5 Best Netflix Series To Binge-Watch This Week (Aug 17–21, 2026)

Published Aug 17, 2026, 1:02 PM EDT

Greg is a Lead TV Writer & Critic at Screen Rant with expertise in new streaming releases. He's published over 2800 articles at SR, including weekly recommendation guides and dozens of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. He previously worked in Development at ABC Television & Lawrence Bender Productions.

Greg majored in Film Production at Chapman University's Dodge College. Greg also has years of broadcast TV production experience at major networks such as NBC, TNT, and ESPN. He currently lives in Greater Boston.

With so many great streaming options on Netflix this week, August 17–21, 2026, it can be daunting to find just one show worth binge-watching. ScreenRant’s TV experts have taken the stress out of streaming with our weekly roundup of the five best Netflix shows to watch right now. Leading the pack is a workplace comedy that became an instant overnight sensation in the U.S., earning the #1 viewership spot just hours after its season 3 premiere.

Additionally, a fan-favorite YA series continues its streak as one of Netflix’s biggest summer hits, while a divisive Western series maintains strong viewership and audience interest despite a notable decline in critical approval. As for upcoming releases, two new premieres are worth clearing your schedule for: a buzzy, tech-themed satire that arrives on Netflix on Wednesday, August 19, and the fifth and final season of a long-running teen drama series that was built for a late summer binge.

My Life With The Walter Boys

Following the announcement of its season 4 renewal before season 3 premiered back on August 6, My Life with the Walter Boys remains the most-watched show on Netflix worldwide heading into the third full week of August. The latest season generated more than 9 million views and 71 million hours watched within its first four days on Netflix, essentially splitting the difference between season 2's 11.5 million views and season 1's 7.5 million during their respective opening runs. While the TV-14 drama series is aimed at younger audiences, My Life with the Walter Boys is still an elite streaming option this week.

Ransom Canyon

Despite its mixed critical reception, audiences are still coming back for more Ransom Canyon, Netflix's soapy neo-Western series that feels like a combination of Yellowstone and Virgin River. Featuring a strong ensemble cast led by Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly, Ransom Canyon dropped its second season on Netflix back on July 23 and has been one of Netflix's most consistent streaming hits ever since. Even though there has been a notable decline in both viewership and Rotten Tomatoes critic scores, Ransom Canyon season 2 is worth an easy 8-part binge for fans of Western-themed romance stories.

The Audacity

One of the most exciting new additions to Netflix's vast streaming library this week is The Audacity, which is ideal for fans of corporate dramedy shows like Succession and Silicon Valley. The 8-part first season of the tech-satire series will officially arrive on Netflix this Wednesday, August 19, after its April 2026 release on AMC. The buzzy series was created by Jonathan Glatzer, known for his work on all-time great shows like Succession and Better Call Saul. The Audacity pokes fun at the elitist bubble occupied by tech titans and a sea of ego-fueled wannabes as they do whatever it takes to get to, or stay at, the top.

Outer Banks

Another must-watch Netflix series this week is Outer Banks, which will drop its fifth and final season this Thursday, August 20. One of Netflix's best shows to binge in the summer due to its idyllic coastal setting in North Carolina, Outer Banks is expected to be one of the biggest streaming hits on the platform this upcoming weekend. Although the series never tries to elevate into the realm of prestige drama, it has become a certified fan-favorite since its 2020 premiere, mostly due to its hyperbolic, even unrealistic, plot and character developments. While this may frustrate some viewers, Outer Banks is still enjoyable to binge if you know what you're signing up for.

Tires

Last but not least, the Shane Gillis-led workplace comedy series Tires is Netflix's best show to binge-watch right now as it continues to hold onto its #1 status in the United States. Few Netflix series have demonstrated such growth in just a few seasons, as Tires began with a cheaply made 6-part first season but now has a real case as one of Netflix's funniest comedy shows with its latest season.

Tires follows Shane, who hardly works as a mechanic at an auto body shop in rural Pennsylvania and spends most of his time goofing off with his coworkers, played by Steve Gerben, Chris O'Connor, and Kilah Fox. Stakes are raised in Tires season 3, however, as Shane's immature yet authoritative father demands an increase in sales, which puts several employees under the gun. Season 3 also challenges Shane in unprecedented ways as she confronts his own alcohol-fueled repression. For guaranteed laughs this week, Tires is your best bet on Netflix.