Variety has published its selection of the ten best international TV shows of 2025, highlighting a diverse range of scripted and unscripted series from around the world. Streaming services dominated the landscape, surpassing traditional broadcasters in viewership and investment for the first time. The list features standout titles like Netflix's 'Adolescence,' praised for its technical innovation and social impact.
On December 22, 2025, Variety released its annual roundup of the best international TV shows, curated by its global team. The selection underscores the creative vitality of non-U.S. programming amid streaming's growing influence. Topping the list is Netflix's 'Adolescence,' a one-shot mini-series about a teenage boy accused of murdering a classmate. Directed by Philip Barantini and written by Jack Thorne, it garnered acclaim for its technical prowess and performances, including a Primetime Emmy for 15-year-old Owen Cooper, the youngest male winner in history. The show broke Netflix viewing records and ignited debates on social media's dangers for youth, even reaching British parliament discussions. Thorne and Barantini noted they may never replicate such a phenomenon.
Other highlights include Belgium's 'Dead End,' a dark comedy by Malin-Sarah Gozin about a detective who visions the dead by consuming body parts, blending thriller and family drama while critiquing animal consumption. It premiered at Canneseries, showcasing Flanders' TV boom.
France's 'The Seduction,' an HBO original directed by Jessica Palud, offers a feminist reimagining of 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses,' starring Anamaria Vartolomei as de Merteuil and Diane Kruger as her mentor, set in 18th-century Paris.
Lena Dunham's 'Too Much' on Netflix follows an American expat's romance in London, evoking Richard Curtis films, with Meg Stalter and Will Sharpe leading; it concluded after one season.
India's 'Black Warrant,' created by Vikramaditya Motwane and based on Sunil Gupta's memoir, explores Tihar Jail's realities, starring Zahan Kapoor and earning Asian Academy awards.
The BBC's 'The Celebrity Traitors' delivered reality TV highs with celebrities like Celia Imrie and Tom Daley, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, breaking ratings.
Netflix's Arabic 'Love is Blind: Habibi,' filmed in Dubai, emphasized family and traditions, topping global non-English charts and earning an International Emmy nod.
Brazil's 'Perfect Days' on Globoplay, from Raphael Montes' novel, is a psychological thriller starring Julia Dalavia, becoming the platform's biggest hit.
Italy's 'Portobello,' directed by Marco Bellocchio, recounts TV host Enzo Tortora's wrongful 1985 conviction tied to the Camorra, starring Fabrizio Gifuni; it debuts on HBO Max in 2026.
Spain's 'The Anatomy of a Moment' on Movistar Plus+, directed by Alberto Rodríguez, chronicles 1976-77 democracy figures, becoming the service's most-watched original.
These shows reflect global storytelling's breadth, from social issues to historical reckonings.
