Netflix has finally lifted the lid on its most-watched shows for the first half of the year — and while some familiar names dominate, there are a few unexpected hits stirring up conversation on sofas across the world.
Big names, bigger numbers
Once famously tight-lipped about its viewing figures, Netflix now wears its stats like a badge of honour — and for good reason. Between January and June 2025, users racked up over 95 billion hours of streamed content. That’s a billion more than the previous six months. Even better for the streaming giant: revenue has jumped by 16%, according to Variety.
So, who’s hogging all that screen time? Unsurprisingly, two titles are topping the list — one a global juggernaut, the other a sharp British upstart with a bite.
Squid Game still reigns… but there’s a new queen in town
It’s no shock that Squid Game continues to pull in the masses. The dystopian thriller’s third season landed on 27 June and wasted no time climbing the charts. But here’s the twist: it wasn’t number one.
That crown goes to Adolescence, a raw and unfiltered British series that’s come out of left field to steal the top spot with 145 million views. Tackling themes like masculinity and the messy impact of social media, it’s sparked real-world conversations — the kind that make you pause mid-scroll and think. It’s the show people are talking about at the office coffee machine and in awkward family group chats.
Meanwhile, Squid Game’s second and third seasons pulled in 117 million and 72 million views respectively, with the full trilogy now clocking in at a whopping 231 million views combined. Not too shabby for a show that once seemed too weird to work.
The top 10: mini-series take the spotlight
If you like your binge-watching in short bursts, 2025’s lineup has you covered. The top 10 most-watched series includes several mini-series — gripping, gritty and wrapped up in under six episodes.
Here’s how the leaderboard stacks up:
- Adolescence (145M views)
- Squid Game, season 2 (117M)
- Squid Game, season 3 (72M)
- Zero Day (61M)
- Tu me manques (58M)
- American Murder: Gabby Petito (56M)
- Ms. Rachel, season 1 (53M)
- Sirens (53M)
- The Night Agent, season 2 (53M)
- Ginny & Georgia, season 3 (48M)
And let’s not ignore the WWE effect. With over 280 million views, Netflix’s foray into wrestling has been a slam dunk — or rather, a body slam.
What else is heating up on the platform?
Beyond the top 10, there’s no shortage of buzz. Black Mirror’s latest season (its seventh) drew 31 million views, while French drama À l’aube de l’Amérique brought in 47 million. Anime continues to punch above its weight, with Naruto reaching 45 million views across all seasons and Sakamoto Days not far behind.
Meanwhile, the return of cult favourites like Orange is the New Black, Ozark and La Casa de Papel proves that old loves die hard — each clocking over 100 million hours viewed, putting them back in the spotlight.
What’s next? Bring on the blockbusters
With these numbers already looking sky-high, Netflix is bracing for an even wilder second half of the year. Two heavy-hitters are on the horizon: the long-awaited second season of Wednesday, and the final chapter of Stranger Things — the fifth season that promises to close the curtain on Hawkins’ upside-down adventures once and for all.
If you thought the numbers were big now, just wait. There’s no doubt the next few months will bring more record-breaking moments — and possibly a few more surprise hits along the way.
Until then, you’ll find us rewatching Adolescence and wondering how many hours we’ve actually spent on Netflix this year. (Spoiler: it’s probably too many.)
