In the olden days of yore, Netflix was the Alpha and Omega of streaming. Before the major studios started setting up their own services, the most popular shows tended to wind up making deals to be shared on Netflix. This happened to coincide with the superhero boom of the mid-2010s. While that boom has died down somewhat, and the big studios are more protective of their content, some of the best superhero shows ever can still be found behind the big red ‘N.’
What are the best Superhero shows on Netflix?
Netflix produced several adult-oriented superhero shows (like Daredevil) as part of a partnership with Marvel. They also hosted most of the shows set in the Arrowverse as part of a deal with The CW. The Marvel shows have since then migrated to Disney Plus, and the distribution deal for the DC shows is slowly expiring. Despite this, there are still many great superhero shows on Netflix as of January 2026.
The Flash
When he was a child, Barry Allen lost both his parents to an unexplained event. His mother was murdered by a man made of lightning and his father was blamed for the crime. This injustice spurred Barry’s interest in the paranormal and pushed him to become a CSI investigator, so he could prove his father’s innocence.
Years later, Barry was struck by lighting on the same night an experimental particle accelerator was activated. He was knocked into a coma for nine months, and woke up to find that he had developed super-speed. He also learned that there were other people, dubbed metahumans, who acquired their own powers. With the help of the disgraced scientists at STAR Labs, Barry uses his new abilities to stop those who use their powers for evil as the Fastest Man Alive – The Flash!
The Flash remains one of the most popular superhero shows of all time and one of the best on Netflix. With nine seasons, it was the longest-running of the various DC Comics shows making up the Arrowverse reality. Even now, there are still fans hoping that Grant Gustin will return to the role of Barry Allen in the DCU.
Supergirl
Most are familiar with the story of the planet Krypton and its destruction. They know how a desperate family sent their infant son into space, hoping he’d survive on a distant world. That Last Son of Krypton came to Earth and became the hero known as Superman.
What few knew, however, was that there was also a Last Daughter of Krypton.
By the time the teenage Kara got to Earth, the baby cousin she was meant to take care of was in his thirties. Superman found her a family and she grew into an aspiring reporter. Yet Kara never seriously thought of following in her famous cousin’s footsteps, until her foster sister nearly died in a plane crash. With her existence revealed to the world, Kara decided that she’d hidden herself long enough. With a new costume and new attitude, Supergirl was ready to fly.
Airing on CBS before migrating to The CW for another five seasons, Supergirl is another mainstay of Netflix’s superhero lineup. Beyond offering a new spin on the Girl of Steel, the show also adapted several DC Comics characters that were virtually unknown to casual audiences. This included the Legion of Super Heroes and Martian Manhunter, who became something of a second father to Kara as the series went on. With a new Supergirl movie arriving in theaters this summer, now is the perfect time to watch or rewatch the Arrowverse take on the Maid of Might.
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow was a bit of an oddity from the beginning. The show united several supporting characters from Arrow and The Flash with time-traveler Rip Hunter. He claimed that the Earth would be doomed in the future if they did not stop Vandal Savage, an immortal conqueror, from achieving certain goals in the past. To do this, he assembled a team that were destined to be more than Heroes – they would be Legends.
While the show retained the core idea of outlaws traveling in time across seven seasons, the theme shifted wildly every year. The Legends would go on to fight the Legion of Doom, demons, monsters, alien invaders, and the worst people in history after they escaped from Hell. The show became as famous for these changes as it did for its comedic asides.
While some complained about the shifting cast and storyline, the show perfectly captured the eclectic nature of DC Comics and the variety of the DC Universe. The show was also praised for its ensemble cast and how well they played off each other. Of particular note were Caity Lotz as Captain Sara Lance, and Matt Ryan as John Constantine.
Black Lightning
For many years, Jefferson Pierce protected the city of Freeland, Georgia as the superhero Black Lightning. However, after one violent encounter with the gang called The 100, his wife begged him to retire for the sake of their children. He did so, but it was not enough to save his marriage. Still, he took satisfaction in his role as a teacher and then principal at Garfield High.
12 years later, The 100 became bolder. No longer content with running the city from the shadows, they acted in broad daylight. After both his daughters were abducted by traffickers, Jefferson got back into the game to save them. Reluctantly, he decided his responsibility to use his powers was greater than his need to protect his daughters. Luckily, they developed powers of their own, with Thunder and Lightning coming to join Black Lightning in defending Freeland.
Black Lightning was notable among the many superhero shows that made their way to Netflix for how strictly it adhered to the source material. Jefferson Pierce was always defined by his morality, both in costume and in his day job. Cress Williams perfectly captured Pierce’s torment, as he was torn between all the ways he felt he should be trying to make the world a better place. The show was also notable for Marvin “Krondon” Jones III’s performance as Black Lighting’s archenemy, the crime-boss Tobias Whale.
Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Mutant Mayhem was a surprise smash which revitalized the TMNT franchise. The film satisfied elder fans of the Turtle Boys, while introducing a new generation to the Heroes in a Half-Shell. A cinematic sequel was put into production immediately, but something was needed to satisfy fans in the meantime.
That something was Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Picking up where the first film left off, the series finds the brothers trying to balance their lives as high school students and vigilantes. The efforts of a new villain called Bishop leave the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles separated. This forces them to fight on their own for the first time in their lives.
By necessity, the animation is a bit more stylized than the original film. However, it still mimics the general character designs as best it can with a reduced budget. Where the show sizzles, however, is in its scripting. The show is hilarious, and offers a rare take with the Turtles acting like real teenagers.
How we picked the best Superhero shows on Netflix in 2026
While there aren’t as many superhero shows on Netflix as there once were, there’s still enough to make choosing a top 5 difficult. To that end, this list focused on three criteria. First, how well it adapts the source material. Secondly, how does it stand as a series outside of its status as an adaptation. Finally, how popular it remains in 2026.
