The streaming landscape continues to shift, with Netflix reporting significant viewership numbers for the latter half of 2025. Notably, the second season of Wednesday outperformed the final season of Stranger Things, topping the charts with 124 million views.
A Shift in Streaming Dominance
Netflix’s data, measured by total hours watched divided by runtime, reveals a competitive period for the streaming giant. While Stranger Things’ fifth and final season garnered 94 million views, it was ultimately eclipsed by Wednesday. Eric Bana’s Untamed secured the third spot with 93 million views, followed by the third season of Squid Game at 79 million.
The popularity of true crime and documentary content also remains strong, as evidenced by the inclusion of Monster: The Ed Gein Story and Sean Combs: The Reckoning in the top ten. Even content geared towards younger audiences, like the first season of Ms. Rachel, found a substantial viewership.
Film Takes the Lead
However, the biggest numbers were seen in the film category. KPop Demon Hunters achieved a remarkable 482 million views, becoming the most successful film in Netflix history, surpassing previous hits like Red Notice, Carry-On, and Don’t Look Up. Happy Gilmore 2 followed with 135 million views.
Netflix also reported a net gain of 23 million subscribers in 2025, bringing the total subscriber base to 325 million, with overall viewing hours increasing by 2 percent compared to the previous year.
Looking Ahead
Netflix has several highly anticipated returning series slated for 2026, including the fourth season of Bridgerton, the second seasons of 3 Body Problem and Beef, and the third season of Nobody Wants This. This week, on January 27, the platform will release a new docuseries, Take That, chronicling the 1990s trajectory of the British boy band.
Frequently Asked Questions
What show topped Netflix’s viewership charts for the second half of 2025?
The second season of Wednesday topped the charts with 124 million views.
Which film was the most viewed on Netflix during the same period?
KPop Demon Hunters was the most viewed film, racking up 482 million views.
How many new subscribers did Netflix gain in 2025?
Netflix gained 23 million new subscribers in 2025, bringing the total to 325 million.
Given these viewership trends, what factors do you think will most influence Netflix’s programming decisions in the coming year?
