Image Credit: Netflix
It’s hard to believe, but 2026 marks exactly a decade since Netflix transformed from a true “content distributor” to a global production powerhouse, growing significantly in all areas. While the platform had been hits before, 2016 was the year that changed everything – introducing us to the Upside Down, the Royal Family, and taking its first big step into international local-language originals.
2016 also saw some other notable events in Netflix history. On January 6, 2016, Reed Hastings famously took the stage at CES in Las Vegas and executed one of the greatest “drop the mic” moments in tech history. While he was speaking, Netflix officially launched its service in 130 new countries simultaneously.
The company crossed the 75 million subscriber mark at the beginning of the year and reached close to 90 million by the end of the year. Revenue topped $2 billion in a single quarter for the first time in the third quarter, driven largely by the breakout success of a little show called Stranger Things, which we’ll talk about below. By this time Netflix’s DVD business was in decline, and it was renamed DVD.com, a Netflix company.
2016 was also the first year customer can Download titles to devices for offline viewing, And this was the year Netflix’s first window came out The deal with Disney began in the United States.
it was also that year red ribbon n letter introducedWhich is still used today, every time you open the app or start watching a Netflix Original.
In terms of awards, Netflix received 56 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, winning 9 of them, with Making a Murderer being the biggest winner. Netflix received two Academy Award® nominations for two films.
In case you missed our equivalent article for 2025, we’ve covered all the 2015 originals celebrating the decade, including The Ridiculous 6, Beasts of No Nation, Grace & Frankie, Daredevil and more.
But which major Netflix originals are turning 10 in 2026? Let’s take a look at the most notable.
black Mirror (season 3)
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This was in 2011 when black Mirror Its first episode officially aired on Channel 4, but 2026 will mark the 10th anniversary of the show making the big jump to Netflix with the arrival of its third season, which featured some of the show’s best all-time episodes, including Nosedive with Bryce Dallas, San Junipero with Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Mackenzie Davis, and Shup Up and Dance with Alex Lawther and Jerome Flynn.
black Mirror Following a Season 8 renewal and its finale earlier this year, it holds the record for being the only active show on Netflix and technically the oldest ongoing show. stranger things Last year.
stranger things
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The summer of 2016 was in Hawkins, Indiana. When the Duffer Brothers’ ’80s Love Letter dropped on July 15, no one could have guessed what a cultural phenomenon it would become. A decade later, the series has ended its main run, but its impact on the streaming landscape has endured and it is still considered Netflix’s biggest domestic franchise, at least in the English language. It turned its young cast into superstars and proved that Netflix could build a huge “tentpole” franchise from the ground up and end with a big bang in late 2025.
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
Image: Warner Bros. Television/Netflix
Nostalgia was a major theme in 2016, and nothing hits like the return of Stars Hollow. This four-part revival brought Lorelai and Rory back ten years after the original series ended. While it remains a point of debate among fans (those last four words!), it was a huge viewership win and proved that Netflix was the prime destination for reviving beloved “dormant” IPs. As we’ve been covering, the rights to both this reboot and the initial series are up for renewal later this year – it’ll be interesting to see if Netflix opts to renew.
fuller house
Image Credit: Netflix/Warner Bros. Television
Speaking of nostalgia, Fuller House debuted in early 2016. While critics were not always kind, “Fanarino” turned out in large numbers. It was a big hit for the platform’s family programming, running for five seasons and setting the stage for how Netflix would approach multi-cam sitcoms in the years to come. Similar to Gilmore Girls, this was another early pickup made by Netflix, relying on IP from the Warner Bros. vault.
Crown
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In November 2016, Netflix took its largest “prestige” gamble to date. With a reported budget of $100 million for its first season, Crown Brought high-class British drama to a global audience. Claire Foy’s portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II set a gold standard for the series, which went on to win dozens of Emmys and navigate decades of royal history before eventually bowing out with a refreshed cast every two seasons.
Farm
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Another major sitcom experiment of 2016 was Farm. reunited again that 70s show Starring Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson (initially), the series was notable for its unique format: a multi-cam sitcom with a laugh track, but with “adult” language and dark themes usually reserved for prestige dramas. It was actually one of the first shows to really target the “Red State” demographic and it worked. The show, not without a few bumps along the way, ultimately ran for 80 episodes, making it one of the longest-running Netflix originals to date. Sam Elliott and Debra Winger were among the other famous faces.
chelsea
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Netflix’s effort to disrupt the late-night talk show circuit started with Chelsea Handler. Chelsea was a huge logistical undertaking, broadcasting simultaneously around the world three times a week. Although this format was eventually dropped in favor of stand-up specials and documentaries, it represented the platform’s early ambition to capture every corner of the television dial, something it had unsuccessfully repeated a few more times in its history, and arguably, it has still never succeeded. Although the show is no longer available on Netflix, several clips can be found on YouTube, which is an example of where this content performs best.
3%
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It was a monumental release as Netflix’s first Brazilian original. This dystopian thriller proved that high-concept sci-fi doesn’t need a Hollywood zip code to find a global audience. Its success paved the way for future global hits such as Squid Game and Dark, showing that subtitles were no longer a hindrance for the “Netflix Generation”.
marseille
If 3% was a success story, Marseille was a learning experience. As Netflix’s first French original, starring Gérard Depardieu, it was a major turn into the political drama. Although it received a scathing response from French critics, it was actually a necessary step in Netflix’s journey towards becoming a truly localized global studio.
Basic principles of care
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It is widely considered one of Netflix’s best early “indie-style” acquisitions. It stars a stellar performance from Paul Rudd and has helped establish the platform as the home of heart-touching, high-quality dramas. A decade later, it remains a “must see” gem hidden in the library for those looking for a grounded, emotional road-trip story.
tallulah
Starring Elliot Page and Allison Janney, the film premiered at Sundance and brought serious “prestige” energy to Netflix’s library. It’s a heavy-hitting drama that showed the stage was a serious contender for awards-circuit material and was the directorial debut of Sian Heder, who later won an Oscar. code (For Apple TV).
What is your favorite show of 2016 that is still streaming on Netflix? Let us know in the comments.