Study: Japan has the best Netflix content
September 21, 2021
Japan’s Netflix library contains more top-quality TV and film content than anywhere else in the world, according to a study by Uswitch.
The research calculated which countries have access to the best-reviewed and most awarded TV and film content by totalling the IMDb scores for every TV series and film in each country’s library. This was combined with the total number of award wins and award nominations and Uswitch then converted the overall total into a Netflix catalogue score out of a possible 100.
Where To See the Best TV and Film on Netflix
With an IMDb total of 27,284, more than 19,000 award wins and over 40,000 award nominations across its entire Netflix catalogue – Japan is awarded the maximum 100 Netflix catalogue points for its total score of 86,961, highest of all countries.
The Czech Republic is second on the list with a Netflix catalogue score of 97.61. In third place is South Korea with a score of 94.02, the UK has a score of 93.78 which lands fourth place, and in fifth, it’s Switzerland with a score of 94.74.
Interestingly, 50 per cent of the top 30 list is made up of European countries, with the US only just making an appearance in 29th place.
Netflix first became available in Japan in 2015, and the top five IMDb rated titles in Japan’s library are: Breaking Bad (IMDB score of 9.5) Shawshank Redemption (9.3), Our Planet (9.3), Avatar: The Last Airbender (9.2) [pictured] and Rick and Morty (9.2).
The Top 30 Countries In The World With The Best Netflix:
Rank |
Country |
Sum of total IMDb score, award wins and nominations |
Netflix catalogue score (out of 100) |
1 |
Japan |
86,961 |
100.00 |
2 |
Czech Republic |
84,885 |
97.61 |
3 |
South Korea |
81,761 |
94.02 |
4 |
United Kingdom |
81,553 |
93.78 |
5 |
Switzerland |
81,513 |
93.74 |
6 |
Hungary |
81,346 |
93.54 |
7 |
Germany |
81,123 |
93.29 |
8 |
Belgium |
81,031 |
93.18 |
9 |
India |
79,987 |
91.98 |
10 |
Canada |
78,342 |
90.09 |
11 |
Slovakia |
77,776 |
89.44 |
12 |
Romania |
77,254 |
88.84 |
13 |
Hong Kong |
76,167 |
87.59 |
14 |
Australia |
75,767 |
87.13 |
15 |
Singapore |
75,735 |
87.09 |
16 |
France |
74,765 |
85.98 |
17 |
Thailand |
74,705 |
85.91 |
18 |
Lithuania |
74,343 |
85.49 |
19 |
Mexico |
72,218 |
83.05 |
20 |
Argentina |
72,218 |
83.05 |
21 |
Poland |
72,005 |
82.80 |
22 |
Italy |
71,018 |
81.67 |
23 |
Greece |
70,366 |
80.92 |
24 |
Spain |
70,215 |
80.74 |
25 |
Russia |
70,214 |
80.74 |
26 |
Netherlands |
70,109 |
80.62 |
27 |
Brazil |
69,862 |
80.34 |
28 |
South Africa |
69,633 |
80.07 |
29 |
United States |
69,462 |
79.88 |
30 |
Malaysia |
66,925 |
76.96 |
The Countries with The Best TV
Looking purely at TV shows, the data shows UK subscribers have the best quality TV shows to choose between on Netflix. With a total IMDb score of 11,318, more than 5,000 award wins and over 13,000 nominations, the UK scores almost 2,000 more points more than Belgium, in second place.
Thailand makes its first appearance in the research, claiming third place with a score of 94.49. Fourth place goes to Singapore, whilst Switzerland claims fifth place with a Netflix catalogue score of 94.12.
The US also makes a comeback here, from an overall ranking position of 29th to the 8th best country for TV shows on Netflix.
Breaking Bad, with an IMDb score of 9.5 is the best-reviewed TV series in the UK’s Netflix library right now. Just behind in second place, it’s Our Planet (9.3) and in equal fifth, it’s Rick and Morty, The Last Dance, and Avatar: The Last Airbender, all with an IMDb score of 9.2.
Top 15 Countries with The Best Netflix TV Shows:
Rank |
Country |
Sum of total IMDb score, award wins and nominations |
Netflix catalogue score (out of 100) |
1 |
United Kingdom |
30,267 |
100.00 |
2 |
Belgium |
28,649 |
94.65 |
3 |
Thailand |
28,600 |
94.49 |
4 |
Singapore |
28,495 |
94.14 |
5 |
Switzerland |
28,487 |
94.12 |
6 |
Japan |
28,325 |
93.58 |
7 |
Lithuania |
28,233 |
93.28 |
8 |
United States |
27,971 |
92.41 |
9 |
Malaysia |
27,428 |
90.62 |
10 |
South Africa |
27,186 |
89.82 |
11 |
Germany |
26,811 |
88.58 |
12 |
India |
26,745 |
88.36 |
13 |
Canada |
26,635 |
88.00 |
14 |
France |
26,589 |
87.85 |
15 |
Hong Kong |
26,384 |
87.17 |
The Countries That Have Access To The Best Films
The research from Uswitch also looked into which countries are offering the best content for movie buffs, and it shows the Czech Republic has the best library. With an IMDb total of 17,226, almost 15,000 award wins and just over 28,000 nominations, it’s officially the country with the highest quality movies on Netflix.
Japan loses its top spot on this list, slipping down to second place. South Korea takes third place again, and Hungary and Germany are in fourth and fifth place respectively. The UK which was well inside the top five overall, now doesn’t even rank in the top 10, slipping down into 12th place.
The Dream House, with an IMDb score of 9.4, is the highest-rated film on IMDb in the Czech Republic Netflix library right now. Just behind in second, it’s Shawshank Redemption (9.3). The Godfather (9.2) takes third, The Consuls Son (9.1) is fourth, and Green Gold (9) is fifth.
Top 15 Countries with The Best Netflix Movies:
Rank |
Country |
Sum of total IMDb score, award wins and nominations |
Netflix film catalogue score (out of 100) |
1 |
Czech Republic |
59,837 |
100.00 |
2 |
Japan |
58,636 |
97.99 |
3 |
South Korea |
56,443 |
94.33 |
4 |
Hungary |
56,287 |
94.07 |
5 |
Germany |
54,313 |
90.77 |
6 |
India |
53,242 |
88.98 |
7 |
Switzerland |
53,026 |
88.62 |
8 |
Romania |
52,644 |
87.98 |
9 |
Belgium |
52,382 |
87.54 |
10 |
Slovakia |
52,334 |
87.46 |
11 |
Canada |
51,708 |
86.41 |
12 |
United Kingdom |
51,286 |
85.71 |
13 |
Italy |
50,223 |
83.93 |
14 |
Hong Kong |
49,783 |
83.20 |
15 |
Australia |
49,755 |
83.15 |