'One Piece' to 'Alice in Borderland': 5 must-watch live-action series adapted from Japanese manga

Manga has quietly taken over the world, and honestly, the live-action adaptations are finally doing it justice. What started as a niche corner of Japanese pop culture has exploded into some of the most gripping, visually stunning television on streaming right now. Whether you're a longtime manga reader or someone who simply stumbled onto ‘One Piece’ and got completely hooked, these seven series are worth every minute of your time.

Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hats crew set sail on the Grand Line in search of Gold Roger's legendary treasure to claim the title of King of the Pirates. The world's most popular manga and Netflix's most faithful live-action adaptation is back for more, with cameras already rolling on season 3. Showrunner Steven Maeda returns with Iñaki Godoy leading the charge as Luffy, heading an ensemble cast personally approved by creator Eiichiro Oda himself. Season 2 drops on Netflix on March 10 and if season 1 won you over, this one is going to hit even harder.

Arisu and Usagi find themselves trapped in a deserted alternate version of Tokyo where survival means competing in brutal, life-or-death games with no way out. Based on Haro Aso's manga, the series ran for three gripping seasons, with the finale delivering a thrilling cameo from a Japanese A-list actor that sent fans into a frenzy. Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya lead the show with a chemistry that keeps you hooked from the very first episode. If you haven't watched this one yet, clear your entire weekend and stream it on Netflix.

Siblings Camille and Issei are on a mission to hunt down the world's greatest wine, continuing the quest their late father Alexandre Léger never got to finish. Inspired by Tadashi Agi's manga series, this is a rich, slow-burning drama that has absolutely nothing to do with superpowers and everything to do with beautifully told human storytelling. Starring Fleur Geffrier and Tomohisa Yamashita, the series won the International Emmy Award for Best Drama Series and has already released two seasons. Pour yourself a glass and settle in. Watch it on Apple TV.

At the elite Hyakkaou Private Academy, students are ranked not by grades but purely by their gambling winnings, and everything changes when the fearless Yumeko Jabami walks through the doors and turns the entire system upside down. Based on Homura Kawamoto's manga, this live-action series is stylish, intense, and completely unhinged in the best possible way. Minami Hamabe owns every single scene she's in, making Yumeko one of the most compelling characters in recent manga adaptations. Addictive from the very first hand dealt. You can enjoy this drama on Netflix.

Teenager Yusuke dies saving a young boy from a speeding car, only to find himself in the afterlife, where he is given a second chance, sent back to the human world as an Underworld Detective investigating demons. Based on the beloved 1990s manga, the 2023 series features top Japanese stars Meiko Kaji and Go Ayano, with Takumi Kitamura bringing Yusuke to life alongside Kotone Furukawa as his spirit world guide Botan. It is available for streaming on Netflix.