You know that feeling. It’s 9:00 PM on a Tuesday. You’re sitting on the couch, the blue light of the TV screen reflecting in your eyes, and you are just scrolling. And scrolling. You’ve bypassed the "Trending Now" row three times. For some reason, your brain is stuck on a specific itch. Maybe you saw a clip on TikTok, or maybe you just like the letter S. Whatever the case, finding Netflix shows that start with S shouldn't feel like a chore, but the algorithm is a fickle beast. It shows you what it thinks you want, often burying the absolute gems under a pile of mediocre reality TV.
Let's be real. The letter S is basically carrying the entire weight of the Netflix library on its back. From the Upside Down to the streets of Seoul, some of the most culturally significant television of the last decade starts with this specific character. We aren't just talking about background noise here. We are talking about the shows that actually made people keep their subscriptions during the price hikes.
The Heavy Hitters Everyone Already Knows
I have to mention Stranger Things. It’s the law of the internet. If you haven’t seen it, you’ve probably been living in a literal bunker. The Duffer Brothers basically took 80s nostalgia, injected it with some Eldritch horror, and created a monster—both figuratively and literally. What’s interesting about Stranger Things isn't just the monsters; it’s how the show transitioned from a small-town mystery into a sprawling, multi-continental epic. People argue about whether the later seasons lost the "magic," but the numbers don't lie. It remains one of the most-watched English-language series in the history of the platform.
Then there is Squid Game. Remember 2021? Everyone was wearing green tracksuits and freaking out over honeycomb candy. It was a genuine phenomenon. It broke the barrier for non-English content in a way that Lupin or Money Heist (which started as La Casa de Papel) paved the way for, but didn't quite achieve on the same scale. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk spent ten years trying to get that script made. Everyone told him it was too grotesque. They were wrong. It turns out people love watching a scathing critique of late-stage capitalism disguised as a deadly game of Red Light, Green Light.
The Survivalist Craze
Speaking of Squid Game, the S-category is weirdly obsessed with survival. Sweet Home is another one. It’s a South Korean horror series where people turn into monsters based on their deepest, darkest desires. It’s messy. It’s loud. The CGI in the first season was a bit "video gamey," sure, but the emotional core of those tenants trapped in the Green Home apartment building? That’s where the show actually lives. If you like your monsters with a side of existential dread, this is the one you probably skipped because the thumbnail looked too intense.
The Sci-Fi Masterpieces You Probably Missed
If we are talking about Netflix shows that start with S, we have to talk about Sense8. Look, I’m still a little salty about the cancellation. The Wachowskis (the minds behind The Matrix) created something that was arguably too expensive for its own good. They filmed in actual cities all over the world—Berlin, Nairobi, Mumbai, San Francisco. The premise is wild: eight strangers are mentally and emotionally linked. They can share skills, languages, and feelings. It was a beautiful, chaotic mess of a show that celebrated human connection. It has a cult following that refuses to let it die, and honestly? They’re right.
Then there’s Shadow and Bone. This is a weird case study. Netflix cancelled it after two seasons, despite a massive fan campaign to save it. Based on Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse novels, it had a lot going for it. Ben Barnes as The Darkling? Casting gold. The production design was top-tier. But the fantasy genre on streaming is a brutal battlefield. If you don't hit House of the Dragon numbers immediately, the axe falls fast. It’s still worth a watch, even if the ending feels a bit abrupt.
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Space, the Final Frontier (On a Budget)
Space Force was supposed to be the next The Office. It had Steve Carell. It had Greg Daniels. It had a massive budget. It... didn't quite land. But if you go back and watch it now, away from the immense hype, it’s actually a pretty decent workplace comedy. It’s more satirical and less "cringe-humor" than people expected. It’s a shame it didn't get more time to find its footing, but that’s the streaming world for you.
The Sandman actually broke the curse of "unadaptable" comic books. Neil Gaiman’s work is notoriously dense and ethereal. How do you film a story about the personification of Dreams? Apparently, you cast Tom Sturridge and give him the most intense jawline in history. The episode "24/7"—the one in the diner—is probably one of the single most disturbing hours of television I've ever seen. It’s a masterpiece of tension.
The Drama and the Dirt
Let’s pivot. Not everyone wants monsters or spaceships. Sometimes you just want people being terrible to each other in nice outfits.
- Succession? No, that’s HBO. Don’t get confused.
- Selling Sunset. Okay, hear me out. It’s trashy. It’s over-the-top. The houses cost more than most small countries' GDP. But as a study in manufactured drama and the "Girlboss" aesthetic of the late 2010s, it is fascinating. It’s the ultimate "turn your brain off" show.
- Sex Education. This is arguably one of the best things Netflix has ever produced. It manages to be hilarious, heartbreaking, and educational without feeling like a lecture. Ncuti Gatwa’s performance as Eric is a masterclass. It’s a show about teenagers, but it’s really for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider.
Then there is Shameless. Well, the US version is on Netflix in many regions. It’s 11 seasons of the Gallagher family absolutely destroying their own lives. It’s gritty, it’s depressing, and yet, somehow, you can’t stop watching. It’s like a car crash that lasts for a decade.
The Gritty World of Crime
Sintonia is a show you’ve probably seen in your recommendations and ignored. Don’t. It’s a Brazilian series that explores the connection between music, religion, and the drug trade in São Paulo. It’s incredibly authentic. It doesn’t feel like a polished Hollywood version of a favela; it feels lived-in.
And we can't ignore Sons of Anarchy. While it’s an FX original, its presence on Netflix has given it a second (and third) life. It’s Shakespeare’s Hamlet, but with motorcycles and leather vests. Charlie Hunnam’s Jax Teller is the quintessential anti-hero of the 2000s. It’s violent, sure, but the Shakespearean parallels are actually quite clever if you’re looking for them.
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Why Do We Search for "Shows Starting with S"?
It’s a weirdly specific search query, isn't it? Usually, it's because people have a vague memory of a title. "Was it Sinner? No, The Sinner." (By the way, The Sinner is fantastic. Bill Pullman looks like he hasn't slept in three years, and he’s perfect for the role of a detective obsessed with the why of a crime rather than the who.)
Or maybe people are just looking for Sweet Tooth. That show about the deer-boy in a post-apocalyptic world. It’s surprisingly wholesome for a show about a pandemic that wiped out most of humanity. It’s like a dark fairytale. It’s another example of Netflix taking a relatively obscure comic book and turning it into something with broad appeal.
Breaking Down the "S" Catalog Myths
There’s this idea that Netflix is just dumping "content" to fill a quota. While that might be true for some of the Hallmark-style Christmas movies, the Netflix shows that start with S list actually contains some of their most experimental work.
Take Stargate SG-1. For a long time, it was the backbone of sci-fi on the platform. It’s "monster of the week" television at its finest. It’s comfortable. It’s predictable. It’s exactly what you want when you’re sick and stuck in bed. But then compare that to something like Special, Ryan O'Connell’s semi-autobiographical series about a gay man with cerebral palsy. It’s short, punchy, and incredibly funny. It challenges the viewer without being "preachy."
These two shows couldn't be more different, yet they share the same starting letter and the same home. This is the duality of Netflix.
What You Should Actually Watch Next
If you’re staring at the search bar and don’t know where to start, you need to categorize your mood.
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If you want to feel smart and a little bit anxious: Go for The Sinner. Each season is a self-contained mystery. You don't need to have seen the others. It’s psychological, it’s dark, and it doesn't give you easy answers.
If you want to cry but in a good way: Watch Sex Education. By the time you get to the end of season four, you’ll feel like these characters are your actual friends.
If you want to see what all the fuss is about: Squid Game. Just do it. Watch it in the original Korean with subtitles. The English dub loses so much of the nuance in the performances.
The Dark Horse Pick:
Summertime. It’s an Italian series inspired by Federico Moccia’s books. It’s basically sunshine and teen romance in a beautiful coastal town. It’s the perfect antidote to a rainy Tuesday afternoon.
The Actionable Strategy for Navigating Netflix
The Netflix UI is designed to keep you watching, not necessarily to help you find the best thing. To truly find the hidden Netflix shows that start with S, you have to beat the algorithm.
- Stop using the main "Home" tab. Go to the "Categories" section or use the search function specifically for "S."
- Look at the "More Like This" section of a show you already enjoy. If you liked Stranger Things, the algorithm will finally start showing you things like Shadow and Bone or Sweet Home.
- Check the "Remind Me" list. Netflix often buries upcoming "S" titles in the "Coming Soon" tab. Setting a reminder actually tells the algorithm you want more of that specific genre.
- Change your profile language. Sometimes, if you’re looking for international "S" titles like Sintonia or Sacred Games, changing your interface can surface different trending lists.
The reality is that "S" is a goldmine. Whether it’s the high-budget spectacle of The Sandman or the gritty realism of Sunderland 'Til I Die (a must-watch for sports fans, even if you hate soccer), the library is deep. Most people just scratch the surface. Don't be "most people." Dig a little deeper into the sub-menus. The best stuff is rarely on the front page.
Instead of scrolling for another forty minutes, pick one from the list above. Worst case scenario? You turn it off after ten minutes. Best case? You find your new favorite obsession. Start with The Sinner if you want a thrill, or Sex Education if you want a laugh. Just stop scrolling.