Netflix continues to be a dominant producer of original content in 2018, featuring successes in various genres. Whether it be through original anime and animated content or in comedy and drama, Netflix continues to reign as king of streaming. Which is why we’re excited about everything being released in the spring of 2018.
In the past year, Netflix has announced huge breakout animation series like Devilman Crybaby, while they continued to dominate the standup comedy circuit with big names like Dave Chappelle and Ari Shaffir. Spring and early summer are generally the times when the most anticipated movies, documentaries, standup comedy routines, and series’ get released.
Netflix currently has 117.58 million paying subscribers worldwide and 54.75 million in the US. In 2017, Netflix spent 6.8 billion dollars on original and acquired programming, according to data from MoffettNathanson. While this may not surprise some, these numbers are huge compared to other industry leaders like Time Warner ($8 billion), Fox ($8 billion) and Disney ($7.8 billion).
The budget for 2018 is said to exceed that of 2017, running closer to $8 billion. And with that comes a ton of new and original content, along with new seasons for existing series that have performed well in the past. Some of these have been all the rage for over a year, with fans chomping at the bit while they wait for a new season. While others are newcomers who have somehow slid under the general populaces radar. From powerful dramas and documentaries to video game classics being animated and comedy breakout specials, here are 25 Netflix originals coming in spring of 2018 that everyone needs to check out.
25 Gothic Times In Castlevania
Geared towards anime fans and gamers, Castlevania impressed its target audience last year with only four introductory episodes in its first season. This prompted Netflix to immediately announce that a season 2 had been greenlit and was in production, with a planned release in spring of 2018.
The date has been pushed back to late spring, early summer 2018, but fans aren’t complaining. Loosely based on the 1990 NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) game, Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse — there’s massive amounts of gore, action, drama, and humor. Guaranteed to delight all the senses.
Like the video game, the story is about Dracula’s revenge upon humanity after the death of his wife. Vampire hunter Trevor Belmont joins up with a sorceress named Sypha, Grant, and Dracula’s son Alucard to thwart Dracula’s plans.
24 Seth Rogan: Hilarity For Charity
Seth Rogan is up to his usual deviant antics, but this time he’s doing it for a good cause, rather than trying to pad his own pockets. Hilarity for Charity (HFC) is a nonprofit movement, led by Seth Rogen and his wife Lauren Miller Rogen. Seth and Lauren put this event together due to their dedicated passions in raising awareness, inspiring change, and accelerating the progress in Alzheimer’s care and research.
Seth takes the awkwardness of a charity event and turns it into a scheme in which he plans to beat the Netflix algorithm, allowing HFC to show up in every genre and list. The event features the Muppets (includes musical numbers) and a cartoon sketch done by Justin Roiland (co-creator of Rick and Morty), various standup comedians, along with Seth shoving a Vape pen into his junk for a higher version of laughs.
23 They’re Back: Trailer Park Boys Season 12
Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles are back for a twelfth season on Netflix. And the viewer rankings, along with Rotten Tomatoes scores are soaring once again. The three characters are played by Robb Wells, John Paul Tremblay, and Mike Smith — founding members of their own streaming service called Swearnet, which has been partnered with Netflix since 2014.
The boys are so popular in Canada, that the Canadian government granted the cast and crew money to help produce their tenth season back in 2015, along with a new spin-off series. Now they’re floating on the big trailer bucks, serving up their famous bits for another binge-worthy season. And audiences can’t get enough. The spin-off series is called Trailer Park Boys: Out of the Park: Europe and can also be found on Netflix.
22 Animation Award Winner: Violet Evergarden
Written by Kana Akatsuki and illustrated by Akiko Takase, Violet Evergarden has been classified as the most beautiful and stunning anime of its time. In 2014, it won a grand prize in the fifth Kyoto Animation Award’s novel category. This prompted an anime series to be greenlit, which was then picked up by Netflix.
The series is powerful and emotional. It’s not a typical anime packed with fanservice and fights.
The story is about Violet Evergarden’s journey of reintegrating back into society after the war is over, and her search for her life’s purpose now that she is no longer a soldier. It also revolves around a technology called Auto Memory Dolls, which were created by a scientist named Dr. Orland to assist his blind wife Mollie in writing her novels, and later rented out to other people who needed their services.
21 My Next Guest With David Letterman
The great New York iconic talk show host is back in action on Netflix, releasing a one hour special each month with a special guest. The series is set for six episodes, which includes high-profile names like Barack Obama, George Clooney, Malala Yousafzai, Jay-Z, Tina Fey, and Howard Stern.
Showing off a more intellectual side, while still cracking jokes, David Letterman settles into a role which showcases all his strengths while keeping the focus on his guests.
Letterman is more himself, as the band is gone and only two old-timey lounge chairs facing each other consist of the set. Plus, his socks seem to always steal the show, when they’re not competing with his very large and white beard. Something Clooney busts on him regularly for during their sit-down chat.
20 Reboot Of Lost In Space
In a darker and slightly edgier version than the original, the rebooted Lost in Space seems to have potential. It is written by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless, with Zack Estrin as the showrunner. The first season will contain 10 episodes and is set to launch on April 13.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, showrunner Zack Estrin called it “a true family adventure in the vein of the original Jurassic Park.” He also went on to say that “it’s designed to appeal to both fans of the original series and newcomers who might want something a little less campy in their science fiction.”
Despite the robot looking very different and the story being adapted slightly, the trailers have peeked my interest. I grew up watching re-runs of the original, which helped curve my love towards Sci-Fi and I can only hope this reboot does it justice.
19 High Times In Dude
Olivia Milch captures the essence of high times in high school with her new coming-of-age comedy. The film stars Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars), Kathryn Prescott (To the Bone), Alexandra Shipp (Straight Outta Compton) and Awkwafina (Neighbors 2).
Capturing the essence of movies like Dazed and Confused, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and Friday, Milch’s story is a grounded comedy about dealing with real life losses. It also plays off the nostalgia associated with driving around and listening to hip-hop. The setting takes place during the girls last two weeks of high school in their senior year, as they discuss passing on in this life and the passage of time. Dude will be available to watch on Netflix, per April 20 (420).
18 A Series Of Unfortunate Events Season 2
Based on Daniel Handler’s bestselling children’s books, A Series of Unfortunate Events captured a huge following upon its first season release on Netflix last year. Following up its acclaimed debut is season 2, full of more treats and absurd humor.
The series features an amazing cast which includes Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Warburton, Malina Weissman, Louis Hynes, and K. Todd Freeman. The second season will pick up where the first left off, so it would be wise to watch season one before venturing into season 2 if you missed the boat on this little ditty.
Season 2 contains guest appearances from folks like Mindy Sterling, Roger Bart, Malcolm Stewart, and Tony Hale. A third season has already been greenlit and is in production. It will have 7 episodes while telling the story from the final four books of the series.
17 Kevin James Returns To Standup
Kevin James created a name for himself back in 1998 with the hit series The King of Queens but has been on a rollercoaster of ups and downs ever since. Making a long-awaited return to standup, Kevin has landed himself a Netflix special called Kevin James: Never Don’t Give Up. Premiering on April 24, James looks at fatherhood, fans, and his disdain for allergies.
Will Kevin James revive the humor of his glory days or will his Netflix special bomb like Adam Sandler’s recent films?
For those who don’t know, James started off in standup comedy game at the East Side Comedy Club on Long Island. This was back in 1989, and a lot has happened in his life since then. His last standup special was in 2001 titled Kevin James: Sweat the Small Stuff.
16 Viral Short Cargo Gets Full Film Version
Zombie apocalypse films are still in the hot seat, and the long-awaited Cargo should delight fans to the extreme. Releasing on Netflix in May, Cargo stars Martin Freeman, Anthony Hayes, and Caren Pistorius.
The short Cargo went viral in 2013 and was a finalist in the Tropfest short film festival. Written by Yolanda Ramke and directed by Ramke and Ben Howling, Cargo is classified as an Australian Post-apocalyptic Thriller film.
The story is about Andy and Kay who have holed up in a houseboat with their one-year-old daughter named Rosie. After an attack, Kay is eliminated and Andy becomes infected. He sets off to save his daughter Rosie. For fans of the short, Cargo has high expectations and is set to launch with a giant bang.
15 Long-Awaited LeSean Thomas Animation
You might recognize the name LeSean Thomas, but if you don’t — you should. Thomas has worked on several big-name projects in the past like Legend of Korra, Black Diamond, and most notably, The Boondocks. He’s also been a storyboard artist for various shows such as Kim Possible, Ben 10: Alien Force and The Batman.
Cannon Busters is LeSean Thomas’ own work, picked up by Netflix in collaboration with Satelight studios.
One of his favorite anime of all time just happens to be Cowboy Bebop too. Which is why I’m so excited to see Cannon Busters. According to Ollie Barder of Forbes Magazine, “Cannon Busters is a modern take on something like Trigun, though tougher, meaner and more than a little brutal in places. It retains a good sense of humor though and that’s nice to see.”
14 Black Mirror Season 4
Technically Black Mirror season 4 was released a few months ago, but it’s a great series to watch and get caught up on this spring if nothing else on this Netflix list tickles your fancy. Black Mirror struck gold again, earning a whopping 94% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.
Created by Charlie Brooker, with Brooker and Annabel Jones serving as showrunners, the series is inspired by classic shows like the Twilight Zone. It’s dark and comedic, but the best part is that each episode is generally standalone. Allowing one to watch at their convenience without having to plan an all-day binge to catch up.
Not only do audiences rave about Black Mirror, but it has also acquired some cool accolades too. Season three was awarded a Primetime Emmy Awards, for Outstanding Television Movie and Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series.
13 Philippines Narcos, AMO
Launched just a few days ago is the series AMO. The story is about a high school student who starts selling illegal substances and ends up tangled in a nightmarish world populated by violent kingpins and corrupt officials. AMO is created by award-winning director Brillante Mendoza and deals with the deadly substance war waged by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
Many have said it is the Philippines version of the hit series Narcos. As the series takes a close look at the examination of the dark side of Philippine life. Mendoza said in an interview recently, “The reason why I did this is, so people can see the other side of the coin. From the point of view of the victims as well as the victimizers.”
12 Marvel Hero Luke Cage
Marvel fans have been chomping at the bit waiting for news regarding Luke Cage and were rewarded for their efforts several days ago with a release date finally. While not technically launching this spring on Netflix (June 22) the series is totally worth mentioning.
Sadly, Iron Fist seems to be teaming up with Luke Cage at some point, even though his own series got canceled.
But there’s more to look forward to, like the addition of Annabella Sciorra (The Sopranos) playing the character Rosalie Carbone. She is “a dangerous downtown criminal underworld power player with an eye, and an agenda, toward Harlem.” This could also tie in the Punisher, mixing Netflix MCU stories together even more. The other neat addition is Mustafa Shakir (The Deuce) playing the character John McIver.
11 Gambling High Kakegurui
For the late night and extra sweet crowd, Netflix recently launched another original anime series called Kakegurui: Compulsive Gambler. Based on the Japanese manga series written by Homura Kawamoto and illustrated by Tōru Naomura, the anime is deeply rooted in the high-stakes of gambling with plenty of fanservice to carry one through the slow parts.
In Kakegurui, the setting takes place in a high school atmosphere, which is a common anime trope considering the characters look like they should be in college. The other trope is that adults don’t run the school, but rather the student council where money is power. It’s a bit off the beaten path, but for those who are die-hard anime fans, Kakegurui is worth checking out for some late-night fun.
10 Netflix Original Thriller: The Rain
Created by Jannik Tai Mosholt, Christian Potalivo, and Esben Toft Jacobsen, The Rain has captured the attention of audiences and critics alike. Releasing on May 4, the series is full of dark and suspenseful tones.
According to IMDB and Netflix, the show is about a brutal virus which wipes out most of the population. Leaving two young siblings to embark on a perilous search for safety. The setting is supposed to take place in Scandinavia, giving this series a unique feel for American audiences.
The virus is spread through the rain, adding a new element to survival in an “end of the world” scenario. Not only must the survivors continue to live on but learn to adapt and move forward in this new world that has been created.
9 True Story: Mercury 13
On record, 13 of the 20 women passed the spaceflight tests (the same one’s males take) but couldn’t persuade Congress to count them as legitimate astronauts. The stories have been coming to light since the release of Hidden Figures last year. Trailers for Mercury 13 are available, and it will premiere streaming on April 20.
8 Dark Side Into Sports Industry: Amateur
In a Netflix original movie, Amateur tells a tale about a basketball prodigy (Michael Rainey Jr.) who starts to learn about the dark side of the sports industry in only eighth grade. While the film tends to look like its based on a true story, it is actually fictional. However, what occurs in the film is a reflection based on real-life experiences whether in basketball, football, or even baseball.
Released on April 6, Amateur has received good reviews thus far, while warning future sports prodigies (and their parents) about the potential devious actions of groups like the NCAA.
Director Ryan Koo has stated that he wanted to explore the world of athletes being recruited for colleges. “It’s a fascinating and treacherous world which often leaves big decisions in the hands of little kids.”
7 Far Out Animation: Aggretsuko
For fans of anime and games like Doki Doki comes a Netflix original series called Aggretsuko. The lead character who goes by the name Retsuko is portrayed as an anthropomorphized red panda who works as an administrative assistant in a Japanese business. Hence the cute factor, followed by the unusual. Her life is frustrating and her job stinks, so she relieves her stress by becoming angry, having too many drinks, and singing hard-core metal in a karaoke bar.
The first season of Aggretsuko is set to release on April 20 and should be a fun (while slightly weird) series that anime fans will likely be checking out. After all, Netflix has classified the series as cynical, deadpan, and offbeat. This series is likely not kid friendly, so reserve it for those after dark times.
6 Netflix Untitled Standup
Set to release sometime in 2018 (we’re hoping for spring) will be a series of 15-minute standup routines done by a variety of comics. The move by Netflix is to increase the diversity with their standup while giving audiences a good amount of content from each comedian.
Each segment will be taped in Atlanta’s historic Terminal West and each 15-minute segment will be released throughout the rest of the year.
The lineup includes all up-and-coming comedians who had to pass intense auditions in New York and LA. Names you might recognize include comedians like Michelle Buteau, Sam Jay, Tim Dillon, and Josh Johnson (who all have 30-minute segments on Comedy Central). The idea of only 15 minutes might seem weird, but if seen in a comedy club, it’s about the same amount of time each comedian would have to impress audiences.
