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Whether they’re looking for something to watch while eating dinner or a show to enjoy while traveling to work by bus or by train, these thirty-minuteNetflixshows are a great way for viewers to spend half an hour of their lives. From laugh-out-loud comedies to more serious dramas, the streaming giant really does have something for everyone.
Updated Jul 06, 2025, by Tom Bowen:Most of the best shows on Netflix tend to clock in at around the one-hour mark. This is great for those with a lot of free time on their hands but may prove to be problematic for anyone with a busy schedule. Thankfully, there are still plenty of great 30-minute shows on Netflix covering a wide variety of genres. From half-hour comedies to 30-minute dramas, there’s really no shortage of high-quality programming available for those who know where to look.
The Best 30-Minute Comedies on Netflix
Alternatively, shows likeThe Good PlaceandArrested Developmenttake a more serialized approach to comedy, and, between them, offer well over 100 episodes. For those in a real hurry,Man vs. Beeprovides a short yet satisfying story that starsMr. Beanactor Rowan Atkinson and is broken up into easy-to-digest chunks. All nine episodes can be watched in under two hours, making ita great comedy show to bingeor spread out over the course of a few weeks' worth of dinnertimes.
Though it may be more than half a century old,Monty Python’s Flying Circusremains just as funny as ever and is a great option for anyone looking for a good 30-minute comedy on Netflix US. Those looking for something a bit more modern should instead check outGrace and Frankie, an American series in which Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin play two aging women whose husbands fall in love and decide to get married.
The Best 30-Minute Animated Shows on Netflix
These days, Netflix has an excellent selection of animation shows for adults, with the pick of the bunch beingBojack Horseman. The hard-hitting series covers a variety of heavy issues including depression and addiction, while also providing plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.Inside Jobis not too dissimilar, boastinga decent blend of sci-fi-inspired humorand character-driven drama that should have no trouble keeping viewers engaged.
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Those looking for something a little more in line with more conventional animated comedy shows would be better served by checking outF is for FamilyorDisenchantment. The former gives off a lot ofKing of the Hillvibes, while the latter is a satirical fantasy show fromSimpsonsandFuturamacreator Matt Groening. There’s alsoParadise PD, a surreal comedy series that’s centered around an incompetent police department in a small town that’s drowning in crime.
For those who enjoyedBojack Horseman,Tuca & Bertieboasts a similar art style and was also created by Lisa Hanawalt. Rather than depression though, the show explores what it’s like to be a woman in the modern age in a way that manages to be both humorous and thought-provoking in equal measures. For younger viewers,Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceousis a solid option, particularly if those viewers happen to love dinosaurs andsci-fi adventures.
The Best 30-Minute Dramas on Netflix
Other great 30-minute drama series on Netflix includeRussian DollandI Am Not Okay With This, the latter of which is acoming-of-age dramabased on the graphic novel of the same name. Viewers looking for something a little lighter may instead want to turn toFleabag, a BBC series inspired by comedian Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s fantastic one-woman show.
British seriesHeartstopperwas one ofNetflix’s most popular shows in 2022and is well worth checking out. Both viewers and critics adored the coming-of-age drama, with many praising its representation of the LGBT community and the way that it tackles its subject material. Alternatively,Emily in Parisoffers up a somewhat lighter tone, yet is equally enjoyable for those looking for a good 30-minute drama to watch on Netflix.
The Best 30-Minute Anime Series on Netflix
Given the rising popularity of anime in recent years, it should come as little surprise to learn thatthere’s now a great selection of anime on Netflix, including a couple of really good Netflix originals. In this regard, it’s hard to look much further thanCastlevania, whileDemon Slayeris perhaps the most popular non-Netflix anime available on the platform from the past few years.
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Those who enjoyed Netflix’sCastlevaniaseries may want to check out some of the other greatanime series based on video game franchises. There are two that really spring to mind; those beingDota: Dragon’s BloodandTekken: Bloodline.Both feature episodes that clock in at 30 minutes or less and are pretty faithful to the source material when all’s said and done. Sadly, theLeague of Legends-inspired seriesArcaneis a little longer but is well worth watching for those who are able to squeeze it into their schedules.
The Best 30-Minute Stand-Up Shows on Netflix
There’s no shortage ofgreat stand-up comedy routines available on Netflix, though most tend to be around one hour in length. Thankfully, this isn’t the case withThe Standups, a carefully-curated selection of stand-up routines that have been trimmed down to thirty minutes in length. There are three seasons available, with 18 different comedians for viewers to enjoy. There’s alsoThe Degenerates, another stand-up comedy series that features a different comedian in each half-hour episode.
Pretty much all of theother stand-up comedy specialson Netflix last for 45 minutes or more, though there are a handful of half-hour routines that viewers can turn to for a quick laugh.Chapelle’s Home Team - Earthquake: Legendaryis one of them, withAziz Ansari: Nightclub ComedianandChris DiStefano: Speshy Weshyalso clocking in at around the thirty-minute mark.
