You might not know it yet, but Disney+ has a surprising amount of quality dramas available for streaming, again affirming my belief that Disney+ is underrated. I’ve narrowed the 291 dramas to 62 of the best including award winners – all of which scored 7 or higher on IMDb. My personal recommendations are 24, Atlanta, The Bear, Prison Break, Scrubs, Only Murders in the Building, Catastrophe and Back to Life.
More best dramas to stream:
Dramas On Channel 4 ~ Dramas On ITVX ~ Dramas On BBC iPlayer ~ Dramas On Sky And Now TV ~ Apple TV+ Dramas
The West Wing (1999–2006) – IMDb 8.7
Aaron Sorkin’s Emmy-winning political drama stars Martin Sheen and Allison Janney as White House staffers navigating policy, crisis, and idealism with rapid-fire dialogue and moral weight.
Downton Abbey (2010–2015) – IMDb 8.7
Julian Fellowes’ period juggernaut charts the lives of aristocrats and servants in a Yorkshire estate, with Maggie Smith’s acerbic wit and sweeping historical turns.
This Is Us (2016–2022) – IMDb 8.7
Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, and Milo Ventimiglia anchor this Emmy-winning family saga that interweaves timelines to explore love, loss, and legacy.
Justified (2010–2015) – IMDb 8.6
Timothy Olyphant stars as a trigger-happy US Marshal enforcing justice in Kentucky coal country, in this neo-Western adapted from Elmore Leonard’s stories.
Shameless (UK, 2004–2013) – IMDb 8.6
David Threlfall leads this Manchester-set dramedy about the chaotic Gallagher family, blending social realism with dark humour and working-class grit.
Atlanta (2016–2023) – IMDb 8.6
Donald Glover’s genre-defying series follows an aspiring rapper and his cousin through surreal, satirical slices of Black life in modern-day Atlanta.
Sons of Anarchy (2008–2014) – IMDb 8.5
Charlie Hunnam and Katey Sagal star in this Shakespearean biker drama about loyalty, violence, and the unraveling of a California motorcycle club.
24 (2001–2010) – IMDb 8.5
Kiefer Sutherland’s Jack Bauer races against the clock in this real-time thriller, blending terrorism plots, political intrigue, and relentless tension.
The Bear (2022– ) – IMDb 8.4
Jeremy Allen White stars as a fine-dining chef returning to run his late brother’s sandwich shop, in this frenetic, emotionally raw kitchen drama.
Boston Legal (2004–2008) – IMDb 8.4
James Spader and William Shatner anchor David E. Kelley’s legal dramedy about eccentric lawyers, moral dilemmas, and courtroom theatrics.
Feud (2017– ) – IMDb 8.4
Ryan Murphy’s anthology explores iconic rivalries, with Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon portraying Bette Davis and Joan Crawford in a venomous Hollywood clash.
The Fall (2013–2016) – IMDb 8.4
Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan star in this Belfast-set psychological thriller about a detective hunting a charismatic serial killer.
The Killing (US, 2011–2014) – IMDb 8.4
Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman lead this moody Seattle-set crime drama, adapted from the Danish original, with slow-burn tension and layered character arcs.
Prison Break (2005–2017) – IMDb 8.4
Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell star as brothers caught in a conspiracy, with elaborate escape plans and high-stakes twists across multiple seasons.
Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2006) – IMDb 8.4
Frankie Muniz plays a gifted teen in a chaotic household led by Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek, blending slapstick, fourth-wall breaks, and emotional depth.
The Americans (2013–2018) – IMDb 8.4
Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys play Soviet spies posing as a suburban couple in this slow-burn thriller about loyalty, identity, and Cold War paranoia.
Homeland (2011–2020) – IMDb 8.3
Claire Danes and Damian Lewis star in this Emmy-winning espionage thriller about CIA surveillance, psychological warfare, and shifting loyalties in the post-9/11 era.
Frasier (1993–2004) – IMDb 8.3
Kelsey Grammer’s spin-off from Cheers became a multi-Emmy-winning sitcom about a pompous radio psychiatrist, his working-class father, and their clashing worldviews.
NYPD Blue (1993–2005) – IMDb 8.3
Steven Bochco’s gritty police drama broke network taboos with its raw language, emotional depth, and ensemble cast led by Dennis Franz.
Lost (2004–2010) – IMDb 8.3
This genre-blending mystery drama follows plane crash survivors on a supernatural island, with flashbacks, mythology, and ensemble storytelling that redefined TV narrative.
Snowfall (2017–2023) – IMDb 8.3
Created by John Singleton, this crime saga charts the rise of crack cocaine in 1980s Los Angeles through intersecting lives and escalating violence.
Scrubs (2001–2010) – IMDb 8.3
Zach Braff leads this medical dramedy blending slapstick, surrealism, and emotional gut-punches, with a beloved ensemble and cult soundtrack.
Unforgotten (2015– ) – IMDb 8.3
Nicola Walker and Sanjeev Bhaskar star in this slow-burn British crime drama where cold cases unravel decades of buried secrets and emotional fallout.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003) – IMDb 8.2
Sarah Michelle Gellar plays a high schooler chosen to battle supernatural evil, in Joss Whedon’s genre-defining mix of horror, humour, and teen angst.
Vera (2011– ) – IMDb 8.2
Brenda Blethyn stars as a shrewd, dishevelled detective solving murders across Northumberland in this long-running ITV crime staple.
Reservation Dogs (2021–2023) – IMDb 8.2
Created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, this Indigenous-led dramedy follows four teens in rural Oklahoma dreaming of escape, blending humour, grief, and cultural specificity.
How to Get Away with Murder (2014–2020) – IMDb 8.1
Viola Davis won an Emmy for her role as a brilliant, morally ambiguous law professor entangled in murder plots and courtroom drama.
Fosse/Verdon (2019) – IMDb 8.1
Sam Rockwell and Michelle Williams star in this biographical drama about choreographer Bob Fosse and dancer Gwen Verdon, exploring art, obsession, and legacy.
Gilmore Girls (2000–2007) – IMDb 8.1
Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel star as a fast-talking mother-daughter duo in this cult favourite about small-town life, ambition, and emotional bonds.
Dopesick (2021) – IMDb 8.1
Michael Keaton leads this harrowing miniseries about the opioid crisis, tracing corporate greed, addiction, and legal battles across communities and institutions.
Catastrophe (2015–2019) – IMDb 8.1
Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney created and star in this sharp, emotionally honest comedy-drama about an unexpected pregnancy and the messy realities of modern love.
Only Murders in the Building (2021– ) – IMDb 8.1
Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez play amateur sleuths turned podcasters in this stylish whodunnit set in a New York apartment building.
Under the Banner of Heaven (2022) – IMDb 8.1
Andrew Garfield stars as a Mormon detective investigating a brutal murder tied to religious extremism, adapted from Jon Krakauer’s true-crime bestseller.
The Fosters (2013–2018) – IMDb 8.1
This family drama follows a lesbian couple raising biological, adopted, and foster children, tackling identity, justice, and love with warmth and complexity.
Better Things (2016–2022) – IMDb 8.1
Pamela Adlon created and stars in this semi-autobiographical dramedy about a single mother juggling career, parenting, and selfhood with raw humour and grace.
Normal People (2020) – IMDb 8.0
Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal star in this tender, BAFTA-winning adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel about love, class, and emotional intimacy across years and continents.
WandaVision (2021) – IMDb 8.0
Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany lead this genre-bending Marvel miniseries that blends sitcom tropes with grief, mystery, and superhero spectacle.
Pose (2018–2021) – IMDb 8.0
Set in 1980s New York, this groundbreaking drama explores ballroom culture, queer identity, and chosen family, with Emmy-winning performances from Billy Porter and MJ Rodriguez.
American Crime Story (2016– ) – IMDb 8.0
Ryan Murphy’s anthology series dramatises real-life scandals — from O.J. Simpson to Gianni Versace — with meticulous detail and award-winning performances.
The Old Man (2022– ) – IMDb 7.9
Jeff Bridges stars as a former CIA operative forced out of hiding, in this slow-burn thriller about memory, betrayal, and survival.
Desperate Housewives (2004–2012) – IMDb 7.9
Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, and Eva Longoria headline this suburban mystery dramedy about secrets, scandals, and sisterhood on Wisteria Lane.
Devs (2020) – IMDb 7.9
Alex Garland’s cerebral tech thriller follows a software engineer investigating a secretive quantum computing division, blending determinism, grief, and visual awe.
Brothers & Sisters (2006–2011) – IMDb 7.9
Sally Field, Calista Flockhart, and Matthew Rhys star in this family saga about adult siblings navigating politics, legacy, and personal upheaval in California.
Grey’s Anatomy (2005– ) – IMDb 7.9
Ellen Pompeo leads this long-running medical drama about love, loss, and surgical ambition at Seattle’s Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.
Bones (2005–2017) – IMDb 7.8
Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz lead this forensic procedural about a brilliant anthropologist and her FBI partner solving crimes through skeletal evidence and romantic tension.
NCIS (2003– ) – IMDb 7.8
Mark Harmon stars in this enduring naval crime procedural, blending military investigations with team camaraderie and global intrigue.
Mrs. America (2020) – IMDb 7.8
Cate Blanchett plays conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly in this Emmy-winning miniseries about the 1970s battle over the Equal Rights Amendment.
When We Rise (2017) – IMDb 7.7
This sweeping miniseries chronicles decades of LGBTQ+ activism in America, with Guy Pearce, Mary-Louise Parker, and Rachel Griffiths portraying real-life pioneers.
Scandal (2012–2018) – IMDb 7.7
Kerry Washington stars as a crisis fixer entangled in political intrigue and forbidden romance, in Shonda Rhimes’ high-stakes Washington drama.
Little Fires Everywhere (2020) – IMDb 7.7
Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington clash as mothers from different worlds in this suburban mystery adapted from Celeste Ng’s bestselling novel.
Back to Life (2019–2021) – IMDb 7.7
Daisy Haggard created and stars in this darkly comic drama about a woman returning to her coastal hometown after serving time for a violent crime.
The Cry (2018) – IMDb 7.7
Jenna Coleman delivers a haunting performance in this psychological thriller about a missing child, media scrutiny, and unraveling truths.
No Offence (2015–2018) – IMDb 7.7
Joanna Scanlan leads a team of Manchester detectives in this Paul Abbott-created police procedural that blends dark humour with social grit.
The Dropout (2022) – IMDb 7.6
Amanda Seyfried won an Emmy for her portrayal of Elizabeth Holmes in this dramatisation of the Theranos scandal, charting ambition, deception, and downfall.
Private Practice (2007–2013) – IMDb 7.5
Kate Walsh stars in this Grey’s Anatomy spin-off about a group of doctors running a wellness clinic in Los Angeles, blending romance, ethics, and ensemble drama.
Quantico (2015–2018) – IMDb 7.4
Priyanka Chopra stars as an FBI recruit caught in a conspiracy, in this twist-heavy thriller that jumps between training flashbacks and present-day crises.
Pam & Tommy (2022) – IMDb 7.4
Lily James and Sebastian Stan star in this dramatisation of the stolen sex tape scandal, blending tabloid chaos with unexpected emotional depth.
The Chi (2018– ) – IMDb 7.4
Created by Lena Waithe, this Chicago-set drama follows interconnected lives navigating love, violence, and community in the South Side.
Fleishman Is in Trouble (2022) – IMDb 7.4
Jesse Eisenberg, Claire Danes, and Lizzy Caplan star in this adaptation of Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s novel about divorce, identity, and midlife reckoning.
Ugly Betty (2006–2010) – IMDb 7.3
America Ferrera stars as a kind-hearted outsider navigating the cutthroat world of fashion publishing, in this Emmy-winning dramedy about self-worth and transformation.
More best Disney+ lists: