Picture: Netflix
With the release of One Piece season 2, we’re taking a look at the very best live-action manga adaptations currently streaming on Netflix.
Of all streaming services, Netflix is one of the best destinations for original and licensed shows and movies based on manga. Some of the top-performing shows from 2025 included One Piece, Naruto Shippuden, and Demon Slayer.
Naturally, the streamer has adapted a few manga works into live-action series over the years. Admittedly, such adaptations have endured varied success — for every smash-hit like One Piece, there’s a disappointing adaptation like Cowboy Bebop.
In this post, we look at 10 times manga was reworked into live-action with great success. All of these are available for streaming on Netflix right now.
10
Bleach (2018)
Produced by Warner Bros. Japan, Netflix has had the global streaming rights to Bleach since September 2018. It very briefly left the streamer’s library in 2023, but has overall been a long-standing success at Netflix.
The urban fantasy movie chronicles the adventures of high schooler Ichigo Kurosaki (Sota Fukushi), who is granted the abilities of a Soul Reaper. It was highly praised on release, nailing the manga aesthetic and not compromising on the intricate mythology for wider audiences.
9
Fullmetal Alchemist
Critically acclaimed manga series Fullmetal Alchemist was written and illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa. The manga totalled 27 volumes total across over 100 chapters. It was subsequently adapted into two popular anime series. Given the breadth and success of the source material, there was a lot of excitement surrounding the live-action movies. The saga began with Fullmetal Alchemist (2017) and continued with two more movies in 2022: The Revenge of Scar and The Final Alchemy.
The story follows Alchemist Edward and his brother Al, who are mutilated after attempting human transmutation to revive their mother. To restore their bodies, they ardently search for the legendary Philosopher’s Stone.
The movies substantially condense the source material. Combined, they do tell the entire narrative following the journey of Edward and Alphonse Elric, but heavily narrowed down. The entire trilogy is currently streaming on Netflix through an exclusive distribution deal.
8
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead
The zombie genre is plagued by predictability and samey storytelling. That’s exactly where Zom 100 comes into play, chronicling a completely unique and whimsical tale about a man, Akira (Eiji Akaso), trying to to cross everything off his bucket list before he ultimately turns into a zombie. After being bullied by his boss and being worked around the clock, the zombie apocalypse—hilariously— allows him the freedom to have some time off.
As a standalone movie, Zom 100 is fantastic. It seamlessly translates into the movie format. Sure, there’s liberties taken that don’t make it a faithful adaptation, but if you can look past the condensing and strange pacing, this is the zombie movie you didn’t know you needed.
7
Rurouni Kenshin (Movies)
Netflix’s Rurouni Kenshin adaptation consists of 5 movies, beginning with Rurouni Kenshin: Origins (2012) and concluding the saga with a double-feature in 2021. The movies are a masterclass in outstanding action and intense fight choreography. While the story is decent, the movies shine most in their action sequences.
Set in 1878, we follow wandering swordsman Kenshin Himura (Takeru Satoh). They condense a lot of the original manga — a consequence of the limited runtime of movies — but overall capture the spirit or the original, while offering up top-tier action.
These movies are not Netflix originals, but rather distributed globally on the streamer as an exclusive.
6
Yu Yu Hakusho
Written and illustrated by Yoshihiro Togashi, Yu Yu Hakusho is one of the most coveted and celebrated manga series from the 1990s. It tells the story of Yusuke Urameshi, a rebellious teenager who is killed in a car crash while trying to save a child’s life. He’s resurrected as a Spirit Detective, defending the mortal world from everything from demons to other supernatural threats.
The 5-episode live-action series stars Takumi Kitamura as our protagonist, who excellently brings the character to life. It delivers high action and stunning visual effects. Once again, it massively condensed the source material into 5 jam-packed episodes.
All things considered, it was a successful launch on Netflix, notably becoming the first Japanese production to top Netflix’s global non-English rankings.
5
City Hunter
Based on the cult ‘80s manga by Tsukasa Hōjō, City Hunter is set in the streets of Tokyo, which is flooded with violence from people with superhuman strength, we follow private eye (and awkward womaniser) Ryo Saeba (Ryohei Suzuki). Having lost his friend and partner Hideyuki to street crime, he embarks on a vigilante mission to put an end to all the violent assaults.
On his quest, he’s joined by his late partner’s sister Kaori (Misato Morita).
City Hunter released in April 2025. It received mixed ratings, but if one thing remains true, it’s that the action sequences are thrilling and unforgettable. It’s a real, turn-your-mind-off joyride.
4
Bet
Based on the manga series Kakegurui by writer Homura Kawamoto and illustrator by Tōru Naomura, Bet (2025) takes everything great about the original manga (and subsequent anime series), and brings it to live-action in a satisfying adaptation. It doesn’t ‘reinvent the wheel,’ but proves its worth as a live-action series. After a successful launch on Netflix, it was officially renewed for season 2.
Adapted into live-action by Simon Barry, Bet takes place in a gambling-driven boarding school, where a Japanese transfer student with superior gambling skills challenges the Student Council, threatening the school’s status quo.
This series was absolutely worth the gamble for Netflix, if you’d pardon the pun.
3
Parasyte: The Grey
Parasyte: The Grey runs under the radar a little. The series released as a limited series in 2024, garnering hugely positive ratings. It currently stands at a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes — a testament to its success.
To call Parasyte: The Grey a direct adaptation would be a little inaccurate. It’s a spinoff of the original series. It takes place in the same continuity as the original story, but this version takes place in South Korea and follows different characters. All of that said, the series brings the magic of the original into live-action with ease. The series takes place when parasites take over human hosts, and gain absolute power. At just 6 episodes it’s relatively short, but it packs one hell of a punch.
2
Alice in Borderland
In terms of brutal survival dramas, K-Drama Squid Game takes all the headlines and plaudits. However, Alice in Borderland is every bit as good, and it debuted around the same time. It has a similar premise with the ‘sadistic games’ format, though Alice in Borderland takes a more fantastical, video-game-style approach. It follows a group of people are placed in an alternate version of Tokyo, where they must take part in sadistic games to ensure their survival. The whole ‘battle royale’ format is well and truly exhausted at this point, but Alice in Borderland stands out as one of the finest series of the genre.
Alice in Borderland was likely quietly canceled by Netflix following its third season in 2025.
1
One Piece
Picture Credit: Netflix
Netflix’s live-action adaptation of beloved manga and anime One Piece could’ve gone two ways — there was apprehension from the outset. However the series instantly won the majority of viewers over. It was definitely helped by the direct involvement from original creator Eiichiro Oda.
It had a heap of pressure to deliver; we’re talking about an adaptation of one of the most popular anime series of all-time. It effortlessly captured the magic in live-action, retaining the whacky, irreverent and whimsical elements of the original. Unlike other live-action adaptations at that time, notably Avatar: The Last Airbender, it didn’t try to branch out or change its tone.
To see just how good One Piece is, look no further than star Iñaki Godoy, who fit the role of Monkey D. Luffy perfectly, bringing an electric and infectious energy. Hopefully the Straw Hats are here to stay for many more seasons!
Which live-action manga adaptation on Netflix do you like the most? Tell us in the comments down below!
