Best TV box sets to binge over Christmas 2026, by streaming service

The best thing about the gap between Christmas and New Year isn’t the leftovers. It’s the permission to watch an entire series in three sittings without anybody asking what you’ve done today. Whether you’re snowed in up north or stretched out somewhere warm down south, here are the box sets worth saving for the holidays.

We’ve grouped them by service, because nobody subscribes to everything. Two caveats: availability varies by country, and catalogues change – a show on one service in the US may live somewhere else in the UK, Canada or Australia. If you’re unsure, check a free tool such as JustWatch for your region. We’ve favoured series that are finished or have a satisfying stopping point, so you won’t be left on a cliffhanger in January.

Netflix

Stranger Things (complete)

The finale arrived on New Year’s Eve 2025, so for the first time you can watch the whole story start to finish. Five seasons of 1980s nostalgia, monsters and friendship – a proper holiday commitment, and a good one to share across generations.

The Crown (complete)

Six seasons of royal drama, beautifully made and oddly soothing in big doses. Perfect for the sleepy afternoons when you want something lavish in the background.

Wednesday

Gothic, funny and very bingeable. A good pick for families with teenagers – and a nice dark counterweight to all the tinsel.

Prime Video

The Boys (complete)

The fifth and final season wrapped up in May 2026, so the whole thing is now ready to binge. Fair warning: this is not one for watching with your grandparents. Violent, satirical and very much for adults.

Fallout

A wasteland adventure that works whether or not you’ve played the games. Witty, surprisingly warm and beautifully designed. Ideal if your household includes gamers and non-gamers alike.

Disney+ (and Hulu in the US)

The Bear

A frantic, big-hearted series about a chef trying to save his family’s sandwich shop. Short episodes make it easy to say “just one more”. Regional note: in the US it’s on Hulu (also available through the Disney+ bundle); in most other countries it’s on Disney+.

Andor (complete)

Two seasons, one complete story, and widely considered among the best things the franchise has ever produced. You don’t need to be a fan to enjoy it – it plays as a smart political thriller.

Apple TV

(Formerly Apple TV+ – Apple dropped the “+” in late 2025.)

Severance

An office thriller where employees surgically separate their work and home memories. Strange, gripping and the ideal thing to discuss over the cheeseboard.

Slow Horses

A wonderfully grubby spy drama about a team of disgraced intelligence officers. Each season is a self-contained story, so you can stop whenever the turkey’s ready.

Ted Lasso

When the world feels heavy, this is the warm hug. Kind, funny and built for watching with people you love.

HBO Max

Regional note: HBO Max launched in the UK and Ireland in March 2026 and is now available in most of Europe, the Americas and parts of Asia-Pacific. In countries where it hasn’t launched, HBO shows usually sit with a local partner – check your region.

The Last of Us

A post-apocalyptic drama about grief, love and survival that won over people who’ve never touched the game. Heavy in places, but extraordinary.

Succession (complete)

Four seasons of a family at war over a media empire. Perfect viewing if your own family gathering is getting a bit tense – it’ll make yours look lovely by comparison.

The Pitt

A real-time hospital drama, each episode covering an hour of a single shift. Tense, humane and very easy to binge.

A few binge tips

• Pick by mood, not by hype. Big, dark drama on the quiet days; light comedy when the house is full.
• Mind the downloads. If you’re travelling for the holidays, most services let you download episodes to a phone or tablet – handy for trains, planes and patchy relatives’ Wi-Fi. Download limits vary by plan.
• Check before you subscribe. Many services run monthly plans, so you can subscribe for the holidays and cancel in January. We compare what each one does best in our streaming services guide.

Make the sofa count

If you’re settling in for a long binge, a decent setup makes all the difference. Our guide to building a cosy gaming corner works just as well for TV marathons. And if you still need a last-minute present for the TV fan in your life, our Christmas gift guide for gamers has plenty of ideas that suit screen lovers too – or browse the fandom-inspired Nightfandom shop on Etsy.

Whatever you pick, may your remote stay found and your Wi-Fi stay strong.