Discover the best of Turkish cinema, film, and television
Discover the definitive list of popular and critically-acclaimed movies and TV shows from Turkey. Find your next binge-watch, streaming on Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Prime Video, and other top services!
The cinema of Turkey
Turkish cinema's golden age belongs to the legendary Yeşilçam era, which transformed Turkey into the world's 4th biggest cinema by the 1960s. Named after Yeşilçam Street in Istanbul's Beyoğlu district, this extraordinary period saw filmmakers producing around 300 films annually during the 1970s, creating an impressive output that totalled more than 5,500 films across 40 years. The magic of Yeşilçam lay in its melodramatic storytelling that captured the hearts of ordinary Turkish families. Classics like "Hababam Sınıfı," "Selvi Boylum Al Yazmalım," and "Süt Kardeşler" became cultural touchstones, blending comedy, romance, and social commentary in uniquely Turkish ways. Directors like Metin Erksan, Ertem Eğilmez, and Atıf Yılmaz created films that spoke directly to the nation's soul whilst navigating the tension between tradition and modernity. The era faced decline in the 1980s due to the rise of television and changing audience tastes, but Turkish storytelling found new life through television series. Today, Turkish dramas have achieved remarkable global success, with demand growing by 184% between 2020 and 2023, making Turkey the world's third-largest exporter of television series after the United States and Britain. Shows like "Magnificent Century," "Resurrection: Ertuğrul," and "Love is in the Air" have captivated audiences across continents, proving that Turkish stories translate beautifully across cultures. What makes Turkish entertainment special is its ability to weave epic narratives with intimate human emotions, creating content that feels both grandly cinematic and deeply personal.
Best Turkish series
The Protector 2018
The epic adventure of Hakan, a young shopkeeper whose modern world gets turned upside down when he learns he’s connected to a secret, ancient order, tasked with protecting Istanbul.
65
Persona 2018
After being diagnosed with Alzheimer's, a retired judicial officer decides to commit a murder that he had been planning for years.
84
The Gift 2019
A painter in Istanbul embarks on a personal journey as she unearths universal secrets about an Anatolian archaeological site and its link to her past.
64
You Knock on My Door 2020
Eda, who ties all her hopes to her education, confronts Serkan Bolat, who cuts off her international education scholarship and leaves her with high school diploma. Serkan Bolat offers Eda to give her scholarship back if she pretends to be his fiance for two months. Although Eda rejects the offer of this man as she hates him, she has to accept it when the conditions change. While pretending to be engaged, Serkan and Eda begin to experience a passionate, challenging relationship that will make them forget all they know right. Because love is difficult. And that's why it's amazing.
79
Love 101 2020
While trying to make their teacher fall for a basketball coach, four misfits and a model student find friendship, love and the courage to be themselves.
75
Ethos 2020
A group of unique characters from dramatically different socio-cultural backgrounds meet in startling circumstances in the vibrant and colorful city of Istanbul, some by chance and some by force of will.
78
Best Turkish movies
Miracle in Cell No. 7 2019
Separated from his daughter, a father with an intellectual disability must prove his innocence when he is jailed for the death of a commander's child.
83
Mustang 2015
In a Turkish village, five orphaned sisters live under strict rule while members of their family prepare their arranged marriages.
75
Kedi 2017
A profile of Istanbul and its unique people, seen through the eyes of the most mysterious and beloved animal humans have ever known, the Cat.
76
Winter Sleep 2014
Aydın is a hotel owner and a retired actor in rural Turkey. As winter emerges he begins navigating the conflicts within the relationships with his wife, sister and existence.
75
Once Upon a Time in Anatolia 2011
A group of men lead a search for a victim of a murder to whom a suspect named Kenan and his mentally challenged brother confessed. However, the search is proving more difficult than expected as Kenan is fuzzy as to the body's location. As the group continues looking, its members can't help but chat among themselves about everyday life, which ultimately leads to conversations about their deepest existential concerns and secrets.
75
Baskin 2015
A squad of unsuspecting cops go through a trapdoor to Hell when they stumble upon a Black Mass in an abandoned building.
61