Netflix’s 15 best films and shows to download for the plane

At 30,000 feet, browsing Netflix just isn’t a possibility. 

But with hours to kill, a high likelihood of delays, and that guy in the middle seat who just will not stop talking, you’re going to need something to get through this flight. So, in honor of you and your travels, we’ve curated the very best plane content available on Netflix now.

With limited graphic violence and nudity (to avoid offending your seat mates), here are 15 of Netflix’s best shows and films you can download ahead of your flight. They’re all engaging enough to distract you from the pressure building in your inner ear, but also calming enough to let you fall asleep — assuming you sort out where to prop your elbow, of course. 

Not sure you’ve got enough time to finish your chosen show or movie? Don’t worry. We’ve included the duration of everything listed so you can hit the credits as soon as the seatbelt sign goes off. Enjoy! 

15. You, Season 1

Netflix’s tale of a straight-up creep stalking the object of his affection is tense, terrifying, and undeniably binge-worthy. 

Starring Penn Badgley, Elizabeth Lail, and Shay Mitchell, You first began as a Lifetime original series before moving over to Netflix in late 2018. Within weeks, the show’s gripping drama had taken the streaming service by storm. Now, after one shocking finale, fans are chomping at the bit for more. Yes, Season 2 is currently in the works — but you have the series’ first installment to tide you over for now.

Time-killing duration: 7 hours and 30 minutes; ~45 minutes per episode

You is now streaming on Netflix. 

14. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) 

Honestly, we’d watch Scott Pilgrim vs. the World anywhere at anytime. Why not a plane?

Based on Bryan Lee O’Malley’s comic book of the same name, the love story of Scott (Michael Cera) and Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is a complicated, but iconic one. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll question your relationship to bread.

With supporting performances by Chris Evans, Brie Larson, Aubrey Plaza, Anna Kendrick, Jason Schwartzman, Ellen Wong, Mae Whitman — yeah, this movie has everyone — and Bill Hader (no, really), Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is a perfect choice in nearly every circumstance. 

Time-killing duration: 1 hour and 53 minutes

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is now streaming on Netflix. 

13. Riverdale, Seasons 1-3

What better time to finally get caught up on that show everyone (and their weirdly affectionate brother) has been talking about since 2017? A twisted take on the Archie comics, Riverdale is a masterclass in both style and substance. Season 1 sucks you in with a murder mystery, Season 2 drags you into a hunt for a serial killer, and then Season 3 goes completely off the deep-end. 

Buckle-up and brace yourself: Riverdale Season 4 begins airing on The CW this October, available next day on Netflix.

Time-killing duration: 57 hours; ~42 minutes per episode

Riverdale is now streaming on Netflix. 

12. Dead To Me, Season 1

Starring Linda Cardellini, Christina Applegate, and James Marsden, this so-called “traumedy” has more twists and turns than a hazardous roadway. In the series’ first 10 episodes, viewers enjoy cliffhanger after cliffhanger with each “Next episode?” more tempting than the last.

Silky smooth and spectacularly stylish, Dead To Me begs to be eaten up with a spoon, and then re-enjoyed with a mellow glass of merlot. Cheers!

Time-killing duration: 4 hours and 55 minutes; ~30 minutes per episode

Dead To Me is now streaming on Netflix. 

11. Sherlock, Seasons 1-4

Long before Benedict Cumberbatch joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Dr. Strange, Sherlock Holmes (Cumberbatch) and his trusted partner John Watson (Martin Freeman) were busy solving London’s most complex cases.

Although BBC’s Sherlock is one of the darkest portrayals of the detective duo, it is surprisingly not all that graphic. Incredibly dramatic and frustratingly addictive, this all too short series will grab your attention — but if you do find yourself nodding off, you won’t be too startled by anything on screen when you wake up.

Time-killing duration: 19 hours; ~88 minutes per episode

Sherlock is now streaming on Netflix. 

10. Set It Up (2018)

Who knew the world needed another rom-com set in New York City?

Starring Zoe Deutch, Glen Powell, Lucy Liu, and Taye Diggs, Set It Up treads plenty of the territory covered by its genre predecessors — but with a style so intoxicatingly charming, you can’t help but fall for the same beats all over again. Equals parts laugh-out-loud funny and moving, this love story will have you wrapped around its little finger in no time.

Time-killing duration: 1 hour and 45 minutes

Set It Up is now streaming on Netflix. 

9. Always Be My Maybe (2019)

Another one of Netflix’s very best rom-coms to date, Always Be My Maybe combines the best of authentic storytelling, the best of idealistic romancing, and the best of Keanu Reeves (sorry, John Wick) to create a unique and electric blend all its own. 

Ali Wong and Randall Park star as perfectly matched love interests, with supporting performances by Reeves, Daniel Dae Kim, Vivian Bang, and Michelle Buteau.

Time-killing duration: 1 hour and 42 minutes

Always Be My Maybe is now streaming on Netflix. 

8. Schitt’s Creek, Seasons 1-4

Hey, you. Yeah, you. Watch Schitt’s Creek already! 

It’s the newly Emmy-nominated show everyone keeps telling you to watch that somehow keeps falling to the bottom of your list. That’s totally okay — but you’ve got time on this flight right now. The characters are incredible, the comedy is side-splitting, and the relationships are actually worth caring about. You’re going to love it.

Time-killing duration: 33 hours; ~21 minutes per episode

Schitt’s Creek is now streaming on Netflix. 

7. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Seasons 1-4

Musicals can transport you to another time and place. So why not let this musical help you through your glorified bus trip in the sky?

In Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Rachel Bloom stars as Rebecca Bunch, a successful young attorney dreaming of more than her life in Manhattan. The story that follows is unique, touching, catchy, surprising, heart-breaking, hopeful, and pure magic all at once. One of our all time favorites, CXG deserves your attention at any altitude.

Time-killing duration: 62 hours; ~42 minutes per episode

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is now streaming on Netflix. 

6. Grace & Frankie, Seasons 1-5

Only truly great comedies can be episodically brilliant, while supporting a compelling and meaningful overarching narrative. Grace & Frankie is such a show.

Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Sam Waterson, and Martin Sheen shine in this delightful sitcom chronicling the ups-and-downs of parenting grown-up children and moving onto the next phase of after-seventy life. Full of heart and laughs, this show is next-level likable — but with an important message that is truly timeless. 

Time-killing duration: 32 hours and 30 minutes; ~29 minutes per episode

Grace & Frankie is now streaming on Netflix. 

5. The Good Place, Seasons 1-3

If you haven’t seen Mike Schur’s captivating tale of life after death, then you’re in for a mother forking good time. Starring Kristen Bell, Ted Danson, Jameela Jamil, D’Arcy Carden, Manny Jacinto, and William Jackson Harper, the series takes a look a hard look at what it means to be a good person through the best comedic lens since The Office. 

As any true Good Place fan knows, you can’t detail the events of this series without risking giving something away. So, you’re gonna have to trust us. Get through the first episode, and we promise you’ll be hooked.

Time-killing duration: 14 hours and 20 minutes; ~22 minutes per episode

The Good Place is now streaming on Netflix. 

4. Parks and Recreation, Seasons 1-7

One of the most quoted shows out there, Parks and Rec is the sort of warmth and kindness you just need after that whole debacle with the overhead bin.

Starring Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman, Adam Scott, Rashida Jones, and so many other delightful folks, this NBC sitcom is popular amongst many for a reason. Kick back, relax, and dream of a passionate local government — and waffles. 

Time-killing duration: 63 hours; ~21 minutes per episode

Parks and Recreation is now streaming on Netflix. 

3. The Office, Seasons 1-9

You can never go wrong with a binge sponsored by Dunder Mifflin. 

No matter if you’re watching, re-watching, or re-re-watching, consider The Office the most reliable item on this list. Whether you’re seeing Jim put Dwight’s stapler in Jello or swooning over Michael and Holly’s perfect proposal, you’re going to feel so many good things watching this show. 

The sitcom that defined a decade of comedy, you can never go wrong with a return trip to Scranton.

Time-killing duration: 99 hours and 30 minutes; ~21 minutes per episode

The Office is now streaming on Netflix. 

2. Friends, Seasons 1-10

You know, “The One Where You Get Through This Flight Thanks to the Smelly Cat Song.”

Whether you remember watching Friends in the ’90s or just recently caught up on the sitcom of a generation, you gotta bring the gang with you on your trip. Quick to watch, easy to sleep through, and nice to pair with that cheap white you shelled out $10 for, Friends is a must-pack essential for any seasoned traveler.

Time-killing duration: 121 hours; ~23 minutes per episode

Friends is now streaming on Netflix. 

1. The Great British Baking Show, Seasons 1-6

Whether you call it Bake Off, GBBS, or that cute British show on PBS, The Great British Baking Show is more than a reality competition series set in the world of amateur patisserie — although it is also that.

Surprisingly obsession-worthy and unspeakably tense, this delightful show has won hearts across the globe and started more family fights than anyone cares to admit. No matter the season, you’ll get invested in the drama fast.  

(Note: Pack a snack if you’re going to watch this one. No, really.)

Time-killing duration: 53 hours; ~50 minutes per episode

The Great British Baking Show is now streaming on Netflix.