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Since Netflix first became a major force in the entertainment industry, it has helped to popularize the concept of binge-watching TV shows. With that in mind, it shouldn't surprise anyone that the streaming service has produced several original series that people love watching in batches, including Stranger Things, Ozark, Bridgerton, and more. According to one ranking, there is another series that surpasses all of those to be the ultimate Netflix show to binge.
The Crown Has Been Named the 'Most Bingeable Netflix Show'
In August 2024, Digital Trends published its ranking of the "10 most bingeable Netflix shows." With many years of popular series to choose from, the outlet picked The Crown to top the list at No. 1. While the show has roundly been praised for the captivating way it depicts the lives of the royals, the outlet specifically provided the following explanation for why it is Netflix's most binge-worthy series:
"Lush and dignified, but no less dramatic, The Crown presents an approachable and fictionalized account of the life of one of modern history’s most distant and impenetrable figures. The show’s main strength lies in its willingness to peek behind the royal facade without quite tearing it down. The Crown might present a very polished and PC depiction of the Royal Family, but it remains a fascinating and worthwhile journey that makes its audience part of some of the most important events in Britain’s history."
Digital Trends' Full List of the '10 Most Bingeable Netflix Shows, Ranked'
- 10. One Piece (2023-Present)
- 9. BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)
- 8. Sex Education (2019-2023)
- 7. Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life (2016)
- 6. Daredevil (2015-2018)
- 5. Heartstopper (2022-2026)
- 4. Ozark (2017-2022)
- 3. Bridgerton (2019-present)
- 2. Black Mirror (2011-present)
- 1. The Crown (2016-2023)
Of course, topping that list is far from the first time that The Crown has earned an impressive accolade. In fact, the list of awards the series has received is far too long to even summarize here. Most notably, The Crown won 24 Emmy Awards and was nominated for a total of 87. Since the Emmy Awards are the most respected in the television landscape, it is hard to overstate how impressive those numbers are. The series also memorably won several Golden Globes during its tenure.
Why The Crown Created Controversy
Even though it is undeniable that The Crown has been a massive hit for Netflix, that doesn't mean that it has always been embraced by viewers. Instead, the truth of the matter is that the acclaimed series has spawned several scandals since it premiered in 2016. Easily the biggest controversy surrounding The Crown has been the frustration around the show arguably presenting fictionalized elements of the series as fact.
Reader's Digest published an article listing several things that The Crowngot wrong about the royals that was last updated in 2025. It even claimed that some inaccuracies were so glaring that it "didn’t take a historian to recognize" them. It noted that the series got several aspects of Charles and Camilla’s affair wrong. The article stated that Queen Elizabeth didn't have a crush on Porchie, Venetia Scott wasn't a real person, and Philip's affair was based on speculation. The outlet also detailed that the portrayal of Elizabeth and Philip's wedding was wrong in several ways, including that his mother didn't show up dressed as a nun. Those are only some examples of the things The Crown controversially got wrong.
The Crown's depiction of the royals has also resulted in backlash from some famous figures. In 2022, Dame Judi Dench sent a letter to The Times to express her anger at how the series depicts its subjects. While advocating for Netflix to add a disclaimer to the show labeling it a "fictionalised drama," the actor was very blunt in her appraisal of how damaging The Crown could be.
"The closer the drama comes to our present times, the more freely it seems willing to blur the lines between historical accuracy and crude sensationalism. Given some of the wounding suggestions apparently contained in the new series — that King Charles plotted for his mother to abdicate, for example, or once suggested his mother’s parenting was so deficient that she might have deserved a jail sentence — this is both cruelly unjust to the individuals and damaging to the institution they represent."
Also in 2022, two former British Prime Ministers, John Major and Tony Blair, both spoke out against The Crown as an article from The Guardian revealed. In the latter's case, Blair's spokesperson told the outlet, "It should come as no surprise that this is complete and utter rubbish." Major went further by sending The Guardian a letter in which he also called for episodes of The Crown to come with a disclaimer.
"Fiction should not be paraded as fact. I gather Netflix continues to refuse to put out a disclaimer at the top of the opening credits, on the basis that ‘everyone knows this is a drama series’. But this is simply not good enough. If everyone knows, why not acknowledge that?"
Major continued, "Without such action, many millions – around the world – could still be influenced by a damaging and fictional script, which claims ‘authority’ by being interspersed with historical fact. Entertainment is a great and glorious industry that brings enormous pleasure to many millions. Netflix should not demean it with portrayals which are both injurious and untrue."
Reacting to the backlash around the series' inaccuracies, Netflix added the following disclaimer to the description of the trailer for The Crown Season 5 on YouTube: "Inspired by real events, this fictional dramatisation tells the story of Queen Elizabeth II and the political and personal events that shaped her reign." The streaming service also added a disclaimer to some descriptions of the show, but not to any of the series' episodes.
