In a bold move towards transparency, Netflix outdid its rivals by unveiling a detailed list of its top-viewed content in December 2023.
Netflix announced that the move was designed to provide “deeper insights into our audiences” for creators and investors, with plans to release viewing data biannually.
However, that’s changing now.
This week, Netflix announced a shift from its biannual ‘What We Watched’ reports to an annual format. The mid-2026 report will be the final semi-annual update.
To commemorate the last biannual report, Deadline has compiled four years of viewership data to present an official ranking of Netflix’s most-watched shows during this period.
Read on for the top 20 list, which includes some unexpected entries.
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20. ‘Untamed’ Season 1: 101.1M Views
Featuring the late Sam Neill alongside Eric Bana, this crime drama series about a special agent from the National Parks Service captivated Netflix viewers when it debuted in 2025.
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19. ‘Squid Game’ Season 1: 101.6M views
Image Credit: Netflix The inaugural season of Squid Game, released two years prior to the initiation of Netflix’s What We Watched reports, still made it into the top 20.
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18. ‘Stranger Things’ Season 2: 101.8M Views
Image Credit: Netflix Despite premiering back in 2017, Stranger Things Season 2 still ranks high in Netflix’s viewership over the last four years.
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17. ‘La Palma’: 102.3M Views
Image Credit: Netflix This unexpected hit from Norway, which follows a family of tourists caught in a volcanic eruption on the Canary Islands, has led Netflix to develop a sequel series named Florida.
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16. ‘Baby Reindeer’: 103.5M Views
Image Credit: Netflix This gripping series about a stalker scenario has not only pulled in huge viewership numbers but also garnered critical acclaim, winning Emmy and BAFTA awards.
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15. ‘His & Hers’: 104M Views
Image Credit: Netflix This drama featuring Jon Bernthal and Tessa Thompson quickly became Netflix’s top show in the first half of 2026.
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14. ‘Young Sheldon’: 104.2M Views
Image Credit: CBS The popular CBS comedy has found a strong following on Netflix, highlighting the value of having licensed content.
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13. ‘The Gentlemen’: 105.8M
Image Credit: Netflix Starring Theo James, this Guy Ritchie drug caper premiered in 2024 and quickly became a British favorite. Season 2 is set to premiere on September 3.
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12. ‘Wednesday’ Season 1: 124.5M Views
Image Credit: Netflix Tim Burton’s Adams Family series debuted before the What We Watched reports started but has continued to draw viewers, starring Jenna Ortega.
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11. ‘One Piece’ Season 1: 125.6M Views
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix This live-action adaptation of the beloved 1997 Japanese manga follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his pirate crew. One Piece has proven to be a ratings treasure for Netflix.
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10. ‘Peppa Pig’ Season 6: 127.4M Views
Image Credit: Cartoon Network Originally a modest British TV show, Peppa Pig has grown into one of Netflix’s heavyweight series.
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9. ‘Stranger Things’ Season 1: 127.5M Views
Image Credit: Netflix With another entry in the top 20, Stranger Things has cemented its place as one of Netflix’s flagship series.
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8. ‘Wednesday’ Season 2: 133.1M Views
Image Credit: Helen Sloan/Netflix Debuting in September of the previous year, Wednesday not only secured a second top 20 spot but also confirmed Jenna Ortega as one of Netflix’s leading stars.
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7. ‘Ms. Rachel’ Season 1: 137.5M Views
Image Credit: YouTube / @msrachel As Netflix contends with YouTube for viewers, it’s somewhat ironic that a YouTube star like Ms. Rachel tops the viewing charts with her children’s music language show.
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6. ‘Fool Me Once’: 138.3M Views
Image Credit: Netflix British series Fool Me Once, starring Michelle Keegan and based on a Harlan Coben novel, has become a major draw, demonstrating Coben’s continued influence in TV.
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5. ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5: 149.1M Views
The series finale of Stranger Things not only made the top 20 but also pushed the total viewership of all five seasons past the half-billion mark over four years.
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4. ‘Bridgerton’ Season 3: 154.2M Views
Image Credit: Netflix The third season of Bridgerton, featuring Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan, proved to be the most popular installment of the series so far.
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3. ‘Squid Game’ Season 3: 155.8M Views
Image Credit: Netflix The list wouldn’t be complete without Squid Game. Its third season, which premiered in June 2025, is the third most-watched series of the last four years.
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2. ‘Adolescence’: 171.6M Views
Image Credit: Netflix The one-shot series by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne not only swept Emmys and BAFTAs but also became the second most-viewed show on Netflix recently.
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1. ‘Squid Game’ Season 2: 225.4M Views
Image Credit: No Ju-han/Netflix After a three-year wait, the second season of Squid Game shattered records, leading the list with a significant margin. The three seasons combined have nearly reached half a billion views since 2023.
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