Top 12 Things to Watch on Netflix

*Ahem. My Top 12 Things to Watch on Netflix.

Now, I understand that you may have some different tastes from me, but if you can't get into anything on this list I will be extremely confused. And sad for you.

For anyone who has been hiding under a rock for the last couple of years, Netflix is this awesome thing that allows you to stream TV shows and movies from the internet onto your TV or 'device'--including computers, tablets, phones, etc. It's $7.99 per month and worth every penny. Especially if you're mooching off of someone else's pennies, such as your in-laws. Not that I would ever do such a thing. (Love you, Wendy & Rick!)

While this is like magic, I do hear people wondering aloud what to watch next on Netflix. So I made this handy dandy list to help you get started!  Everyone else does Top 10 lists--but c'mon, this is Netflix! So I had to make it a Top 12 list. It includes 6 TV shows and 6 movies--so you should be set for at least a weekend. (Just kidding--you will occasionally have to pause it for bathroom breaks and to pass out.) I would like to specify, though, that this is an adult list--I didn't include kiddie movies on here. We do like some kids' movies, but I'm not a mom, so I'll let some other blogger tackle that list!

Here goes!

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Top 12 Things to Watch on Netflix:

Arrested Development (2003-present—Rated TV-PG)
A show about a crazy dysfunctional family whose patriarch has just been sent to prison and about the second son-Jason Bateman-who has to try to keep the family together. Hilarity will ensue. If that doesn’t convince you, there’s Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Portia DeRossi, Michael Cera as a kid….it’s great. Plus, the show was renewed this year on Netflix for a fourth season, ten years after season 1.

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Supernatural (2005-present—Rated TV-14)
The premise is two (super gorgeous, well-acted) brothers, who travel the U.S. fighting things that go bump in the night. Suspense. Monsters. Comedy. Jared Padelecki and Jensen Ackles-throw in some Misha Collins in the later seasons. There’s really nothing else you need. (Beware of looking up this show on the internet though--there are some super-crazy fans out there! I promise I am not one of them--no fanfic for me, thank you.) This is literally my favorite show EVER. If you follow me on Pinterest, you probably already know that, since I have a board dedicated to it that I pin to nonstop. Sorry not sorry.

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House of Cards (2013-present—Not rated but it’d be R)
This show follows Kevin Spacey as he plots to go from Congress to the White House. It’s intriguing and fast paced, has great casting, and will shock you. Bonus: you may inadvertently learn something about the inner workings of the American government.

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What to Expect When You’re Expecting (2012—Rated PG-13)
This is a great romantic comedy—especially if you or someone you know is pregnant or has just had a baby. I’m a little surprised that this movie is so unknown, considering the cast. It stars Cameron Diaz, Matthew Morrison, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Chace Crawford, Brooklyn Decker, Dennis Quaid, Chris Rock and Anna Kendrick. I think I’m actually still missing a couple. I think Elizabeth Banks is probably my favorite in this as a Type-A workaholic who thinks she knows everything about motherhood—until it actually happens to her. (This is likely because I have a similar temperament—although I sure hope my pregnancy doesn’t go the same way hers did!)

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How I Met Your Mother (2005-2013—Not given a rating but I’d say TV-14)
This show is almost too easy to watch—I think my husband and I breezed through all of the available seasons at the pace of about a season per week. However, I will say that if I were Ted Mosby, I would probably not be telling my children about all the drinking, partying, and 30-odd women that I slept with before I met their mother. Bad form, Ted.

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One for the Money (2012—Rated PG-13)
This is another movie that I feel deserves more recognition. Katherine Heigl, people. And for once she’s not playing an uptight character, which is kind of refreshing (although uptight is her bread-and-butter, and I’m not suggesting she give it up. I relate to her in those roles!) This movie is based on Janet Evanovich’s funny and sexy series about an inept bounty hunter from Jersey. It may not be Oscar material but it is good stuff.  If you don’t see the movie, you should read the book—as usual, the book is about a thousand times better. The series has 19 books so far and they make me legitimately laugh out loud. I have to get my husband to stop reading his book so I can read passages to him out loud and giggle to myself.

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Dirty Dancing (1987—Rated PG-13)…and other classic movies
Because really, if you haven’t seen Dirty Dancing by now, you should be ashamed of yourself.  Famous for awesome curly hair, the iconic lift, and the line “Nobody puts Baby in the corner.”  (Side note—notice the long skinny watermelons near the beginning of the movie. Is this what watermelons used to look like? Is the new rounder shape of watermelons due to our genetic breeding to get seedless ones? These are the things I think of.) Anyway…this should be required viewing, and you should watch it. Same goes for other classics like Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

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That 70s Show (1998-2006—Rated TV-14)
Even if you saw most of the episodes while the show was running, this is still good to add to your list. You can watch it while you’re answering email or doing dishes. It will help you get a handle on all the changes in the Foreman family, figure out which Laurie goes with what season, and work out who’s currently dating Jackie. (Spoiler: in real life, it’s Kelso!) Enjoy everything that happens anytime Kitty is onscreen. Memorize some of the best BURNS! Plus, see young Mila Kunis-young Ashton Kutcher-young Topher Grace—it’s pretty much magic.

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Keith (2008—PG-13)
Keith is a weirdly addictive movie that leaves you wanting to know more about Jesse McCartney. He’s surprisingly good in this movie, which came out in 2008. He is very brooding and mysterious for a cute little pop singer. The other main character is played by Elisabeth Harnois, whom I haven’t seen much of but liked a lot in this role. What seems to be a budding friendship/high school crush turns into something unexpected and a little dark. Watch and see!

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Good Will Hunting (1997—Rated R)
Good Will Hunting has it all. Robin Williams in a role you wouldn’t expect from “the Genie” (I know, I’m such a 90s kid); young Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, Minnie Driver, Boston accents, young angst. However, what it also has is more f-words than you thought you would hear in your entire life. So be prepared for that.

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Lost (2004-2010—Rated TV-14)
Lost is an awesome series to get all wrapped up in. You will become part of a secret society of Lost watchers who can have whole long conversations of which outsiders will not be able to understand a word. It follows the lives of the passengers of a flight that has landed on an island. It starts out intriguing but normal—by the time it gets crazy, it’s too late! You’re in too deep and you can’t get out. It boasts an awesome cast that I really want to see more from and tons of plot twists you won’t see coming. This is probably because it’s by J.J. Abrams—which usually means it’s pretty great!

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Hunger Games (2012—Rated PG-13)
Honestly, I was surprised that this movie is already on Netflix! It usually takes longer for movies that are this commercially successful to make it on. I suppose they want you to be ready for the next installment—Catching Fire, which comes out this November. It would be surprising if you hadn’t heard of this one. It’s about a country in the future on North America which punishes its districts for a past rebellion by demanding tributes (children) from each district to fight to the death—in the Hunger Games. It has Jennifer Lawrence, which is pretty much a reason to watch all by itself, but there’s also Woody Harrelson, Elisabeth Banks, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson.

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Bonus! Watch various Avengers movies while waiting for the next one to come out!
See, Netflix will be super helpful every time a new Marvel superhero movie comes out because you can catch up with Captain America, Thor, and the Hulk. I assume you all have the Iron Man movies because who doesn’t have the Iron Man movies? If you don’t, you should probably get the Iron Man movies. Also—add the new Andrew Garfield version of Spiderman because I hear that they finally got the rights to include him in the next Avengers movie.

Extra Bonus! Dr. Who
I feel obligated to mention Dr. Who so that people won’t be grabbing their pitchforks and torches at the end of this post. I haven’t personally gotten into Dr. Who, so I can’t really speak to it, but it seems like the people who are into it are like really, REALLY into it so…take that information and do with it what you will. I hear it’s a better idea to start with season 5 and then watch 1-4 at the end (I guess because the doctor in season 5 is more likable). There! I said it, so no mugging me at the supermarket, okay?

Which of these is your favorite?
What other shows and movies would you include on a must-watch Netflix list?
Leave your responses in the comments below!