17 Must-Watch Reality Shows on Netflix Right Now (October 2025): 'Face Off' and More

In this unconventional competition series, twelve to sixteen prosthetic makeup artists battle against one another to create impressive prostheses that one would see in horror, fantasy and sci-fi films. Each episode features at least one challenge, and the final products are reviewed by a team of judges, with one or more artists being eliminated each week until a champion is crowned.

While Face Off aired from 2011 to 2018, Netflix currently only hosts seasons six through eight on its platform. Nevertheless, Face Off is a genuinely riveting reality show full of eccentric, impressive and delightfully horrifying makeup results that are good enough to be in a Hollywood film. Bereft of any shoehorned drama, Face Off excels at focusing entirely on the craft of its artists, creating a show that is exciting in how it lets you watch masters at work.

Two Korean fashion experts with very different tastes, one client in need of a major wardrobe makeover. Whose taste will win out over the other? However, these fashionistas can’t only purchase their client any new clothes: rather, they are tasked with creating new possibilities from the clothes each person already owns, in addition to adding some new pieces. Kim Na-young and Jung Jae-hyung face off to create the style that their client loves the most.

Closet Battle is a brand-new Korean reality competition series on Netflix and is an exceedingly entertaining watch. It’s fun to watch clients end up with a new style that they feel confident in, and seeing the dueling fashion experts workshop different styles until finding one that fits best.

Twelve influencers are corralled into a house where they have a shot at winning $1 million — but can they survive without their phones? Inside: USA pits influencer against influencer, as the group of content creators is forced to compete in extreme challenges for a chance to win massive prize money, and chaos ensues as the young people plot and scheme their way to the top.

The American iteration of this British series brings on the drama in a cutthroat game show that requires skill and finesse. Alliances are formed and broken, friends are made and betrayed, deceit and chaos abounds as one by one the influencers fall. It’s a high-stakes and wildly entertaining bit of top-notch reality TV.

Along with an array of friends and famous faces, Meghan Markle lets viewers into her California home to offer up tips on cooking, gardening and hosting — and she would know, she is a Duchess, after all. The lifestyle reality series centers on practicality and enlightening conversations with different friends, as Meghan shows the beauty that can be gleaned from one’s domestic space.

Guests for the show have included Mindy Kaling, Chrissy Teigen and Queer Eye’s Tan France. Markle shines in her knowledge of small details and gives viewers the type of warm, cozy aspiration viewing, while not necessarily being accessible. But then again, who’s watching rich people on reality TV because they want to emulate them?

Who wants to win $500,000? Well, to do that, 21 chefs must split into teams and compete in a number of cooking challenges over the course of 21 days to vie for the prize cash and be crowned the best chef. The competition takes place at the esteemed Culinary Institute of America and is hosted by Olivia Culpo, who is joined by judges Carlton McCoy — a master sommelier — and chef Kelsey Barnard Clark, both of whom graduated from CIA.

If you love Top Chef, you’ll likely love Next Gen Chef as well. The difference is that all the chefs of Next Gen Chef are younger and already very accomplished in their field — they just want to be the best of the best. So, it’s immensely gripping watching expert chefs fight against one another, creating delicious dishes. But only one can come out on top.

Building the Band is essentially just that: a reality competition that tries to form a hit-making music supergroup by the conclusion. The premise sees 50 musicians split off into groups of six through a selection process, and then have to perform and compete against one another for the top prize of $500,000.

The series features pop stars Liam Payne, Nicole Scherzinger, and Kelly Rowland as judges, with the Backstreet Boys’ A.J. McLean as the host. Fans of music competition series like The Voice and American Idol will love this new take on the popular TV genre, as competitors are forced to work as a team to win.

This multi-Emmy-winning series takes a thoughtful look at adults with autism searching for romance and connection. We follow a group of people on the autism spectrum as they explore the dating pool, and the highs and lows of attempting to find a partner while depicting subjects as humanized individuals with agency, and not othered.

Love on the Spectrum has been commended for its empathetic depiction of people with autism and for its authentic, non-scripted feel. The series introduces new characters each season, but also sticks with some of the same from previous seasons, allowing viewers to follow familiar narratives as their journeys continue.

Contestants are tasked with “making it work” in this hit reality series centered on fashion design. A group of amateur designers compete to create the best clothing designs while restricted by materials, time, and theme. Hosted by Heidi Klum, the series-long mentor Tim Gunn was replaced by designer and season 4 winner Christian Siriano in 2018, who also co-hosts with Klum.

Funny and exciting, Project Runway is a must-watch for anyone interested in the fashion world. The challenges are creative, and it is just fascinating to watch newbie designers work through the process of creating garments bit by bit. Plus, the drama is nonstop with so many big personalities in one place.

One of Netflix’s most famous (and controversial) original reality series, Love Is Blind experiments with the concept of modern dating with a unique twist: singles date each other without ever having seen one another, interacting only through voice communication from separate rooms. Hosts Nick Lachey and Vanessa Lachey provide color commentary as they address the ultimate question: can emotional connection surpass the need for physical attraction?

Once a connection is made, participants may propose marriage, after which they meet in person. From there, they navigate their relationships in the real world, leading up to their wedding day, where they must decide whether to truly commit.

Part travel show, part culinary show and part comedy, Somebody Feed Phil follows Phil Rosenthal, the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond, as he travels around the world, exploring diverse cultures through their culinary traditions. From fine restaurants to street food, Phil tries it all, and his approachable demeanor, infectious enthusiasm, and genuine curiosity make for an engaging viewing experience that combines humor, storytelling, and mouthwatering visuals.

Phil really gets to know the people who make the food as well as those who love it as he seeks to understand communities, not just cities. The series provides a refreshing perspective that moves beyond typical culinary shows by focusing on connection and community, encouraging viewers to appreciate the universal joy of eating and discovery. Whether you’re more into “food porn” or “travel porn,” Somebody Feed Phil presents the best of both.

Put your high heels on and make sure your highlights are looking fresh, because we’re stepping into the glamorous world of Los Angeles real estate. On Selling Sunset, real estate drama blends with interpersonal conflicts as we follow the realtors at The Oppenheim Group, a prestigious real estate brokerage that specializes in selling lavish properties in the Hollywood Hills and other affluent areas of L.A.

Each episode not only showcases the breathtaking properties they sell but also dives into the intricate dynamics between the agents, resulting in a mix of camaraderie and clashes that adds an engaging layer of drama.

Stunning visuals and shocking drama are both plentiful in this show that takes you behind the scenes of the competitive real estate industry. Cast members like Chrishell Stause and Christine Quinn provide a rich vein of drama that keeps viewers captivated. 

Netflix’s successor to the CMT docuseries Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team, America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders follows talented young cheerleaders through the rigorous audition process to join the iconic squad. The hard work and dedication of the cheerleading hopefuls is inspiring to watch, and it’s fascinating to see the intensity of their efforts.

Viewers are given behind-the-scenes access to the auditions, training camps and the personal stories of the hopefuls striving to earn a coveted spot on the team. The series highlights not just the physical demands but also the emotional challenges faced by the participants, highlighting stories of perseverance and personal growth. Kick up your heels and get ready to show your spirit!

On this dating competition show, couples who are on the rocks have their fidelity tested when they’re separated into two villas, each with a group of gorgeous singles on a mission to seduce them. 

Each contestant gets video updates on what their partner is doing, so any cheating may inspire revenge from an angry significant other. Which couples will stay together, break up for good, and walk away from Temptation Island with a new love connection? 

Remember when YouTube blew up with pranks where people replaced everyday items with cake? This reality competition show takes that fad to the next level. 

Hosted by Mikey Day of Saturday Night Live, Is It Cake? takes master bakers and challenges them to make hyper-realistic confections that can fool a panel of judges. The jokes fly as fast as the frosting in this hilarious food show.

Ready for a mega dose of cuteness? This Japanese reality show is like a window to another world. Each episode follows toddlers and young children as they attempt to run an errand by themselves without any parental supervision. Not only does the show portray life in small-town Japan, it also shows you the world from a child-like perspective.

Distractions abound for toddlers on the go as they try to remember simple tasks, but at the end of the day, the stakes are low. Even if they don’t succeed in their tasks, they’re still entertaining to watch.

This warm-hearted British competition show started the recent trend of “wholesome” reality TV. What fans seem to love about GBBS is the way the contestants support and help each other. Kindness wins out over cutthroat as the amateur bakers take on new challenges.

Judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith provide guidance on pavlovas, profiteroles, and every other pastry you can imagine. It’s a mouthwatering good time that will leave you wishing you could eat cookies in the British countryside.

In this reboot of the 2003 series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, five LGBTQ “advisors” spend a week applying their expertise to help improve someone’s life. It’s not just a makeover show – although Jonathan Van Ness and Tan France absolutely give each subject a fantastic new look. The Queer Eye “Fab Five” help each of their subjects change their homes, their eating habits and their perspectives on life. 

Queer Eye has been praised for its representation of the LGBTQ community and its nuanced portrayal of difficult subjects, such as mental health and race. It’s funny, heartwarming and full of life hacks that could improve your life as well. 

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.