Netflix’s top 10 ‘most popular shows’ of ‘all time’ in English across the globe have been revealed – but are they what you expected?
If you came out of 2024 with a slightly soul-destroying ‘Netflix Wrapped’ revealing you spent an obscene amount of minutes binge-watching the latest hit TV shows and movies, you’d think you’ll be able to guess the top 10 most popular shows on the streaming service pretty easily.
But how well would you really do if you had to do a festive quiz on the top 10 most popular shows on Netflix of ‘all time’? Well, it’s time to find out.
10) Bridgerton: Season 2
Well, dearest readers, taking the tenth spot on Netflix Tudum’s list is the second season of hit historical drama Bridgerton.
Season two sees the likes of actors such as Jonathan Bailey (Wicked) and Simone Ashley (Sex Education) take center stage.
9) Stranger Things 3
The third season of supernatural series created by the Duffer Brothers takes ninth place starring Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp and Sadie Sink.
Spoiler alert – Max’s (Sink) stepbrother Billy Hargrove (Dacre Montgomery) ends up taken over by villain of the Upside Down, the Mind Flayer and the gang have to battle against him and all the other victims he’s possessed, trying to kill him off once and for all.
8) Fool Me Once: Limited Series
In comes Harlan Coben in number eight, the writer’s 2016 novel of the same name adapted by Danny Brocklehurst for the streaming service.
The thriller stars some of the UK‘s best actors, from Michelle Keegan to Richard Armitage and Adeel Akhtar.
And fans of the limited series can hold onto hope it may return after Coben spoke to UNILAD about the possibility of a second season earlier this year.
7) The Night Agent: Season 1
An American action thriller created by Shawn Ryan, the series stars Gabriel Basso in the role of White House basement FBI agent Peter Sutherland.
In four days after it was first released on the streaming platform, it became the third-most-viewed debuting series on Netflix.
Netflix later revealed it was renewing the series for a second season just a week after its release.
6) Bridgerton: Season 3
Back with a bang, while some series only go down in strength as their seasons go on, Bridgerton simply bloomed even further.
With Nicola Coughlan taking the reigns in the season, it was Penelope Featherington’s – a.k.a. Lady Whistledown herself – chance to blossom out of her status as a wallflower.
Coughlan may’ve told Tyla filming the third season was ‘terrifying’ but it certainly paid off, reaching the sixth’s spot on Netflix’s top ‘most popular shows’ in English of ‘all time’.
5) The Queen’s Gambit: Limited Series
Making the top five is the iconic series which got most of us through the coronavirus pandemic – The Queen’s Gambit.
The series is based on the 1983 novel of the same name by Walter Tevis and stars Anya Taylor-Joy as orphan chess prodigy Elizabeth Harmon, receiving widespread praise not only for its cinematography and standard of performances, but also for its accurate depiction of the game.
4) Bridgerton: Season 1
The first season of Bridgerton took Netflix by storm, focusing on the story of eldest Bridgerton daughter Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) and her friendship with Duke of Hastings, Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page) which turns into something much more.
3) DAHMER: Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
Created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, the first season of the biographical crime drama anthology television series honed in on the life of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer – played by Evan Peters.
It received four nominations at the 80th Golden Globe Awards and six nominations at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards.
2) Stranger Things 4
Coming in as runner up is the fourth season of Stranger Things.
The season sees the introduction of a character who goes on to achieve legendary status in the series, Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn). And all – well, most of – the favorites return too.
Stranger Things 5 – the final season – has just wrapped and expected to be released next year.
1) Wednesday: Season 1
And in the top spot and subsequently the most popular Netflix show in English across the globe is none other than season one of Wednesday.
Starring Jenna Ortega, the series is based on the character of Wednesday Addams by Charles Addams.
Tim Burton acted as executive producer on the series, as well as directing several episodes.
A second season is anticipated for release next year – so stay tuned.
