🚨 “BETTER THAN DOWNTON ABBEY?!” These Netflix Period Dramas Are Leaving Fans Absolutely OBSESSED 😍🔥 Think nothing can top the elegance, romance, and addictive drama of Downton Abbey? Viewers are saying these 3 Netflix series might actually change your mind. One of them has already exploded to more than 70 MILLION views—and fans insist the hype is completely deserved. Expect royal power games. Forbidden romances. Beautiful people hiding dangerous secrets. And twists that turn lavish worlds upside down when you least expect them. Every episode feels richer than the last—filled with breathtaking costumes, emotional betrayals, and the kind of slow-burn storytelling that quietly turns into a full-night binge. You tell yourself: “Just one episode…” Next thing you know, it’s 3AM and you’re emotionally attached to everyone. With unforgettable characters, stunning cinematography, and stories that feel like stepping into a moving painting, it’s no wonder viewers are calling these some of Netflix’s most addictive hidden gems. And if you thought Downton Abbey was impossible to beat… You may want to think again. Fans are asking: “HOW DID I NOT FIND THESE SOONER?!” 👇👇👇

Top 3 Netflix period dramas better than Downton Abbey and one has 70 million views

Audiences desperate for a sumptuous new period drama, should try one of these Netflix gems.

Downton Abbey is one of the biggest period dramas in the world (Image: ITV)
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Downton Abbey’s final movie may have wrapped up, closing the current chapter on the Crawleys; however, there are plenty of other period dramas on Netflix for audiences to sink their teeth into. The streaming platform is known for hosting a wealth of original and licensed content in an array of genres, and Netflix has a whole raft of costume and historical pieces that are perfect for those looking to fill the gap left by Downton Abbey.

Much like the ITV period drama juggernaut that became a global sensation after Americans became obsessed with every twist and turn in the fast-paced Julian Fellowes series, Netflix has three huge costumes shows that might actually be better than Downton Abbey.

Here’s a look at them and what audiences have said about these shows.

1. The Crown

The Crown is one of Netflix’s biggest historical dramas (Image: NETFLIX)

Netflix’s impressive House of Windsor saga The Crown is unparalleled in its brilliance, according to fans after first launching in 2016.

The series created by The Queen’s Peter Morgan focused on the British monarchy from the start of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign up until the 2005 marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles.

The Crown changed its cast several times to reflect a change in the times with Claire Foy, Olivia Colman and Imelda Staunton all portraying Queen Elizabeth II.

The Crown garnered countless accolades, including 24 Emmys and two Golden Globes for best series, and Netflix revealed back in 2020 that 73 million households had watched the series since its debut in 2016, BBC News reported.

Given the series wrapped up in December 2023, many more would have watched the show since then.

Moreover, there was even a surge in viewership after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 as 17.6million hours of The Crown were logged on Netflix, the streaming service revealed to CNN.

Audiences on Reddit have compared Downton Abbey to The Crown and explained which one they preferred.

One person noted: “I watched them both. I personally liked The Crown better although both are exceptionally well-done shows.”

A second commented: “The Crown. I could never fully get into Downton Abbey.”

A third Redditor noted: “Depends what you like. I prefer downton as The Crown is too slow sometimes. Downton also shows the life of all the staff in the Abbey as well as the rich people. The Crown has a way bigger budget, better cinematography and is about real historical characters [sic].”

2. Bridgerton

Bridgerton is one of Netflix’s top period dramas (Image: NETFLIX)

Regency bodice ripper Bridgerton, which is adapted from the beloved historical romance novels by American author Julia Quinn, is another big period drama on Netflix.

Each season follows a different central lead couple and follows various romance tropes, including friends-to-lovers, enemies-to-lovers and fake courtship to real romance.

Bridgerton was a smash hit after arriving around Christmas 2020, becoming a huge pop cultural phenomenon much like Downton Abbey.

Season one garnered 113,300,000 views in the first 91 days of release, while season three brought in 106,000,000 viewers when it first came out.

The show remains Netflix’s ninth most popular English-language series of all time, Variety reported earlier this year.

Since it first came out and after subsequent seasons, it’s been watched by hundreds of millions of fans – and counting.

The show is returning for a fifth and sixth season, so these viewing figures will be going up further.

The jury remains out on whether Bridgerton is better than Downton; however, one Redditor said: “Hard to say. Bridgerton is an alternative history romantic fantasy as compared to a period drama. I watch it, but to me it’s not nearly as good as Downton Abbey.”

A second said: “I love both Downton Abbey and Bridgerton, but they are very different shows.”

“I loved “Bridgerton,” but an attempt to draw similarities and differences to “Downton Abbey” is a proverbial apples-to-oranges comparison. I enjoy both for the space they occupy in entertainment,” a third noted.

3. The Empress

The Empress has been praised as a strong Netflix period drama (Image: NETFLIX)

Finally, sweeping German period drama The Empress has enamoured fans and is based on the real life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Devrim Lingnau).

The show first came out in 2022 and follows the trials and tribulations of the rule amid her romance with her relationship with her husband and his scheming family as well as court politics.

The show is one of the most popular non-English shows on Netflix and has got over 76 million views as per What’s on Netflix.

One person posted on IMDb about the show: “If you like The Crown, you’ll like this.”

They added: “Just a couple of scenes at the first half. Romantic would be something like Pride and Prejudice or Bridgerton. This was more like Downton Abbey or The Crown, where in the drama is the focus.”

A second person said: “The acting is superb. I simply cannot believe how amazing this series is, and it easily rivals ‘The Crown’, ‘Downton Abbey’, ‘Outlander’, ‘Poldark’ and ‘Vikings’, and surpasses many others. It’s more serious than contemporary feeling shows like ‘Bridgerton’. In my opinion it is a contender with all the top historical dramas.”

The Crown, Bridgerton and The Empress are streaming on Netflix now

CRE: https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/2210770/top-3-netflix-period-dramas?int_source=mantis_rec&int_medium=web&int_campaign=more_like_this