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Do you want to catch up on some of the best Turkish series and movies on Netflix? Everyone is watching Turkish series and films these days.
Turkish series and movies have become very popular as a refreshing alternative to mainstream content. Their stories are unique and extremely entertaining. Here is a list of the top 24 Turkish series and movies to stream on Netflix with English subtitles.
If you don’t have a Netflix subscription, try a 30-day free with Amazon prime video. They may have some amazing Turkish series and movies as well.
Turkish Dramas On Netflix
If ever there was a time for catching up on all the great Turkish series you’ve been missing, it is now. There are countless Turkish TV series available to stream on Netflix, so allow me to suggest some of my favorites.
Black Money Love
Black Money Love
Without a doubt, Black Money Love is one of the most popular romantic drama Turkish series. This classic Turkish drama show showcases the succession of life events surrounding a mysterious murder. The story is about Omar a police officer who suffers a great deal of pain after the murder of his fiance Sibel in suspicious circumstances that involve a wealthy Istanbul businessman. The events lead to more questions than answers and the hype and mystery keep building with each episode.
Black Money Love is one of the most loved and highly-rated Turkish dramas by viewers.
- Genre – Action; Mystery; Romance; Drama
- Seasons – Two
- Release – 2014
- Stars – Tuba Buyukustun, Engin Akyurek
- Locations – Istanbul, Van, Turkey
- IMDb rating – 7.4/10
- English subtitles – yes
Watch on Netflix >>
50m2
50m2 really took me by surprise, in a good way. It starts out as a typical story about a ‘too cool for school’ Hitman doing the rounds for his rich gangster boss. The story also draws from the Jason Bourne cliche where the main character doesn’t know his real name or true identity, history, parents, etc.
As the story progresses the main character, whose name is still not revealed, finds that his quest to uncover his past turns his life upside-down, sending him on the run.
This show also includes a healthy dose of old-school Turkish humor, which is very funny. 50m2 is an entertaining and heart-warming series that will keep you interested while also offering a realistic image of what everyday life in Istanbul is actually like.
50m2 was truly one of my personal favorites. When will they give us Season 2?
- Genre – Comedy, Drama,
- Seasons – One
- Release – 2021
- Stars – Engin Öztürk, Kürsat Alniaçik, Cengiz Bozkurt
- Locations – Istanbul, Turkey
- IMDb rating – 6.9/10
- English subtitles – yes
Watch on Netflix >>
Fatma
This recent psychological thriller/drama is chilling and unpredictable.
The story begins with a poor and lonely cleaner, Fatma, who is working many jobs a day and struggling to find her missing husband. She seems to have reached a dead-end in her search for her husband.
Just when she decides to lose hope, she discovers some shocking and disturbing secrets about her husband. This leads her through a series of adventures that reflect on her troubled past and challenging present circumstances.
Fatma also showcases the story of a strong but troubled female lead character who gets zero help from family, friends, and the greater society, forcing her to take matters into her own hands, with deadly consequences.
This action-packed and thrilling drama is another story of the tough life endured by the forgotten poor and downtrodden in the megacity of Istanbul.
Other themes and motifs include the hurdles of bureaucracy, sexual abuse, crime, and the lack of legal rights and representation for poor people. Fatma is probably one of the most interesting and original shows out this year, so far.
Fatma is a chilling ‘Fight The System’ kind of story that is always entertaining and thought-provoking.
- Genre – Crime, Thriller
- Seasons – One
- Release – 2021
- Stars – Burcu Biricik, Ugur Yücel, Mehmet Yilmaz Ak
- Locations – Istanbul, Turkey
- IMDb rating – 7.4/10
- English subtitles – Yes
Watch on Netflix >>
Ethos (Bir Baskadir)
Rated as an excellent Turkish drama series by many review websites, I personally think that Bir Baskadir (Known as Ethos) is one of the top-notch quality Turkish series out there.
The 8-episode Turkish series features world-class acting with a fascinating script that touches on every aspect of the economic, and sociocultural life in Turkey.
I found this series to be groundbreaking. A uniquely Turkish ensemble of complex beings that make up the heart of the enigmatic city of Istanbul.
- Genre – Drama, Thriller
- Seasons – One
- Release – 2020
- Stars – Oyku Karayel, Fatih Artman, Funda Eryigit
- Locations – Istanbul
- IMDb Rating – 8.5/10
- English subtitles – Yes
Watch on Netflix >>
Ertugrul: Resurrection
Resurrection Ertuğrul series was set in the 13th century. It retells the history and events that led to the birth of the great Ottoman Empire.
More specifically, it traces the footsteps of the great leader, Erturgul, the father of Osman I, who was the founder of the Ottoman Empire.
The story includes a glimpse of the nomadic lifestyle, love, and war. For Game of Thrones lovers, this should be your next watch.
This is a lovely Period Piece that can get you easily hooked. I especially loved the epic battle scenes that were done perfectly with attention to detail.
- Genre – Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War
- Seasons – Five
- Release – 2014 to 2019
- Stars – Engin Altan Düzyatan, Hülya Darcan
- Locations – Istanbul, Riva, Beykoz
- IMDb Rating – 7.9/10
- English subtitles – Yes
Watch on Netflix >>
Phi (Fi)
Phi
Phi is a psychological thriller series based on a novel written by the Turkish writer Azra Kohen.
This series explains the life of a psychiatrist and psychology teacher Can Manay. He falls in love with a young and ambitious dancer Duru, but Duru has a lover named Deniz, a talented musician.
Can‘s love will grow to become an obsession that will uncover hidden secrets.
This drama made me feel sick but I was still hooked and had to watch it till the end.
- Genre – Drama, Thriller, Romance
- Seasons – Two
- Release – 2017 to 2018
- Stars – Ozan Güven, Serenay Sarikaya, Mehmet Günsür
- Locations – Istanbul, Turkey
- IMDb Rating – 7.8/10
- English subtitles – Yes
Watch on Netflix >>
Atiye: The Gift
The gift is a drama fantasy series about a girl named Atiye, a painter in Istanbul, who embarks on a personal journey as she unearths universal secrets about an Anatolian archaeological site, Göbeklitepe.
The latter is the world’s oldest temple in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey and it has a supernatural link to her family history.
I really loved the first season. However, seasons 2 and 3 were nowhere near as fun.
- Genre – Drama, Fantasy, Mystery
- Seasons – Three
- Release – 2019 to 2021
- Stars – Beren Saat, Mehmet Günsür, Melisa Senolsun
- Locations – Gobeklitepe, Sanliurfa, Turkey
- IMDb Rating – 7.0/10
- English subtitles – Yes
Watch on Netflix >>
Masum
The slow-burn ominous Turkish series is well worth your time if you are willing to give it a go.
A retired former chief-of-police Cevdet and his family were living peacefully in their small town away from the city.
Suddenly everything changes when Yusuf, the chief of the Homicide Squad of the police department was assigned a mysterious murder case in his hometown. Cevdet and his family become entwined in a murder riddled with shocking and buried secrets.
I sometimes enjoy these classic small-town mystery murder series.
- Genre – Drama, Crime, Mystery
- Seasons – One
- Release – 2017
- Stars – Haluk Bilginer, Nur Sürer, Ali Atay
- Locations – Izmit, Turkey
- IMDb Rating – 8.4/10
- English subtitles – Yes
Watch on Netflix >>
The Protector
The protector is a great Turkish thriller series. The main character in this series is Hakan, a young shopkeeper living in Istanbul.
Hakan learned that he is responsible for protecting his city from an immortal enemy. His duties won’t be easy at all as he will struggle to choose between being the Protector and love.
I found this Turkish superhero show to be quite interesting.
- Genre – Action, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
- Seasons – Four
- Release – 2018-2020
- Stars – Cagatay Ulusoy, Hazar Erguclu, Okan Yalabik
- Locations – Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey
- IMDb Rating – 6.5/10
- English subtitles – Yes
Watch on Netflix >>
Love 101
If you are looking for a Turkish series with a bit of drama and comedy, Love 101 is the one to fo for. The fun Turkish series is set in 1999 and turns around a group of teenagers trying to prevent their beloved teacher from leaving town.
- Genre – Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Seasons – Two
- Release – 2020-2021
- Stars – Alina Boz, Mert Yazicioglu, Kubilay Aka
- Locations – Istanbul, Turkey
- IMDb Rating – 7.5/10
- English subtitles – Yes
Watch on Netflix >>
20 Minutes (20 Dakika)
20 Dakika (20 minutes) is one of those Turkish drama series that will introduce you to the creative side of Turkish TV series. 20 Dakika is full of drama, action, and suspense.
Melek and Ali were a happy couple with children until Melek went to prison for something she didn’t do. Ali is struggling to keep the family together while trying to figure out how to take his wife out of prison.
- Genre – Drama, Romance, Action
- Seasons – One
- Release – 2013
- Stars – Tuba Buyukustun, Ilker Aksum, Firat Celik
- Locations – Istanbul, Turkey
- IMDb Rating – 7.1/10
- English subtitles – Yes
Watch on Netflix >>
46 (46 Yok Olan)
If you like mysterious TV series, the Turkish TV show 46 Yok Olan is certainly a must-watch. With the strange plot, and action mixed with some comedy, 46 Yok Olan is worth the try.
This psychological thriller series is about a genetic professor (Murat Güney) who wants to save his sister from a long-time coma by using a medicine he has just discovered. But this discovery changes his life in an unexpected way.
- Genre – Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
- Seasons – One
- Release – 2016
- Stars – Erdal Besikcioglu, Yasemin Kay Allen, Melis Birkan
- Locations – Istanbul, Turkey
- IMDb Rating – 8.2/10
- English subtitles – Yes
Watch on Netflix >>
Winter Sun, (Kis Günesi)
An addictive Turkish TV series that is full of mixed emotions and super acting skills. Winter Sun is all about Efe’s quest for revenge and all his family members were killed for money.
Efe grew up as a poor fisherman and now that he discovered the truth he needs to infiltrate the inner circle of the people that have destroyed his once-powerful family
- Genre – Drama
- Seasons – One
- Release – 2016
- Stars – Sukru Ozyildiz, Asli Enver, Basak Parlak
- Locations – Istanbul, Turkey
- IMDb Rating – 7.1/10
- English subtitles – Yes
Watch on Netflix >>
Documentary Series On Netflix
The Rise of Empires: Ottoman
Even though this docuseries is not a Turkish language production it’s worth featuring here as it sheds the light on one of the important timelines that shaped the nation of Turkey. In this short docuseries by Netflix, the Ottoman sultan Mehmed II wages an epic campaign to take the Byzantine capital of Constantinople, shaping the course of history for centuries.
I enjoyed this series and learned a lot. It covers the epic Battle for Constantinople from an Ottoman perspective.
Watch on Netflix >>
Turkish Movies On Netflix
There are a ton of options available to watch on streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon. I have selected a few of them that are on Netflix. The movies that I have chosen are based solely on my opinion and taste.
Paper Lives ‘Kagittan Hayatlar’ (2021)
Paper Lives (Original title: Kagittan Hayatlar) is an excellent Turkish drama on Netflix.
This tragedy mimics the reality of many young boys who survive the rough Istanbul streets by collecting scraps of paper and glass for recycling.
The film touches on several social issues, including poverty, mental illness, and abuse. Superb acting, a flowing script, and a glimpse into the unglamorous dark side of an iconic city that more than deserves to be nominated for the best film somewhere.
Watch on Netflix >>
Miracle In Cell NO. 7 (2019)
Miracle in Cell NO.7 is a remake of a Korean film released in October 2013 with the same name.
It’s a tragic and yet heartfelt movie that describes the love between a mentally ill father who is wrongfully accused of murdering a young girl and his daughter.
Watch on Netflix >>
Sour Apples ‘Eksi Elmalar‘ (2016)
An epic story by the famous actor/director Yilmaz Erdogan that takes us on a nostalgic journey through time to witness a family’s transition from the old, traditional way of life to the new and unknown.
This comedy-drama tackles political ideals as well as social and family values with the perfect dose of humor.
The clothes, music, mountain village setting, and simple-minded humor are just delightful. We really get the feel of Turkey in the ’70s.
The film also illustrates the divide between the lifestyles of urban and rural communities in Turkey during that period.
Ayla: The Daughter of War (2017)
The movie is based on a true story of a Turkish sergeant whose name is Suleiman and a little Japanese girl during the Korean War in 1950. Suleyman found the girl (Ayla) after she was left alone and took care of her.
Ayla is a very inspiring movie that is full of emotional scenes. The story also addresses the problem of the thousands of children suffering from war.
For both of us ‘Ikimizin Yerine‘ (2016)
Çiçek is an ambitious girl who grew up and lives is in a small village in Bursa. Her life will change when she meets Dogan, her literature teacher. Their forbidden relationship holds secrets.
Only You ‘Sadece Sen’ (2014)
Sadece Sen tells the story of passionate love between a former boxer (Ali) and a beautiful blind woman (Hazel). But his violent past shows up to threaten them and their love.
If you are a fan of drama movies full of compassion and love this Turkish movie is the right one for you.
Husband Factor ‘Kocan Kadar Konus’ (2015/2016)
A Turkish comedy film series. A story of a traditional Turkish woman (Efsun). A thirty-year-old is put under pressure by her family and friends to find a husband, but Efsun still looking for a true love story and a romantic relationship.
Watch on Netflix
Müslüm ‘Voice of Pain’ (2018)
This biographical story is based on true events in the life of one of Turkey’s most adored singers, Muslum Gurses. This tragic story reflects the sorrow that has become synonymous with the voice and music of Muslum, who is affectionately called Muslum Baba “father”.
The film begins with Muslum’s humble childhood, with his poor family in the south of Turkey. Muslum endures several challenges throughout his short and troubled life. Despite this, his music made him a national hero and an inspirational icon, to this very day.
My Father ‘Babam‘ (2017)
This heartbreaking story covers the life of a middle-aged man who has to cope with the sudden death of his wife, his Autistic son, and his ailing fish business, all at the same time.
Set in the small coastal town of Gelibolu, you get a realistic insight into what living in small-town Turkey is really like. This film highlights the contrasts of a changing world, for the main character, uncle Yusuf.
A delightfully slow, lethargic, and yet classic story of family values, love, and responsibility. This uniquely Turkish story is a must-watch for those who appreciate old-school drama.
Watch on Netflix >>
My Mother’s Wound ‘Annemin Yarasi’
This tragic and suspenseful drama is set in Bosnia, reflecting on the old wounds of the Bosnian war. The film is about the quest of a young man, Salih, to find his family, whom he has never known.
His journey reveals shocking truths about what happened during the war and how some war criminals got away scot-free, while their victims were left alone to deal with the horrific consequences.
My Mother’s Wound is an attempt to highlight the atrocities of what has become a forgotten tragedy.
Watch on Netflix >>
Conclusion
Turkish dramas have become world-famous. The cinema industry is an important part of Turkish culture that has flourished over the years reaching Europe and more recently the Arab world with the first Turkish-made film in 1914.
Turkey now celebrates its 106th year of cinema history. Turkish cinema is unique in that it reflects the stories of the nation, which has a distinct culture that embodies different influences.
To summarize, these are the most-watched and recommended Turkish TV series and movies on Netflix. However, if you have exhausted your Netflix why don’t you try 30 days free with Amazon prime video.
Best Turkish drama series on Netflix:
- 1-50m2
- 2-Fatma
- 3-Ethos: Bir Başkadır
- 4-Ertugrul: Resurrection
- 5-Phi
- 5-Atiye: The gift
- 7-Masum: Innocent
- 8. Black Money Love
- 9. The Protector
- 10. Love 101
- 11. 20 Minutes
- 12. 46 Yok Olan
- 13. Winter Sun
Best Turkish movies on Netflix
- 1- Paper Lives
- 2-Miracle In Cell NO. 7
- 3- Ayla: The Daughter of War
- 4- For both of us Ikimizin Yerine
- 5- Only You ‘Sadece Sen‘
- 6- Kocan Kadar Konus: Husband Factor
- 7-Muslum, Voice of Pain
- 8- My Father ‘Babam‘
- 9-Sour Apples ‘Eksi Elmalar’
- 10-My Mother’s Wound ‘Annemin Yarasi’
Top Turkish docuseries
All things considered, It is hard to go wrong with most of these Turkish movies and series. Anyway, let me know what you think of these listed options. Do you have a favorite Turkish TV show or movie?
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