Netflix dominates the streaming viewership charts for the 2024-2025 season, according to new data. Despite the addition of several new streaming services over the past decade, Netflix remains the prevalent force in the contemporary television market. By all s, it was the original streaming service, innovating the way audiences could watch television in the internet era with original content. No streaming service holds an equal place in the cultural vernacular like Netflix does, and recent data shows why.

Of the top fifteen TV shows in the 2024-2025 season, ten are Netflix originals, with Squid Game and Adolescence leading the way as the most-viewed series (via Variety). This information is collected by Nielsen's ratings, which gather viewership numbers from the opening 35 days following a show's release. Squid Game leads the way with a whopping 27.1 million viewers, with Adolescence trailing with 19 million. The data was cut off in early April 2025. The top 20 can be seen on the graph below:

What The New Streaming Data Means For Netflix

This Is An Enormous Win For Netflix

Since the advent of streaming, this is one of the first opportunities we've had to see different platforms' numbers match up against each other, including network television. Not including Netflix shows, there are only four streaming originals in the top 20, with nothing included from Disney+, Hulu, Peacock, or Apple TV+. Data had previously demonstrated Netflix's dominance, but this makes it evident that the original streaming service still holds strong against the numerous sites created to compete with it.

Netflix shows like Running Point and American Primeval aren't considered among the most acclaimed shows of the year, especially when compared to titles like Severance, which is set to be an Emmy juggernaut. Still, these series have achieved much higher viewership numbers, likely due to the familiarity of Netflix as a reliable streaming brand. Prestige shows like Squid Game and Adolescence are also clearly winning audiences over, and the streamer still has new seasons of Wednesday and Stranger Things ​​​​​​set to release later this year.

Our Take On The New Streaming Statistics

Netflix's Numbers Are Telling Of An Oversaturated Television Market

With the proliferation of new streaming services and the increasing number of subscriptions to pay, along with constantly rising prices, it's become impossible to keep up with everything on television. Every company and studio has sought to carve out a stake in the streaming market, but Netflix holds a reputation for reliability. With so many options to choose from, most audiences won't want to venture out and pay for a new subscription when there's plenty to watch on old faithful, even if it means lower quality.

Every company and studio has sought to carve out a stake in the streaming market, but Netflix holds a reputation for reliability.

Apple TV+ and Hulu are just two examples of platforms creating phenomenal original series, and it's challenging to predict the long-term effects of Netflix's dominance. Studios have invested unprecedented funds into massive streaming shows that aren't getting the numbers they hoped for. For example, Disney+ only has five shows in the top 100, with only one of them in the top 50.

Source: Variety