From matchmaking adventures to baking challenges to, of course, the &34;Queer Eye&34; Fab Five, here's the best reality TV viewing that Netflix has to offer. Th

From matchmaking adventures to baking challenges to, of course, the "Queer Eye" Fab Five, here's the best reality TV viewing that Netflix has to offer.

The 22 best reality shows on Netflix, from Love Is Blind to The Circle

From matchmaking adventures to baking challenges to, of course, the "Queer Eye" Fab Five, here's the best reality TV viewing that Netflix has to offer.

By Kevin Jacobsen

and Emily Smith

on August 11, 2025 09:09AM EDT

Nicole Byer on 'Nailed It!'; (Clockwise from upper left): Noel Fielding, Matt Lucas, Prue Leith, and Paul Hollywood on 'The Great British Baking Show'; Karlie Kloss on 'Project Runway'. Credit:

Adam Rose/Netflix; Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions; Barbara Nitke/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

Reality shows are perfect for when you're looking for something light. And though you can scroll social media to keep up with the news, the shows on EW's list might have you putting your phone down for a breather. Whether you're in the mood for romance with *Love Is Blind* and *Love on the Spectrum*, or looking to escape to a life wildly different than your own with *Selling Sunset*, Netflix has all the must-watch content you crave.

Here are the best of the best reality shows on Netflix.

American Ninja Warrior (2009–present)

Josh Levin on 'American Ninja Warrior'. Elizabeth Morris/NBC

*American Ninja Warrior* has tested the physical strength and agility of willing participants since it premiered in 2009. While various changes to the format have been put in place over the years, the central conceit remains: Get through the obstacle course without falling. Contestants compete in a qualifying round first, with those who complete the course in the shortest amount of time advancing to the semifinals, where they compete again for a spot in the National Finals. With season 14 available for streaming, it's hard not to get invested in contestants' inspiring displays of athleticism, pushing themselves to the limit no matter what challenges lie ahead. And who hasn't watched *American Ninja Warrior* and *not* wanted to try scaling the Warped Wall? —*Kevin Jacobsen*

Where to watch *American Ninja Warrior*: Netflix

The Boyfriend (2024–present)

Shun and Dai Nakai on 'The Boyfriend'.

Courtesy of Netflix

*The Boyfriend* brings together nine queer Japanese men in a beachside cottage and follows the relationships that form from there. Beyond the limitations of being just a dating show, the series explores sexual identity and friendship among the men as they work together at a coffee truck and get to know each other intimately. Eschewing overblown drama or scandalous moments, there is a refreshingly down-to-earth tone to *The Boyfriend* that sets it above other reality series. —*K.J.***

Where to watch *The Boyfriend*: Netflix

Building the Band (2025)

AJ McLean hosting 'Building the Band'.

Courtesy of Netflix

Boy bands and girl groups are back in vogue, thanks in part to the booming K-pop industry. This fresh singing competition, hosted by the Backstreet Boys' AJ McLean, aims to bring young vocalists together in the hope of forming America's next great group. Rather than placing it entirely in the hands of judges or producers, though, the contestants have input as to who they would want to be in a band with, based on vocal prowess and chemistry.

Assisted by judges/mentors Nicole Scherzinger, Liam Payne, and Kelly Rowland, each of whom has extensive vocal group experience — with the Pussycat Dolls, One Direction, and Destiny's Child, respectively — six bands are ultimately formed, which then compete in a series of showcase rounds until one is crowned the winner. —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Building the Band*: Netflix

**Cast:** AJ McLean, Nicole Scherzinger, Liam Payne, Kelly Rowland

The Circle (2020–present)

Trevor St. Agathe as Imani on 'The Circle'. Netflix

To catfish or not to catfish — that is the question. *The Circle* is a social (media) experiment where contestants become neighbors in a decked-out apartment complex. As with every good reality TV show, there is always a catch. The twist here is that the players never meet face-to-face. Instead, they are isolated in their apartments and communicate exclusively through television screens and only with text.

Each member of *The Circle* can see only a few carefully selected photos and a short bio from their fellow contestants. Just like online dating (or Craigslist shopping), you never really know who's on the other side of the screen. The goal is to be the most-liked contestant and the last one standing to take home a huge cash prize. With surprise celebrity appearances and shake-ups to the rules along the way, *The Circle* is giving us life. —*Emily Smith*

Where to watch *The Circle*: Netflix

The Devil's Plan (2023–present)

Lee Si-won and Ha Seok-jin on 'The Devil's Plan'. Everett Collection

This addictive South Korean reality show emphasizes social strategy above all else — even in its challenges. Twelve contestants who are all titans in their fields are confined in a house for a week without contact with the outside world, each playing with "Pieces," a form of currency they can use to create social bonds and advance further in the game. Each episode, the contestants compete in a Main Match to gain more Pieces, as well as a Prize Match to add to the prize money. Players who lose all their Pieces are eliminated from the game, which proceeds until only two remain and the one with the highest number of Pieces wins.

While some TV watchers continue to dismiss reality shows as brainless, *The Devil's Plan* is a strong counter-argument, valuing analytical problem-solving and game theory above petty personal drama. Season 2 dropped in May. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Devil's Plan*: Netflix

Floor Is Lava (2020–present)

Competitors on 'Floor Is Lava'.

Adam Rose/Netflix

Did you ever pretend that the floor was lava as a kid? This show takes the activity of jumping around your house without touching the ground and kicks it up a notch by making the floor, well...lava (or, rather, dyed slime, but still). Instead of leaping from pillow to table to couch, contestants are parkouring their way through *American Ninja Warrior-*style obstacles like moving platforms, vertical nets, intense monkey bars, and even an "active" volcano. That means, if you fail to complete a task, you end up in the "actual" lava. The intensity is turned up hot on this remake of the childhood classic game. Great to watch with the entire family. —*E.S.*

Where to watch *Floor Is Lava*: Netflix

The Great British Baking Show (2010–present)

Contestants on 'The Great British Baking Show'. Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions

Refined is not a common descriptor of reality TV, but *The Great British Baking Show* has something most other shows in the genre don't: an elegant approach to competition. Contestants cheer each other on and even help each other out as the clock winds down. This evolved species of reality TV has struck a chord with charmed viewers across the globe who enjoy watching amateur bakers compete and improve with a bit of class. The show takes place over 10 weeks, and contestants must quickly adapt and learn new skills as the difficulty level continues to rise. It's a heartwarming competition where tension mounts, but comic relief and empathy always abound. —*E.S.*

Where to watch *The Great British Baking Show*: Netflix

Indian Matchmaking (2020–present)

Akshay Jakhete on 'Indian Matchmaking'. Netflix

With a Rolodex of beautiful singles and training in ancient techniques such as Kundali, star Sima Taparia introduces us to traditional matchmaking practices executed in her modern way. Sima Aunty, as she is affectionately called on the show, certainly has the best intentions, but not without a pit of pushback. Will her hopeful singles find their happily ever after? She must be doing something right, given Netflix continues to renew *Indian Matchmaking.* Three seasons are now streaming. —*E.S.*

Where to watch *Indian Matchmaking*: Netflix

Love Is Blind (2020–present)

Salvador Perez and Mallory Zapata in season 2 of 'Love Is Blind'. Netflix

Would you marry someone you've never seen face-to-face? Is love truly blind?* Love Is Blind*, hosted by Nick and Vanessa Lachey, seeks to answer these questions as they place contestants in pods, separated by a wall, to get to know each other without ever looking at one another. After multiple meetings with numerous potential matches, these singles must decide if they're ready to propose.

But the verdict doesn't end there. After being whisked away on honeymoons with their newly betrothed, the couples spend three weeks counting down to decision day at the altar. There, they must decide, in front of their fiancé, family, friends, and millions of us watching at home, if they'll say "I do." —*E.S.*

Where to watch *Love Is Blind*: Netflix

*Love on the Spectrum Australia * (2019–2021)

Ruth and Thomas on 'Love on the Spectrum Australia'. Netflix

Everyone deserves love. And, in today's world, anyone who wants it should be able to find it. Enter *Love on the Spectrum*, an Australian matchmaking show featuring individuals with varying forms of autism. The condition often causes difficulty with communication, which can make dating or even meeting someone all the more difficult.

But have no fear, *Love on the Spectrum* follows the cast's journeys to find love with a compassionate rather than voyeuristic eye. First dates, blind dates, relationship coaching, speed dating, finding love, and breaking hearts — all of these common human experiences help to normalize an often misunderstood community. Autism is a spectrum, and the show aims to shine a spotlight on a few of the many ways it can present — and it's practically guaranteed to open your heart and mind. (There is also a U.S. version of the show on Netflix.) —*E.S.*

Where to watch *Love on the Spectrum*: Netflix

The Mole revival (2022–present)

Alex Wagner on 'The Mole'. Julian Panetta/Netflix

Avid reality show obsessives hold a special place in their heart for *The Mole*, which aired for five seasons on ABC in the 2000s and gained a cult following. Netflix revived the reality competition after 14 years, while keeping the same general format: A group of contestants competes in a series of challenges, with success leading to more money for the group pot. Among them, however, is a mole chosen by production to sabotage these challenges while trying to stay undetected. All players are then quizzed on who they think the mole may be, with the lowest-performing contestant eliminated at the end of every episode.

The fun of *The Mole* is in putting yourself in the contestants' shoes; like them (well, all but one of them), the audience is not informed of who the mole actually is until the very end. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Mole*: Netflix

The 20 best reality shows on Hulu to scratch your competitive itch

The 18 best reality shows on Peacock to binge over the weekend

Nailed It! (2018–present)

Guest judge Rosanna Pansino, Nicole Byer, and Jacques Torres on 'Nailed It!'. Adam Rose/Netflix

*Nailed It! Mexico*, *Nailed It! Holiday*, *Nailed It! France*... spinoffs galore only means one thing: This show is tasty! Comedian Nicole Byer hosts the original *Nailed It!*, a show that transports amateur bakers from their home kitchens to a TV studio, where they attempt (and often fail) to replicate professional desserts for a grand prize of $10,000. Hilarity clearly ensues. Clueless contestants paired with a quick-witted host, world-renowned chocolatier Jacques Torres, and guest judges (Wayne Brady, Reggie Watts, Sam Richardson, among others) make for one bingeable episode after another. —*E.S.*

Where to watch *Nailed It!*: Netflix

Old Enough! (1990–present)

Child participant on 'Old Enough!'. Netflix

Do *not* scroll past this Netflix show and definitely do not be deterred by the subtitles (most of us leave the closed captioning on anyway, right?). *Old Enough!* is a long-running Japanese television show, now available in the U.S. (two seasons are on Netflix), that follows Japanese children ages 2 to 5 as they run their first errands... solo! Every task serves up adorableness in droves as these tiny humans navigate adult chores alone for the first time, such as traveling to the store to purchase flowers for grandma, or running home from the fruit fields to make juice for mom. Whether they get distracted along the way or complete the task without a hitch, you'll be grinning from ear to ear. —*E.S.*

Where to watch *Old Enough!*: Netflix

Project Runway (2004–present)

Christian Siriano and Karlie Kloss on 'Project Runway'. Joe Pugliese/Bravo

Budding fashion designers have been "making it work" since 2004. The Peabody Award-winning *Project Runway* centers on a group of designers who square off against each other in crafting the best looks as dictated by the week's theme. A panel of judges, all with experience in the fashion world, deliver their criticisms and eliminate the weakest contestants until only one remains.

At a time when reality TV was dominated by deception and humiliation, *Project Runway* proved that there was a market for a different kind of reality competition — one that foregrounds talent above all else. The long-running series has served as inspiration for several popular talent-based competitions in the years since, including *Top Chef* and *RuPaul's Drag Race*. Seasons 18 and 19 are available to stream now. —*K.J.*****Where to watch *Project Runway*: Netflix**

Queer Eye (2018–present)

Bobby Berk, Jonathan Van Ness, Karamo Brown, Antoni Porowski, and Tan France on 'Queer Eye'. Christopher Smith/Netflix

A revamp of the early 2000s hit *Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, *Netflix's *Queer Eye* crew burst on the scene in 2018 with a mission to change the lives of everyday people. Since its debut, they've done just that, and along the way, changed hearts and minds as well. Hair stylist Jonathan Van Ness, counselor Karamo Brown, chef Antoni Porowski, interior designer Bobby Berk (through season 8; Jeremiah Brent takes over in season 9), and fashion expert Tan France are the fairy godparents dreams are made of. Each brings their unique charm and encouragement to every encounter as they transform lives from the inside out. —*E.S.*

Where to watch *Queer Eye*: Netflix

Selling Sunset (2019–present)

Mary Fitzgerald and Chrishell Stause on 'Selling Sunset'. Netflix

If tiny homes and #vanlife are the way of the future, the stars of *Selling Sunset* did not get the memo. The show follows premier real estate agents of the Oppenheim Group in Los Angeles as they battle through absurd home deals and all the drama that comes with them. From the creators of *The Hills*, *Selling Sunset* provides viewers with romance, petty drama, luxurious homes, and a game of trying to remember which Oppenheim twin is which. There are eight seasons to binge, as well as a spinoff series *Selling Tampa*, also on Netflix. —*E.S.*

Where to watch *Selling Sunset*: Netflix

Snowflake Mountain (2022)

Season 1 cast of 'Snowflake Mountain'. Pete Dadds/Netflix

The term "snowflake" has been weaponized against progressives by conservatives who see them (specifically the younger generation) as whiny and entitled with no life skills. *Snowflake Mountain* gathers a group of contestants who (at surface level) appear to fit this brand. They live at home with their parents, boast luxurious lifestyles, and live the "kidult" life with no qualms.

The 10 contestants selected for the show believe they're on a journey to a luxury villa, but instead get dumped on the British countryside. There, they are forced to compete in wilderness survival tasks in order to remain on the show and win the grand prize of $50,000. Along the way, the hope is for them to gain the life skills they need to get out of their parents' basements (even if it's a mansion basement). The contestants and their tough-love mentors grow and change as each episode progresses, supporting, encouraging and offering a shoulder to cry on. Will all of these "kidults" return to the real world with a new lease on life? Gotta tune in to find out. —*E.S.*

Where to watch *Snowflake Mountain*: Netflix

Somebody Feed Phil (2018–present)

Phil Rosenthal on 'Somebody Feed Phil'. Netflix

There are numerous reality shows in which the host invites the viewer on a culinary trip around the world, but few hosts are quite as enthusiastic as Phil Rosenthal. The Emmy-winning creator of *Everybody Loves Raymond* brings his foodie passion to a new city each episode, from Bangkok to Venice to New York City. Through locals sharing their cuisines with the affable host, he forges cross-cultural connections, while also making his fair share of dad jokes along the way. The Emmy-nominated docuseries has aired eight seasons on Netflix and has also spawned a companion book, *Somebody Feed Phil: The Book, *featuring recipes and behind-the-scenes details from the series. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Somebody Feed Phil*: Netflix

Squid Game: The Challenge (2023–present)

Contestants on 'Squid Game: The Challenge'.

Courtesy of Netflix

*Squid Game*, the massively popular South Korean drama set in a dystopian world in which financially insecure contestants compete in a series of deadly games, got its own reality TV spinoff with this controversial yet highly watchable show. Like the series on which it's based, *Squid Game: The Challenge* assembles 456 contestants to battle it out in an arena — without the whole death part, thankfully. As EW's critic writes, the competition "manages to serve up palpable suspense and authentic human drama without murdering a single contestant." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Squid Game: The Challenge*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B+ (read the review)**

Top Chef (2006–present)

Tom Colicchio, Kristen Kish, and Gail Simmons on 'Top Chef'.

David Moir/Bravo

The gold standard of cooking reality series has lasted on the air as long as it has for a reason. *Top Chef* has all the right ingredients, from the healthy competition between its "cheftestants" to the format itself. Each week, the chefs make dishes for the Quickfire Challenge, with the winner granted immunity or an advantage, followed by the Elimination Challenge, where contestants must prepare the best dish possible within a certain theme, after which the judges eliminate the worst-performing contestant. Seasons 10, 12, and 16 of the Emmy-winning series are currently available to stream in full on Netflix —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Top Chef*: Netflix

The Ultimatum: Queer Love (2023–present)

Yoly Rojas and Xander Boger on 'The Ultimatum: Queer Love'.

Courtesy of Netflix

This spinoff of *The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On* centers exclusively on women and nonbinary couples across the queer spectrum. As with the original series, *The Ultimatum: Queer Love* features one half of the couple wanting to take the next step by getting engaged, while the other is uncertain, and puts their love to the test. They come together with four other couples in a house where each has to choose a new partner for three weeks, after which each person decides whether to go back to their original partner or continue with their new one. Emotions run high and loyalties are tested, making for maximum drama. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Ultimatum: Queer Love*: Netflix

Wipeout (2008–2014)

Nicole Byer and John Cena on 'Wipeout'. Tyler Golden/TBS/Warnermedia

Who among us hasn't desired some lowest common denominator, no-thoughts-head-empty entertainment after a hard day's work? *Wipeout* more than delivers on delighting our baser instincts, and its self-aware ridiculousness makes it all the more fun. Each episode features a group of willing contestants trying (and often failing) to navigate a series of obstacle courses, from bouncing on giant red balls to trying not to get sucker punched by mechanical boxing gloves. Color commentary is provided by the hosts, with puns galore. Thirty episodes are available on Netflix now, delivering hours of humiliating pratfalls, collisions, and zingers. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Wipeout*: Netflix******

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