaming on Netflix.
12. Skin Wars
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Follow me: Competitive. Body. Painting.
Hosted by actress and model Rebecca Romijn, Skin Wars chronicles a group of talented artists as they take on challenges involving human canvases. The winner of each season walks away with a one-year supply of speciality paints, the opportunity to appear as a featured artist at an international body painting trade show, and a cash prize of $100,000.
If you love Skin Wars and all its crevice covering, nipple disguising action, also check out Skin Wars: Fresh Paint. Hosted by RuPaul, this spin-off series sees Skin Wars winners train newbie artists to body paint for the first time. It goes about as badly as you’d expect.
How to watch: Skin Wars Seasons 1-3 are now streaming on Netflix.
11. Amazing Interiors
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Seemingly based on the old adage “don’t judge a book by its cover,” Netflix’s Amazing Interiors visits unassuming buildings that hide spectacular secrets.
From a house that doubles as an aquarium to a steampunk wonderland, the locations featured on this show are as breathtaking as they are memorable. Each episode runs a little under a half hour, the perfect background noise or pre-bed show to bring into your home.
As a bonus, check out Interior Design Masters, a British competition series that tasks ten artists with reimagining commercial spaces like restaurants, model homes, and store fronts. The winner walks away with a high-profile commercial contract to redesign a bar at a London hotel.
How to watch: Amazing Interiors Season 1 is now streaming on Netflix.
10. Slobby’s World
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The internet-famous owner of Generation Cool, a vintage store in Tucson, Arizona, Robert Hall (aka “Slobby Robby”) stars in a Pawn Stars-esque show capturing Hall’s passion for ’80s and ’90s memorabilia.
Surprisingly sweet and unspeakably strange, Slobby’s World is one of Netflix’s weirder corners. You’ll have so many questions about this man. Many will go unanswered. But you’ll be treated to glimpses at plenty of cool collectibles and a portrait of one guy who screams passion along the way.
How to watch: Slobby’s World Season 1 is now streaming on Netflix.
9. Last Chance U
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For young, talented football players hoping to make it to Division I or the NFL but found themselves in a bit of trouble, a handful of junior colleges in the United States offer them a last chance to turn their lives around and put them on a path to success. Last Chance U focuses on a few different junior college football programs, primarily East Mississippi Community College, and the players who have found themselves there.
Each season focuses on a year of a school’s program and gives us an in-depth look at these kids who either couldn’t get into DI school or were kicked out for one reason or another. Sometimes it’s because of their grades, other times its issues with the law. It’s an intimate look at some of the least privileged youth in America getting an opportunity to make it to the top.
How to watch: Last Chance U Seasons 1-5 are now streaming on Netflix.
8. Blown Away
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Follow me (again): Competitive. Glassblowing.
In the back-breaking world of glass arts, the stakes couldn’t be higher. One wrong move and an award-winning masterpiece can become worthless shards in seconds. For the competitors in Blown Away, the pressure is on to nail weekly challenges and progress closer to the coveted titled of “Best in Glass.” There’s screaming, there’s crying, there’s a whole bunch of people casually saying “glory hole,” all next to a 2,000-degree furnace.
How to watch: Blown Away Season 1 is now streaming on Netflix.
7. Fastest Car
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Man, f*ck the rich. In this Netflix auto-racing series, owners of luxury supercars go up against “sleeper cars” (older models improved by skilled gear heads) in a quarter-mile race for a chance at the season championship.
It’s high speed and high intrigue, as viewers guess which racer will reign supreme. Trust me when I say, even if you’re not “into” racing, nothing beats a 1992 Honda Civic stomping a Lamborghini.
How to watch: Fastest Car Seasons 1-2 are now streaming on Netflix.
6. Death by Magic
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Magician Drummond Money-Coutts (aka “DMC”) takes his job very seriously.
An escape artist with decades of experience, DMC knows all too well how stunts and tricks can go wrong. In his Netflix series Death by Magic, the daredevil illusionist attempts feats with a proven track record of killing those who attempt them. The result is a fist-clenching, teeth-grinding fiasco as utterly nerve-racking as it is impressive.
Not interested in watching a dude almost die? You can also check out former Cupcake Wars host Justin Willman’s show Magic for Humans, also on Netflix.
How to watch: Death by Magic Season 1 is now streaming on Netflix.
5. Rhythm + Flow
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Netflix’s first original music competition show is basically American Idol, but waaay more badass.
Celebrity judges T.I., Chance the Rapper, and Cardi B (with help from guests including Snoop Dogg, DJ Khaled, and Ty Dolla $ign) scout the cities of Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, and Chicago in hopes of discovering raw talent in the world of hip hop. The criticism is excellent, albeit occasionally vicious, and the good performances are really, really good.
Buckle up, pick a favorite, and see who wins the $250,000 grand prize.
How to watch: Rhythm + Flow Season 1 is now streaming on Netflix.
4. Love Is Blind
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Love Is Blind combines the best of Dating in the Dark, Bachelor in Paradise, and Married at First Sight with just a sprinkle of Trading Spaces and Say Yes to the Dress.
As hosts Nick and Vanessa Lachey explain, the matchmaking experiment begins with a pool of contestants getting to know each other via “pods,” adjoining rooms where they can talk to their hearts’ content but never see who they’re dating.
If they agree to get engaged, the participants are allowed to meet face-to-face — where both their personalities and appearances can shine. Then, mayhem ensues. Weddings are planned, hearts are broken, dental hygiene is discussed. Swoon.
How to watch: Love Is Blind Season 1 is now streaming on Netflix.
3. Bling Empire
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Billed as the reality show version of Crazy Rich Asians, Bling Empire delivers on the glitz and glamor of its wealthy subjects by offering a peek into their opulent lives. Pool parties, trips to Europe, shopping sprees, and closets to die for are typical rich people reality show standards, but Bling Empire’s charming cast keeps this show a cut above the rest.
How to watch: Bling Empire Season 1 is now streaming on Netflix.
2. The Casketeers
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A reality show centering on husband and wife Francis and Kaiora Tipene, The Casketeers records the challenges and rewards that come with owning a small business — in this case, a funeral home.
Turns out, Tipene Funerals, located in New Zealand, is a hot-bed for drama, antics, and spectacular combinations of the two. Surprisingly lively and respectful of the deceased people featured, The Casketeers is a reality universe that will suck you in for the long haul. Seasons 1 and 2 are now streaming on Netflix. Season 3 began airing on TVNZ 1 earlier this month.
How to watch: The Casketeers Seasons 1-2 are now streaming on Netflix.
1. Awake: The Million Dollar Game
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So, a whole bunch of people count quarters for 24 hours. Thousands and thousands of dollars worth of quarters. No paper, no pen, no breaks, no naps. Then, the competition begins.
In Awake: The Million Dollar Game, these sleep-deprived contestants must take part in Minute to Win It-style challenges designed to exploit their exhaustion. (As an example, in Episode 1, participants are tasked with chugging frozen drinks because sleep deprivation makes you more sensitive to temperature.)
There are a dozen caveats round to round, made ten times more spectacular by just how tired everyone. Logic goes out the window, coordination is a no show, emotional stability is mixed.
Just…watch this. Episode are 40 minutes. It’ll change your life. You’re welcome.
How to watch: Awake: The Million Dollar Game Season 1 is now streaming on Netflix.
Honorable Mention: Prank Encounters
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It’s Punk’d, if Punk’d took place in a bad horror movie.
In this elaborate prank show, 17-year-old Gaten Matarazzo of Stranger Things fame terrorizes unsuspecting adults who answered wanted ads for one-night-only jobs. An example? In the first episode, a babysitter and a donation pickup volunteer (both the ones getting pranked) are terrorized by a talking teddy bear that springs to life and chases them down a hallway.
If hidden-camera shows aren’t your thing, Prank Encounters will hardly convince you. (There are better ones out there, to be sure.) But watching surprised victims desperately try to call Matarazzo anything other than “that kid from Stranger Things” is always hilarious.
How to watch: Prank Encounters Season 1 is now streaming on Netflix.