Netflix (3)
Netflix might not be able to introduce you to your future partner, but it can set you up with your new favorite dating show. Learn what dating looks like in different cultures, witness the devastation when crushes go sideways, and enjoy the redemption when couples rediscover their spark and move forward.
Relationships are fascinating, and Netflix knows how to turn the dating life cycle into addictive content. Enjoy EW's guide to Netflix's 13 best dating shows.
Love Is Blind(2020–present)
Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix
This terrifically entertaining twist on the dating show formula asks contestants to mingle, fall in love, and get engaged all without ever meeting in person or seeing what the other looks like.Love Is Blindis, more often than not, a surprisingly warm testament to the power of chemistry and the importance of personality over physicality. It doesn't always work out, as you might expect, but the series has a much bigger heart and more self-aware participants than the synopsis may imply.—Declan Gallagher
Where to watchLove Is Blind: Netflix
Married at First Sight(2014–present)
Lifetime sure knows a thing or two about commitment. A dating show in which singles are matched by relationship experts and agree to get hitched during their first interaction,Married at First Sightfollows the newlyweds on their honeymoon, and over the course of their first eight weeks together as a couple, after which they can decide whether or not they want to remain in the relationship. Season 17 of the highly bingeable series is available to watch on Netflix.—Ilana Gordon
Where to watchMarried at First Sight: Netflix
Cast:Dr. Joseph Cilona, Dr. Logan Levkoff, Dr. Pepper Schwartz, Greg Epstein, Calvin Roberson
Indian Matchmaking(2020–present)
This series sees esteemed matchmaker Sima Taparia travel across the globe, assisting Indian couples in every port with their impending arranged marriages while reimagining the traditional custom with modern variants. One of Netflix's best globe-trotting dating shows,Indian Matchmakingoffers sympathetic, largely humanist portraits of young couples forced together by their parents and societal norms more than genuine affection. That said, some surprising pairs initially appear trepidatious but warm up to one another and, sometimes, find that they're each other's perfect companion.—D.G.
Where to watchIndian Matchmaking: Netflix
EW grade:B+
Love on the Spectrum(2022–present)
Courtesy of Netflix
A delightfully warm-hearted series following people with autism seeking connection,Love on the Spectrumeschews competition for an unobtrusive look at real people struggling with romance and friendships. The original Australian version and its newer U.S. counterpart are some of the most authentic — and certainly the least staged — reality dating shows, often content to let its subjects do the talking and guide the format. Though it concerns people on the spectrum, you might find yourself surprised at how relatable and all-encompassing their experiences with love can be.—D.G.
Where to watchLove on the Spectrum: Netflix
Ainori Love Wagon: Asian Journey(2018)
Netflix's spinoff of the long-running Japanese dating show, which debuted in 1999, finds seven men and women grouped on a pink bus traveling through Asia. They arrive as strangers tasked with coupling up before the Love Wagon loops back to Japan. On the way, they explore tourist destinations and far-flung locales.
Ainori Love Wagonis sort of likeTerrace Housemeets one of thoseBBCtravel documentaries where a nice little granny shows you around a quaint village.Asian Journeyfinds a fine balance between juicy yet good-natured conflict between participants and an amiable rambling quality that gives the travelog structure a bit of unpredictability.—D.G.
Where to watchAinori Love Wagon: Asian Journey: Netflix
Dating Around(2019–2020)
Annie Flanagan/Netflix
Netflix's first original dating series,Dating Aroundis the pioneer that forged the path for other titles on this list. The show lasted two seasons, and every episode follows one person as they embark on five different blind dates. There is no competition element, but the hope is that the person dating around will enjoy one of the dates enough to prompt a second encounter.
With only 12 episodes available between the two seasons,Dating Aroundis a fast and fun binge. While technically a dating show, the series feels almost documentary-esque in its focused observation of its subjects as they wade into the dating pool, and try to get comfortable with blind dating.—I.G.
Where to watchDating Around: Netflix
Down for Love(2022)
A New Zealand export, this series follows people living with Down syndrome as they embark on multiple dates in an effort to find love. A feel-good reality show produced in conjunction with New Zealand's Down Syndrome Association,Down for Lovefeatures five episodes of first dates, first impressions, and love at first sight. A heartwarming and educational reality show that will remind you of all the best parts of the dating experience,Down for Loveis a perfect choice for anyone who wants their faith in romance renewed.—I.G.
Where to watchDown for Love: Netflix
Perfect Match(2023–present)
This isThe Avengersof Netflix dating shows. It combines fan-favorite contestants from other series (Love Is Blind,Too Hot to Handle, et al.) who head to a secluded island villa (where else?) to engage in "compatibility challenges" while coupling and conniving their way to the finish line.Perfect Matchis perfect entertainment: breezy, sexy, endlessly bingeable, and often laugh-out-loud funny in a genuine way rather than a a cheesy one.—D.G.
Where to watchPerfect Match: Netflix
Single's Inferno(2021–present)
This riveting South Korean dating show strands hip, big-city singles on a desolate island dubbed Inferno, where there is no technology and they must forage for food and water. Their objective is to escape to another island, Paradise, which contains all of the comfortable amenities they desire — but they can only do so after they couple up. If that's not an incentive to get busy, we're unsure what is.
The idea to combineSurvivorwith a dating competition is a sharp one, andSingle's Infernomakes more of that fusion than other series with a similar angle. It especially benefits from a likable cast that's interesting without resorting to petty, exhausting game-playing. Season 5 arrives in January 2026.—D.G.
Where to watchSingle's Inferno: Netflix
Temptation Island(2025–present)
Courtesy of Netflix
If there's one thing you can expect from a show calledTemptation Island, it's a lack of fidelity. The show aired on Fox between 2001 and 2003 before moving to USA Network in 2019, and Netflix in 2025. Throughout it all, the show's premise remains the same: Unmarried couples travel to a tropical paradise where they are separated from their partner and exposed to eligible singles intended to test whether the relationship is strong enough to pursue a lifetime commitment. You can tempt the contestants on the show, but you can't lureMark L. Walbergaway from the series — he hosted all three versions. A new season will drop in 2026.—I.G.
Where to watchTemptation Island: Netflix
Cast:Mark L. Walberg
Too Hot to Handle(2020–2024)
This saucy British entry gathers a group of young, swinging singles with a knack for short, sweet relationships and throws them on a deserted island for a month. If they hope to win the $200,000 prize, they must test their chemistry, perhaps fall in love, and (the kicker) remain celibate.
As with all the best British reality shows,Too Hot to Handleis packed both with saucy double entendres (it's hosted by an AI hazard cone, for one) and seemingly determined contestants who are never afraid to speak exactly what's on their mind. The show is at times jaw-droppingly ribald in that trademark Isles manner, and it unfailingly parades out a diverse and entertaining cast over its six seasons.—D.G.
Where to watchToo Hot to Handle: Netflix
The Ultimatum: Queer Love(2023–2025)
Courtesy of Netflix
This "queer-centric" (and far superior) spinoff of Netflix'sThe Ultimatum: Marry or Move Onasks five queer couples to decide whether they want to get married or split up for good. To test their connection, all participants become singles in the same dating pool, engaging in a sort of swingers scenario wherein they move in with a new boo for two weeks before reuniting with their original partner. Things predictably get messy from there.
It's rather astonishing to see the number of seemingly healthy couples (and some not) who crumble at the mere mention of marriage (because lovedefinitelylasts when it's foisted upon you). On the other hand, there are some participants who genuinely renew your faith in love.—D.G.
Where to watchThe Ultimatum: Queer Love: Netflix
The Later Daters(2024)
Dating is hard at any age, but it's even more so later in life. InThe Later Daters, six single people in their mid-50s and up set out to find love — with help. Dating looks different now, so the singles are guided along on their journey by their adult children and a dating expert. Armed with information about the latest dating trends and their own romantic pasts, the singles embark on a series of blind dates. Featuring eight episodes and produced byMichelle Obama,The Later Datersis a great option for people who loveThe Golden Bachelor, but want a few less contestants to keep up with.—I.G.
Where to watchThe Later Daters: Netflix
Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly
