But if Peacock hasn’t been on your radar, it’s time to change that. Since its 2020 debut, the platform has steadily built a surprisingly strong lineup of original shows—some laugh-out-loud funny, others deeply intense, and a few that toe the line between chaos and brilliance. Whether you’re after sharp satire, wild genre mashups, or something deeply emotional, Peacock’s got a little something for everyone.
Here are 10 of the top Peacock original shows you need to be watching—numbered, naturally, because we like a little tension.
10. A Friend of the Family (2022)
Think your family life is bad? This unnerving true-crime dramatization recounts the incredible tale of Jan Broberg, a girl kidnapped repeatedly by a person her parents trusted. With Jake Lacy in the outright sinister abuser role and Anna Paquin and Colin Hanks as the confused parents, this show doesn’t simply replay events—it examines the emotional harm and neighborhood ignorance that made it all possible. Gruesome and engrossing, it lingers in your mind.
9. Angelyne (2022)
Before Instagram influencers, there was Angelyne—the enigmatic, billboard-blonde legend who reinvented herself as an L.A. phenomenon in the ’80s. Emmy Rossum fully disappears into the role, with each inch of her transformation dripping in glitter and intrigue. The series is half character study, half observation on fame and identity—and entirely mesmerizing. It’s strange, campy, and unexpectedly emotional.
8. Based on a True Story (2023– )
Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina star as a couple who discover a genuine serial killer—and rather than calling the authorities, they join forces to create a true-crime podcast. Morally reprehensible? Guaranteed. Hilarious as sin? Yep. This wicked, incisive thriller is an attack on our fascination with murder-as-fun, and somehow manages to make you smile even when it gets darker by the episode.
7. Killing It (2022– )
Picture The Pursuit of Happyness, but with pythons instead of stockbrokers competing in a high-stakes contest in Florida. Craig Robinson heads up this bizarrely funny film about ambition, adversity, and capitalism—amidst a sea of snake-infested mayhem. It’s quirky, strangely sentimental, and clever in ways you won’t anticipate. Featuring a stellar cast and script that blends absurdity with authenticity, this sleeper hit is one you’ll want to catch up on.
6. Bupkis (2023)
Pete Davidson commits to self-awareness in this half-true, half-bad-timing dramedy about trying to make sense of fame, family, and Staten Island as a stand-in version of himself. With Joe Pesci as his grandfather and Edie Falco as his mom, it balances crazy humor with some truly emotional moments. Only one season, but it delivers and fast—and it’s a refreshingly thoughtful exploration of coming up in the public eye.
5. Hysteria! (2024)
Staged against the backdrop of the ’80s Satanic Panic, Hysteria! Tracks is a clique of ‘tween metalheads who pose as members of a cult… until something possibly otherworldly appears. Stranger Things meets The Craft, but with heavier metal and more Aqua Net. Half creepy, half clever, it combines ’80s horror nostalgia with sharp social commentary on fear, the media, and moral panic. Bonus: Julie Bowen and Bruce Campbell make cameos, and they’re the best.
4. Ted (2024)
You didn’t ask for a prequel series about a talking teddy bear, but now that it’s here, it’s kind of impossible to look away. Seth MacFarlane brings Ted back in all his crass glory, this time causing chaos during John’s teenage years. It’s irreverent, absurd, and jam-packed with inappropriate jokes—which, let’s be real, is exactly what you’d want from Ted. Come for the nostalgia, stay for the raunchy punchlines.
3. Twisted Metal (2023– )
Yes, it’s a video game adaptation. No, you don’t have to be familiar with the game to have fun. Twisted Metal is an action-comedy set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, with Anthony Mackie serving up milk (literally) over a Mad Max-like landscape. Killer clowns, absurd stunts, and just the right degree of absurdity abound to keep things enjoyable. Surprisingly chic and full of unhinged energy, it’s unapologetic popcorn TV—and it’s okay with that.
2. MacGruber (2021)
Will Forte’s over-the-top action-hero spoof from SNL finally earned a full-fledged series, and it does not disappoint. Amidst the explosions, silly one-liners, and completely inappropriate antics, MacGruber somehow becomes even more out of control than the film. With Kristen Wiig and Ryan Phillippe joining in the fun—and guest stars Laurence Fishburne and Sam Elliott—it’s a brain-out, endlessly fun ride.
1. Laid (2024)
This dark-as-coal rom-com takes the prize for pure originality. Stephanie Hsu is a woman whose former boyfriends begin dying in odd (and progressively more ridiculous) ways. So she does what any flustered individual would—she goes after every guy she’s ever dated and informs them that they’re next. It’s humorous, offbeat, and full of affection, with Hsu grounding the series in warmth and just enough mayhem. A singular blend of rom-com, mystery, and crisis of existence—you won’t find another one like it.
So, are you ready to get Peacock lit?
Whether you’re in the mood for murderous teddy bears, murder podcasts, sappy drama, or quirky comedy, there’s more going on on Peacock than you’d suspect. These originals show the platform isn’t just noise in the background—it’s quietly producing some of the most innovative, engaging shows out there.