15. Santa Clarita Diet (2017)
Santa Clarita Dietisn’t like most of the shows on this list. As a matter of fact, it’s not like most shows period.
This quasi-sitcom stars Drew Berrymore as a woman who’s surprised to wake up one morning as a zombie. Her husband, played byJustified’s Timothy Olyphant, is even more surprised.
Hilarity and buckets of gore ensue, displayed gloriously thanks to the show’s gorgeous 4K HDR treatment. It’s truly one of the most unique comedic experiences offered by Netflix.
Related:The Best Pilot Episodes of All Time: When TV Series Start Right
14. Formula 1: Drive to Survive (2019)
Formula 1 and other prestigious motorsport events will always be mainstays for HD television. There isn’t a single bar, hotel, or restaurant in the world that doesn’t show Formula 1 when it’s on. (Okay, we’re exaggerating, but it’s almost true!)
Naturally, Netflix would want to step in to something like this, and they impressed with the immersiveFormula 1: Drive to Survive.
Showcasing behind-the-scenes footage and in-depth commentary, this Formula 1 documentary series offers an exclusive profile of the drivers and their races in the World Championship.
Some inaccuracies aside,Formula 1: Drive to Surviveis a gorgeous 4K HDR experience that highlights the best of the technology.
13. Narcos (2015)
Narcosis one of Netflix’s earliest crowning achievements. It proved to the world that the streaming platform was more than just a library of licensed content, that its previous hits inHouse of CardsandOrange Is the New Blackweren’t one-off flukes.
More than that,Narcostook television production values to the next level for its time, and it built on the foundations set by previous drug-centric crime dramas likeBreaking Bad.
The story of the larger-than-life narcoterrorist Pablo Escobar is tailor-made for an at-home binging experience. From his humble beginnings to his tragic fall, there’s ample amounts of grace and tension that wrap this story up in a visually pleasing cinematic dressing.
Related:The Best TV Shows About Gangs and Gangsters, Ranked
12. Chef’s Table (2015)
If you’re a foodie who hasn’t seenChef’s Tableyet, you’re in for a treat! Each episode of this documentary series centers on a single chef and explores their lives, careers, and signature dishes.
From the brilliant mind of David Gelb—who rose to fame withJiro Dreams of Sushi—Chef’s Tableis half travelogue and half artist’s profile, complete with an immense production quality that most TV shows could only dream of.
The end result is a string of engaging, mouth-watering culinary journeys done in anthology format. The series also includes spin-offs that focus on particular styles of food, includingChef’s Table: Pastry,Chef’s Table: Pizza, andChef’s Table: BBQ.
Related:Happy Feelgood Netflix Shows to Watch When You’re Sad or Down
11. The Man in the High Castle (2015)
Based on Philip K. Dick’s novel of the same name,The Man in the High Castleis a chilling bit of alternate history that explores what would have happened if the Allies had lost World War II.
While this doesn’t make for the funnest subject matter, the show’s concept is infused with intriguing elements of sci-fi and it stands out as one of Amazon Studios’s first cinematic TV shows.
Thanks to the 4K resolution and HDR color grading by color masters Technicolor,The Man in the High Castleis a brilliant experience for anyone who loves thought experiment-type TV shows.
Related:The Best Geeky TV Shows on Amazon Prime Video
10. The Boys (2019)
The Boysmight feature an awful lot of ugly subject matter, but it’s far from an ugly show (visually speaking).
Superheroes often make for fantastic on-screen effects, and that’s the case here as much as it is in any summer blockbuster by Marvel.
The difference here is thatThe Boysis an irreverent take on the superhero genre, featuring superhero characters who are just the worst.
From mass murderers to immature manchildren to literal Nazis,The Boysis a satirical series for mature viewers who love visual spectacle as much as they love dark themes and lots of gore.
Related:The Best Scenes in Amazon’s The Boys, Ranked
9. Our Planet (2019)
While there’s certainly no dearth of nature documentaries out there,Our Planetstands out as one of the greatest nature documentaries ever made, complete with narration by Sir David Attenborough.
Our Planetwas shot and released several years later thanPlanet Earth II(which also appears on this list), so the production crew had access to better technology and were able to capture shots that are even more impressive than what we saw inPlanet Earth II.
While we still give the edge toPlanet Earth IIbecause its production quality was so revolutionarily good,Our Planetis still incredible.
8. The Crown (2016)
Period piece drama series are tailor-made for high-quality productions shot in 4K HDR. Unfortunately, such high-quality productions are usually only reserved for high-profile prestige dramas.
So what happens when you have a prestige period piece drama series like Netflix’sThe Crown? You get one of the richest, most gorgeous, most captivating TV shows ever made.
The Crowndives deep into the dynamics and political intrigue of the British monarchy under Queen Elizabeth II, and this Netflix drama is anything but romanticized. (It’s also not 100% accurate.)
There’s a pervasively chilling atmosphere as we follow the late Queen through history, from her younger years to her most recent days. Presented in 4K HDR,The Crownis a spectacle to behold.
7. Stranger Things (2016)
Even in its first season,Stranger Thingswas a well-shot show with a unique look. But from the second season on, Netflix began filming in 4K HDR, meaning the colors pop even more than before.
This sci-fi horror drama unexpectedly grew into one of the most popular shows of the last decade. And why wouldn’t it? There’s just something so fascinating about a small rural town that comes under threat of a hostile alternate dimension.
If you’ve been looking for a reason to start watchingStranger Things, the improved look is more than reason enough to try out the first season. If you like it, you’ll love what comes later.
Related:The Best Geeky TV Shows on Netflix
6. Altered Carbon (2018)
Netflix’sAltered Carbonis based in Richard K. Morgan’s novel of the same name, a dark sci-fi mystery tale that blends elements of cyberpunk with hard-boiled detective stories.
As if that weren’t enough of a draw,Altered Carbontakes all of that and throws in a liberal dash of neon lighting and wet pavement, making for visuals that already look great in standard definition but look even more impressive in 4K HDR.
The second season isn’t as good as the first, but that’s fine because the second season is its own thing and you can skip it altogether.
Related:The Best Modern Detective TV Shows Worth Watching
5. Star Trek: Picard (2020)
Star TrekandStar Warshave always had very different looks, and this remains true when we compare the look ofStar Trek: Picardwith the look ofThe Mandalorian(which also appears on this list).
WhileStar Trek: Picardgoes to places thatStar Trek: The Next Generationwould never tread, it still has much of the bright, ultra-clean look that defined the aesthetics of theStar Trekuniverse since its inception.
Related:Excellent Sci-Fi TV Series Worth Rewatching (Again and Again)
4. Planet Earth II (2016)
The originalPlanet Earthwas hailed as a landmark achievement of television when it released in 2006, partially for its cinematography and partially for Sir David Attenborough’s fantastic narration.
Ten years later, we were treated toPlanet Earth II, which is largely more of the same—and that’s absolutely not a bad thing at all.
Planet Earth IIwas one of the first documentaries made available in 4K with HDR, and we’re so glad that the BBC invested in the tech. The jaw-dropping visuals were even more striking this time around.
3. The Mandalorian (2019)
When it comes to HDR, a lot of the time we focus on how brightly certain colors pop. But HDR isn’t only about brightness! HDR can also enhance dim scenes, as evidenced byThe Mandalorian.
The show does have its bright moments, of course. ButThe Mandalorianoften visits the darker and dingier locations of theStar Warsuniverse, and the 4K HDR technology helps to show off the muted color palettes and prevent it from coming off as a drab mush.
The Mandalorianremains one of the most successful TV shows on Disney Plus, and we can’t help but suspect that the gorgeous visuals played a big role in making that happen.
2. The Grand Tour (2016)
When the famed hosts ofThe Grand Tourwere still with the originalTop Gearon the BBC, they were already reveling in over-the-top videography that showcased cars in the most beautiful ways.
When they moved to Amazon to createThe Grand Tour, they took things a step further by filming it all in 4K and HDR, making the cars look even better than they already did.
But this time, it’s not just the cars that are beautiful—it’s the picturesque locations on display, which serve as a distinguishing difference betweenTop GearandThe Grand Tour.
1. Better Call Saul (2015)
Even in a hardcore drug-laden show likeBreaking Bad, there were many immersive and hypnotic scenes that were enhanced by 4K HDR. And yet, somehow,Better Call Sauldid it even better.
The saga of Jimmy McGill is captured in its fullness with poetic imagery, with shots ranging from worm’s eye close-ups to two-shot portraits. Take any still fromBetter Call Sauland there’s a good chance it could fit right in at a photography exhibit.
It may not have the same blockbuster-level spectacles that you might expect in a 4K HDR production, but it’s clear that Vince Gilligan intended this legal drama to be highly cinematic.
If you ask me,Better Call Saulis the most beautifully shot 4K HDR TV show you can watch right now, and it’s made all the better by the incredible characters and their fascinating arcs.
More 4K HDR Content to Enjoy
At the top of this article, I mentioned movies as another way to test out your TV. This is especially true if you like to dim the lights and go for the full movie theater experience. Check out some of our favorite4K HDR movies that are seriously gorgeous!
