10 Netflix Shows Like Little House on the Prairie You Should Watch Next
It’s been a while since we last saw the Ingalls family, though perhaps not as long as you think: while the series starring Melissa Gilbert and Michael Landon ended in 1984 after a series of TV movies, several film adaptations, a stage musical, and an anime series have since been released. However, none have been as popular as Netflix’s new interpretation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s classic books. Despite some controversy over certain plot elements , the series quickly became one of the most popular on streaming platforms .
Unusually for Netflix, a second season of Little House on the Prairie is already in production, but if you’ve already binge-watched the entire series and are hungry for more period dramas with a simple, straightforward style, check out these 10 similar shows.
Anne with an E (2017–2019)
Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic historical novel Anne of Green Hills began a long line of similar family-friendly classics, eventually leading to a beloved 1970s television series. Sound familiar? The story is entirely fictional, but it explores similar themes in its exploration of a gifted girl’s childhood growing up in a rural 19th-century village. The series begins in 1896. A pair of elderly, unmarried siblings on Prince Edward Island, Canada, sends an orphaned boy to help on their farm, but instead receives a girl: the chatty Anne Shirley (Amybeth McNulty), who must struggle to prove herself to her prospective parents and the other townspeople, who judge her alternately as a worthless girl and a poor orphan. This reboot returns to the novel and mines its text (and subtext) for new insights without altering the spirit of the work.Watch Anne with an E on Netflix .
Little Women (2017)
Around the same time that Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family were leaving Wisconsin for the Midwest the authors recall, Louisa May Alcott was writing and publishing her groundbreaking first novel, set in Civil War-era New England, where women had largely been abandoned by men. While this BBC adaptation, released two years later (and given an excellent adaptation by Greta Gerwig), is somewhat more faithful to the text, it doesn’t feel prim. The book unfolds over several years, and the miniseries format better conveys the passage of time, which is so important to the plot. Emily Watson plays the unflappable Marmee with an appropriate twinkle in her eye, and Angela Lansbury (in her final television role) is perfect as the caustic and sardonic Aunt March. Watch Little Women on Peacock , Tubi, and Netflix.
The Other Bennet Sister (2026)
A smash hit on the BBC, this miniseries reimagines the events of Pride and Prejudice from the perspective of the book’s much more awkward sister, Lizzie Bennet. Her ruddy complexion, penchant for grammatical correctness, and (oh my!) glasses make Mary utterly unmarriageable and unsuitable for anything other than a genteel spinster. Everything begins to change when Mary is sent alone to become a governess for the Gardiner family in London and manages to build a life and future for herself away from her parents and siblings, who see her as nothing more than a piece of furniture. Pemberley and its surroundings are a world apart (at least an ocean away) from the rural world of Little House on the Prairie , but both series offer intelligent and forthright young women struggling to find their place. Watch The Other Bennet Sister on Britbox .
All Creatures Great and Small (2020 – )
All Creatures is an updated version of the venerable British franchise based on the autobiographical novels by James Alfred White (aka James Herriot). The series takes us to the Yorkshire countryside in the 1930s, where a Scottish veterinarian moves to the small farming town of Darrowby to take a job as a veterinary assistant. First among the local eccentrics is Helen Alderson (Rachel Shenton), a practical and hard-working farmer who must make an important life choice. While you’ll have to be prepared to see animals in danger, this warm-hearted series rarely tries to get on the nerves. It’s mostly a charming domestic drama set against an idyllic backdrop, with the occasional appearance of calves. Watch All Creatures Great and Small on PBS or buy it on Prime Video .
Anne Shirley (2025 – )
Let’s return for a moment to the world of Anne of Green Hills —though Little House on the Prairie is about an American family, and Lucy Maud Montgomery’s novels are about a Canadian orphan (who finds a family), both stories tell of intelligent, enterprising young women growing up in challenging rural settings. This beautifully animated anime adaptation ( not the first Japanese adaptation of the Anne stories ) is faithful to the source material while adding some stylistic flourishes (a school fight over the chalkboard is briefly shown as a battle scene). Watch Anne Shirley on Crunchyroll .
Heartland (2007–)
Based on the popular book series by Linda Chapman and Beth Chambers (writing under the pseudonym Lauren Brooke), the series follows a horse-breeding family in western Canada, led by sisters Amy and Lou (Amber Marshall and Michelle Morgan). Although set in modern-day western Alberta, the Wild West atmosphere and family dramas are not far removed from the lives of the Ingalls family. If you haven’t yet seen the series, you’re in for a treat: its 20th season is coming soon. Watch Heartland on Netflix .
1883 (2021–2022)
The first of the Yellowstone spinoffs, 1883, introduces the backstory of the Dutton family. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill play the first generation of the family, who journey from Texas to Montana in a dangerous wagon train led by Sam Elliott. It’s a grittier look at the West, lacking the family-friendly atmosphere of Little House on the Prairie, but at the center of the story is 17-year-old Elsa Dutton, played by Isabel May; she begins as an adventurous young woman before being hardened by her experiences. Watch 1883 on Paramount+ .
Lark Rise – Candleford (2008–2011)
Once again, we find ourselves in a very different world, far removed from the Ingalls family’s American frontier, yet following the coming of age of a young woman in the 19th century in a story based on a series of semi-autobiographical novels (by Flora Thompson). Country girl Laura Timmins (Olivia Hallinan) sets out to find work in the wealthier but somewhat larger neighboring town of Candleford. She manages to find work at the post office, where she befriends and receives mentorship from her mother’s cousin, Dorcas (Julia Sawalha). Not everyone in Candleford is so welcoming to the country girl, especially when Laura is forced to choose between the demands of her job and the needs of the family she left behind. Watch “Lark Rise to Candleford” on Peacock .
When Calls the Heart (2014–)
This (very) Hallmark-esque series, based on the novels by Jeanette Oke, begins in 1910 and follows young teacher Elizabeth Thatcher (Erin Krakow) as she leaves her relatively wealthy family to take a job in a rural Canadian mining town. Luckily, she has the help of handsome constable Jack Thornton (Daniel Lissing), who helps her adjust. The series features romance, drama, and triumph among its main characters, as well as a gentle tone and big heart, as you’d expect given the title. The series has now entered its 13th season and continues to air, and, like Yellowstone , has already spawned two spinoffs: When Hope Calls and Hope Valley: 1874. Watch When Calls the Heart on Hallmark+ via Prime Video.
Little House on the Prairie (1974–1984)
It probably goes without saying, but there are nine seasons of the classic Little House on the Prairie and three sequels to binge-watch (pun intended). The series quickly outgrew its early reputation as a Waltons clone and became a fan and critical darling thanks to its extensive cast and strong social message, thanks in large part to the influence of executive producer and star Michael Landon. Melissa Gilbert plays Laura, and Alison Arngrim (who makes a recurring appearance in the new series) often steals the show as obnoxious neighbor Nellie Oleson. The series is stranger, more dramatic, and a little less committed to the books than the current series, but perhaps that’s why Little House on the Prairie remains a staple—even more so than the novels. Watch Little House on the Prairie on Peacock and Prime Video .