How many shows are on Netflix? That number is changing all the time, but it's generally understood to be somewhere in the mid-thousands. The website New on Netflix lists 5910 films and TVs that are currently searchable.

That’s a lot. It's more than you could ever find the time to watch in your lifetime, even if social distancing continues, and there's a significant, long term disruption in the production of new shows.

But in the meantime, you've got the Netflix shows you have now. Here are our choices for the best ones you can watch:

Breaking Bad

Not only was it Netflix streaming that made Breaking Bad, but it was one of the shows that made Netflix streaming.

The show made an unheralded debut on AMC in January of 2008, but it gradually grew in popularity throughout its five-season run that ended in 2013. Part of it was that the show gradually got better throughout its run, but also that a great many fans caught up on the series from binging the earlier seasons in-between seasons.

If they did, they were treated to a breakthrough performance by Bryan Cranston as a mild-mannered science teacher who slowly became a violent and feared drug lord. The show even spawned a spinoff, Better Call Saul, which is also on Netflix and has now run as long as Breaking Bad did.

Mad Men

The other great AMC series of its era, Mad Men followed the adventures of advertising genius Don Draper (played by Jon Hamm), as American history progressed throughout the 1960s. A strong cast, a gorgeous visual style, and first-rate writing propelled the series throughout its 7-season run, all of which can be streamed now. 

Russian Doll

It's one of Netflix's weirdest original shows, but also one of the best. Starring actress and co-creator Natasha Lyonne, Russian Doll has a Groundhog Day-style conceit: During one night in New York City, Nadia (Lyonne) dies repeatedly, and always comes back to life, while standing at a sink, as Harry Nilsson's "Gotta Get Up" plays. It's an irresistible premise, one that goes in some wild and unexpected directions. The show's first season was just eight episodes, and while it was renewed for a second, filming was delayed due to coronavirus.

Bojack Horseman

Somehow, one of the smartest and most melancholy original shows is about an alcoholic former TV star who happens to be a cartoon horse. Bojack, which recently wrapped up a six-season run on the streaming service, combined hilarious animation, wondrous wordplay ("At best, you're the best boy. At best.") and some seriously dark subject matter about alcoholism, depression, and childhood trauma. All was anchored by a wonderful lead voice performance by Will Arnett. 

I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson

Netflix's only original sketch comedy series is a masterpiece of absurd humor, created by Saturday Night Live alum Tim Robinson. Consisting of eight episodes worth of the kind of material that was presumably too weird to ever make it onto SNL's airwaves. The show created tons of catchphrases to make sense to minor subcultures on Twitter, and some fans have bragged about how they've gotten through the show's run multiple times.

It’s been renewed for a second season and filming supposedly began in February but the arrival timeline for new episodes is unknown.

Stephen Silver, a technology writer for the National Interest, is a journalist, essayist and film critic, who is also a contributor to Philly Voice, Philadelphia Weekly, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Living Life Fearless, Backstage magazine, Broad Street Review and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons.